Wednesday, March 31, 2010

IO Challenge- Celebrating Mom

Today is another Impression Obsession Challenge day, and the theme is "Celebrating Mom." You might look at my card and think, "what?!!" However, I decided to make a card celebrating MY mom. She is quite the coffee junkie (as am I). Whenever we get together, we always make time for a coffee and chat session. With Mothers' Day coming up, I think the best thing you can do is personalize your card to match your mom.

To make this card, I created a background using two different Cover A Card backgrounds. I stamped the Swatches background (CC023) onto cream paper with Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown ink. I then stamped the Thin stripes background (CC001) over the swatches background using Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan ink. Here is a close up of the two backgrounds combined:

The stamp and saying come from a clear set (Coffee with a Friend CL257). I colored the image with Copic markers and added a bit of Platinum Stickles to the steam for sparkle. To finish the card, I layered a couple of buttons and tied them together with some hemp string.

Need more mom ideas? Check out what Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, and Kathy created. Want to participate in the challenge? You can find all the information here. You could even win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Zentangle

Well, I'm back! I am still a little tired and cranky (so fun to be around I know). However, I am really psyched about some of the classes I took and products I saw at the trade show. One of the things I really enjoyed was my Zentangle class. I left the class feeling so relaxed! It really worked as some sort of art meditation. I took a picture of the one I drew last night. I am experimenting with doing a little drawing before going to bed to see if it helps me fall asleep.

One of the cool things about the class is that Maria, one of the creators of Zentangle, wrote each of our names onto our class kits. How cool is that? She did the calligraphy for the Catherine Zeta-Jones/Michael Douglas wedding, so I now think of this as my Hollywood box:

After each student created their first Zentangle, we put them all together to see what they looked like. They are so cool as a group collage! It is even more impressive considering we were all beginners.

Of course, if you want to see really impressive, check out some of Maria's work here.

Friday, March 26, 2010

No picture- just text

Hi all, I just wanted to give a quick update from the trade show. I had three classes today, and they were quite wonderful. Here are some of the things that caught my attention:

The Paper Cut has new metallic papers like you have never seen before. They are STUNNING! The papers are smooth as silk and it is really hard to refrain from touching/stroking them. They come in very bright colors that will definitely catch your attention.

I talked to Mitra today (Impression Obsession owner), and she showed me the new supplement. I had no idea there even was a new supplement! It was printed yesterday if that tells you how new it is. There are even more backgrounds that work well for layering (stamp one background and then add another on top) as well as some flourishes, solid nature elements, and even some cupcakes. Very nice!

I can't tell you how impressed I was with my Layers of Color class. They are the company I mentioned in my last post when I said I didn't know much about them. Well, they don't have a huge line yet, but there stamps are wonderful. I got to play with some of their clear bird, butterfly, and flower stamps and found that they work really well for coloring. I am always aprehensive with clear stamps from a company I don't know. Some of them just don't stamp very well. However, I really liked the ones by Layers of Color...no problems there. The stamp sets even have picture of a color sample on the back of each. Handy. Can you tell that I liked them? :)

Well, I am off to place some orders. It is a lot of fun when your boss gives you a credit card and says, "buy lots."

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

Well, I am off to Boston with Angela for a trade show, so I thought I should post something before I go.

I made this card a long time ago, and I can't remember if I posted it before or not. In any case, I still have some packing and last minute things to do, so an old card will have to do! The stamp is a gorgeous collage image from Stampington and Co. I love that it makes such a quick and easy card. I inked it with silver and indigo Pearl Ex ink and then stamped it onto white cardstock. I don't think many people have Pearl Ex ink pads, but they give a nice metallic shine. The downside of those pads is that you have to reink them a lot. I then added some fibers, a shell I inked with some of the indigo ink, and a layer of silver cardstock. Pretty darn simple!

