Sooner rather than Later: SSS To Be Loved Blog Hop, Day 1

Friday, January 10, 2025

SSS To Be Loved Blog Hop, Day 1

*This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp.

Happy Friday! Today I'm participating in a hop celebrating the Simon Says Stamp To Be Loved release. You should be arriving from Alberto Gavas stop on the hop, and I'll have the full list at the end of this post if you need it. As usual, there are prizes to be had. One commenter on each stop along the way will receive a $25 store credit. In addition, with any To Love (the last release) or To Be Loved purchase over $50, you'll automatically receive the Circle Hoops embossing folder pictured above for free.

Today I'm featuring several cards created using my new Sketched Clovers stamp set which features clovers in the same style as the Sketched Leaves set that was released last year.

For my first card, I created some custom pattered paper, stamping the leaves using three colors: Lucky, Limelicious, and Pearfection. I love the way the lines of the leaves look when they are layered together!

One of the sentiments from the set was stamped on a pice of white cardstock, a green mat was added, and then it was popped up with foam tape.

Next up a very simple one layer card using back stamping. This is where the stamp is placed on your block upside down, so that the flat bottom of the stamp creates a slightly larger solid stamp on the image in question. The solid back stamping was done with Sprout ink. After the back was stamped, I flipped the stamp over and stamped the right side using Field ink.

I actually used my stamping platform for this card, placing the image, stamping, turning my panel 180 degrees, and then stamping again to create a symmetrical pattern.

The completed panel was trimmed down and I added another sentiment from the set in the center.

Next up, embossing! Similar to the last card, I saved a bit of time by utilizing my stamping platform for this card. I also saved time by stamping two clovers at once. These were stamped with Versamark and embossed in gold, the panel was turned 180 degrees and then stamped and embossed again. I then moved/alternated the four different clovers images, repeating the process until I was happy with the border that was created.

As you can see, there's no issue in overlapping the embossing, it just adds additional texture and interest.

Another of the sentiments from the set was gold embossed in the center of the card, and the panel was then adhered directly to a kraft card base. I often use kraft with gold embossed cards. I feel like it gives a little definition, but keeps the gold embossing the star of the show.

This last card might be my favorite. I really love Distress Embossing Powders. I feel like they emboss very easily and cleanly and always look good, but I also wanted to use black cardstock, and Distress Embossing Powders are semi-translucent, so really don't show on black.

That's where the lightbulb came on. Instead of using Versamark as I usually do, I stamped the clovers with white pigment ink and then embossed with Cracked Pistachio. I'm so happy with the look. It's not definitely more subtle than using a normal embossing powder, but so pretty.

The entire black panel was stamped/embossed, and then I pulled out my Lucky You dies for the sentiment.

For the sentiment die, I pressed my white pigment ink pad into/across a piece of black cardstock, embossed the entire piece with Cracked Pistachio, and then die cut the embossed cardstock. This was adhered to the shadow piece which was cut from black cardstock.

I also added a sentiment from the Lucky You stamp set which was embossed using the same technique on a strip of black cardstock. Both the sentiment pieces were popped up with foam tape.

That's all for me today. I hope you got some good ideas for how to use this (as well as the previously released Sketched Leaves) set. Your next blog hop stop is Heather Ruwe, and the full list is below. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win the $25 store credit. Good luck and happy hopping!