Simple Stamping

The latest IO challenge is to create a "Simple Stamping" project. After I got out my supplies, I was able to make this card in under five minutes. I don't think it could get much more simple!

To make the card, I stamped a kraft notecard using the Cover a Card Woven (CC020) pattern and black VersaFine ink. Personally, the Woven pattern is one of my favorites for Halloween cards. I then stamped the new Pumpkin Trio (G7543) with the same black ink onto more kraft cardstock. I added a bit of orange and green watercolor pencil to the image and then softened everything with a waterbrush.

Need some more "simple stamping" ideas. Check out what Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, and Kathy created.

Flower Soft/Impression Obsession Blog Hop

Welcome everyone! Are you ready to play? The Impression Obsession and Flower Soft design teams have joined forces to create a fun blog hop. Not only are there lots of projects to inspire you, but there are prizes as well! Make sure you leave comments on each of the blog hop posts since four comments at random will be drawn to win one four $25 gift certificates (2 provided by Impression Obsession, and 2 provided by Flower Soft). Prize winners will be announced on the Impression Obsession blog and Flower Soft blog on Wednesday, August 18th. Good luck!

If you didn't start at the beginning of the hop, please go to the Flower Soft blog and start with the first post.

My Halloween card features an Impression Obsession Large Square Shaker (SHPO1) filled with an equal mix of Bright Orange and Black Flower Soft. The nice thing about Flower Soft is that you can mix any colors you like together to get the look you want. You can mix orange and black for Halloween, pink and red for Valentine's Day, an assortment of greens for St. Patrick's Day, etc...

To prevent the Flower Soft from sticking to my shaker, I wiped the paper and plastic shaker with a used dryer sheet to cut down on the static. I prefer a used dryer sheet because fresh ones then to scratch the plastic.

Underneath the shaker, I stamped the new Bat Silhouette (D204) using black Versafine ink and colored the moon with a yellow watercolor pencil and a Dove blender pen. To create the two patterns on the card, I stamped the Cover a Card Screen (CC049) with black Versafine ink and embossed the Cover a Card Swirls and Stars (CC054) with black embossing powder.


Here is a closeup of the card so you can see what Flower Soft looks like as a shaker card filler:



I hope you enjoyed my project! It is now time to hop to the next blog:

Kelli Richardson - I Made This Myself

If you want more inspiration after the hop, be sure to check out Flower Soft TV and the Impression Obsession blog. Both are loaded with great ideas and projects!

Another Video

As I am sitting here getting my post ready for the IO/Flower Soft blog hop, I realized that I hadn't posted my latest video on this blog. I thought it best to link it before I forgot again! If you want to watch a larger version, you can see it directly on YouTube here.

Thinking of Mom

I made a card with my mom in mind. It has a lot of elements in it that she likes such as books and coffee. It just so happens that they are things that I like too. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. We both share a love of books and have a bit of a competition going on comparing where we are on library wait lists for certain books. I am still a bit bitter that she is on the list for the latest Margaret Maron, and my library doesn't even list it yet. Of course, I was able to read "Sizzling Sixteen" weeks before her, so I guess it all balances out in the end.

To make the book, I used some Nestability dies to cut an outer cover and pages for the book. For the pages, I cut up an old magazine and then nested all the pieces together to make it look more like a book. I wanted the saying I stamped to be visible, so I painted over the magazine pages with some Adirondack dauber paint. I dabbed enough paint to slightly mute the writing without covering it completely. When it dried, I added a saying on top with brown ink. The saying and coffee cup come from the same Art Impressions clear set. To finish the card, I added some patterned paper by Basic Grey.

I will be posting again tomorrow because Wednesday is the day of the Flower Soft and Impression Obsession blog hop. Be sure to check back again!

IO Challenge- Home Sweet Home

Time for another Impression Obsession Challenge. This time the theme is "Home Sweet Home." I decided to make a card for someone who has a new home. I used the branch and chickadee stamp from the CL271 Home Sweet Nest clear set and the saying from the CL194 Little Birdie clear set. The nice thing about the little birdie set is that the "little birdie" round saying is separate from the sayings you can stamp inside. You could just as easily say "it's your birthday" or "you need a little cheering up."

To make the background, I made my design using Cover-A-Card Distressed Corduroy (CC047), Cover-A-Card Thick and Thin Stripes (CC008), and Cover-a-Card Greenery (CC018).

