Wednesday Stamper

The current Wednesday Stamper challenge is "take a ride." This is my interpretation...my Christmas cards will be taking a ride all around the world, starting in a mailbox! (lol) Hope this isn't too abstract an interpretation to meet the challenge. This is my first Christmas card of '09; I'm determined to be ready this year, and not feel pressured to produce cards quickly when the holidays roll around.

I used a vintage mailbox image, altered it in Photoshop, to add our Nova Scotia flag and "Nova Scotia Post," added some Flowersoft around the holly and some textural paste and glitter for the snow, stamped and white embossed the All Night Media "Wish you were here" postal cancellation, and added a hand stitched panel to complete the card.

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Shar Pei challenges

I created this next card to meet six different challenges: the sketch is from Our Creative Corner; the Created by Hand challenge is Asian; the Saturday Surprise challenge is pets; the Thursday Craft Challenge is to use tags; the gals over at Crazy Amigo have a "free" theme this week, , and over at Secret Crafters, we're instructed to use two designer papers, three buttons, and one ribbon. We share our home with a lovable Chinese Shar Pei named Li-Na, so I used this Shar Pei image as the focal point of my tag. It's actually a Canadian postage stamp. I scanned it, enlarged it, and cut it with the Spellbinders petite ovals die, which I then layered with gold mirror cardstock and black Bazzill. The two designer papers I used are from Creative Imaginations and Kodomo. The sentiment stamp is from Suzanne's beautiful hand calligraphy over at Quietfire Design, stamped with Versafine Brown ink and clear embossed. The Asian characters stamp is from All Night Media. I outlined several layers with gold and silver Krylon pens.

This next card is one I did for the Created by Hand challenge last week, but never got around to posting. The theme was stars and moon. I coloured the Inkadinkado owl stamp with chalks, then stamped the Quietfire Design sentiment with Versafine Black ink and clear embossed it. I cut the shapes with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4 dies, then I hand embroidered a star with metallic silver thread.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit today!

"Inspire"

It's been more than a week since I posted here, the Nova Scotia summertime weather is keeping me in my gardens and at the lake.

I created this card based on the current “2 Sketches for You” challenge, and have included other challenges as well. The current TGIF challenge is…”words!” I used the “Inspire” word stamp from Quietfire Design, stamped in Colorbox Chalk Ink, with a Just Right Stampers Fleur de Lis border, stamped with the same ink. The Cute Card Thursday challenge is to use eyelets. I don’t use eyelets much anymore, but really like the effect with the Spellbinders blue eyelets diecut, which I paired with the Spellbinders Renaissance Hearts Medallions and borders dies. I chalk inked parts of the borders for a little added dimension, and layered the borders over Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossed panels. The current One Powerful Hour challenge is to use our favourite colours. Mine change from time to time, but I’m currently enjoying a blue and white combination…reminds me of Wedgewood ornaments. I added a few rhinestone accents for a little extra interest. I have a “play date” this week with a friend, who wants to create “elegant cards.” This is one of three of my designs we’ll do together, so I hope she likes it.

Now, speaking of inspiration, if you're enjoying Spellbinders Nestabilities, you must visit Becca's blog at Amazing Paper Grace...her work is simply beautiful! I visit regularly, and am always inspired!

This is another card we'll start together, with a different blue and white combination. Although I'll have all the pieces cut and ready to assemble, we'll finish the "Wisteria" stitched and beaded design on our own time. This one doesn't meet any online challenges...just one of my own. ;) I used a K & Co fabric covered brad for the centre, and the Textured Textiles Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Thanks so much for visiting; I wish you a happy, creative day!

Going to Paris!

The current Gothic Arch theme is “Marie Antoinette.” I did mine a little differently. I needed dinner party invitations for several friends we’re travelling to Paris with in September, so I thought it might be fun to incorporate the Gothic Arch theme into the invitations. I started by pouncing Broken China Distress Ink on a craft sheet, spritzed it with water, dipped glossy cardstock into it, heat dried, then overstamped the Eiffel Tower (Hero Arts) with Memento Black Ink, and attached it to the base cardstock with dimensional foam. I stamped and gold embossed these beautiful Crafty Individuals flourishes in the corner. The Fleur di Lis border punch is EK Success. The watercolour image is a Marie Antoinette rose, to pick up on the sentiment. I don’t think anyone will “get” the rose though (lol)...a bit too subtle...such a FUN card to make though!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today!

Challenges

This week's Bloggers' Challenge is "A Stitch in Time." Here are some cards I finished this week. I enjoy stitching...by hand, by machine, and I enjoy adding beads to my cards too.

This one is machine stitched, based on the "Card Trick" quilt block pattern, using Daisy D's papers.

This one, for a dear friend's birthday today, is hand stitched and beaded, using the same basic "easel" card design, a 3-d rose, and some old Anna Griffin papers.

Now for something completely different for me!

The current TGIF challenge is "Piece from Heaven;" "Our Creative Corner" wants three different embellishments (I used Crystal Lacquer, ribbon, and pearls); "Saturday's Workout" challenge technique is to use Perfect Pearls with Distress Inks (I used several Distress Inks with Ranger "Perfect Gold" Perfect Pearls on the angel' wings on my tag); and the "So Artful" challenge is Angel's tears.

So for this card, I created the backgrounds by pouncing Broken China Distress Ink on my craft sheet, spritzing with water, then dipping the cardstock into that. Then I heat dried, and stamped the Crafty Individuals angels with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, which I then painted with a little gold Perfect Pearls powder, just on the wings and the gate (It's really difficult to get a good picture of the glimmer, sorry). Then I overstamped with a Stampendous Crackle stamp using Shabby Shutters Distress Ink, and outlined the tag with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. I put one tiny drop of 3-d Crystal Lacquer beneath the eye of the angel facing heavenwards (although you can't see THAT in my photo either, sorry! I loaned my good Canon camera to my son this weekend, and I'm using another one which doesn't take good close-up pictures at all). Then I stamped the Quietfire sentiment over a separate piece of Broken China prepared cardstock, then stamped and gold embossed these beautiful Crafty Individuals flourishes on the left side and the bottom right corner. I was trying to create a "cloud/heavenly" feel with the Broken China ink. I added an organza bow and Kaisercraft pearls, then outlined the blue and green panels with Krylon 18 Kt Gold Leafing Ink. I find distressing exceptionally challenging, so this card really forced me to work well outside my comfort zone.

Thanks so much for visiting today. I hope you enjoy an artsy, creative weekend!

Dreaming about Christmas...in July!

Today is the Impression Obsession Christmas in July sneek peek; it's also "Cute Card Thursday's" design theme challenge for the week, and meets the Wednesday Stamper's "Dreams" theme. The IO designers are all profiling new stamps due for release at CHA this month, and available for sale August first. Be sure to visit all their blogs for inspiration! You'll find direct links on my sidebar to your right. I created some of these cards for the Impression Obsession CHA sample board, some for my favourite local papercrafting shop (the Cutting Garden) and some to meet various blog challenges. What FUN!

Leigh Hannan images are such a joy to colour! For this one, I used this week's Cuttlebug Challenge sketch with one of Leigh Hannan's new Christmas images. I posted another one last week with the same colour scheme, have a look here.

Here are a couple for special protectors in our lives:

Aren't these ornaments just the SWEETEST things!?

I love creating cards for special little boys in my life. These snow people by Alesa Baker are just wonderful for kiddies!

This one's based on the current Papertake Weekly sketch challenge:

Finally, although I'd posted these cards previously, I just have to post them again; they're my absolute FAVOURITES of all the new winter images, and will be used for my Christmas cards this year.

Would you like to see your card featured on the Impression Obsession blog? Create a card for the challenge using Impression Obsession images and email it to Shirley. Every week, cards will be selected to showcase on the Impression Obsession blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you'll take the time to visit the other designers! I'm off to our summer place for a few days, to enjoy the lake and the sunshine. I wish you a creative weekend!

Designers' blog hop week!

This is Impression Obsession's new stamps peek week! All the IO designers will be showing off some of the fabulous new releases, scheduled to make their first appearance at CHA at the end of the month. So here are some of the newbies I've been enjoying.

For these two cards, I used my absolute FAVOURITES of the new Christmas stamps. These beautiful horses are sure to be flying off counters everywhere...that's my prediction! I stamped and embossed these on vellum, then coloured the reverse with chalks and Copics. I really like the recessed window style for this card. We'll be doing a class with these beauties at a local stamp shop this fall.

I used the same vellum technique for this card too, but designed it a little differently.

Do you enjoy creating Halloween cards? These new stamps designed by Leigh Hannan are such FUN to colour and to glitter! I know several little boys who'll love receiving these in the mail.

For this one, the sentiment is computer generated.

I hope you'll have time to visit other designers' blogs. You'll be glad you did! Tuesday's highlights are also being posted by Laura and Julie. Wednesday's peeks will come from Kelli and Jeanne. Friday's peeks will come from Dina and Shirley.

Thursday's posts will be by everyone on the team...it's our Christmas in July new release blitz, so I'll have several new Christmas cards to share with you then. Links to all the IO designers are here on my sidebar. If you're looking for inspiration, be sure to visit!

Apart from enjoying time in my Happy Room today, I was able to enjoy my gardens as well. I'm so delighted with my peonies and my climbing roses this year. Here's one of my "New Dawn" climbers. My pink roses always remind my of my dear friend "Dr. Debbie." She loved roses, and everything she planted grew so beautifully.

Thanks for visiting today.

Impression Obsession Designers' Challenge!

This week, the Impression Obsession designers are engaged in a collaboration with the Simmmerz designers, using IO stamps and Shimmerz paints...a natural mix! This is the card I did, a double slider using one of the brand new Leigh Hannan Christmas stamps due to be released at CHA later this month, and sentiment stamps also from the Christmas collection. I coloured the image with Touch alcohol based markers, then overpainted accents with Shimmerz paints (Bubble Gum and Angel Wings. It's difficult to capture the beautiful shimmery finish, but trust me, it's just GORGEOUS, and so perfect for Christmas! This design holds a surprise gift card well...nice for popping in the mail! It also meets the current Wednesday Stamper challenge...colourful.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you'll have time to look at the other Impression Obsession designers' blogs for their beautiful creations. The links are on the sidebar, just look right. ;)

I wish you a creative summer weekend!

Card for a friend...

I created this one to meet the following challenges: Created by Hand (inchies), Gothic Arch (create an ATC, Gothic style), Timeless Tuesday (use dimension...pop it up) and Secret Crafters (use three ribbons). I created an inchie envelope, then masked and stamped it with this design stamp from Quietfire. I accented the border and the tiny heart with Glitter Ritz Stardust Opaque Microfine glitter. I used Sookwang double sided tape on cardstock, then punched small hearts and covered them with Glitter Ritz Grasshopper Opaque Microfine glitter. I cut the Gothic arch from this beautiful classic Italian Portofino paper, edged it with Krylon 18 Kt Gold Leafing ink, then glued the inchie envelope and pop dotted the glittered hearts onto the arch. I attached the arch to a Cuttlebug embossed gatefold card, and wrapped a length of ecru double faced satin ribbon 'round the card.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit today. I hope YOU have some time to create something beautiful!

Designers' challenge

The Impression Obsession designers' challenge is to create cards suitable for men...always a challenge for me! This first card uses this swirl background stamp which I white-embossed on my origami tie, and the "Just for You" stamp from the "Anytime Sentiments" set.

This second card uses a sentiment stamp from the Cupcake set (MC 181), coupled with a diecut arch and silhouette I did with the Silhouette SD electronic cutter. The Dad's wings meet the Gothic Arch challenge for this week, and the buttons meet the Craft Challenge over at Charisma Cardz.

Several other Impression Obsessioon designers are posting their challenge cards today, so I hope you can take some time to blog-hop a little. The links to their blogs are on my right hand sidebar. Who else is participating? Daniela, Dina, Laura, Jeanne, Jenny and Shirley!

Would you like to see your own artsy work featured on the Impression Obsession blog? We'd love it! Please send Impression Obsession stamped creations along to our IO blog mistress here.

Thanks for stopping by, hope your day is delightful!

Challenges, for a friend

The current Created by Hand challenge is to use a summer theme; the current Crazy Amigo challenge is to use a favourite brand; the current Wednesday Stamper challenge is to use the colours of our flag. Our Canadian flag is red and white...and today is Canada Day.

I used a gold embossed "friend" stamp from Quietfire Design, and a sheet of damask paper from one of my perennially favourite manufacturers, Making Memories.

I cut the centre aperture of this tri-fold card with the Cuttlebug and the round Nesties die; the card is another one for my friend Meg whose seven year old son Ben is fighting cancer. The centre panel's circle is actually just space...nothing there..the card folds to view the "friend" on an inside panel from the front.