Cards and Things

Challenges again...

2009-11-04T21:11:00.011-04:00

So the Impression Obsession designers are engaged in a blog challenge today; hope you'll visit all their blogs (on my sidebar) to see the fabulous things they're doing! The challenge is wreaths. Here's mine. I used one of the BIG BOLD "Cover a card" background stamps that I stamped with one of the new Impression Obsession Mega Mounts. These background stamps are humungous! When you mount them on the mega mount, there's a lovely little curve on the mount that lets you just sort of "rock" your image right onto your cardstock...SOOOO easy to use!! So, here are some pics for you. The first one is my card, the others will (I hope) let you see the mounts. I used the Cover a Card Tapestry stamp on acetate, thermal embossed with Seafoam White EP (Ranger). The cover-a-card stamps are HUGE, at 5 3/4 " square, and they really DO cover a card! (lol) I used this IO sentiment too. I punched several differant green cardstock scraps with a Martha Stewart punch, and mounted them on a Spellbinders Nestability circle punched piece of cardstock.

This next card is for the Wednesday Stamper challenge, which is Asian this week. I used an OnyxXpressions panda stamp over a hand stitched and beaded design, with an OnyxXpressions sentiment stamp on the left. I really enjoy finding new ways to combine stitching and stamping! I'm posting a close-up of the beading too. It's such FUN to do!

THANKS for stopping by my blog today! I'll visit yours too. ;)

Challenges...

2009-11-02T17:39:00.005-04:00

I did this for two challenges. Over at Gothic Arches, we were challenged to use a piece of Lord Frederick Leighton's art, and at Created by Hand, the challenge theme is "Times gone by." These gothic arch windows remind me of the beautiful architecture we saw when we visited Italy last month. I digitally superimposed part of one of his paintings on the centre window, added some beads and glitz, and used a sentiment stamp and the corner checked design stamp from Quietfire Design.

Over at Project Tuesday, the challenge is to create a triangle box. Mine uses stamps from Heather's Stamping haven in Ottawa, Ontario. These are such fun little boxes for party and wedding favours! I stamped and gold embossed the background on SU cardstock, and the rose on vellum, then mounted that on cardstock and pop-dotted it as shown.

Over at Tag Tuesday, Louise has challenged us to create a tag with NO PAPER! Well, this one sure had me scratching my head! (lol) However, she did permit us to use cardboard...just no paper. So I cut apart a cereal box, glued tinfoil over that, let it dry, embossed it in my 'bug, painted it with white gesso, rubbed that off to distress it, then added a metal Creative Imaginations flower and a piece of ribbon. Here's the tag, and then I uploaded a photo of the tag made into a card with an Impression Obsessions sentiment stamp. THANKS Louise, what a fun challenge!

Thanks for stopping by today...I'll stop by your place too if there's a link! ;)

A "safe" card...

2009-10-30T12:39:00.009-03:00

...for my little grandson. I'm in "Grammie trouble!"

I created several Halloween cards to send to each of my four grandsons, and five year old Avery called me last night to say "Gwammie that witch "thweaked" me out, I don't like it."

So he's asked for a snowman to replace it, and this was first on my card agenda for today (lol).

I incorporated these challenges: Wednesday Stamper's chocolate (I used chocolate cardstock); Craft Challenge's don't use backing paper (I used one of the new Impression Obsession background stamps instead); One Powerful Hour's orange (carrot nose); Friday's alphabet challenge is "C" for circles.

I chalk-coloured and pop dotted parts of the Inkadinkado snowman stamp, used a Nesties border and some ribbon...and voila! My "safe card" for my grandson, which will go in today's post along with a new hat and scarf and mittens. Hope I've redeemed myself!

This card, with an Impression Obsession sentiment stamp, and a Judikins background stamp, is for the SPCC Finally Friday colour challenge:

Challenges...gotta love 'em!

2009-10-26T22:57:00.005-03:00

Don't you just LOVE challenges!? Whenever I have a special card to create, I check online card challenges for the day, and find such inspiration! I need a special baby girl card to send in the post, to a young couple who's just had their scond daughter. I followed several challenges, starting with Project Tuesday's (create a stairstep card). I incorporated Papertake Weekly (use stripes or spots) and Flourishes Timeless Tuesday (use border punches).

This is the result. I'm tickled pink with how it turned out. I used some Basic Grey paper scraps, stamps from Hearts in Touch (little girl) and Quietfire Design (sentiment).

For this next card, the gauntlet's been thrown! Catherine, a stamping friend, has challenged us to participate in the MoJo Monday challenge this week. It's a nice sketch, so I decided to try it. I paired it with the current Created by Hand challenge...Halloween.

