Hi there! Today, we are hopping along to celebrate the Simon Says Stamp Dream Big release! (You can check out the Day 1 blog hop HERE.) You should have arrived here from Barbara Tarayao, and your next stop is Miriam Prantner. I am extra excited about today’s hop, because I have a fun video to share using my newest stamp illustration: Magnolia Apple Blossom! You can check out the video below or click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
For this project, I wanted to create a bright, vibrant bouquet featuring my new favorite medium: gouache! I was able to experiment with pairing white gouache with liquid watercolors earlier this summer, and it was such a blast that I had to try it out with this giant Magnolia Apple Blossom bouquet.
I began by stamping the large bouquet from Magnolia Apple Blossom onto some Simon Says Stamp Midnight Green cardstock using Hero Arts Unicorn ink. The white pigment ink fades beautifully into the opaque paint and shows up perfectly against the dark cardstock background. I die cut the image with the coordinating dies. I mixed the liquid watercolors with the white gouache to create a variety of shades of opaque paint. The brighter the watercolors, the better, because the opaque white gouache will seriously dilute the color from its original vibrancy. The super thick Midnight Green cardstock worked beautifully with this thick paint; it did not warp or pill at all!
I like to mentally replace the water that I would normally use to dilute the watercolor with the white gouache. The white gouache acts to dilute the intensity and vibrancy of the watercolor, so adding more gouache will make your color lighter, more watercolor/pigment will make it brighter and more intense. I laid down the medium shade in the areas that were more shadowed, then added some more white gouache to that medium shade and painted the petals that were on the top, or curled over on themselves. As with all no-line coloring, keeping the contrast and sharp lines between the edges of each image was key in maintaining the shape.
Once my painting was complete, I used the Magnolia Branches Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp to emboss a mini-slimline (3.5″x6″) panel of more of the Midnight Green cardstock, which I lightly splattered with more white gouache to add a touch of artsy texture to the background. I popped up the painted die cut with foam tape, then added a sentiment strip from Magnolia Apple Blossom using a double layer of foam tape for extra height. Finally, I added a few Milk Glass jewels for some iridescent sparkle!
My second card features one of the new standalone dies from the Dream Big release: Lemon Zest. I love that these new dies feature just enough detail that you can use colored cardstock for a chunkier, more graphic effect, or you can use your favorite coloring medium to add lots of detail and shading, as I’ve done here. I began by die cutting all of the components from Lemon Zest from plain white cardstock. I used my Copic markers to add a ton of vibrant color to the images. This would be fun to do with ink pads and ink blending, too!
For the background, I wanted to add a subtle pattern, so I pulled out the Interlocking Circles Stencils. These stencils have a definite Tuscan feel to them, which I thought worked perfectly with the bright lemon die cuts! I blended Lemon Chiffon and Duckling inks to create a subtle, sunny pattern for the background.
I die cut a vellum Nested Domed Arches die to create a smooth area to ground my greeting and lemon cluster. I stamped a greeting using the Well Wishes stamps and Pine Paws-itively Saturated ink, then arranged my die cuts and sentiment over the top of my vellum arch. I added the die cuts with lots of foam adhesive, hiding the foam tape behind the solid die cuts to keep it from peeking through my transparent vellum die cut. Finally, I added a few bright yellow iridescent pearls to add a bit of shine!
My final card today might be tied with the magnolia gouache card for my favorite card from this release. As soon as I saw the new Ice Cream Scoop dies, I wanted to create a festive pastel birthday card with them featuring the Layered Confetti stencils. I began my project by die cutting all of the components for the Ice Cream Scoop die cuts three times from white cardstock. I again used my Copic markers to add lots of color to the die cuts, creating vanilla bean, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip ice creams. (Yum, right?) I adhered all of the components together using both liquid and foam adhesive to create as three dimensional a look as possible.
Next, I created a party background with coordinating ice cream shoppe colors! I combined the Layered Confetti stencils with Guava, Spring, and Goldenlocks inks, blending the stencils on a white background, then randomly blending all three colors around the edge of the card front to create a soft, almost bokeh-effect. I also layered a few Streamer Ribbons cut from white cardstock towards the top of my blended background to add an even more festive feel to the card front.
