loving thoughts

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! I have an elegant Easter project to share with you using some of the new goodies from the latest Simon Says Stamp release, called Rain or Shine. I love using individual stamps to create a fun and totally unique background, and the super detailed floral images in the new Loving Thoughts stamp set were perfect for creating an elegant and refined custom patterned panel. Let’s get started with the details!

*I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*

To start, I used several of the images from the new Loving Thoughts to create a beautiful background. I began by stamping the largest image first on the panel, rotating the stamp and the panel to create a unique, continuous pattern. I used the next smallest stamp to fill in some of the blank areas, again rotating the stamp and the panel, and repeated the process with smaller and smaller stamps until I had covered the entire panel. I used Butter Pawsitively Saturated Ink for all of the images, creating a springy, sunny pattern with a touch of elegance. I used my trimmer to trim 1/4″ off of each edge and backed it with some coordinating pale yellow and white glitter cardstock peeking out on each side for a touch of added texture and sparkle for the background.

For the greeting, I used a blending brush to blend some more Butter Pawsitively Saturated Ink over the stamped background to create a blank area for my sentiment. I die cut the new Bouncy Happy Easter sentiment die three times from white cardstock, adhering each of the die cuts together with liquid adhesive so as to create a dimensional die cut. I adhered the dimensional die cut to the blended area; that little extra bit of height on the dimensional die cut helps to make that sentiment pop from the muted yellow haze on the background!

To frame the sentiment die cut, I stamped a few more individual images from the Loving Thoughts set onto some spare white cardstock, again using Butter ink, and die cut the images with their coordinating dies. I arranged the die cuts around the die cut sentiment with foam adhesive, then added some Cottontail Embellishment Mix confetti and a pretty Iridescent White Cord bow to help fill in a visual gap on the bottom of the card.

Well, that’s all for my project today! The gorgeous Loving Thoughts stamp set is perfect for creating unique backgrounds like these, and the super detailed images mean that you don’t have to worry about coloring; they do beautifully standing on their own! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! I am hopping along with Simon Says Stamp today for Day 1 of a 2-day blog hop to help introduce their newest release, called Rain or Shine! You should have arrived here from Debby Hughes, and your next stop is Lisa Addesa. You can also see the full hop list over at the Simon Says Stamp Blog. From sweet little bunnies to flowers to farm critters to elegant embossing folders, this Rain or Shine release truly has such a wide variety that there’s something for everybody! I have been having such fun playing with the different products, putting a wide variety of techniques to use, and I even pulled out my sadly-neglected watercolors to create this detailed watercolored embossing folder card. Let’s get started with the details!

To begin my project, I ran a panel of Arches Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper through my die cutting machine using the new Soaring Swallows Embossing Folder. I love using Arches Cold Press for embossing folders, because the suepr textured cardstock holds up beautifully with the incredible details of the 3D embossing folders. Once I had finished embossing the image, I used some painter’s tape to adhere it down to my watercolor board, which helps to minimize warping .

I began my project by painting the sky, using super diluted blue watercolor and lots of clean water to create a blue summer sky, complete with wispy clouds. I used plenty of water to keep the background light, which enabled me to create not just the subtle clouds but also allowed me to paint more freely without worrying about keeping the edges of the images themselves super clean. I used a large paintbrush to paint over the entire panel, then when the panel was completely dry, I used more concentrated color to add details to the swallows and foliage. Moisture will seek out moisture with watercolor, and by allowing the background to dry completely before adding my details, I was able to add the details with precision and not have to worry about the new wet color blooming into the old damp color.

After I had added the color, I used some white gouache to enhance a few of the edges of the feathers and add some highlights on the swallows. Having covered the entire card front with pale blue watercolor for the sky made the birds’ highlights a bit more difficult, but glazing the highlights with white gouache helps to add that contrast between dark and light!

After I had finished watercoloring the panel and it had dried completely, I trimmed down the edges and matted the watercolored scene on a full sized A2 panel of coordinating dusty blue cardstock, creating a monochromatic frame around the detailed watercoloring. I pulled out the new Loving Thoughts stamp set, which has two different accompanying die sets: one for the images in the set and one for the beautiful sentiments. To keep the color palette simple, I heat embossed the sentiment from Loving Thoughts onto some more of the dusty blue cardstock, then die cut it with its’ coordinating, super detailed die. I popped it up in the center of the card front with some foam adhesive, then added a few Dusk Pawsitively Dazzling Gems. I just love how this card came out, even with the simple color palette.

Well, that’s all for my project today. Now for some fun giveaway information!

Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop, selected from the blog comment section. Winners will be selected and posted on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday the 26th of March. Winners can email Simon Says Stamp to claim his/her prize.

Simon Says Stamp is also offering a fabulous freebie to celebrate not only the release, but their twenty-third birthday! Simply purchase $23 of products from the new Rain or Shine release and the darling Balloon Bouquet die will be automatically added to your cart. No code needed!

Your next stop is Lisa Addesa.

Don’t forget to check out the second day of our Rain or Shine blog hop for even more inspiration and prizes! Happy birthday to Simon, and happy shopping and hopping to you!

Happy Easter Toile with Simon Says Stamp!

Simon Says Stamp Rain or Shine Blog Hop- Day 1!