Studio Monday with Nina-Marie: Encouragement Cards for Kids
Hello crafters, welcome back to a new Studio Monday video! Here at Simon Says Stamp we just had two BIG releases jam-packed with products that are perfect for encouraging the ones we love. Today I wanted to feature some of those products in a card set geared towards kids but could also be used for adults too!
There are a few easy techniques incorporated into these cards; one of which is watercolor smooshing. This is a really fun and easy way to achieve a watercolor effect with little thinking or planning involved.
I used a combination of both Zig Clean Color Felt and Real Brush markers with an Art Impressions palette to achieve the smooshing technique; however you can also do this same smooshing technique using any sort of slick surface.
The “yahoo” sentiment was stamped with one of the new Simon Exclusive CZ Design stamp sets; Everett Alphas. In place of one of O’s in the sentiment, I used the adorable Fingerprint Doodles stamp set and added little critters onto each of the cards. You could make this even more “authentic” by stamping your own fingerprint instead of using the fingerprint images included in the stamp set.
The supporting sentiment “so proud of you” is heat embossed onto coordinating colors of cardstock strips. Isn’t it fun to create your own sentiments by making use of letter stamps?
To finish up the cards, I put my stamped and watercolored panels onto card bases that are decorated with Simon’s new Stitched Alphabets stamp set. I wanted a bit of texture and pattern on the card bases, but nothing distracting. Using embossing ink, I was able to get a tone-on-tone effect that coordinates perfectly with the card design. To stamp those alphabet letters I did not remove them from the stamp packaging; this saved time in not having to line them onto a block or MISTI tool!
The watercolor smooshing technique is really fun and in the video I share some other tips and tricks as well… even a fix for a mistake I made during the creation process! I hope you enjoyed today’s post and will check out the video below to see how these cards came together! Thanks for stopping by; I’ll be back again tomorrow with more crafty inspiration to share with you!
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Great cards! :)
Super cute cards!
These cards look cute and simple to do.
super cute and fun and sometimes neccessary
They are so super cute!! The Zig Markers are on my wish list.
so bright and cheerful. Love the layout and design of these cards:)
Awesome encouragement cards! I love how your “mistake” ended up making them look even more whimsical!
OMG – so cute – they are wonderful, fun note cards!
These are so very adorable.
Like the wonderful encouraging creations.
Melissa
“Sunshine HoneyBee”
So cute. Love how you used the Fingerprint set.
So cute!! I really do love those thumbprint stamps!
So fun!
These bright colors make me so happy! Who wouldn’t want to get one of these? Adorable and fun! Thanks!!
Kids will really like these.
Absolutely love those fingerprints!
These cards just have me smiling out loud !!!
These are so FUN!!!
Such bright, happy cards! Any kid would love to get one of these.
These are so cute! Perfect for my nephews!
These are so cute! That stamp set is on my wish list for when my daughter is older ?
Fantastic cards!
Sooooo cute. I have the Fingerprint Doodles set on my wish list.
Colorful, cheery and encouraging!
Gorgeous colors and so fun!
Really easy and cool kids’ cards! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the quick smooshing idea. Can’t wait to try it.
Those are so cute!
Super adorable cards! Thanks for sharing.
These are terrific and a great self esteem booster. Love the bright vibrant colors.
Adorable cards!!!! Thank you for the tutorial and inspiration
Fun idea.
Wish I had little ones that I
could tuck these cards into
their lunch packs.
thanks for sharing.
These Are So Sweet Nina!
Cuteness. Love rep,acing letters with images.
Really cute! Cards like this will be great for the nieces and nephews during the school year!
What a great idea and perfect with back to school coming. Will be great for those first few weeks of trying to adjust after being off for 2 months.
Great Cards, neat little fingerprint stamps.
Bright and happy cards, perfect for children. Love that Fingerprint Doodles stamp set!
Such a cute card. Thanks for sharing …
Great ideas! I love the bright colors.
YAY such cute cards!!! Think I will make some for my grandkids:)
Super fun and colorful cards! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Bright and adorable cards!
Soooo adorable! I love the cute Fingerprint Doodles set and thinking about getting it for my youngest niece.
Such fun cards!
Super Cute and I love how you did the alpha background.
Wow! Love these bright and cheerful cards!!!
Very fun set of cards!
such cute cards
Cute cards. I love the Fingerprint Doodles!