The crow stamp is from Quietfire Design; the trees backgrounder is from Cornish Heritage Farm. I used Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed distress inks, Versafine Black Ink, Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder, and Gold Krylon Ink.

Challenges!

2009-10-25T10:57:00.007-03:00

I really enjoy combining challenges...it just adds to the pleasure of creating! This card was created for the following challenges: this week's Gothic Arch challenge is to use orange and black; TwoPeas Stamptoberfest challenges are Fall is Fabulous, Marianne's last minute Halloween Card challenge, Sue and Tanya's Earth challenge; Saturday Surprise wants us to do something autumn themed; One Powerful Hour wants something spooky; Finally Friday's challenge is to emboss and layer; Secret Crafters want us to use orange and another colour; Our Creative Corner wants us to use a favourite holiday book or movie title in our card. I based this card on the book "Owl Moon," by Jane Yolen, a beautifully illustrated book for the 4 to 8 age group. I bought it for my grandson, who loves to have it read to him. I'll actually send this card along to him in the post tomorrow.

The background tree stamp is Cornish Heritage Farm; the owl and flourishes are from Crafty Individuals. I used Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink with Versafine Onyx black with a resist for the owl arch.

The current SAWO challenge is to make your own jewelry. Here's a set I made for my "Pink Lady Challenge" over at TwoPeas. If you haven't participated in the fabulous Two Peas stamp extravaganza all week, there's still time...you have till midnight tonight to play! Happy pea members have posted all kinds of great challenges with generous RAKS, and the grand prize from American Crafts is spectacular. Go visit the stamping message boards, play today!

LOTS of Challenges! Playing catch-up!

2009-10-21T06:53:00.011-03:00

I've been away for several weeks, enjoying sights and sounds and smells and tastes of France and Italy...FABULOUS vacation...but it's OH-SO-GOOD to be home and in my happy room again, where I'm catching up on challenges and cards due for special occasions.

This week's Wednesday Stamper challenge is to create a Halloween card. This little owl uses Halloween colours, but a non Halloween sentiment, hope he still fits the challenge! The stamp is from Heather's Stamping Haven in Ottawa, and the sentiment is computer generated.

This week's Timeless Tuesday challenge over at Flourishes is to watercolour. Here's a scrapling I created, and also posted over at TwoPeas , where they're hosting a week long stamping extravaganza called "Stamptoberfest..." check out the message board...great challenges, delightful member RAKS, and a SUPER GENEROUS grand prize package! The tree stamp is from Rubber Stamp Avenue, coloured direct to rubber with Tombow watercolour markers, and misted with water, then stamped on watercolour paper. The sentiment stamp is from Amuse.

This is a card I did to fit Charisma Cards distressed challenge, and "Theme Thursday's," which is faces. I LOVE this stamp, it's an oldie from Magenta. The dainty gold embossed flourishes are from Crafty Individuals.

The current "Cute Card Thursday" challenge is "Candy Corn," and over at "One Powerful Hour," we had to create something spooky. I did this wee Halloween thing for my grandson, whose current obsession is spiders! The wooden coffin is from Michael's Arts and Crafts.

For this project, I used the Dreamweaver spider brass stencil , the Dreamweaver spiderweb brass stencil, and Dreamweaver embossing pastes, all from Quietfire Design.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today! I'd love to come see YOU too!

Created by Hand Challenge

2009-10-20T09:11:00.003-03:00

This week's CBH challenge is to use the word "trust." I used a photo I took just last Friday, of a lovely painting in a wonderful artists' market in Piazza Navona, in Rome. (The painter gave me permission!) This piazza is a beautiful and famous square where you can admire sculptural masterpieces by Bernini, Borromini and G. della Porta, who were important baroque artists. We took literally HUNDREDS of photos here, then sat...for several delightful hours in warm sunshine...to eat lunch and consume copious amounts of red Italian wine! These wonderful sentiment stamps are from Quietfire Design.

Created by Hand Challenge

2009-10-06T06:00:00.002-03:00

So I'm hoping this post works. I set it to post on October 6th, while I'm away enjoying the sights and sounds and tastes of Paris! We left Nova Scotia Sept 26th. After Paris, we're on our way to the south of France, then to Rome...exploring and eating and sipping our way through our travels. Aaahhh, retirement is wonderful!

Sooo...the challenge this week over at Created by Hand is to use stencils...one of my very favourite artsy tools...so I made several! (lol) This first card uses Dreamweaver stencils with Glitter Ritz, double sided tape and one of the brand new stamps over at Quietfire Design. I stamped the sentiment with Versafine Black Ink, then thermal embossed with Ranger Super Fine Clear Embossing Powder.

