A Day Just For Friends

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Another weekend is here and this one starts a brand new month. Summertime and the livin' is easy. Oh yes, that's what I'm talkin' about. Hope you have some fun plans to get out and enjoy the season.

My card today is about summer. Bike riding is a favorite pastime of lots of folks here in the Pittsburgh area. We have dedicated trails that meander through wooded areas as well as along our rivers. This fabulous Great Impressions Stamps image reminds me of a trip to the nursery and returning with some great plants.

The stamp is "bicycle with flowers"- G481. I stamped in Memento black ink and colored with melon mambo lucky limeade and bashful blue inks and a blender pen. There is a 20% off sale plus free shipping for spending $25. It's a great opportunity to get the fabulous stamps I am showing today.

The sentiment is "for friends" B233. My card colors are concord crush (dark purple), melon mambo (hot pink), and lucky limeade (olive green). I used a Martha Stewart daisy punch and some melon mambo ribbon with a brad center to complete my card.

Well, that's it for me for another week. See you next Friday.

Mary Marsh

Stamps and Canvas

Hi I hope everyone has recovered from the amazing Memorial Day weekend.  Mine was filled with friends, family and lots of good food!  Of course there is always crafting go on too...  Today I am sharing something a little different.  I want to show how versatile stamps can be by using them on your canvas pieces.  I used Great Impressions Whimsical Clouds.  I stamped it in black and what is cool is this stamp has a sort of mixed media look to it.  If you look close you can see little splotches/speckles lol hard to explain.

Then I outlined the cloud with a white gel pen to make it pop off the canvas - LOVE IT!!  It goes along with the whole image of clouds and the hot air balloons.

Well I hope everyone enjoyed my post for today and remember check out the challenges and  right now this is going on:

20% Off & Free Shipping on U.S. orders over $25.00 with Coupon Code: Celebrate

DON'T MISS OUT!!

Hugs 

Monica

Boots + Flowers

Good morning!

For this week's card I pulled out Great Impressions' Spring Boots stamp and my Copic/Spectrum Noir markers for a birthday card:

(Supplies - Stamps: (Great Impressions) Tags, Spring Boots. Ink: (Memento) Tuxedo Black. Cardstock: (PTI) Spring Moss, white, Autumn Rose. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Sweet Blush patterns pack. Dies: (PTI) Limitless Layers Ovals, Banners. Other: Gems.)

The sentiment is from a new stamp: Tags. I did a little selective inking to isolate the sentiment then stamped it on the die cut banner. I think the font matches the fun set of rain boots nicely.  

That's it for me today! I hope everyone has a great week!

Erin.

Just me. Thinking of You.

Jammie Day Sunday!

Helloooooo there!  I hope you all have a nice long weekend ahead of you (and an extra day off work!)

I have a "Mary Engelbreit-ish" style card to show you today using Just Me. Thinking of You. and Ladybug and Daisy(links below).  Isn't this a fun swirly sentiment?  

Thanks for stopping in today and enjoy the rest of the long weekend!

♥ Sue

card details:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great Impressions Stamps:
D405 Just Me, Thinking of You

E567 Ladybug and Daisy
Copics:
R 27,29
G43,46
C 1,2,3
W 1
Y 38

Cardstock: Real Red, MME yellow dots, Making Memories black dots

Misc: twine, corner rounder

Silhouette: button

Memories of the Sea

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great impressions Blog. Another weekend is upon us and this one is the official kick-off of summer. Whatever your plans are hope they are fun ones on this Memorial Day week-end.

Since its summer's entrance, I thought I would make a card that reflects something about summer that I love. It's the beach of course.

My card is using 3 Great Impressions Stamps on this one. The sailboat is the "sail away E418" stamp and the sentiment is "our memories F396".  I only stamped part of the sentiment on the card front and the remainder on the card inside.

I brayered and sponged the background and masked a circle for the setting sun. I used the same circle and turned it the other way to mimic a reflection in the water.

I used a white gel pen to make the whitecaps and added some twine that is tied in sailors knots.

I also completed the inside of my card on this one. I stamped the remaining part of the "our memories F396" sentiment and then added a birthday sentiment using "flourish birthday wishes" E742. I had some star fish and shell buttons in my stash so I used these for a little bling.

Well that's it for me for this Friday. Before I go I wanted to let you know that there is a sale going on in the online store. You can get 20% off your order plus free shipping on U.S. orders over $25. Check it out here. The stamps I used today are available in the store.

Until next time.......Inky hugs

Mary Marsh

Love!!

Hi everyone Monica here again.  Today I am sharing a card I made referencing "love".  To me  there is no word more powerful and strong.  Life is full of trials and tribulations and love can conquer all.  Now the whale may seem odd, but I love whales and this Smiling Whale one from Great Impressions was just too cute to pass up! so to me it goes perfectly! LOL

Hope everyone has a Whale of a Wednesday!!

Hugs

Monica

Hello!

I had the pleasure of working with some of Great Impressions new release stamps a few weeks ago, and I was especially drawn to the Bicycle with Flowers stamp. Line art images are perfect for coloring, but I wanted to try a gold, yellow, and berry color combo with gold embossing powder for the main image. The bike is very detailed so I used gold filigree embossing powder on Melon Berry cardstock.

 (Supplies - Stamp: (Great Impressions) Bicycle with Flowers. Ink: VersaMark. Cardstock: (PTI) Melon Berry. Patterned Paper: unknown. Buttons: Papertrey Ink. Letter stickers: Fancy Pants)

Have you tried embossing on colored cardstock? I can't wait to try out the gold embossing powder on dark blue and aqua cardstock next... I love embossing powder! 

 

I hope everyone has a great week & thanks for stopping by! 

 

Erin.

It Stinks...and the rest of the story!

Jammie Day Sunday!

Okay-I know I have a lot of explaining to do about this card. If you remember my last week's post, I told you I had this other card ready to post and decided it was not "pretty" enough to post on Mother's Day-and now you see why LOL!

I am not sure if you remember this card I made with the cute skunk and stinky sentiment-

At the first of the year I sent this card to a dear friend struggling with serious health issues.

Last week he was telling me that after his latest surgery  he was sure the meds were making him have very strange dreams. One night he said there was a skunk chasing him and "got/sprayed" him good. So...I had to make him another 'stinky' card! LOL.  We both work at a cherry processing plant, so not only did I get a skunk on this card, but a sparkly cherry tree too! I hope when he  gets this card  it will give him a big smile.

This  is a reminder just how much your special hand made creations are appreciated-so keep on sending your creations-they do make a difference!

Thanks for stopping in to say Hello-I always look forward to your visits!

♥ Sue

card details:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great Impressions Stamps:

B220 It Stinks

Cardstock: Doodle bug skypaper-solid cardstock SU!

Misc: Crystals, dimensionals

Silhouette files: 
5 grass Shapes
5 Clouds
Sun is a flower from 3 layered flowers file
Echo Park Tree & Tire Swing
Skunk
Fence

Vintage Cameo

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Another weekend is upon us and I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful spring time days.

Today, I am showcasing 3 Great impressions Stamps. The lace frame - H212, Cameo -  C414 and little hello - B151, and they are all available in the online store.

I wanted to make a vintage looking card card to send to my friend who just moved to Virginia. She loves cameos and has cross stitched quite a few. These stamps worked perfectly for my card idea.

I stamped my frame and cameo in black ink and then embossed for a more dramatic look. A Sizzix embossing folder helped complete the vintage look I was after.

My sentiment was stamped and punched out with an oval punch. I added some black lace and a bow with a button center to complete my card. Well, that's it for me for this week. So until next time.........inky hugs.

Mary Marsh

Easy Background...

