Happy Dancing Penguins

Hello Everyone!

I'm here today to share a fun birthday card I've made using Party Penguins and Your Birthday. I really wanted to use some bright, fun colors to make this card, so I decided to use pink, green, orange, yellow, aqua blue and white  I used a curved edge die for the yellow piece to add a little bit of interest for the front of the card.



I used an embossing folder to add some texture to the green background piece. I stamped the penguins in blank ink and used various Copic markers to color them in. I stamped the sentiment in orange ink before layering it on a piece of aqua card stock. I added some white stitching lines along with white sequins and silver stickles for some final touches.

That is all for today, I hope you have a great day and I'll see you all again soon!

Happy Spring ...

Good morning! Today I'm sharing a lovely Spring card featuring stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.

Today's card features the lovely Happy Spring Tulip (E442). I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Copic Markers were used to color the image. I masked off the area and applied Distress Ink around the image. I stamped a couple extra copies of the image, color the tulip and leaf and paper-pieced them on my design to give my card some dimension. I then added a couple of enamel dots around the image.

We have a NEW Challenge that started yesterday. Stop by for all of the details and then join in the FUN for a chance to win an awesome prize, and for a chance to be our Guest Designer in April.

Until next week ... Enjoy!

March 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 February is ...
#6 ~ Janice M.

Congratulations Janice. Please email Ruza

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

Now for the "Top Picks"
#9 ~ Bella
#11 ~ Heidi@MLSB
#3 ~ Joanna M.

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
 ~ Create a Spring and/or Easter project using the photo as inspiration ~
There are so many options ... from the colors, flowers, vase, eggs, etc.

Here is the Prize you can win ...

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

 Neva will be sharing her creations during the Month of March with all of us.

Hello, I live in Central Oregon on a mini-farm full of fun critters with my loving husband, two sons, and college-aged daughter in the summer.  We raise German Shepherds and currently have four that call us their humans.  I’ve been crafting my entire life and settled in on paper crafting about 24 years ago.  I stamp and create cards, scrapbook, and make home décor items.  I enjoy playing with ink, stamps, paper, dies, embossing folders, and mixed media.  I am excited to be Guest Designing with Great Impressions in March, thank you for having me!

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

featuring ... H263 Springtime Louie
and B246 Happy Everything Sentiment

 Neva did an amazing job with our Theme this month! Her coloring and design makes an awesome Spring card. Make sure you head over to  Neva'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 ... F436 Celebrating Spring

Dori

featuring ... H228 Spring Floral Border
and G483 Tags Sentiment

Robin

featuring ... G452 Easter Lily
and B245 Wishing you a Happy Easter 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

A Birthday Card

Happy March All!

It's Robin here. I'm in the Midwest and our storms have just begun.  Hope you are fairing well in all this.  On Sunday we will begin our March Challenge.  I can't wait to see all of your wonderful projects!  I love to be inspired by y'all.  

I have a birthday card to share with you today.  With it being March I thought I would start out with some March Daffodils (G411).

I have made this with a lot of things you can feel as it has been made for a lady that happens to be blind.  She feels to see so it had to have a lot she can feel.  Tomorrow is her birthday so I am using Happy Birthday (E367) embossed with some glitter embossing powder.  You can see these and many other beauties at the Great Impressions store.

Hope you all have a blessed day!

Robin

Happy Easter Tulips

Good Morning Everyone!

I know some of you are still in the deep freeze of winter; but try to hold on...Spring is coming! I thought it would be a great idea to share a card to remind us that bright blue skies and sunny days are on their way! What better way to do that than to get a bit of a jump start on Easter cards.


For my card today, I chose a purple, green, grey and white color palette because I thought purple would be a perfect color for the "Tall Tulips" stamp set. I stamped the tulips in black ink and then colored them in with some Prismacolor pencils and blended with some oil and a blending stump. I stamped the "Happy Easter" sentiment in Wilted Violet distress ink and added it at the bottom. There are so many great Easter and Spring stamps in the Great Impressions store! Go have a look and be inspired!

That is all for me today, however. Have a fabulous day and I will see you all again soon!

Happy Spring ...

Good morning! Today I'm sharing a lovely Spring card featuring stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.

Today's card features the lovely Happy Spring Squares (G415). I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Copic Markers were used to color the squares, and then I cut them out. I embossed some white cardstock with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, tied on some yellow ribbon, and added it to my Lemon Whip card with 3D Foam Tape. I then added the squares to my design with 3D Foam Tape. The final step was to add White Opal Liquid Pearls to the center of each flower.

Here's a closer look at the Happy Spring Squares (G415) ...

