Simon Says Stamp Die-cember Blog Hop Day 2 (and Winter Bird WC Cards)

Today is the second day of the Simon Says Stamp Die-cember Blog Hop. This is going to be a long post as I have 3 cards to share with you using Die-cember dies and I also have my newest set of Winter Bird watercolor cards to show you that were just released yesterday. I'll put all the blog hop info at the end of this post if you want to scroll down to see it. Here is an image of my Winter Birds watercolor cards:

I have all 12 of them watercolored to show you. I will also list the bird names for each in case you want to know while painting them. After I show you these 12 cards I have 3 new cards to share with you using the new Die-cember dies, so keep scrolling - much to see!!!

1.    BLUE JAY

2.    AMERICAN ROBIN

3.    EVENING GROSBEAK

4.    COMMON REDPOLL

5.    TUFTED TITMOUSE

6.    SNOW BUNTING

7.    NORTHERN CARDINAL

8.    BOHEMIAN WAXWING

9.    YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER

10.    BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE

11.    RED BELLIED WOODPECKER

12.    SHARP SKINNED HAWK

These birds are very realistic drawings. I did a lot of research into what birds are around in the winter months and looked up many photos of each one to use as inspiration. I also painted them exactly as they are in real life. I am a bird lover and I wanted them to be as close to actual birds as possible. I think they would make the perfect gift for any bird-lover. I think a gift of hand-painted/colored ones would make an even nicer gift so someone could use them to send to others - I'll be sending mine to my mom for that purpose for Christmas. I watercolored all of mine and then colored the birds in with colored pencils. I felt that pencils gave them a more realistic look. I used Tonic Nuvo Drops on them over the snow and added sentiments to each. I love that you can add your own sentiment for any occasion or leave them blank to be just note cards.

Ok, moving on! I'm sure by now you have seen the new Die-cember release. One of my favorite products in this release is the Circle Thin Frames. They also have the same style in card size rectangles and in 5x7 rectangles. The circles are my favorites though as they are perfect to use to make shaker cards and great to frame background stamp designs. I have 3 cards to share with you using this die set and also using the new Blessings die in the release. 

I used the Circle Thin Frames to frame a background stamp by SSS (an older one I can't find on their website). I colored it with colored pencils and then used Nuvo Drops all over it to decorate. I watercolored a piece of paper and then die-cut it out of the front. I covered the blue frame it cut with the die with Blue Lagoon glitter nuvo drops. I also die-cut the next size up frame and used Frosted Lace Stickles on that for decoration. I put that frame around the smaller one.

I die-cut the Falala die by SSS out of blue and pink glitter paper and layered it. I attached that to the bottom of the card and used some white Nuvo Drops around it. I attached a small snowflake to the center of the background design die-cut from pink glitter paper. I then used a PPP silver jewel inside it. 

I used the Circle Thin Frame to make a shaker card this time. I first colored the Candy Cane cling stamp with Copic Markers . I then die-cut the frame out of white cardstock and built a shaker card over the candy canes. I filled the inside with all of the PPP sparkling clear sequins and jewels. I die-cut the frame from gold metallic paper and attached that to the front of the card. 

I used the CZ Joyful die for the greeting die-cut from red and gold metallic papers. I also die-cut the word wishes from the older SSS Holiday Words dies. I attached some PPP gold jewels around the sentiment. 

For this card, I used the Circle Frame dies to make a frame to show off the beautiful Poinsettia cling stamp. I first colored it in with colored pencils (I outlined the circle area with a pencil first so I only colored the part of the stamp that would show. I then die-cut the circle out of white cardstock and attached it over the poinsettia circle. I used Stickles over the frame piece and attached that to the inside of the circle. 

I flicked some gold paint over the flowers as well before attaching the card over them. I also used gold Stickles in the centers of the flowers. I die-cut the Blessings die from red cardstock as well as gold metallic paper and attached that to the bottom of the card. I used some Gold Jewels by PPP around the sentiment.

And now, here is the blog hop information you might need:

• All of the cards made for both days of the Die-cember blog hop are in the Die-cember gallery. Make sure to add your cards using these products to the gallery as well. It is a great source of inspiration for all!
• The banner at the top of this post show the free gift with purchase. Use code THKU894 while supplies last. This promotion will be available until 12/8 at 11:59 pm est. 
• Visit the SSS Blog HERE to start this hop for today over or HERE to see the first day of the hop.
• SSS is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop from our blog comment section; they will choose winners over the weekend and post on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday, the 11^th of December. You can then email SSS to claim your prize.
• Next on the hop is Amanda Korotkova. 

Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you enjoy this blog hop today. Have a great December holiday month friends! All of the products I used in this post are listed in the supply list below. Suzy xox

Comments

[Jan E]

Thanks for sharing your gift of art and paper crafting. Love the new release and this hop is especially fun!

[Ana Korban]

Wow! Those watercolor cards with the birds are stunning!! Beautiful!! I love the other cards too! Very elegant!!

[Teresa Doyle]

WOW your water colour panels are awesome Suzy and beautifully coloured, I might add.
Your 3 cards from Dicember release are so pretty too, I especially like the shaker...GORGEOUS!

[Germaine]

I can’t wait to get my set of birds! I hope to due your outstanding drawings justice. I am especially excited about the bluebird.

[Lynne Ingram]

Your birds are amazing and the shading on the poinsettias beautiful. This release is wonderful. Fabulous blog hop.

[Janet Durbin]

Your birds are fantastic, the coloring is amazing! Love your shaker and and poinsettia cards, they are amazing!!

[Katherine A Thisted]

love the cards expecially the candy cane card

[JoAnn Burnham]

Beautiful cards and beautiful coloring. TFS

[Cindi Flass]

Gorgeous cards! I have to say my favorite is the Chickadee. My parents moved from NY to AZ and my mom really misses the winter birds.

[Candy T]

The coloring of the birds is so realistic...looks just like what I see out my window! The pink poinsettia is beautiful too!

[Lindar C]

I think these birds are my favorite of all your designs, just gorgeous! I wish I could get everything in this release.

[Sharon Gullikson]

I just love the birds. The details are wonderful. I am a bird LOVER!

[Nandini Karmarkar]

Wow! Thanks for the amazing inspiration. The birds are just gorgeous. I love the new release. Especially the new word dies.

[barbara lassiter]

Your cards are always beautiful and beautifully colored. I must say that I don't know how you're going to top the bird designs and the coloring on these! Wow!

[Maura]

Oh, my gosh - what a collection of cards, they are all gems!!!! I especially love the watercolor bird cards, I may just HAVE to get those, thanks for inspiring!!

[Karthikha Uday]

Wow! I lovvve those birds! Super beautiful cards! <3

[Kathy J in Ellicott City]

All your cards are beautiful! I love the birds!

[Carol]

Love the birds. Very beautiful cards.

[Dee Earnshaw]

WOW - your cards are amazing - love the gorgeous bird coloring!!!!!!

[Sheri K]

Great job with the birds, they are wonderful! Happy Diecember with SSS!

[Talitha Wright]

You are so talented!! Beautiful, beautiful cards and the coloring of your birds is fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Alice Zimmer]

Love the non-traditional Falala card colors! The poinsettias is my favorite!

[Emma Sleppy]

Love all your bird drawings and the shaker cards are great! FaLaLa also is a die to have!

[Jean Chaney]

I really love these birds! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Marie]

I love your coloring techniques. I am always looking for more suggestions!