Living My Dream

Pink Fresh Studio Floral Focus Stamp Set

I don't often use products that are not made by Simon Says Stamp, but every now and then I have to buy something that really speaks to me. I love all of Emily Midgett's floral illustrations that have been made into stamps! This one is called Floral Focus and is just so gorgeous! Here is an image of it - it is a cling stamp that is A2 card front size (4.25" x 5.5"). I don't know my flowers, so I'm not even sure what flowers these are, but I bet everyone else knows! So I just went with my favorite colors on this one using Copic markers and not worrying if they were realistic colors! I started by embossing... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Tropical Foliage Watercolor Cards Part 2 (Make Magic Release)

I posted 3 of my newest set of watercolor cards all colored on the day of the Make Magic release and promised to come back with the other 3 colored. Here is an image of this set called Tropical Foliage: There are 12 prints in this set with two of each design. They are printed on Ranger Watercolor Paper and can be colored with any or all coloring mediums. I typically use a combination of watercolors and colored pencils, but you can also use Copics or anything else your heart desires! They are perfect for making quick cards as all you have to do is attach to a card front (and in this set, you can add your own sentiment).... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp MAKE MAGIC Blog Hop Day 1 - "One Stamp, Five Ways" Hibiscus Blooms

Today is the first day of the 2 day blog hop celebrating the Simon Says Stamp Make Magic release. I hope this hop is inspiring you to Make Some Magic and that you love this new release as much as I do! Yesterday I posted 3 cards using my newest set of Suzy's Watercolor Cards called Tropical Foliage. Here is an image of the set of 12 cards: And here are images of the 3 cards that I colored and here is a link to my post telling how I colored them: I'll have the other 3 watercolor cards from this set colored on my blog in the next few days so you can see all of them made into... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Make Magic Release is LIVE!!!!!

TODAY is the release of the newest Simon Says Stamp release called Make Magic. It is full of very magical products that are so fun to use!!!! I have a new set of watercolor cards I illustrated for this release called Tropical Foliage. My inspiration for this set was all my trips to Hawaii. I wanted to capture a little bit of the beauty and color of the world over there. Hopefully my colored versions will make you feel like you are in the tropics! Here is an image of the set: There are six designs with two prints of each. They are all printed on Ranger Watercolor Paper which works great with ANY coloring medium. I like to use... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - Simon Says Stamp Tropical Silhouettes

I am excited to share a "one stamp, five ways" post with you today using one of the new 6x8" stamp sets from the Rainbows release called Tropical Silhouettes. As soon as I saw this set, I knew I would want to use it for one of these posts since I love anything beach related. I don't tend to gravitate to flat stamps though, so it gave me a bit of a challenge which I gladly took on! How could I use stamps that I couldn't color five ways"? Well, I figured it out and I'm excited to share my five cards with you. Here is an image of the stamp set Tropical Silhouettes and the matching dies which are... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Peony Bundle Embossing Folder

I think I said I was done coloring embossing folder images on my last post, but I was so addicted, I went back to an older one and did one more! This was one of the first embossing folders Simon came out with and somehow I never used it! I wanted to end this embossing folder craze I've been in on a really good one, so I hope you will enjoy seeing the Peony Bundle Embossing Folder colored as I think this one is gorgeous! Here is an image of the folder itself: And here is my card: As usual in my last 5 posts on using embossing folders, I turn to the 120 lb. cardstock by SSS for all... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS August Card Kit Toadally Unfrogettable

Hello friends! It's that time of the month again to announce the release of the Simon Says Stamp monthly card kit. This kit is for August 2021 and is called Toadally Unfrogettable. The name says it all - it is full of ...... FROGS! Here is an image of the kit: The stamp set is also called Toadally Unfrogettable and is sold alone or as a bundle with a set of dies. I didn't have the dies and I certainly wish I had as it was a lot of fussy cutting. But then again, I made five cards, so .... speaking of which I have a "one card, five ways" post today using the kit, but focusing on the stamp... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Magnolia Blossoms Embossing Folder Card (from Born to Sparkle Release)

I thought I was done with embossing folder cards, but I have another one to share with you tonight! I realized since I've had so much fun using the 4 from the Rainbows release that I should go back and use a couple from past releases too. The one I am using today is called Magnolia Branches and is from the Born to Sparkle release. Here is an image: And here is my card using the same coloring techniques as the last four I have shared! I embossed the Magnolia Blossoms embossing folder using SSS 120 lb. cardstock as it is thicker than the 110 lb. Neenah cardstock I usually use. It also has a sheen to it (less matte)... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Leaf Bundle Embossing Folder from Rainbows Release

Today I have a card using an embossing folder from the SSS Rainbows release. They released 4 different gorgeous embossing folders in this release and I have posted cards with three of the four so far. If you didn't see those posts, there is one with the Wildflower Fields embossing folder here, one with the Vine Canopy embossing folder, and one with the Roseville Bouquet embossing folder. This card is made with the last of the four called Leaf Bundle and here is an image: My card uses the same exact coloring methods I've used on the other 3. Here are the photos and directions: I embossed the Leaf Bundle embossing folder using SSS 120 lb. cardstock. I also embossed... Read more →

My Favorite Things July 2021 Release

Today is the July 2021 new product release for My Favorite Things. I love being one of their monthly friends allowing me to share projects using some of the new release products. Today I have two cards to share with you using the new Stacey Yacula stamp set called Penquin Party and one of the two new Rachelle Anne Miller stamps called Beautiful Birthday Girl. Here are images of the stamp sets that I used today: I also used two other new products in this release. One is a cling stamp called the Polka Dot Party Background and the other is called the Happy Birthday Party Die. Here are my two cards with directions for each: I started this slimline... Read more →