"One Stamp, Five Ways" - Simon Says Stamp Secret Garden and GIVEAWAY!!!

Hello friends! I've been MIA lately, so I decided to do my "one stamp, five ways" post in a really big way today - I have seven creations and I'm giving away one of these stamp sets! I used the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember stamp set (my fav of this new release) called Secret Garden. I might just like it as that was my favorite book growing up! But it also might be all these adorable images it has in it! There is a set of dies that go with it or you can buy them together as a set. When I saw it, I immediately fell in love with that fairy and the mushroom house and the little elf/gnome. I also love the sentiments and that the die that says BELIEVE goes so well with it (so I used it a bit in this post as well). I loved it SO MUCH, that I bought two so I could give one away to someone on this blog post! Details will be on the bottom of the post. So if you love it also, maybe you will win your own stamp set! Now let's get started with all my creations! Each of these seven cards/tag uses one of the sentiments in the set and two use the believe die that coordinates. 

My first card is my favorite. I created a shaker card using three small circle dies and Pretty Pink Posh gorgeous Sparkling Clear Cupped Sequins. Here are the steps:

1. Die cut a large stitched rectangle using the largest die in the Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Rectangle dies out of Canson Mixed Media paper (I like this as it is thinner and pure white where watercolor paper isn't always white and is a lot thicker; also it is a lot less expensive!). Watercolor it with pinks and yellows. Flick some bright pink dots on it and let dry.
2. Stamp the sentiment (smaller words) on the bottom of the card with black ink. Stamp the word Believe with Versamark Ink and emboss with white embossing powder. Outline words with black marker if you wan them to show up more as I did.
3. Die cut two pieces of  white fun foam  with Stick It Adhesive attached to one side of each piece with the same stitched rectangle.
4. Align all three rectangle and place the three stitched circles on the top (arranged as in the picture). I used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle Dies. Die cut all three layers together so the circles are aligned perfectly. Mine didn't cut through the second piece of foam, so I reran it through without moving any  pieces (just removed the one piece of foam that was cut).
5. Attach the two pieces of fun foam to a white card base by removing the stick it adhesive. Place the sequins inside each circle. Attach a transparency to the backside of the watercolored piece and align that on top of the foam so the sequins are now inside the card front.
6. Stamp the cute little fairy on Neenah white cardstock using Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink. Color with Copic markers and use Kaiser Craft Glitter Pens and a Wink of Stella pen to add details and sheen. I colored in her wand with the silver glitter pen in this set. Attach her to the bottom left side of card.
7. Add three Pretty Pink Posh sparkling clear sequins to finish the card. 

This is my bright colorful rendition of a fairy garden! Not realistic colors, but definitely more my style. But then again, are fairy gardens realistic? Here are the steps I took to make this one:

1. Die cut a large stitched rectangle out of Mixed Media Paper or watercolor paper. Paint with a wash of lime green watercolors. Attach to a white card base.
2. Die cut a smaller stitched rectangle (I used the Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle set) out of Ranger watercolor paper (so it has more texture). Paint stripes of watercolor on it using a 1/2" flat watercolor brush and pinks and purples mixed together. Attach this rectangle to the top of the green one.
3. Stamp all of the images on white cardstock with black ink and color with Copic markers. Add dots with a white uniball marker. 
4. Stamp the sentiment on a small stitched rectangle using Lawn Fawn Grass Green Ink. Attach to the top of the card. 
5. Attach all of the images onto the card with the butterfly overlapping the sentiment rectangle. 
6. Add some messy overlapping layers of twine around the top of the card and some sequins to the bottom.

