Happy Birthday Foliage

April 26, 2023April 23, 2023 Happy Ink Designs1 Comment

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Anything Goes

We are showcasing Hero Arts Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

As always, the generous folks at Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a $25 voucher to one randomly selected winner to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store. You can enter 5 times which means you can make 5 different projects following this week’s prompt and have 5 chances to win a shopping spree!! Sounds like a win/win to me!! I’ve linked all of the supplies that I used at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

You can never have too many Birthday cards so that’s the route I went this week. I started out with a piece of lavender card stock that I pulled from the Twilight Purple 6×6 Paper Pack by Memory Box and I LOVE these paper packs. I have the Sunny Orange collection as well and it’s so perfect for keeping colors in the same color family together and cohesive. I die cut it using a Nesting Rounded Rectangles Infinity Dies by Hero Arts. I ran my lavender card stock through my Leaf Bundle Embossing Folder.

I picked a couple more different color purples from my Twilight Purple 6×6 Paper Pack and began die cutting my foliage. I used the Simple Stem Die, Eucalyptus Leaves Die and the Privet Branch Die. For the Simple Stem die I cut it out of Silver Glitter Card Stock just to break up the purples a bit and add a little interest.

My sentiment is from the Let’s Celebrate Stamp Set by Hero Arts and I chose to heat emboss it on Black Card Stock with White Embossing Powder. I used some Black 3D Foam Squares and Black Foam Strips to pop up my sentiment a bit.

I attached my design to a side folding white card base but first I popped up the lavender panel with some Craft Foam. To finish off my card, I adhered a few Iridescent Color Drops in various sizes. And that was it. Easy peazy! I love cards that are quick and easy to make yet still look like you put in the effort to make a lovely card for your recipient.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Challenges · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

Things With Wings

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Happy Ink Designs1 Comment

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Things With Wings

We are showcasing Honey Bee Stamps Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

I love the title of the theme this week. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to do something with fairies or bees and I obviously went with bees. This card came together rather quick and easily. I used the Sweet Honey Bee stamp set and coordinating dies and I also used Birthday Wishes both by Honey Bee Stamps.

I colored my images with my Copic markers and used the coordinating dies to cut them out. I usually use X-Press It Blending Card whenever I color anything with my copic markers but with the white scalloped layer directly behind my die cuts (in some areas), the color difference was obvious so I just used some Neenah Solar White 110 lb. Card Stock. I feel like I get a much better color blend with the X-Press It Card, but it just wasn’t going to work for this one.

I trimmed a piece of (Honey Bee Stamps) patterned paper down to 2.75″ x 4″. I stamped my sentiment on the patterned paper from the Birthday Wishes stamp set. I used a scalloped rectangle die that I had in my stash and die cut a white panel measuring 3 3/8″ x 4 5/8″. I trimmed another piece of patterned paper from the same pack down to 4″ x 5.25″ and then I attached it to an A2 size sized piece of Lemon Chiffon Card Stock.

I popped up my scalloped layer with some Craft Foam and then I decided to add a little sparkle to my bee’s wings and the flowers with my Aqua Shimmer Pen. I went over the wings with some Crystal Glaze because I just can’t seem to make a card without shimmer and sparkle. I didn’t have enough room on the front of my card for another adorable little bee so I decided to add it to the inside of my card. To finish off my project, I added some Clear Drops in various sizes.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Challenges · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

One in a Million

April 12, 2023April 11, 2023 Happy Ink Designs2 Comments

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Shaped Card (no square/rectangles)

We are showcasing Mama Elephant Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

Oh what a fun challenge this was!! First of all, I realized I don’t have many nesting dies that aren’t in the shape of a square or rectangle but that’s ok. Now I know what to shop for. I would have loved to do a star shaped card, if I had any star shaped dies, but I digress. I went for a round card which was fitting for these adorable little images since we’re talking about the moon and stars.

