New Designer Team

Good morning. This past week we said goodbye to our Designers Julie and Leah. Both of these ladies will truly be missed and we wish them all the best. With Julie and Leah leaving us, we are bringing on two New Designers.

First up is Dori Shelton from Perfectly Created Chaos! You met Dori in October when she was our Guest Designer for the month.

My name is Dori and began scrapbooking in 2003 while living in Okinawa during my husband’s deployment to Iraq. I was pregnant with my second child, and it was just a great way for me to keep my mind off of many things that were stressing me out at the time! Gradually, I got more into card making and started my blog to share that creativity with others in hopes to inspire and teach others as well. I’ve also learned so much from the paper crafting community over the years. We are still a military family, we still move…all the time…and I still pack up all my craft stuff and unpack it every 2-3 years! Our 2 children in Okinawa turned into 3 children and now they are all a little older (16, 12 and 10) leaving me more time to craft which is great! But at the same time, I’m still a “school taxi, homework helping/suffering, laundry doing, lunch packing and baseball mom” So in other words, I can’t really remember the last time I was bored! 

I do still scrapbook; but I do that on a personal basis when I have time. I don’t blog or share them online. However,  I love my paper crafting hobby. It keeps me sane, it keeps my mind focused and it’s just for me. I love designing an idea in my head, sketching it out, and then pulling the materials from the shelves and then putting it all together!

Next up is Robin Craddock from Robin's Reflections. 

Hi my name is Robin Craddock. I have two beautiful daughters. I started crafting about six years ago when we moved to Ohio. I was born here but lived all of my adult life in Georgia. I mainly make cards but I have started dabbling with mixed media. I am ecstatic about joining the team here at Great Impressions.  I love these stamps and am so exited to share my projects with you. 

I can't wait to share their projects with you starting with our first 2017 Challenge on January 1st.

Please join me in giving these ladies a BIG Welcome! 

Follow Your Heart

Happy Friday, everyone!  It's the last one of 2016.  This is Julie with you from Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers.  After today, I'm taking a break from the team - - my health is forcing it on me.  While I'm undergoing chemo, I'm having trouble keeping up with everything.  So, with a heavy heart, I'm letting this team I love, using stamps I cherish go, at least for awhile.  I hope to be back soon!

Today, I'm showcasing a card I made early on my first term with this team, but one that seems applicable today:

I used Great Impressions rubber stamps, G518 - Elliot Blowing Hearts, colored with Copic markers and B219 - Follow Your Heart, stamped on die cut hearts.

There will be a new challenge and a new design team starting very soon.  You'll want to visit the blog each day for tons of great inspiration!

Make sure to visit the Great Impressions Online Store for many wonderful rubber stamps!  I have too many favorites to count!

Sparkle!

Hi there! Well, just a few days to the New Year! I have a card to wish you all a Happy New Year!

This little penguin is so cute! It's called (E903) Ice Skating and the sentiment is (E904) Sparkle with Joy. I stamped the penguin onto white cardstock and colored it with colored pencils. I layered some patterned paper and added a few sequins to finish it off!

Come and join our monthly challenge!  If you use a stamp from the Great Impressions online store, please link it up in our Customer Gallery, too! 

Happy Holidays ...

Good morning and Happy Holidays! 

 

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or Kwanzaa 

we wish you Peace, Love and Happiness

 as you celebrate with your family and friends.

Ruza, Julie and Leah

(The Great Impressions Design Team)

Guest Designer: Deepti Recap

Good morning and Happy Holidays! Today we are taking another look at all of the beautiful cards that our Guest Designer Deepti shared with us this month.

First up is the gorgeous card that Deepti made for our December Challenge. That floral design paper in the background is a perfect match for the potted puppy.

featuring ... F582 Potted Puppy and A147 Buzzing By Sentiment

Next, Deepti created an amazing background for her Birthday Card.

featuring ...Party Protector (F609) with the WOW Sentiment (E868)

Deept's final card is this super cool Get Well Card.

featuring ... Chicken Soup (E750) with the Just Chicken Sentiment (C431)

It has been a pleasure having Deepti share her projects with us this month. For more details about each of the cards Deepti created all you have to do is click on the links above. 😊 

You still have time to join in our Great Impressions December Challenge! Hop on over for all of the details, and if you use some Great Impressions Stamps make sure you link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Poinsetta's

Hi there! A Christmas card from the past today! My card today uses the gorgeous Poinsettia's and Berries ( K40) image and I made my own custom pattern paper with it.

I started by stamping the poinsettia image all over and then coloring them with Copics. Once that was done I went back with a white strip of cardstock and gold heat embossed the Old World Merry Christmas (E739) sentiment. I added some stitching to finish.

Come and join our monthly challenge!  If you use a stamp from the Great Impressions online store, please link it up in our Customer Gallery, too! 

Winter Chickadee ...

Good morning! Ruza here to share a Clean and Simple Christmas card featuring several stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.

Today's card focus is the adorable Winter Chickadee (C427) which I paired up with the Seasons Greetings Sentiment (C427). I stamped the adorable bird and sentiment on my card, colored the bird with my Copic Markers, and applied distress ink around the image to represent the sky. I then used a ruler with a black and green markers to create the frame.

Now that I look at my card, I see that I should have centered the image better. Guess that's what I get for rushing. 😁

Our December Great Impressions Challenge is live. I hope you stop by for all of the details, join in the FUN, and if you use Great Impressions Stamps we'd love for you to link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Deepti

Good morning all. Our December Guest Designer Deepti is joining us today with an awesome Get Well card.

Deepti's card features the adorable Chicken Soup (E750) with the Just Chicken Sentiment (C431).

Here's what Deepti has to say about her card.

For this card I decided to make the image the focal point. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the image. I then layered it on die-cut circle and die-cut scalloped circle which was inked in yellow. On the card base I added a polka dot patterned paper to match the focal image. I then stamped the sentiment to finish the card.

Such an awesome card! I love how Deepti continued her design with the patterned paper she used for the background! Make sure you stop by Deepti's Blog for more details, and don't forget to leave her some love.

Out Great Impressions December Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and if you use some Great Impressions Stamps make sure you link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Christmas Cheer!

It's Julie with you again this Friday, from Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers.  It's time for a little mid-month inspiration.  There's a monthly challenge going on and it's Anything Goes.  There's also a mood/color board for inspiration, if you prefer.

Here's what I made for the challenge:

This card uses Great Impressions rubber stamps, G510 - Christmas Friends, and A151 - Cheer.  I colored G510 - Christmas Friends with Copic markers. 

Here's the Inspiration board for this month's challenge:

There's still several weeks left of the month-long  Great Impressions Challenge blog.  We've got great prizes, and I'd love to see what you make!  If you used a Great Impressions Stamp, link it to the Customer Gallery for more chances to win.

Don't forget to check out the Great Impressions Online Store.  They have many wonderful Christmas stamps -- or stamps for ANY occasion! 

Amazing Stamp Sale ...

Good evening! There is no time more fitting to say Thank You for all your business. It means a lot to us.

We are excited to offer six (6) different wood mounted Stamp Sets for just $38.95 each. Includes free shipping. Each set is valued at over $225.00 dollars. This offer runs through December 23rd. Many of these stamp designs are discontinued and not available online.

These sets will make the perfect addition to your stamp collections or the perfect Christmas Gift.

Upon availability, some stamps may be substituted in the stamp sets being offered.

We wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Deone Mackenzie 

Do You Herd?

Hi! Today I have a challenge card to share with you! This is a fun Christmas image that I just couldn't resist.

I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx black ink and colored with Faber Castelle Polychromos pencils. The image is called (F638) Christmas Cows and the matching sentiment is (E902) Do You Herd. A bit of twine tied in a bow for embellishment.

Come and join our monthly challenge!  If you use a stamp from the Great Impressions online store, please link it up in our Customer Gallery, too! 

Christmas Friends ...

Good morning! Ruza here to share a Clean and Simple Christmas card featuring several stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.

Today's card focus is the adorable Christmas Friends (F148) which I paired up with the Merry Sentiment (D511). I made this card to send off to my great-niece with her Christmas Present. Copic Markers were used to color the image, and I did a bit of paper-piecing with the animals for a 3D effect.

Here's a closer view of the Christmas Friends ... 

Our December Great Impressions Challenge is live. I hope you stop by for all of the details, join in the FUN, and if you use Great Impressions Stamps we'd love for you to link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Deepti

Good morning all. Our December Guest Designer Deepti is joining us today with a gorgeous Birthday card.

Deepti's card features the adorable Party Protector (F609) with the WOW Sentiment (E868).

Here's what Deepti has to say about her card.

For this card I decided to create a Bokeh background to give the illusion of lights so as to match the sentiment. On a diecut rectangular panel, I did inking and then stamping of solid circles with white pigment ink. I also did some water splatter. Next I stamped, colored and fussy cut the cow image, stamped the sentiment and adhered the cow with some foam tape.

Such an awesome card! The background that Deepti created for these stamps is amazing! Make sure you stop by Deepti's Blog for more details, and don't forget to leave her some love.

Out Great Impressions December Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and if you use some Great Impressions Stamps make sure you link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Holy Cow!

Holy cow!  It's Friday already!  This is Julie with you today from Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers.  I have a friend with a birthday this month.  She and her husband are retired dairy farmers.  So, I thought this  card was perfect!

I used Great Impressions rubber stamps, E818 - Holy Cow, and C458 - It's Your Birthday to make this card.  There's just a small bit of Copic markers on the E818 - Holy Cow to enhance that adorable cow image. 

A new month-long challenge just started Sunday on the Great Impressions Challenge blog.  It's always Anything Goes, but there's a mood board for inspiration if you'd like to follow it.

Don't forget to check out the Great Impressions Online Store.  They have many wonderful Christmas stamps -- or stamps for ANY occasion! 

Wreath

Hello! I love wreaths so I was happy to use this image for my card share today.

This image is called (H290) Stylistic Wreath. I stamped it onto white cardstock and colored it with colored pencils. I then trimmed out the image and added some gold sequins. I really like making flat Christmas cards so they are easy to mail!

Come and join our monthly challenge!  If you use a stamp from the Great Impressions online store, please link it up in our Customer Gallery, too! 

Season's Greetings ...

Good morning! Ruza here to share a Clean and Simple Christmas card featuring several awesome stamp from Great Impressions Stamps.

Today's card focus on the adorable Ice Skating Penguin (E903), Dotted Ice Flake (E905), and Season's Greetings Sentiment (C427). I started by stamping all three of the stamps with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink making sure that the Ice Skating Penguin lines up perfectly with the Dotted Ice Flake. This is a scene all by itself ... the Penguin skating creates a snowflake in the Ice. Tim Holtz Distress Ink was applied over the Dotted Ice Flake and around the Penguin.

I stamped an extra Ice Skating Penguin, colored him in with my Copic Markers, fussy cut him out, and then used a mix of 3D Foam Squares and tape to paper-piece the Penguin in my scene. Using a Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen I went over the Dotted Ice Flake to make it shimmer. Once the layers were put together on my card, I applied StarDust Finishing Spray to the whole card. This makes the whole card shimmer. It looks amazing in person! 😊

Here's a side-view of the Ice Skating Penguin ... 

Our December Great Impressions Challenge went live yesterday. I hope you stop by for all of the details, join in the FUN, and if you use Great Impressions Stamps we'd love for you to link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

December Challenge: Anything Goes

Good morning and welcome to another monthly Challenge here at Great Impressions!

Before we get started, we have some Winners to Announce! 

The Random Winner for the month of November is ...
#29 ~ Tammy A

Congratulations Tammy. Please email Ruza

 at greatimpressionsstamps@gmail.com to claim your prize and
the Guest Designer information. 

Now for the "Top Picks"
#52 ~ Birthday B
#10 ~ FR Creacio
#39 ~ Jennifer B

Congratulations! Please grab your badge and proudly display it on your blog!

All of you have made a GREAT IMPRESSION on us!

********************************************************

It's time to move on to our New Challenge.

Here is the Prize you can win ...

Let's give a BIG Welcome to our Guest Designer Deepti. 

Deepti will be sharing her creations during the Month of December with all of us.

I am a sketch artist by default and a card maker by choice. My card making started with making some new year cards back in 2013 and now it has turned into a passion. I moved a step ahead last year as I started to Illustrate my own stamp designs with my line of stamps "Dee's Artsy Impressions" under the umbrella of STAMPlorations. 😊 I am also an instructor at Craftsy where I teach a class on Watercolor Cards made Simple. Besides doing all the creative work, I am also a new mom to my son Siddharth. Life has transformed after his arrival but I am loving the learning here too. 😉

Now let's see what Deepti created to inspire you!

featuring ... F582 Potted Puppy
and A147 Buzzing By Sentiment

Deepti did an amazing job coloring the adorable puppy, and her floral background is a perfect match. Make sure you head over to Deepti's Blog to leave her some love. 

Now it's time for a little Inspiration from our Designers ... 

Ruza

featuring ... J70 Snow Pals 
and E127 Beauty of the Season Sentiment

Julie

featuring ... G510 Christmas Friends
and A151 Christmas Cheer Sentiment

Leah

featuring ... F638 Christmas Cows
and E902 Do You Heard Sentiment

Our Designer's would love to hear what you think of their projects.

Hop on over to their blogs to leave them a little love!

If you don't have a blog, you may post your entry in the gallery at Splitcoaststampers using the keyword GISMC in the Title, and then link it up below so we can find your project. This way we can also leave you a little love. If you don't have a Blog or Splitcoaststampers Gallery, please email Ruza at greatimpressionsstamps@gmail.com with the Subject line "GI Monthly Challenge Entry", and she will enter it for you.

