![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Best-Days-Hopweb.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hi, crafty friends. I’m excited to be a part of the Blog Hop celebrating THIS<\/a> new release from Simon Says Stamp. I used several new goodies on these three cards…<\/p>\n I’ve recently joined the alcohol ink band wagon and have been experimenting by making backgrounds. I wanted to share a few ideas on how to use portions of the backgrounds that you aren’t happy with.<\/p>\n The first background was created using THIS<\/a> alcohol ink with THIS<\/a> blending solution on THIS<\/a> paper. I applied drops all over the paper and found that I was too heavy handed with the ink so I grabbed another piece of YUPO paper and laid it on top of the first to soak up some of the ink. I pressed it down and gave it a little wiggle. When I pulled them apart, I noticed lines that resembled ripples that was perfect for the water scene that I was trying to create…<\/p>\n After the piece was completely dry, I stamped the greeting from THIS<\/a> new stamp set with THIS<\/a> ink and sprinkled on THIS<\/a> embossing powder. Then I carefully taped it down to a cutting board. I did this to prevent so much warping from the heat gun when I embossed it. YUPO paper<\/a> is plastic so it is very sensitive to heat. I let my heat gun get very hot before bringing it to my paper and did short bursts of heat. You don’t want to leave the heat on it for too long. I finished off the card by adding THIS<\/a> adorable walrus to the top of the card. I sandwiched him between the piece and the fun foam behind it to secure him. I trimmed down my card to make sure it would still fit in a standard size envelope. I finished off the card with a few embellishments created from THIS<\/a> die and THIS<\/a> glitter cardstock. I’m using that die a lot for embellishments these days.<\/p>\n For the second card…<\/p>\n I die-cut THIS<\/a> die from another alcohol ink background I wasn’t happy with. I didn’t like it as a whole, but I love the little pieces it created. I did a die-cut inlay technique where I die-cut the same die from white cardstock panel and applied adhesive underneath. Wherever there is an opening, the adhesive is exposed and I dropped in the pieces like a puzzle. I die-cut one of THESE<\/a> circles from the center and placed another portion of that alcohol ink background inside to create a focal point for THIS<\/a> cute new lamb die.<\/p>\n I stamped a sentiment from THIS new stamp set with THIS<\/a> ink and adhered the piece to a gray note card after rounding the bottom corners with THIS<\/a>.<\/p>\n For the last card…<\/p>\n I decided to die-cut another background that I was going to toss in the trash since it didn’t turn out the way I hoped. It was a rainbow background where some areas turned brown from too many colors mixing. However, there were a few bright spots left that created fun balloons…<\/p>\n I tied the die-cut balloons to the mouth of THIS<\/a> new alligator die. I added googly eyes for some fun and some of THESE<\/a> stars for added interest to the background. I finished off the card by stamping a sentiment strip using THIS<\/a> new awesome stamp set.<\/p>\n I hope this has inspired you to salvage your backgrounds that you aren’t happy with and use them in other ways.<\/p>\n Click HERE<\/a> to see the entire Best Days Release.<\/p>\n KEEP HOPPING<\/span><\/strong> Simon Says Stamp\u00a0Blog<\/a><\/p>\n Jennifer McGuire<\/a><\/p>\n Kristina Werner<\/a><\/p>\n Cathy Zielske<\/a><\/p>\n Nina-Marie Trapani<\/a><\/p>\n Kelly Latevola<\/a><\/p>\n Jessica Frost-Ballas<\/a><\/p>\n Suzy Plantamura<\/a><\/p>\n Jean Manis<\/a><\/p>\n Heather Ruwe<\/a><\/p>\n Sarah J. Moerman<\/a><\/p>\n Lorraine Aquilina<\/a><\/p>\n Amy Kolling<\/a><\/p>\n May Park<\/a><\/p>\n Kathy Racoosin<\/a><\/p>\n Looking for even more inspiration? I shared a blog post HERE<\/a> using different products from the release.<\/p>\n GIVEAWAY<\/strong><\/span> LINKS TO SUPPLIES USED:![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/001-2-3-962x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/005-1-990x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/007-2-1024x804.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/010-1-939x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/009-1-1024x760.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/003-2-948x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.handmadebyheatherruwe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/004-1024x907.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nThere is much more inspiration to see. Click HERE<\/a> for the next stop on the hop and visit my friend, Sarah Moerman.\u00a0 Click HERE<\/a> to start at the beginning of the hop. Here’s the complete blog hop list…<\/p>\n
\nSimon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 gift certificate at each stop on the hop! Comment below for your chance to win. I would love to hear which card was your favorite from the three cards I shared today. Winners will be announced on the Simon Says Stamp blog onWednesday. Good Luck!<\/p>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/linkdeli.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/placeholders\/76a9b29a-0c92-47a7-bf5f-09c826d8546f.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n