Today is the SSS new Send Happiness release - whoopeee!!! And there are so many cute products in this release! I had to pick two stamp sets to do a "one stamp, five ways" post with. I picked the Fairytale Spinners stamp set for my SSS Blog Guest Post that will be up on June 30th. Here is a sneak of the 5 cards I created with this stamp set:
The second stamp set I picked for my "one stamp, five ways" post on my blog is the Chillin' Gnomies stamp set. I have five cards to share with you today using this stamp set. Here are the five together:
I also have a set of 12 new watercolor cards in this release called "Under the Sea". I'll have them all colored on day 1 of the blog hop tomorrow, June 26th. Here is an image of the set:
Here are my five cards using Chillin' Gnomies. As usual, I try to use different techniques and coloring mediums for them so I can show you options for the stamp set. Hopefully you can apply some of the things I did to help you get more use out of ALL of your stamps. Once I've made these 5 cards, I feel like I can put the stamp away and I have gotten adequate use out of it. But I have to admit, to feel like my investment is worth it, I feel better when I don't buy the dies and I fussy cut the images out. Some stamps are hard to fussy-cut, but others are simple and it really does save a lot of money.
CARD 1:
This is my "random stamping" card. I arrange all of the stamps around each other like a puzzle using my Misti and stamp them with MFT Natural Ink. I colored them all in with colored pencils sticking to a nautical color theme. I realized once I photographed it that I forgot to color the beard on the top guy!
I die-cut this piece with the SSS A2 Frames dies (largest one) and discarded the frame. This die works perfect to get your card front one size smaller than a card base letting the cardstock color frame your design. I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set on red cardstock die-cut with a banner die from the SSS Word Mix 2 wafer dies set. I embossed it with white embossing powder and attached it to the top of the card. I added some Nuvo Drops in white, red berry, midnight blue, and double denim around the sentiment.
CARD 2:
This is another one of all of my 5 card staples lately - I always like to add a slim-line card. My card is 8.5" x 3.5". I framed it with a stitched frame using Guava cardstock and a Pink Fresh Slim-stitched Rectangle die. I used two colors of Distress Oxide ink in Twisted Citron and Tattered Rose using my Picket Fence brushes.
I stamped all of the images from the Chillin' Gnomes stamp set with MFT Natural Ink and colored them in with colored pencils again. I cut around the edges and attached them all to the front of the card.
I stamped the sentiment on a banner from the SSS Sentiment Label dies using SSS Intense Black Ink. I attached that to the top center of the card. I added some Nuvo Drops in Apple Green and white.
CARD 3:
This card was a big ol' pain in the arse and it took probably 5 hours to color. I ruined it several times and then would try to fix it over and over and over because I refuse to ever give in and throw a card out. I started by stamping the two mushrooms over and over started at the bottom and using masking paper to cover the ones below it. I used a new type of watercolor paper that I haven't used before and I think that might have been the problem. I also used MFT Natural Ink. I just bought myself the Karin Brush Markers and I was so excited to try them out watercoloring this piece. Although I LOVE LOVE LOVE these new markers and highly recommend them, they do have a bit of a learning curve. It was a combo of that and the paper I used that caused the colors to run everywhere. You have to let them dry thoroughly before using another color next to them. I might have rushed a bit. I ended up with a very messy piece that looked horrible. Then I used watercolor pencils to try and fix things. They still didn't look too good, so I used regular colored pencils over all that.
I used the CZ "like you" die for the sentiment with the ugliest green color of cardstock I had. I used a cream for the letters. I layered those on the bottom of the card. By just keep building up color to cover up mistakes, I destroyed the softness of the original watercolor look. I have to say, I love the look of the mushrooms all together and was very proud of my creativity on this card. But my execution sucked and I refused to start over which I should have done! It might have saved time as well.
CARD 4:
This was my last card and it is my least favorite as I couldn't think of anything else unique to do. I just haven't been feeling shaker cards lately for some reason. I used my new favorite circle die, the SSS Shimmer Wreath die. It has this double stitched circle die that is the perfect size for circular openings on cards, so I've been using it on all of my 5 card posts lately! I watercolored a piece to go behind it using Shimmer Powders in Solar Flare and Catherine Wheel. I built up the front of the card with foam tape.
I stamped the mushroom and the gnome with black ink and colored them in with Copic markers (this was to show variety as well all know my preference is no-line stamping with colored pencils!). I stamped the sentiment with black ink on the inside of the circle. I added some PPP seed beads in two new colors - Grass Green and Sunshine. I used some dark yellow sequins and some Sparkling Clear Sequins. I added a few to the outside of the circle as well.
CARD 5:
This card was my favorite card - probably because of the colors! I wanted a beach background and I couldn't think of what to use for it, so I painted my own. I used Nuvo Shimmer Powders for the ocean and sky. For the ocean I used Atlantis Burst and then added a little Meteorite Shower to the top so it was darker. I used Blue Blitz for the sky. I used regular watercolors for the sand and the green. It was super easy to paint - didn't even have to draw it first as it was so basic, so I may do this more often instead of relying on dies and stencils for all my background scenes. I flicked some white paint over the background.
I stamped all of the images from the stamp set with MFT Natural Ink and used my favorite colored pencils on them. I added some details with Kaiser Craft glitter pens and a white Uniball marker. I used Nuvo Glitter Drops over the flowers. I stamped the sentiment on the bottom on a SSS Sentiment Label die with Intense Black Ink and embossed the one on the top with Ranger Leaf Green embossing powder.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed this new Send Happiness release from Simon Says Stamp. There are so many fresh pretty products in it - I will be filling up my cart tonight for sure! Come visit for the 2 day blog hop Saturday and Sunday for LOTS of inspiration with this new release. Thanks for visiting and see you again soon! xoxo Suzy (PS - are you all staying well? I sure hope so!). All products I used in this post are listed below linked to the SSS store!
Love all your work!!!
Posted by: Barbara Chmura | June 27, 2020 at 09:57 AM
Oh my word! You have such great talents. I love all your cards! The gnomes are so stink'in cute! Thanks for sharing.
I need this whole release!
Posted by: Danyelle Dillon | June 28, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Wow. It's just amazing and don't have words to say further. Great 🤩
Posted by: Siddhant | July 02, 2020 at 05:02 AM
Hi Suzy. I couldn't find a place to comment on your fabulous one stamp 5 ways with SSS poppy background stamp, so I'm doing it here. Love your Gnomes and toadstools as well - super cute. However, the colours you used on those poppy stamps were stunning. Your colouring is fabulous and thanks so much for all the information about what you used. I'm crazy about poppies and I just couldn't choose a favourite - you made such gorgeous cards out of those pieces you painted. I was stunned. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful talent. I look forward every release to your sets of cards to be coloured. You're amazing. LOVE your work.
Bev Page from Sydney Australia. Stay safe over there!
Posted by: Bev (Beverley) Page | July 31, 2020 at 11:19 PM