After the card base had been completed, I adhered the ice cream cones to the card front using foam adhesive. I cut the detailed “happy birthday” from the Scripty Happy Birthday die set from some white glitter cardstock and adhered it to the ice cream cones. So many different elements on this card, but I love how festive and sweet this one ended up! The different looks that you can achieve from just some plain white die cuts is absolutely amazing to me.
Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now, to celebrate the release and the blog hop, Simon Says Stamp is generously giving away a $25 shopping spree from one commenter on each stop on the hop!
To enter, simply leave a comment on each blog hop stop. The more comments you leave along the way, the more chances you have to win! The winners will be announced on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday the 27th of July. The winners can email the folks at Simon Says Stamp to claim your prize!
Simon Says Stamp is also offering a free gift with purchase! Enter code BIGHUGS at checkout to receive the sweet Scripty Big Hugs die FREE with any purchase! This promotion will expire 7/24 at 11:59 pm EDT.
Your next stop is Miriam Prantner. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!
Lovely cards! Thanks for sharing!
Fabulous cards!
the first card is so striking with the dark Green and the Pink flower.
I love what you did to create the lemon card.
The ice cream card is fun and festive! I want to go grab a cone!
Thanks for sharing your talent.
Love the use of the slimline card
with the flower that is bigger than
the card. The ice cream card is
very refreshing on a hot day.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
All are AWESOME! I love the lemon and ice cream ones!!!
Such cute and varied cards. I see how I could use simpler techniques to create similar cards.
Oh my! I love these – the ice cream looks delish!
OMGoodness! These are sooooo beautiful! The florals, the lemons, the yummy ice creams! YOWZA! Off to watch on YT!
Wonderful cards, Emily!
I love the beautiful flower against the dark background! Stunning!
These cards are stunning Emily, I love them all!!
That ice cream card makes me want to run right out to the ice cream shop for a sweet treat! The streamers are an inspired touch.
Beautifully elegant cards! Great job!
All 3 cards are beautiful. You’re known for your florals but the lemons and ice cream cones are equally as good. Thanks for the watercoloring tips, always interesting to learn.
Love that gorgeous magnolia. I think you have such an eye for color. The ice cream cones look good enough to eat!! TFS
Wow! Fabulous designs! I love the colors on the ice cream card! Thank you for your video- you paint beautifully!
Oh WOW!! These are three amazing cards!! Love all the different designs and how much thought and interest is put into the backgrounds as well as the die cuts!
Love the gouache tips, Answered some issues I’ve had. Those lemons are so so summer and now I want lemonade!
Wow, gorgeous cards as always! Love that ice cream cone card.
Beautiful cards
The magnolia stamp set you designed is gorgeous! I really love your cards, especially the ice cream cones.
Beautiful cards! I could see the ice cream cone card being perfect for my mother who LOVES ice cream! So fun,
Beautiful cards! Love the ice cream cone card, would be a great birthday card for my mother who loves ice cream – so fun!
Wow!!!! Gorgeous cards!!!!
Three cards that all knocked my socks off! Your colouring is always mind blowingly good! Each card is so different and shows your phenomenal talent. Thanks for sharing such wonderful inspiration.
Fabulous cards! Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow! So beautiful! Each one is so special! Thank you for sharing
Great cards as always. I have learned so much from you and I am getting braver with my cards!
WOW! They are all so beautiful!
Beautiful cards. I love magnolias. I never thought to use lavender for the bloom. In the heat of summer the ice cream cone look inviting.
Wowwee, wow, wow!! The lemon and floral cards are marvelous but I actually gasped when I saw the AWESOME ice cream card!! I love the bokeh background as well as the streamers and all the cool spatters on that ice cream beauty! TFS !!
Lori S in PA
Awesome cards. You are so talented and creative.
Love all your cards, but especially the ice cream cones!
Such beautiful cards!
All three cards are WOW cards! They are beautiful.
Absolutely stunning!
