Hey friends! If you’ve been in the stamping world for a while, you probably know the bittersweet feeling of loving a stamp set so much that you’ve fussy cut it by hand, repeatedly, just to make it shine. That’s been me and the Tim Holtz ocean creatures set. So when Simon Says Stamp dropped coordinating dies for it, I may have let out a little shriek of joy.
No more X-Acto knife marathons, friends. Well… not as many, anyway.
These dies are exclusively available at Simon Says Stamp! 🙌
Not only do they save you from all that fussy cutting, but they also unlock a whole new world of creative possibilities, especially when it comes to layering and collage. Let’s dive in!
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Diving Deep: Tim Holtz Ocean Cards with NEW Simon Says Stamp Dies
I made two cards for this release, both with an underwater oasis theme. I wanted them to feel like a window into the ocean, moody, layered, and alive with color.
Card One features a dramatic purple octopus front and center, surrounded by die-cut kelp and coral in vivid yellow-green. The sentiment strip reads “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” , which feels very octopus energy, honestly.
Card Two goes in a bolder direction with a bright red lobster nestled among the same kelp die cuts, set against that same deep, watery background. The sentiment: “See Possibility Everywhere.” Because if a lobster navigating the ocean floor isn’t a metaphor for possibility, I don’t know what is.
The Backgrounds: Layer It Up!
Here’s where things get really fun. I used a whole lineup of Distress products to build these underwater backgrounds, and the key word is layer. These aren’t one-and-done backgrounds, they’re built up gradually, and every pass adds depth.
Here’s what I used (all linked below):
- Distress Ink – for the base washes of color
- Distress Oxide – for that beautiful, reactive, bloomy texture
- Distress Oxide Spray – to add movement and stamp with
- Distress Micro Glaze – a secret weapon for resist effects and subtle sheen
- Stencils – for suggesting coral, sea floor texture
- White splatter – because nothing says “underwater” like tiny bubbles of light dancing through the water
The teal, blue, green, and golden-olive tones all come together to create that feeling of looking down into a reef. If you haven’t experimented with layering Distress products before, this is your sign. There’s no wrong order — just keep going until it feels like somewhere.
Stamping the Images: Distress Oxide to the Rescue
For the stamped creatures themselves: the octopus, the lobster, and the seaweed, I reached for Distress Oxide ink pads. I actually used the minis, which made it so much easier to tap different colors onto the stamp selectively without everything muddying together.
Distress Oxides are such a dream for detailed images like these because of their pigment properties. They stamp crisp and clean, picking up every line and dot in those intricate designs. I also splattered a few water droplets onto the seaweed after stamping to add a little extra texture, a small detail that makes a big difference.
The Die Cuts: Worth Every Penny
Back to those new coordinating dies. The octopus die is chef’s kiss. I have fussy cut this image with an X-Acto knife before, and while I love a good crafty challenge, getting every curl of every tentacle clean takes serious time and patience. The die does it in seconds, and the precision is just better.
The kelp and coral dies add so much dimension when layered across the background. I colored them in that warm yellow-green to contrast against the cool blues and teals, and it gives both cards that pop of tropical brightness.
Sentiments: Tiny Text + New Dies
The sentiments on both cards are from the Tiny Text stamp set, and I am so happy to share that there is now a coordinating die set for it too! One of the best things about these dies? They also work with Tiny Text Halloween and Tiny Text Christmas, so it’s a multi-set investment that keeps giving. The dies give such a clean, finished edge to those little sentiment strips. No more trimming by eye!
Finishing Embellishments: Distress Glitter & Texture
This is where things get a little extra, in the best way.
- Distress Rock Candy Clear on the octopus and lobster, that subtle sparkle makes the creatures look wet and dimensional, like they just surfaced from the deep.
- Distress Rock Candy Chunky on the seaweed and sentiment strips, the chunkier texture gives those pieces a coral-like, encrusted feel that I absolutely love.
- Distress Collage Medium as adhesive throughout. Fair warning: it does shift the colors of the ink a bit, but honestly? I love it. It adds even more depth and richness to the images, like a final glaze that pulls everything together.
More to Explore
If you love this stamp set, be sure to check out my other project “True Blue” made with this same collection, a completely different mood, same gorgeous stamps.
And if mixed media cards are calling your name, I have two ways to keep the inspiration going:
- 🎨 Mixed Media In Season – my online class diving deep into mixed media techniques. Come make a mess with me!
- 📬 Subscribe to my email newsletter – more mixed media classes are on the way, and subscribers hear about them first.
Cardmaking Supplies Used
Supplies I used are linked throughout the post. Click on the picture and you will be taken to the product. I use affiliate links when available which means if you make a purchase I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Amazing cards and techniques! I have been “Jennabled” again!