I am very excited about the Sue Gillman show this weekend. It is an education and trade show for store owners and employees. I am scheduled to take a couple of classes with the Paper Cut, a class from a company I am not familiar with (Layers of Color), a class with Jennifer McGuire and Shari Carroll (yeah), several classes with Tim Holtz, and a class with Stampendous. Whew! I am also taking a workshop on Zentangle. Have you heard of Zentangle yet? If not, you can see examples here. I am really hoping to come back with lots of great ideas for classes.

For those of you who are interested (aka my mom), I plan to send a few Tweets while I am at the show that will be updated on my blog sidebar.

Have a great weekend!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Moxie Fab Challenge- Doilies and Lace

The latest challenge on the Moxie Fab blog is all about doilies and lace. I wanted to play along, so I decided to mix a doily from Hero Arts with a lacy shoe and saying from Impression Obsession. I stamped the doily in my new favorite ink pad color (Colorbox Chalk Gray Whale) and everything else with black Versafine ink. To make the shoe red, I embossed the shoe with black embossing powder on red paper and paper-pieced it onto the shoe on the card. To finish the card, I added some white Memory Box pearls.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

IO Challenge- It's a Me Day

I feel as though I have been on a posting frenzy. Well, a posting frenzy for me anyway. I guess I am trying to post everything I can before a very busy upcoming week.

The Impression Obsession Challenge today was to make a "Me Day" card. In other words, how would you spend the day if you could do whatever you want? I figured a "margaritas with Johnny Depp" card would be a little unrealistic.

I am actually planning a "me day" in April to go into DC to see the cherry blossoms. I often go into the city by myself to see the blooms, take some pictures, and "just be." I find it to be very relaxing (even with the crowds). Here is a picture from last year:

For my cherry blossom card, I stamped the Solid Cherry Blossom Branch (G6968) onto white circles using brown and pink Colorbox Chalk ink. I then cut out some light pink blossoms using a Punch Bunch flower punch. I don't know what it is called, but this is what it looks like:

I thought the light pink blossoms added a nice color variation as well as a little texture. I then added some papers by Memory Box and stamped a saying from the Tami Potter Life and Flowers Clear set (CL250). It has wonderful sayings such as "create your own fun" and "embrace each moment."

Interested in seeing how other design team members would spend their "me day?" Check out the cards by Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, and Julie. I know I am anxious to see how they would spend their time!

Want to play along with the challenge? You can find all the information here. Entries need to be submitted by Saturday night, and you could win a $25 IO gift certificate!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

JustRite Going Green Challenge

The latest challenge on the JustRite blog is to recycle a 3D object and make it into something other than a card. For me, one of my favorite ways to recycle is to make gift card holders out of toilet paper rolls:

Yep, take a plain ol' toilet paper roll and squash it flat:

Can you tell from the picture that the roll isn't perfectly flat? I find that it helps to put it under a couple heavy books until it no longer curves up in the middle.

Before I covered the roll with some of the new Basic Grey Kioshi paper, I cut it open in the back so that it was easier to punch the semicircles at the one end (for easy gripping of the gift card). I taped the roll back together and then covered it with decorative paper. For the closed end, I punched 5 holes with my Crop-a-Dile and added some purple eyelets.

To decorate the top, I added a saying and border from the JustRite Curlz Stamper Kit and layered it onto some decorative scallops.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Clean and Simple Challenge 82

Sometimes when I do a challenge, I am inspired to try out new supplies. Not for this card. I immediately pulled out one of my favorite flowers and sayings. Sometimes I guess you have to go with the "oldies but goodies."

Here was the latest inspiration sketch from the Clean and Simple blog:

For my card, I used Memory Box paper and pearls as well as their Black Eyed Susan stamp. I colored the flower with purple colored pencils, so it actually looks more like echinacea than a black eyed susan. The saying is by Impression Obsession.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Copic Creations Challenge 23-Greens

Well, you can take the woman out of New Mexico, but you can't take New Mexico out of the woman. When I saw that the challenge at Copic Creations was to feature green Copic markers on a card, I immediately thought of coloring green chiles. Of course, I thought my finished card looked more like jalapenos than chiles, but I think that is my years in New Mexico showing through. They take their green chile seriously!

