Monday, January 31, 2011

Moxie Fab Bright and Bold Challenge

So, I couldn't sleep last night and decided to take a stab at another one of the Moxie Fab Color Challenges. This time I tried the Bright and Bold Challenge. Here is the color pallette:

To make the card, I took a scrap of pink and orange patterned paper I had by My Minds Eye. I then stamped the Impression Obsession Cover a Card Tapestry (CC025) on top with Versamark ink and embossed it with black powder. To finish the card, I added a bright pink Flora Doodle from Petaloo as an embellishment and added a saying from the All Occassion II clear set from Impression Obsession.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Neutrals Challenge and Using Real Sand

I have a confession to make. I am SUPPOSED to be prepping for my Memory Box Valentine class tomorrow. Instead, I decided to play around with one of the Moxie Fab Color Challenges. There was something about the neutrals challenge that drew me to it. Here is the color pallette for that challenge (Bazzill Basics French Vanilla, Twig, and Smoky):

To make the card, I stamped the Impression Obsession sandcastle image (G1718) onto white cardstock using black Memento ink. When I held my Copic color chart up to the Twig Bazzill paper, the color I own that matched best was my W1 Warm Grey pen. I was a little surprised, but colored the castle and sand with my Warm Grey instead of a brown pen. I liked the end result! To embellish the card, I used some 1/2" Wonder Tape and adhered some real sand. The nice thing about Wonder Tape is that it is so strong that none of the sand escapes. Here is a close-up of the embellishment:

I have access to beach sand, but I tend to buy sand at a craft store when I want to add it to projects. The sand seems "cleaner," in that I don't have to pick out twigs, rocks, shells, etc out of it. Finally, I added a "sandcastle" woven label (Me and My Big Ideas) to the top. I have had that label for years and was so happy to finally use it!
Well, I should probably get back to work. I really want to do another challenge, so I will see if there is time after I prep for my class.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Final Sneak Peek

I hope you have enjoyed my week of Impression Obsession CHA sneak peeks. I know I have enjoyed the blog hop!

For my final sample, I am posting a card that I think works well for New Year's or graduations. It features a new clear set of numbers called Calendar Numbers (HS324) as well as the Cover a Card Reverse Damask (CC082). To make the background, I stamped the Reverse Damask onto acetate using silver Staz On ink. I let it completely dry than ran the piece through my Xyron to give it a sticky back. I then covered the back side of the acetate with glitter. The nice thing about having glitter behind the acetate is that it is contained and won't come off on your hands. Here is a close up of the glitter:


I glued the acetate to some silver cardstock to add some shimmer and finished everything by including a silver-edged ribbon.

Be sure to check out the other participants in the blog hop. You can find a list of the designers here as well as find out how you could win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

IO Blog Hop Week- Day 4

Hello again! I hope everyone is enjoying the Impression Obsession Sneak Peeks this week. I always find it so interesting that the various design team members can work with the same image and come up with a completely different looks. I know there are many times when I see their samples and think, "Now, why didn't I think of that?!"

As I mentioned during the purple card challenge, my favorite stamp of the new release is the Cover a Card Canvas (CC073). It is what I used to stamp the bottom of the card. It just adds such nice texture to a card. Sometimes I stamp it in a really pale color and then stamp over it with darker images and sometimes I use it "as is" like I did in this card.

For the focal image, I used the Sunflower Fence (G1798) colored with Copic markers and added a saying from the All Occasion I Clear Set (CL306).

Don't forget to check out the other Day 4 sneak peeks. You can find the list of participants here, and you can even learn how you can win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Metallic Mermaids

When I saw the new Leigh Hannan Mermaids stamp (G2437), I knew that I wanted to make it metallic and shimmery. Here is a side view that I took under a light so that you could see the shimmer better: To make the background, I stamped the Cover a Card Swirls and Stars (CC054) onto green cardstock with Versamark ink and embossed it with glitter embossing powder. I didn't have the exact color that I envisioned for the card, so I mixed some Judikins Hanukkah embossing powder (metallic blue) with some Zing metallic green powder to get the teal look I wanted.

For the mermaids, I stamped them in black Memento ink and colored them with an assortment of Copic markers. I wanted to make the fins sparkle, so I added some Stickles to them and then used a paintbrush to spread the stickles around.

