"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS Summertime Animals

I want to start this post by stating that this stamp set sold so well that it is out of stock at Simon Says Stamp right now. But you can put it on reserve for shipment on July 5th. I don't like to do a "one stamp, five ways" post on items that aren't available for purchase, but I'm going to assume quite a few of you bought it already and thus will benefit from this post! And if not, hopefully you will want to reserve one so you get part of the next shipment! Ok, on to business!

This is the adorable stamp set I'll be showcasing today called Summertime Animals:It also has a set of dies that go with it or you can purchase the stamp and die set together. I made seven cards with this set and two are on my blog post for the blog hop - you can see that post HERE. And here are the other five I made: 

I also love this flamingo background stamp that is part of the new release. It pairs so perfectly with the Summertime Animals set. I'll be showing you two techniques to use with it on my cards today. Here are the steps for this one:

1. Die cut a stitched rectangle from watercolor paper (I used MFT Blueprints 13 and Ranger Watercolor Paper).
2. Apply Versamark Ink to the back side of the Flamingos Background stamp and press it firmly onto your stitched rectangle. 
3. Emboss with white embossing powder.
4. Watercolor the piece over the flamingos with blues - I used several shades of teal and royal blue and others to mix; make sure to wet the entire piece first so the colors spread and mix into each other.
5. Stamp the bear, ice cream cone, and snow cone on watercolor paper with SSS Intense Black Ink.
6. Paint with Zig Kuretake Brush watercolor markers - I like these best for small areas and for more intense colors since they dye the paper (meaning you need to move them around quickly before they dry). I add shading with them as well and don't use any water to move the shading around - they can be used with or without water and blend together nicely.
7. Use a white uniball pen to add details. (every single time!)
8. Die cut a banner (I used the banner in the Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Journaling die set) out of watercolor paper and paint it with blue watercolor
9. Cut apart the fun in the sun stamp (if you dare haha) and stamp it on the banner with Versamark Ink and emboss with white embossing powder. Outline the banner with a fine tip black marker if desired. Attach to top of card.
10. Attach the bear and ice cream, snow cone to the rectangle and attach it to a blue card base. Add some twine wrapped around the top of the card. Note: This card opens from the bottom so it was cut to be 4.25" wide x 11" tall. Add some Pretty Pink Posh Clear Droplets around the bear. 

Please forgive all the oranges/pinks/yellows in the next few cards. They just seemed to fit my summertime mood and the style of this stamp set! Here are the steps for this one (my most common card technique once again - didn't want to disappoint ha):

1. Die cut a stitched rectangle the size of a card base (4.25" x 5.5") - I used the largest die in the Lawn Fawn Large Rectangle set and watercolor paper.
2. Stamp the items in the stamp set randomly on the rectangle using Versamark Ink and emboss with white embossing powder; I do the larger items first and then fill the little spots in with the sayings and stars. 
3. Watercolor the card - I used Daniel Smith watercolors here but for this type of intensity, Ranger Distress Inks would work well also. I wouldn't use watercolor markers for this type of messy watercoloring technique. 
4. I first applied a wash over the background on very wet paper. I mixed some reds, pinks, oranges and yellows but didn't worry too much about the images being any specific color. Next, I went back and added more paint to just the images so they stood out from the washed background and had more intense color. This time I tried to match up the type of stamp to the color (yellows for the pineapples, pinks for the flamingo, etc...). Layering watercolors works really well to build up color.
5. Attach this piece to a card base - I apply a full sheet of adhesive to pieces that are watercolored this much so they lay completely flat.
6. Die cut a small stitched rectangle (also from the Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Rectangle set). Stamp Good Times on it with Hero Arts Neon Red to Purple Ink.
7. Attach this to the bottom left (or anywhere you messed up on your embossing - I was trying to cover a pineapple I didn't like!) and add some Pretty Pink Posh shimmery clear sequins.

I like of like this card - in fact it may be my favorite from this post. I sometimes prefer lots of white and simplicity and I usually add TOO much to cards. This one stayed clean for once! Here are the steps:

1. Die cut a stitched rectangle (I used the largest size in the Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle set) out of white cardstock. This one is a little smaller than the one I usually use so it left a larger card border around the edges.
2. Using a Ranger Blending Tool, lightly apply some Distress Ink to the back of the flamingo stamp in the center only. I used Spun Sugar, Carved Pumpkin, and Squeezed Lemonade moving downward. 
3. Stamp the background stamp on the center of the cardstock rectangle and carefully lift it up. To make sure it was centered and straight, I lined the top of the stamp up with the top of the rectangle.
4. Stamp and die-cut three flamingos from white cardstock. Color them with Copic markers and add details with a white Uniball.
5. Stamp and die-cut the sun using Lawn Fawn Sunflower and Fake Tan ink. First press the stamp into the yellow and then touch just the outside of the sun rays to the orange. 
6. Die cut an MFT stitched rounded rectangle (smallest one) out of white cardstock. Stamp "hello summer" on this piece with Hero Arts Neon Red to Purple ink (or you could stamp this directly on the rectangle).
7. Attach them three flamingos, the sun, and the sentiment to the background. Attach the stitched rectangle to a red card base. Add some Pretty Pink Posh sparkling clear sequins and some 6mm yellow sequins around the sun.

 Yep, orange, yellow and coral this time - no pink. Here are the steps for this totally different color scheme of a card!

1. Die-cut an Oval Stitched Rectangle (largest size from the SSS Stitched Oval set) from watercolor paper; die-cut a second one and use the SSS Wavy Scallop Stitches Border Die to cut about 2/3rds of it off; paint this piece with red and yellow watercolors and attach over the full one
2. Die-cut a Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Speech Bubble dies from watercolor paper and paint it red; stamp the sentiment on it
3. Stamp and die cut the other elements from white cardstock and color with Copic makers; stamp the sun with Lawn Fawn Sunflower ink; out line with a fine tip black marker
4. Attach all to oval and attach oval to a yellow top folding card base. Add some Lawn Fawn Lemonade twine to the top of the card. Add some PPP yellow 6mm sequins.

I pulled out one of my favorite background dies for this card and the stamped elements fit perfectly inside the rectangles to create a cute scene. Here are the step by step directions:

1. Die cut a full card size stitched rectangle (I used the Lawn Fawn large rectangle set) out of watercolor paper; die cut the Pretty Pink Posh Storybook 1 die from the bottom left corner of this piece
2. Watercolor this frame using yellow and red watercolors; don't cover all of the space - leave some open on the top so it remains white.
3. Stamp and die cut all the stamped images on white cardstock and color with Copic markers. Actually I used MFT Natural Ink for Mr. Bear as I wanted a no line image, but then when I colored him, guess what happened?!?!?!? If you have read many of my posts, you will know - I wanted him outlined, so I added outlines with a black fine tip marker. Except I left NO outlines on the dots in his shorts. Which is why I had to explain what I did or you would have thunk I just stamped him in black ink. 
4. Stamp the sun with Lawn Fawn Sunflower ink with the tips of the sun rays dipped in Lawn Fawn Fake Tan ink
5. Stamp the stars and the word Happy with Hero Arts Neon Red to Purple ink. 
6. Attach all to the card base filling up the rectangles.

And of course there are these two also, just in case you didn't see them - really I just wanted to make sure you realized there was ONE more blue one!

Now that makes 7, so I have officially confessed that I broke my "one stamp, five ways" theme once again! But thank you for joining me today and I hope you will reserve one of these cute stamp sets because they are just the best ever. I can't wait to play with them some more. When I am done with one of these posts and I still have lots of ideas brewing for more cards, I know the stamp was a good investment! Next I want to make an all pineapple card, or a pineapple wreath like the one in my watercolor set, or .... yep lots of ideas! Have a great week and thanks for visiting! Suzy

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Comments

[Carol L]

Not surprised the stamp set is sold out. You show what cute cards can be made and the sets are sold! Love your summery colors! Love all the backgrounds! I am glad to see the random stamping back on your second card. These are always so neat! You always make more work for yourself when you go back and hand outline. HA! The bear looks neat with both outline and no line, though. All of your cards are awesome and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your talents!!! Keep cool!

[Jeanne]

Phenomenal work, Suzy! I adore each card you created. Looks like a winner of a set to celebrate this fun and happy season. Please don't apologize for pink/orange/yellow cards! I love 'em along with your snappy, happy blue and green cards! You do such a great job with your watercolors and I adore your random stamped cards. Each of these is a work of heart and there's something special in each one. Thanks ever so much for continuing to share and to inspire! I always want to sit down and stamp after savoring your posts. Too bad real life butts in and makes me have to wait! LOL Keep up the awesome work. Hugs!! :)

[LC]

What a wonderful set of bright and cheery summer cards! You always do an amazing job on your backgrounds...I absolutely love how you stamped the background on your flamingo card! Really cool technique! Your random stamping card is fabulous, and your scenes and vignettes are super cute! The gorgeous interplay between the colors on cards 5 and 6 really caught my eye. The effect is stunning! Thanks for the incredible inspiration! Wishing you a great start to the summer!