It is a brand new Monday!

Good Morning everyone it is Shanna here on another Monday to help you get your week started with some Great Impressions inspiration. 

The store is officially open
and to celebrate get 10% using GIB212 on your order!

First off February is almost over...seriously tomorrow is Valentines Day and then next thing you know snow will be melting, flowers will be blooming, birds will be chirping.... Okay maybe not on this planet. I think when it moved on the axis that seasons somehow changed.... you think they would change the dates considering zodiacs changed do to our planets shift. 

Anyways we are not here for science lessons we are here for some good ol' crafting fun!

I thought I would use a stamp from the Stamp Of the Month.  Easter Lily's G452 is the stamp. I really love this stamp a lot!

I really love flowers. I am starting to enjoy coloring flowers more than little people... okay maybe not too much but it is a challenge I take as I am ready for some flowers now on my kitchen mantle brightening up my gloomy home thanks to gloomy weather. I had someone come to give me an estimate on painting the inside of our home and doing our floors lol we have a fireplace that is suppose to be connected to a switch..... the switch is no where to be found.... the builder went bankrupt before finishing the house..... We had our home inspected before buying it.... so what to do! I don't want a fireplace so I think they should take it out put up a wall and give the fireplace to someone else!

Anyway back to stamps lol. 

On this care I used the largest classic oval (Large) Spellbinder die, some crackle paint, distress inks, Wild Orchid flowers, gold micro beads, the papers I wish I could tell you but I have no clue, and some ribbon and lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Also check back tomorrow to see what is in store for you!

Make a Wish!

Today is another Saturday and The Scrapbooking Queen's
post for Great Impression Stamp Company

Today card is a CAS card that you can create with  

 a very simple repeat stamping of your image technique

The Scrapbooking Queen use  C359 Wish Big & Stamp E524 

 Cupcake Stamp to create this card by repeated and 

stamping  image 3 times in a row ...

The Scrapbooking Queen colored with her 

copic markers and inked around the edges with 

Chalk Inks to soften edges 

The Queen used her EK Success Punch on the MAKE A WISH sentiment

inked and doodled around the edges with 

The Queen's Royal White Gel Pen

Hope you have a wonderful Day.. and don't forget to shop

the new and improved Great Impression Rubber Stamp Shop

Fabulous Friday~Nicest Perks

Good morning everyone! As you are reading this I am actually in the car traveling up to Pa. to visit family and to go to my cousin-in-law/BFF's baby shower. It's a lovely 10+ hour drive from here in NC. that I do not look forward to EVER!!! I do love seeing my family and of course sharing this wonderful moment in time with my best friend (pregnancy was a real struggle for her) but man....being in that car that long....ugh! We will be home for 5 days....not long enough!!! :-(

This week our team was challenged to do something embossed. It could be any form of embossing you wanted to do so I did heat embossing again! I embossed the sentiment and I embossed around the distressed edges.
I used two images for this card...I used "Nicest Perks" and "Coffee Cup Border".
Again this is a fairly simple card...it wasn't meant to be but once I got the image on the card base I realized just how big it was and I wasn't sure what to fit around it so it became a CAS card!
I had to take this picture at night so one is with the flash and one is without...I really need to set up a little photo area for my stuff and actually learn how to take good pictures!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back next Friday!

Isn't it amazing what a difference a flash can make (above) without flash (below).

Products Used:
Images~Great Impressions Nicest Perks F189  Coffee Cup Border G449
CS~SU!
Ribbon~SU!
Button~SU!
Twine~SU!
I have no idea who makes the beautiful glittery brown paper but I bought it at Michaels...I love it!!! Then again I love anything that glitters!!!

Blowin' Bubbles - Z Fold Card

Happy Thursday! Today's card showcases a stamp I've been just itching to get some ink on...Say hello to Mouse with Bubble Hearts (G46)! Do you ever pick up a stamp, knowing how you'll use it, but it's not the right time? I knew when I saw this adorable stamp what type of card I was going to make. February seemed like such a long ways off...and here we are!