As a bonus entry, if you use our stamps leave a comment on this post 

to let us know. You will have double the chance of winning 

this months Prize that is being offered.

You may link up a Maximum of 1-project per month.

To view all of our Challenge Rules just click on the "Challenge Rules & Badges" tab above. Don't forget to link all of your Great Impressions Stamps projects in the Customer Gallery!

An InLinkz Link-up

Simply Delightful Christmas

Hello, fellow stamp lovers!  It's Julie with you today from Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers. This week, Great Impressions Stamps is sponsoring the House of Cards Challenge Blog.  
Here's the inspiration board for the challenge:

Using the board, I created this:

I used Great Impressions rubber stamps F620 - Joyful Harry and D453 - It's Christmas.  I colored F620 - Joyful Harry with Copic markers.  I stamped D453 - It's Christmas onto a premade Christmas tag. 

A new challenge will start Sunday on the Great Impressions Challenge blog.  It's always Anything Goes, but there's a mood board for inspiration if you'd like to follow it.

Don't forget to check out the Great Impressions Online Store.  They have many wonderful Christmas stamps -- or stamps for ANY occasion! 

Christmas Branch

Hello stamping friends. Today I have a blast from the past Christmas card. 

I used the super cute Branch with Bulbs (H216) image and colored it with Copics. I then trimmed it out with scissors and a craft knife. I love how the sentiment is part of the image. I added some lace and sparkles to make it special. I hope you like it!

Come and join our monthly challenge!  If you use a stamp from the Great Impressions online store, please link it up in our Customer Gallery, too! 

Guest Designer: Debi

Good morning all. Today we are taking another look at all of the beautiful cards that our Guest Designer Debi Brile shared with use this month.

First up is the gorgeous card that Debi made for our November Challenge. I really love all of the beautiful Fall colors.

featuring: H259 Pumpkin Puppy

featuring: J120 Elegant Berry Branch and F621 Holiday Sentiment

featuring: G392 Country Snowman and F369 Joy and Wonder Sentiment

featuring E903 Ice Skating Penguin and A151 Cheer Sentiment 

It has been a pleasure having Debi share these awesome projects with us.

You have 1-more day to join in our Great Impressions November Challenge! Make you stop by for all of the details, and if you use some Great Impressions Stamps make sure you link them up in our Customer Gallery!

May your Christmas Glow ...

Good morning! Ruza here to share a Clean and Simple Christmas card featuring an awesome stamp from Great Impressions Stamps.

Today's card features the beautiful Christmas Lantern (G393). I absolutely love this stamp ... not only do you get a beautiful image, but you also get the perfect holiday sentiment. 

I stamped the Christmas Lantern (G393) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored the image with my Copic Markers. I masked the colored image with post-it notes on each side, then used a dauber to apply Tim Holtz Distress Ink. X-mas Red Stickles was applied to the berries on the holly, and Star Dust Stickles was applied to the snowflakes. Glossy Accents was then added to the lantern.

Their is still a couple of days to enter our November Great Impressions Challenge so make sure you stop by for all of the details, and if you use Great Impressions Stamps we'd love for you to link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Debi

Good morning all. Our November Guest Designer Debi Brile is joining us again today with a gorgeous Holiday card.

Debi did a beautiful job featuring the adorable Ice Skating Penguin (E903) and the Cheer Sentiment (A151). I love the stitched framing and backdrop she created for these stamps.

Another awesome card! Make sure you stop by Debi's Blog for more details on how she created today's card, and don't forget to leave her some love.

You still have some time to join in our Great Impressions November Challenge! Make sure you stop by for all of the details, and if you use some Great Impressions Stamps make sure you link them up in our Customer Gallery!

Christmas Cheer Revisited

Is this really Black Friday?  Did I really eat all that turkey yesterday?  How can we be a month from Christmas?  Oh my, oh my, oh my! This is Julie with you today from Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers.  and I'm revisiting a favorite project from the past.  Since it is just one month to the day until Christmas, I'm featuring one of my favorite Christmas cards today, with one of my favorite Great Impressions Stamps on it.  I love this chickadee (G28)! 

I colored the rubber stamp G28 - Winter Chickadee with Copic markers.  It's a highly shaded stamp that doesn't take much coloring to look good (easy peasy coloring, quick results, perfect for mass producing Christmas cards).  In this case, I thought it would look striking on an easel card, so I created it using my Silhouette Cameo.  I stamped the A151 - Cheer stamp on the base of the easel card.

Have you entered the Great Impressions Stamps challenge yet?  There's still a few more days to get your anything goes entry in.  I'd love to see what you make and we've got wonderful prizes! 

Check out the Great Impressions Store for tons of wonderful stamps.  You'll find these 2, and many, many more!