Since we are all in the mood for Spring lately, today I am highlighting the stamp set called "Abby's Spring Showers". I don't think the rain is what we look forward to with Spring, but this stamp set has much more to offer than just cloudy skies! I will be showing you 7 ways to use this set which THIS TIME is in stock at Simon Says Stamp (((in case you like it and don't have it!))). I used both the stamp set, the dies that coordinate with it, as well as the Raindrops stencil that was sold with it. You can buy all three together HERE or just the stamp set HERE or just the dies HERE.
Let's start with my most time consuming card first - and there are two versions of this one as I messed one up and started over, but then decided I liked the messed up one more!
I planned on coloring the images with Copic markers and using a blending ink technique for the background of this card. So the right paper to use is Neenah White Cardstock. I used the Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink. As I have mentioned on my last couple posts, this ink is a must have for stampers. First, it works with both Copic markers and watercolor without smearing. Second, it comes OFF my stamps and cleans up easily unlike other black inks I have used that stain the stamps!
I first stamped all images on Stamping Mask Paper (a must have for card makers!). I then used the masks to block areas as I stamped them on the cardstock. First I stamped the hat and then I put a mask on it. Next I stamped the umbrella and put a mask on it. Then I stamped the girl and put a mask on her. Then I stamped the umbrella and put a mask on it Last I stamped each flower and masked the others as I went. Once I was done with ALL the stamping, I kept the masks on all of the items.
Next, I used Distress Ink in Stormy Sky and the Ranger Blending Tool and applied ink lightly to the background. I always start on my scratch paper behind the card so there are never strong lines around the ink - you want to lightly blend the color without the circle from the blending tool showing. Once I had the background blended, I attached the Raindrops stencil over the card and taped it in place. I then used the Blending Tools again to apply more Stormy Sky ink to the raindrops.
Next, I drew a line with a black fine tip marker along the bottom of the image just above her feet. I drew a similar line on the masking paper and masked the background above the line. Then I applied some black Distress ink to the bottom to look like cement.
Now for the fun part - I removed ALL of the masks - I love seeing what the images look like after the background is done. I then colored all the images in with Copic markers. I added some details with a White Uniball marker. Last, I attached a frame from the Mama Elephant Framed Tags dies (another must have for all my cards!) using White Neenah Cardstock again. I colored the inside of this frame with Copic markers. I stamped Rain, Rain, Go Away along the bottom of the frame and attached all to the card base.
I used the exact same process for this card as for the one above (this was my first version that I decided I didn't like so I started over). I did add a few more raindrops with the raindrop stamps in the stamp set to fill in the background better. I stamped the Make a Splash on the card. I decided the background on this one was too dark so the images didn't stand out enough. I die cut it with the largest Lawn Fawn stitched rectangle and applied the entire thing to a yellow card base. Last I added some 4mm clear sparkly sequins to the background of the card with Glossy Accents.
I planned on using watercolor for this card, so I stamped all the images on my favorite Canson Mixed Media paper (it is 98 lb instead of 140 lb like most watercolor paper, but it is pure white which I love). I used the same SSS Intense Black Ink as I talked about above. I die cut all the images and watercolored them, using a white uniball marker to add details. I also watercolored the background using the same paper. I die cut the background using a new die set that I love called Frames. I discarded that frame and cut another one out of white cardstock and attached that around the background on a red card base.
On each card, I am trying to show you different coloring mediums and methods so each one is different. For this one, I planned on using watercolor, so I stamped the images on Canson watercolor paper. I used a light tan ink by My Favorite Things in Natural. I wanted to do no-line watercoloring, so this way the ink would not show once I colored the images. This is a technique I love to use with both Copic markers or watercolors. Do you like these images without black borders? I used the hat as a basket for the flowers (cut the little pot off the flowers were in). I used a scallop edged die-cut from the SSS Frames set for the salutation and outlined the edges with a fine tip black marker. I also die-cut the frame shape from watercolor paper. I watercolored the frame with red paint and did a wash of yellow and red on the inside of the frame. I attached those to a white cardstock base and then attached all the images.
This card shows another way to use this stamp set that is totally different than the other cards show. I used just the bear with the umbrella and then several of the little hearts. I watercolored each image and then used a Wink of Stella glitter pen to add sheen to each. I added a sentiment I had from THIS SET called Clearly Besotted Wild Things (but any happy birthday you have would work here). I used a Speech Bubble die from Pretty Pink Posh . I first watercolored two pieces of Ranger Watercolor paper that comes in card size - I used a gradient wash where I applied color darker on one end and got lighter as I went. I used pink on one and yellow on the other. I then die-cut both with LF stitched rectangle dies (largest and second largest). Next, I used a SSS stitched circle die (that leaves the stitching on the outside of the circle as well as on the inside of the circle) to cut a circle out of the top center of the pink wash. I also cut the same size circle out of white yardstick. Next, I used a scallop circle from the LF Scallop Circle dies around the circle I had just die-cut.
Now that I had all the components ready to put the card together, I created a shaker card. I die cut two pieces of White Fun Foam with the same size stitched rectangle die I used for the pink piece (I used two so the shaker would be thicker). I applied the Sticket Adhesive Sheets to the foam before I die-cut them so the were sticky. I then attached the two together and attached the pink die-cut to the top. I also cut a piece of transparency and attached that under the pink die-cut piece before I attached the foam. I put sequins into the opening and then attached this entire thing to the yellow piece. I attached ALL of that to a yellow cardstock base. Whew - done!!! I hope this all made sense! I used three colors and sizes of sequins including 4mm Pink Blush, 4mm Clear Sparkly, and 6mm yellow.
I made a second bear card, but luckily this one wasn't nearly as time consuming as the last! For this one, I first watercolored a background using pinks and yellows and then die-cut them with the scallop edged rectangle from the MFT Blueprints 20 set. I also die-cut a rectangle from the LF stitched rectangle dies out of white cardstock. In the center of that piece, I die-cut a stitched oval from the SSS stitched oval set (that has stitching on both the inside and outside of each oval). I stamped the images on Ranger watercolor paper and watercolored them. I attached the white cardstock piece on top of the watercolor panel and then attached the stamped images on top. I added a bunch of the little hearts around the oval and stamped "Bear Hugz" on the top.
Last, I made a little tag. I used Texture Paste colored with some Spun Sugar Distress Ink and applied that over a Swiss Dot Stencil, then cut a tag using the SSS Large Tag die set. I stamped the bear and bunny using the MFT Natural Ink and watercolored them so they don't have outlines. I stamped the Bear Hugz using LF Wild Rose ink on top of a frame stamped with the same ink from the Flirty Frames stamp and die set.
And that's it folks! haha Oh my goodness - my fingers are so worn out from typing this and I bet your EYES are worn out from reading it (if you made it all the way through!). I have come to the conclusion after one week that I can't keep up this pace of doing two posts a week with five plus projects each. so I might have to re-evaluate this schedule! But I will try for a coupe more weeks to see if anyone is reading them and see if you LIKE THEM!!! My love language is words of affirmation, so feel free to let me know if these are helpful or if you have a stamp set you would like me to work with for this type of post! Thanks so much for visiting today!!! Suzy
I love these posts so hope you keep doing them! If you have either the Simon Says Stamp "best mom ever" stamp set or the Simon Says Stamp "what's brewing" stamp set I would love to get your ideas on stretching them - I have and love them but am always looking for new ways to use my stamp sets.
Posted by: Brenda | February 28, 2016 at 08:54 PM