For my card, I used images from Impression Obsession (Chilis D2213, WP16 Sentiments 1) and paper from My Little Shoebox. I colored the chilies with a combination of G17 Forest Green (I think this one made it look like a jalapeno-too dark), YG03 Yellow Green, YG06 Yellowish Green, YG11 Mignonette, and C3 Cool Grey #3.

Here is a close up of the coloring:

Of course, now I am really in the mood for some green chile stew. Sigh.

Friday, March 12, 2010

"Lacquer" Box

I wanted to share a box I made for my friend Harriett's birthday. Her favorite color is red, so I saved a Peppermint Bark box from Christmas knowing that I would someday make something for her with it. To decorate the box, I cut out a piece of white cardstock that was slightly smaller than the box top. I then stamped the paper repeatedly with black Memento ink and an image from Impression Obsession (Frills F2382). To choose my marker colors, I out my trusty Copic reference sheet and figured out what red I had that would match the color of the box. I was a little worried that choosing reds and greens would make the box to "Christmassy," but I think it turned out okay.

I knew I had to add something to the top of the box to protect it, so I coated the whole thing with Diamond Glaze. I am not sure if it was the best choice or not. For the most part, it looked pretty good, and I know that the Diamond Glaze provides a strong finish. However, I couldn't get every air bubble out, and there are a couple of spots where the Copics look like they bled a bit. I was tempted to use Versamark and Ultrathick embossing powder, but I was afraid that the top would crack. Perhaps a trip to the art store was necessary. Does anyone have a favorite lacquer that works well with Copics?

To complete the gift, I loaded it with an assortment of teas.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Thinking of Sunshine

Today was absolutely gorgeous in the DC area, so I thought I would celebrate with a sunny card. Of course, I seem to be marking all weather occasions lately with Gary Robertson sunflowers. If you remember, I posted a different sunflower when we were expecting a lot of snow.

I was immediately drawn to the Impression Obsession Sunflower Scene (G1764). It is just so unusual. I don't think I would ever have thought of drawing a farm scene in the center of a sunflower!

To color the image, I stamped the scene onto white cardstock and colored it with an assortment of Copic markers. The stamp itself had a lot of detail and built-in shading so I didn't worry about adding my own shading. I simply colored each area with a solid layer of color. Easy! For the background, I used the Cover-A- Card Flourishes stamp (CC027). The Cover-A-Card stamps are 5 3/4" x 5 3/4," so they are an easy way to add a decorative pattern to a standard sized card.

On a personal note, my mom and aunt visited me this weekend and we had a chance to see the Terra Cotta Warriors on display at the National Geographic museum. They are absolutely amazing! I wish I could travel to China to see the rest.

My mom also brought me an Easter present. I am including a picture of my new styrofoam glitter bunny egg. He just makes me smile!



Friday, March 5, 2010

Clean and Simple Challenge 81

I really have been enjoying these Clean and Simple Challenges. It is so liberating to cut down on all the card "extras." I want to say that this card a ten minute card, but it is really a ten minute card with an extra hour thrown in for drying-time. Here is the original sketch:

I changed it up a bit by substituting eggs for the circles. Instead of coloring each individual egg, I stamped them onto colored cardstock using coordinating Versafine ink. I then cut them out and glued them onto the card. To give them some shine, I coated each with Glossy accents and then gave the card plenty of time to dry. All the images are by Impression Obsession.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Impression Obsession Easter Challenge

Time again for another Impression Obsession challenge. This time the theme is "Easter." I immediately knew that I wanted to use the new Egg Ornaments (H2393). It is such a fun image to color! Plus, it was a chance to break out my new light shades of Copic markers to color the eggs. I just love them.

To finish the card, I added a saying (Happy Easter B5542), added some yellow layers, and placed everything onto a pink card.

Need more inspiration? Check out what Daniela, Dina, Kathy, Kelli, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, Tina, and Rosemary created.

Want to participate in the challenge? You have until midnight this Saturday to enter your Easter card. All the information can be found here. A random winner will be selected from the submissions to receive a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate!