Very Simply Susan

It’s all all about the Bees in Dragonfly Dreams

I really don’t know what made me think of this card.  I was watercoloring for the last project and I think I just stayed in the mode!  The background is watercolor paper and I used the Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to give it a “honeycomb” look. These new dynamic embossing folders give a deeper and more defined embossing on card stock. This creates a rich, artistic looking background for your cards.  It is a particularly good effect when used on the watercolor paper, which embossing easily due to the texture and softness of the paper.

After creating a “honeycomb” background with the embossing,  I had to use the bees from the Dragonfly Dreams set!  And also the dotted pattern stamp from seemed perfect as the “honey” on the “honeycomb”.  This dotted stamp was just randomly stamped and re-stamped all over the Hexagons embossing until I thought it looked like honey. I colored in the bees a bit using watercolor pencil. After that, all I needed was a bit of ribbon.  I used the Black Baker’s Twine because anything wider would have been too much.

All the items I used to make the card are items that will be carried over to the new catalog! The Dragonfly Dreams set I actually won at On Stage November 2016.  And I have been so happy to have it ever since. A great perk of being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator!

Card Recipe

Papers: Watercolor Paper, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Stamps: Dragonfly Dreams
Embellishments: Black Baker’s Twine
Tools: Hexagons Dynamic Textured Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Pun Intended For a Happy Card

I really had to create one last project with Pun Intended…a great little host rewards set from the retiring catalog.  The background is all on watercolor paper.  Inspiration for using watercolor paper and water color pencils was the April Paper Pumpkin Set! You can see the April Paper Pumpkin here!  I loved the water color look of that kit and decided to use watercolor pencils and watercolor paper to create this cute little card.  The background image of the camera is stamped in Smoky Slate. The idea was not to be too perfect because I wanted it to look like a vintage paper background.  Then, I went in and colored randomly with watercolor pencils and blended it in with an aqua painter.  Fun! No Pun!

It needed a little something more, so I wrapped the Black Baker’s Twine around 3 times for a bottom border.  I resisted the urge to do a bow. You know I always like a bow.  But the twine seemed enough and I walked away before it was too late!  The camera and banner were stamped on watercolor paper and then colored in and fussy cut on the camera and punch with the banner punch for the sentiment. Pacific Point and Daffodil Delight were just the color I was drawn to. They seemed to keep this a light, happy card. I tried black as the base card, but it was too heavy.  If you like the Pun Intended stamp set, don’t forget it is retiring with the catalog May 31st.  And if you have some other items on your wish list,  then earn  your Stampin’ Rewards and get this set! You won’t regret it.

Card Recipe

Papers: Watercolor Paper, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight
Stamps: Pun Intended(Hostess Rewards Set)
Embellishments: Black Baker’s Twine
Tools: Banner Punch

Seaside Shore and By the Shore DSP For #GDP086

Thank goodness the Seaside Shore is a carryover set!  I love the “Ahoy There” sentiment along with all the other stamps in the set. But, the By the Shore DSP I will really miss.  It is a perfectly put together set of designs with fabulous colors.  So, to show this DSP a little more love before retirement, I decided to feature it in my card for this week’s Global Design Project.  The challenge is a sketch project, which is easy and hard all at the same time.  Easy because you have a card design! Hard because you have to figure out what will fit into that layout.  The By the Shore DSP answered that challenge. Mine is not the only design with this fabulous sketch. Be sure to hop over to the Global Design page and see what everyone else is up to.  Click on the image below:

As you can see in my card, I layered a stripe right across the front instead as a background layer. I just liked the look.  And one of the many wonderful things about the Global Design Challenge is that you can follow your own muse!  I used two variations of the starfish paper. And then took my favorite little banner, “Ahoy There” and fussy cut it to layer on the greeting tab.  Two fussy cut seashells completed the look. Night of Navy was the perfect pairing for a nautical look.

Love the By the shore DSP?  Don’t despair! While it is on the retired list, you can still buy it while supplies last or May 31st, whichever comes first! Click HERE! to see all the retiring papers, stamps and everything else.  If there is anything you cannot live without, your chance to get it is ending soon!

Recipe

Papers: By the Shore DSP, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Stamps: Seaside Shore