It’s STAMPtember with Simon Says Stamp!

         

Hello and welcome to STAMPtember!  It is such a fun time of the year at Simon Says Stamp!  It’s a month long celebration of great products and delightful company collaberations.  Today we’re kicking it off with a Blog Celebration!  Along the way you will find unique codes at each spot that can be used for discounts and free products from the Simon Says STAMPtember release.  Today, I’m creating with the new set called To Friendship.  Its a multi-step stamp set with beautiful sentiments around the theme of friendship.  For this design I did some tone on tone stamping in shades of blues and white.  

Aren’t these folk-art style wildflowers pretty?  I diecut the stamping layer with Simon Say’s Sparkler Scallop Frame layered the stamping onto coordinating sparkly and deep blue cardstock.  Both the flowers in the design and paper strips have that long lean look.  The sentiment is embossed in white.  

Don’t forget to visit the whole list of designers on the Simon Say’s Stamp Blog. Make sure you look for the promotional banner coupon code which you can use to claim a free gift ...for a short time only!!

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It’s STAMPtember with Simon Says Stamp!

Every Happiness Blog Hop with Simon Says Stamp

 

Well, Hi friends!  

Today I’m delighted to be joining the Simon Says Stamp Friday Blog Hop for the Every Happiness July Release!  There are so many delightful elements to this release that I think you’ll enjoy.  Today I’m showcasing the wonderful school themed set with coordinating dies called  Best Teacher Ever . 

Our daughter is a teacher and we’re so proud of her.  Every day she brings creativity, intentionality and joy to her classroom.  So, this set has a special place in my heart.  I know how significant our teachers are, and how much they need to hear they are valued and appreciated.  This design tries to bring an elegant feel to a teacher appreciation by using the sentiment as a fun focal point.  

To create the beautiful and vibrant pattern I used my beloved Willowweave die and stencil from Simon Says Stamp.  The stencil creates the vibrant red layer and the willowweave die addes the aqua blue texture.  It’s always a show stopper!  I added in stars from the Best Teacher Ever set to the center of each opening to tie it into the teacher theme.  

Another fun stamped feature is the aqua dividing line between layers where I stamped the ruler element from the set, and added in the sub-sentiment “You rule!”  Totally a cute little teacher touch.  

I think it’s a fun and classy way to tell a teacher you appreciate them any time of the year.  

Don’t miss our not-yet-released Simon Says Stamp Golden Sunflower 3x4 stamp (pictured above) which is automatically added to your cart that contains any purchase from our exclusive Every Happiness collection! This gift with purchase will expire 7/26 at 11:59 pm EDT or while supplies last.

Well I’m the last stop on the hop, but if you’d like to see the whole list of all the beautiful creativity today here’s who’s up today!  Be sure to check back with Simon Says Stamp tomorrow for the Saturday inspiration!  

Don’t forget to comment!  A $25 gift card will be given at every blog along the hop!  Yay!

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Heather Hoffman

Barbara Tarayao

Laura Bassen

Amy Rysavy

Tina Smith

Nicky Meek

Heather Ruwe

Lisa Addesa

Miriam Prantner

Jean Doeringsfeld

Barb Engler

Laura Williams

Christine Okken (you are here)

To catch up on all the inspiration from this release be sure to check out the Every Happiness Gallery.  

 

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Every Happiness Blog Hop with Simon Says Stamp

Treasure Sunrise Roses with Simon Says Stamp

 

Well, its been about 6 weeks since I’ve created for myself!  A lot of things have happened in the last few months including a big career change back into a church Pastoral role and our son got married last weekend.  A lot of my creating has gone to doing little bits and pieces for their wedding.  I honestly thought I might have lost my creative spirit.  It’s hard to start back up again isn't it?  

When I’m lost for inspiration, I always go back to what I know, and that’s my love of colouring.  I pulled out this stunning set from Simon Says Stamp called Beautiful Flowers and its coordinating die.  I inked it in Toffee Crunch Memento Ink for a no line look, and coloured the image with Copics, and a bit of coloured pencil for details.  I have some Sunrise Roses in the front flower bed which I used as inspiration for this design.  They come out of the bud in deep coral shades and then fade to apricot and the faintest peachy blossom.  

The image is so beautiful and large that I went with an A6 sized card for the design.  The background is first inked on the card base with SSS’s background stamp Overlapping Drops, and then the next layer is ink blended with Distress Oxide ink and then run through the SSS Pincushion Plate Die, where I left all the holes in the die so it just brings texture.  I’ve added in some ink blended die cut leaves for more tone on tone texture.  

The sentiment, from the stamp set is embossed onto a vellum strip.  Hope you enjoyed!  

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Treasure Sunrise Roses with Simon Says Stamp

Flowers for Ukraine from Honey Bee Stamps

Hi There!  I wanted to do a card this week to honour Ukraine and the ongoing war, as they fight for their country.  So much news is painful isn't it? However, today I wanted to also speak about something encouraging related to Ukraine.  When the war started 3 years ago, our church sponsored a family and their friends, nine people, to come to Canada as refugees.  The father in the family has a life threatening condition and would have died had they stayed in Ukraine.  What has followed has been such a story of restoration and hope.  They are a beautiful family, and have chosen to live a life of influence, reaching out to many other Ukrainian refugees in our city.  This has developed into a significant ministry focus out of our church.  Due to the language barrier, we started an English Language Learner program, which now serves hundreds of refugees from many countries in helping them learn English, Canadian customs, assisting them in navigating the different systems here, and helps them build friendships and community.  It has not only helped the refugees and newcomes, but has dramatically impacted our church culture in all the most beautiful ways. It has made us more intentional, compassionate and joy filled.   They have made a difference in our lives equally as much as we might have had an impact in theirs.  When the news gets discouraging, it’s important for me to remind myself of things like these - and the difference we can make.  

This card was designed to convey that hope.  I started with a lovely set from Honey Bee Stamps called Squared Spring Florals, and the coordinating Honey Cuts Dies.  

Rather than using the stencil that goes with the set, I coloured the image with Copics in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.  I also added some background stamping in white using the set as well.  

Then I turned the center portion of the stamp set into a shaker design for Simon Says Stamp March IG Challenge.  

A few extra holeless mirrored sequins accent the design outside of the shaker as well.  

Great to have you stop by!  

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Flowers for Ukraine from Honey Bee Stamps

Rosey Roses with Simon Says Stamp

 

Hi There!  A few weeks ago when I was watercolouring a Simon Says Stamp’s amazing Beautiful Flowers Set, I also embossed the loose roses from the set, and after painting them I set them aside for later.  They made for a really pretty arrangement for a second card.  

To play off the colours of the roses, I did some ink blending, and colour lifting with a stencil in the background.  It makes for great colour and texture.  To accent and add some sparkle, I used Crafty Meraki’s Olive Leaf Para-Die on gold glitter paper.  It’s perfect for extra foliage.  

The sentiment is from Concord & 9th’s die set, Short and Sweet Dies,  and I’ve added in some ‘berry’ enamel dots to accent.  

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Rosey Roses with Simon Says Stamp

Love and Hugs Watercoloured Roses from SSS

Hello!  The monthly challenge on Instagram for Simon Says Stamp is watercolouring, so I thought I’d pull out one of my Simon Says Stamps sets called Beautiful Flowers , because it really IS beautiful!  I embossed the image onto Arches watercolour paper, and pulled out some of my Daniel Smith Watercolour tubes to paint.  

It almost feels a bit like cheating when you watercolour over embossing.  The raised edges of the embossing hold your colours in each section so nicely.  This image has a lot of gold in it, so over all it was easy to paint. I used the coordinating dies for the set to die cut the image out. 

I also created a background using a Gothic stencil and embossing paste with ink splatters.  It gives it so much great texture.  

The sentiment is from the set, also embossed in gold, and a few mirrored sequins make it sparkly.  

