CZ Design

Big old happy birthday + a simple brayer background

Big old happy birthday + a simple brayer background

Welcome to Blog Hop Day for the Simon Says Stamp Love You, Too release!

My card today is all about going big and making some mistakes. This is another installment of Cathy Makes a Card! This is a longer format video, where I create and chat with you throughout the process. Including one kind of hilarious mistake. Live and learn!

Now onto the hop exclusive:

HOP GIVEAWAY: Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 gift certificate at every stop along the hop! Simply leave your comment below for a chance to win. Winners will be announced on the Simon Says Stamp blog on January 20, 2021.

Here are the participants in the hop:

Simon Says Stamp Blog   

Jennifer McGuire

Cathy Zielske—you are here!

Nina-Marie Trapani

Nichol Spohr

Caly Person

Yana Smakula

Suzy Plantamura

Amy Rysavy

Lisa Addesa

Heather Ruwe

Sidnie Des Jardins

Cheiron Brandon

Barb Engler

Lea Lawson

Jo Nevill

SUPPLIES:

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Iraida says

    I’m always afraid to use too much white, so beautiful and elegant. I have Never used a gel press. Thank you

  11. Cris Randall says

    I love how simple and beautiful those cards turned out! I will certainly shamelessly copy the design 🙂 Love all your creative and fun stamps Cathy!

  12. Julie Learned says

    Cathy, this video was awesome! Thanks for keeping in the envelope-making process. Super helpful and great card!

  13. RockSeaTea says

    I like my sentiments to match. There are a lot of dies out there where the “happy” and the “birthday” do not match and it drives me a little nuts. I am so glad these work together!

  14. Cari says

    What great dies! I am always looking for ways to make quick cards. I need to get my braver out. I also appreciate that you share ways to correct mistakes

  15. Sallyanne Bailey says

    I love all your videos. I not only watch for learning but for the funny, witty and sometimes kooky conversation. I look forward to your next videos. Keep em comin…

  18. cindy d. says

    Love the word dies especially the 2-line birthday one and having the layer piece. Great card! thank you

  23. Claudia says

    Hahaha – this has happened to me so many times when making envelopes – glad to be in such esteemed company.

  24. Cis says

    So cute. Love your laughter and showing mistakes. Blank happens to everyone and it helps to see it. Thank you

  27. Jenniece Guevara says

    Like the balloon card! Critters are cute too. Like the ink blending that we can do now with Tim Holtz inks and blending brushes.

  28. Judy Inukai says

    Thanks for the great video. I’m glad you designed a Birthday die to go with the Happy die that I already have. Thanks for showing how to use the punchboard too.

  34. Barbara Chmura says

    I have to get out the brayer. Love the graphic design in your cards and dies! Beautiful!!!

  36. Cheryl S. says

    Great as always. I really like the chunky dies and, like many others, need to get my heater out!

  39. Jennifer Dahlgren says

    I need to make room for a brayer and press! This was super cool! I also just live watching you do anything Cathy! You’re a hoot to watch!

  44. Sheri Kempke says

    You’ve been rocking the video’s Cathy! Thanks for the inspiration and the words of wisdom. Hats off to Simon for yet another great release and love all of your designs.

  45. barbara lassiter says

    This is beautiful and your videos are so much fun to watch. I recently purchased a gel press and have had so much fun using it. It’s addictive but you can end up with lots of backgrounds to use for other cards! I have used Distress inks instead of Distress Oxides that I don’t have, plus large watercolor pencils with a waxy finish. I decided to go with supplies I had on hand instead of buying more paint! Love this Happy Birthday die!

  46. Carrie Arii says

    You always make my day! I tried the gel press last week and sort of felt like the results were a hot mess at first. After they dried i had some really cool textures and designs. I love the chunky letter dies and will need to add the birthday one to my stash.

  48. Jean M Morin says

    Cathy your video makes me want to purchase a gel press.. Maybe..baby steps. Love your video and your dies.. I need to save to go shopping.

  49. carol snedden says

    what an enjoyable video, The card is great for those guy birthdays and everyone else too. Loved watching the punch board envelope. Can’t tell you how many times I screwed that up! I have the original one and didn’t know there was a different one out. So thanks for showing so many tools to use.

  50. Lauryne Cunningham says

    Your card is super cute! Thank you for reminding me to use my gel press and brayer! I love my envelope punch board!

  54. Michele W says

    Such a fun Video. Great card, too. Love the clean and simple look and the way these chunky words fill up the card. Great way to go masculine or feminine. Thanks for sharing your card, your process, and your mistakes! 🙂

  56. susan k hardin says

    i have a brayer I havent used in years. Will give this a try. 2 dies didnt interest me until I watched this. Must have now!

  58. Janet Durbin says

    I love how big this die is and that it can cover a whole card front! Thanks for sharing!

  61. Maureen Reiss says

    I have the chunky Happy die!! So glad you came out with the matching Birthday!! I love your cut card!!! And don’t feel bad, I screwed up my first envelope too!!!

  62. Giselaine Ellison says

    Love your video, your Chunky dies and Sassy Flaps…too funny Cathy. I have a brayer and do not have a gel press or envelope punch board yet but they’re on my list. Love how your card turned out.

  68. Tiffany says

    Your videos are so relatable!! Now I want to try a gel press! And I definitely need that glue holder and the sassy flaps stamps, so fun!!

  70. Emma Sleppy says

    Just got rid of my brayer. I hadn’t used it in years! Always a day late and dollar short. Beautiful. I love the die and the simplicity of this card.