This card is known as a Z fold. (I've sometimes come across it called an "S Fold".) A Z fold card is a great way to create a scene or panels that go together. I love how parts of the card are peeking!

This week the Design Team is using embossing techniques on their projects. Did you know that you can take clear embossing powder and mix in a little glitter to customize your own glitter embossing powder? I know you really can't tell in these pictures, but that's just what I've done to the hearts. The sentiment is embossed, too.

A little bit of masking, punching, tape, some inking and coloring with Copics and we're done!

I can't say enough about the stamps I used on this project...the mouse could be used for 'sending love or a little TLC'...how about some cheer?!

The sentiment is gorgeous (Valentine E330)! It was hard to decide what I wanted to put with it on the card. I was thinking 'hello', 'love you', 'thinking of you'...lots of choices when you've got a Versamark pen! Yep, a pen, so you can design or fill in any image (or even part of an image) to emboss.

And the border stamp (Meadow Border F496) has been used with many of the stamps in my stash - Love it!

Thanks, again, for stopping by today! Hope you've got time today to create something great!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Stamps: Great Impressions Mouse with Bubble Hearts (G46), Valentine (E330), Meadow Border (F496)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark Watermark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tumbled Glass
Tools: heat gun, Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch, Scor-Pal
Other: Smash tape, Copics, clear embossing powder, glitter, chalks, American Craft Zing Wave

Queen Ann's Lace

I used dry embossing on the background layers and soft chalk inks on this lovely floral stamp.

Supplies:

Great Impressions Stamp #H186 Queen Ann's Lace

Speckled Ivory, Tan, Rust, Olive Green Cardstock

Background script is computer printed with brown ink

Colorbox Cat's Eye's Chalk Ink:

Bisque, Amber, Clay, Deep Moss

Nestabilities Petite Ovals Small

Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder

Sewing Machine - ivory thread

Adhesive, Double Stick Tape & Glue Dots

Lace & Jute

Elegant Flourish

Good Morning!

Gotta a new technique for you today!  At least it is new to me (grin!)

If you haven't picked up the latest edition of Paper Crafts titled "Cool Tools" you really should run out and get it.  My head is swimming with fun ideas using tools 

many of us already have in our craft room.

My flourish frame and initial is, of course, by Great Impressions Stamps.  Have to say these are some sturdy and deeply etched stamps.  I put them through quite a bit and they came out looking good as new with just a simple soap and water wash.

Here are the steps:

1.  Cover card-stock large enough to fit your image with watermark ink and embossing powder.  

Heat powder.  Really ink up your card-stock and pour on the powder.

2.  Repeat entire process for a total of seven times.  Your card-stock will get thick and goopy.

3.  While warm and pliable stamp your image.  Do not remove stamp until cool.  (about 5 min.)

  Don't worry about any imperfections.  They only add to the beauty of the finished product. 

Once cooled, I stamped my initial in the center and let it set. 

I then traced over with a permanent black marker.

Supplies

Not Shown:  Great Impressions Stamps Flourish Frame F442

Michael's Ribbon

InLinkz.com

A set of these, with her new last name initial, would make a perfect gift for the bride. 

 For a nice touch use the wedding colors in the card.

See you next week!

Hugs,

Jenny

Happy Monday With Shanna

Good morning. Did everyone have a wonderful weekend?  I must say mine was not the best and definitely one I want to forget. My daughter started with rubbing her poo in the carpet Friday night. Saturday she was horrific at the circus.... not something she will get to do for a while! Sunday well :( let's just say the day slipped away. The Terrible twos is in full swing 100%. Needless to say I need a mommy weekend full of wine, chocolates, sexy men on tv, and a whole lot of music while I craft! 

But enough of that and let's move onto wait it is February....

that means there is a new Stamp of the Month (SOM)

You should definitely get your local stores to carry them. SOM are the newest stamps The Great Impressions puts out.  If you did not know they are such a wonderful range of stamps great for anyone in wood or cling. I can't wait until you see next months (March SOM). You are in for a fun and humorous surprise.

