I have been challenging myself to finish old Simon Says Stamp Kits.   Of course I had no interest in doing Christmas cards or Valentine cards.  So I was lucky to find a summer card theme.This  August 2015 card kit screams summer.

So let’s just jump into looking at the cards

I love this card.  I made a watercolor beach with the flip-flops.   I embossed the crashing waves and used small bronze dots for the sand.  I really like the way it came out.

A couple of folks asked me about the wave stamp.   It is from Papertrey Ink called

What the Doodle: Waves Mini Stamp Set

A great set for $5.00

I went for a clean and simple look with this card.  I used the stamp on 5 different pages and die-cut the Sunshine out of shiny gold paper.

Here is a close-up.  I also added glossy accents on the letters.

When I started this card I did not have high hopes.  But as I was working on it, I started to love it.  Especially when I noticed that the puffy stickers were mirror images.  So when I stuck them on the end of the cord they matched up perfectly.  I made the waves out of cork so it looked more beachy.  I really like this card.

Here is a close up of the puffy stickers.

When I saw this paper, I really liked the sun burst in the middle.  When I laid the margarita die on the top of it I liked how it seem to radiate.

I used the 100% happy stamp on the inside of the glass so when you tipped the sequins you can see the image.

Here is a close-up of the glass so you can see the stamp.

I used a stencil on this card.  I colored the embossing paste with ink to have a graduated sunray look.

I will be honest.  I did not like this card.  I loved the paper but it did not sing to me.  But it still made the cut.

Last but not least, a shaker card.  I stamped SUMMER on the clear acetate.  and added sequins that matched the paper.

Thanks for looking at my SEVEN cards from ONE Kit!

Posted in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes

  Posted in the Word Art Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes #236-237

 Posted in Dies R Us Challenge #52 Outdoor Fun

Yesterday was my annual pool party.   I use to do the annual Christmas party but it was getting so hard for everyone’s schedule.  There were too many activities to do both on my schedule and my family members to pull of the Christmas party in December.

My brother in law was always kidding me, but seriously inviting himself over to swim in my pool.   So I started this tradition.  Dogs and all.

My theme this year was Nautical or more ocean themed, Tropical and Patriotic.  LOL

I had bought new chair cushions that were a blue and green coral because the other cushions were getting a bit flat and out of shape.  Hence the ocean theme,  Since my outdoor tableware was a tropical pattern and it was the 4th of July weekend my theme automatically became the Naut/Trop/Pat theme.

To start with Eli (my brothers dog) had to wear his new patriotic bandana.  Little does this dog know that he is going to be exhausted by the end of the evening.  Eli has a fear of the water and thinks it is his personal responsibility to try to save everyone out of the pool.   Get ready Eli, it will be a crazy day.

Penny can smell the ribs cooking and is really looking forward to a bone or two.  But she is being very patient.

Penny is a sweet natured Terrier Mix that has a bad habit of nipping at people when the other dog gets excited.   More about the other dog later.

Penny’s DNA is a complete surprise to me.

She is a terrier mix, but I guess she is more of a Chihuahua/Australian Shepherd mix.  Her fur, when long, does look like a Australian Shepherd, and maybe her legs do look like a Chi’s, but I thought she would have more terrier in there.

Oh well, I digress.

The other pooch at the party is the “Head of Security”, my Maltese Olive.  She barks her head off at any potential stranger. Which can be very annoying.  This in turn gets the other dogs worked up.   Penny then nips, Eli growls.  All this because a little white fluff ball says “This is NOT a DRILL, I repeat, This is NOT a DRILL”  Barkity barkity bark bark BARK BBBBAAAARRRRRKKKKKKKKK.

Do not be fooled by her cute dirty little face.   She means all business.

Here she is with her Uncle Doug who is trying to get her to behave.  LOL, good luck Doug.

Crazy, fat bellied, dirty face Maltese.   God I love you!

The night before the party I made some cute Ocean themed framed pictures of my appetizers and drink menus.

I think they are real cute.  I designed the background using Photoshop Elements and used mostly Lorie Davidson images.  I don’t remember the font name but it looked like a Pirate font to me.

We put cut flowers into mason jars and added some American Flags.

So how do you add a patriotic theme to a tropical dinnerware set?   Just add some star stirrers.  LOL.   Yup it creates the theme just right.

Please note the appetizer plates match the fabric of the chairs.   I just loved this octopus I found at Joann Fabrics.  He really made the ocean theme complete.

Appetizers made and put out.  Please notice the dog nose on the lower left corner of the picture.  Eli must check everything out.  Especially if he can smell it.

Wide shot view.  Notice the large movie screen.  I bought that at Amazon and it is amazing.  It is portable and can easily be put up in 30 minutes or less.  Depending if the helper will let you read the instructions.

You can get it from Amazon HERE.

Guests have arrived, my sister kicking back with a Sangria.  You can kinda see the cushions that match the plates.

My grand niece Kenzie playing in the pool with Eli.  Eli loved the shooting water.  He was completely drenched by the time the day was over.

Here is a video of Eli playing with Kenzie as she shoots water in the air.

Eli trying to save Kenzie.  This poor dog ran around the pool all day long trying to save us.  He did manage to save a few pool toys.

My beautiful niece took a selfie at the party!

By this time I stopped taking pictures as I was in the pool, eating, talking and enjoying myself.

By nightfall we watched “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” on the big screen.   We had popcorn and theatre boxed candy.

When it was over it was around 11pm, so everyone went home, tired and happy.

Until next year!!

I wanted to try to add two more patterned paper cards.

I felt really unproductive today and making cards will automatically make me productive.  Right??