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Love and Hugs Watercoloured Roses from SSS

Thankful for You with Simon Says Stamp

With being gone all of October, I really didn’t get enough time to create with Autumn themed designs, so I’m sneaking in a couple more this week.  Today’s design uses Simon Says Stamp’s Fresh Air Fall Flowers.  The variety of leaves and flowers give you many opportunities to mix and match.  Once I found a colour palette I liked, I did all the stamping and die cutting. 

Sometimes card designers can feel like florists don’t you think?  Playing around until we find an arrangement we like?  I placed the layers on a card base with The Greetery’s Herringbone Parquet Die.  It adds great texture.  

The sentiments in the set are really great, especially for the season.  Have a happy Monday!  

 

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Thankful for You with Simon Says Stamp

Stitching Saturday Delphinium

 

After a bit of a break, I’m back today with another stitching Saturday design.  This time it’s some towering delphinium just like I have starting to bloom in my flower beds.  This bluey-purple shade are my favourite!  I loosely followed a pattern I found on the web, using The Stamp Market’s adorable Embroidery Hoop dies.  

The blue cardstock is run through Simon Say’s Stamp’s Pincushion Plate Wafer Die, to coordinate with the holes of the cross stitch die.  Then I added in a frame of green 1/4 inch Quick Strips from The Stamp Market.  

The foiled sentiment is a really pretty one also from The Stamp Market called Best Wishes Foil Plate.  

It makes for a sweet little Summer thank you note!  

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Stitching Saturday Delphinium

Circular Posies with Pinkfresh Studios

 

Hi Again!  I’m back with more flowers.  I just can’t get enough.  Today’s pretty posies are from Pink Fresh Studio and are called Peony Fantasy.  Included in this suite are the Hot Foil Plate, Coordinating Die, and the coordinating stencil.  I think it’s a beautiful bundle of products.  I finished a card with this bundle a few weeks ago, but had a few leftovers perfect for a new design.  

I’m playing along with Pink Fresh Studio’s Monthly Challenge for “Circles”.  This circle die perfectly frames the layers of flowers and vellum!  

So, I hot foiled, stenciled and die cut a few extra blooms with a more orange tone, which pairs nicely with the peach blossoms.  The card base is created with a Simon Says Stamp Embossing Folder called Margot Tile.  After running it through my machine, I swiped gold Lunar paste over the impressions to really give it the feeling of a tin ceiling.  

The sentiment is embossed in gold, and then some gold sequins accent the shimmery gold of the design.  

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Circular Posies with Pinkfresh Studios

Inky Blossoms with Alex Syberia

Hello!  I hope you’ve had a great day today!  Do you ever rediscover a technique after not using it for a while?  The most recent Instagram Challenge at Simon Says Stamp is ink blending, and I’d forgotten how wonderful it is for adding colour blends, especially with emboss resist!  

I started this lovely design with Alex Syberia’s digital stamp Full Bloom (from May 2020).  Coloured up the blooms with Copics and coloured pencils.  

 

Next, I tooks the background stamp from Simon Says Stamps called Lace Heart Kaleidoscope embossed it in white and then used ink shades that coordinated with the colouring to create an ombre background.  I love the pops of colour and blends between the colours, and it makes such a nice background for the card.  I also cut a few Big Branches: Ruscus Die from The Greetery onto white cardstock to ink blend as accents.  The leaves coordinate well with the stamped design.  

I also foiled a pretty sentiment onto vellum from Spellbinders Slimline Confetti Background doing some fussy cutting to trim it out.    

Vibrant and saturated.  Just how I love my flowers!  Thanks for joining me today.  

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Inky Blossoms with Alex Syberia

Faux Embossing with Stencils and SSS

hello!  After a week in CA for work, I’m ready for Spring! Winter is still sticking around here, so I created a little splash of Spring leaves with this pretty stencil from Simon Says Stamp called Autumn Cascade, but it makes just as lovely a card in other seasons.  

I chose some Distress Inks and ink blended the stencil, also adding in some coloured pencil definition.  Then to give it a bit of extra pop, I got out my light table and embossed it! 

All you need to do is place the coloured image face down over top of your stencil (precisely), and then the light table shining through allows you to use an embossing tool to press the images through, giving you some light embossing.  For a clean and simple design like this, a little touch of depth goes a long way.  

