Weekender with Wanda – Holiday Cheer with Hero Arts!
Hello and happy Weekend! I’m always happy to see you here and it’s time for the latest edition of Weekender with Wanda here on the Simon Says Stamp blog! I’m so grateful to be able to share with you every week, and I appreciate your kindness and love shown in the comments. I read all of them, and they cheer me and lift me up! So, thank you! It’s definitely holiday time and I’m ready to get the party started!
This week I thought I would make some one layer, clean and simple cards in vivid, bright colors! Today my cards are featuring stamps from one of our very favorite companies, Hero Arts! The Hero Arts Holiday 2016 release is amazing. A really varied and beautiful assortment of products for every style and holiday. Today I chose one of the happy clear stamp sets called, appropriately, Holiday Cheer! I used my Zig Clean Color Markers to watercolor the images in non-traditional brights. I made three cards out of the one stamp set. I adore the font of the sentiments so much.
Here are all three cards together. I like to use colored cardstock as my card base when I do one layer cards since it adds just the right punch of color. Then, inside, I will layer a piece of white cardstock to write on. These colors remind me of retro 60’s Christmas decorations!
This little snowman is just the sweetest thing with his hat and scarf! I stamped the hill, the sentiment and the snowman in waterproof ink. I stamped the snowflakes and trees in Distress Inks. The coloring was done with Kuretake Zig Clean Color Brush Markers. I chose them for this project because of the pretty colors they come in!
I made this tree card first, and that’s what started my creative juices flowing for today’s post. I lined up the trees in then put the sentiment in the center. The snowflakes are stamped in Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. I added a few clear Hero Arts gems as a finishing touch.
Now, this house card I think is my favorite one! Probably because there is so much color! Each watercolor panel was die cut with the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles die to give a polished look. I also mounted each panel onto the card base using foam tape. These are just a couple of quick ways to make your CAS cards pop!
I started each card with watercolor paper, and stamped my images in rich black ink.
There are a couple of ways to color with your Zig Markers. I chose to paint onto the images with the markers and then go back over the color with clean water and a paint brush. This gives a darker color wash. If you want the color to look lighter, I recommend painting on your image with clean water first and then adding the color to the water. Just a matter of personal preference! I like both ways.
On the House card and the Snowman card I splattered gold and silver paint over the final images. I LOOOOOVE my Finetec Gold palette. I highly recommend that this paint palette be part of your crafty stash. I’ve been using these paints for a long time and the color hasn’t even started to go down yet. I simply mix some paint and water together on a stamping block and use a paint brush to flick the paint onto the card. This is one of my favorite looks.
After I did the gold on the card above, I started thinking… I wonder if I can make the white metallic into blue!? So I put down some Zig marker onto a block, added water, and then added the white pearl paint. Voila – icy blue shimmery paint speckles. How fun is that? We can make any color now!
Thank you for joining us here on the Simon Says Stamp Blog! Holiday Cheer and Winter Wishes to you!
Thanks for sharing the tips about the Finetec Gold paints. I can hardly wait to try this technique. Whoops, maybe I should wait to see if Santa puts a set in my stocking this year!
Very cute cards. Definite retro look to them. Well done!
I love the colors and whimsical style!
I love using those paints to add shimmer and subtle specks to my cards too. Loved your projects!
Super cute cards! You’ve gotta love the delicious colors of card stock that Bazzill always has and the Zig marker set is to die for!!!! I need a set of those in my stocking this year :)
Fun cards love to see different approach for using stamps and watrcolors. Thanks for the tips on use of the zig clean color markers
These are so fun, Wanda! Simple and delightful.
All these darling images in one stamp set! I definitely have to add this one to my wish list. Thanks for the tips on the paint flecks, too cool. I was not familiar with the Finetec paints. Stay warm and I hope it stops raining.
Great tips as always!
Great tutorial and I love the colours or the cards!
Such cute images! I love the bright colors you used with them!
Love these simple but beautiful cards. It never ceases to amaze me all the possibilities Zig pens have. I LOVE them (mine). Also cute cute stamp set
Those are really sweet holiday cards!
Cute cards and I love that touch of pearl or gold spattered on the card! The perfect finishing touch on a simple card.
Love these bright cheerful cards!
Such cute card Wanda!!!
Great looking card ideas.
Beautiful cards, I love the colored cardstock bases to give some additional wow. Thanks for your tips on coloring with the Zig markers, love these CAS design cards for mass producing. Then I can color while watching a movie.
Fantastic cards!!! Sooo Bright and FUN!!!!!
Heartwarming cards.
Love the soft pastel colors! Thanks for the tip/trick on how you created the awesome icy blue shimmery paint speckles! Don’t you just love it when clever ideas like this work out!!!
Cute and fun cards Wanda. I like your tip about using colored cardstock on the CAS cards. Thanks for sharing with us.
What cute images to make cards for kids.
These are terrific cards. Love all the colour! Cheers.
Great cards! :)
These are SO beautiful Wanda, would love to have those Finetec Gold paints. Just gorgeous cards!
Very cute. I’ve never thought to use blue splatters for snow. Great idea!
What a fun way to use the images in this set to make a pattern with lots and lots of fun color!
Sweet Festive Little Cards! Merry Merry!
Very fun! Love all of the colors and thanks for sharing your ideas and techniques!!
Super cute cards! Love the bright colors!
I love the whimsey style of the trees and little houses. They look like it would be fun to color.
Lovely cards Wanda! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Love the bright colours and the lovely splats. Hugz
These are really cute cards! So cheerful :)
Gorgeous cards! I’m going to give this a go as I’ve still a few Christmas cards to make :)
Very cute cards–love the water color markers and gold paint flicking method!
They are so beautiful, Wanda! LOVE the colors, too!
Amazing cards ?
Delightful and festive!!
SO CUTE WANDA! I LOOOOVE the little snowy scenes you’ve created! ;)SUPER JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love all the cards! Stamp sets are great when there are smaller stamps in them that can be used to make a background. I love what you’ve done on these cards!!
Fun cards, Wanda. Love how you got the blue shimmer paint.
Very cute. Loving the winter pastels.
cute cards, i love this technique.
Very cute cards!
Cute CAS cards!
I love the watercoloring on the cards.
Another great weekend with Wanda!
Such lovely cheerful cards!