Create cards for Fall and Christmas with the Blended Seasons stamp set.  I know that the words Fall and Christmas at this time of year may not be the greatest to use.  As much as we don’t want summer to end, we always need to look ahead.

Yes, the Color Your Seasons bundle (Blended Seasons stamps and Stitched Season Framelits) will be available to purchase starting August 1, 2018.  To find out the information on this promotion, visit this LINK

Use the leaf stamps in many ways to add interest to your Fall cards.  In addition, use the leaf framelit in conjunction with the stamps. As for the Christmas stamps, there are evergreen boughs with holly and berries, and a Christmas bell.

Recipe:

Stamps: Blended Seasons, Bokeh Dots.

Inks: Gray Granite, VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie.

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Gray Granite, Champagne Foil Vellum.

Accessories:Big Shot DIe Cutting Machine, Stitched Season Framelits, Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Banner Triple Punch, Stampin’ Blends: Pumpkin Pie Duo, Pear Pizzazz, Color LIfter.

Ink the Bokeh Dots stamp with Gray Granite ink and stamp the Gray Granite cardstock.  Overlap the images changing the direction of the stamp. You will achieve an interesting background. Stamp the leaves with the Memento Tuxedo Black ink and color using the Stampin’ Blends.

Stamp the Velum with Pumpkin Pie ink and heat emboss with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Die cut the leaf from Champagne Foil paper and apply to card front.

Add the layers of the card and slip a strip of Champagne Foil behind the Pumpkin Pie banner.

Recipe

Stamps:Blended Seasons.

Inks:Memento Black Tuxedo, VersaMark.

Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Call Me Clover.

Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Softly Falling Emboss Folder, Stitched Season Framelits, Tiny Spatula, Aqua Painter Brush, Call Me Clover Marker  Real Red Marker, Coastal Cabana Marker, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Gold 3/8″ Metallic-Edge 3/8″ Ribbon.

Stamp the holly bough 2 times on the Whisper White cardstock. Use the Call Me Clover Marker to outline the  holly. Draw the color into the leaves with a bit of water and the Aqua Painter Brush.

Stamp “Merry Christmas” in VersaMark between the holly  boughs.  Make sure that the ink in the previous step is dry and use the Embossing Buddy to eliminate static before applying the Gold Emboss Powder. Heat with Heat Tool. Die cut the Whisper WHite Panel, and die cut the Real Red panel using the largest Stitched Season Framelit.

Apply the ribbon across the center of the Real Red die cut and attach the Whisper White panel.

Emboss the Call Me Clover panel with the Softly Falling Emboss Folder and attach to Real Red background,

Using a tiny spatula apply VersaMark to the stamped bell.  Emboss with Gold Emboss powder and heat set. Color the ribbon with Real Red Marker. Attach to upper right.

If you create a portrait card, you will need to trim the Real Red die cut a bit on each side.

Tune in on August 1st to shop for the Color Your Season suite and you can create your own Blended Seasons Fall and Christmas Cards.

Keep in touch with all Stampin’ Up! Promotions! 

Download the Color Your Seasons Flyer

The post Use Blended Seasons Stamps – Fall and Christmas appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

There is a summer treat new release coming to you starting August 1st and as a Stampin’ Up! demo, I get to order early.  It’s so that I can play with the stamp set and the matching framelits. The Color Your Seasons stamp is all about coloring.

And, there is another new product that accompanies the debut of this suite…the new Watercolor Pencils – which may be available as a future catalogue product.  The colours included are: Balmy Blue, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Flirty Flamingo, Garden Green, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy.

Purchase the stamp set and the framelits separately or as a bundle.  Remember you save 10% when you purchase the bundle.  The Watercolor Pencils are a separate item, so you can purchase them without purchasing the stamp set or the bundle.

Recipe

Stamps: Blended Seasons…

Inks: Poppy Parade, Granite Gray, Memento Tuxedo Black.

Paper: Poppy Parade, Granite Gray, Whisper White, Pineapple Punch, Soft Seafoam.

Accessories: Big Shot DIe Cutting Machine, Stitched Season Framelits, Rhinestone Jewel, Poppy Parade 1/4″ Mini Striped Ribbon, Stampin’ Blends: Poppy Parade Combo, Soft Seafoam Combo, Pumpkin Combo, Old Olive Combo. .

