Impression Obsession's Blog

It's Almost Challenge Time Again

And Kelli, our Design Team Leader, has really come up with some wonderful challenges for the next 2 months.  They start this Thursday, October 1.  Here is a list of the fun card challenges coming our way:

• Oct 1 -- Gratitude Cards - With Thanksgiving and Christmas on their way, this gives us time to get some cards ready for friends far and near.
• Oct 15 -- Shaker Cards - A chance for us at IO, to try out the new Shake- It Pouches designed by Mitra.  They have self adhesive and come in kits with cards, envelopes, etc., or you can get the Shake-It Pouches on the side.  Click HERE to see for yourself!   Mine should be here soon and I can't wait to get started!  You don't have to use these for your shaker card to participate.
• Nov 5 -- Wreath Cards - For the season, Christmas, etc.  Another chance to get cards ready for the holidays if you like, or for any other occasion.
• Nov 19 -- Winter Cards - Another chance to create something by season or holiday.

All of you are invited to participate.  The rules are the same:

• All Impression-Obsession stamps are to be used.
• Entries will be accepted until Saturday, October 3 at midnight.
• They are to be emailed to me using the Email Shirley link provided near the top of the second sidebar to the right.
• All participant's cards will be posted here and also permanently in our IO Customer Gallery in the very next sidebar over.

This time there will be a WINNER of an Impression-Obsession $25 Gift Certificate to be chosen from those participating using Random.org.  The selection will be made on Monday, October 5, in a new post here.

The gift certificate is ready and I can't wait to see who will receive it!!  They may want to try out the new Shake-It pouches, and even the Mega Mount and Cover-A-Card Stamps!  So show us your beautiful Gratitude designs! I am off to finish my card for Thursday. It's a tutorial with Gratitude!  I am all excited to see what you and the Design Time have created too.  If you want some ideas, take a look at the Photo Albums to the right.  See you all then!

 

 Shirley

 

Christmas Gift Challenge Participants So Far

Don't forget you still have until midnight tonight to send me photos of your gift ideas for this Christmas Gift challenge.  We have had 2 ladies who sent their gift ideas already and they are below:

First is Ulrike at Blonde Aquamarine's Cards.  She used one of Melissa Gordon's stamps, Candy Cane Chickadee - E7022.  It's a Chickadee Bell bird feeder.  It is made using a terra cotta pot and painted with acrylic colors. It will be finished by putting a rope through the hole of the pot and put some fat balls attached to it underneath. Then you hang it in a tree or bush for the birds.  How very pretty, clever, and creative!  Thank you so for participating in our challenge, Ulrike.  Check out her blog.  It is new as of this month.  Welcome to Blogland, Ulrike!

Our next participant is not new to our challenges.  She is Melisa Waldorf at Art From My Heart.  She has designed a gift bag that is a real keeper.  She used one of Leigh Hannan's stamps, Toasty Treats - E2342.  Melisa, it's lovely and thank you for your participation too.

Thank you both for the beautiful projects and gifts for Christmas.

Our new list of challenges should be here some time this next week.  I will be posting the dates so you can see what we will be doing ahead of the challenge.

Thanks again ladies for participating in our challenge and hope to see you in the next one too!  And thanks to all of you for stopping by to say hi!

 

 Shirley

 

IO Holiday Gift Ideas Anyone?

Well it's challenge time again and it's Holiday Gift Ideas.  To give you inspiration the Design Team members have some great ideas for you.  We can't wait to see yours too!

I will also be posting your gifts here when you participate.  Don't forget to use only IO stamps and then send pictures of your creations to my email address. It is listed in the upper right hand side of the blog under my name.  Your gift will be posted on the blog here and also in our Customer Gallery.  Take a look at the other great creations guests have made.  It appears under the Card Galleries tab.

Below are the Design Team's blogs so you can see their great gifts:

• Laura Fulcher - Beautiful Photo Card Holder
• Dina Kowal - Adorable Ribbon Spool Ornaments
• Kathy Menzies - A Beautiful Gift For A Gift Within
• Jeanne Streiff - A Really Yummy Cute Fun Gift

Ooooops!  Almost forgot to tell you.  If you have been waiting for the arrival of the Mega Mounts^TM and the Shake-It^TM Pouches and Kits, they are at the store!!!  They are busy mailing out to those who pre-ordered them too. 

• You can see the Mega Mount demonstrated HERE. 
• To see the Mega Mount and Cover-a-Card stamps, go HERE.
• HERE is where you can see Mitra demonstrating how to use the Shake-It Pouch.
• To see Shake-It Pouches and kits in our online store, go HERE.

All right everybody, let me see your gifts, and thanks for stopping by to get motivated and say hi!

 

 Shirley

 

Here Comes Halloween....

I received the wonderful and creative card below in my email from Design Team member, Jenny Gropp, at One Krafty Kat!  That blog name is so creative and clever, as are all of her cards.  Check out her blog for some serious drooling eye candy.

Jack Chandelier - F2353, Bubbles - CC026, and Witching You A Happy Halloween - B5523

 She used one of Leigh Hannan's new Fall stamps, Jack Chandelier - F2353.  For her background she used Cover-a-Card™ Bubbles - CC026, and Witching You A Happy Halloween - B5523 for the words on the side.  What a great card.  She has weathered the sides of the dark brown frame around the Chandelier too!  Thank you Jenny for the beautiful card to post.

The DT Albums are in the gallery tab at the top of our blog.  When you are viewing them you can also click on the links that will take you to that/those stamp(s) in our online store.   There is also a direct link to the posts for that card on their blogs.

Remember our Thursday challenge this week will be Holiday Gift Ideas. 

• Anyone who uses all IO stamps can enter. 
• You have from Thursday through Saturday, midnight EST to email me your card
• It will be posted on this blog
• It will also be posted in the Customer Gallery listed under the Card Galleries tab at the top of the blog.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 

 Shirley

 

Quilt Weather Is On Its Way

When I see background stamps or the new Cover-a-Card™ stamps I immediately think of using them for paper piecing, quilt cards, or ways to show off the great patterns.  For today's tutorial I am going to use 2 of the new Cover-a-Card™ stamps for a Quilt card.  I already had one of my backgrounds.  I made it to show you how to use these bigger than life stamps for different techniques HERE, remember?  So there's our start.....Make your backgrounds.

Swirls CC002 (Cream & Gold) and Tapestry CC024 (Greens & Gold)

Quilt Card Piece Patterns and Background:

1.  The first paper piece was created applying 3 different shades of green dye ink on White cardstock.  Then VersaMark ink was applied to Cover-a-Card™ CC024 Tapestry. Next Egyptian Gold embossing powder was applied and heat embossed.

2.  The second paper piece was done using Cover-a-Card™ CC002 Swirls.  Next Egyptian Gold embossing powder was also applied and heat embossed.  An extra one was made for one the backgrounds,

3.  Cut (2) 4X4 pieces of white, bone, ivory, or vanilla cardstock to be the bases for your quilt pieces.  You will have enough for 2 cards.

Creating Quilt Pieces:

Cut 1, 2, and 3 as described below.

Each 4"X4" Piece of Patterned Paper:

1.  Cut a 4X4 inch piece from each of your stamped pieces of paper.  Cut the first piece in half as shown by the blue number. You have 2 pieces.

2.  Cut those 2 pieces in half again as shown with the green numbers.  You have 4 pieces.

3.  Cut those 4 pieces in half as shown with the orange numbers.  There will be a final 8 pieces.

Swirls CC002 (Cream & Gold) and Tapestry CC024 (Greens & Gold)

Building the Background and Embellishments:
1.  One piece of green cardstock 5.25X5.25
2. One piece of prepared Swirl cardstock 5X5 mounted on the Green in 1.
3. Using a piece of the light cardstock (not embossed) punch the edge using Fiskars Apron Lace border punch.  Each side is separately mounted as shown.
4.  Using the leftover Tapestry cardstock cut into:

• turn the 'Quilted 4X4' over and tape the back.
• cut the green embossed leftover remnant into .5 inch strips
• mount each strip to abut each other as shown and trim extra where needed.

5.  Turn over and mount with 3D pop dots in the center of the background. 6.  Using leftover remnants of the Swirls Quilt piece and Spellbinder Frameabilities Scalloped Edge Flower die, cut 3 flowers.  One for the center and the other two halved as shown. 7.  Paint the flowers as shown and mount the pearls.  One Mega 10MM and 4 5MM. 8.  Tie bow using Bow-Easy and mount as shown.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Cover-a-Card™ CC024 Tapestry and CC002 Swirls
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth and Natural cardstock, Green cardstock to match the patterned paper.
Inks:  VersaMark; 3 different shades of Green dye ink.
Accessories:  Egyptian Gold Embossing Powder, Spellbinders Frameabilities Scalloped Edges (Flower), Organdy Ribbon, Bow- Easy, Mark Richards 10MM and 5MM pearls.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 

 Shirley

 

Out-Of-The-Box Challenge Participant

We had one brave participant in the challenge this time and it was Georgia at Georgia's Place.  For her card she used either Leigh Hannan's Cake Trio Two - F2281 or her Clear Stamp Set Birthday Cakes - CL203.

 

What a fun and great card.  I hope you all will click on the picture so you can get a closeup of her embellishments and that embossed background too! Thanks so much, Georgia, for the beautiful entry and I hope you will come back for our next one too.  Our next one is Holiday Gift Ideas and will be on Thursday, September 17.  See you there!

Out Of The Box Challenge

The challenge for today is to create a card using a stamp(s) for other than what it/they was/were intended.  The challenge is open to anyone who uses only IO stamps and sends their card to me by midnight this Saturday.  Their card will be posted here and also in the IO Customer Photo Album to the right.

Below is my card, and the supplies I used.

 

Stamps: Spa Day - G2346, Make Merry - A8147, or Clear Stamp Set Swirl Tree - CL196,  Cover-A-Card Thick & Thin - CC008, Cover-A-Card Small Dots - CC003, Branches Of The Tree - CL168

If you would like to see the details they can be found on my blog, listed with the Design Team's blogs below.  I would check them out.  They have some really beautiful and fun cards for you:

• Daniela Dobson
• Deborah March
• Laura Fulcher
• Jenny Gropp
• Julie Koerber
• Dina Kowal
• Kathy Menzies
• Shirley Ross
• Jeanne Streiff

For the rest of you who would like to play too, send me your cards!!!  My email is in the upper right hand corner where it says 'Email Shirley'.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 

 Shirley