I colored these cuties with my Copic markers on some X-Press It Copic Friendly Blending Card Stock. I used Mama Elephant Wish Upon a Star stamp set and coordinating dies for this challenge. I cut a circle out of Lavender Card Stock using my Simon Nested Circle dies. I wanted to add some clouds in the background so I used my Mini Cloud Edges stencil with Heather Pawsitively Saturated Ink and created some lovely clouds.

The Wish Upon a Star stamp set has these adorable little star stamps in both solid and hollow so I used the same ink to stamp several stars on my background. I went over the solid stars with my Aqua Shimmer Pen. I cut my frame out using two nesting circle dies and Silver Glitter Card Stock.

I glued most of my images on the inside of my shaker card after going over the moon with my Aqua Shimmer Pen. I also added some glitter to the ears and tails of all the bunnies because as you all know, you can never have too much sparkle. I kept the bunny fishing for a star out to put on the outside of my shaker along with the sentiment. I white heat embossed the sentiment also from the same stamp set on acetate. I used two layers of Foam Strips to go around the entire frame so that I could add some opalescent diamonds (similar to these) inside my shaker as well as Chunky Glitter and Shaker Garnish.

I created a round, top folding card base with Neenah 110 lb. Card Stock and my card was complete!

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Challenges · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

Time to Party

April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 Happy Ink Designs2 Comments

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Happy Birthday

We are showcasing our very own exclusive Simon Says Stamp Products this week because it’s Simon Says Stamp’s 14th Birthday!! Happy Birthday, Simon!! I can’t even imagine what cardmaking would be like without Simon. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

As always, the generous folks at Simon Says Stamp will be giving away a voucher this week worth $50 to one randomly selected winner to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store. You can enter 5 times which means you can make 5 different projects following this week’s prompt and have 5 chances to win a shopping spree!! Sounds like a win/win to me!! I’ve linked all of the supplies that I used at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used where possible at no cost to you.

This isn’t my favorite shaker card I’ve made, but it was very easy to make. I used the Party Balloons Stencil to color my balloons with distress oxides inks. I also stamped the banners from Life is a Party stamp set in the same colors. I did all of this on Fog Cardstock.

I cut my shaker window out with a wonky die from my stash and I used the Luxe Glitter Cardstock for the background. I used Simon’s Premium Heat Resistant Acetate and I heat embossed a sentiment from the Life is a Party stamp set in white embossing powder.

I filled my shaker window with some chunky glitter that I had in my stash because it matched the Luxe Glitter Cardstock perfectly!

I popped the whole panel up with some craft foam and added a cute little silver bow to hold my balloon strings together. To finish it off, I added a few silver jewels.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Challenges · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

I Heart Daisies

March 29, 2023March 28, 2023 Happy Ink Designs1 Comment

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Anything Goes

We are showcasing Memory Bo x Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

I used the Layered Daisies die and the Thanks Jotted Script die both by Memory Box to make my card this week. I cut the daisies out two times for each flower and added a bit of color with my Copic Markers. This die doesn’t come with stems or leaves so I just used the stems from the Etched Crocus Stems die.

For my background, I used the Dibble Dot Embossing Folder with Midnight Green Cardstock and it turned out beautifully! I glued my flowers in place and then I cut the “Thanks” sentiment out three times with Neenah Solar White 110 lb. cardstock and the shadow die I cut just once with Black Cardstock and I glued them together.

I trimmed my embossed background down to 4″x5.25″ and I attached it to a side folding card base. To finish it off, I sprayed the entire surface generously with Tsukineko Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz. Just to make sure we were sparkly enough, I went over the sentiment with my Aqua Shimmer Pen.

I loved these daisies so much that I decided to make a second card with a little more color. I used some cardstock that I had in my stash and I repeated the same process. I cut the daisy out twice for each flower, added a little dimension with my copic markers and used the Etched Crocus Stems.

