Sunday, January 05, 2025

Kylie Jo's bears

Just finished the 2nd of these twin bears, made from Grandma's fleece sweatshirt and a t-shirt that both had special meaning to the recipients (daughter and granddaughter). I split the rhinestone embroidery between the 2 bears, and tried to get as much of the floral portions of the t-shirt print on both sets of feet. The t-shirt was very worn which made it a challenge to work with, even though it was backed with woven interfacing. 


I wouldn't normally put these colors together, but that is the wonder of memory bears - it works because the colors match memories, and the bears only need the approval of the person receiving them.


If you are interested in having a memory bear made, you can find my information HERE

Thanks for stopping by!


Monday, December 16, 2024

Ladybug Bears!

I've been working on this batch of bears for a while - I am ready to deliver them today! This whole project began with a yard of the ladybug material, which was gifted to a friend. Her mother had had a shop with 'ladybug' in the name. She didn't know what to do with the fabric, and she thought of me. She ended up buying more coordinating fabrics for me to use, and these will be Christmas gifts for her family. There are 3 large bears here and 2 medium ones. I have one more to make for her, which will be mostly white with red accents on the ears and paws, and ladybugs on the feet.






Each one is so different! She requested a random patchwork style, which was interesting with the different types and thicknesses of fabric she provided.

I'm booked for Christmas orders, but my books are open for the new year! If you have some sentimental clothing items set aside that want to be a bear, please contact me! You can find more information HERE or HERE!


Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, December 01, 2024

Closing a Chapter - Impression Obsession

Friends, this post is so hard to write! After over 20 years as a customer, 16 years as a design team member and 12 years of creating stamps, dies, stencils and papers under their brand, it's time to say farewell to Impression Obsession. I'm so grateful for the opportunities to attend trade shows, create catalog samples, teach classes... for the platform to share my heart and enable others to use my artwork to encourage and cheer their loved ones... for the opportunity to work with such amazing artists and designer friends week after week - we have watched each others' kids grow up, laughed and cried together, walked through a lot of life together, and made so many beautiful projects to share. It's been a wonderful ride.


I have lots of favorite projects - most of them were made using products that are now gone, so I'll save them for another reminiscing post. If you haven't shopped the sale yet or need another run-through to make sure you didn't miss anything, the site will be open until Monday midnight Eastern time. The discount is set at 70%, and there are still lots of beautiful products to choose from! 


This little guy is still in stock, along with his matching dies - I think he's so sweet! And this card sums up my sentiments today - so glad this whole IO thing happened. This stamp set comes with a flag pole, an American flag and a blank flag, but you can trim around the trunk like I did above  to have him hold just about anything.


Be sure to visit my friends for more inspiration and heartfelt messages - 

Impression Obsession Blog
Anna Wight
Dina Kowal
Giovana Smith
Jeanne Streiff
Laura Fulcher
Laura Williams
Robin Clendenning
Angela Bode

Mitra has been THE best to work with - she was always endlessly patient with my creative blocks and missed deadlines (sorry!!), very generous with mentoring and guidance in the industry, and always encouraged and believed in me. I had a few opportunities to work with her in person, and my kids still remember staying in her house with the fire pole when we were on an extended road trip. I learned so much from her - so resilient, open, and adventurous. I wish her the best in whatever she jumps into next! 

Thank YOU too, for being on this journey with me - my days have been full with work at Jostens and making memory bears, a necessary transition as other creative doors have closed. This blog has been my space for 18 years, so I'll have to think of something else to fill its pages now! We'll see what happens.

Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!

Monday, November 25, 2024

Impression Obsession - one last week

Sigh.... so hard to believe we are coming to the end of our time with IO! If you haven't shopped, go take a peek and see if there's anything you'd like to have to remember us by. I'll be working over the break to continue converting my designs to digital and uploading them to Etsy - other than that I don't have plans to rehome them. 


I saw that the penguin die below is still in stock, so I pulled up an older set of tags where I used him - these were so fun to make, and they came together quickly. It's a fun set, and a good reminder that you can just use parts of dies on  your projects! Here was the full set of tags I made. 


I layered a scalloped circle with a stitched circle on each tag, then had some fun building the characters to embellish them. I used the edge of the circle die to cut the characters off and match the edges.



IO Products:
DIE889-V Penguin die set
DIE888-O Penguin Outfits die set (hat)
DIE831-YY Scalloped Stitched Circles - sold out
DIE837-YY Wacky Stitched Circles - sold out

The tag I used here is sold out, but check out these others that would work:
DIE937-S Stitched Tag
DIE971-V Stitched Tag #4
DIE1164-YY Stitched Tag #6

I hope you have a good week! I'm looking forward to some days off. Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for more inspiration - see the I.O. blog for all the details

Thanks for stopping by!
When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More

Monday, November 18, 2024

Impression Obsession - heads up!

