Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge Guest Designer

Woohoo!  I was so happily surprised and honored when asked to be the guest designer for Simon Says Stamp Challenge #101--Summertime Fun!  Click HERE for all the details to enter.

For me, summertime here in Texas is all about the heat, my flowers, and always, my longing to be at a beach!!!!  I created three cards for this challenge with these things in mind as my inspiration.

It is SO hot here, usually from June through at least mid September!  That's why I colored the center of the SSS Center Cut Burst stamp in sunshine colors!  I heat embossed the image in gold embossing powder and then used a few Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers to color it in.  I used Simon's Eyelet Arch Borders dies, Messages For Everyday, and Big Thanks Words stamp sets to finished it out.

My next card is all about my backyard flowers.  Every summer I always have at least a few varieties of Hibiscus growing in my flower pots.  Hibiscus are one of my most favorite flowers!   Thats why I HAD to have this beautiful Hibiscus Frame die as soon as it came out!  My sentiment is from SSS Thoughtful Messages.

After I die cut this and before removing the pieces from the die, I put some strips of Post-It tape on the back.  I was able to remove them and put the actual frame aside as I wanted it to remain white.  I used my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to color it.

My final card is for my longing to be at the beach in the summer.  There isn't anything much better than being on the beach, listening to waves, reading a good book, and relaxing!   Being in north Texas, it is a big planned trip to get beach time.

I made a shaker card using SSS Under The Sea Animals stamps and dies.  I inked the background with Distress Oxides in Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Blueprint Sketch.  For the streaks of light in the water I used Tim Holtz's Rays stencil and Sprayed Perfect Pearls on it.  Then I added some water drops for more interest.   I adhered some Pretty Pink Posh droplets for "bubbles" on the background.  For the shaker bits I used  Queen and Company Clear Diamond toppings,  and picked a few light colored sequins from Honey Bee Stamps Mermaid sequins.

Thank you to Simon Says Stamp for having me as your guest designer for this challenge!  Thanks to YOU for stopping by to take a look!  I sure would love for you to say "hello" in the comment section!

I can't wait to see what you all create for this challenge!  Carol :)