My first card was a overlay of mountain scenes with a little camper.   I really liked this camping paper that I bought the other day.  What is it with me and camping.  Must mean I want to go.

My second card is from the same paper pack.  It was some feathers on a kraft colored paper.  I recently bought some gold Inka Gold and I wanted to play with it.   I used a stencil over the paper and added a paper cut feather and a real feather dipped in gold glitter.

It is a little hard to see the quote.  So here is a close up.

Thanks for looking.

Posted in Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – Patterned Paper

Posted in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Add some Shimmer

Posted in Word Art Wednesday Challenge #236-237 Anything Goes

Thanks for looking.

I wanted to try the reverse stenciling card on the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday Challenge #253.

I thought it would be easy.

I was wrong.

I started with the Hero Arts Bold Floral stencil.  In my mind it would be a beautiful background of floral prints with some special floral arrangements on top.

The angels would sing to the glory of my creation!   It looked horrible.  I should have taken a before shot.  Really, it was bad.

I picture the angels walking away, wings drooping, heads shaking in disappointment.

It looked blotchy and sad against the white background.  So I decided to ink over the whole card front hoping to make everything blend together.

Now it look like a blotchy card with ink on it.

Big Sigh!

I finally blended ink making sure I was color matching each flower.  OK now it looked better.  Then I water spritzed it.   Much better.  Used a border die to tidy up the edges.  Even better.

I stamped out some florals.   Egads.  They looked horrible on the card.  I tried every trick in the book.  I finally die cut a Papertrey Swirly pattern in a copper shine paper and I really liked it.

The florals still looked horrible.

I ditched the florals and did a Boutique Border and embossed it in a copper/bronze powder.  Ok, that looked better.

I finally put it all together and called it a day.

Days it took to design and re-design the card – 4 days

Number of die cuts not used in the card: 8

Hours of frustration and thinking about the card: 16

Number of Angels smiling at my final creation: Priceless

Thanks for looking:

Posted in Papertrey Inks Make it Monday #253 Reverse Stenciling

Posted in Word Art Wednesday #236-237 Anything Goes

Posted in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Add Some Shimmer

On the Simon Says Stamp blog I saw a pretty card made by Yana Smakula that was just sooo pretty.

I had the Hello Beautiful stamp from the February 2016 card kit.  I did not have the floral stamp set, but since this week’s SSS challenge was patterned paper I thought I would make it with pattern paper instead.  Oh by the way, I did order the stamp because it is sooo beautiful.  I cannot wait to make flower clusters.

I choose 5 different pattern papers with 5 different cardstock colors.  All different, but all beautiful.

The flower print with Navy!

The vintage roses pattern with pink.

The Fruits and Flowers with coral.

Finally the small flower print with pine green.

Thanks Yana for the inspiration!

Posted in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

and posted in the Word Art Wednesday Challenge #236-237

Well I had fun doing the Camp Create by My Favorite Things!  They are such an awesome company.  They do so many things RIGHT and the customers like me, know it!!!!

Here is the badge guide and I did each of the five cards!!!!   I love looking at what everyone created.  So many different styles!  Love them all.

Thank for looking at my creations!  And THANK YOU My Favorite Things for bringing us this awesome summer challenge!!!

Final day of camp and I am jazzed with my final card.   When I saw the designers rainbow card, I kept thinking how would this tie into my camping theme.  I remember camping as a kid laying in my cot, looking at the stars and dreaming.  So I knew it had to be a card with the stars.  My Dad worked for JPL and worked on many of the Space Missions plus he loved to take us camping!  This card is for you Dad!

I resisted buying the “Out of This World” stamp and die set, but I kept seeing great cards made from the set.  I bit the bullet and bought it.  So glad I did.   Loving these goofy aliens.

Here is the adorable shaker card.  I used the die of the spaceship as the “see thru to the back window”.  I was afraid that you would not be able to tell it was a spaceship, but no worries it came out fine.  I was a bit sloppy in the tape runner on the inside (which I am not showing you – LOL), but I think if I do this again, I know what to expect.   I am really LOVING this card.

I clearly earned my badge!   So I hope I win the $150 but will be happy for whoever wins because if they did all the cards, they deserve it!!!!

Thanks for looking at my creation!!!!

For this card I wanted to do layers of a forest with the different animals on different layers.

From this angle it is hard to see the different levels of the card.  But the hedgehog is the upper level, then the moose and the background is the owl.    I used that October Afternoon Campfire paper for this card.  Soooo cute.   I did do the partial die cutting technique on this card but it sure looks like I just glued the image on.

I was hoping you could see the layers better from this angle.

I earned my badge on die cutting!

Also posted on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Animal Magic

I had to think long and hard about this one.  I was not sure what to watercolor that looked like Camping.   I finally decided to paint the bear with the fish.

Again I used that cute Outdoors paper by Carta Bella

I tied some twine at the top and then “hooked” a fish onto the twine.  I thought it came out cute.   He has such a sweet smile on his face.  Got to love this fishing bear.

I earned my Water Color Badge

I also posted in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Animal Magic

To continue the theme of camping, I made a slider with a cute fox sliding over to the bonfire to roast his marshmallow.  Too Cute.   I used the new Slider dies from My Favorite Things.  Sadly they ran out of slider discs when I placed my order.  Maybe next month.

I thought this card came out cute.  I used some of that new Outdoors Carta Bella paper.   I love it.

Here is a close-up of the slider.

He is just cute!!!!   Slide on over here you Foxy thing!!!!!

Here is my hard earned badge for sliders!!!!

Thanks for looking!

Also posted in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Animal Magic