#happymail Archives • The Polka Dot Life

This is a greeting card made using the Simply Succulents Bundle by Stampin' Up.

Simply Succulents by Stampin’ Up

Today’s Video

Where I Started

I have had the Simply Succulents Bundle for a while. It intimidated me for some reason and I don’t even know why! I was very drawn to it but I just didn’t know where to start. As a result, I just kept sliding it to the bottom of my pile. However, I finally decided it was finally time to jump into using the set.

The only idea I had in my mind was that I wanted to use the Blending Brush technique. So, I grabbed a sheet of our new Basic White Thick Cardstock and made a tye-dyed-looking sheet of paper. From there I used the largest die and ran it through my die cutting machine. This resulted in a beautiful card front and a million tiny bits of paper! I stamped and cut a few images out of my remaining paper. After using the die, I decided that I wanted to make a card using this piece as a mask. That is what brought me to today’s card.

More Simply Succulents Cards

I decided to move on and try stamping and coloring the images in the stamp set. First, I tried my hand a using our Stampin’ Blend Markers to do my coloring. This proved to be challenging for me. The new Basic White Thick Cardstock just worked a little differently for me. I need to make more cards and practice. That is the only way for my to improve.

Next, I tried using our Watercolor Pencils and Blender Pen. I chose to use a pastel shades. I felt most comfortable with this technique and I like how the card looked.

Last, I tried my hand at watercoloring. I am not a water color artist! But, at least Stampin’ Up offers us products that we can use to do a good job. The results weren’t awful, but I feel that using the Watercolor Paper would have been a better choice for this project.

I would encourage you to pull out a project that you are just afraid to start. Find a technique or card sketch that you like and start there. If that card isn’t exactly what you love, you will probably be inspired to change something and continue. It’s a process!

As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Measurements for Today’s Card

Rich Razzleberry Card Base: 5 1/2″ X 8 1/2″, Scored at 4 1/4″, and scrap for sentiment
Shimmery White Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 11″ (This should give you enough room to have your mask that you will cut down, a sentiment, and an inside layer) Also, a 4″ x 5 1/2″ piece for the mat.

Card Supplies

Rich Razzleberry Cardstock: https://bit.ly/3nPnecq
Shimmery White Cardstock: https://bit.ly/2TXlcJm
Blending Brushes:https://bit.ly/2O4OlDm
Simply Succulent Bundle: https://bit.ly/2O4kcUJ
Just Jade Ribbon: https://bit.ly/38khKQS

Shop My Entire Online Store: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Stampin’ Up’s You Are My Sunshine

Leave a Comment / By Sally McFadden

Even just saying You Are My Sunshine makes me smile! I have such fond memories of singing that song to my children and my mother singing it to me as well. We even used to have a little neighbor girl that sang it with a tiny lisp and it was precious! Our new Bumblebee In Color was the obvious choice to use for my card. And I feel that the Magenta Madness adds just a little sparkle. So happy!

I filmed this video at the same time that I shot the Lovely You video. So again I apologize that it is a little too close up. I do not expect that I will ever win an award for my filming skills! But it is what it is and I am learning more each day. I think life long learning is so important. Especially during all of this COVID stuff….it has been a great way to work through the time and work out some frustrations. I hope that your crafting has been a pleasant diversion to you. And when you are finished crafting you can share the sunshine to someone else by sending them your card!

Here is today’s video: