Simon Says Stamp Rest and Refresh Blog Hop - Day 1

Helllllllllo all you blog hoppers out there! Today is the first day of a two day celebration! SSS has released their newest set of products called Rest and Refresh. Sounds like what I need after making 12 cards to show you today haha. If you visited THIS POST from yesterday, I did a "one stamp, five ways" using the new stamp set called Your Light. Here are my five cards (see blog post for directions and more images).

I also showed a photo of 8 cards I made using the new set called Summa Time (blog post showing these 8 cards will be on the SSS blog on July 30th):

In this release I have a new set of watercolor cards called Suzy's Adventurous Watercolor Prints. Here is an image of the set: Next I'll be showing you all of these 12 cards colored and this will result in 24 photos!!! So get ready to scroll through these fast if you want to get to the details of this blog post. They will be at the very end of this post! I will also have some tips/techniques I use when coloring my watercolor prints. Remember they are printed on Ranger Watercolor Paper and you can use ANY color medium on them or a combo of all coloring mediums like I do!

CARD 1:

CARD 2:

CARD 3:

CARD 4:

CARD 5:

CARD 6:

CARD 7:

CARD 8:

CARD 9:

CARD 10:

CARD 11:

CARD 12:

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES I USE ON THESE CARDS:

• As mentioned earlier, I mix all different coloring mediums on these cards. Even though they are printed on WC paper, any coloring medium works just fine including Copic Markers. The cards are printed on the smooth side of the Ranger WC Paper and it is pure white. So you can't go wrong with anything you want to color them with!
• I use three coloring mediums - Watercolor (Daniel Smith), Copic Markers, and Colored Pencils (Prismacolors, Caran d' Arche Luminance and Pablo, and Faber Castelle Polychromos). I admit I have problems when it comes to my colored pencils. I am obsessed! If you know of any other good brands, please tell me so I can spend even more money on my collection and get a divorce over it! 
• I use watercolor for the background of the cards and for the larger areas. I use colored pencils for all of the smaller areas of the cards and to add shading and texture to some of the larger areas.
• I often use colored pencils to add "texture" by drawing little lines over a colored area - check out the suitcase to see what I mean. Hint: Keep your pencils VERY sharp. I get my pencil sharpener at Costco. I abuse it and have already been through 3 of them!
• After they are all colored, I add lots of details with Tonic Nuvo Drops. I especially like the glitter ones. They add sheen and dimension and can be used for so much more than drops. I use the clear called Morning Dew to cover large areas like the windows on the VW wagon (they work like Glossy Accents)! I love using them over letters as well. I love using the clear with glitter called White Blizzard over things like the clouds.
• I use an N2 Copic Marker OR a gray colored pencil to add shadows behind the letters so they stand out better. 

BLOG HOP DETAILS:

• See the details on the free gift on the blog header at the top of this post. The code is CRL89 which will give you the Simon Exclusive Coral Reef Ink Pad *free* (while supplies last!) with any purchase. The code will expire Sunday, 6/9 at 11:59 pm EDT.
• This is day one of our two-day blog hop extravaganza, so be sure to come back for day two on Saturday!
• SSS is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from each blog comment section. They will choose the winners over the weekend and post on the Simon Says Stamp  blog on Wednesday, the 12th of June. Just email them to get your prize!
• You can see the entire Rest and Refresh release HERE AT THIS LINK yippee! And my new set of Adventurous WC Prints are HERE. 

BLOG HOP ORDER - NEXT ON THE HOP IS LISA ADDESA!

Simon Says Stamp

Cathy Zielske

Nina-Marie Trapani

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Amy Rysavy

Suzy Plantamura

Lisa Addesa

Heather Hoffman

Gayatri Murali

Ankita Gupta

Barb Engler

Marge Yoon

Have you made it this far? Do you have a favorite watercolor card? If so, please tell me which one you like the best in the comments. I always so appreciate the kind words you leave me on these hops - so thank you in advance. I read each one and walk around thinking I'm awesome for one day each month so thank you! Have a great day friends and don't forget to hop along again tomorrow for more inspiration! Thanks so much for visiting! Suzy

SUPPLIES USED ON THIS BLOG POST LINKED TO SSS STORE:

Comments

[kre8tivekate]

I am chomping at the bit to get home and try my pencils on the whole texturizing thing - awesome!

[Karthikha Uday]

Wonderful set of cards! Each one is beautiful! :)

[Kelsey Thomas]

What fun summery cards! :)

[Mary]

Soooo awesome! So inspiring!

[Belinda Waters]

Amazing card panels! I've never purchased these, but there's a first time for everything!!!

[Lyla H Lewis]

Great cards! Love the vacation themes.

[Esther]

Oh wow -- what amazing cards! I especially like that first set of nautical cards! BTW - Your coloring is superb!

[Isabel Z]

you have outdone yourself!

[Teresa Doyle]

I L♥VE your w/c panels! You have done an amazing job colouring them too! Thanks for the tips. I really like the one where you w/c the backgrounds and larger areas and colour the images with other mediums. A great idea! TFS!

[Teri Spracklin]

What a fun collection for summer! :)

[Susanbcards]

I love the sentiment on the cruise ship cards, so true. These would be great for retirement cards or graduation cards! Great ideas.

[Sharon Gullikson]

So many cool ideas. I especially like the Sum mer time card.

[Roxanne Mackesy]

Wow I love all of your cards. So many ideas and the colors are beautiful in these cards.

[Hanh]

Beautiful coloring and cards!

[Nina Houghton]

Love your cards and coloring! I am excited to be following you now!

[Bonnie Eng]

Fabulous designs and colouring as per usual - can't believe how much I love those cute little avocados!

[Kathie R]

Wow, so prolific! And so lovely.

[barbara lassiter]

I'm thinking you might need to rest after creating all these beautiful cards and designs. And, of all of these, my favorite is the little pink camper, though I'm not into camping at all. What a great array of summertime fun from you and Simon Says Stamp to inspire us to create!

[Vicki Kroll]

All your cards are awesome and you should walk around with your head held high every day. Made me laugh. The "Your Light" cards are my favorite. Will have to check out how they were made. The Adventurous Watercolor Prints are so cool and colorful. My favorites of those are "Hello Paradise" and "Get Lost." Outstanding presentation!!

[Becca Yahrling]

WOW, WOW, WOW!! Everything is so awesome and fun. Love your new images. The VW Bus and the Hello Paradise are my faves.

[Laurie]

Your cards are so cute and whimsical! I love the one with the avocados. So stinkin' cute!!

[Teri S.]

Suzy, I just can't get over your talent & imagination you use to create your colouring pages! You Rock! Not to forget to mention you are also a great colourer.

[Beth Schiller]

Thank you for the lovely inspiration!

[Heather Nelson]

WOW!! GORGEOUS coloring. Love the details!

[Donnalee Boisseau]

Beautiful coloring!