Ok, I forgot to order the Watercolor Pencils when I placed the order.  Oh well!  Actually, my favorite coloring medium at this point in my life, are the Stampin’ Blends, so I was content to use them.

The stamp set comes in Clear Mount or Wood Mount.

Along with good news, sometimes not so good news comes with it.  The stamp set and matching framelits are only available while supplies last or August 31st.  Whichever comes first.

Details

• Randomly stamp the leaves in Gray Granite ink on the Gray Granite panel.
• Stamp the flowers on Whisper White cardstock and color with your choice of coloring medium: Markers, Inks and Aqua Brush, Watercolor Pencils or the Blends.
• Die cut the panel with the middle label die cut.  Notice the decorative stitched edge.  In addition to the decorative edge on your image, you will also get a decorative edge on your negative cardstock piece.  You can use it on another card if you choose.
• Use the Pineapple Punch cardstock to die cut the flowers and the Soft Seafoam cardstock to die cut the leaves.
• Finally, place a piece of Poppy Parade 1/4″ Mini Striped Ribbon around the Gray Granite panel and tie a faux bow, and stamp sentiment on the Gray Granite.

Have fun with this summer treat new release coming August 1st, 2018.

Click on the link to download the info for this special stamp set, die cut and watercolor pencils.

Link

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Guess how many different cards you will get when add Waterfront stamp set to your next order. You can create cards with mountain scenes and/or beach scenes and they will look like watercolor masterpieces.

Recipe Waterfront Card

Stamps: Waterfront, Thoughtful Banners.

Inks: Soft Sky, Night of Navy, Memento Tuxedo Black, Bermuda Bay, Wisteria Wonder,  Whisper White Craft.

Paper: Whisper White Thick, Basic Gray, Watercolor, Vellum.

Accessories: Banner Triple punch, Gray Satin Ribbon.

There are several places to find inspiration for cards using the Waterfront stamp.  Amanda Bates inspired me to create this card. However, all you really need is a scenic picture and an eye for colour.

Achieve the Look

Use a combination of Night of Navy and Tuxedo Black to stamp the mountains on the cards right hand side. Also,  change the direction of the mountain stamp to achieve different textures and heights.  The mountains on the left are a combination of Tuxedo Black and Wisteria Wonder.  Use Wisteria Wonder ink and stamp off  to achieve a lighter color which makes the mountains appear further away.

The water is a combination of Tuxedo Black and Night of Navy.  Create the sky by adding Soft Sky ink to a block and stamp above where the horizon line appears. To accent the shoreline, leave a bit of white watercolor paper between the mountains and the water. Create a reflection of the mountains on the water.  Create the forest in the foreground, with the tree stamp and Tuxedo Black ink.  Stamp as many trees as you like to give the illusion of an old growth forest. Finally, ink the

Here is a picture that is very similar to the scene in this card. When you use a picture for inspiration, look for the various colors and the nuances.  For example, the mountains appear to have a dark gray or blue shades.  The smaller mountains look like the Pacific Point ink. Turning your stamps in different direction also add to the formation of the scene.

Add Waterfront stamp set to your next order and you will not be disappointed with the variety of cards you can create.

The post Why You Need to Add Waterfront Stamp Set To Your Next Order appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Have you tried the Brusho Crystal Colors from the 2018 Occasions Catalogue? Another tool to add to the watercoloring chest.  There are several different ways to use the brushos.

I have added a video so that you can see how I used the colors to add a sunset to my card. For this card, mix the brusho colors with water and apply the color with the Aqua Painter Brush.  This method allows you to control the brusho easily.  Or, somewhat easier.

The first time you add Brusho to your cards and/or scrapbook pages, it is best to practice, practice and practice.  Don’t be hard on yourself if your art piece doesn’t turn out exactly the way you would like it to look.

A few details about Brusho Crystal Colors:

• Brusho is a crystal powder that interacts with water.
• You can use a water spritzer to move the powder around. It is easier to start out with a bit of water rather than too much water. When the water hits the crystals, they burst and float on top of the cardstock and/or paper.
• Use watercolor paper or Stampin’ Up! Shimmery White cardstock.
• Brusho Color Crystals in 5 colors: Brilliant Red, Gamboge (orange), Moss Green, Prussian Blue and Yellow.
• Do not remove the lids from the pots as the color crystals are very fine and will fly over everything and what a mess to clean up.  Instead us, the Paper Piercer Tool to poke holes in the lids.  Cover the holes with pin tacks.
• When using the crystal colors, sprinkle onto your paper and spritz water or sprinkle on a block and add water and pick up with Aqua Painter Brush.