Don't forget to check out the other Day 3 samples of the Impression Obsession blog hop. You can find a list of the participants here. There is even a contest where you can win a $25 Impression Obsession gift card!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Chocolate Bunny

I sure do love chocolate bunnies! They really say "Spring" to me. When I saw the new Hoppy
Wishes stamp (E8585), I knew that I had to make it a chocolate bunny on top of the cupcake. Yum!

To make the card, I stamped the bunny/cupcake onto white paper using black Memento ink. I colored the image with Copic markers and then cut out the pieces with my Nestability dies. To make the plaid background, I stamped the Thick and Thin Cover a Card Background (CC008) in two directions to make a plaid. Finally, I added a saying from the All Occasion II clear set (CL307).

Be sure to hop on by the other Day 2 Impression Obsession blog hop samples. You can find the list of participants here as well as information on how you can win a $25 IO gift certificate!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Hey, What's Cookin'?

Welcome to the Impression Obsession sneak peek week! For my first card, I just had to use the new chicken stamp (E7594 Chicken 1). It feeds into my love of animal stamps that are wearing cute outfits.

To make the card, I stamped the chicken onto white cardstock using black Memento ink. I colored the image with Copic markers, cut it out, and layered it onto a strip of white paper that I decorated with the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch. To embellish the rest of the card, I added a strip of paper that I stamped using the Cover a Card Gingham background (CC006) as well as a cute coordinating saying (What's Cookin AA5437).

There are so many great ideas that will be posted during the IO blog hop this week. If you would like more information on the blog hop as well a information on how to win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate, you can find all you need to know here.

If you are a shopper at Angela's Happy Stamper in Reston, VA, I can personally vouch for the fact that there is a huge display of the new IO images right as you walk in the door. That's right, the new CHA stamps are at the store...even before CHA starts!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

New Video

Hi everyone. It is going to be really busy this week. I am scheduled to post everyday for the Impression Obsession CHA sneak peek week. It should be fun though because there is a really nice selection of new words and images.

In the mean time, I am posting the quick collage card I made for the new Memory Box "What's in the Box" release. I even made a video showing you how to make the card. You can see it over on YouTube here.

Have a great week, and I hope you stop in from time to time during the week to see some of the new goodies!



Thursday, January 20, 2011

Color Purple Challenge

Today, I am participating in the Impression Obsession Color Purple Challenge. I always think of my mom when I make a purple card, so I also have to say, "Mom, this card is for you!"

Recently the design team had a discussion about their favorite stamps of the new CHA release. Many of them chose a gorgeous large rose or some wonderful mailboxes that say "live, laugh, love." For me, my definite new best friend is the new Cover a Card called Canvas (CC073). It adds the perfect textured background to any card. I think half of the cards I sent to CHA had that stamp on it!

For the card above, I first stamped the Canvas background onto my purple card using light purple ink. I wish I had taken a close up of the card so that you could see the print a bit better. I then stamped the new Cover a Card Daffodils (CC074) on top with a darker purple ink. For the focal image, I stamped the Spring Egg (C8592) onto white cardstock with black Memento ink and colored it with Copic Markers. I then added what else....more purple paper.

Need some purple inspiration? Check out what Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, Kathy, Kelli, and Shirley created. Be sure to visit the various blogs since many of us chose to use some of the new stamps.

Want to play along? You can find all of the information here, and you could even win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate!

Finally, be sure to check back next week as the Impression Obsession team will have a week-long sneak peek of the new CHA images. I have 5 cards ready, so I will be posting a different card each day next week- starting on Monday the 24th. I hope you will stop by!


Thursday, January 6, 2011

IO Challenge- Valentines

Today's Impression Obsession challenge was to make a Valentine's Day/Love card. It is also a bit of a sneak peek in that it allowed me to show you some of the images that will be released at CHA.

To make the card, I stamped the Wavy Line Heart (F8625) onto 90lb watercolor paper using black Versafine ink. I knew I wanted to play with the open heart because it has just enough space to highlight a saying on the inside. I colored the heart with watercolor crayons and a waterbrush, allowed it to dry and then stamped the saying on top. The saying comes from a really nice clear set called Fabulous Friend (CL318) that is loaded with all kinds of great friend sayings. The flower that I popped up on the card is from the same clear set. The background is a new Cover a Card stamp numbered CC081. It is so new that the name isn't listed yet!

Feeling the love and need more inspiration? Check out what Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, Kathy, Kelli, and Shirley created. Be sure to visit the various blogs since many of us chose to use some of the new stamps.

Want to play along with the challenge? You can find all of the information here, and you could even win a $25 IO gift certificate!