Friday, April 24, 2020

Sunny Days Ahead Release Blog Hop!



Welcome to Simon Says Stamps Sunny Days Ahead Blog Hop showcasing the Sunny Days Ahead release!


First of all, I hope everyone is staying well. In case you missed it, Simon Says Stamp is shipping again!  Please check out  this video from Heidi for more information! 

Now for hop information!  Simon Says Stamp will be generously giving a $25 coupon to one commenter from each and every blog on the hop, simply leave a comment for a chance to win!  The winners will be chosen and posted on Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday, April 29th. Also, if you shop during the blog hops, you can enter the code SSSink and receive a Simon Says Stamp Intense Black ink pad FREE!

Now on to my creations!
    My first card is Congrats, Grad!


I started with a white card stock panel and ink blended SSS Goldenlocks and SSS Sunshine inks.  I added some black splatters and let dry.  I die cut three of the new CZ Designs Grad Hat wafer dies.  I layered all of the pieces in black card stock.  I used foam tape to add to the panel.  


My sentiment was stamped and white embossed using the new Hats Off stamp set.  I layered the panel with a piece of black card stock and popped it up onto a top folding white card stock base using foam tape.  I finished the card with a few clear sequins. 

My 2nd card is Hats Off to You!  I decided to do a circle card to represent the earth. This card pays homage to the many students graduating around the world this year that will not experience a commencement ceremony. 


  I used the new Hats Off stamp set. I took the hand stamp that comes in the set and cut it into three sections so that I could stamp one or two hands at a time to keep my circle card uniformed with all the hands reaching to the center.  I colored the graduation robes different colors.  I added one of the new CZ Designs Grad Hat wafer dies to the center with foam tape.  


I used yellow card stock for the tassel and used a Copic marker to enhance with definition.  The little sentiment underneath the hat comes from new Hats Off stamp set.  I layered this circle with a scalloped panel that I cut twice.  To make it a shape card, I scored one panel about an inch from the edge across the back and used score-tape to secure.  The size is perfect for a gift card! I finished the card with a few clear sequins.


My third card is Congrats!


For this card, I decided to go clean and simple and use the cool tones of the rainbow.  I used the new CZ Design Congrats wafer die.  I die cut each word three times using SSS Green Apple, SSS Audrey Blue, and SSS Cornflower Blue card stocks.  I glued each word together for added dimension.  


I die cut and layered one of the new CZ Designs Grad Hat wafer dies.  I added this panel to a top folding white card stock base using some foam tape for added dimension.  I finished the card with a few clear sequins.

For my last card I have to share today, I decided not to add a sentiment. 


 I used one of Suzy's Mother's Day Watercolor Prints.  I colored the poppies with my Zig Watercolor Markers. Once it dried, I added black splatters to the the entire panel.  


Once the splatters dried, I added Nuvo shimmer pen over the petals of the flowers.  I finished the card with a few clear sequins.
  


I hope you have enjoyed the cards I created for today. Do you have a favorite?  I would like to know!

As always thanks so much for hopping by! For more inspiration, check out all of the other stops on the hop!

Hop Order


124 comments

  1. All of these are fabulous. I especially love the poppies

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  2. Great cards. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. What pretty flowers. The DEEP red reminds me of the poppies in France--remembering the men who died in WWI.

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  4. I love the bright, bold red of those poppies - gorgeous. That round graduation card is a fabulous design!

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  5. Great cards! The round card is amazing and the congrats card is something that I can definitely do!

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  6. These are beautiful! I LOVE the black and yellow combo and the CONGRATS die repeated!

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  7. LOVE your cards and each so unique! I am intrigued with the round card...awesome idea!!

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  8. love the way you did the Hats off card

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  9. I love the poppy card! The colors are so rich and beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

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  10. What fun graduation cards these are. The watercolor print is stunning. Such bright, vibrant colors you got and brought it to life.

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  11. I love the way you used the hands in a circle for the graduation card. I also love, love, love the poppy card. I have a very close tie to the "poppy" via my cousin, Moina Michael, The Poppy Lady, who was instrumental in getting the poppy as the symbol for the veterans lives lost during WWI and its continued use as a remembrance for ALL VETERANS (of which I have several in my family)

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  12. The arms in a circle is so creative and lovely! I love your coloring on the flowers and the 2 congrats as well. Great cards!

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  13. Beautiful! Each one is completely different and completely gorgeous! Great inspiration!

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  14. Great cards. I really love the circle hand graduation card.

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  15. Poppies are gorgeous! I wish they were in my back yard.

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  16. Great ideas and beautiful cards using this release.

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  17. Thanks for all the inspiration. Love the circle card. Great idea!

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  18. These are wonderful! Great use of all the great products!

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  19. I just purchased this congrats die! Love your cards. Thanks for sharing your talents!!

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  20. Gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  21. All the graduation cards are so colorful and awesome. I feel so bad to be one of those students who won't have a graduation ceremony or a farewell.

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  22. Beautiful cards. I love the concept behind the second card. The new release is great, especially the gorgeous dies.

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  23. Great cards all. I really like the graduate arms reaching for/tossing the graduation cap.

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  24. Oh wow, so many gorgeous makes, love them all! I think the circular card is my favourite, but I also love the third one!

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  25. Stunning cards. Love the Poppy card.

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  26. Such great cards, my favourite is the poppies, what beautiful colouring.

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  27. I love the poppies! Great colors. I use zigs as my go to. What colors did you use on those poppies!

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  28. Beautiful cards! Really like the "Hats off to you" round card but the poppies are gorgeous too!

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  29. Lovely creations! Love the circle card as I love
    shaped cards. And those poppies - stunning!

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  30. That poppy card is spectacular! I need to pull out my Zig watercolor markers and practice! Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  31. That poppy card is spectacular! I'm going to have to pull out my Zig watercolor markers and practice! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  32. I really like your cards, especially the congrats card, love the different colors you used.

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  33. OMG what lovely cards - your grad cards are so inspiring but your poppy card is pure eye candy- thanks for sharing

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  34. Love the graduation cards. They have given me some great ideas!!

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  35. Love the gold and black card. The black splatters add so much to it. I'm curious how you added the black splatters. I don't have much luck getting it on the card the way I like. I also loved the card with the sentiment added three times in different colors. I don't think I would have thought to do that. The floral card shown last is awesome also. I do love color.

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  36. Such talent, gives me motiviation to start crafting.

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  37. Wonderful cards. I especially love the last one using the gorgeous Watercolor Print -- the red flowers are stunning.

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  38. Love the last card the most, Betty! All of your designs are very nice, however. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  39. WOW!! Terrific cards. Clever idea using the hands stamp around the Cap and setiment.

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  40. Such great cards! I LOVE your round card with all the grad hands reaching in! Way to think outside the box!!!

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  41. Love all the cards, but I really like the one you did with the hands throwing up the caps and the different colors of hands representing all of the world as you said in making it a round card! Great idea!

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  42. WOW, those poppies really POP off the card! Gorgeous! Also very cleaver way to use the hands & the cap! I am loving the congrats die as well. Good job!!

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  43. I love all of the cards but especially loved your circular card with the hands and cap in the middle. Totally fun!

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  44. All three of your grad cards are fabulous! Such a creative way to use that stamp on the round card!! Your floral card is just beautiful.

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  45. Fabulous cards, thanks for sharing!

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  46. Each of these cards is so beautiful. I really love that graduation stamp & die set and the cards I've seen created from it. thanks for sharing.

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  47. Love the poppies. Thank you for sharing.

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  48. These are all great, but I really love the poppies. Great job!

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  49. Fun cards. I do love the florals best. [Bunny]

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  50. I love a circle card! No grads for me this year, but they are terrific and fun! But the poppies... stunning! You're right for no sentiment... the recipient will definitely frame that! Beautiful. Thanks and please be healthy!

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  51. What great cards! I am so inspired by all of them.

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  52. All your cards are fabulous, especially love the floral card!

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  53. Such awesome cards!
    Thanks so much for sharing...

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  54. Love the circle of hands around the grad cap!

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  55. You Hats off to Grads circle card is fantastic. It’s my fave, but I also commend you on your coloring of Suzie’s card.

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  56. Beautiful cards. i love the circle graduation card

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  57. So simple yet so perfect for a congrats grad card! Definitely one I want to make! Well done!

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  58. Awesome cards! Love the grad caps and the lovely flowers!

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  59. Love the bold yellow and black combination. Great cards!

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  60. You choice of colour combinations and clever designs has made a wonderful set of cards, Betty! Thanks so much for the great inspiration! Stay safe! :)

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  61. Good examples for use. I like the blended background and color use.

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  62. great cards - love your watercolouring!

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  63. Such nice cards!!Thank you so much!!

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  64. Gorgeous cards. I like the thought that went into creating the round card symbolizing the many grads that won't have the celebration they deserve. The yellow and black card really makes an impact and would also be wonderful using school colors. Thanks for the great inspiration.