Hi everyone Monica here with another hump day Wednesday post.  I just love Wednesdays because it means the week is almost over woo hoo!!  Today I am sharing a tag I made by using a background stamp from Great Impressions for an amazing look.  I made the background by using the Scroll & Leaf  stamp.

 I colored the leaves in with Stickles to give them a nice glittery look and also added the  Tags stamp you get 4 phrases with this set and I used You're Special for my tag.

Hope everyone enjoyed my post for today and remember to Create, Share and Inspire!!

Hugs

Monica

Swirly Thanks

Happy Monday, friends!! This week's card uses a beautiful swirl stamp (that I've used before) that I layered with a doily, buttons, and a felt flower & leaves to create an elegant thank you card.  I stamped the swirl with Scarlet Jewel ink onto Sweet Blush cardstock... a lovely combination:

 (Supplies - Stamp: (Great Impressions) Simple Elegance. Ink: (PTI) Scarlet Jewel. Cardstock: (PTI) Sweet Blush, Autumn Rose. Patterned Paper: Dear Lizzy. Dies: (PTI) Headline Alphabet. Other: Doily, felt flower, buttons, twine, gems.)

I used this gorgeous patterned paper to set the color combo for my card: Aqua Mist, Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel, Hawaiian Shores, and Simply Chartreuse. Sometimes a pretty piece of paper is all it takes to jump start creativity. 

That's it for me! I am off to get Evan ready for school... his starts his last full week of school today. Only 10 more days until summer vacation starts! 

Have a great week!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

 A Flower G455

Potted Flowers  C329

Jammie Day Sunday!

I hope as you are reading this that you are enjoying your day-taking it nice and easy-a bowl of oaties and a glass of milk and set to browse inspiration a wee bit this morning!

Today I am showing you two wonderful sentiment stamps. I actually had another card ready to go and then decided it wasn't very Mother Day-ish, so I am showing you this one instead...

I cut the card base with my Silhouette as well as the pretty flowers-a freebie template yesterday from Miss Kate's Cuttables. I thought this sentiment fit perfectly with the flowers and then realized I had the perfect "Designed by" stamp too! I also just got this new pastel Graphic 45 designer 6x6  paper pad---It was meant to be!

Thanks for stopping in today and Happy Mother's Day!

♥ Sue

card details:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great Impressions Stamps: A Flower G455

Potted Flowers C329

Cardstock: Graphic 45 Secret Garden 6x6 paper, So Saffron cardstock (SU!), White Bazzill

Misc: Crystals, dimensionals

Silhouette: Miss Kates Cuttables Flower Bouquet

Silhouette : 5 bracket labels with shadow

All About Men

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great impressions Blog. Another weekend is upon us and this one is a very special one here in the U.S. We are celebrating Mother's Day. So I send inky hugs to all the Moms and Grandma's that may read this post.

Since my Mother's Day cards are all done and I showed them here, here, and here, I thought I would start making some Father's Day cards. I send a lot of cards for this holiday as well. My hubby, sons-brothers and friends always get a card from me.

For this one I used the Great Impressions Stamps - "all about men"- G266.  I stamped on my cherry cobbler pennant flag and on the image panel. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement. This stamp is a great one that describes men in many different roles. I love the words and it is available in the online store.

My image is "old fishing truck - E502".   I colored it with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and cut it with a Spellbinders lables one die. I added some glossy accents to the wheels and the side mirror.

I liked the masculine appeal of my patterned paper and kept with that theme by adding  die cut chevrons in a dark espresso brown and blue to finish my card.

Well that's it for me for today. See you next Friday.

Mary Marsh

Best Wishes!!

Hi everyone! Monica here with my first official post as a Great Impression DT or GI Girl!  I am super excited to be on a team of such amazing women.  Today I am sharing a card I made with this Lace Doily stamp.  I love the design of this stamp.  I used it to make a background for my card with some Close to my Heart ink, a flower, sticker sentiment from Papercrafts and some ribbon from May Arts to dress it up. 

What I like about this stamp is that it is very versatile.  There are so many ways I can use this stamp. Happy stamping everyone and don't forget to join in on the challenges we have at Great Impressions Stamps!!

Blingy Happy Birthday

Good morning! Great Impressions Stamps has a lovely Happy Birthday sentiment stamp that I have used several times... and I worked with it again for today's card. It is swirly and feminine and a lot of fun:

 (Supplies - Stamps: (Great Impressions) Swirly Happy Birthday. Ink: (PTI) Raspberry Fizz (Stampin' Up!) Pretty In Pink. Cardstock: (PTI) White. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Raspberry Fizz Patterns Pack. Dies: (PTI) Sketched Shapes. Ribbon: Stampin' Up! Other: gems.)

I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment several times in Stampin' Up's Pretty in Pink ink first, then added the same sentiment in PTI's Raspberry Fizz ink. The light pink shadows are really faint, but I like the look of layered sentiments. Three gems and a couple of die cut banners finish off the card.

That's it for me today! I am still recovering of Jack's birthday party... it was so much fun, but having that many kids at our house was crazy! Jack loved every second of it and that's what matters, right? 

Have a great week!

Erin

Our May Challenge is Here!

Hi there Crafty Friends!

Its a glorious day here in Wisconsin!  Spring has finally arrived!

I relied on all of you for my Spring fix with our last challenge of pastels and/or polka dots. (lol!)

What an array of talent out there.  Thank you so much for sharing with us!

Here we go with our Top Pix for April!

#108 Jen Z.

Design Team Member Sue said, "Love this cute card Jen!!  Lovely use of pastels, polka dots

 and such a wonderfully colored little bear!  This is sure to bring a smile!

#126 Denimo

Mary said, "I love this sweet card you created for your granddaughter!  Your coloring 

is amazing and the soft pastels are so perfect for a girlie card!

#125 Colleen

(Great Impressions Stamp - F448 When it Rains)

Jenny said, " Colleen I adore the design of your card.  The way you broke up the sentiment from the boot images is super creative!  I love the lace around the sentiment and the boots

 "marching" around the card!  Congrats on being my top pix!"

Congrats Ladies!

You may grab this badge for your side bar...

And of course we have to include our random draw winner!

She will take home $20 in Great Impressions Stamps free!

Remember if you use our stamps your name is entered twice in the drawing!

Hip Hip Hooray for....

#122 Wendy!

Please contact me (Jenny) at jjstucky@sbcglobal.net to claim your prize!

We have a fantastic challenge lined up for you for May!

If you are like me you have several important occasions coming up.

Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Graduations, Weddings, Memorial Day...just to name a few.

Our May challenge will be all about celebrations!  Even birthdays will do.   The Design Team has lined up some fabulous inspiration beginning with our newest team member Monica.  

G482 - Flower Girl 

 Mary

F18 - Wishing You Joy

Jenny

H241 - Floral Swirl Frame

E791 - Sweet Sentiments

My Mind's Eye Decorative Pins; Collectable "Hello"

Erin

B191 - Elegant Motif

Sue

E640 - Whimsical Potted Tulips

Our challenge runs the entire month and our rules are on the side bar.
Can't wait to be inspired!

Hugs,

Jenny

Life Is Art

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Another weekend is upon us. Hope you have something fun planned. I am hosting some good friends at my home so I have been busy preparing for them.

But I did take a break to make my card for my weekly blog post. I used one of this month's new stamps "life is art"- E792.  It's available now in the online store.
I also used the Great Impressions Stamp - "distressed background-K94" to create my "artwork". I used 3 different color inks on the stamp to create the distressed background. I really like how it turned out.

My designer paper is from the Echo Park pad "sweet girl" collection. It's also available in the online store. I thought the pattern I used had an artsy look and was perfect for my sentiment.

I added a die-cut arrow just for some interest. My music note is computer generated.

Well that's it for me for this Friday. Remember to stop by on Sunday. We have a new monthly challenge starting with a fun theme. See you next Friday........

Mary Marsh