The video takes you step-by-step through the process.

The above card appears in the video.  However, I find the sky to be quite dark.  It is a case of not using enough water when mixing the Brusho colors to apply to the card or mixing the wrong colors together…

The card above is the one that I created as the sample and I am much happier with the sunset on this card.

As I said, you have to experiment, test, try and even then you may not get it right.  However it is art, and “art is in the eye of the beholder”.

Recipe

Stamps: Waterfront, Amazing You.

Ink/Marker: Fresh Fig, Garden Green, Tranquil Tide, Flirty Flamingo, Crushed Curry, Pool Party.

Paper: Whisper White, Fresh Fig, Crushed Curry, Watercolor Paper, Painted with Love Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Accessories: Brusho Crystal Colors, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine, Aqua Painter Brush, Water, Clear Block, Paper Towel or Clean Rag.

You can see the Brusho Crystal Colors HERE.

The post Use Brusho Crystal Colors to Create a Watercolor Scene appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

How do you make watercolor easy with a stamp set?  Watercolor is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere quickly.  It appears that this technique will remain popular in the craft world.

The Waterfront stamp set gives the appearance of watercoloring without  the need for markers, Aqua Painter brushes and/or ink. Just ink and stamp and you will have a watercolor image. The stamp is not solid.

Another tip is to use Watercolor paper.  Even though no water is used to create this card, the texture of the watercolor paper and the texture of the stamp combine to give the look of watercolor.

Recipe

Stamps: Waterfront, Heartfelt Blooms.

Ink/Marker: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Lemon Lime Twist, So Saffron, Pool Party, Pacific Point.

Paper: Thick Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Color Theory Designer Paper Series Stack, Watercolor.

Accessories: Big Shot, Simple Striped Textured Embossing Folder, 5/8” Burlap Ribbon.

Use your imagination to create cards with the stamp set. Stamp different colors to depict different scenes.  Here, I have created a wilderness scene, however, there are palm trees that lend themselves to beach scenes.

The Simple Striped EF used on Soft Suede cardstock adds to the rustic and peaceful scene.

The stamp set is ideal for a masculine card.  All that is required are changes in paper and ink colors.  Its easy to create and you will get a WOW!

In fact, I will try the northern lights technique for this card. easy. The technique will require some additional work but you can still make watercolor easy.

Finally, do you need supplies to create this card? Check out the products by clicking on the images below.  If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post and I will respond..

Product List

The post Make Watercolor Easy With Waterfront Stamp Set appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Create a beautiful Swan Lake Birthday card for a special person.  What is your reaction when you see a swan swimming on a lake or pond?  When I see a swan, I see grace, peace and beauty.

Swan Lake Birthday Card Recipe

Stamps: Swan Lake, Starburst Sayings.

Ink/Markers: Jet Black Stazon, Soft Sky, Dapper Denim, Watercolor Pencil Crayons (Old Olive, Basic Grey, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake).

Paper: Whisper White Thick, Dapper Denim, Whisper White, By the Shore Designer Series Paper.

Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Aqua Painter Brush, Dapper Denim Ruffled Ribbon, Lace Doily.

This card was easy to create and it allowed me to used the new Watercolor Pencils that are in the 2017 Occasions catalogue.  Have you tried them out?  What is your opinion.  Maybe more Watercolor Pencils in other Stampin’ Up colors?

The How To Details

Watercolor the Whisper White panel using Soft Sky ink and the Aqua Painter Brush. Squeeze the Soft Sky ink pad and push some ink into the container top.  Add some water and mix using the Aqua Painter Brush.  You can always fill your Aqua Painter Brush and squeeze the barrel to release some water.  However, it is easier to control the amount of water added if a spritzer.filled with water is used.

If you decide to leave the Aqua Painter Brush dry, swirl it around in your ink, take the Aqua Painter Brush and lightly stroke the bottom half of the Whisper White panel.  You don’t need to color the whole panel.

Stamp the swan, bulrushes, dragonfly and lily pad using Jet Black StaZon ink.  Once the ink is dry, it will not smear when you are color the images.

Proceed to color the images with the Watercolor Pencils, Markers or Ink.  Add shading to the swan body and its feathers by outlining in the Basic Grey Watercolor Pencil.

Before adhering the swan to the By the Shore Designer Series Paper, cut a Lace Doily in half and add to the back of the Whisper White panel.

Stamp the “Happy Birthday” sentiment from the Starburst Saying stamp set on Whisper White using Dapper Denim ink.  Die cut using the Big Shot and a circle from the Stitched Shapes Framelits, sponge around the circle using a Sponge Dauber and Dapper Denim ink.  Finally, cut a piece of the Dapper Denim Ruffled Ribbon, fold in half and attach to the underside of the circle.  Attach to card using Stampin’ Up! Dimensionals.

Here is a Link to another type watercolour on a card.

What Do You Think of This Card

Now, it’s your turn to create a Swan Lake Birthday card for a special lady in your life.  Leave me a comment to let me know what you think of this card.  Or maybe share the blog post with your friends.

The post Swan Lake Birthday Card Created Just For You. appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Create a handmade shaker card using the Hey! Chicks stamp set. What would you say if I tell you that you can received this stamp set free?

Right now, it’s Sale-a-Bration time!  It’s Stampin’ Up!’s biggest sale of the year, and you can earn free product when you purchase product from any of the catalogues, or promotional items or Clearance Rack.  Here’s  how you can get your hands on this free product.

For every $60 CDN (not including shipping or taxes), you can choose a free product from the Sale-a-Bration brochure.  Easy right?  There are a variety of products available for free, including stamp sets, Designer Series Paper, embellishments, kits, and a card tin to hold all you beautifully created cards.

Here’s an example of a project created from the free item Hey, Chick stamp set.

Recipe

Stamps: Hey, Chick.

Ink/Markers: Watercolor Pencils, Stazon Black

Paper: Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Vellum, It’s My Party DSP, Window Sheets.

Accessories: Big Shot, Party Pop Up Thinlits, Metallics Sequin Assortment, It’s My Party Washi Tape, 5/8” Burlap Ribbon, Neutral Candy Dots.

On product that makes a shaker card easy to create is the Foam Adhesive Strips.  These strips were introduced in the 2016-2017 Annual Catalogue.  They resemble Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Because the adhesive is in strips, it is easier to place around the cardstock to ensure that the sprinkles inside the shaker card don’t escape.

Click on this LINK to see an example of another shaker card. Create your own handmade shaker card and check out Sale-a-Bration.

Product List

The post Handmade Shaker Card Features the Barnyard Chicks appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

A Christmas Elf handmade card will delight the young ones and the young at heart.  Sometimes it is fun to create a whimsical card.  After all elves are popular at Christmas, for instance, the Elf on the Shelf.

Recipe

Stamps: Jolly Friends, Holly Jolly Greetings.

Ink: Black StazOn, Garden Green, Real Red, Blossom Blush Marker, Chocolate Chip Marker.

Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, Real Red, Blush Blossom, Gold Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, This Christmas Specialty DSP.

Accessories: Big Shot, Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Layering Ovals Framelits, Christmas Greetings Framelits, Jolly Hat Builder Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch.

Tips to Create This Card

Emboss the Real Red card stock with the Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  This is a new type of embossing folder which will give you a deeper impression on the card stock.  However, to get a real deep impressions, you need to break down fibers in the card stock.  You can do that by spraying your card stock with water, however, spraying with Rubbing Alcohol (97%) will also break down the fibers, but your card stock will dry faster than if you use water.

Stamp the elf’s head on Blush Blossom cardstock (retired) and colour his cheeks using the Blush Blossom Marker (retired), and his hair with the Chocolate Chip Marker.  If you are so lucky as to have these two products, great, if not, stamp the elf head on Watercolor card stock and colour the face using  Blushing Bride, Peekaboo Peach, and blend with the Blender Pen.  It is important to blend well.  Don’t put too much colour on the face to start, you can also go darker.

Stamp the head and the scarf on Whisper White and when you have completed coloring his head, fussy cut and place on the Whisper White head and pop up with dimensionals.

Now, the Word Window and the Modern Label punches are also discontinued.  But, you can use the Tags and Labels Framelits to achieve the same effect.

There is a coordinating punch for the Jolly Friends stamp set.  BONUS!.  See THIS POST for the benefits of a coordinating punch.

Now that I have given you a few alternatives to the products that I used on this card, you can create you own Christmas Elf handmade card.

Product List

Alternative Product List

The post Christmas Elf Handmade Card – Make One For The Young At Heart appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

It’s time for another Christmas and Holiday idea to make your season a little less stressful.

Entertaining – Do you tend to entertain over the holidays?  Does it cause you to rethink why you do it?  There’s the baking, buying food, beverages, cleaning the house before and after and of course the over indulgence and then we have to work hard to take off the weight.

• Perhaps a pared back entertaining season may be in order like serving appetizers instead of a full dinner with all the fixings.  Isn’t the people we like to see and spend time with?
• How about a pot luck?  Entertaining can be expensive.  Today, more and more people are getting together for holidays and bringing a dish to share.  This really helps out the hostess who needs to contend with all those last minute details.  Why does the hostess or host need to be in the kitchen?  They need to enjoy the company that they are entertaining.
• Christmas and the Holidays are about the relationships that we need to nurture.  How about arranging a ski, skating, snowmobile or what ever you choose, having a hot dog roast, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the outdoors.
• Who says that we need to do all the entertaining between Christmas and New Years?  I know that people like to have their house decorated for entertaining as it is the festive season.  However, maybe breaking with tradition and leaving your decorations up for a few weeks past New Years and doing your entertaining then.  People are less busy and perhaps would enjoy a pared down visit.

Now you have another  Christmas and Holiday idea to make this season less stressful.  Try 1, 2 or all 3 and see if any work for you.

I love this stamp set –  All is Calm in Photopolymar. It is so cute and there are so many different ways to use it to create cute cards.

Recipe

Stamps: White Christmas.

Ink/Markers: Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, Chocolate Chip Marker.

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky.

Accessories: All is Calm Washi Tape, Frosted Sequins, Nordic Designer Button, Aqua Painter, White Baker Twine.

This card takes few supplies and can be made in very little time.

Can you believe I didn’t use the Big Shot?  Must be the first time in a very long time.

The sky is created using the Aqua Painter and Soft Sky ink.  I loaded up the Aqua Painter brush with Soft Sky ink and swiped it across the Whisper White card stock. It doesn’t have to be perfect as it’s the effect that counts.  Just don’t get the Whisper White paper too wet or it will pill.

White Christmas Photopolymer Stamp Set

All Is Calm Designer Washi Tape

Frosted Sequins

Nordic Designer Buttons

Aqua Painters

Soft Sky 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

The post Christmas and Holiday Idea #2 – Stress less Entertaining appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

The 2014 Occasions Catalogue is here and is loaded with fun stamps, paper and embellishments.  You will find that there are many of the favourite products from the Holiday catalogue are carried over.  YEAH!

One of my favorites(and I can tell you there are many) is the Watercolor Suite.  The papers, stamps and the designer washi tape is to die for and if you just don’t have the time to make your own cards, there is the Watercolor Wonder Designer Note Cards and Envelopes (item # 133362).

You can add your own stamped images and sentiments.  What an easy way to send out cards.

Have you seen the new catalogue?  If not you can download it through this link and peruse at your leisure.  I am sure that there will be something for everyone to drool over.

The card I am sharing today uses the Stamp Set People Like You.  This is a single stamp and has a sentiment attached to it.  You can stamp the sentiment as part of the whole image or stamp it separately in a different colour or on different coloured paper or you can emboss like it did.  The sentiment can be punched out using the Decorative Label Punch and popped up with dimensionals.

Recipe:

Stamps: People Like You (w- 133215, p22 2014 Occasions Catalogue)

Paper: Watercolor, Strawberry Slush, Crumb Cake

Ink: Black Stazon, Versamark

Accessories: Big Shot, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (SAB), Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Strawberry Slush3/8” ruffle Stretch Trim, Pearl Jewels, Markers: Strawberry Slush, Primrose Petals, Blushing Bride, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Blender Pens, Decorative Label Punch

The image was stamped on Watercolor Paper with Black Stazon ink.  This ink is great when you are water coloring because once it is dried it does not smear when water based ink or markers are used to colour the image.

To colour the image I used a number of pink markers in various shades. 

First you have to decide where your shadows will be and that will be your darkest colour, the lighter colours are used to indicate light.  For example, the darkest colour was applied to the bottom and underside of the petals and where the petals overlap each other. 

The Blender pen was used to blend the various colours so that there would not be demarcation and the colours just seem to flow into each other.  Water colour paper is my go to paper for water coloring as it is great because you can apply a fair amount of ink without the paper piling which  can happen when you use regular card stock.

Give the water color technique a try and you may become addicted.

Happy Stamping

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