You Brighten My Day

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Stamps Blog. Hope you are staying warm through this winter season. A note to brighten your day - it's only a little over a month until Spring. And then it will be tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus oh my!!

My card today is using several Great Impressions Stamps. The background stamp in the oval is J106 "the rose". I used crumb cake ink and stamped off first to lighten up the words. I then used H186 "Queens Ann's Lace" and stamped over the background words also in crumb cake ink.

I used a Spellbinder oval to cut and layered that over another Spellbinders Label 18 die cut from kraft cardstock. My background paper is from Canvas Corp -chocolate and kraft mini dots. I used some burlap that I had in my stash.

My sentiment is A127 "You Brighten My Day".  Well that's it for me for this week. Hope you have some fun plans for the weekend. Until next time..........

Mary Marsh

Said the Butterfly

Happy February 1 and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. We are in the middle of some frigid weather and snow in the East. It's so perfect to stay indoors and do some stamping.

That is my plan for this week-end anyway. So here is my first card for the weekend.

I like making cards using the sentiment as the focal point. You can pair it up with pretty patterned paper, a great layout, dies and ribbons and make a terrific card.

I first pick my paper in a couple of coordinating patterns and then my layout.

I used the Great Impressions Stamp "said the butterfly E149". Used a  rectangle die and sponged with ink while it was still in the die. Punched some butterflies from patterned paper and added a few pearls on this layer.

Used a die to cut some pennant flags and added some cotton lace over that layer and my card is complete.
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That's it for me for this Friday. See you next Friday.
Mary Marsh

mouse with bubble hearts valentine

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great impressions Blog. Hope you have some fun plans for the week-end. Depending on where you live it may be just to stay warm and out of the cold and snow. Sitting in front of a warm, cozy fire with some hot chocolate sounds great to me.!!

Valentines Day is fast approaching. If you still need a card idea, I have one for you today. I used this cute mouse with bubble hearts stamp (G46). There is a valentine special at the online store. You can get 10% off and free shipping if you spend $25. 

I colored him with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol. Then fussy cut just the mouse and added him to the floral oval die.  I stamped the hearts and colored them.

Layered the floral oval die over a lacy oval die. I like to layer dies for added interest on a card. Finished this one off with some grosgrain ribbon and bow with heart center. I use the Bow Easy to make my bows.

Well that's it for me for this week. See you next Friday. Our January challenge is still going on and you might be our next guest designer. You can't win if you don't play!!

Mary Marsh

Jar Candy Hearts

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. This month is flying by and before you know it Valentine's Day will be upon us. I make a lot of Valentine's cards -how about you??

I decided for my card today to make a Valentine card using non-traditional colors. I thought this one definitely had a little girl look with the colors I chose. And, I have the little girl in mind who will receive this one.

I used the Great Impressions stamp - Jar Candy Hearts E565. I stamped and wet embossed it on watercolor paper and then colored with various dye inks and a blending pen. I fussy cut it and used 3-d glue dots to mount it on the blue heart background panel.

I have some great news with this image -you can get it or any other of your choice for 10% off in the online store. And, if you spend $25 you can get free shipping. It's a great deal.

I used 3 different embossing folders for my background panels and added ruffled ribbon to complete my card. That's it for me for this week. See you next Friday!!

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
stamps: jar candy hearts E565
paper: whisper white, pool party, lucky limeade, sweet stop designer paper
ink: versafine black
accessories: embossing powder, sizzix embossing folders, pool party ribbon, brad

Be Mine, xoxo,Wow,Hugs,Love.........

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Valentine's Day is approaching fast and if you like to make cards for this holiday as do I-here is one for you.

My image is the Great Impressions Stamp - "hanging candy hearts D363". I stamped and then embossed. Colored the hearts and bow with copic markers. Layered this panel on black cardstock and used a border punch. Just adds interest on your card.

From there I decided to go with red designer paper in dots and argyle. On the argyle panel I ran in through my heart paper crimper  again for a little background interest.

I die cut a heart and stamped one of the heart sentiments. To get just the "be mine" sentiment I used a black marker and centered it with my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.

On this card  I finished the inside so I wanted to show you that as well. My sentiment is the Great Impressions Stamp "happy valentines and hearts D364". I die cut more hearts for the inside as well.

That's it for me for this Friday. Hope you enjoy your week-end. See you next Friday.

Mary Marsh

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Well, the Christmas season is behind us for another year and now we can begin thinking about Valentine's Day.
I love to make cards for this holiday as well. Truth be told I just love making cards for any reason or season (lol)!!

For my card today I used the Great Impressions Stamp -Happy Valentine's Day D364. The font on this stamp is so beautiful. It is in-stock in the online store.

I like to take a sentiment stamp and add patterned paper, die cuts, ribbon and other embellishments to make a card. All the add-ons dress up your sentiment and make a great card.

I stamped in purely pomegranate ink and layered on Spellbinders ovals.  Used pomegranate ribbon, made a paper bow from pomegranate cardstock and punched 2 hearts also in pomegranate. To complete my card I used a scalloped border punch to fancy up the edges.

That's it for me for this Friday. See you again next week.

Mary Marsh

2013 Holiday Hugs

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Hope your Christmas was a wonderful one and now we begin the countdown to the New Year.

I ran out of Christmas cards and needed one to give to my neighbor along with some chocolate candy that I made for Christmas. So I decided to make a card for the New Year.

To start my card I stamped my background with the Great Impressions Stamp - "Fireworks & Stars G303" in black ink and then I wet embossed. I layered that on a opal metallic paper.

My 2013 is cut from a Sizzix alphabet set in the same silk opal metallic card stock. Layered that on black card stock and punched a few stars. My sentiment is "holiday hugs A143".

That's my card for this week. If you have any New Years Eve celebrations- be safe. See you next Friday.

Mary Marsh

Merry Little Christmas Tag

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. The countdown continues and it's only 4 days until Christmas. Hopefully your plans are going well and your finishing as expected. If not, don't stress. Just finish what you can and let go of the rest. Enjoy this time with your family and friends.

I still need a few tags for gifts, and I just can't bring myself to buy them. Not with all the supplies I have to make them. So I look for easy ways to put some together quickly.

The Great Impressions sentiment stamps make great gift tags. For this one I used the stamp E512- Have Yourself. I stamped it on a Sizzix die cut tag and added it to a larger die cut tag. My larger tag is cut in red card stock and then some patterned paper. I added a felt snowflake some green chevron ribbon and a red button.

That completed the tag and I like it better than a store bought one. And, I didnt have to fight the crowds or take what was leftover.

That's it for me for this Friday. See you next week. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Mary Marsh

tag recipe:
Stamps: E512
Paper: real red, white and  merry moments patterned paper (Stampin-Up)
Ink: real red
Accessories: Sizzix tag die, ribbon carousel green chevron, felt snowflake and red button (from stash)

Frosty Friends

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. The countdown to Christmas continues and it's now only 11 days away. Hope all your plans are on target.

I have another Christmas card to show you today. I wanted to experiment with distress markers and an aqua painter water brush. This super cute snowman stamp - "frosty Friends G289 was the perfect stamp to use.

I paired my image up with patterned paper from the Basic Gray "fruitcake collection".
Added a twine bow, a banner flag with my sentiment from the stamp "It's Christmas - D453 and that completed my card.

This would also make a great card for a winter birthday or a Christmas thank you note. All the stamps are available in the online store.

That's all from me for today so until next time...........

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
Stamps: frosty friends (G289) and it's christmas (D453)
Paper: naturals white, water color paper, basic grey paper "fruitcake collection"
Ink: tuxedo memento black
Accessories: tim holtz distress markers barn door, tumbled glass, dusty concord, peeled paint, pumice stone, pine needles, twine, snowflake button, mft scallop die

~ It's Christmas ~

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Stamp blog. Only 18 days until Christmas. Whoo-hoo  - I can't wait!!

Are you still looking for a card idea? Well I have one for you today. It's using two of our new release stamps. This one could be easily recreated. So here are the details.

The new stamps are the Christmas penguin - D454 and the sentiment "It's Christmas" - D453. Aren't they just the cutest little guys. I colored them with Copic markers and then fussy cut them for their downhill sliding adventure. On the trim of their hats I used polar white flower soft for fur.

On my background I used the Great Impressions Stamp - "falling snowflakes"E772.  The snowflakes are stamped in bashful blue ink onto bashful blue cardstock. My tree and slope are die cuts. On the tree I used some red rhinestones for accent. On the slope, I used flower soft in polar white for some flaky snow.

To complete my card I stamped the sentiment in bashful blue ink. I think it is such a fun Christmas card. All the stamps are in the online store. If you click on the stamp name above it will take you right to the store for easy ordering.

Well that's it for me for today. Time to get to my Christmas trees. I put up 3 of them. See you next Friday........

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
Stamps: christmas penguin (D454), it's christmas (D453), falling snowflakes (E772)
Paper: bashfiul blue, white, wild wasabi (stampin-up)
Ink: memento tuxedo black, bashful blue
Accessories: in the meadow die (pti), copic markers, red rhinestones, polar white flower soft

Greatest Gift At Christmas

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Another weekend is upon us and do you believe that it is only 25 days until Christmas.

There is still time to get started on those Christmas cards and today I am showing a stamp and card design that would be easy to mass produce.

My card is using the stamp "the greatest gift G290". There is minimal coloring and I did that with markers. I paired the stamp with some red patterned paper, a big chocolate scallop and some red ribbon for my bow. The bow easy helps me to make my bows.

I like the look of angled panels-just adds a little interest to a card. If you need a card idea use this one. The stamp is in the online store so what are you waiting for (lol)!!!!

That's it for me today. See you next Friday.

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
stamp: the greatest gift G290
paper: kraft, chocolate chip, poppy red cardstock and patterned paper (stampin-up)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: poppy red ribbon, scallop die, circle punch

Vintage Big Wheel

Happy Friday and the day after Thanksgiving everyone. Thanks for taking the time from your "Black Friday" shopping  to visit the Great Impressions Stamps Blog.

We are having a sale as well. It's free shipping on orders over $25. So jump over to the online store and pick-up your Christmas stamps or even the one I am showing today.

This card is using the "vintage big wheel E683".  I stamped the bicycle in midnight muse and then used a Spellbinder circle die to cut it out. Layered that on another Spellbinder scalloped circle die and then layered that on a doily die cut from more mustard cardstock.

My pennants are from Spellbinders. I added some more mustard buttons in the corner and punched a razzleberry butterfly to complete my card. 

Well that's my card for today. So until next time.......inky hugs.

Mary Marsh

card recipe:

Stamps: vintage big wheel E683

Paper: midnight muse, rich razzleberry, more mustard, ww, comfort cafe dsp (stampin-up)

Ink: midnight muse

Accessories: Spellbinder circle and pennant dies, MFT dizzy doily die, MS butterfly punch, more mustard buttons, cuttlebug dots ef

Three Snow Friends

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Hope you have been enjoying all the new releases this week. The design team has shown such wonderful cards with all the new stamps.

My sample today is done with 2 new stamps -three snow friends J107 for my image. I colored these with prismacolor pencils and gamsol and paper pieced the pink scarf and hat. Added white polar flower soft on this layer as well. The snowflakes are glittered with a Sakura clear glitter pen.
The background snowflakes are falling snowflakes E772 and stamped in marina mist ink.
My blue panels are designer paper and the other is a snowflake embossing folder.

I added some mesh ribbon over my top red panel. This would be an easy card to mass produce so if you are looking for an idea for your Christmas cards-I just gave you one. All you need to do is order the stamps.

That's my card for today so until next time....... inky hugs!!!!!

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
stamps: three snow friends (J107) and falling snowflakes (E772)
paper: textured red, marina mist, white, marina mist dsp
ink: marina mist, tuxedo black
accessories: white mesh ribbon, snowflake embossing folder, prismacolor pencils, Flower Soft Polar White, Sakura glitter pen

Name That Christmas Carol

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. Looks like all of you are having fun with our little "carol contest" this week.

Christmas -ah it's the most wonderful time of the year for me. I love all the festivities, decorating, baking, shopping, gift giving and family time.
For my card today I am showing you a window decked out for the holiday. I used two Great Impressions Stamps "merry wreath" -F344 and "have yourself" -E512.

The wreath is colored in with markers and then I did some fussy cutting and I used just a portion of the sentiment stamp. Did you know the wreath is a symbol of life with the evergreens and the circle shape represents infinity or immortality?

I used a window die to create the outside of the house and the illusion of looking in the window. On the brown background, I used a brick embossing folder.
I added some red patterned paper behind the window for wallpaper and a touch of lace for my curtain. I also cut a window box and added some holly stickers and stamped my sentiment.
The wreath is hung with some red grosgrain ribbon.

That's my card for today. Do you think you know which carol inspired my card? I am anxious to see all of your guesses. So until next time......inky hugs.

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
stamps: F344 (merry wreath) and E512 (have yourself)
ink: memento tuxedo black
paper: core-dinations brown, Neenah white, SU red cs and patterned paper
accessories: red grosgrain ribbon, madison window die andwindow box, markers, white lace,

~Friends~

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Stamps Blog.

This has been such a stormy week for weather wise here in the East. In the Pittsburgh area it has been raining since last Saturday. But nothing at all like the devastation in NY & NJ. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

As a reminder for some happenings here: This coming Sunday is a new monthly challenge. So drop by to see all the beautiful samples from the design team. And then starting Monday, there is a chance to win some prizes by playing "name that Christmas carol with the design team". Lots of fun.

For my card today, I went with a clean and simple design. I used the sentiment from the Great Impressions Stamps - nicest perks F189. I stamped it in a oval frame die cut.

I added some twine, a button and some butterflies. Finished my card edge with a scallop border punch. Well that's it for me for today. So until next time......

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
Stamps: nicest perks F189
Paper: pretty in pink, white
 Ink: choc chip
Accessories: spellbinders lacy oval, MS butterfly punch, silver pearls, Twinery blossom twine,  pink button, scallop edge punch

New Day

Happy Friday and welcome to the Great Impressions Blog. Friday's seem to roll around faster and faster each week (lol)!! But I guess that just brings the week-end faster.

It's Mary Marsh here and Friday is my day to post on the blog. For today's card, I used the Great Impressions Stamp - "new day"- E770. I love how you can take a sentiment stamp frame it in a fancy die-cut add some designer paper to a great layout and you have a great card.

My background designer paper is from the DCWV "harvest gathering stack" collection.

The larger rectangle panel is striped designer paper from Stampin-Up's-chocolate chip collection.

For my smaller rectangle panel, I used the pumpkin harvest Cuttlebug embossing folder in pumpkin. My oval is cut in vanilla from the Spellbinders floral oval die. I stamped in choc chip ink.
To finish my card and the sketch I die cut a pennant flag in choc chip using a Spellbinders die.

That's it for me for today.  Hope you have some fun plans for the week-end.

Life's Measurements

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions blog. Hope you had time to follow the Echo Park Paper/Great Impressions Blog hop this week.
There will be a winner from each designer's blog. You have until Sunday night at midnight to comment.

Click here for the blog hop

 

My card for today is using the Great Impressions Stamp - "life is not measured"- F252. I love how you can make the sentiment the focal image on a card. Add some designer paper, a die cut and you have a great card.

I played on the measurement theme of the sentiment by using designer paper with measurements on it. I added a flag pennant to complete this cas layout.

That's it for me today. Hope you have some fun plans for the week-end.

Mary Marsh

card recipe:
stamp: life is not measured F252
paper: island indigo, rich razzleberry, natural ivory, designer paper (stampin-up)
ink: island indigo
accessories: spellbinders dies, circle punch

New Day Blessings

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. I hope you have liked all the samples we have posted this week with the new releases. I have another one to show you today.

My card is using 2 new stamps. The sentiment is "new day" - E770. Don't you just love the wording? I placed it inside the "sunflower tag" - H231. I thinks this is a perfect card for Thanksgiving. Also one that would be easy to make 4 or 5 quickly.

Here are some card details: My card base is chocolate chip and then I layered peach parfait and some patterned paper from Basic Grey's "Indian Summer " collection.

I used cajun craze ink on the sunflower tag & sentiment  and used a peach parfait marker for the flowers.

On the rectangle panel, I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then added a flag pennant. This was cut from a Spellbinders die. To complete the card I punched 3 small circles from cajun craze cardstock.

That's it for me for today. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win some goodies. Stop by my blog as well. The link is on the sidebar. Just click my picture.

Mary Marsh

~The Journey~

Happy Friday and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Blog. If you have any plans for the week-end, I hope it's something fun.

For my card today, I am using the vintage big wheel image - E683 and the sentiment is "it's all about the journey" - D406. I really like this image and sentiment and am pleased with how my card turned out. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to get the sentiment on 2 lines.

I like how you accentuate an image by using a die cut to do some layering. Hope you like it as well. That's it for my post today so until next time..........

Mary Marsh

Card recipe:
Paper: island indigo, white, red riding hood, more mustard & fan fair patterned paper (Stampin-Up)
Ink: island indigo
Accessories:  doily & flag stax die (MFT), circle die (Spellbinders), MS circle punch, button.

Release Week - Oops Kitty~

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for taking the time to visit the Great Impressions Stamps blog. If this is your first time visiting, the design team takes turns posting on the blog. Friday the day belongs to Mary Marsh (that's me) or at least the blog post does (lol)!!

This week we have been showing you new released stamps. So if you haven't looked start with Sunday and take a peek at all the great new stamps and the fabulous eye candy from the design team.

Isn't this kitty just the cutest little thing?? It's part of the new release - Oops Kitty E766. I colored him with prismacolor pencils and gamsol in shades of gray. I sponged the image panel with distressed ink.

I decided to use a hot pink & gray color scheme for my card. On the background panel I used the spots and dots embossing folder.


On the rectangle panel I stamped paw prints in basic gray ink-using another new stamp from big & small paw prints H213.

I computer generated my sentiment. Added a few punched hearts because the kitty looks he is sending lots of love with those eyes. That's my card for today. So until next time...........

Mary Marsh

Card Recipe:
Paper: basic gray, melon mambo, white, patterned paper (stampin-up)
Ink: basic gray (stampin-up), broken china (ranger)
Accessories: Spellbinders  dies, MS heart punch, embossing folder (cuttlebug)