You only have 1-more day to join our February Sketch Challenge. I hope you'll take some time to join in the FUN for a chance to win an awesome prize, and for a chance to be our Guest Designer in April.

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Angie Recap

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

First up is the gorgeous card that Angie made for our February Sketch Challenge. I love how she colored the image, and her black and white background draws your eyes the the image.

featuring ... G534 Dog and Bird 
and G535 Early Bird Sentiment

Next, Angie created a cool background for her beautifully colored image, and the sign she used is a perfect match.

featuring ... G537 Gone Camping

Angie's final card is this adorable Baby Card. I fell in love with her baby card ... from her coloring, to the beautiful design paper she used. 

featuring ... F526 Angel Bear
and B221 Heaven Sent Sentiment

It has been a pleasure having Angie share her projects with us this month. She used our February Challenge Sketch for all of her projects, and they turned out beautifully!

You still have time to join in our Great Impressions February Challenge Sketch! Hop on over for all of the details and join in the FUN!

Revisiting Spring Projects: Day 5

Good morning! This week we are Revisiting Spring Projects that were created by various Designers. Today's card was created by Mynn and features the adorable Potted Puppy (F582) and Buzzing By Sentiment (A147) available at Great Impressions Stamps.

I love the pastel color pallet along with Mynn's coloring of the image, and her layout beautifully features the stamps she used!

The Design Team will be back on Monday to inspire you with lots of beautiful projects. Until then, there is still plenty of time to join our February Sketch Challenge. It's a lovely sketch and very versatile. Stop by for all of the details, and then join in the FUN!

Revisiting Spring Projects: Day 4

Good morning! This week we are Revisiting Spring Projects that were created by various Designers. Today's card was created by Leah and features the adorable Bunny Backs (E749), Growing Tall Flowers (F358) and Happy Everything Sentiment (B246) which you will find in the Great Impressions StampsStore.

This scene that Leah made with the stamps is positively lovely! Leah did an amazing job creating this Spring card. Speaking of Spring, did you see the New Spring Stamps and the Sale that starts today? Check out the Great Impressions Newsletter for all of the details! 

Have you checked out our February Sketch Challenge yet? It's a lovely sketch and very versatile. Stop by for all of the details, and then join in the FUN!

NEW Spring Stamps and a Sale ...

Good morning! Spring is fast approaching, and has already arrived for some. What better way to Celebrate than with some NEW Spring Stamps and a SPRING SALE over at the Great Impressions Store! 

Get out that Wish List you've been hording and take advantage of the 15% Off Sale by using the Sales Code Spring2017 during check-out. While you are at the Great Impressions Store make sure you check out the NEWEST STAMPS, shown below. 

I absolutely LOVE these NEW stamps and can't wait to get them in my crafty hands! Especially the NEW Vera, Mabel and Lottie Quilting stamp and Sentiment (shown below).

We are Revisiting Spring Projects this week, and Day 4 will be posting in the next hour. You really need to see the amazing card that Leah created. I absolutely LOVE it!

There is still plenty of time to join our February Sketch Challenge. It's a lovely sketch and very versatile. Stop by for all of the details, and then join in the FUN!

Revisiting Spring Projects: Day 3

Good morning! This week we are Revisiting Spring Projects that were created by various Designers. Today's card was created by Kendra and features the adorable Louise with Ducklings (H283), Just Ducky Sentiment (E889) and Hello Louie (E856) available at Great Impressions Stamps.

I absolutely love how Kendra colored Louise and her Ducklings, and the design is so bright and cheerful. Kendra continued the design on the inside of her card with Louie and the sentiment.

This is one card I would really enjoy receiving in the mail. 

Have you checked out our February Sketch Challenge yet? It's a lovely sketch and very versatile. Stop by for all of the details, and then join in the FUN!

Revisiting Spring Projects: Day 2

Good morning! This week we are Revisiting Spring Projects that were created by various Designers. Today's card was created by Julie and features the lovely Tulip Umbrella (F480) and Happy Everything Sentiment (B246) available at Great Impressions Stamps.

The circle design is so cool, and her coloring and placement of the image and sentiment look perfect on her design.

Have you checked out our February Sketch Challenge yet? It's a lovely sketch and very versatile. Stop by for all of the details, and then join in the FUN!

Revisiting Spring Projects: Day 1

Good morning! This week we are Revisiting Spring Projects that were created by various Designers. Why Spring you ask? Well, we've been have Spring-like weather here in Northern Illinois - like 60-degrees.

Today's card was created by Ruza and features the lovely G364 Spring Special Thanks available at Great Impressions Stamps.

The colors are perfect for Spring, and Ruza did a beautiful job coloring the flowers.

