Have you seen this stamp set called Spring Flowers by Simon Says Stamp? The minute I saw it, I wanted it. But it was out of stock as soon as it was up for sale. I guess I wasn't the only one that loved it! So I patiently waited and the minute I received it, I used it for my "one stamp, five ways" post. And guess what? I like it even MORE now that I have played with it. It is just made for watercoloring with all those pretty flowers!
I made six cards using this stamp set. It doesn't have dies that go with it, but that didn't stop me from cutting out lots of images. I might be the only human that LIKES cutting things out - fussy cutting they call it! But before we get to the cards, I want to show you the different methods that I used to color them. I tried four different ways and they all look very different (try clicking on the images below to see them better).
I stamped these images using the Simon Says Stamp Black Intense ink on Neenah 110 lb cardstock. I colored them all in with Copic markers using three shades for each color.
For these images, I stamped them with Versamark Ink and embossed with Ranger white embossing powder. But FIRST, I used a Ranger Blending Tool to blend two colors of Distress Ink on Neenah White Cardstock for each color. Then I stamped them and embossed so the white embossing stayed as white as possible (sometimes inking over it slightly changes the color). I think these are my favorites as I just love the way the white outlines look and I also love the brightness and intensity of the Distress Inks.
For this set of images, I stamped them with SSS Black Intense Ink on watercolor paper and used my tube watercolors (primarily Daniel Smith which are my favorites but any watercolor works fine - I'm just a watercolor snob!).
For these, I stamped them using light Distress ink colors (in the same shade as I painted that flower) on watercolor paper. Then I watercolored them with Distress Inks. I usually used 2 colors for each flower. As you paint inside the flower, the outlines disappear since distress inks reactivate when they are wet. I love how these look with no lines around the edges!
And now for the cards using some of the stamped images from the above four I've shown. But I didn't use them all - I have tons left to use for future cards (yes, I admit to going a bit crazy as painting is my favorite part of making cards!).
This card actually doesn't use any of the flowers from the piles above. For this one, I stamped the images directly on Ranger watercolor paper with Versamark ink and used white embossing powder. I painted the images in with watercolors. Next, I painted the background with watercolors - for these type of washes, you always wet the paper before applying color. That way the color spreads in the water giving you a nice mottled look and the colors blend together. This gives you the look of additional flowers in the background of the image. After the painting was done, I stamped the sentiment on black cardstock and embossed with white embossing powder. The sentiment is from a stamp set by Jane's Doodles called Pretty Peonies. I added some small clear sparkling sequins by Pretty Pink Posh to finish it off.
For this card, I die-cut a stitched rectangle and then die-cut a SSS stitched oval in the center of it (has stitching on both the inside and outside of the oval). I watercolored the outside of the oval with pink watercolor. I used the images I colored with Copic markers for this one. I glued them to the top and bottom of the oval. I stamped "best mom ever" in the center of the oval using Hero Arts Bubblegum ink. The sentiment is from a Jane's Doodles stamp set called Mom. I added some clear sparkly sequins.
I started this card with a Neenah white cardstock base. I die-cut the word thanks using a SSS thanks die. Before I cut it, I applied double sided adhesive to the back of my cardstock. this makes it WAY easier to attach to the card. I applied green Distress Ink to it using a Ranger blending tool. I used the stamped images that are embossed and were colored with Distress Inks from the photo above. I attached them to the top and bottom of the card and attached the thanks word over the top. I added some sequins.
I stamped all of the images on a piece of watercolor paper and painted them in using watercolors. I added the word congrats from a die-cut by My Favorite Things using white cardstock. I attached all to a white card base.
I painted stripes on white cardstock using distress inks (in greens and blues - colors are listed below). I die-cut the outside using the SSS frames and things die-set. I also cut the frame out of white cardstock and attached both to a white cardstock base. I stamped the salutation from the SSS Friendship Blooms stamp set. I embossed it with Antique Gold embossing powder by SSS. I added some of my stamped images that I painted with watercolors.
And here is my last card. For this one, I used my images from above that are painted with no outlines using Distress Inks. I attached them all to a stitched rectangle. I attached that to a stitched rectangle painted with stripes (my favorite go to method for card backgrounds!). The sentiment is from a stamp set that i cannot remember! I used Hero Arts Bubblegum Ink to stamp it and stamped it on a banner from the SSS Sketchy Banner Dies.
It takes SO long to type all of this stuff out! Do the descriptions help you? Are they worth my time? haha - I could just put pictures and save time, but I want to help others make the same cards if they want to. I hope it is helpful! Well, have a great week friends and I will be back on Friday with another Mama Elephant stamp set - a brand new one that I can't wait to play with! Thanks for visiting! Suzy
Very nice! And, yes, the descriptions help A LOT. Great to see how much you were able to get out of the one stamp set.
Posted by: Sherry W | March 29, 2016 at 09:23 PM
Suzy-i recently bookmarked your blog because I am so inspired by your talent and card creating skills. I am sort of in a craft lull and this post was just what I needed to get my creative muse reignited! I do appreciate all the descriptions you write. I have had my eye on this stamp set and want to create with it too. You and I share a similar design aesthetic and I think each and every one of these cards is just beautiful and truly a work of art. Thank you for being a bright spot in my crafting life! I am on Instagram as annievee1977 if you would like to see what I create. Thank you again!
