Hello again for the third "one stamp, five ways" posts in a week! That is a record for me - so proud of myself! My sea glass collection has not been growing this week though - boohoo. haha I tried some different looks for my card photos today - tell me what you think. I've always kept my photos super simple with just the card so it could be focused on, but I keep seeing these amazing shots by other designers and wanted to try something different. Hope you like them.
As part of Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember event, they partner with different stamp companies to release sets together. This new stamp set is a little different than the normal cutesy style PPP is known for. This set is called Damask Greetings and has a classy traditional feel to it. I really enjoyed working with a different style this time and it is JUST GORGEOUS (as you probably know by now if you have been checking the PPP design team blogs). Here is an image of the stamp:
I love that it has so many designs and so many greetings - it can be used for all different card subjects. As I prepared to do a "one stamp, five ways" post, I tried to envision all the things I could use these damask designs for and I initially thought of flowers and snowflakes. I did end up trying flowers, but I found that I enjoyed the designs the most using them the way they were meant to be used - as a damask pattern. So I stepped out of my own whimsical/cutesy style and am showing you some traditional cards today (but still with LOTS of watercolor of course)!
Card 1:
Awe these colors make me giddy! I started with a stitched rectangle cut from Ranger watercolor paper. I then used Versamark Ink and Ranger White Embossing Powder and my Misti to stamp the damask shapes randomly over the top of the paper. Next, I got to do the fun part - add the color so the shapes magically appeared. To make watercolor look like this, I wet the entire surface first - never apply paint to a dry background to get this look. I added several shades of blues and greens to the card letting the colors run into each other. I added more paint around the damask shapes so they would stand out more. Even after it dried, I went in with more paint as I wanted the color to be very intense - adding layers works well for this type of look. I flicked some blue paint over the top when it was almost dry. I used my Daniel Smith watercolors, but any type of paint works for this technique - you just get prettier colors and blending when you spend more money.
Next, I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set on a white banner from the Stitched Labels die set. I embossed it with Versamark Ink and Wave Embossing Powder. I attached it to the left and added some sequins from the Mermaid Sequin Mix and the Sparkling Clear Mix.
Card 2:
For this card, I again started with a stitched rectangle die-cut from watercolor paper. I used my Misti again to arrange the stamps on the top of the card. To get them to align in a grid set, I arranged the row on the top and down the left side first - then it was easy to arrange the same stamps the second time to complete the pattern. This time I used a really pretty embossing powder by Simon Says Stamp called Antique Gold.
I used a stitched rectangle out of the same watercolor paper die-cut from the Storybook 1 dies. I used a sentiment from the stamp set with the Antique Gold embossing powder again. I added some Rose Gold 6mm Sequins in the center of each stamped image to finish the card.
Card 3:
When I saw these designs, I realized they would fit perfectly inside the new Tic Tac Toe die set! I die-cut it with white cardstock and then die-cut a stitched rectangle from watercolor paper. I embossed the images with two colors of embossing powder - I used the most round shape for the O's using Wow Pink Lady Embossing powder and I used the shape that looked most like an X with Wow Bluetiful Embossing powder. Before stamping them with Versmark Ink, I attached the tic tac toe die lightly (so I could remove it) so I could position the images. I removed it before stamping and then after all the images were embossed, I lightly painted the background with a teal paint (using wet on wet technique).
I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set with the same Pink Lady embossing powder on a rectangle from the Storybook 5 die-set. I attached that to the top center of the card. I added some of the new Marshmallow Confetti Sequin Mix around the sentiment and in the center of each damask design.
Card 4:
Let me just start by admitting I'm not sure I like this card. In fact when I first stamped the flower images and outlined them with black, I gave up on it and called it a failure. But I have this thing about me that makes me want to make things work and not give up. So I pulled it back out and gave it a little more love and made it work. I think. You be the judge of that - haha. To balance the dark outlines, I die-cut the piece with the Stitched Note Dies and gave it a Glimmery Coal Cardstock border using the same die. To create the floral scene, I stamped each of the shapes with Lawn Fawn inks in Guava, Lobster, Plastic Flamingo, Carrot, and Sunflower. I outlined each with a fine tip black marker and then added some of my glitter pens over the designs. I colored in the flower area with Copic markers.
