"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS May Card Kit

BIG UPDATE/NEWS/BULLETIN/ETC:  I FINALLY FIXED MY SUBSCRIBE BUTTON!

This was not an easy task for an old lady like me. I made it so you can click on it and enter your email address to get my updates. Let me know if this doesn't work right, but hopefully my followers will be able to actually follow me now! Thanks to those that let me know it didn't work! Also my links to IG and Pinterest work now. I'm such a stud - I even updated my photo from the one that was 10 years ago when I was really skinny - hahaha!

Ok, back to THIS POST:

I'm finally back to my "one stamp, five ways" posts today using the adorable, colorful, happy Simon Says Stamp May card kit. Here it is if you haven't seen it yet - take special note of the cute stamp called HAPPY DAYS (which can be purchased by itself as well) I'll be highlighting in my cards today:

I made six cards with the kit (not five - need to change the name of this whole blog post title thing ha). And here they are all with my gift of gab descriptions/directions for you!

My perspective on my photo of this card is way off - please forgive me. I have a really BAD BAD SORE BACK with pinched nerves and three herniated disks and other stuff going on and bending over to take photos in my set up is painful. So yeah, that's my excuse for today's sucky perspective on my photos - haha! Well, not really haha as it hurts bad in caps x 2 and that was putting it lightly!

Directions: I started by making a card base out of the white cardstock in the kit. I die-cut a frame out of one of the Lawn Fawn plaid patterned papers in the kit using the Mama Elephant die set called Framed Tags. I then die-cut another stitched frame out of watercolor paper using the Pretty Pink Posh Storybook 1 die set.  I painted it with pink watercolors (Daniel Smith Opera Pink to be exact!). I then attached it to the card base and attached the plaid frame over it. I stamped the three items on watercolor paper using Tattered Rose Distress Ink as it is a basic neutral color that easily blends into other colors. I then painted them with watercolors. After they were done, I added some fine lines with a black marker so they had more of a doodled look. I do this a lot - I want the no line look, but then when they are done I decide they need outlines, so I add them - huh?!?!?! Way to add an extra step to the process right? I positioned them inside the frame and then added the word sticker and some of the sequins. There are LOTS of sequins in this kit in such pretty colors! And I love that some of them are 8 or 10mm as I don't have any that big in my stash.  

Directions: Again, I started this card with a white cardstock card base. I then die-cut a stitched rectangle out of another of the Lawn Fawn plaid papers using the rectangle in the MFT Blueprints 13 set (it is 4" x 5.25" so it leaves a 1/8" border around it). I then die-cut a rounded rectangle out of the center of it and another out of white cardstock using the MFT Rounded Rectangle die set - love this set! I stamped the flowers on Neenah white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. I added some darker yellow dots to the inside of the flowers for visual interest. I attached them over the white frame and added some of the kit sequins around them - aren't those sequin colors SO pretty? Last, I added a word phrase sticker to the bottom. 

Directions: I used the yellow cardstock in the kit to make a card base. I then die-cut a stitched rectangle out of another LF plaid paper using the MFT Blueprints 13 die. I also die-cut another stitched rectangle using my Lawn Fawn rectangle dies out of watercolor paper. I painted it with a messy look of pinks and yellows. Tip: I actually paint full sheets of watercolor paper with paints spreading, dripping, wiping, splashing, splattering away when I am stressed - try it, it is so therapeutic! Once those sheets are done, I die-cut them ahead of time into lots of rectangle sizes to use on cards making the process WAY faster. This one was done some time ago and was one of my favorites waiting for just the right card to use it on. I still remember the day I painted this one - totally stressed out sitting at my local Dana Point Harbor watching birds and actually left paint stains in my car and on my clothes from all the splattering - hahaha. Ok, back to directions - tip is over! I attached THAT rectangle (don't you look at it so differently now?!?!?!) to the plaid one. I stamped the clouds, sun, and kite on Neenah white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. I love that these shapes are so easy to cut out since there aren't dies for this set. I attached them to my LOVELY PAINTED RECTANGLE WITH A STORY BEHIND IT. I also attached a phrase sticker and some of the large sequins.

Directions: THIS technique is becoming one of my favorites and I think I use it on one of my cards in my "one stamp, five ways" posts every single time! I stamped all of the stamps on a piece of watercolor paper randomly creating a pattern. Where there were blank spots, I added some of the little word stamps - I love that they are so little! I then cut that piece into a stitched rectangle using my LF rectangle dies - the one that is the full size of a card base is in the Large Rectangle Dies set. I painted all of the images and the background with watercolors. I added some of the smaller sequins in the kit randomly over the background. I stamped a sentiment on a small stitched banner from the MFT Blueprints 12 die set. I love how little these sentiments are and how they all add to the theme of this card. 

I gotta be honest - this card is not my style or colors at all. Maybe I just NEVER gave a teacher a card - I know, shame on me. And now my girls are too old to give teachers cards. BUT if I was to give one, isn't this stamp set just perfect for it? 