Posted by: Annie | March 30, 2016 at 04:35 AM
Oh boy! You are amazing. Thank you so much for the time you take to describe what you have done to create your images. It is SO helpful. This looks like an amazing stamp set. The cards are absolutely gorgeous. I so appreciate that you do these posts!
Posted by: Jeanne | March 30, 2016 at 04:57 AM
I so look forward to checking your blog! Another beautiful set of cards - love the striped backgrounds! The descriptions are very appreciated. Do you ever do videos when you make cards? Thanks for sharing your talent!
Posted by: Carol L | March 30, 2016 at 05:00 AM
I look forward to your posts and really like that you have descriptions. I realize that it takes time (having taught stamping classes and writing out how to do every step), but thank you for doing that. Beautiful cards again!
Posted by: Annette | March 30, 2016 at 08:16 AM
i just love the way you blog and i love your descriptions (cannot even tell you how much i appreciate good, old-fashioned words and photos as opposed to videos!). your cards are just completely and thoroughly lovely and your colour sense is just fantastic! pleas keep doing what you are doing (unless it becomes too much work because first you need to take care of you!)
Posted by: kelly | March 30, 2016 at 12:02 PM
Love the descriptions... And beautiful cards once again...
Posted by: G Evert | March 30, 2016 at 03:28 PM
Thanks for sharing! I'm a new blog follower and just in time - I recently bought this set and I'm excited to create things using some of your inspirations! I really like your color combo choices!
Posted by: Cheryl L | March 30, 2016 at 04:30 PM
These are great and thank you for sharing the directions! I never knew to stamp in a light colored distress ink and then use the distress inks to color in the stamp so now I'm going to give it a try because your description was so detailed I think I can do it!
Posted by: Brenda | March 30, 2016 at 08:50 PM
Wow! A lot of work with so many techniques packed in one post. This helps me a lot as I am trying to get the supplies I need to make pretty cards like you, and trying to decide which techniques I want to do or try. So this is really helpful to me!! But I can tell you put a LOT of work into this one post. All gorgeous and inspiring!! Thank you for sharing!!
Posted by: Patricia | March 31, 2016 at 07:54 AM
suzy, just wonder how exactly you paint with the distress inks? do you use a water brush right on the ink pad? do you rub the ink pad onto a surface and pick the colour up from there? just curious and am anxious to try this technique
Posted by: kelly | April 01, 2016 at 07:12 AM
Beautiful cards! I really like the different ways you "painted" the images. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Posted by: plus.google.com/101746317552692233780 | April 01, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Thank you for showing me a number of different ways to use my stamps! Beautiful job.
Posted by: Kerry M | April 15, 2016 at 10:57 AM
I was browsing the web looking for ideas to use this stamp set - I LOVE your cards! So hard to choose a favorite. Thank you for writing out the basic directions - I appreciate knowing what kinds of water colors you used for various cards as they all give different (and gorgeous) effects!
Posted by: 3kidmama | April 23, 2016 at 12:32 PM
I just want to say that I love your postings of one stamp 5 ways!! I have bookmarked your site and I'm now going to subscribe. I have been using your site for the past week to come up with ideas using my own stamp sets!! I don't have the stamp sets that you are showing, but I have sets that are similar to them. So, thank you for these posts.
Posted by: Jennifer Hovermale | April 28, 2016 at 03:18 AM
Very helpful! Please keep posting directions/instructions. I'm still learning and love your work. You are an inspiration.
Thank you,
Joyce
Posted by: Joyce Jensen | April 29, 2016 at 08:10 PM
I just googled this stamp set and am so happy to have found you! What great ideas. I love that you used the stamps different ways and the descriptions were very helpful. Thank you.
Posted by: Katherine Moore | August 27, 2016 at 10:07 PM
Yes, all that work is well worth your time, for us. I appreciate reading all your tips and tricks. Many are things I don't think to do. I loved each card and think you did a beautiful job on each one. I will be giving your ideas a try. Thank you so much.
Marge
Posted by: [email protected] | February 05, 2017 at 07:35 AM
Yes the instructions help immensely. Thank you for taking the time to do it.
Posted by: Alma D | March 11, 2017 at 10:18 PM
Your descriptions are so helpful!!! I'm seeing your blog for the first time today and I loved your post for this stamp set. I have it huh myself but it's been a year and I have yet to use it! You've given me HUGE inspiration for taking this set out in the morning and finally breaking it in!!. It's disappointing sometimes when you go to a blog and they don't list products or material. I'm not sure if it's intentional or not or if it's just a personal preference to keep "the recipes" to themselves. When you get SO inspired at seeing something that you'd like to recreate, it's so helpful to have that info. The two questions that I seem to ask the most are "who is that stamp set by" and "how did you do that"....Thank you again for the inspiration and for so freely sharing your craft!
Posted by: Liane Albert | March 15, 2017 at 11:49 PM
These are all just outstanding! You have such talent and your colors are just so gorgeous, Suzy! Yes. . . all your typing of the details are SUCH a help! Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us!!!!
Posted by: Denise Evans | March 23, 2017 at 08:13 PM