Impression Obsession DT Challenge: All That Glitters

The Impression Obsession team's challenge today is to create a project with some sparkle!

I love this sweet vintage photo image - I stamped her with Colorbox Premium Dye ink, and blended the image out with a waterbrush. To add glitter to the skirt, I used a palette knife to spread some matte gel medium, then sprinkled fine glitter over the area. I used a black glaze pen to shine up her shoes so I had another black element on the card.

Stamps I used: Curtsy, Valentine Brush Words clear set
Be sure to check out these other designers' blogs for inspiration -

Anna @ Sassy & Sweet Notes
Daniela @ For the First Time
Dina @ Dina Kowal Creative
Giovana @ Believe
Ilina @ Creativity Within
Jeanne @ Inky Paws
Jenny @ One Krafty Kat 
Karen @ Paper Lilies and Ink 
Kelli @ Stamping with a Dream 
Kittie @ Kittie Kraft
Laura @ Laura's Stamp Art Journal
Vicki @ Summerthyme Studio


Remember you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps! See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us.

Splitcoast Tutorial: Bench Fold Card

This week's tutorial over on Splitcoast is a Bench Fold Card - it's similar to the Bridge Fold Card we did a couple of months ago BUT this card has flat surface in the center when opened that can become a platform for all kinds of little scenes!

I created a little potting table with my card, and made a few adjustments because I'm me and I just can't help it sometimes....! 

I wanted my center platform to look like a table, so I stamped a wood grain border down the panels with my MISTI, adhered them together, then used my grid mat to center a rectangle die on the bottom. This created an opening that gave my little table some legs.

I also wanted some standing elements on my table top, so I created some little pop-up mechanisms out of 1/2" wide strips of cardstock. This one is 4-1/2" long, and I scored it at 1", 2", 3", and 4". The one for the watering can is 3-1/2" long, scored at 1", 1-1/2", 2-1/2", and 3". Those are glued on just 2 sides so they can lay flat when the card is ready to mail or store.

Here's my little trick for getting even lines on the banner - the center pencil is raised up, just there as a spacer so the pencils stay an equal distance apart... then I just followed the curve of the sentiment!

I went a little crazy with the bunnies, but LOOK AT THEM....! They are so cute.

Here's my table top - I love that the stamped elements have matching dies. Those are watercolored using Clearsnap Premium Dye ink, by the way - I have been playing with those this week and I love them - the pads are foam instead of felt, and the inks are so intense and juicy.

Here's what the card looks like all folded down flat - I trimmed mine to 4" high so it would fit in a business size envelope for mailing. So fun!

Stamps and dies from Impression Obsession: Hydrangea Blooms clear set and matching dies, Bunny Poses die set, Pots die set, Foliage die set,

I hope you'll give this one a try - our tutorial sample is a kitchen counter scene, and our author has some other fun ideas as well... me too, I just don't have the dies to create them. My other options were a sewing table and a birthday table... next time. :) Cheers!

Meet the Artist!

I'm hanging out over on the Impression Obsession blog today - hop over there to learn a little more about me and my stamp line!

Cheers!

Splitcoast Tutorial: Half Sheet Treat Bag

This week's tutorial over on Splitcoast is a cute little treat bag made from a half sheet of scrapbook paper! Here's mine - they're so easy to make!

Just a few score lines and cuts, and a little adhesive. These would be great to mass produce for a party or holiday favor.

 I used a digital set from a brand new stamp company - Beth Duff Designs! Be sure to check out their first release - some cute stuff over there! The unicorn is colored with Polychromos pencils, and I stenciled in a few little clouds using a scalloped circle die cut while the cardstock was still in the die.

That's all I know!

Prize winners!

Thanks to all who commented on my giveaway post! Instead of one set, I now have TWO of the Fresh Laundry sets to give away!

My two winners are:

Lisa Huther4/05/2018 8:11 PM

Darling. I used to hang clothes with my grandmother and aunt. We always had to hustle when summer storms were coming and get them in. Sweet memory. Thanks for your generosity. 

and...

Helen Budz4/05/2018 9:28 AM

Dina, this card is so sweet. I have years of hanging laundry with and for my mom so this card brings back great memories. Add to it that her favorite color combination was pink and green! Need I say I love this card? tfs

Congratulations, ladies! Please email me with your mailing address, and I'll get these adorable sets out to you! Yay!

Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Pink and Green (and a giveaway!)

The Impression Obsession team's challenge today is to create a project using the colors pink and green.

This is a pretty simple card - I love building backgrounds out of strips of paper, especially ones that are just hanging around on my desk. My focal image is colored with Copics, and the whole card is 'tied' together with a piece of silk ribbon, attached with a clothespin. (Overseas we used to hang our laundry out to dry - I miss that!)

I have an extra copy of this set to give away, so leave a comment below for a chance to win it! Please make sure I have a way to contact you. I'll announce my winner Sunday morning (Apr. 8). Good luck!