Well for my card to share with you today I had a blast of inspiration this week and extra time to spend as my daughter had plenty of time out last week. I created a card using a cuttlebug button embossing strip, made a rosette out of red cardstock and cut the ends so it gave it the extra pizazz, some ribbon fromThe Great Impressions from the 2011 SOM and I used last months SOM Swirly Valentines (E746) and the Heart Dandelions (G320) to add the finishing touch. However, behind scenes the design team has a little challenge we are doing to show challenge ourselves creatively. This week each member will be show casing a project using embossing (heated or dry). Therefore I am showcasing both. My favorite is heat embossing! I love watching the magic happen when it melts. 

So I used clear detail embossing powder an white card stock for the Heart Dandelions and I went over them with Barn Door DI and used a 1.5" Circle  Punch to punch it out for my rosette topper.

Then I used Red Apple embossing powder to add this sweet fancy sentiment. Hurry up and get some Great Impressions Valentine stamps to make for your sweeties!

Don't forget the store is moments from opening and they are working hard up in Washington to bring you some wonderful stamps!

Check back tomorrow for a Tuesday treat with Jenny!

Jenny's Crafty Room

Hi All - Hope your weekend is being good to you so far!

 I always love to get sneak peaks of stampers crafty spaces.  Such an easy and wonderful way to get new ideas to make your craft room work the best for you.

I keep everything pretty much within my reach....lazy that way (grin!).

So if I use something often, it is close by.

As you can see I have a corner desk which I have filled from end to end.

In the center is where I create.

I like to keep some of my (precious to me) items where I can see them.  

Sometimes for inspiration, other times just to make me smile.

I need a blank slate to start a project.  

Therefore I always clean up before I begin something new.

I'm funny that way.

Those jars you are seeing on my bookshelf, keep all my ribbon by color. 

I wrap them around a clothespin and put a pin in to hold in place.

I keep my heavy neutral card stock for bases here and envelopes too.

This is where I store most of my embellishments, punches, sheets of chipboard and 12x12 DP.

I use the smaller paper pads for most of my work, so those are stored on top of my desk in organized bins. When I have scraps I keep them with the pad by fastening a big clip to hold everything tight.

My Cuttlebug station is here too with all my dies below it.

All of this shelving is from Michael's - a great deal when you gotta coupon.

Across from my desk is a window with my little sewing machine.

Doesn't it look lonely?

Next to that is a small walk- in closet with all of my stamps and miscellaneous house hold stuff/junk.

I organize those by manufacturer.  Compared to many stampers out there, my stamp supply is small.

However, the folks at Great Impressions have been very generous 

with providing me an amazing array of stamps

to work with...a little like stamp heaven. (grin)

This week the Design Team will be sharing creations using Embossing techniques.
Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Shanna will start us off tomorrow with something jaw dropping I'm sure...
So stay tuned!

Thanks for letting me share my space with you today.  

Hugs,

Jenny

Chicken Scratch ~ Embossing

Happy Saturday everyone and welcome to

another post over here at the Great Impressions Blog

This week is all about embossing... Embossing is such a great

way to just stamp, emboss and go... 

the stamp just shine out and looks great on 

kraft paper or any designer collection

The Queen create this note pad with scrap pieces

of Kraft Paper... Used RED Versa Magic chalk ink

this ink is very moist and this is good for embossing

since it's always a race to put the powder on the stamped

 image before it drys... 

This cute stamp is perfect for the 

"Chicken Scratch" note pad 

C424 Flowered Chick 

The Queen just stamp single images on

the note section ... embossed too

Sweet Tulle Bow hold it all together ... distressing ink

around the edges just add the final touch...

You can Stop The Scrapbooking Queen 

Love to read all your Royal Comments...

