CZ Design

Paint inside the lines! A simple technique to make it easier.

Paint inside the lines! A simple technique to make it easier.

It’s Day 1 of a blog hop for the brand new Sending Happiness release from Simon Says Stamp. Today, I’m sharing a few cards featuring my brand new Happy Days stamps and coordinating dies and sharing an easy tip for keeping your painting contained inside the lines.

Using clear embossing powder on a stamped image creates a nice little ledge to contain your color.

I am not the world’s most accomplished crafter with a brush in hand, so this technique helps me to say inside the lines.

Here is a video showing you how I created the cards:

Thanks so much for watching and stopping by. Now, onto more hop fun!

BLOG HOP SPECIAL: If you shop during the Send Happiness blog hop, you can get a free pin while supplies last! Just use the codes above for the pin you’d like when you check out!

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY: Simon Says Stamp is giving away one $25 gift certificate at every stop along the hop. Leave a comment on each blog to increase your chance of winning. Winners will be announced on the Simon blog on Wednesday, July 1.

BLOG HOP LINE UP: Here are today’s participants. SO much crafty goodness to check out!

Simon Says Stamp Blog

Kristina Werner

Cathy Zielske—you are here!

Nina-Marie Trapani

Nichol Spohr

Yana Smakula

Amy Rysavy

Lisa Addesa

Heather Ruwe

Suzy Plantamura

Bibi Cameron

Barb Engler

Cheiron Brandon

Lea Lawson

Ashlea Cornell

 

CARD SUPPLIES:

Affiliate links are used in this post and below at no additional cost to you. I receive a small percent of compensation when you click through and shop using the provided links. This directly supports my YouTube channel and my small business. Thank you!


 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patricia Wilson says

    Great tips and glad you went over the dry embossing again as tried to do it the other day and couldn’t get it to work. Duh, me!

  2. Lauryne Cunningham says

    Awesome cards and color choices! I love the CAS look along with the subtle dry embossed backgrounds!

  4. Beth Goldstein says

    Another great card. I love the embossed look and keep forgetting to do that. I love the stamp/die set you used. Great for so many occasions.

  5. Miesje Flach says

    Wonderful tip – and great cards. Can’t wait to get my goodies, I already ordered so waiting for ship notice!

  9. Laura Budke says

    I’m always amazed at the creative minds behind these products. Cathy, you do not disappoint us!

  12. Christine Miller says

    As always, it’s fun to join you when you craft. Your cards are such fun, and that’s the ONLY way I watercolor. Kind of like bowling with those little rails. Take care, Cathy!

  13. Carol Wehner says

    No one rocks a rainbow palette like you, Cathy! Great cards and I love your new set of designs! Thanks for sharing your wonderful and funny video, too.

  17. Barbara Martin says

    Cathy, your videos are awesome. I’ve learned so much! Your designs are out of this world, and I can’t wait to order from this release!

  21. Toni Kwaiser says

    You knocked it out of the park with this release! I love these chunky words!

  23. BeverlyBL says

    Very cool. I love your chunky letters. Hope I get one before they are all sold out.

  24. Brandy J says

    Love the trick for painting in the lines and I think I’ll be dry embossing some stencils this weekend 🙂

  26. Judy Grinnell says

    Thank you Cathy! I love your colorful and clean designs. So fun to work with.

  27. Tami B says

    I LOVE your designs! Heat embossing was what drew me into stamping (30 yrs. ago!-holy cow, I would have been better not figuring that fact out.)

  31. Allene Frederick says

    Love learning from Cathy! I can’t wait to get me HAPPY die so I can try this out!

  35. Eileen says

    Heat embossing before coloring/painting is my go to technique! I do love your clean and simple cards as well as your new stamps and dies for the release! I need to get my hands one these soon!!

  38. Candice Cleveland says

    Embossing with stencils – that blew my mind! I can’t wait to try it! Your cards are beautiful!

  39. Lisa Byers says

    I love that embossing tip and found it to be an important one. It’s so much easier. Great card!!

