Living My Dream

Simon Says Stamp Holiday Sparkle Release November 2022

Today is the Simon Says Stamp Holiday Sparkle Release! Tomorrow and the next day will be a two day blog hop celebrating this release! You can see some of my creations and TONS of lovely inspiration in the graphic above. In fact, the card I am sharing now is front and center, so see if you can find it. It is my favorite card I have made using the new products (so far). It uses the Antique Lamp Embossing Folder and Dies. Here is an image of the set: I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of the new embossing folders and dies in this release. They continue to amaze me with these new products as they are so innovative. I just... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp: Gina K. Last Minute Labels Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp just announced a promotion with Gina K. Designs products. You will receive a 4×4 inch exclusive limited edition clear stamp set from Gina K Designs that is FREE to you with any Gina K. Designs purchase of $25 or more — no code required! And she just came out with a whole new release of beautiful holiday products, so $25 should be easy to spend! Here is an image of the promotion and the free stamp set: I had a bit of trouble making a card with this set due to my 4 month old sheepadoodle puppy Lucy. She is so sweet, but also very curious and wants to know what I am doing at every moment.... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Floral Frames - STAMPtember 2022

It seems so long ago - STAMPtember at Simon Says Stamp! They released a stamp set called Floral Frames that I hadn't had time to use yet, so I pulled it out and created a card with it to share with you. I was at my mom's taking care of her, so I didn't have background supplies to photograph it. I made it with her in mind as she loves florals and my coloring - she is my biggest fan and has all my cards to show EVERYONE who comes in her door. And now that she is suffering from dementia, she doesn't realize she is showing them over and over again to the same people. It's quite embarrassing when... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Lisianthus Stamp Set

My card today uses the Lisianthus Stamp Set from the Happy and Joyful release a few months ago. I loved this gorgeous floral and already made one card with it when the release was new (blog post is here). Here is an image of the stamp and die bundle: And here is my card using both the stamp set and the matching die. I'm out of town, so my photographs are just on white backgrounds. Sorry I don't have my usual fluff photos! I started by stamping the floral grouping in the Lisianthus Stamp Set with Intense Black Ink on white cardstock. I then colored it in with a mix of colored pencils. I use Prismacolor, Polychromos, Luminance and Pablo... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Cozy Hugs Release: Turkey Day Stamp Set

Today I have a card to share that will make you think it's Thanksgiving time already and we haven't even had Halloween yet. I wanted to use the 6x8" stamp set called Turkey Day from the Cozy Hugs release. I love a turkey card that says "I'm thankful for vegetarians!". That greeting made me laugh, so of course I used it. You can purchase just the stamp set or the stamp with a set of matching dies as a bundle. Here is an image of the bundle: And here is my card: I made the background using the SSS Nested Slimline Rectangle Dies. I applied Pawsitively Saturated Ink to it using a rounded foam applicator by Ranger. I used Trio... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Cozy Hugs Release - Twirling Embossing Folder

As soon as I saw the Twirling Embossing Folder by SSS in their most recent release, Cozy Hugs, I knew I needed to make a peppermint candy card with it. I love to color and embossing folders are so fun to color with Copics. I will admit this was a little hard to color and I didn't do a great job, but I have decided to accept and be happy with it anyway, so hopefully you will be too. I also used a product from the STAMPtember release that worked perfectly with it for a sentiment called Circle Sayings. Here are images of both products: Here is my card: I started by emobossing the Twirling Embossing Folder on white cardstock.... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember Release - Four Fall Dies in One Card

There were several Fall dies in the STAMPtember release that I really wanted to use. So I made a card using all four of them! Here they are: As you can see from the names underneath them, they are the Layered Squirrel Die, the Pumpkin Set Die, the Acorn Trio Die, and the Etched Oak Leaves Die. Here is my card: I die-cut the Layered Squirrel Die, the Pumpkin Set Die (the leaves three times), the Acorn Trio Die (twice), and the Etched Oak Leaves Die all from white cardstock. I then colored all of them with Copic Markers. I didn't add the door to the pumpkin or use the little pumpkins in the set. I used multiples of the... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Cozy Hugs Release: Sterling Labels, Festive Festoon, and Layered Warbler

I haven't posted to my blog for a week! I have family here, so I took a week off. I'm back! I made a card today using three products from the new SSS Cozy Hugs Release. I started with the Festive Festoon embossing folder, then used the Sterling Labels embossing folder and cutting dies, and finished with the Layered Warbler die. I know, I know - I've used a lot of birds on my cards lately. I love birds! Here are images of these three products: Here is my card: I started by embossing the Festive Festoon embossing folder with white cardstock. I then colored it with Copic markers. I used a few sharp colored pencils to add shading and... Read more →

"One Stamp, Five Ways" - Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit "Full of Thanks"

Today is the release of the November card kit for Simon Says Stamp called Full of Thanks. If you aren't in the fall mood yet, you will be after this blog post haha. Here is an image of the kit: My "one stamp, five ways" post uses the stamp set in the card kit called Full of Thanks. It's a 6x8" stamp set that is sold alone and you can also buy a set of matching dies. Here is an image of the stamp set: I always use the stamp in my five cards on kit blog posts, but this time, I used almost JUST the stamp from the kit. Or more, I really focused on the stamp. I liked... Read more →

Simon Says Stamp Scalloped Birdhouse Wafer Die From Cozy Hugs Release

If you have visited my blog since the Cozy Hugs release, you probably know that I love all of the birds in the release. I also love the birdhouses! I have a card to share with you today that uses the Scalloped Birdhouse Wafer Die and the Layered Warbler Wafer Die. Here are images: Here is my card: For the background of this card, I used the Leafy Greens embossing folder and die. I embossed it first on white cardstock and then I rubbed Latte and Fawn Pawsitively Saturated Inks over it with Ranger Domed blending tools. This foam applicator gives it a nice soft application of ink. I die-cut this with a rounded edge rectangle die and attached it... Read more →