Want to see other "Home Sweet Home" ideas? Check out what Daniela, Deborah, Dina, Jeanne, Julie, and Kathy created. Want to play along and make a "home sweet home" card? You could win a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate. All of the contest info can be found here. Good luck!

Moxie Fab Challenge Classy and Elegant

After not posting frequently, I am posting my second card of the day. This card is for the Moxie Fab "Classy and Elegant" challenge. To make the card, I used images by Impression Obsession and lots of gold materials. I stamped the lines and saying with gold ink and the star with Egyptian Gold (sparkly) embossing powder. To finish the card, I added some rhinestones by Hero Arts.

Moxie Fab Challenge- Clean and Graphic

How did it get to be August? I knew that the Moxie Fab style challenge ended in August, but that turns out to be TODAY. I guess I better post something if I want to play! The style challenge showed four different card styles and challenged you to make a card following a specific style. This card is for the clean and graphic challenge.

To make my card, I used a stamp and rhinestones from Memory Box, a glitter rub-on from EK Success, and Bazzill dot paper.

Impression Obsession Sneak Peek

I always get so excited when Impression Obsession comes out with new images. I especially get excited when Leigh Hannan has new Halloween stamps. When I first saw the Jack O'Lantern hot air balloon, I knew I had to have it. I have actually seen a pumpkin hot air balloon at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, so the image is a bit nostalgic for me. Of course, that balloon doesn't have the cute face or candy corn flags.

To make the card, I stamped the balloon onto white cardstock using black Memento ink and colored it with Copic markers. I then masked the envelope and basket (sorry, I had to break out my hot air balloon terms..it is a New Mexico thing) and added some clouds behind using my Rosie's Road Show cloud template, a sponge, and some blue ink. To finish the card, I used my favorite new Cover-A-Card background...houndstooth.

The next card using stamps designed by Alesa Baker:


For this card, I stamped the wine bottle and ribbon images with Memento ink and colored them with Copic Markers. The wine tag was stamped with black Versafine ink and edged with several colors of Distress Inks. I layered everything onto my old Cover-a-Card favorite background...denim.

I hope you check out the Impression Obsession blog to see a listing of all the sneak peeks being posted this week. There is a lot of good stuff out there!

Life is a journey

I know, I know, I'm a bad blogger. Somehow the days without blogging have just slipped by. The good news is that by working hard to make Impression Obsession samples for CHA, I have quite a few cards to show over the next few weeks. All this week, the IO designers are posting sneak peeks of the new images. I am scheduled for Thursday. If you want to see what the other designers have been up to, be sure to stop by the IO blog. Shirley has compiled links to all of the card previews. You can find all of that info here.

For those of you who shop at Angela's, we placed an order (or should I say I placed an order) for the new IO stuff before CHA even started. I don't know when it will arrive, but the order is HUGE. We are getting all of the new backgrounds as well as a ton of wood, cling, and clear stamps. I can't wait for it to arrive! I told Marilynn and Harriett they would have to find room for all of it. I hope they are still speaking to me.

For today's card, I used stamps from Art Impressions. I colored the cloud and car stamps with water-based markers and stamped them onto white cardstock. Because the markers were water-based, I was able to go over the lines with a waterbrush and spread the color to create a watercolor look. I really like the saying. Here is a close up if you can't read it in the picture above:

For those of you who were in my Memory Box Halloween class last night, thanks for the good time. When you broke out into a group singing of "Any Way You Want It," it really made my night. You guys are great!

I Did the Unthinkable

What did I do? Not only did I make a card with glitter, but I designed a card for my upcoming Memory Box Halloween class using glitter. What was I thinking?! I am worried about the amount of glitter clean-up that might be involved and the number of days after the class that I will still be wearing glitter. Do you think people would mind if I asked them to step into a plastic glitter containment bubble when working with the sparkly stuff? Just a thought.

I have to admit though that the flourishes on my Halloween card looked much better with black glitter than black embossing powder. I think there is just something about Halloween that demands a little extra sparkle and flair. Here is a close up of the flourishes:

Speaking of classes, I finally updated my "upcoming classes" tab on the top of my blog. I am still working on the samples for the "Impression Obsession Background" and "Memory Box Christmas" classes, so there aren't links to those classes just yet.