SSS May Card Kit: Illustrated Faith with Animation

Hey y'all!  I'm so late getting this post up.  Its been one of those days...you know, the kind where you try so incredibly hard to get everything on your list done, but instead only accomplish a fraction??  So, I have to be honest here...when I first got this kit, I didn't have a clue where to start!  The papers were so bright and cheerful...the stamp set was extremely cool...the acetate images were super fun!  Why was I having so much trouble getting started??  Did any of you experience something similar?  To this day, I still don't know what was wrong with me.  I eventually woke up one day and just decided to sit with it until "it" came to me.  Then the flood gates opened... and I was groovin'!  I am still thinking of things to do with this kit!  Let's have a look so you can see what I mean.

Hands down, my favorite items in the kit were/are the Suzy's Doodles water color pieces!  I even made a copy or two in case I wanted to do something with them later!  Overall, I used pretty basic techniques for all 10 cards: cut & paste, color & piece, die cut and embellish...same ole' same ole'!  The fun part was the animation.  Once you figure out just how you want the images to appear on your cards, you build your little animation slider element and you're off to the races. :D 

So, here are all 10 cards that I created using the Simon Says Stamp May 2017 Card Kit:

This next card, in particular, was inspired by Nina Marie Trapani's double slider card that was featured on both her YouTube channel and on her blog...such a great technique!

And a few detail shots... because if you're like me, you lean into your computer screen thinking it will make it easier to see! Ha! :D

And that's it for May!  All additional products will be listed below.  I hope you had fun with your kit this month, and if you haven't tried the SSS kits then I highly recommend it!  They really are pretty great! :D

Hugs,

Additional Products used: Tim Holtz Alterations Frameworks - Honeycomb; Big Chat stickers by Tim Holtz Ideology; Stitch Oval Scallop Edge Frame die by My Favorite Things (MFT from here on); Double Stitched Oval STAX by MFT; Chevron Fringe die by MFT; Succulents2Stamp by Stamps of Life; Pierced Heart STAX by MFT; Tons of Hearts clear stamps by Simon Says Stamp; Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX by MFT; Stitched Rectangles by SSS; Love & Quotes clear stamps by SSS; Heart Parade die by SSS; Stitch Round Rectangle Frames by MFT; Heart Smile die by SSS; Birthday Wishes Frame by SSS; Advent Numbers clear stamps by SSS; Terrace Butterfly die by Memory Box; Blueprints 9 by MFT; Corner Round punch; twine; Pretty Pink Posh sequins; Simon Says Stamp sequins; light pink cardstock; yellow cardstock; various inks; shaker elements; white gel pen

**Some of these cards will be entered into the Simon Says Stamp Monday & Wednesday Challenges**

April Card Chain Challenge featuring SSS Spring Seeds

Hi there!  I hope everyone is enjoying this marvelous weather as much as I am!  I've gotten some much needed gardening time in lately, and it absolutely inspired this card that I created for my recipient, Arlene, in the April edition of the Card Chain Challenge!  If you're new to the Card Chain Challenge, let me tell you, its wonderful!  Ladies from all over the globe get to exchange their beautiful creations and its quite inspiring!  What a fun way to make new friends! 

So, as with any challenge, there are a few rules.  You must stick with any one (or more if you are so inclined) of four different options.  For April, the options were:

1. Color Palette option:

2. Sketch option:

3. Theme option:  Fruits & Vegetables / Rabbits / Friendship

4. Product option: Perfect Pearls / Die Cuts / Stencils & Embossing Paste

So, with those options in mind, I really wanted a card that sang of Spring.  Here's what I came up with...

I went with the Spring Seeds stamp set and coordinating dies from Simon Says Stamp.  I love these stamps and dies!  They are such fun to work with and they are the sweetest images!  The bunny is my favorite. :D  I'll include a list of all other products used below.  Here's a closer look at some details. 

You can really get great depth and dimension with these dies.  Before mailing, I decided to add just a few clear sequins to give a little sparkle!

Also, one last thing that I want to share with you is the card that I received from Denise in CA! 

She used a darling floral image and water colored it.  Isn't this the sweetest card?!  My photo really doesn't do it justice, considering the orange in the flowers is such a bright and pretty orange.  Isn't her technique wonderful?  Thank you so much Denise!!

