Using the SImon Says Stamp! August 2026 Kit for Some Card Challenges

Hello Crafty Friends!

I am popping in with some cards I created first for an IG Hop using Simon Says Stamp! products. We were supposed to use last years Stamptember products BUT I didn't read the fine print and created cards using my SSS August 2026 Made to Flourish kit, and some "extras" that were on my desk.

My first card I used the Brightest Bloom embossing folder to emboss on a piece of watercolor cardstock that was included in the kit.

I used the three Distress Crayons in the kit (mine came in with worn lipstick, mowed lawn and fossilized amber) along with stormy sky, dried marigold and festive berry to watercolor on the embossed image.

I distressed the edges, adhered it to an A2, white card base and used a sentiment from the Made to Flourish stamp set..

I am entering this card into this round of the All Sorts Challenge #856-heat or dry embossing. 

My next card I stamped around two sides of a white piece of A2 cardstock with the flowers from the SSS Made to Flourish stamp set. I then used Copic markers to color the images in.

Next I ink blended Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the entire card front. I also took some brown ink and water and splashed it across the front.

I distressed the edges and added Ranger Gilded Foundry Wax (not found in the kit) along all four sides. 

I added piece of old book paper from a previous kit, some vellum from my scrap box, some jute and a stamped sentiment 3/4 of the way down the card front. To finish the card, I adhered it to a top folding, red A2 card front.

I am entering this card in this round of Inkspirational Challenge #374.

On my third card I crumpled a piece of old book paper, smoothed it out, blended and dragged Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the top to create the background.

I adhered it to a kraft, A2, top folding card base. I then used two of the Craft Consortium Flowers ephemera, popping one up with foam adhesive.

I tied a piece of jute around the front, added a sentiment and some gems. Can you tell I am kind of obsessed with distressing the card edges or backgrounds? It became a theme in this set of cards.

I am entering in the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #44-Anything Goes Floral.

For my last card, I did a bunch of different techniques. I first used a Worn Lipstick and Stormy Sky Distress crayons to ink smoosh color onto a piece of white water color paper. I embossed it with a burlap background and used Vintage Photo Distress ink to blend ink across the front.

I added a scrap of book print to the left side, distressed the edges of the background and adhered it to a white, A2 card front.

I took a scrap oval frame, added a jute bow and adhered it to the card front.

I used my Distress Crayons to color directly onto my stamps, sprayed some water over the top and stamped my images onto white water color paper. I used the water brush in the kit to blend in the flowers. When the stamped image was dry, I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink to blend over the top.

I adhered the vase of flowers in the middle of the circle with foam adhesive. The sentiment was stamped a pink that matched my flowers, die cut out and adhered to the card front.

These cards took SO LONG to make. I am such a SLOW card maker but it was fun to use this kit, some supplies that I have accumulated and never used, like the foundry wax, and scraps from my desk. It was a successful creative session that left me feeling fabulous.

That is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!

Nora

Popping in

 Hey Friends!!

I am just popping in with a quick card to make the deadline for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge. 

I had a lot of fun yesterday with some Distress Sprays. I did a bit of smooshing and then layered some Distress Oxide Spray and Distress Mica Spray to create my orange leaf. I used this in lieu of a tag from the sketch.

I LOVE how it came out!! I then die cut a pumpkin out of cream cardstock and used Antique Linen Distress Ink to shade the pumpkin in to make it look a bit more realistic

I dug out pattern paper and then layered everything together. The sentiment is from Concord and 9th. In the photos it is a bit off but I fixed it after. I just didn't have time to take new photos. 

The sketch that inspired my card is below:

That is all from me today. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!! Have a FABULOUS day!

Nora

There is Still Time to play at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #580

Hey Friends!!!

Today I am popping in to remind you that there is still time to play with Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #580. This round is a theme challenge. It is all about HALLOWEEN.

Below is the challenge badge for the CIC580.

We have a sponsor this time around. Mirtillamente Craft Shop generously donated my image. I altered Svario: Happy Halloween Black Cat to create my card. 

I had so much fun creating this card!!! The background was made with Distress Ink and Distress Oxide Ink. I also used some Distress Stain and Distress Mica Stain over the top. 

I altered the digital image by getting rid of the cat. I then colored in that witch hat with Copic markers. 

Do you want to join us for this round? Hop on over to the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog for more information. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!

Nora

There is still time to play at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #553-SAFARI ANIMALS

Hello friends!!

Just popping into remind you that there is still time to play with this fortnights Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #553. It is a THEME challenge this time around. It is all about making a creation with SAFARI ANIMALS.

Below is the badge for Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #553 (CIC553).

This week I used four images and a sentiment from the Peek-A-Boo Digital Stamp set that was generously donated by our sponsor www.craftyscrappers.in. 

Once again, all the adorable animals were colored in with Copic Markers. I then die cut the panel with dies from Avery Elle.

I  mounted it over an A2 top folding card front that was stenciled with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. The addition of the orange twine bow was a last minute element that I think the card needed.

That is all from me today. I hope that you will come on over and join us at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge with a creation of your own!!!

I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS Monday!!

Nora

New Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #553-Safari Animals

 Hey Friends!! I hope everyone is doing well. 

I am exhausted today. I have been getting up M-F at 4:00 am to go to the gym before work. I have been doing it for THREE WEEKS so far and feel so energized when I am there. However, the downside is that by Friday night, I am so tired that I usually go to bed early and don't want to do anything on the weekends!!! I am hoping that as my body becomes more used to it that I adjust.

Now for why I am really here!!! Today there is a NEW challenge up at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog. It is a THEME challenge of Safari Animals!! 

Below is the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Badge for CIC553:

My adorable giraffe is an image that has been generously donated by our sponsor this week www.craftyscrappers.in. 

The giraffe and sentiment is part of the Peek-A-Boo set of adorable Safari Animals.

I used a stencil with Mustard Seed Distress Ink for the background and colored in the image with Copic Markers. I thought matting the image with pattern papers would give it a bit more emphasis. The pearls are from Kat Scrappiness Inc.

That is all from me today. I hope that you will come on over and join us at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge with a creation of your own!!!

I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS Monday!!

Nora

Week Two of the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #533

 Hello Crafty Friends!!

 Today I am popping in with a card that I created for week two of the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #533. 

This challenge was to use the colors red, white and cream on a card. 

I actually added some gold and green as well because I thought that it needed it.

I started off by using a circle stencil and blending Festive Berries for the red background and then a Stamperia "Alchemy" stencil over it in Fired Brick Distress Ink.

The trees are Tall Pine Trees from the Frantic Stamper Inc. The snowflakes are from my stash that I cut out awhile ago. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things Snow Globe Sentiments. I use these sentiments a TON and I think need to make a bunch ahead of time.

I hope that you hop on over and play with us this week. I cannot wait to see what you create!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!

My Turn on the CAS-Fridays Blog

Hello my friends!! I am popping in to say that it is my turn on the CAS-Fridays Blog. This is my THIRD post for today. As December is almost here, I created a festive Christmas card using some of my CAS-Fridays supplies. Below is the card I created.

To see how I made this card, please hop on over to my CAS-Fridays Blog Post to see how I created my card.

I also want to let you know that CAS-Fridays is having a HUGE sale!!! Hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Shop and treat yourself.

You can even use my code NORASENTME to get an extra 15% off your total purchase, including sales!!!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!

Tis the Season

Hi friends!! It has been a long time that I have sat down to just make a card for myself, using whatever I wanted. Today I did some cleaning and decided to take a time out create a card for two different challenges.

I created this for this weeks Freshly Made Sketches #512 and The Color Throwdown #669.

I started by doing a bit of ink blending with Chipped Sapphire and Prized Ribbon Distress Ink. I then used a new stencil that I received from Stamperia. My last step was to use Gold Color Shine, Picket Fence and Prize Ribbon Distress Spray Stain.

I used Spellbinders November 2021 Small Die of the Month Club for my ornament. I die cut the ornament out of white and gold cardstock. I used some navy gems for some fun on my ornamnet.

My pine boughs and Typed Christmas sentiment are from Hello Bluebird and the foiled strips are from a DCWV foiled paper pad.

I had SO MUCH FUN creating this card!!! I am so into blue and gold at this moment. I wish I could make it my color scheme but I am not willing to spend money on new ornament.

I am looking forward to seeing my daughter this week. She is coming home on Tuesday and I have not seen her since October. This week is going to be so busy!!! I am having my family and Chris at Thanksgiving this year after not seeing anyone last year.

Well, that is all from me. I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by!!! Have a FABULOUS day!!

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

Hello everyone!! 

This is my second post for the day for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Fall/Winter 2021. I created a card using CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Coffee Products. 

I created my background by blending Antique Linen Distress Ink and misting with Old Paper and Antique Linen Distress Stain. 

I then stenciled over the top with Vintage Photo Distress Ink using the CAS-Fridays By the Beans Stencil. I stamped the sentiment using the CAS-Fridays Cup of Coffee stamp set and brown dye ink. 

I adhered a teal die cut coffee cup die cut using the CFS Coffee Cup Die. I added some Glossy Accents over the brown "coffee" in the cup.

That is all from me today. Be sure to go over to the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Fall/Winter 2021 for all the details to enter to win some FABULOUS Prizes!!!

If you feel like shopping a shopping spree at the CFS Shop, use my code NORASENTME to get 15% off your order, including sale items!!

I want to thank you all for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!