Simon Says Stamp My Favorite BLOG HOP!

Hey friends and fellow card makers! I've been MIA for a few days as I was basking on the beach in Cabo San Lucas. My husband had a business trip, so I jumped in his suitcase. But I got back just in time for the Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop featuring their newest product release called SSS My Favorite!

I love all of Simon's releases, but especially those that have products I have designed in them! Today's release includes a new set of 12 watercolor cards (this is my 6th set now) called  "Every Occassion Notes" watercolor cards. After drawing several holiday/seasonal sets, I wanted to create a general set that would be good for all different card worthy occasions. 

These are meant to be used as card fronts after you finish coloring them, so I kept the sentiments to everyday subjects like birthday, congrats, thank you, friendship, love, etc... They are all printed on Ranger Watercolor Paper and are 4.25" x 5.5". Some of the designs are small enough that you can die-cut them a little smaller than a card front as I will show you in my examples below. I use the stitched rectangle from the MFT Blueprints 13 set that is 4" x 5.25" so there is a 1/8" border around each side. Once they are colored, you just attach them to a card front and add some dimensional items like sequins or twine to dress them up! They are as fun and therapeutic as an adult coloring book, but more practical as they can be sent to someone you love when you are finished! You can use any coloring medium on them even though they are printed on watercolor paper. Here are the 12 designs I have colored and made into greeting cards:

I used Copic markers to color this one in corals and peaches (Blush, Peach, Coral, Bougainvillea, and Pale Cherry Pink). I also used a light color (Floral White) to add color to the background around the flowers. I glued some 4mm Pretty Pink Posh sparkly sequins around the background. I die-cut with the MFT Blueprints 13 stitched rectangle and attached to a light pink card base. 

This one didn't have enough margins to die-cut it smaller than a standard card base. I did die-cut it with a stitched rectangle the exact size of the card from my Lawn Fawn large rectangle die set. To color it, I used watercolors. After it was dry, I used Faber Castelle watercolor pencils to add more details and shadowing as well as to trace over the letters. Watercolor pencils work great with OR without water, so I didn't wet them after applying. I attached some Pretty Pink Posh pink flower sequins around the top of the tree to add to the floral look and add some dimension. I attached it to a green card base.

This one might be my favorite of the 12 - but it's a little crazy, so I hope you like it too! I die cut it with a card base sized rectangle again from my Lawn Fawn large stitched rectangle set. I then painted all the clothes with watercolors. Again, I added shading and details with watercolor pencils, but this time I wet the color after I applied it. I used a white uniball for details on the clothes and I used a Wink of Stella over the clothing to paint or wet the pencils so I got shimmer as well. Jennifer McQuire taught me a great trick on one of her videos. Once your clear wink of stella dries up, you just add water to the barrel and it works again - a little less shimmer, but it still has some and it works GREAT as a water brush for watercoloring! I also watercolored the background with a light blue. After it was all dry, I glued twine over the clothes lines and tied bows at the end of each line to add some texture/dimension. I'm big on dimension! 

I was able to die-cut this with a smaller stitched rectangle from the MFT Blueprint 13 set.  I watercolored all of the flowers with my Daniel Smith watercolors. I kept the colors in greens, teals, and blues - all complimentary colors that blend so well together. I also painted the background with a light wash. I added shimmer with a Wink of Stella and white dots with a Uniball marker. I traced the letters with a watercolor pencil to match. Last, I added some of the 4mm sparkling sequins by Pretty Pink Posh. I attached the card front to a teal cardstock card base.

I die-cut this one with the MFT stitched rectangle again from Blueprints 13. I watercolored the flowers and letters. I added color to the background as well. I used watercolor pencils to shade and used a re-filled wink of stella pen to move the color around. I added 6mm yellow sequins by PPP to the center of some of the flowers. I attached the panel to a yellow card base.