Directions: I started the card with a white cardstock card base. I then die-cut a piece of the LF plaid paper with a stitched rectangle one size smaller than the card base from the MFT Blueprints 13 set. I die-cut a stitched oval using the SSS Stitched Oval dies out of white cardstock. I stamped three apples and three speech bubbles on white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. I added some white dots with my trusty white Uniball marker. I stamped the three teacher sentiments on the speech bubbles and attached all to the rectangle and layered all on the card base. I tied some LF twine around the top of the card. 

A shaker card - yes, ma'am, don't want to disappoint! I had all these sequins left over and couldn't think of a better way to put them to use!

Directions: I created a card base with the green cardstock in the card kit - they always include such perfect colors for cards! I then die-cut a stitched rectangle out of one of the LF plaid papers using the MFT Blueprints 13 rectangle. I also die-cut another smaller rectangle from watercolor paper using my LF stitched rectangles. I watercolored that piece (ok, let's be honest, it was done a long time ago waiting for a card to put it on because I'm so proactive - haha). I then die-cut a square out of the top of it using the SSS Stitched Square dies. I built up two layers of foam tape to create a shaker window on the watercolored piece. I added a piece of transparency behind it and filled it with sequins. I used some additional Pretty Pink posh sequins that I had on hand to fill it up (links below). I attached a stitched square out of white cardstock behind the window and attached that whole set up to the card. Last, I stamped the umbrella and cloud on white cardstock and colored with Copics adding some white dots with my Uniball. I attached those to the outside of the window and a phrase sticker along the bottom of the window. 

Another post done and instead of my buttox being sore, my back is sore. But I already told you that...so no more complaining. Thanks to all for visiting and for my sweet blog readers who always leave me a kind comment - ahem Carol, Jeanne, and Grace (my sweet card making friend)! It is so appreciated and I love knowing that these posts are helping/motivating someone (you three) out there! Have a great week friends! Suzy

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Comments

[Carol L]

It is 12:30 AM here but couldn't turn in without checking your blog. And boy, I was not disappointed!! The cards are awesome!! Can't pick a favorite but I especially like the one with all of the stamps covering the front of the card. Yours are always spaced just right! I am a retired teacher and would have loved receiving one of the teacher cards. Your color choices on all of the cards are so pretty. You definitely do motivate and inspire! I will continue to read your blog!!

[Kate Dykstra]

Such fabulously fun cards!! Such wonderful ideas! Your cards are ALL so delightful! Thanks for all the tips and suggestions too. I can't wait to give things a go!!

I'm so sorry that your back is causing such grief and do hope you feel better soon. xox

[Jeanne]

First off, I am so bummed to hear that your back is giving you such fits. No fair! I can't imagine how hard it must be to get the photos and then sit for as long as you must have (or all the shifts it must have taken if you did the typing in shifts) to get this done. I am so glad you did for this is another amazing post, but I certainly don't want you to post if it is adversely affecting you! So, please take care and if you need to take some time off, I am all for it so you can feel better. That being said, this is another spectacular post! :) I especially love that you do that watercoloring of backgrounds ahead of time and use the rectangles when they fit a project. Brilliant idea. I also loved hearing that you watercolor in the car! Way to be productive! :) I adore each and every card you share. Big hugs that you will feel better soon!

[Annette]

Thanks for another great "One stamp, five (or six!) ways" post! As usual, I like all your cards and the variety of ways you do them. Your tip about watercoloring sheets of paper ahead of time is something I definitely will try. Hope you will feel better soon. Back issues are not fun at all!

[Jennifer Hovermale]

I'm so sorry to hear that you are having horrible back pain!! Pain is no fun anywhere, but pain in your back is one of the worst!! I love, love these types of posts. It makes me see my own stamps in new ways. Thank you for that! I'm sorry but I don't comment all the time, but I'm trying to do better. It takes me so long to type. By the way, I'm now a subscriber; thank you for fixing it. I didn't know that others had told you. I just didn't want you to miss potential subscribers because your blog is so AWESOME!! From one back sufferer to another, I do hope that your back feels better soon!! (Try Bengay, but thick application and wrapping up area in blanket; TENS unit; & Aspercreme with Lidocaine- now available over the counter; hot shower with water aimed at back) I hope that something helps soon!! Praying for you!!

[Tricia Ann]

These are so beautiful. You are very talented and productive, you get so much done. Get better soon!

[Leah]

Love these cheery cards. Thanks so much for the inspiration and hope your back is feeling better soon!

[LC]

After the recent SSS blog hop I bookmarked your blog because I remembered how much I enjoyed seeing your projects the times I had visited previously and I didn't want to miss out on any of the fun. Imagine my delight when I dropped by and read that I could now sign up as a subscriber ensuring that I don't miss any of the wonderful things going on here in the future! Your cards are outstanding! I love bright, vibrant and cheery cards...you've mastered that with these! As someone with a limited stamp collection, I'm always interested in learning how to stretch my stash. Your creativity inspires me to think outside the box. Thank you! Please take good care. I hope that your back pain subsides soon!

[Bridget]

Love these cards!

[Lee Higbee]

Just found you and I love your cards! Thank you for sharing your talents. :)

[Margaret Wise]

Awesome inspiration, First time to visiting your blog.

[Sandra Johnston]

I love every single card in this post! Oh my, what fabulous inspiration! This was my first visit to your blog, but now I an a subscriber!