Fabulous Friday~Daisy and Seeded Dandelions

Happy Friday everyone! Did we manage to get through our weeks? My week went by fairly quickly believe it or not! And it was a pretty good week.

I have been hearing this rumor that the new store is ALMOST ready! I have (as well as the rest of the DT) taken a few sneak peaks at it and it's amazing! You all are going to be so happy with how this site turns out. Let's just say it's a lot of hard work, time, and energy to get a website up and running and it was well worth it!

Today I have a really simple card for you. Have you ever had this card and couldn't think of a single thing to do with it? That was my problem this week. I just had no idea what to do with it and I looked at tons of blogs and sketches and all that and NOTHING....nothing seemed right so I decided to just go with a CAS card!

Products Used
Image~Great Impressions Daisy & Seeded Dandelions G299
CS~SU!
Flowers~Martha Stewart
Stickles
Copics
Clip~SU!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!

A Bird in Hand...or Fancy Rose Frame!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Did you know there is an official website dedicated to the celebration of this momentous event in Punxsutawney, PA, where Phil, The Groundhog, will check out his shadow and predict whether Spring is on its way or another 6 weeks of winter? (www.groundhog.org)

Me, I'm hoping good ol' Phil's calling for Spring! And just to help him along, I've got a card showcasing the lovely Bird in Roses (F517) stamp - another of January's Stamp of the Month stamps. 

I wanted a simple color scheme with the focus on the bird, so I went with black and white with a touch of red and blue. The border is made using Rose Intertwined Hearts (G450). Ink up just the top edge of the design and stamp around the card.

Hope you've been inspired to get out your Great Impressions stamps or pick up a few new ones (locate a store near you!) Psst! The Great Impressions online store will be up and running very soon...and when it does there will be some challenge fun going on here! Just thought you might like to know...

(Update: Nope, I didn't stay up to watch the webcast, but I did just check to see what Phil had to say...according to our furry friend - Six more weeks of winter! Which I suppose I can attest to as we are expecting a snow storm this weekend. Better get out the hot chocolate!)

Have a Great Thursday and stop by tomorrow to see what April's been up to...

Inky hugs,

Angi

Stamps: Great Impressions Lace Background (K97), Rose Intertwined Hearts (G450), Bird in Roses (F517), Fancy Rose Frame (H223)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Archival Ink Jet Black; Tim Holtz Distress Inks Vintage Photo; Copics (R24, 29, 46; B02, 04)

Tools: Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, heat gun

Other: Vellum, glue pen, glitter; American Craft Zing Black; Tim Holtz Perfect Pearls Powder Pearl

Valentine wishes from the heart

Love this adorable kitty! It's the "Purr-fect" stamp to use on a Valentine's Day card for my pet loving friends.

Supplies used:

Great Impressions Stamps:
F371, B148
Versafine Onyx Black Ink for saying
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink for main image
(Cover paw prints when inking stamp)
Copic Markers:
R46, RV21, B32, B24, YG03, YG21, YG63, C1, C2
Cardstock: Red, pink and white
Scalloped border cut with Carl rotary cutting blade
Sizzix Texture Plates #15
Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies: Standard Circles Sm,
Standard Circles Lg, Scalloped Circles Lg.
Red Heart Rhinestone for collar
Ribbon, button, thread, glue dots and adhesive.

Beachy Chick

This beachy chick doesn't give a cluck about what anyone else does.

She is heading to the beach where the sun is at her back and the sand between her toes.

So wish that were me! (lol!)

This stylin' chick is colored, paper pieced and fussy cut.  Her arms were laden with beach gear...so I slid a life preserver on her tail feathers.  Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel line gave this beach scene lotsa dimension with fun chip-board pieces.  For even more texture the beach is 

actually sand paper I snuck from my DH's workshop (grin).

Supplies
Not Shown:  Coarse Sand Paper :)

InLinkz.com

Think I may have to send this to my mom when she heads to Arizona for a month.

So jealous!

Thanks for stopping by Great Impressions!

Hugs,

Jenny