Hi friends! Welcome back to the latest edition of Weekender with Wanda here on the Simon Says Stamp Blog! Happy Weekend! What do you have planned for this fine Fall weekend? I hope you have a great one! I’ll be stamping all weekend and I’m so excited to spend time in my studio. I was traveling with my husband last week, and I missed two things – stamping, and my kitty cat! So you know where to find me!

Today I’m sharing two cards made with awesome stamps and dies from one of our favorite companies – Taylored Expressions!  Taylored Expressions has a line of two and three layer stamps (with matching dies) that make the most gorgeous projects. Don’t you love layered stamping?? CLICK HERE to see the TE Simply Stamped Line. There are flowers, pineapples, leaves and pinecones. For today’s cards I used the Simply Stamped Cupcakes, the matching dies and the gorgeous TE Sprinkles Embossing Folder! One of my cards has a fun and interesting twist! You’ll see!

First up is a bright and happy Birthday Card! I started with a cream card base cut and folded to A2 size. I later layered the polka dot paper over the card base (save this step until the vellum is done). Next I used cream cardstock to stamp and die cut all of the images: The cupcake base, cupcake top, and cherry. I also used cream cardstock for my embossed layer. The TE embossing folders are a dream – perfect impression the first time, and every time. I like this one because it’s subtle, but it definitely says ‘celebrate!’

I stamped the images in ink colors to match the polka dot papers. That’s why I always choose my patterned paper first! This photo really shows the three layers of stamping on the cupcake top. I used three shades of pink and it’s so fabulous when it’s all done! The cupcake base was stamped in two shades of blue – again to match the paper. I added bits of glitter to all the elements. the matching dies makes the project come together so easily!

For the sentiment I used my Simon Says Stamp Clear Ink Pad and Simon Says Stamp Gold Embossing Powder and stamped onto a strip of the new SSS Vellum paper. When you heat emboss on vellum, it can be kind of tricky. The paper is essentially coated in plastic, so it melts fast, and it also wrinkles. When I’m ready to heat emboss on vellum I hold my heat tool away from me and let it get really hot (basically I let it come up to full temperature). Then I do quick blasts of heat over the image and move the heat tool quickly. The very second it melts, stop! Keep doing quick blasts of heat until it’s all done. Okay, so I am totally speaking from experience here!!

Here’s a good close up of the Sprinkles Embossing Folder impression.

The cupcake is mounted to the card using foam squares. The vellum was wrapped around the paper layers for a clean finish. I like how this card has sort of a retro feeling to it because of the colors.

So, this next cupcake card has a fun twist! It’s a spooky Halloween cupcake! After I finished making the first card, I thought it would be fun to make another one – using the same exact card layout, but with different colors, papers and inks! I had some of my Halloween crafting supplies on my desk….and this idea came to me! So I stamped the cupcake in grey and orange and then made a creepy green cherry for the top! The awesome striped paper is from Doodlebug!! I used the bats and small sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Ghostly Greetings stamp set to add some scary accents! BOO!

The Simply Stamped Cupcakes stamp set has an awesome sprinkles stamp in it! I stamped the sprinkles in black on top of the orange icing! For the orange part I used two shades of ink instead of three. That’s part of the fun and versatility of the stamp set. Use one, two or all three layers of stamping!

For this card, I used bright white cardstock for everything. Then I heat embossed my sentiment in Simon Says Stamp Silver Embossing Powder instead of gold.

Thanks for spending part of your weekend here with us at Simon Says Stamp! Happy Crafting!

SUPPLIES FOR TODAY:

It’s such a beautiful time of the year… which was highly inspiring for the November Card Kit Thankful Heart! This kit includes a variety of items for you Autumn card making. To start off, we have the Simon Says Stamp Clear Stamp Set “Thankful Heart” with beautifully handwritten sentiments by Kristina Werner. The Echo Park I Love Family 6×6 papers coordinate with the Simon Says Stamp cardstocks in Surf Blue, Green Leaf, Ivory and Schoolhouse Red. Are you familiar with our envelopes? A NEW edition to our Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Collection, we’ve included Metallic Orange Peel and Metallic Copper in this kit! We’ve also included a Floral Frenzy embossing die, Tidings Stickles, Celestial Copper ink in cube form, and a daisy paper clip that is as cute as a button!

Friendly reminder, we have a Card Kit Gallery each month that we encourage you to not only peruse but add the cards you make with the coordinating kits!

Watch the video:

The Thankful Heart stamp set is also available for individual purchase in our store!

We have some amazing inspiration for you from our talented designers!

 By Wanda Guess

 By Nichol Spohr

 By Heather Hoffman

Remember, you can SUBSCRIBE to our no obligation kits and receive them monthly for $ 24.95, or purchase them each month for $ 29.95 (while supplies last).

If you are a subscriber who used Paypal to purchase your subscription, please be sure to pay the invoice that we send you within 3 business days. We have a limited number of this card kit in stock and don’t want you to miss out. For easier and quicker monthly processing, please contact us via email or telephone and we will put your credit card on file as a courtesy for you. Card kits bill and ship between the 17th and 27th days of every month.

Thanks for reading today!

Hi friends! We’re excited to announce our GRAND PRIZE WINNER for the Dream Craft Room Giveaway! Thanks to all who entered!