I used the Fresh Daisies Embossing Folder with Fog Cardstock. My sentiment if from the Greetings Mix 1 stamp set and I heat embossed it with Alabaster White Embossing Powder. I added a faux white stitch around the sentiment using my White Gel Pen. I used some Silver Thread to go around the bottom of my card for a little added interest and then I popped the sentiment up with some Foam Tape. I have soooo much of this foam tape because it used to be “THE” tape to have and use for dimension before all of the 3D foam squares came out which I also had to have so now I have TWO ROLLS of this foam tape that I’ve decided I need to start using it up. I just HAD to have it and it wasn’t cheap so I’m not letting it go to waste. I still use the foam squares when it’s the perfect size but for sentiment strips like this, you best believe there’ll be some foam tape behind it!

Once again I trimmed my background down to 4″x5.25″ and I attached it to a top folding card base. I also sprayed the entire background (minus the sentiment strip) with Tsukineko Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz. To finish off my second card, I attached a few Storm Cloud Pearls.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Challenges · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

Easter Flowers

March 22, 2023March 21, 2023 Happy Ink Designs1 Comment

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Spring and/or Easter

We are showcasing Stampendous/Spellbinders Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

I’m not much for florals, only because I feel like I can’t color them quite right. I can’t copic color them, I can’t watercolor them, I can’t color them with color pencils. It’s just not my niche. But these flowers. I love these flowers. They’re so pretty and all I had to do was die cut them out!! I was on such a roll, that I die cut enough to make 3 cards with them! These flowers are called Mini Bloom and Sprigs from Spellbinders.

I used several pastel colored card stocks and I sat down with my Sidekick mini die cutter and my iPad (to watch New Amsterdam) and I just cut away. I used Cotton Candy, Lemon Chiffon, Sea Glass, Lavender and Green Apple card stocks. I also used a strip of peach colored card stock that came from the Echo Park, Our Baby Girl Paper Pack.

I used a Double Stitched Oval die to cut out the center of my card front and then I ink blended a light layer of Dried Marigold Distress Oxide Ink on the background. The cross is from an old stamp set and die that I had in my stash. I die cut it three times with Woodgrain Card Stock and then I glued them together. I ink blended the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Before putting everything together, I used the largest Stitched Rectangle Die to give a nice stitched edge around my card front.

I arranged my flowers around the opening of the oval and then I used some Press N Seal to keep them right where I wanted them. Then I popped some flowers up with different sized 3D Foam Squares and glued the rest so I had multiple layers. I went over the flowers with my Aqua Shimmer Pen to give them some sparkle.

My sentiment is the Easter die cut by Simon Says Stamp. I ink blended a panel of Bristol Smooth Card stock with Dried Marigold and Candied Apple Distress Inks and cut out the Easter sentiment. I die cut it two more times and glued them together to add dimension. The Blessings is also from a retired Simon stamp set. I went over the Easter with my Aqua Shimmer Pen. I popped my front panel up with some Foam Tape.

For my second card, I used an image from the Bunny Wishes stamp set by Simon Says Stamp and I colored it with my Copic Markers. I did the same process with the Oval die and flowers. I arranged them where I wanted them and then used Press N Seal to glue them in place. I used X-Press It Copic Friendly Card for this card and I colored another image the exact same way but using Neenah Card Stock. I definitely like this image better than the one on my final card I think because it’s softer. I fussy cut out my bunny image.

For this background, I decided to ink blend a little Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide Ink on some Bristol Smooth Card Stock and then I sprinkled some water on it. I ran the panel through an old embossing folder.

I popped my front panel up with some Foam Tape and used the sentiment from the Bunny Blessings Stamp Set by Simon.

To finish my second card off, I added a few Glossy Blossom Pearls in the lower left corner.

This card was done the exact same way so I’ll just share a few photos. The only difference is I didn’t use Copic Friendly X-Press It card stock, I just used Neenah Solar White 110 lb. card stock. I do still like this image, but for this particular challenge of mostly pastel colors, I think I like the image on the 2nd card better. But I didn’t want to waste it so I just made a third card. I popped this bunny up with some 3D Foam Squares.

