Impression Obsession DT Challenge: Flowers for Friends

The Impression Obsession team's challenge today is to create a floral project! I think we're all ready for Spring!!

First, though, the winner of the Bunny Frame die! You were all right to post that I have 874 designs in my stamp line at Impression Obsession! Thanks for sharing your favorites. My winner is.......

christi 2/18/2019 6:58 AM

good morning,
wow, I never realized how many stamps you have designed. right now it's 874 and my fav new release is either spring garden or iris duo. love your posts and I can't imagine how you can color so much. wow!

Christi, please email me your mailing address and I'll get this die set out to you! Congratulations!

I haven't used this set much so I'm glad I took the time to play with it this week! It is such a beautiful and simple set, and easy to stamp in serene tones for a sympathy card or for a wedding - I hope these samples inspire you!

WP807 Peace Lily clear layering set

This is a 5-layer set, and I stamped each card a different way to see which was easier - on this first card I stamped the most detailed layer first and that seems to be the best way to approach this set.

Inks I used:
Layer 1: Distress Oxide Iced Spruce (flower center)
Layer 2: I.O. Hybrid Periwinkle
Layer 3: I.O. Hybrid Periwinkle
Layer 4: I.O. Hybrid Periwinkle
Layer 5: I.O. Hybrid Mist (solid image)

For the second card I reversed my stamping order - and since I was using such light inks, it was a little more difficult to line up the layers... so when you stamp, start with the flower center.

Inks I used:
Layer 1: I.O. Hybrid Mist (solid image)
Layer 2: I.O. Hybrid Mist
Layer 3: I.O. Hybrid Mist
Layer 4: I.O. Hybrid Periwinkle
Layer 5: Distress Oxide Iced Spruce (flower center)

I added just a tiny bit of shading with black dye ink and colored pencils on the flower center - it didn't really need it but it added a little more contrast.

Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration, and 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: Floral Tag Card

This week's tutorial over on Splitcoast is a pretty Floral Tag Card - it's a fun and simple layered card that's easy to mass produce! 

WP909 Watercolor Butterfly Garden
D13409 Repeating Blessing
ACLD Spring Ring stencil

I've really had fun with the new Watercolor Butterfly Garden set from Impression Obsession - it has so many elements that can be layered loosely or grouped together for pretty garden scenes. I wanted to play along with the MISTI Monday challenge, so I chose a monochrome theme, and positioned my stamps in my MISTI - to make stamping easy I stamped the base and then lined up my tag on the base to stamp in the same position. I used ColorBox DyeStress inks on this card for the stamping, corner fade, and stenciling - they have a longer dry time, and blend really nicely.

Our tutorial author had a large tag die, but it's really easy to cut a tag - I cut my panel to 3-3/4" x 4-3/4", cut one corner, and then used the offcut to mark the other side.

While I had my stamps out, I stamped a second card in purple to honor a very dear friend who died last week - purple was her favorite color.  She lived large and loved life and her family - so much that she ran into her burning house to save them. She was the strongest woman I've ever known, and I wish I could have sent this card to her. It would have been so true!

The inks on this card are I.O Hybrid inks, and I used the same Spring Ring stencil for the background. So pretty!

Spring Ring

Hugs, friends - encourage someone today! Remember my giveaway HERE - I'll draw a name tonight!

Clearance sale!

I'm getting ready to update some of my jewelry designs and make room for new ones -

check out the store for some special sale items - no code needed!

Impression Obsession - Die Cut Obsession

With such a huge collection of wonderful stamps from so many artists, sometimes the older stamps in the Impression Obsession catalog find their way out of the spotlight. We don't want them to be forgotten, so from now on you'll be seeing our team feature them regularly. We hope you're inspired!

Bunny Frame Die set
Easter Basket clear set

We have had the craziest weather this last week, but one day it was actually over 60 degrees out and I went outside barefoot all ready for spring... so to celebrate the hope of not having snow and ice on the ground someday, I made a pretty spring card. I used my favorite fancy watercolor paper and impressed the bunny die into the paper using the silicone rubber pad (you can see how to do this technique HERE - it's just steps 1 and 2). 

I used QoR watercolors and Inktense pencils to color in this little scene - it's a great no-line technique, since the lines are pressed right into the paper without cutting through. The sentiment I used is from another cute bunny set called Easter Basket.

I actually have an extra die set to give away today! This is a set of 2 dies which cut the window design and frame outline separately. For a chance to win, click over to Impression Obsession and come and then come back to this post to tell me how many stamps I have in my line! I'll keep the entries hidden so no one's tempted to cheat. Hee hee! For a bonus entry, tell me which one is your favorite of my designs from the new Spring release! Please enter by Wednesday Feb. 20th at 9 PM, and I'll announce my winner with my Thursday challenge post.

Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for more die cutting inspiration - see the I.O. blog for all the details!

Happy Valentines Day - and a second chance!

Happy heart day to you! I had to pull out this super adorable truck set for a clean and simple heart-y card... and this one was so much fun to make.

Spellbinders has several amazing monthly kit clubs, and this was the large die set for October... in other months the surplus sets have been available to non-club members, and I was counting on that, but........ this one sold out, and I had deep regrets for several months. Thankfully I was able to purchase this set from a Splitcoast member in the ISO forum in January... but I was excited to see yesterday that the set is back for a limited time, and available for purchase!

Spellbinders - Truckin' Through the Seasons set

I know a lot of people were sad to have missed it, so I wanted to be sure to share, in case you need one too! I'm a little obsessed now.

The set is full of dies for all kinds of occasions... but no hearts!  I used this die from Impression Obsession to cut a bunch at once...

Heart of Hearts die

The sentiment is from a retired Simon Says Stamp set called Like Your Style - but it was perfect for the space, and this overflowing truck bed!

What would you tuck in the back of this truck?! I can't wait to play with it some more. Cheers!

Splitcoast Tutorial: Acetate Tent Cards

It's my turn to share a tutorial over on Splitcoast! I put together the instructions for these clear fronted Tent Cards, and I had a lot of fun making these samples.

Supplies:
Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Borders
Spellbinders Balloon Kids
Spellbinders Classic Ovals
The Cat's Pajamas Grass Border die
Impression Obsession B13775 So Very Loved

I just adore these silhouette dies from Spellbinders, along with their creator, Sharyn Sowell... did you know she cuts each design by hand with scissors? I don't have the eyesight or patience for that, so I'm grateful that they've been made into dies for us! 

Supplies:
Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Ovals - discontinued
Spellbinders Dance for Joy
The Cat's Pajamas Grass Border die
Impression Obsession C13769 Happy Thoughts

I have instructions for A2 cards both ways in the photo tutorial - for any size card, you can determine the width, and then for the length, add the height of your finished card + 1-3/4" + 2-1/2".

The plastic sheeting I used here is the same that I use for my stamp storage, and I get it from this binding supply site - I use the 20 mil weight and it's very sturdy.

I used these adhesive sheets for the die cuts on the front - they are covered in tiny dots of dry adhesive, and they're wonderful for these detailed designs. Any excess just rubs away - or if it sticks to the plastic, it can be removed with just a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

One more product I mentioned are the label sheets I used to make my striped backgrounds - those are HERE, and they're the same ones I use for my Etsy orders, so I know they're good and strong!

I hope you'll try these - they're easy to make and great for using up background panels!

New charm designs!

I've added a couple more purse charms to my store - just wanted to share here! As always, if you have a special request, please email me - I am happy to do custom orders.

Purse Charm - Art Journal Mixed Media Artist Stamper

The design above was made with mixed media art journalers, scrapbookers and sketch artists in mind - it has a palette, the word 'create', a brush, a stack of books, mug of pens and supplies, and an optional rubber stamp, along with a bead of your choice.

Purse Charm - Spoonie Courage Awareness Chronic Illness

This charm is especially for my friends who suffer from chronic pain or illness, with an optional stamp for those I've connected with through crafting. The spoons represent the Spoon Theory, which is a great word picture for living with sickness or disability. 

Purse Charm - Paper Crafter Card Maker Stamper

The stamper's charms are still in stock as well, and continue to be very popular! 

Thanks so very much for your support through this side business of mine - I'm so grateful! 

Impression Obsession - Old is New

With such a huge collection of wonderful stamps from so many artists, sometimes the older stamps in the Impression Obsession catalog find their way out of the spotlight. We don't want them to be forgotten, so from now on you'll be seeing our team feature them regularly. We hope you're inspired!

L13510 Sweetpeas
A13500 Hey There Sweetpea

I pulled out a couple of my stamps that were released 2 years ago - this was such a pretty spring floral release, and it's always fun to revisit! I used Zig brush markers, alternating misted water and blending with a brush until I was happy with the depth of shading. I used colored pencils and some dotted white acrylic paint to add details, and then did a tiny bit of stenciling with the Grunge Dots stencil from A Colorful Life Designs.

If you like this sweetpea design, you might like the others in the set!

E13509 Sweetpea Corner

CC284 Cover-a-Card Sweetpeas

Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - see the I.O. blog for all the details! Remember our "In the Pink" challenge too!