  41. Joy Meadows says

    Love this video and your cards are beautifully done, Cathy! So simple, but so striking.

  45. Maureen Reiss says

    Fantastic cards Cathy!!!! I love all the new CZ Design products you created, keep them coming!!!

  48. Barbara Chmura says

    Great job with the watercoloring!! I love the graphic lettering and rainbow colors-so bright-so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your beautiful designs with all of us!

  49. Mary says

    Cathy, several great techniques and tips in this video, and great “simple” cards for summer card making ! Thank you so much! Excellent release!

  53. Cyndi Morris says

    I so love these clean, beautiful cards. This is such a fantastic release and your Happy Days stamps and dies are definitely at the top of my wish list.

  55. Phyllis Freese says

    I love this new stamp & die set you created, especially the chunky lettering which is perfect for painting or paper piecing. There are so many possibilities with these products.

  59. Tiesha McKinney says

    Great cards! I didn’t think about coloring this way! Can’t wait to try this technique. Great cards! Nice, simple, clean, and bright! Love it!

  67. Lindar C says

    I started using a lint roller about 2 years ago, it’s great for cleaning up glitter or embossing powder on my work surface (and my cat appreciates me not using the vacuum) Very nice release.

  71. Juanita Richardson says

    Great use of stencils. I appreciate any ideas that stretch the use of my existing tools.

  75. Lynn Conlon says

    Love these cards. I always like using pattern paper on my cards. This is a rather
    simple way to get a really bright and happy card. Thanks for sharing.

  80. Cindy Holmes says

    Crazy cute cards! I love how you embossed the black lined part of the letters in a clear gloss. Gorgeous!

  82. Holly Lau says

    Beautiful cards!!! Love your stamp and the designs! Sold out tho, have to wait until next round. 🙁

  84. Judy Inukai says

    Wonderful cards. They are so bright and cheerful. Thanks for the great video and inspiration. Can’t wait until I get my orders.

  85. Karen Hale says

    Cheerful cards, lots of bright colors. Thanks for the great embossing tips and sharing your inspiration.

  87. Laurie says

    Love your card!! You are one of my favorite designers. I love your clean and simple style. Your stamps and dies are always so cute!!

  90. Joy Brimingham says

    Great cards Cathy! I love your cas card designs and your videos always make me feel like “I can do that!” Thanks for sharing great card designs and tips!

  91. Cheryl Stauffer says

    Can’t wait to get my order and play with your new, wonderful creations. As always, Cathy, I enjoy your tips and creativity! Thanks.

  93. Retta Lutte says

    Love how you jazzed up the simple sentiments with dry embossing. Thank you for sharing!

  94. Lisa Achilles says

    I love the new set you created. It is in my cart. Can’t wait to make some happy cards.

  95. Mel H says

    I love this tip. As I get older and my hand is not as steady as it used to be, this is a great help!

  97. Michelle Hackett says

    Cathy I always love to see what you’ve designed for the new releases, and this one makes me very HAPPY!!

  98. Renee Drew says

    Your cards are so amazing, Cathy! I love those bold letters, and your bright paintings!

  105. Liz says

    I love the cards you made. Thanks for sharing the great tip to keep the color in the lines.

  109. Jean Bronk says

    Cathy, great suggestion for keeping the mucky muck off the embossing mat. I hadn’t thought of a link roller! Will have to try that with my cutting plate that has fine residue from cutting black card stock.

  110. Mitzi says

    I love cheery, colorful cards like yours. I have never embossed with a stencil so I will be giving that a try.

  116. Keri C says

    You’re my favorite video maker! I love how you share design theory in plain language. Please keep sharing! So excited to play with these new products.

  124. Giselle says

    I am not the best at colouring so I really appreciate your tips! I love how clean your cards are!

  126. Julie Wexler says

    Cathy- love your cards, and especially your designs (stamp set, stencils, etc) for this release. The clean crisp lines with the periodic whimsical tilt of a letter are just perfect for sending a bit of happiness.

  128. Dorothy A says

    Great cards. I really like the boldness and simplicity (though still takes much skill) of them.