The butterflies are from the Bunny Blessings Stamp Set. I ink blended Dried Marigold in the background of this card too.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Design Team · New Releases · Simon Says Stamp

Just For You Release

March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 Happy Ink DesignsLeave a comment

Another AWESOME release by Simon Says Stamp called Just For You. Click HERE to see the entire new release.

How fun is this Herb Labels stamp set? I love, love, love the sentiments in this set. And my cards/tag were super easy to make.

I stamped the frame and the tomatoes using Memento Espresso Truffle Ink on some Ivory Card Stock and then fussy cut the frame out. I colored my image with my Prismacolor Pencils and I distressed the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then ink blended over the entire image to “antique” it up a bit.

I did the same exact thing with the sentiment. I used Neenah Desert Storm 100 lb. Card Stock as my card base and the front panel is also Neenah but woodgrain. The closest product I found at Simon is Lawn Fawn Light Brown Woodgrain Card Stock. It’s basically the same thing.

I trimmed the woodgrain panel down to 4″x 5.25″ and I distressed the edges using once again the Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I added some Craft Foam to the back of both images and some Baker’s Twine to bring in another pop of red. I just love the earthy feel to these cards so I use some Natural Twine to tie a little bow on the front. I had some thicker jute twine and decided to braid three pieces of it together to add to the top and bottom of this card only. I used some Tacky Glue at each end because it dries clear.

I basically did the same for this card except I stamped the dill with Field Pawsitively Saturated Ink. I popped both labels up craft foam and then I added some jute twine behind the sentiment and also around the base of the dill. For this one I added a few gold sequins to finish it off.

I just LOVE the sentiments in this set.

I decided to make one of these a tag because I thought it would make an adorable tag. Everything was done the same as the two above.

I hope you liked the projects that I created using the new Herb Labels stamp set and I hope you’ll check out the entire new release by clicking my link HERE. That link is my affiliate link so I receive a small commission if you decide to place an order, at no cost to you. Thank you for stopping by and Happy Shopping!!

Cardmaking · Challenges · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

Birthday Shaker

March 15, 2023March 13, 2023 Happy Ink Designs1 Comment

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Recycle It

We are showcasing Impression Obsession Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

I’m actually recycling two parts of this card. The rainbow is a panel I ink blended and never did anything with so it ended up in my “unfinished projects” bin as well as the white panel that I die cut with the Fab Floral Pinpoint Plate and decided to go a different route. Well, both are perfect for this exact challenge!! I had LOTS to choose from. My “unfinished projects” bin is overflowing. I need to do this challenge more often. I forgot to take a picture of both before I cut them up for this challenge, but here are the two I’m recycling.

I used a Nested Circles die to cut out the window of my shaker. I used the ink blended panel to cut out the Small Candle die from Impression Obsession several times and then I ink blended a piece of scrap card stock with Spiced Marmalade and Squeezed Lemonade distress oxide inks for the flames.

I die cut the Big Wishes sentiment out of Glossy Black Card Stock for the top layer and Black Card Stock for the bottom two layers.

I glued a piece of Clear Acetate on the back of the card front and framed the shaker window with Foam Strips and then covered the rest of the panel with Foam Tape. Then I added my shaker bits. I used several different bits from my stash including Assorted Moonshine, Shaker Garnish and Crystals by Little Things By Lucy’s Cards.

I used a side folding card base as my backing and added a few sequins to the front. I went over the flames on each candle with my Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen and then some Crystal Glaze to make them nice and shiny.

This card was SUPER easy to make since I had most of the components already made!!

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

Simplicity

March 8, 2023March 8, 2023 Happy Ink Designs4 Comments

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Tag It

We are showcasing Tim Holtz Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

I couldn’t only make one tag for this challenge. I wanted to play around with colors and stamps so this is what I came up with. I started with the rose stencil called Thorned by Tim Holtz.

I love how each of these turned out. I used Tim Holtz Distress Mixed Media Heavystock Tags for each one. For the roses, I used Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide Ink and for the leaves and vines I used Rustic Wilderness D.O. ink.