For this next card, I used another new Quietfire stamp also uses a Dreamweaver stencil (Swirl Background), wet embossed with white embossing paste. I first stamped on a scrap of paper, cut a mask, then stamped and thermal embossed the same sentiment on cardstock, masked it, then paste embossed over the masked image. I cut it with one of the new Spellbinders Nestabilities (Labels Six), then layered it with dimensional foam squares onto black cardstock, previously paste-embossed with a Dreamweaver Thank You stencil.

Here's another one, using the Cypress Tree Dreamweaver stencil with two sided tape and Glitter Ritz again, with the Spellbinders Scallop Ovals and a Quietfire Design sentiment stamp. I posted this one for an earlier TGIF challenge too. :)

This last card was just for fun. The stencil here is the small square Spellbinders Shapeabilities Fleur de Lis pendant die, cut and embossed with gold mirror cardstock, then cut in half and affixed to the top and bottom of a Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Six die, paired with another one of Suzanne's beautiful new rubber stamps.

So, that's it for this post. If you'd like to read more about using stencils, here's a link to an article I wrote, which was published in Stamp and Scrap Art last year...also posted on the Quietfire website. Thanks again for visiting today! I wish you a happy and creative week!

TGIF challenge # 104

2009-09-26T02:44:00.003-03:00

The current TGIF challenge is "wonderful trees." Here's mine, done with a sentiment stamp from Quietfire Design and a tree using a Dreamweaver brass stencil, Sookwang double sided tape, and glitters.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenges

2009-09-08T08:09:00.006-03:00

Oh my, I am SO enjoying this late summer/beginning of fall weather! I don't enjoy artsy endeavors during the heat and humidity of the summer, so I'm spending hours and hours in my happy room these days.

Today's challenge over at Created by Hand is to use stitching on your work. This first card uses machine stitching over a watercolour-resist with Ecoline inks, and the second uses hand stitching. Both cards use Quietfire Design stamps. The last card for the CBH challenge is a birthday card I finished this morning for a dear artist friend, hand stitched corner scroll with Kaisercraft pearls. I think the stamp might be Stamp It Australia, although the name on the tin box is long gone.

The challenge over at Our Creative Corner is to use stars and stripes. This card uses an old stamp from Peddler's Pack, and a sentiment stamp from Impression Obsession. The sentiment stamp is the one on the bottom, which actually says "Merry Christmas to a Special Hero," but I masked out the Merry Christmas, and added a computer generated "Happy Birthday" above the stamped image instead.

This card is for the Crazy Amigo challenge...hats! The image stamps is a House Mouse, the hat is All Night Media, and the sentiment is Quietfire Design.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Impression Obsession Designers' Challenge!

2009-09-03T07:50:00.008-03:00

Oh my, it's been three weeks since I posted here. I've been enjoying long, lazy summer days at the lake, where internet is forbidden (lol).

Today, the IO designers are posting challenges to use stamps for "other than their intended purpose." Well, hmmm, I think I interpreted this a little differently than other designers did. Because I'm a card maker, MY feeble brain interpreted the challenge as "Don't make a CARD Deborah." So I didn't. Ummm...I used the tree...as a tree! (lol) BUT...I did use it on a different project though, so I hope the IO gals will let me away with it.

I used this beautiful tree to design a votive candle shade. After creating four panels from green cardstock with Nestabilities scalloped and square dies, I stamped the image on vellum, colouring the stamp with a green watercolour marker, then added accents of Aleene's "True Snow," and sprinkled Aleene's clear glitter over it while it was still wet. Then I rummaged through my bead stash and fashioned bead strings to sew on to tiny organza bows, and added paper roses to hide the stitching. I just LOVE this particular little tree!

If you like trees, Impression Obsession has five full pages of them for your pleasure, starting here.

The first image is unlit, the second shows it with a battery operated flickering candle inside.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Be sure to take a few minutes to see the beautiful work from the other talented Impression Obsession designers...you'll find links to their blogs on the right sidebar here.

Welcome to Paris!

2009-08-13T10:15:00.010-03:00

Next month, my better half and I will be travelling from Nova Scotia to Europe with several friends. These friends form a group of eight; we often enjoy dinner parties with one another, and our tradition is to spend every New Year's Eve together. So I wanted to create a little "purse-something card" to give the gals at our "Pre-vacation dinner party," coming up soon. We'll be visiting Paris, Nice (French Riviera), Cinque Terre (Italian Riviera) and Rome over a period of nearly a month. Our dinner party's theme is "all things Paris."

Although one of the challenges needed some distressing (which is ALWAYS an extra challenge for me!), I had such FUN with this project! I created four of these, three for gal-friends, and one for a local paper crafting shop.

Sooo...I browsed through all the current challenges, and decided on these:

The Crazy Amigo challenge is "welcome" (to Paris!)
The Cuttlebug challenge is to create a "scene" card (Eiffel Tower)
The Wednesday Stamper challenge is "paisley" (inside pocket)
The Ready Set Stamp challenge is to use the following ingredients: cork, the colour blue, a monument, the Cuttlewax technique, and a metal embellishment

Isa's done an easy tutorial on the Cuttlewax technique, on a post dated Aug 12th. (An added bonus is a pic of her "favourite helper elf," her little daughter Melissa)

So, this is what I did: I used a piece of the new Basic Grey lace medallion paper first.

It was actually nicely distressed as it was, but I Cuttlebugged the Swiss Dots folder on waxed paper, then ironed it onto the lace medallion (sandwiched with another piece of cardstock), then distressed it with Tim Holtz Broken China ink.

Then I stamped this Crafty Individuals stamp on a piece of cork paper with the same colour ink, mounted it on the Basic Grey lace medallion, then mounted that on another cork panel. Crafty Individuals stamps lend themselves so well to distressed work. The tower image is very faint, which is just what I wanted. I used some pretty ribbon from Michael's, the Fleur di lis emblems are glittered with rust...very pretty! I picked up the rust again with a small circle of rust textured paper underneath the stamped image. I added a Fleur di Lis metal embellishment from Frost Creek Charms.

I stamped and embossed a couple of paisleys on an inside pocket, coloured with a little Sakura Glaze ink, added some note paper and a pen, then a greeting on the back...et voila!

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit today.

Created by Hand Challenge

2009-08-11T13:05:00.004-03:00

The current Created by Hand challenge is to use a favourite background. I'm enjoying glitters with brass stencils these days, so here's one I did for a young friend, who's just recently started card making. I used a Dreamweaver brass stencil with this double sided tape, and a mixture of different Glitter Ritz glitters and Martha Stewart glitters, along with a Quietfire Design sentiment stamp, some crystals and pearls, and a Martha Stewart border punch.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.

Challenges!

2009-08-11T11:10:00.009-03:00

Well, it's been two weeks since I posted anything here. I've been enjoying visiting grandkidlets, and haven't spent any time at all in my happy room, so it was fun to get back here.

This project was created to meet several challenges, but the initial conception was about my little grandson's current obsession with spiders. Connor is three years old, and this will be going in the post to him later this week. It's designed to hold a battery operated flickering candle.

Here are some pics of three year old Connor (wearing green and red shirts) with his five year old brother Avery, at White Point Beach in Nova Scotia last week. They're such FUN little boys!

So, on to the challenges! I started this one a couple of days ago with the current Gothic Arch challenge, which is Edgar Allan Poe (the ravens reflect that). The current Saturday Surprise challenge is to use a different shape. The Papertake Weekly challenge is to reflect the seasons, so here's fall and Halloween! Over at Our Creative Corner, they want us to comemmorate harvest time, and at SAWO, the challenge is to use texture paint.

I started with a 12 by 12 piece of chipboard, cut the three arch shapes in a continuous fashion, gessoed and painted them with Lumiere Burnt Orange, then used the Dreamweaver spider web and spider templates with Dreamweaver Black Matte embossing paste. I paste embossed the spiders on acetate and glued them to the inside Spellbinders-cut ovals. Then I thermal embossed the Quietfire Design crows and word with Tsukineko Black embossing powder, added lots of glitter and little wooden buttons which were painted with gold Lumiere for feet...and it was finished! I made one of these for a favourite local paper crafting shop too..."The Cutting Garden." They're such FUN to do!

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

Wednesday Stamper

2009-07-29T10:15:00.005-03:00

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

2009-07-27T16:39:00.004-03:00

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"

2009-07-27T11:40:00.007-03:00

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!

2009-07-19T13:05:00.003-03:00

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

2009-07-17T20:48:00.013-03:00

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!

2009-07-16T08:44:00.017-03:00

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!

2009-07-13T23:51:00.011-03:00

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!

2009-07-10T10:35:00.004-03:00

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...

2009-07-07T10:25:00.003-03:00

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

2009-07-02T01:18:00.010-03:00

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

2009-07-01T11:37:00.007-03:00

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.