Remember to check the IO site when you have a chance - the discount has gone up to 70% off remaining stock and there are some special products left! I might need to go back through myself!
 

Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More


Monday, November 11, 2024

Impression Obsession - November color challenge

The Impression Obsession team has some projects to share today with a beautiful color palette - we hope we inspire your crafting and your IO shopping!  Enjoy 50% (or more!) off your order, and remember that once these products are gone, they're gone!


Here are the colors we're working with today! I couldn't resist one more Pooh card, and I had some fun with a new liner brush.


The paper pack I used is sold out and I apologize for tempting you with it, but it matched so perfectly! I may need to find a new home for those designs, or add them to my Etsy shop. One day I'll figure out how to balance life and work and work!


IO Products: 
PP054 Pooh paper pack (sold out)

Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - see the I.O. blog for all the details!  It's hard to believe that IO will be closing in just a few short weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More

Saturday, November 02, 2024

Impression Obsession - More Christmas Cards

Today the Impression Obsession Team is back with more projects to inspire your holiday crafting! Don't forget the discount on remaining IO stock - enjoy 50% off your order, and remember that once these products are gone, they're gone!



I'm sharing this card because I was so tickled with the design - this paper from the Vintage Christmas paper pack made such a perfect background for my bird! He's listed as a penguin but his little cowlick has a sort of cardinal crest quality to it, so I colored him red and it works. If you have (or need!) this set, now you have a fun little way to make it stretch.


You can find a list of participants on the Impression Obsession Blog each day through the event. Here are the links to today's projects:

Impression Obsession Blog
Anna Wight
Dina Kowal <<<<<<< that's me!
Giovana Smith
Jeanne Streiff
Laura Fulcher
Laura Williams
Robin Clendenning
Angela Bode


Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More

Friday, November 01, 2024

Impression Obsession - Christmas Card Hop Day 1

November 1st and 2nd the Impression Obsession Team will be sharing projects to inspire your holiday crafting! Don't forget the  discount on remaining IO stock - enjoy 50% off your order, and remember that once these products are gone, they're gone!


I love how this card turned out - I had cut the base to figure out an answer for a newsletter question on Splitcoast, so it was ready to go, and the focal panel was just perfect for this image! (Tutorial is here if you want to make one too!) The image is watercolored with the typical added details using pencil and acrylic pens. When the panel was dry, I stenciled the stars around it lightly with coordinating ink. I love that added touch! 


You can find a list of participants on the Impression Obsession Blog each day through the event. Here are the links to today's projects:

Impression Obsession Blog
Anna Wight
Dina Kowal <<<<<<< you're here!
Giovana Smith
Jeanne Streiff
Laura Fulcher
Laura Williams
Robin Clendenning
Angela Bode


Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More

Monday, October 28, 2024

Impression Obsession - don't forget digital!

Howdy doo! I'm pulling in late because I started a new job today as a graphic designer at Jostens! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work there. Today I learned to use their online editor and worked on templates for elementary school memory books(in step 2, that's me creating the pages!)


Today you'll find our design team sharing favorite projects. I have a couple of Halloween cards today featuring our digital stamps, because I don't want you to forget them! If you love Gary Robertson's artwork, be sure to browse through this gorgeous collection of drawings exclusively  made for IO, and tuck a few into your cart!


both of the images I used are printed on watercolor paper and painted with QoR watercolor paints. I started here with a base of yellow, and layered in more paint and some colored pencil, adding highlights with a white paint pen.


For the second card, I used the same process, layering in some extra shadows on the front of the house. I should have brightened up the pumpkin so it would pop - another time I'll have to color it up like a night scene with a light inside the jack-o-lantern.


One of the most delightful things about Gary's images are black cats - did you notice this one?

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

Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More

Monday, October 21, 2024

Impression Obsession DT Theme - Color Challenge

The Impression Obsession team has some projects to share today with a beautiful Fall color palette - we hope we inspire your crafting and your IO shopping!  Enjoy 50% (or more!) off your order, and remember that once these products are gone, they're gone!


Many of the newer and more popular products were recently restocked for your benefit, so if you were interested in any of the Pooh sets, they are in again. Here's a set I designed last Fall - I used the color palette from the inspiration photo to warm up the view through the windows in this little scene.  I love this sentiment, and the way it fits with the image.


I used watercolors to color in the little scene, adding a little more shading with a brown colored pencil. The white lines on the windows were added with a paint pen - I intended them to look like reflections on the glass but they look a little more like rain instead. Oh well!


Speaking of bears, I completed my first custom memory bear order and he will ship off tomorrow! Isn't he the sweetest?


IO Products:

Be sure to check out the other designers' blogs for inspiration - see the I.O. blog for all the links and  details

Thanks for stopping by!

When you shop through the affiliate links used here, the company sends a small commission my way at no cost to you as thanks for the referral.
It's a lovely way to partner with these companies that mean so much to our creative community. Everybody wins!



Ideas, Supplies, Machines, Paper & More