Simon Says Stamps - Spring 2014 Release is here!!

Hi Crafty Friends!!  It's that time!!  The new Spring products for Simon Says Stamp are now available!!  I've made many cards using the following new stamps, dies and stencils:

*Birthday Balloons Stamp Set - 14 piece set

*Balloons Die Set - 5 Steel Craft Dies

*Happy Birthday Die - 2 Steel Craft Dies
*Love Languages Stamp Set - 11 piece set
*Love Languages Die Set - 3 Steel Craft Dies
*Harlequin Stencil

My first creation uses the Harlequin Stencil, Happy Birthday Die and lots of fabulous Distress Inks.

I taped the Harlequin stencil down on top of some heavy duty watercolor paper using Washi tape.  I then sponged the rainbow effect and lightly spritzed it with some water with Perfect Pearls mixed in.  There is a very light sparkly effect when you catch the card in real life in just the right light.  I then used the new Happy Birthday die - cut 5 times out of black cardstock and stacked on top of each other - adhered with Glossy Accents.  (A fabulous trick I learned from the amazing Jennifer McGuire!)  The pop up effect it has is nothing short of awesome!!  I took some white sewing thread, bunched it together and played with it until it was 'just right'!  I adhered everything down with Glossy Accents.

As a last touch on this card, I added a sprinkling of black sequins for some fun sparkle!

My next creation was my husband's Valentine's Day card:

Here I've used the new Love Languages Stamp Set and matching Dies (the American Sign Language symbol for "I Love You" and the tiny heart).  I used a sketch from My Favorite Things and a mix of papers to create this eclectic melange.

I, once again, used black sewing thread behind my main panels as an added element of fun!  A sprinkling of gold sequins and voila!  

Next I switched gears and used some fun embossing paste and the Harlequin stencil to create this texture filled card:

I taped the stencil down onto heavy watercolor paper using Washi Tape.  I then used Martha Stewart textured embossing paste and coated the stencil with a palette knife carefully scraping off any excess.

I let this dry overnight and then sponged the entire panel with Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink.  I love how the paper took the ink differently than the embossing paste - such a cool effect!!  I used a small birthday sentiment from the new Birthday Balloons set in Hero Arts Navy Ink.  The cardbase is navy as well - there's something so warm about Navy and Coral tones together.  I added some Studio Calico wooden stars and some gold sequins as a finishing touch.  

Moving on I kept with the same coral and navy theme this time using the Birthday Balloons dies and Birthday Balloons stamp set to create a simple but fun birthday card.  

I cut the largest of 5 different balloons both out of the navy background and the coral glitter paper. I then stamped my sentiment in Unicorn White pigment ink and heat set using white embossing powder.  I did the same with the white stars - also in the stamp set and added the Studio Calico wood veneer stars on top.  

I finished off the balloon with some gold cording and sequins.  

Next up is a super simple card that I made for my 11 month old boy for Valentine's Day!  I kept it simple and sweet.  I had this graphic paper from a paper pack (it's old so I can't remember where it's from) but it worked perfectly for this sentiment from the Love Languages Stamp set.

I inked the round, heart image in Unicorn White ink directly onto the paper and heat set it with white embossing powder.  I then filled in the small heart with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  I added the sentiment and colored in the heart with my Red Lipstick Copic Marker.  I added a few sequins as a final touch.  

I then shifted gears and lightened the vibe a bit with this simple and clean creation:

I cut two balloons of different shapes from the Balloons Die Set and mounted them using 3-D foam adhesive.  I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Birthday Balloons Stamp Set onto the larger balloon using Hero Arts Black Ink.  I added teal bakers twine and some iridescent sequins.  I also added the itty bitty dots that are punched out of the center of the sequins for some added sparkle.  Both the twine and sequins are adhered with Glossy Accents.

I think the effect of the bright and sparkly balloons on the simple white background is just super fun!

Next up is a card that focuses on the the Love Languages Die set.  

I stamped the Kraft background with a delightful background stamp from My Favorite Things.  I then coated a chipboard frame with Unicorn White Pigment Ink and heat set it using white embossing powder.  I stamped the main graphic image with Hero Arts Charcoal Ink and Hero Arts Butter Bar Ink - for the center heart.  I made my own Butter Bar cardstock by running my inkpad over some Neenah Solar White cardstock and cutting the hearts out using my Big Shot.

I added the subtle sentiment using Hero Arts Black Ink.  I used a mini clothespin, baker's twine and some raindrop like gems as accents.  A dab of Glossy Accents on the center heart and I was done!

And last, but certainly not least is a creation that is very Jennifer McGuire inspired!!  ;)  I inked the sentiment from the Birthday Balloons stamp set multiple times using Hero Arts ink.  I then used the Happy Birthday die to cut out of the middle of the panel.

I then cut five more layers and adhered them together using Glossy Accents.  

I then popped them into the negative space where I had cut the original out of and adhered the top layer onto - creating the consistent yet popped up look that is sure to make any recipient smile!  I added a tiny sprinkling of rainbow sequins as a last touch!

Thanks SO much for sticking around this long!!  This was a long post for sure but the new products are just so fun!!  

Thanks to Heidi, Malini and Stephanie at Simon Says Stamp for asking me to join them and for all of their help!!!  

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith