Welcoming back one of our Designers ...

Good morning. I am truly happy to announce the return of Julie Odil to our Design Team. She is a great friend and designer, and I'm excited that she has returned to share her creations with us.

My name is Julie Odil, and I am thrilled to be back on the Great Impressions Stamps Online design team.  Great Impressions stamps have impressed me (pun intended) for a long time!  I love how easily and cleanly they stamp.  I’m so pleased to be resuming this fun journey!

I’ve always been creative – I play many instruments, like to write, and have been crafty my whole life.  I began scrapbooking about 10 years ago and cardmaking about 6 years ago, but things really took off when I began my blog 5 years ago.  It was a life changing experience.  I can’t believe how much fun I’ve had and how many friends I’ve made through my blog. I’d love it if you’d stop by for a visit: Muddy Paws & Inky Fingers

Please join me in giving Julie a BIG Welcome Back! 

You are a Rare Bird ...

Good morning! Today's card features the adorable Birds of a Feather Flock Together (G370) and Rare Bird Sentiment (E892).

I simply adore these birds and couldn't wait to play with them. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink along the edge of my card with the sentiment in the lower left hand corner. I also stamped the image a couple more times an extra cardstock. Coloring medium is a combination of Copic Markers, Faber-Castell Pit Brush Markers, with the background sky created with Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky Distress Ink.

I colored the extra birds only and fussy cut part of the birds out, and layered them on with  3D foam squares. It's a little hard to see in the photo's but the top bird is truly in flight and the 2nd bird is sitting on top of the branch.

Here's a closer look ...

There is still time to join our Great Impressions April Challenge! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! We can't wait to see what you create this month!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Celebrate Your Day

Good Friday Everyone!

Hope you all are having a Fabulous Friday!  I know I am.  I have a new card to share with you today.

This card is showcasing a sentiment named "New Day (E770)".  I wanted to make this a very simple card so I picked this sweet image of two kids having fun.

The blue paper on top is actually a part of this paper.  I cut it out because the paper was a bit too big then added it to the top.  Then I stamped the sentiment straight onto the paper.  After that I just added a card base and a separator.  

That's it.  Real simple isn't it.  Now don't forget to join in this month's challenge "April Showers Bring May Flowers".  You could win this cute little stinker.

Hope you all have an amazing day!

Hugs,

Robin

A Good Friend

If you caught my Great Impressions Stamps post two weeks ago, you might remember that tea cups and tea pots are two of my favorite stamp images.  My eye was particularly drawn to this Great Impressions Spring Teapot Rubber Stamp (E667)

  featuring tulips, pansies and hyacinths. 

It made a perfect focal point for the belly band of the gate fold card I am sharing with you today. 

You'll find a close-up of the belly band on my blog here.

The inside of the card features Great Impressions A Good Friend Rubber Stamp (E830) .

Everyone needs a Good Friend, especially one that might remind you that.....

We are over halfway through the month of April already.

There have been some wonderful entries in the 

If you haven't linked up a project yet,  you still have time.
Check it out here. 

Wishing you beautiful days and good friends!

Debi

Spring Flower Tub Revisited ...

Good morning! I revisiting a Spring card I made a year ago featuring the lovely G501 Spring Flower Tub.

This Spring Flower Tub is such a beautiful stamp, and can be used for so many different occasions! I chose to watercolor the image using my Marvy Markers. This time I added the ink to the stamp itself, huffed on the stamp to re-activate the ink, and stamped it on Strathmore Watercolor paper. Next I used my paintbrush, with water, to pull out the colors. Once it was dry, I used the markers to darken the outline of the tub and leaves, and layered it onto Kraft cardstock. I embossed cream cardstock with tiny bubbles, tied on some twine, added my colored panel, and layered all on a Kraft card.

Have you joined out Great Impressions April Challenge yet? Check out this beautiful inspiration photo for our April Showers bring May Flowers Theme Challenge.

Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! We can't wait to see what you create this month!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Janice

Good morning all. Our April Guest Designer Janice Melton is joining us today with an lovely Mother's Day card!

Here's what Janice has to say ...

For my card today I have used the beautiful Spring Floral Jars (G363). I heat embossed the image in White on Kraft cardstock and colored it with my Copics. Found this lacy paper in my stash and thought it went perfectly with this image, paired it with some Gingham and twine. Finished it off with some pearls. The Happy Mother’s Day sentiment (B190) is also heat embossed but in Black so that it stands out more. Thanks again for letting me share my cards with you'll this month!

Such a beautiful card! I love the embossing on craft cardstock, along with her coloring and design with the lovely lacy paper. Janice did an amazing job! Make sure you stop by Janice's Blog to leave her some love!

Our Great Impressions April Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! We can't wait to see what you create this month!

Another Little Reminder

Hello All,

Robin here to remind you of our April Challenge.  This is the card I made.

The challenge this month is 

For this I have used three different stamps.  The first is Whimsical Clouds (G426).  I stamped it onto plain white card stock.  Then I used Rainy Day Harry (F605).  I stamped him onto the clouds and onto a separate paper.  I colored him with Copic markers and added Glastique to give him a real raincoat and boots look.  He is then fussy cut without the rain and placed onto the cloud paper. I also added Glastique to the rain.  Finally I used the sentiment Under the Weather E866.  I stamped this onto some of the cloud paper.

After the images were done I used a rose embossing folder and colored the flowers lightly.  Then a single flower in the opposite two corners with a pearl in the center.  I really like how this turned out.  I hope you do too.

For this month the stamp you could win is a real cutie!

I do hope to see you in the challenge this month.  Have a fabulous day!

Hugs, 

Robin

April Challenge Reminder

Have you found some time to make an

 April Showers Bring May Flowers Themed Project 

and enter it in the Great Impressions April Challenge?

 
The lucky winner will be receiving this adorable stamp:

Here's the card I made using the Great Impressions 

Daisy Border Rubber Stamp (G403)

and 

April Showers Rubber Stamp (D387).

 

Just because a stamp is a border stamp, doesn't mean you can't use it for other purposes.  Here I used the stamp as the flower border at the bottom of the card  (heat embossed in gold, watercolored and fussy cut) and also as the umbrella pattern (stamped twice, watercolored, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder to give it a shiny vinyl look).


I started out making a yellow umbrella, then a pink umbrella, then a pale blue umbrella, and finally decided on the blue umbrella above. 
What do you think?  Did I choose correctly? Would anyone like a leftover umbrella?

Here's a tip to prevent your adhesive from showing when working with velum.  
First, attach any items that will be on top of the velum.  

Turn it over and place your adhesive on the velum behind those items.  When you glue the velum down whatever adhesive you used will be hidden.

We look forward to seeing your projects for the 

April Great Impressions Stamps Blog Challenge.

You have until the end of the month to enter.

A Little Hello ...

Good morning! I created a FUN Spring card featuring the adorable Duck with Umbrella (F640), Springtime Birdie (E906) and A Little Hello Sentiment (B151).

When I saw these stamps I fell in love with them and had to have them in my stamp collection! The adorable duck and birdie are so sweet together.

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink was used for stamping, and the color medium used are my trusty Copic Markers. I stamped an extra copy of both images for coloring and paper-piecing the ducks boots, both umbrella's and the birdie. Tim Holtz Distress Ink was used to create the sky and ground cover prior to adding the frame. Once the frame was layered on my panel 3D Foam Squares and Micro Glue Dots were used to add the boots, umbrella's and the birdie.

I layered the final panel on a couple layers of cardstock and my cardbase. The final step was to apply Glossy Accents for my puddle and rain. I then stamped part of the Duck on my envelope.

Our Great Impressions April Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! We can't wait to see what you create this month!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Janice

Good morning all. Our April Guest Designer Janice Melton is joining us today with an adorable card!

Here's what Janice has to say ...

For my 2nd card as Guest Designer for the month of April I’ve used the cute Dog & Bird (G534) stamp! It was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers. I shaded around the image with some Distress Ink while it was still in the die. The main image is raised up with some foam tape with a layer of Corrugated card stock and twine under it on top of the Label 18 die cut. It gives it a nice 3D effect. I finished it off with a twine bow and paw print brad.

Such an awesome card! From her coloring to the design with the corrugated cardstock, along with the perfect design paper Janice did an amazing job! Make sure you stop by Janice's Blog to leave her some love!

Our Great Impressions April Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! We can't wait to see what you create this month!

Let's Dance

Happy Friday All!

I have a fun card to share with you today.  This is featuring Vera and Mable Doing the Charleston (J122).

Aren't they just adorable!!  I thought of my sister and I getting old and doing this.  They have been colored using Copic markers, Stickles and liquid pearls.  I paired them with the sentiment Dance (E857).  I wanted this to have some "old lady" feel so I added an embossing folder with quilting on it.  Then I took some metal notes and dipped them into black paint and looked up the lyrics for the Charleston and thought that would be a perfect backdrop.

Hope you have enjoyed this and don't forget about our April Challenge "April Showers Bring May Flowers".  Hope to see you there!

Hugs,

Robin

Teddy with Flowers

Hi there!

This is my first chance to welcome you to the 

Great Impressions Blog.  

My name is Debi and I'm new to the design team.

Today, I am sharing a card featuring two Great Impressions stamps...

  Teddy with Flowers (F554)  and A Flower (G455),

 both are
available at Great Impressions Stamps.

Speaking of flowers...

 have you linked up a card or project for the

 Great Impressions April Theme Challenge?

Wishing you a day filled with smiles and laughs,

Debi

Frolicking Trio ...

Good morning! I created an elegant card for today featuring the beautiful Frolicking Trio (G342).

This is such a beautiful image, and I've had it for a bit. Today was the perfect time to pull it out for my clean and simple card. After stamping the Frolicking Trio I cut it out with my Pierced Rectangle Stax dies and did the same with black and white cardstock, layering it all together. To add a pop of color I applied a bit of blue distress ink around the image, added a Butterfly die over the butterfly in the image, and add some pearls in the center.

Our Great Impressions April Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! We can't wait to see what you create this month!

Until next week ... Enjoy!

April 2017: Theme Challenge

Good morning! 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 March is ...
#4 ~ Gloria Shir

Congratulations Gloria. Please email Ruza

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

Now for the "Top Picks"
#1 ~ Shell B.
#24 ~ Tina F.
#31 ~ Angela

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.
 This month we have a Theme Challenge
 ~ April Showers bring May Flowers ~ 
Use the photo as inspiration to create your project.
There are many options ... from the colors, flowers, rain, etc.

Here is the Prize you can win ...

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

 Janice will be sharing her creations during the Month of April with all of us.

Hello, my name is Janice. I live in South Central PA with my wonderful husband, 2 awesome sons, and 6 crazy cats. I’m so excited to be guest designing with Great Impressions this month! I have always been crafty, I grew up doing things like embroidery and crocheting. I started scrapbooking when my boys were younger and then along the way I discovered stamping. I guess I would describe my style as clean and layered? I’ve been making cards for about 10 years now. Thanks to Great Impressions for letting me share them with you this month!

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

featuring ... F640 Duck with Umbrella
and D387 April Showers Sentiment

 Janice did an amazing job with our Theme this month! Her coloring, paper-piecing and design makes an awesome card. Make sure you head over to  Janice's Blog to see how she put this beautiful card together. Don't forget to leave her some love while you are there. 

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

Ruza

featuring ... G541 Stylistic Flower
and D500 So Very Special Sentiment

Robin

featuring ... F605 Rainy Day Harry,
G426 Whimsical Clouds, and
E866 Under the Weather Sentiment

Debi

featuring ... G403 Daisy Border
and D387 April Showers 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.

An InLinkz Link-up

New Designer ...

Good morning. We are saying goodbye to Dori Shelton, and wish her all the best as she spends time with her family and other endeavors. With Dori stepping down please join us in welcoming Debi Brile as our New Designer. Debi was our Guest Designer back in November, and we are so happy to have her join us.

Hi! My name is Debi. Card making has opened up a wonderful world for me. My dear husband, of 35 years, always worried about what I would do with my time when I retired. Now it is filled with stamps, paper, blogging, and fabulous crafty new friends. Different techniques and fancy folds intrigue me. Most of the cards I make are geared toward children and go to Send A Smile 4 Kids. Occasionally, I teach card classes for a group of Red Hat friends - feathers, bling and tons of fun! I also enjoy crocheting, sewing, baking, Sudoku puzzles, and reading (you'll find an occasional book review on my blog among the card posts). And, I am so happy to be joining the Design Team at Great Impressions Stamps.

Please join me in giving these ladies a BIG Welcome!