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  65. Wonderful cards! Fun, creative and beautiful designs. Awesome inspiration.

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  66. Lovely variety of creations using and showcasing a super release!

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  67. Wonderful projects!! Thanks for sharing.

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  68. These are amazing cards!! You color beautifully. I love how you used the arms going all around the circle. And my favorite of all is the one with the cap only, and then three different congrats. I'm a clean and simple gal and that one is my kind of card!!

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  69. The poppies are gorgeous.
    Love the hands reaching out
    to the caps. The sunny
    yellow in the first card
    really brightened up the
    dreary day around here.
    thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  70. It is hard not to love the poppies card! It is just what I needed to see today.

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  71. I like that round card with all the hands reaching out. And that deep red poppy is gorgeous.

    Merrill P

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  72. I love your circle card.

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  73. Very nice cards!! Love the poppy card!! Bright and cheerful!!

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  74. Love your cards! Those poppies are absolutely gorgeous!

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  75. Your cards are all wonderful:)

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  76. Loved the way you colored the poppies. The black dots at the end just highlighted the poppy centers. Beautiful card!

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  77. Awesome Sunny Days Ahead Release! Awesome creations! I especially love the bold Yellow I Black grad card and the poppie card!

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  78. Fun grad cards... I especially like the round Hats of to you card. The poppies are a gorgeous on your last card.

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  79. Great cards and your coloring in the flowers was very pretty too.

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  80. All of these are amazing but I am so drawn to the boldness of the first one. Wow!

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  81. Love that poppy card! Amazing!

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  82. LOVE the vibrant colors on the congrats cards!!

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  83. The circle card was my favorite until I saw the card with the red flowers. It is super beautiful!

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  84. Fun set of graduation cards! Love your coloring on the last one!

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  85. Pretty cards! I think my favorite is the first one, I love how paint drops look on backgrounds.

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  86. Your graduation cards are so fun!

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  87. Beautiful cards! I love the first grad card and the bold red poppy cards best, but they are all wonderful.

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  88. beautiful cards, I especially like the graduation card with all the arms in a circle - something these students will never get back
    thanks for sharing
    Barb Housner

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  89. Wow! I love these card designs!! The circular one is truly amazing, and your thoughtfulness towards those not having a normal commencement experience this year is beautiful.
    The floral card could be for so many different occasions. It is nice you didn't put a sentiment because then we can think of ways we'd use it. 😊

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  90. a wonderful variety showing off the new products! I do like your repeated congrats and the round grad cards!!

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  91. The rose card and the graduation cards are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

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  92. WOW!!! Mind blown. ALL of your cards are outstanding:
    The black on yellow_ SNAP!
    Thinking outside the box with that circle card, way to go!
    Good idea stacking the colorful congrats under the black mortarboard.
    And the poppies...the red poppies! Oh, be still my heart!!!
    Thank you for your lovely contributions to this hop; I'm truly inspired.

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  93. I love the way you used the hands in a circle for the graduation card. I also love the poppy card.. So lovely ❤️❤️

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  94. Love the red poppies card! It jumped right off the screen, it's so pretty.

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  95. Awww my favorites are always ones I can easily recreate. But your poppy card is gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing!

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  96. Gorgeous coloring on the poppies!!

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  97. Betty your cards are stunning! I love the black grad hats with the wonderful colours you have created with them. And your colouring of your flower is beautiful! I love coming to your blog. You always have such great inspiration!

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  98. SWOON!! These are all AMAZING!! THANKS SO MUCH for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!!

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  99. I enjoy your creativity. The card are beautiful and inspiring

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  100. Wonderful cards! Love the circle card with the hat in the middle and the different colored hands and robes! And the poppy card was colored so beautifully! What a wonderful set of products on this blog hop, and amazing artists creations!

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  101. Beautiful floral and I like the variety of graduation cards.

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  102. Such fun and beautiful cards. I love your circular hat's off grad card. TFS!

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  103. Love the graduation cards, especially the round one - so pretty and unique! Marvelous job coloring the poppies - beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

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  104. Your floral card is very pretty and the grad cards look fantastic!

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  105. Love the round graduation card, it's so cute and clever!

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  106. The red flower card is gorgeous , so bright!!!

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  107. Awesome graduation cards and a beautiful floral one! <3

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  108. Fabulous cards; your graduation cards are a real inspiration!

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  109. Wonderful cards..love the circular grad card.

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  110. Wonderful cards! I love the circle graduation card.

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  111. How fun this that round card! Love it!

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Thanks so much!

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