Now THIS card looks more like a realistically colored secret garden! But these are the colors I don't often work with. Here are the directions for the card:

1. Create a card base using an off white cardstock. Die-cut a scallop border about 1" up from bottom of the front of the card using the new Simon Says Stamp Scalloped Stitched Border Dies. Cut another border using the same die out of brown and kraft cardstock and attach those pieces underneath the card front. Attach the leftover piece from the original card front below the borders.
2. Stamp all of the images on Neenah white cardstock and stamp with black ink. Color in with Copic markers. Add details and shading with glitter pens and a white Uniball marker.
3. Die cut the word Believe out of the brown and kraft cardstock and attach to top of card.
4. Attach all of the stamped images on the front of the card.
5. Glue some Pretty Pink Posh 4mm sequins around the stamped images (colors are in my supply list below).  

I find the colors in this card to be just delicious - haha! Fairies and gnomes in pretty pastels work best for me! I color a lot of images before I make my cards. I had a few leftover and it took me forever to figure out how to use these guys. This design was not an easy one for me to get to and I'm not even sure I like it. But anyway, here are the directions:

1. Die cut a Mama Elephant Frame Die (just got this set and was so excited to use it!) from white cardstock.
2. Create a card base from white watercolor paper (such as Ranger) and paint watercolor stripes on the front of the card. Use a 1/2" flat brush and rotate pink and blue stripes. Attach the white frame over the front of the card base.
3. Stamp the images on Mixed Media Paper and paint with watercolors. Add details with glitter pens. I re-outlined the images as they needed darker outlines after I was done (they kind of faded under the paints). 
4. Attach the images to the card. Because I stamped them on 98 lb mixed media paper, they are a little thinner so I only attached the centers so the edges would bend upward. This is one reason I love using this paper (and that it is pure white!).
5. Die cut a banner and stamp the banner with black ink using the Lawn Fawn Home Sweet Home stamps and dies set. Stamp the sentiment inside the banner using Lawn Fawn Fish Tank ink. Attach below the stamped images. 
6. Glue some Pretty Pink Posh 4mm droplets around the images.
7. Glue some twine over the stitching on the frame and tie a bow at the top.

Another bright colored garden on this one. I think the watercolored oval really makes this card the way the colors mixed and the white dots where I bleached out the color with water. Here are the steps:

1. Create a bright pink card base. 
2. Die cut a stitched oval (I used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Oval dies) from watercolor paper (I used a hot pressed Fabriano piece so there is less texture on it, but the colors blend beautifully). Apply several colors of Distress Inks to the oval using a wet on wet technique (wet the paper first and let the colors mix together). Apply some large water droplets and let sit for about 30 seconds. Blot off with a paper towel.
3. Attach the oval to the card base.
4. Stamp all of the images on mixed media paper and paint with gouache (more opaque than watercolors - i have a set of Holbein I got on Amazon that I love). Add some details with a white Uniball pen.
5. Attach the images to the oval. Die-cut the word Believe and attach to the top of the oval.

This beautiful little fairy is just the right size for a tag to add to a gift or plant. Here are the steps:

1. Die-cut a stitched tag from watercolor paper using the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Dress Up Tags. 
2. Watercolor the tags using blues and purples. I also applied some sparkling sheen watercolor to the top.
3. Stamp the images on white cardstock and color with Copic markers.
4. Die cut a banner and stamp the sentiment using Lawn Fawn Fresh Lavender Ink. Attach to the bottom of the tag.
5. Attach the fairy, flowers, and fairy dust image to the top of the tag.
6. Attach some clear sparkling sequins around the images.
7. Tie some purple twine to the top of the tag.

And you thought I wasn't going to do one of my random stamped images cards didn't you! Well, I didn't want to disappoint, so here it is. And in traditional fall garden colors too! Ghome sweet Gnome! Here are the steps:

1. Die cut a large stitched rectangle out of watercolor paper. Randomly stamp all of the images in the stamp set around the rectangle overlapping the edges using black ink.
2. Watercolor all of the images - I also used gouache on this card so the colors are more opaque than if I had used watercolors. Add details with a white Uniball.
3. Paint the background using yellows and pinks.
4. Die cut two stitched banners and emboss the sentiment on the smaller one. Layer the banners on the bottom of the card and staple the edge.
5. Add some 4mm and 6mm sequins around the banners.