I painted this one with watercolors again. The reason I use watercolors on most of these cards is because it is cheaper and faster than using Copics or other coloring methods. I can add color so quickly and it uses very little paint. I save my Copic markers for small projects with less ink being used! After it was painted, I used a new Wink of Stella pen (so it was really shimmery) on the sun. I then added some 6mm PPP yellow sequins around the edge of the sun. I die-cut this panel with a scallop border rectangle from MFT Blueprints 20 set. I love that this die also leaves a small border of the card base showing. I attached it to a red colored card base.

Coloring Method: This was another one of my favorites. I'm very curious which ones YOU like (yes YOU)... I loved watercoloring that BIG balloon. Hint - cover it with water before adding any color. Then drop color into the water and watch it move around. I love using more than one color and watching them move around and blend together. I added some pink and blue paint to my grey elephant. I added some shading and detail with my watercolor pencils. I painted the background yellow. I attached some 4mm light yellow sequins by PPP to the background. I die-cut the card with an MFT stitched rectangle from Blueprints 13. I then attached it to a turquoise card base.

This one was my favorite after being colored because I love how intense the colors are. How could anyone be mad at you if you sent them this bright floral sorry card?!?!?! I used watercolors - very rich purples, pinks, and blues. I added wink of stella after to give them sheen and some white uniball dots. For the background, I painted some greens, pinks, and blues randomly behind the flowers using lots of water so they are light and blended together. I attached some 6mm pink and blue sequins by PPP around the flowers. I die-cut the panel with the MFT Blueprints 13 stitched rectangle and attached to a purple card base.

 

Again, watercolors used here! I painted the background of the heart with a light pink and then added shadows to the letters and around the border with more intense pink color. I then added some details with watercolor pencils. After it was done and dry, I used a white uniball over some of the dots. I cut it out and attached it to a white card base. I tied some Lawn Fawn twine on the bottom of the card since this is a top folding card. 

I wanted this cake to be over the top, so I drew it a little topsy turvy crazy looking! I painted this with watercolors and added some color to the background as well. After it was dry, I attached PPP 4mm sequins in bright pink and light blue over parts of the cake. I added some 4mm PPP sparkling sequins over the background. I die-cut with it the MFT Blueprints 13 die and attached to a turquoise card base.

I used watercolors on this one as well and kept them fairly light. When I drew the balloons, I imagined them to be light and transparent so  the two colors would blend where they overlapped. I added watercolor pencils over the bear to make him look furry - I didn't wet it so the strokes would show. I'm always trying to add texture one way or another. NO sequins this time! I die-cut it with the MFT Blueprints 13 die and attached to a light blue card base.

This card was missing from the index on the SSS website. I sent it to them wrong the first time, so hopefully it will be corrected soon. I really liked this one! I colored this with Copic markers since the flowers were small and dainty. I added some PPP 4mm sequins around the heart. Guess why? Yep, texture and dimension! I die-cut it with a stitched rectangle again and attached it to a purple card base.

OK, that is all with my watercolor cards, but I had to make one other card! This time I used the new ADORABLE and seriously cute set called Beautiful Ride. I see that the set with dies and the dies by themselves are already out of stock, so this must have been a very loved set by all! The stamps are still available as of this minute I am typing though! I'm sure all will be restocked.

See, who can resist this adorable bike, baskets, and little critters set?!?!?! And the sentiment is exactly my mantra for life - Enjoy the little things (or stop to smell the roses as I often say). I would LOVE to jump on this bike and ride really slowly so I could smell roses along the way. Ok, everyone agree this set is adorable?!?!?! I want to use it for one of my "one stamp, five ways" posts so I can think of lots of ways to use these items together.