  129. Annalisa says

    I always enjoy watching you play with your own products. There’s something so fun about seeing you work with things that are so specifically within your style. Actually, that’s something else I enjoy about you: you have such a clear style, and your cards always reflect that. I’m still kind of wandering through figuring out what my style is, and I worry about getting boring; it’s very encouraging seeing how you find all your variation within your look. I learn so much from you, and I really appreciate your videos and work!

  133. Shawn Wenrich says

    Enjoyed the video as always and your products in this release are amazing!

  135. Helen F says

    Super bright, happy cards, Cathy! I love these wonderful stamp and die words!!! Thanks so much for sharing and for the great video!

  139. Edith D says

    Cathy! I just love your style! Fun, colorful and beautiful! I am hooked! And am so excited to have subscribed to your YouTube channel! Thank you for all the great tips!

  149. Lindsey F-NY says

    What! I can paint within the lines! Wow. So many tips you have given in this video. I didn’t know about half of the products you used. Love blog hops because I learn so much. Your stamp set is great. I am definitely doing this watercolor card.

  150. Megan Niergarth says

    My embossing mat is covered with loads of mucky muck! Thanks for the tip!

  151. Mary Holshouser says

    Clean and simple cards – the
    best kind. thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

  154. Stacey Kowbel says

    Fantastic cards! I love the happy and thank you sentiments! Wonderful CAS designs with them.

  158. Patty A Eifert says

    Love them!! I’m loving the dies and stamps you created & definitely to snatch some before they’re all gone!

  164. Danyelle Dillon says

    I love your cards! They are simple but great! Love the bright colors! I love that you showed us some simple card examples because some times I want a card but don’t want to spend all day but I want it to still look like a million bucks. So these card examples really fit that for me. Thank so much for sharing!

  165. Sheri Kempke says

    Awesome cards using awesome stamps and dies you designed! Congrats and thanks for the inspiration.

  166. Teri S. says

    Love the look of your CAS cards with the watercoloured letters within the black embossed borders. I also really like your Happy stamp set you designed & the HAPPY die is on my list now.

  167. Debbie McKelvey says

    I love these dies especially the Happy die as it can be used for so many occasions. I also love the bright colors you used to make them pop by embossing and coloring them in.

  170. Amy Davis says

    That’s a great tip. I’m still learning watercolor so that will definitely help. Love the cards.

  171. Peg Frushour says

    This release is wonderful! Thank you for the tips on embossing and painting inside the lines!

  174. Cherry Robinson says

    Love your cards Cathy! They make me feel so happy. This is an excellent technique to have in my toolbox of techniques! Thanks for the inspiration and tutorial! 💗💗💗

  177. Annette Gordon says

    Cathy your cards are amazing, and you designed such amazing products! SSS is lucky to have you. It is why so many of us keep buying SSS releases!

  178. Dawn Tooley says

    Thanks Cathy for sharing your hints this cute card! I love this simple but beautiful card!

  180. Carol E. Wortman says

    This is the best kind of ca4d…. beautiful, easy, colorful, a statement, and cheerful! Really love this. The embossing is such an easy yet fabulous technique! Great release!

  192. Mary-Anne V says

    Fabulous cards…I really like you set because you can totally customize the colours on the sentiment.

  193. Vicki K says

    What a fun and colorful way to get your message out. Love the bold lettering and embossing tip.

  197. Lora L Bowman says

    Love how the sentiment is set apart on the white cards, background cardstock pull it all together and makes it stand out even more😃

  198. Anne McColley says

    Love your new chunky dies and what you created for this release! And as always – love, love, love your videos. 🙂

  199. Manda M says

    This set is my favourite in the release. Thanks for the video, I would never have thought of the embossing to keep the colours in place.

  201. Brenda says

    Love this stamp set! Thanks for designing it – can’t wait to get it and create with it.

  202. Connie Johnson says

    Hi Cathy 🙂 I love these bright, vivid, dynamic cards!!! Thanks for inspiring me 🙂