To finish the card (or rather further save the card), I added some of the darling Summer Flower Sequin Mix around the flowers. I stamped the sentiment in the top left corner using SSS Black Intense Ink. I added a shadow under the letters with a glitter pen. Last, I added some Lawn Fawn twine to the bottom of the card tied in a bow on the left side.
Card 5:
And this is my second favorite color mix - I used my new Ranger Distress Oxide Inks for this card and oh how I love them! I was so unsure about purchasing them (big investment!), but they are so worth it and I love playing with them! How are they different than Distress Inks? Well, I'm no expert, but to put it in the most basic terms, they are more opaque - the colors are not transparent like the regular Distress Inks. They also layer on top of each other, so I could create the background with them and then stamp the damask designs on top and they show up (even with the same color as I used on the background). And last, you can stamp with them much better than the Distress Inks stamp - I used them for the sentiment too. Ok, one more thing - they blend like butta - so amazing. You can work out any edges you get from the blending tool where with Distress Inks, if you make a mistake, you have to start over. Ok, one MORE thing - if you add water, which i did not do here, they create a light chalky look instead of looking like water drops. Whew - see, must have inks!
I started with a stitched rectangle and then I got out my Ranger Blending Tool with some extra foam pads as I change them for each color since the colors are so intense. I used several colors: Candied Apple, Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, and Abandoned Coral. You can do what I did and just buy both of the sets they have come out with so you end up with all 24 colors HERE and HERE.
After I blended the background to my liking, I stamped the two largest damask designs using the same exact colors of ink. I would stamp it with one color with my Misti and then add some shading or just one side of the image stamped with a darker color. The ink shows up against the background since you are adding a layer on top of a layer. I used a stitched rectangle from the Storybook 6 die again and stamped the sentiment with the same inks (layered two colors). I added three sequins from the Sparkling Clear Sequin Mix.
I hope you enjoyed this new style of both cards and card photographs from me today! And make sure (if you haven't yet) to check all of the PPP design team blogs as everyone has gorgeous cards to share with you today. Thank you so much for visiting and have a great weekend. I'll be shooting a wedding which I DREAD (so much pressure - I'd rather shoot cards haha). Have FUN! Suzy
Supply List links to products from both the PPP and the SSS store in that order:
Beautifully done. Love the first and the last and everything in-between!
Posted by: Doris Jones | September 16, 2017 at 09:28 AM
These are all gorgeous Suzy, I esp. love the second one because of the colours. ♥ them!
Posted by: Teresa Doyle | September 16, 2017 at 09:29 AM
Beautiful! Love the colors!
Posted by: Heather Nelson | September 16, 2017 at 01:33 PM
It was a treat to see your cards. I love them all and I also like how you made flowers out of the patterns. Very nice.
Posted by: Deepa Lakshman | September 16, 2017 at 05:59 PM
What a fantastic array of cards!! I love the one where you turned the stamps into flowers! Super creative!! :)
Posted by: Karthikha Uday | September 17, 2017 at 12:02 AM
Beautiful cards with stunning colors
Posted by: Marjorie Dumontier | September 17, 2017 at 05:06 AM
I'm so gla you didn't give up on your flower card! It's my favorite! I always learn something new when I peruse a blog hop. Lucky me! Thank you for sharing your designs!
Posted by: Denise Ferguson | September 19, 2017 at 08:45 PM
The flower card is my favorite!
Posted by: Cheryl L. | September 20, 2017 at 10:59 AM
Wow! These are so pretty
Posted by: Beverly Jordan | September 20, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Ahhh..maxing!
These are all so beautiful!
Posted by: Marianne C | September 21, 2017 at 07:18 AM
Just love "auto-correct" Not. Your cards are amazing and sooo beautiful.
Posted by: Marianne C | September 21, 2017 at 07:19 AM
Your work is fantastic. I love these cards. Wow
Posted by: Terri | October 13, 2017 at 08:03 PM