Living My Dream

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - Simon Says Stamp July Card Kit Bee Yourself

Hi friends! Today I have a "one stamp, five ways" post to share with you using the SSS July Card Kit called Bee Yourself. Here is an image of the kit: As usual, I focus on the stamp set in the kit (thus the title of the post) so most of my cards are using that over some of the other options in the kit. The stamp set is sold alone and is also called Bee Yourself (I would want this stamp set even if I didn't want the entire kit). It contains a glue sponge and foil as well as 3 laser printed cards you can use on your cards. I will confess that I did (((attempt))) to use... Read more →

Pretty Pink Posh Tropical Blog Hop Day 1

Today is the first day of a two day blog hop for the new Pretty Pink Posh summer product release. You can buy the entire bundle HERE at a discount. I think I've used the entire release on this post, so all of the new products are listed in the supply list at the end of this post linked to both the PPP store and the SSS store. Before I show you my new cards, here are two that I made for the product sneak with Tropical Toucans: (you can see the details of how I made them and additional photos on the PPP blog here) And here are my three new cards using other products from the new release:... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Rest and Refresh Blog Hop - Day 1

Helllllllllo all you blog hoppers out there! Today is the first day of a two day celebration! SSS has released their newest set of products called Rest and Refresh. Sounds like what I need after making 12 cards to show you today haha. If you visited THIS POST from yesterday, I did a "one stamp, five ways" using the new stamp set called Your Light. Here are my five cards (see blog post for directions and more images). I also showed a photo of 8 cards I made using the new set called Summa Time (blog post showing these 8 cards will be on the SSS blog on July 30th): In this release I have a new set of watercolor... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS Rest and Refresh Your Light Stamp Set

Hi everyone! Tonight is the Simon Says Stamp new Rest and Refresh release, so I am sharing with you a "one stamp, five ways" post with one of the all new stamp sets (see my five cards above)! I have a new set of watercolor cards in this release also I can't wait to show you as I think they are one of my better sets. This one is called "Suzy's Adventurous Watercolor Prints" and here is an image: I will have them all painted on my blog tomorrow for the first day of the two day blog hop so come back to see them! You can see the entire Rest and Refresh release here. My post today is using... Read more →

"One Stamp, Four Ways" - MFT Picnic Pals by Stacey Yacula

I often do additional cards in my "one stamp, five ways" posts, but I've never done less than 5! So today, I had to call this post a "one stamp, four ways" as I just didn't have time to crank out one more card! BUT, hopefully I will make it up to you by impressing you with the four cards I did make haha! Here is an image of one of the newest stamp sets by MFT called Picnic Pals by Stacey Yacula: And here are my four cards! Card 1: My first card is a slimline card with measurements that are 3.5" x 8.5" on the front of the card. You can make one with an 8.5" x 11"... Read more →

Making Backgrounds Ahead of Time Installment #4 - Creating Scenes

I've done three other posts about making card backgrounds ahead of time. You can find those HERE, HERE, and HERE. Today is my fourth installment in this series. It's become a "series" because I love doing it this way! Whenever I have a few backgrounds made, I find putting together a card is so much easier and quicker. Plus focusing on creating backgrounds while the Distress Inks are all out is a fun way to spend an afternoon! Today's focus is going to be on creating scenes for critters with Distress Inks and Distress Oxide Inks and stencils. I'll be using 3 Simon Says Stamp stencils today. Here is a lookie at them with short descriptions - these things are... Read more →

SSS BLOG HOP - Celebrate You Release

Today is the first day of the Simon Says Stamp blog hop for their new release called Celebrate You. As you have probably seen thus far on the hop, it is full of products that celebrate father's, birthdays, etc... I have a new set of watercolor cards in this release called Celebrate Dad. Here is an image: I have colored all of these watercolor cards to show you how they will look all perdied up! I don't always use watercolor on them even though they are printed on Ranger Watercolor Paper. Sometimes I use colored pencils or Copic markers, or a combo off all three! Let's get started and I'll give you some of my tips to dress them up... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS Gerbera Daisy Background Stamp

Today is the Simon Says Stamp new release called Celebrate You. It is full of birthday, Father's Day, and floral products. I have a new set of watercolor cards in this release called Celebrate Dad. Here is an image: This is the first time I have drawn a boy/man set of cards. It was a bit of a challenge for me as I gravitate towards girly flowery images! I will have them all painted on my blog during the blog hop tomorrow if you want to see them all done. I tried some new creative things with the cards this time to inspire you to use the designs in different ways. Today's "one stamp, five ways" post uses one of... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS June Card Kit Leafy Frames

Hello friends! Today's "one stamp, five ways" post is using the Simon Says Stamp June 2019 Card Kit called Leafy Frames. Here is an image of the kit: As usual, I try to focus on the stamp set which is also called Leafy Frames and can be purchased by itself HERE. Let me just tell you that the papers in this kit are phenomenal! I don't usually like using patterned papers on my cards, but these I could not resist. The only problem was I didn't want to cover any of them up! The papers are by Carta Bella and called Botanical Gardens and can be purchased alone HERE in a 6x6 pad. I have five cards and some envelopes... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - MFT Friendly Foxes by Stacey Yacula

Today is the MFT new release and one of the stamp sets in it is called Foxy Friends by Stacey Yacula. I did a "one stamp, five ways" post today using this cute stamp set. I have five cards to share with you. I've also used the MFT Scene Builder stamp set for a few of these cards. It works so well for backgrounds. CARD 1: I started with a die cut Inside and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Die-namics (which doesn't seem to be sold anymore so no link!). Next, I used the Scene Builder stamp set to stamp the grass, trees, and clouds with MFT Natural Ink. I then colored them in with colored pencils. I was so happy... Read more →