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February 2014

January 2014

Conversation Hearts Tutorial by Laura Fulcher

January 28, 2014

Laura Fulcher shows us how to easy it is to make a bunch of conversation hearts for any of your projects with C5641 Conversation Hearts & DIE133-C Conversation Hearts Block die.

 

 
 
First, you stamp the new  Conversation Hearts image (C5641) using black ink (I used black Memento).  Notice that it will stamp all of the sayings with a box around all the words:


Next, get out the coordinating Conversation Hearts Block die (DIE 133-C).  Notice it has 9 hearts to match the 9 sayings:

 
Tape the die on top of the words.  Notice that the square die is the same size as the stamped block.  This allows for easy alignment.  Once you have the die on top of the sayings, use a little repositionable tape to hold it in place and then run it through a die cutting machine:
 

You will be left with 9 conversation hearts with the sayings stamped in the middle:


You could repeat the process using different colors of paper, but I cut all of mine out of white paper and then colored them with the chisel side of my Copic markers.  It was a very fast way to color them!  To finish the card, I popped up the center heart with foam tape and added a layer of paper that coordinated with the center heart.

 
Have a great day!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Design Team, Dies, Techniques & Product Tutorials | | Comments (4)

Chalkboard Card by Jenny Gropp

January 27, 2014

Jenny Gropp creates a striking chalkboard style card today using Live, Love Laugh F15011, Unforgettable C14213, Valentine Hearts Clear Set CL538 and Mini Heart Row DIE134-D

 

Even though the challenge is about LOVE, I think this Live, Love, Laugh stamp could work for an any occasion card. I white heat embossed the image on black paper and created a chalkboard look by rubbing some white ink over the image. I stamped the heart portion on red paper cut it out and pieced it back in to the image. I also added a little glossy accents to the heart making it shine.
 
Have a great day!

 

 

 

 

On the inside I added a few more layers, so the front would match the inside. I also used the Mini Heart Row Die along the bottom edge. I stamped the Unforgettable sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black and then the little heart in Versafine Crimson Red.

 

Stamps by Impression Obsession: Live, Love Laugh #15011, Unforgettable #C14213, Valentine Hearts Clear Set # CL538

Dies by Impression Obsession: Mini Heart Row #DIE134-D

Posted at 07:00 AM in Design Team, Dies, Zenspirations | | Comments (3)

Row of Hearts by Anna Wight

January 25, 2014

We have a sweet Valentine from Anna Wight to share today!

Anna used a couple of the newly released dies, along with the beautiful Border Duo 2 die for the lacy book paper strip. I used one of the hearts from the Heart Set of dies to cut a felt heart for under the button, and I used the Floral Heart Strip die for the row of hearts that look like they're blowing in the breeze. I tied pretty red twine around the card, and added a vintage mother of pearl button from my stash.

AnnaWight8980

Have a great day!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Design Team, Dies | | Comments (3)

3-D Butterfly Card by Jenny Gropp

January 21, 2014

Jenny Gropp shares how she made this beautiful 3-D Butterfly card.

Jenny used Blank Canvas #H9216, Two Bunnies #H1948, Happiness is #D14201
,Fence Border #DIE08-J, Square Shaker Frame #DIE002-Z, Pocket Watch DIE088-R, Fancy Butterfly DIE059-N

 I do love to pull out the Copics for an image like this! This is a Gary Robertson image called Two Bunnies. Scenes like this are a favorite of mine and others that are colorers. And I also know not everyone wants to sit and color for a long time, so I wanted to show that you can always change up your image. I cut this image right in half...which cut my coloring time right in half too! In the background I stamped the new Canvas Background with the Happiness is a Butterfly sentiment.

 

 Here you can see the other half of the image. 

 Above you can see the Copic Markers I used to color the image. I stamped the butterfly a second time so I could pop it up on the panel adding some dimension.

 Using the Pocket Watch Die I found the perfect little die cut to use for my butterfly body! 

 

 On the inside.... you can see I cut the fancy butterfly out of the white liner paper and then backed  the opening with printed paper. I cut the butterfly again in brown to pop in to place. You can see below the finished inside.

 I also used the Fence Border Die along the left side. I cut off the fence post tops and then wove a patterned paper strip through it.

