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

[Dana M]

Wow, so many AMAZING projects. Simply stunning!

[Kristine Reeves]

Love your poinsettia card!

[Karen L K]

Your cards are very nice along with all the coloring on the birds! I love those birds, they look great. I like bird watching and you included one of my local favorites the waxwing.

[Heidi Rees]

Wow Suzy, what stunning cards! The bird cards are amazing you’re coloring is just beautiful! My favorite card is the joyful wishes, those candy canes look so great to color and so festive!

[Laura Rogers]

Amazing coloring on the birds! I am absolutely in love with the poinsettia card. I love the small touch of the stickles in the center of the flowers.

[Connie L.]

Oh WOW Suzy :) Your fine artistry sure comes out in every card you do!!! Love the bird drawings...great colored pencil texture... as well as the die release cards! It's all amazing to me! Thanks for inspiring me :)

[Denise Ward]

You always make such lovely cards that I always have a hard time picking a favorite. But today, I pick the BLESSINGS card. I love the way you have colored the poinsettia and used the gold lettering for the greeting. Simply beautiful! I hope you have a very wonderful Christmas!