Right about now, my buttox feels like I have been riding this bike for way too long. I really should get up during the typing of my LONG blog posts. Ouch!!! Ok, back to business. For this card, I colored all of the images with Copic markers on Neenah white cardstock. I used my all time favorite black ink that works with both watercolors AND Copics (only one I have found) by SSS - Intense Black. I made the background with watercolor on Ranger white watercolor paper. I die cut the outside with my full card size rectangle from the Lawn Fawn stitched rectangle. I then die-cut the inside with a new MFT die called Inside and Out Rounded Stitched Rectangle. Say that one five times fast! I attached all the die-cut images over the background and added some PPP 4mm sequins around them. I stamped the sentiment (yes, I cut it apart first - bad me) right on the background with SSS Intense Black ink. I like how it looks this way, but I was so bugged that the bottom (the little things) was crooked. Pretend you didn't notice. I am such a perfectionist!

ALL DONE!!! But the blog hop isn't all done yet...next on your hopping route is:

Kelly Latevola

I also want to send an appreciative note to my sweet fellow card maker Yoonsun Hur who illustrated her first stamp sets for Simon. And guess what? They were my favorites (with the one I used above) of the new release - I HAVE TO BUY BOTH OF THEM! Have you seen these cute flower stamp sets yet???

                              

See how cute they are? I can't wait to watercolor these babies! I will use them both in my "one stamp, five ways" posts which will be back on the regular schedule of every Tuesday and Friday as of next week! (((I promise)))! Don't forget to leave a comment on this post to be eligible for a SSS gift bag! You can tell me which of the 12 watercolor fronts you like the best if you have nothing better to say haha!

Happy Hopping and Creating to all!!! Suzy

 

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Comments

[Barbara M.]

Love the coloring pages.

[Daylene S]

All very pretty cards. The coloring and style "kinda" remind me of the style of Mary Englebreit! Thanks for sharing!

[Maria Valente]

Wow, Susy these cards are so awesome! Love your designs!
Hugs

[Wahnita Hammond]

Wow! That is a lot of projects!!! Super awesome designs with the new release :)

[Terraza Malva]

Very pretty cards!!! Watercolour are very versatile. Thanks for share!!

[Kavita]

So many different card. Each one is so different. I really love your creative ideas!

[SueB of Blondin Blogs]

great card set and I enjoy your coloring - so nice and bright and colorful! thanx for the inspiration and blog candy opp!

[Samantha Olden]

Love the bicycle stamp set! so many great ideas with it.

[Ilana]

Wow!!!! Love your style!!! These are gorgeous cards!!!!

[Chris Handy]

Beautiful cards.

[Christine Nixon]

Wow, you have been busy since coming in from the sunshine! Love that mint green bicycle. So summery!

[Simona Rebecchi]

The watercolour notes are amazing...my fav by is the one with the birthday cake, because...com'on do you really need an excuse to eat cake?
Thank you...beautiful cards!

[Connie MacFarlane]

What a fun and fabulous set of cards you have designed for colouring! Love, love, love them! and love they way you have coloured them all.

[kimberly colson]

Best hop ever. Your card set was adorable. Thank you for sharing your talent with us

[Jackie]

I love these new designs and your coloring is fabulous.

[Barb C]

Wow! Wonderful cards!

[terrie rosrigue]

Wow, the coloring you did on these cards are just awesome...well done on all of them

[Deb]

Love the coloring, I am practicing.

[Mary Helene]

Such a great collection of colorful and fun cards.

[Andrea Shell]

Beautiful coloring! Thank you for creating such fun and versatile designs!

[Carol Doggett]

Stunning...so many stunning cards! TFS!

[Shirley Qu]

Wow, you have been busy. I love all of your cards. Each one just pops with color and your coloring is great.

[Betty]

fantastic coloring - love every one of your cards!

[Michelle]

Such nice colouring! And awesome cards!! U just made a card of my mint bicycle xoxo!

[Mirella ROGAN]

Holy moly you were busy! I love each and single one of your creations, those colouring sheets have such fun and fab designs! And the card with the bike is super cute too - I think that stamp set is my favourite one in this release.