Simon Says Stamp - Always There

Hello everyone.  After a month break due to their Create event, Simon Says Stamp (SSS) is back with their newest ALWAYS THERE release available now! 

I have a couple of simple cards today.  First up is a tasty 😋 any occasion card featuring the Strawberry Pint and Sparkler Scalloped Frames die sets.   

Coloured cardstock were used to die cut the pint box, strawberries top layers and foliage.  The strawberries back layer was die cut from cream cardstock.  The flowers were die cut from white and their centres were coloured with Copic Sketch markers Y11/Y17,YR27.  The scalloped frames were die cut from white and cream as well.  Black heat embossed the sentiments from previously released Thanks, Mom stamp set with clear glitter embossing powder (EP) for some sparkle.  Assembled the card onto a white top folding card base to finish. 

My next card features Best Sister and Petite Pctal Background stamp sets.  The sister image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It paper, coloured with Copic Sketch markers then fussy cut out (there are coordinating dies).  Had an unused white frame from the card above, so put it to use and black heat embossed the sentiment with clear glitter EP and ink blended Blueprint Sketch distress ink (DI). 

The petals background was stamped with VersaMark ink onto Bristol paper next, then heat embossed with clear EP.  Next, ombré Ink blended Blueprint Sketch DI on the upper half then wiped off excess ink with a paper towel (emboss resist).  Assembled the card onto a white card base, popping up the scalloped panel with foam tape to finish. 

SSS products used for my cards are linked below.  Please note compensated affiliate links were used in this post when possible at no extra cost to you.  I appreciate your support.  Thank you for stopping by.

Limited-Time Free Gift Offer!

Challenges:

card 1 

All About Papercrafts -  #5 All About Food or Drinks   

SSS Wednesday - AG   

A Cut Above - AG Dies 

Dragonfly Dreamst- May 2026: Use Die Cuts 

Unicorn - #120 Something New

Guest Designer for Color Hues Challenge #103 - Pink and Red

Hello everyone.  I’m delighted to be guest designing (GD) at Color Hues (TCH) for their PINK AND RED special collaboration challenge with Inkspiratiinal.

With it being February, these colours are geared towards Valentines, but I don’t really celebrate it, so I made a cute circle-shaped shaker card instead (no hearts) using products from Whimsy Stamps (WS). 

*affiliate links were used in this post at no extra cost to you… thank you for your support!*

The bear from Teddy Bear Christmas Eve (love stretching my supplies😉) was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It paper, coloured with Copic Sketch markers then die cut out with its matching die.  A white Posca pen was used to add details/highlights to the gifts. 

Copic markers used:

reds - R27/46 

browns - E50/51/53/55/57 

Used the Pierced and Stitched Circles die set to die cut the circle cutouts, frames and card base (did partial die cutting for this).  Backed the opening of the top frame with acetate, then stacked five frames underneath to form the compartment where the shaker bits are contained.  Treated the area with anti-static powder to help the bits to shake freely.  Stamped the Cosmic Swirl Background with pink dye ink and white heat embossed the sentiment onto red cardstock before assembling the card to finish.

I want to thank Nancy and TCH team for having me GD with them.  Remember this is an 2-for-1 challenge… create one card and link up to two challenges.  WS products used for my card are linked below.  Thank you for stopping by. 

Challenges:

Inkspirational - #334 Red and Pink 

AAA Colourful - Colourboard #12 

Colorful Options - February 2025: Red and Pink Moodboard 

Die Cut Divas - Shaker Cards 

Guest Designer for AAA Birthday Game#24 - Shaped Card

Hello again!  I am thrilled to be posting today as a guest designer (GD) at AAA Birthday for their Game #24 - A Shaped Card.

I bought the Big Pickup Tailgate stamp, coordinating dies and alphabet dies from Honey Bee Stamps (HBS), but never got around to using them yet.  So with this fun theme, I took the opportunity to do just that and created a birthday card for my nephew’s birthday last month.

All images were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It cardstock, coloured in with Copic markers and Polychromos pencils, then die cut out with their matching dies.  The puppy is from Hello Bluebird (HB) Snowball Fight winter set.  The hat/balloons are from a retired set.

A white landscape top folding card base was partial die cut with the Big Pickup Tailgate die, ensuring the cutting edge extended past the fold.  The letters were die cut twice from black cardstock and once from silver foil paper then stacked for dimension.  The HB2U license plate was black heat embossed on a white scrap, then die cut out.  Assembled the card, then added Crystal Glaze on the balloons and rear tail lights for some shine and dimension to finish.  

Initially, I was planning to pack the truck with partying critters and accessories, but with two nieces also having birthdays in March, I spread them out to create two more custom cards for them. 

Before I go, I would like to thank Jane and the AAA Birthday team for having me guest for this challenge.  Are you ready to join in the fun?  To see more inspirations from the designers, check out the challenge post HERE.  Thank you for dropping by.  

Challenges:

Crafty Animals - #49 Anything Goes Animals 

Watercooler Wednesday - #312 Helen’s challenge All About Occasions  

Seize the Birthday - #211 Anything Birthday Goes optional topping Squares (no topping) 

Guest Designer for Christmas Craft Creations September 2020 Challenge - Shaped Card

Hello everyone.  I’m thrilled and honoured to be back as guest designer for the September challenge at Christmas Craft Creations (CCC).  Their fun theme this month is Shaped Card.

I have not made a shaped card in a very long time, and since I just got the Snowglobe Bases dies from Memory Box (MB), I was eager to put it to work.  Here's my card.

To start, the largest snowglobe base was die cut from a scrap of X-Press It cardstock and coloured in with Copic markers.  The bear image and tree from Mama Elephant A Beary Christmas was in my stash.  I had stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It cardstock and coloured with Copic markers during Kathy’s daily marker coloring challenge.  I just added the “swirling snow” trying to create that look when a snowglobe is shaken up... the idea looked better in my head. 😂  Added snow with a white gel pen then die cut out with the largest circle die from MB Circle Basics.

The same circle die was then used to partial die cut from a top folding white card base.  Made sure the cutting edge extended past the folded edge and stopped short of the bottom cutting edge.  I was a little worried the wafer thin die wouldn’t cut through two layers of thick cardstock, but luckily it did.  Traced the snowglobe base onto the card base before fussy cutting out.  Heat embossed the sentiment from My Favorite Things Bitty Holiday Wishes with Liquid Platinum embossing powder.  Took the largest and second largest circle dies from Circle Basics to create a circle frame from a scrap of mixed media paper.  Assembled the card to approximately 4.25"x4-7/8" finished size.

I was pleasantly surprised how well this turned out... even my hubby (who couldn’t care less about cards), said he liked it!  So are you ready to join in the fun?  For more inspirations from the design team, head on over to the challenge post HERE.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Challenges:
Merry Little Christmas - #26 September Anything Christmas Goes
Christmas Kickstart - #37 Christmas Furbabies
NBUS #18 - new snowglobe bases dies
Pixie's Snippets Playground - #386  

Jenn Shurkus Get Cracking on Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes 

Crafty Catz - #517 Anything Goes optional twist Not Square 

Die Cut Divas - Holidays
ABC Christmas - S for Snowy