Simon Says Stamp Let's Connect Blog Hop

Hello all you blog hoppers! Today is the first day of a two day blog hop celebrating the new Let's Connect release by Simon Says Stamp. I have a blog post I put up yesterday with a "one stamp, five ways" using the new Drawn Daisies stamp set I drew. It's a 6x6 cling stamp inspired by one of my watercolor cards in the Spring Flowers set from earlier this year. I hope you like it and please visit my blog post here to see the five cards I made with it. Here is an image of all 5 together:

Today I have my newest set of watercolor cards all colored to share with you. They are called Suzy's Birthday Watercolor Cards. There are six designs (instead of the usual 12) with 2 of each printed on Ranger WC Paper. This will allow you to have an extra if you don't like how you colored it! Or maybe you love one of the designs and want an extra! Here is an image:

And here are the 6 colored all together. I will give you details of what I used to color each one below the individual images. The blog hop details are at the very bottom of this post.

CARD 1: Sorry It's Late

For this card, I used my new Karin Brushmarkers to color the turtle and the presents. I love using them when I want very intense color and when I want to mix several colors together like I did on the turtle shell and the packages. Plus they are just really fun to play with! I painted the sky with Atlantis Burst Shimmer Powder and the green at the bottom is Daniel Smith watercolor. I used glitter Nuvo Drops on the packages for dots and on the ribbons. I colored the letters with two colors of pencils so they are striped and then covered them with Orange Soda glitter drops (so you can't really tell they are striped!). I added some glossy Carribean Ocean Nuvo Drops to the background. NOTE: I die-cut all but one of these cards using the SSS A2 largest frame die as it leaves just the perfect amount of the card color showing to frame it. 

CARD 2: Hope your birthday is as Sweet as you are

I used my Karin Brushmarkers on this one as well. They are new - what can I say! I am really enjoying them though as they work better than any other watercolor markers I have used and I'm very picky. They don't work well on all watercolor papers, but they do really well on the Ranger one that these are printed on. I used the markers on the letters as well as they have a really fine tip. I added shadows behind all items with a cool gray colored pencil (I could have used a watercolor marker for that as well!). I used a white uniball for the white areas and added white gloss nuvo drops to the centers of the flowers. I used Dandelion Yellow, Red Berry, and Blue Crush glossy nuvo drops around the items.

CARD 3: Happy Birthday Shaker

I decided to make a shaker card with this one since it had large balloons with no greeting on it. I first colored the balloons with the Karin markers. Then I colored in the little designs on each with my Kaiser Craft glitter pens. I painted the background with Blue Blitz shimmer powder. I made a shaker frame and window using the MFT Rectangle Frames and filled the shaker with PPP sparkling clear sequins in all sizes and some Studio Katia iridescent tiny bubbles. I used the SSS CZ happy birthday die and after I glued it on, I covered it with white glossy nuvo drops (very carefully!). 

CARD 4: Happy Birthday

I love the colors in this one! They are my Karin Brush markers again! I sound like a broken record haha. I splattered some of the color on the background as well. I used Nuvo glitter drops in the centers of the flowers and around the background. I added some Studio Katia tiny bubbles to the letters. 

CARD 5: Time to Party

I wanted the dog to look like he had the texture of fur, so I used colored pencils to color him in first. I used the Karin Markers for the balloons, hat, and confetti as well as the letters. I used Atlantis Burst shimmer powder for the sky. I used gray watercolor for the ground. I added some white dots to the background with white acrylic paint by dipping the bottom of a paint brush in it and then lightly dotting it on the paper. I used Glossy Accents on the balloons, hat and letters. 