The ice creams are WONDERFUL!!! You have enticed me to go have some…thanks 🙂
Lovely and wonderful cards, Emily. All so beautifully done.
Beautiful cards!!
These cards are all gorgeous! The Magnolia Apple Blossom is fabulous, and your ice creams look mouth-watering!
Your cards look wonderful! I love your watercoloring on the first card! 🙂
You can you love what you do. Nice cards.
Like the way your images on the first two cards go “off the page,” so to speak. The coloring on that first card is exquisite!
and I love ice cream cones, too!
Super cards. Love the ice cream card. It looks so cool and refreshing on a hot day.
Gorgeous cards! Love the flower, ice cream cones and lemons. So creative.
Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful cards. I love the exotic colors used in the floral card.
Beautiful and cute cards. I like your use of gouache.
All 3 cards are simply beautiful! Thank you for sharing such talent and inspiration!
Thank you for your inspiration
Such lovely cards! Your painting on the magnolia is stunning and that green ice cream is making me crave mint chip ice cream!!
Amazing set of cards.
Emily, you are one talented crafter. Love your cards. When I saw the ice cream cone card my mouth starting watering. It was 104 degrees here in Souttheastern Washington today 🥵😀
That floral on the dark background is so beautiful and dramatic!
Those ice cream cones, love how the green one looks like mint chocolate chip.
Such beautiful cards!! Love your illustrations.
Your magnolia card is stunning! I have never heard of gouache, so I will need to check it out. And the dark green card base works very well.
All 3 of your cards are wonderful but I especially love the way you painted the magnolia with gouache. I’ve never used it before and I’ve only seen it speckled over a card face. I had no idea you could use it to paint against a dark background. So beautiful and creative. Thank you for sharing your talents!🤩
Stunning designs and thinking outside the box. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration.
Fabulous cards! The ice cream cones are my favorite!
Gorgeous cards! Loved watching you paint the magnolia apple blossom! So talented!
Your cards are always fantastic!
Really lovely cards
Adorable cards. Love the polka dot multi background with colors that match the ice cream. So much fun!
I love your cards!
Beautiful cards! Love your coloring. The magnolia is amazing!
Absolutely beautiful cards!!
Love your cards
OMGoodness Emily..your cards are beautiful. The cones are so life-like and the magnolia is gorgeous off the edge. TFS your talent!
Such fun cards. I love the ice cream cones and the lemons!
Beautiful cards. I really love the white gouache and the liquid watercolor technique. The card using that technique has to be my favorite!
Love these cards, especially the first one. The Magnolia Apple Blossom is absolutely gorgeous — great job!
Your lemons and I cream cones look delicious!
Lovely, love them all but especially the lemon card!
Love the ice cream card; I can almost taste the chocolate piping on the cones!
The lemon card is my favorite! I love the bright, happiness of it.
My fav is the ice cream cones. Those look good enough to eat!
What a wonderful set of cards! My fav is the lemons card! <3
These are beautiful! I must look into gouache!
Pretty variety, backgrounds & more.
Melissa
“Sunshine HoneyBee”
Awesome technic thanks for sharing
Lovely cards thanks for sharing this technique.
Thanks for the tip with the gouache. I never would have thought of that!
Love the elegance of the cards.
Lovely!
Beautiful cards. I love the backgrounds on all of them.
Love the Magnolia Branches card on the dark card stock. Brilliant design! The ice cream card—love it!
What wonderful dimension with your coloring, and the dark cardstock gives such a spectacular look to your first card.
Such beautiful cards and your design is amazing!!!
Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful cards.
Just awesome cards. The shading on the lemons and cones are perfect.
OMG what fabulous cards – LOVE the coloring on them – pure eye candy
Great selection of cards! Love the pretty flowers on a black background!
I love the ice cream cone card!💕
Such a pretty card!
Loving these cards! Thank you for sharing.
Gorgeous cards, beautifully colored!
Wow! Stunning cards Emily, but I must admit the ice-cream card is my favourite.!! I just love it! Thanks for the great inspiration.
i am also torn– between first and last card! I love them both