Fresh Laundry clear set (Pink Ink)

Be sure to check out these other designers' blogs for inspiration -

Anna @ Sassy & Sweet Notes
Daniela @ For the First Time
Dina @ Dina Kowal Creative
Giovana @ Believe
Ilina @ Creativity Within
Jeanne @ Inky Paws
Jenny @ One Krafty Kat 
Karen @ Paper Lilies and Ink 
Kelli @ Stamping with a Dream 
Kittie @ Kittie Kraft
Laura @ Laura's Stamp Art Journal
Vicki @ Summerthyme Studio


Remember you can enter these challenges too, using your Impression Obsession stamps! See the I.O. blog for all the details - you might even win a $25 gift certificate!! We'd love to have you join us.

Splitcoast Tutorial: Candy Flower Garden

 This week's tutorial over on Splitcoast is this adorable Candy Flower Garden! The stems of the flowers are made with 1" cello bags filled with plain M & Ms, which is just so fun and cute.

I used this Sizzix Bigz die for all my die cuts (except the fence) - this is a large steel rule die that comes in the Big Shot Plus bundle, and it worked perfectly for this project - I used everything but the hearts! I cut the shapes from watercolor paper and sprayed them with Colorbox Spritzers for a super quick coloring job. The sentiment is from a Penny Black clear set.

The box goes together really quickly, and this is a really cute project for a table favor or a desktop pick-me-up gift.

I've been working on commissions and on a personal project during my work days... here's the dog I'm working on - she's an Australian Shepherd, and just such a beautiful animal. This is the largest single dog portrait I've done so far - it's 11" x 14".

Also - there is a local art show in about a month and I need to have this large piece DONE by then, so it's filling a lot of my thoughts!

That's all I know!

Flash sale!

To celebrate Easter weekend, please enjoy a 30% discount on all my art prints! 

You'll find them in my Etsy store HERE. Thank you!

Impression Obsession Spring Die Hop - Day 2

Welcome to the Impression Obsession Team Spring Die hop! We have some beautiful new dies to share with you, and prizes too. Keep reading to find out how you could win a $25 gift certificate and get a few dies of your own!

A few of the girls shared this die set yesterday - it's really a lot of fun! The inside window and the outside shape are actually separate dies, so I was able to cut a card base to match the shape very easily - I just extended the top curves of the frame over the fold of my card when I cut.

I cut the bunny out of my favorite luxurious Fabriano Mediovalis stationery and watercolored with my favorite QoR paints. I hand cut a little piece of wool felt for the tail.

Stamps and dies I used:  Bunny Frame die

Comment once per blog per day for a chance to win an Impression Obsession Gift Certificate!  The more blogs you visit … the better chance you will have to win one of three $25 Gift Certificates.  Be sure to check out these other designers' blogs for inspiration, and the Impression Obsession blog for all the details!

the Impression Obsession blog
Daniela @ For the First Time
Dina @ Dina Kowal Creative
Giovana @ Believe
Ilina @ Creativity Within
Jeanne @ Inky Paws
Jenny @ One Krafty Kat 
Karen @ Paper Lilies and Ink 
Kelli @ Stamping with a Dream 
Kittie @ Kittie Kraft
Laura @ Laura's Stamp Art Journal
Vicki @ Summerthyme Studio

Thanks for visiting me today!

Impression Obsession Spring Die Hop - Day 1

Welcome to the Impression Obsession Team Spring Die hop! We have some beautiful new dies to share with you, and prizes too. Keep reading to find out how you could win a $25 gift certificate and get a few dies of your own!

I shared a peek at this card yesterday - the background was done with a Magic Stamp, which I got to review for Splitcoast - it's a foam block that you can heat and press into any textured surface, and then stamp with that texture in reverse! For my background I pressed it into the French Word Background stamp. I brayered acrylic paint onto the block, and then pressed it onto my Gelli Plate, showing the script in the negative to create one of the layers on my background panel.

 I love this new unicorn die - I left it uncolored and added a few clouds as well. The sentiment is from my line, and it's linked below!

Stamps and dies I used:  Amazing, French Word Background, Rainbow Unicorn die

Comment once per blog per day for a chance to win an Impression Obsession Gift Certificate!  The more blogs you visit … the better chance you will have to win one of three $25 Gift Certificates.  Be sure to check out these other designers' blogs for inspiration, and the Impression Obsession blog for all the details!

the Impression Obsession blog
Daniela @ For the First Time
Dina @ Dina Kowal Creative
Giovana @ Believe
Ilina @ Creativity Within
Jeanne @ Inky Paws
Jenny @ One Krafty Kat 
Karen @ Paper Lilies and Ink 
Kelli @ Stamping with a Dream 
Kittie @ Kittie Kraft
Laura @ Laura's Stamp Art Journal
Vicki @ Summerthyme Studio

Thanks for visiting me today! Hop along to Giovana's blog next!