Sending Smiles with Potted Succulents Dies

 Sometimes, there are dies that I just forget to use.  They

are wonderful dies, but often require a different technique.

This card uses the Potted Succulents dies, where I used the 

large die, to create a

paper template that I placed over a piece of card stock and

colored with Stampin Blends.  The colors I used were

Starry Sky, Flirty Flamingo and Soft Succulent.

I ran this layer through an Embossing folder, in two 

different directions, to make it look a bit like watercolor paper.

The Sending Smiles set and Sending dies allow you to create 

different sentiments.  Two optional sentiments were stamped,

so that I can attach the one that I need, when I am

ready to send the card out.

Plentiful Plants with Pierced Blooms Dies

 I think that Plentiful Plants, with the coordinating

Perfect Plants Dies, are a great option for slimline cards.

Given the different pots, that add so much interest,

they can be stacked or lined up in a row.

I stamped and cut out the plant elements in preparation.

Next, I used the retiring Plenty of Patterns Decorative Masks.

The sentiment from Plentiful Plants was cut out with a

die from Pierced Blooms.  It was then easy to line up

and attach these elements.

Torn Paper Grassy Grove on New Horizons

 I really like this Torn Paper technique offered by

Rita Holmes at Stamp Crazy.  This technique allows you to put

a piece of DSP behind the torn card layer, revealing the scene.

I did a variation on her deer card, shown here.

In this example, I ran the top layer through the Timeworn Type

3D Embossing folder and then tore a section from the middle.

I rolled it up and glued this torn portion down.  I stamped the 

deer from Grassy Grove on some retired New Horizons DSP

and layered it behind the opening.  The sentiment from

Simply Succulents was cut out with a Sending Die.

Finally, I stamped the pine trees from Grassy Grove and 

cut them out.  I think that this card could be adjusted

to be a Christmas card.

Retired Simply Sketched

 Simply Sketched is one of my favorite retired sets.  It is

so much fun to color with Stampin Blends.  I took my colors

from the retired DSP, which was run through a retired

Embossing folder twice, embossing it in both directions.

The sentiment also comes from this retired set.

Happier Than Happy with Happy Forest Dies

 I love the Happier Than Happy set with coordinating 

Happy Forest Dies.  There are so many cute images, and

background elements (mushrooms, leaves, ground, trees),

to add to your card.  You can also use these images to create

your own DSP or background layers. I think one reason I 

like this set so much, is because the bear 

reminds me of Yogi bear.

Waves Of Inspiration with Waves Dies

 I love the many options possible with the Waves of

Inspiration set and Waves Dies (bundle).  You've got waves,

clouds, pelican, posts, everything you need to create

sea scapes.  In this example, I masked a circle and used

Blending Brushes to create the background.  I then removed

the mask and added the other elements.  It really is an

easy WOW card.