  Stamps by Impression Obsession: Blank Canvas #H9216, Two Bunnies #H1948, Happiness is #D14201
Dies by Impression Obsession: Fence Border #DIE08-J, Square Shaker Frame #DIE002-Z, Pocket Watch DIE088-R, Fancy Butterfly DIE059-N
Paper: My Mind's Eye 6x6 Lavender Collection, Aqua, Brown, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Scattered Straw
Other: Spellbinder's #S4-318 Fleur de Lis Squares, Perfect Layer Rulers, Collall - Dimensional Silicone, Ribbon by May Arts, Bow Easy Tool, Foam Tape, Misc. Button

Have a great day!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Design Team, Dies, Gary Robertson, Techniques & Product Tutorials | | Comments (9)

Wine Tag by Laura Fulcher

January 18, 2014

Laura Fulcher brings us a quick last minute gift idea!

CL41 Thanks Sentiments clear set, A2112 Grapes and D2113 Wine bottle

 For my tag, I stamped a saying from the CL41 Thanks Sentiments clear set and then stamped the grapes (A2112) all around the saying. I colored the grapes with watercolor pencils, blended them with a Dove Blender pen, and sponged purple ink around the edges. I then stamped the wine bottle (D2113) onto scrap paper, colored it with watercolor pencils, sponged around the edges, cut it out, and popped it up onto the tag with foam tape. To finish the project, I colored my natural raffia with a purple Copic marker to match the tag.

Have a great day!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Design Team, Leigh Hannan | | Comments (1)

New IO Challenge - I {Heart} You

January 16, 2014

Welcome to  our "I {Heart} You" Challenge!

Get inspired by the wonderful Impression Obsession  Team (listed below). 

When you've finished checking out our DT creations, please join us by posting your own challenge project at the bottom of this post!

IO Blog – You are Here
Anna Wight
Daniela Dobson
Dina Kowal
Ellen Taylor
Jeanne Streiff
Jenny Gropp
Kittie Caracciolo
Laura Fulcher
Vicki Garrett

Follow the guidelines below to enter challenge and have a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate for use in our online store. Good luck!

Challenge Guidelines

Use all IO dies/stamps (please list stamp ordie names and/or item numbers on your blog or gallery entry with a  link to Impression Obsession). Other nesting dies may be used for card shapes & mats.

Your entries have to be new (no back dating older projects). 

You may use this entry with multiple challenges but this challenge must be listed first.

You may enter more than once but each entry needs to be be in a separate post.

Use a direct link to your project (no general links ) to enter at the bottom of this post.

Challenge will be open until Tuesday January 28th at 7 p.m. CT.

Winner announced  January 29th. Winner must respond within one week of the day the challenge ends to collect prize.

Have a great day and good luck! If you have questions please email Jeanne (see sidebar).

Posted at 07:00 AM | | Comments (4)

Winner!!! Winner!!!

January 15, 2014

We have a winner! 

Thanks to all the players of the Blue Challenge! All of your projects were beautiful!

Our winner is...Robin Tharaldson! Congratulations !

Please email Jeanne for your Gift Certificate info.

New IO Challenge starts tomorrow!

Here is Robin's project using Border Duo 1 die, Flags die set, Going Postal clear stamp set, Warm Fuzzies clear stamp set, and Heart of Hearts die.

 
 

 

 
 
Have a great day!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Dies | | Comments (3)

Die Cut Jewelry Tutorial by Dina Kowal

January 14, 2014

Happy New Year!

Dina Kowal created beautiful jewely using die cuts!

 

Leaves

Sm. Leaf Set

 


I cut the maple shapes from a piece of cardstock that protects my work surface from extra ink and paint, then cut 3 more layers for each piece from watercolor paper and glued all the layers together with Tacky Glue. After trimming the stems and punching a hole for the ring, I coated each piece front and back with Crystal Lacquer.

 I got the idea for this project from THIS VIDEO -- the dies sure made the shaping a breeze!

 Have a great day!

 

Posted at 07:00 AM in Design Team, Dies, Techniques & Product Tutorials | | Comments (6)

Spring Release Winners!

January 11, 2014

We would like to thank each and every one of you that participated in our Spring Release Designer Hop! Such nice comments for our designers (who really outdid themselves...WOW!) and great feedback on our new stamps and dies. So much fun! We appreciate you so much!

Day 5 Winner - loulou

Extra Winner (from all the hop days) - Kellijo

Please email Jeanne to collect your $25 IO Gift Certificate!

 All of the new stamps & dies you'll be seeing on the hop are available NOW!

 www.iostamps.com

 

Posted at 07:00 AM | | Comments (2)

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