CARD 6: Thanks

I have two versions of this one as my daughter wanted to paint one, so she did the bottom one. She is leaving for college in 3 weeks and it matches her room decor, so I want to frame it for her to use there. I am going to officially be an empty nester. Which means short term, I'll be a complete crying mess, and long term, I'll have much more time to craft and probably blog a lot more often! We both painted ours with the Karin brush markers again. I used a white uniball gel pen on the edges of the big flower and then use my finger pressed on them right after I apply so half of the white comes off. I do that a lot on the edges of flowers. She used the same pen for the shadow on her vase. I used glossy accents on my vase and some white nuvo drops for the white on top of the vase (didn't like how that turned out). I used glitter nuvo drops over some of the flowers. I used the Lawn Fawn Just Stitching die on the outside edges of mine. I used the Thanks Frame die for the greeting. This one could be used for any occasion since it is just flowers or to be framed with no greeting!

BLOG HOP DETAILS:

• There is a free gift with purchase for this hop. The details are listed on the graphic at the top of this post.
• SSS is giving away a $25 store gift certificate on each stop of the hop. They will pick the winner from the comments section and announce the winners on their blog on August 12th.
• There is a "Let's Connect" gallery that has all the cards from the 2 day hop and all others made with this release. Make sure to add yours to the gallery as well!
• This is a 2 day blog hop, so visit the SSS Blog tomorrow to start hopping (Saturday the 7th).

NEXT ON THE HOP IS SIDNIE DES JARDINS. 

Thank you so much for visiting today friends. If you want to be alerted when I blog my "one stamp, five ways" series, there is an email button on the top left of this page. I hope you are enjoying this 2 day hop and the wonderful new Let's Connect release! Happy hopping and happy weekend! STAY WELL PLEASE!!! xoxo suzy 

PRODUCTS USED ON THIS POST:

 

Comments

[Mary Kay Ross]

These cards are fabulous! The colors are so bright and beautiful!

[Nicole Bell]

I am always so in awe of your coloring - and these illustrations are some of my favourite!

[Gail S]

Great cards and colors! Would love to try these techniques.

[Mary Holshouser]

The watercolor cards are fantastic
(as usual). Love the turtle toting
the presents. thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

[Nan]

So many wonderful elements to enjoy! I love the Karin brushes and the look you achieved! Fabulous inspiration!

[Patricia Coleman]

Your designs and coloring are gorgeous!!

[Tonna Zablah]

What glorious colors!!

[Bunny Dobbie]

I love your illustrations and knowing how you would colour them is such a bonus! Thank you!

[Mary-Anne V]

What wonderful and beautiful cards.

[Lisa A]

Absolutely beautiful colors! You and Kathy are such amazing colorists!! Thank you for such beautiful inspiration pieces!

[Louanne Collins]

Love the idea of 2 cards per design!

[Retta Lutte]

I always love your cards, but these are especially "special". Just darling!

[Nancy Roth]

Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing your talent with us.

[Cyndi Morris]

Your watercolor cards are always amazing, and I think you've outdone yourself with these. They're absolutely beautiful.

[Lori Spitzer]

Hi, Suzy -
I am blown away at the variety of images. I love the floral cards at the top, esp the "I really like you," "you make things better," and "a little note." I also love the two at the bottom that you and your daughter colored. She's got the stuff!! Just a quick note to say that the shimmer powder link under the little doggie image did not lead to the product when I tried 3x to follow what appeared to be a link. No biggie. I can just look on SSS for it.
Have a great day!!! Thanks for all the superb exemplars.

[Rachel]

Oh my the dog may be my favorite, although the turtle is great too!

[Betty Hempel]

All these cards are stunning, so detailed. I have other sets but just have not sat down to color them. Thank you for sharing, maybe it will convince me to get busy as they are all beautiful cards she does, these are no exception.

[BECCA YAHRLING]

Always love your fun watercolor card designs. And you
always color them so cheerfully.

[Sunshine HoneyBee]

Your coloring is awesome.
Melissa
"Sunshine HoneyBee"

[Susan K Lewis]

Love the colors!

[Lara Read]

Wow stunning! I can't imagine how long that took.

[Gayle]

Another cute set of cards! Beautiful coloring!

[Andre M.]

Beautiful colouring, love the bright flowers and summer fruits.

[Meghan Kennihan]

Spectacular coloring! I LOVE the florals you did! Such bright awesome colors!

[Anneleise Hampson]

Beautiful! What a great hop!