I LOVE the Papillon Butterfly Stamp Set so I used the largest stamp from the set and I stamped it with Walnut Stain D.O. ink. Although the Papillon Butterfly stamp set comes with butterfly stamps, I chose to use a different stamp set for the butterflies. I used the Flutter, Floral and Trellis Stamp and Stencil Set and I stamped them with Black Soot Distress Ink.

I went around the entire tag and ink blended more of the Walnut Stain D.O. ink. My sentiment is also from the Flutter, Floral and Trellis Stamp and Stencil Set and I thought this sentiment was perfect for my tags and oh so true!! I heat embossed the sentiment with Copper Super Fine Embossing Powder on some Ivory Card stock and then darkened it up some with the Walnut Stain D.O. ink. I popped it up with some Black Foam Strips and cut a thin black border to go around it.

I wanted to try and make a tag that was a little bit brighter and more colorful so I used the stencil from the Flutter, Floral and Trellis set. I like this stencil because it has a floral stencil at the top and then this beautiful moroccan trellis at the bottom. I used Watermelon, Peachy and Citrine Pawsitively Saturated Inks for the flowers and Rustic Wilderness D.O. for the leaves and stems.

I used the Watermelon and Peachy inks on the lower half of the stencil as well. Once again, I stamped the largest stamp from the Papillon Butterflies stamp set but this time I stamped it in Weathered Wood. It was a little darker than I was hoping for but I had already committed so I just went with it. I heat embossed my sentiment the same way with the copper embossing powder and popped it up with foam strips.

I went around the entire tag with the Peachy ink to soften the contrast between the ivory tag and the colors from the stencil and stamps.

This tag is the same, just different inks. I used Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed D.O. inks for the flowers with Wild Honey in the centers.

I ink blended Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade on the lower portion of the tag.

For the Papillon Butterflies image I stamped it in Duckling Ink this time so it was a little softer than the previous tag. I heat embossed the sentiment with White Embossing Powder on black card stock and then added some twine and ribbon to all three.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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Cardmaking · Design Team · Simon Says Stamp

My First Mini Slimline

March 1, 2023February 28, 2023 Happy Ink Designs4 Comments

Hello again!! It’s time for a brand new challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week the challenge is

Slimline Cards

We are showcasing Whimsy Stamps Products this week. If you have any of these products, we’d love to see them used, but it’s certainly not a requirement to join the challenge.

I know, I know. I’m waaaaay behind the slimline trend. Well, I have made slimline cards before, but I’ve never made a “mini” slimline card before. But I know I’m way behind that trend just the same… I’ve always been that way. I don’t want to be like everyone else when something is in style so I wait until it’s not anymore and then I give it a try. I know that’s probably weird but it’s how I’ve always been. Always a day late and a dollar short, as my Mom used to say.

I stamped the Adopt Don’t Shop Cats stamp set by Whimsy Stamps on a piece of Neenah 110 lb. card stock. I used a couple other stamp sets that I had in my stash for the mice and ball of yarn. Then I used the largest of the Whimsy Stamps Mini Slim Notched Stitched dies and cut out my slimline shape. I copic colored my image and I used my own kitties as the inspiration for this card. From left to right the first one is Bruno, Ollie, Trigger (in front), Loki (the darker orange tabby) and then Mia is the only female. She’s our blind kitty but you would never know it. She gets around so well and she’s such a cuddler. And then we have our dogs, Kieta (our only other female in the house) and Bentley. Yes, we have quite the little farmhouse going on over here!

I popped my card front up with some craft foam and then set it aside. I cut a piece of Fog card stock down to 3.5″ x 6″ and then I stamped one of the paw prints from the stamp set all over the background to create my own patterned paper.

For the sentiment I used the Happy Birthday Border die and I die cut it three times. The top layer I ink blended Poppin Pink, Orange Glow and Hello Yellow inks by Rina K Designs (I just love how vibrant these inks are) and then I glued all three layers together. I went over the top layer with my Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen to give it a little sparkle. I attached my card front to a top folding card base and then added a couple orange gems to top it off.

So now it’s YOUR turn. Happy Crafting!!

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