It’s such a pretty touch!  I also added coordinating die cut leaves, and a circle and sentiment from Concord & 9th’s A Bit of Paradise die set and the Short and Sweet Dies.  

Ready for a sweet hello to a friend! 

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Faux Embossing with Stencils and SSS

Beautiful Flowers with Simon Says Stamp

 

I’m delighted to share some new colouring with you!  This week’s Wednesday Challenge at Simon Says Stamp is to use something new.  These gorgeous roses called Beautiful Flowers are new to me, and aren’t they a knock-your-socks-off stamp?  This is my favourite type of image to colour, with tons of petal power potential!  I started my colouring with Copics and finished with colored pencils.  I wanted it all to have a soft vintage/shabby chic effect, so I’ve added deep greens and gold for the greenery.  

This card size is a bit bigger at 4 4/8 x 6 1/4.  

Aren’t the petals and leaves pretty?  I also vintaged it up by stencilling on the card base with gothic stencil, and added ink blending, gold Lunar Paste and little dew drops.  

The sentiments in the set are amazing!  I stamped Happy in Grapefruit Ink from Concord & 9th, embossed the smaller white parts of the sentiment and then added a little white gel pen to the Happy.  

Appreciate your visit and comments!   

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Beautiful Flowers with Simon Says Stamp

White on White with Simon Says Stamps

 

It’s a clean slate for a new year!  Simon Says Stamps has a fun Instagram Challenge to use white on white for your design, so today I played with a little snow!  It seems crazy that we had a brown Christmas here!  Unheard of in all the years I can remember, so honestly I would love to have a snow day!  The peacefulness of it and the hush it brings to the world is so special.  

For this design I used numerous snowflake dies that were retired from The Cat’s Pajamas Stamps and layered them over one another with different papers - vellum, cardstock, glitter paper to create a really dimensional flurry of flakes.  

The base layer is a beautiful die from Simon Says Stamps called Pincushion Plate.  It creates a beautiful layer of texture for the snowflakes which works perfectly for a white on white card design.  

I’ve added foam dots between the layers of snowflakes to give more dimension, and a lovely little foiled sentiment from Spellbinders called Must-Have Sentiments Glimmer Hot Foil plate and die set.   Done with some sparkly foil it is a perfect touch.  The holeless sequins add another layer of sparkle and die into the holes in the background plate.  Such frosty elegance!  

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White on White with Simon Says Stamps

Magnolia Bouquet for Christmas with Power Poppy

 

Hello!  It’s always so good to take a little break from the busyness of work and Christmas preparations to colour!  I pulled out this amazing image from Power Poppy called Winter Flora, and my Copic Markers to bring this arrangement to life, beautiful magnolias, hellebore, and sprigs of greenery, with little ornaments nestled in make for an amazing combination of colour.  

After colouring I combined a few dies, from Simon Says Stamps Pincushion Plate Die and white pine greenery from The Greetery with Big Branches: Pine Die to accent the pretty framed die from Spellbinders.  I decided to add a blue green background with my prismacolor pencils, so the beautiful rich Oceanside cardstock really sets of the festive colours.  And then, just a little bling with clear sequins, placed like berries in the greenery.  

Christmas Blessings to all of you out there!  

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Magnolia Bouquet for Christmas with Power Poppy

Golden Leaves with PTI

 

Alright, I’m giving in that it’s ok for Autumn to come.  It is such a golden season with the changing of leaves, vibrant colours and new starts.  I pulled out a gorgeous background from Simon Says Stamps called Overlapping Dots.  To me it looks just like interlocking leaves, and it’s perfect for embossing, and using resist techniques.  

I used some jewel and autumn toned Lindy’s Magical Pigment Powders  and spritzed lots of water to create this gorgeous rich coloured background.  Then I used the same powders to also run through some leaf die cuts to accent this beautiful embossed verse from PaperTrey Ink called Psalm Reflections:  March Mini.  

Then I went a little crazy with gold splatter....I think I’d dial that down if I could now!  

Thanks for enjoying the beautiful colours of fall with me! 

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Golden Leaves with PTI