Ok, now after all that - the GIVE-A-WAY! I have an extra stamp set to give away to one blog reader. Just leave a comment on this post and I will randomly pick one using Random Number Generator (meaning I love your kind words and compliments are my love language, but you can just say boo and have just as much of a chance of winning!)... Good luck to all I will announce a winner on my blog on Saturday. Have a great week friends! Suzy

InLinkz.com

Comments

[G]

Wow! You went all out on these. Your first card and the mushroom house are my favorites. I love that fairy and the colors you used 😘

[Sally Ann]

Can't say bok when 1. I love this stamp set! And 2. Your cards with it are way beyond amazing!! Especially love the pi k striped o e with the cottage which caught my eye on ig

[VJBybee]

All your cards are lovely and inspiring!!!

[Vania]

boo!! ;) All the cards are pretty, but your shaker card is amazing so magical and sweet! Great stamp set, thanks for the opportunity!

[Daybreakscraps]

I love, love, love this set and your card examples are gorgeous! My daughter loves gnomes so this would be perfect to surprise her with! Thank you for the chance

[Andrea Shell]

Wow, these are gorgeous! The stamp set is completely adorable, but your coloring is truly amazing!

[Rachel]

Love your watercolor backgrounds - your cards are all adorable :)

[Lyndsey C]

I just love all your card ideas for this. I would love this stamp set.

[Mary Wynne]

You are amazing !
Thanks for a chance to win these awesome stamps !

[Denise P Soffa]

Oh my gosh, I love all of these! I love the idea of 5 different ways to you use a stamp set. :) Thank you so much for the amazing chance to win this stamp set.
I am a new follower on your blog too ;)

[Bonnie Sharp]

Oh how I love your work/play and the 5 ways to use a stamp set! Fabulous!

[Tej]

Loved the entire set! Such beautiful coloring and color combinations! And this stamp set is so perfect for such dreamy cards..thank you so much for the giveaway! Have a good day! Xx

[Jessica Bavier]

Love all of these sweet and fun cards! I've loved following you on Instagram, you are such a talented and creative artist and paper crafter! Thanks so much for the chance to win! :)

[Jeanne]

Hi Suzy! So happy to see you creating! Your work makes me smile really big. I can see why you'd be thrilled with this stamp set. It's happy inducing. Your work is delightful. I really like that first card you shared, but I also really like the random stamped one that you colored in. I'm drawn to those because it surely takes time to create them! Thank you for a chance to win this set. I will definitely be back more regularly. Missed you! Happy Hugs! :)

[Susan Ott]

So cute. Love them all, but especially the Gnome Sweet Gnome card!

[Maye M. L.]

Suzy, you are the queen of ingenuity with how to play with stamps.
I am full of awe and admiration over your talent.
Have been keeping an eye on your series.
Need to gather the courage to CASE some of your designs
This group of cards is enchanting, especially the last one. Love, love the coloring scheme.
Outstanding. Thanks for sharing your talent and the possibility
to win one of these cute stamp sets. Cheers!

[Sue Bouch]

boo :) I always love checking your blog when time allows. I appreciate that you share your creative talent with us. I have enjoyed playing with watercolor using one of your sets from SSS. Have a great day! 😃

[Ronnie]

I am not sure why but my favourite cards are always the random stamped ones. The tag is a very close second. What a great set. I better not show my 7 year old - she would pester me to get this for sure

[Carol L]

Hi Suzy! Glad to see your entry today! These little gnomes and fairies are so cute! Love the striped backgrounds and the colors you used. You know my favorites are the ones with random stamping. I was worried that I wasn't going to see one but there it was and sooooo cute! Those always amaze me because they are so perfectly spaced! And I love the colors! Hope all continues to go well for you! Thanks for sharing your awesome talent!

[Brenda]

I have this stamp set on my wish list so am thrilled to see you using it! I think all your creations are beautiful but my favorites are the first & third ones. Thanks for the giveaway!

[Karen L K]

Such fun! Thanks for showing all the different styles. I finally pulled this out to use it.