 

I hope you'll consider joining the Card Chain Challenge...its great fun and a great way to challenge your creativity!  Until next time!

Hugs,

Complete List of Products used:  Large Eyelet Cover Panel die by Reverse Confetti, Spring Seeds stamp and die set by Simon Says Stamp,  Copic markers, Fishtail Banners dies by Sunny Studios, Hemp Cord twine by Hemptique, Sparkling Clear Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh, Tiny Check 6x6 paper pad by My Favorite Things, Fashionably Chic 12x12 paper pad by Recollections, Nina Desert Storm cardstock, Nina Solar White cardstock, and After Midnight cardstock by My Favorite Things

**I will also be entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday Challenges**

SSS April Card Kit featuring Lawn Fawn Rainbow Plaid Papers

Hi and Happy Saturday! The moment I opened my April kit from Simon Says Stamp, I was in love! This kit was definitely my favorite so far! I mean, who doesn't love rainbow colors and cute cuddly wild animals?!?! Here is a quick peek at the kit contents:

Doesn't it just look like a bucket full of fun??? The kit sold out VERY quickly, but you can always order the items individually.  That's one thing that I really appreciate about SSS kits.   

It took me a few days to crank out these cards (its Spring Break so the kiddos are all home!), but I had such a great time! Plus, since the kiddos were home, they got to help! I will list all of the additional products used at the end of this post.  Let's get to it!

The little penguin in the stamp set was a sure fire place to start for me.  And what can be better than penguin lovebirds!? I fussy cut the eyes on a third image and pasted them on to my boy penguin so that they could be looking at one another...then of course my girl needed some eyelashes!

This was the trickiest card of the bunch.  I stamped the images on the inside of my card base and then die cut the circles on the outer cover after attaching the plaid panel.  To get the alignment just right, I used a transparency and traced the circles so that I could line it up before running through the big shot.  Here's a look at the inside of the card.

This little guy is the only one on a wobble! I meant to use more wobbles but really, I just forgot!

I found that these patterned papers go perfectly with distress inked backgrounds! This card is made using up some leftovers from all of the papers I'd cut into.  Waste not want not! Lol...  

This one was a total experiment.  I wanted to see how the critters would look if embossed with clear EP and then water colored.  I'm not crazy about the result, but couldn't bear to throw him away!

These penguins really crack me up!  I did the same thing with the eyes on this one...each ones eyes are slightly different, but the look on the one in front is hysterical! :D

I tried to think of different ways to use the tags in the kit, so this one got another Distress Ink application, but with the smooshing and water spritzing technique! Love how this tag turned out.  And, this little elephant is just the sweetest thing ever! He reminds me of Dumbo...one of my Disney favorites to this day! Here's a closer look...

Another great use for scraps! Make balloons! The sentiment comes from a previous SSS card kit - September 2016, I believe. 

Rather than Distress Inks, this tag was blended using the inks that came in the kit. They blend so nicely! The background is also stamped with the inks from the kit.

Last, but not least, I had to try some no line coloring with pencils on this kraft tag.  I found that the pencils don't blend as smoothly on this kraft as they do on Nina's kraft cardstock, but its still a nice effect, don't ya think? I love the feel of the soft colors, and who doesn't love a blue-eyed baby elephant!?

Thank you so very much for stopping by today! I hope you were able to find some inspiration! Now, go get your craft on... :D

Hugs,

Additional Supplies: SSS Scallop Stitches, MFT Pierced Heart Stax, SSS Stitched Rectangles, SSS Stitched Circles, MFT Concentric Circle Grid stencil, SSS Ring Frame, SSS Tiny Dots and Hearts background stamp, MFT Abstract Art stamp set, SSS It's No Secret stamp set, Lawn Fawn Put A Bow On It, Lawn Fawn Stitched Slopes, Hero Arts Birthday background stamp, Distress Inks, SSS Clear Ink, enamel dots, glossy accents, white embossing powder, Copic Markers, Prismacolor pencils, Pretty Pink Posh sequins, twine, ribbon, and some card bases in Fog Gray and Nina Desert Storm

**I will be entering some cards featured in this post to the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday Challenges**