  73. Nanette says

    I so enjoy your videos. Thank you for showing us how “real” you are! I, too, have a 1, 2, 3 punch board that I’ve not used yet. I now feel the need to pull it out and make some envelopes! Love you birthday card, too! Especially how much dimension youve given it. 💖

  75. Cyndi Morris says

    Have a gel press, have a brayer, have some Distress Oxide inks, have an enveloper — now all I need is the wonderful Happy Birthday die. Hopefully I have something appropriate in my stash so I can try this right now!

  78. Sandra Herron says

    Love your simple designs. I especially like your word dies. Have been following your work since Creating Keepsakes days!

  80. Lora Lea says

    Cathy i love this card! The background you cut the letters from really makes the sequins stand out. You’re such fun. Love you video!

  81. Carol E. Wortman says

    I have a gel pad and think about it often….. might open it soon to do this. I love thus big old die so much. Makes that white beautiful! You are so fun… love you and love SSS too

  83. Susan Carlson says

    You are the bomb! Learning so much about basic design & good taste – it may sink in yet! Plus love the encouragement to try new techniques & appreciate you leaving in when choices aren’t working for whatever reason & how you transition to something that works! Thanks!

  85. LA Wesson says

    I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed this video! I did the exact same thing with that envelope tool. I had to pause and watch Kristina Werner. I have had no trouble with remembering how to make an envelope since I screwed it up so badly on my first attempt! It seems like every time I make a card I try something new and a couple of hours later I am FINALLY finished so I make sure my recipients understand that those cards are really made with love and sometimes blood…and a lot of times some hair too (don’t worry that just adds to the texture of a gel press..LOL!).

  86. Lori Spitzer says

    You just absolutely crack me up. This did go on a while, but I hung tough with you ’til the end. Beautiful card. I think I would just buy envelopes, maybe. Love your CZ items for SSS. I have the set of sayings for sassy flaps in my cart getting ready to purchase. Also love your introverts stamp set – although I am an extrovert, I know lots of introverts and I need my alone time, too… so some of them still fit. And we’re all kind of forced introverts during Covid times.
    Lori in PA

  91. berryblue says

    Thanks for not being afraid to show us your mistakes! 🙂 I need more birthday cards in my stash and I need these awesome chunky dies! Love the colors, too!

  92. Tina Voss says

    Great card and I love the chunky die that can do inlay technique. I don’t know if you used up all the sticky stuff in your pick-me-up tool or do you just need to give it a twist so more of the sticky goo comes out. Sometimes these tools have hidden secrets and I don’t know them until years later 🙂

  93. Betsy says

    I always enjoy your videos! I look forward to seeing you use the gel press more. I’ve been trying to use mine more also. (I just have a big jumbo one… I think I need one this size too for smaller projects like cards.)

  97. Marisela Delgado says

    So beautiful, Cathy! I love that you are using a brayer. I now have ideas to use with mine.

  101. Kristen Snoozy says

    So smart to add the Birthday die to go along with Happy! I really love this clean and fresh looking card

  103. Dawn Tooley says

    Thanks Cathy for showing how you made your beautiful card and for being vulnerable with making your envelope. I love the design. Thanks!

  104. Helen F says

    I must find my old brayer and try out some of your great ideas, Cathy! Love the look of the bold die cut sentiment taking centre stage! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful inspiration! Take care! 🙂

  109. Paula Haller says

    Thanks for another fun video! You’ve convinced me to try out a prayer and gel plate….love the ombre look and texture the water drops gave your background.

  110. Giselle D. says

    I can sympathize on the hair issue. I have both my hair and my two cats on my screen as I watch you! I’ve decided it’s pretty much a losing battle. I love your word dies and using Breyer to colour them is such a great idea! Awesome cards as always!

  113. Tina Anderson says

    I love watching your videos – I get your sense of humor!! In the video, you said you wanted to learn more about using a gel press – you should check out Ingrid Blackburn on YouTube. Thanks for continuing to share your craft/dining room with us. 🙂

  116. Denise Koto says

    I am in love with ALL of your chunky dies! Your videos crack me up! You have amazing talent.. 🙂

  118. Yvonne Boucher says

    Love your card, Kathy. The die set is great. And what a fun stamp set for the back of cards or and envelopes!

  119. Mary Holshouser says

    Haven’t seen anybody using a brayer in a
    long time. thanks for the video.
    Love the big sentiment.
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

  124. Lindar C says

    I thought adding the water was going to be a mistake (I’m not fond of the water drop effect) but it turned out gorgeous!! Thank you for keeping the envelope goof in, made me laugh because I’ve been there. Gorgeous card!!

  125. Beverly Jordan says

    You make it look so easy!! Love the SSS new release and all the gorgeous stencils and bold word sentiment dies!!! So worth using on so many occasions!

  127. Lonya Mathys says

    I did dig out my brayer after your video, now I’ll have to invest in a gel press. See you back in the craft/dining room!

  137. Dana M says

    Oh what a lovely card Cathy! I love the soft colors (even though that isn’t what you planned) and clean design.

  148. Vicki K says

    I enjoy your videos very much. You are so funny especially about that inherent hair! I was glad to see all the different tools you used and how the sentiment was put together. That was a great chunky “Happy Birthday.” Great card!!!

  150. Brenda says

    What a great card – love the color variation from the gel press and the chunky birthday die you designed is fantastic!

  153. Brooke Guadagno says

    Love the Birthday card. I loved your video and I LOVE your sense of humor. Lowers my blood pressure a couple of digits. lol