Have you checked out our February Sketch Challenge yet? It's a lovely sketch and very versatile. Stop by for all of the details, and then join in the FUN!

Guest Designer: Angie

Good morning all. Our February Guest Designer Angie is joining us today with an adorable baby card.

Here's what Angie has to say ...

I’m here again today with my final guest post for the month.  Thanks again for inviting me, I’ve had so much fun playing with Great Impressions stamps! This card was made with white and blue card stock and plaid patterned paper.  I used several dies to cut out the pieces including a pinked edge die and some scallop edge dies to create the vertical stripe from the sketch.  The Angel Bear (F526) is colored with markers and is combined with the Heaven Sent Sentiment (B221). Both the blue panels are popped up on fun foam for dimension. The 3 pretty copper flowers are actually brads from my stash. I hope you will find the time to join the fun this month with the February sketch challenge! Thanks to Great Impressions for a fun month of guest designing!

Such an adorable card! I love the how Angie colored the bear, and the DP she used is perfect for the image and our Sketch! Make sure you stop by Angie's Blog and leave her some love.

Our Great Impressions February Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! 

Just A Reminder

Good morning all!

We are now just over half-way through our sketch challenge.  There is still plenty of time to enter.  This is the card I made for the challenge.

I just love this stamp.  It's called "Carousel Horse" (G339) and I have paired it with the sentiment "Heaven Sent" (B221).  On the inside I have added the sentiment "New Little Baby" (C434).  It's a wonderful sentiment to add for a baby card.  

My niece is about to have a little boy so I have baby on the brain...LOL.  

I would love to see you join in the Great Impressions February Challenge.  As you can see I have flipped the sketch.  

This is the prize you can win.  It's so adorable!

Hope you have had a wonderful month so far and enjoyed much happiness on Valentine's Day!

Lots of Hugs,

Robin

February Challenge reminder.

Hi Everyone!

Stopping by today with a quick reminder that there is still plenty of time to enter the sketch challenge for this month! We would love to see what you create! Here's another look at the sketch:



And here's another look at the card I made using the Vintage Bubble Gum Machine Stamp    And Valentine Wishes 




We would love for you to link up your cards for this challenge. Head on over to the Great Impressions  for all the details and the linky tool and a chance to win a great prize package:

Have a great day everyone!

Happy Birthday ...

Good morning! Today I'm sharing a Birthday card featuring stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.

I wanted to create a Birthday card to put money inside. To start I took a 6-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece of cardstock, scored the long side at 3-1/2" and 7", folded it and put it on the side. Next I cut a panel for the cover, stamped the Stacked Presents (H178) with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, and colored the image with my Copic Markers. I then stamped the Wishes Sentiment (D361), masked off the Stacked Presents, and used a dauber to apply a variety of Tim Holtz Distress Ink around the image and sentiment.

I then cut out 2 more panels. The first panel is for the cover of the inside flap of the card. I stamped the Sparkles Sentiment (F312) with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, and applied distress ink to match the cover.

For the second panel I stamped the Fun Balloons, which is a Retired GI Stamp, in three different colors. I added distress ink after masking the image leaving room to write a personal note inside.

Here's a picture of the card partially open.

I then added the Stacked Presents to the envelope to coordinate with my card, used twine that matches one of the presents to tie the card closed. It slips off and on very easily for easy access to the inside.

Our Great Impressions February Sketch Challenge is up and running, and I hope you'll take some time to join in the FUN for a chance to win an awesome prize, and for a chance to be our Guest Designer in April.

Until next week ... Enjoy!

Guest Designer: Angie

Good morning all. Our February Guest Designer Angie is joining us today with an awesome card.

Here's what Angie has to say ...

Thanks again for inviting me to guest design this month! For this card I used this fun Gone Camping (G537) and the Do More Sentiment (C496) on the inside of the card.  I stamp the tire track diagonally to match the sketch, then matted it on black and kraft card stock.  I colored the image with watercolor markers and a water brush and then mounted it on foam along with a “Road Trip” sticker from my stash.  The bling is actually 3 sequins filled with black Enamel Accents.  Lastly I added a tiny twine bow.  Check out the sketch and come join the fun and enter this month’s challenge!

Such an cool card! I love the how Angie used our Sketch for her card, and the Road Trip sticker is a perfect match for the image! Make sure you stop by Angie's Blog to see the inside of the card, and don't forget to leave her some love.

Our Great Impressions February Challenge is live! Hop on over for all of the details, and join in the FUN! 

Spring Special Thanks!

We are having such a wonderful month and hoping you are too!  Robin here to show you another card I have created for your inspiration.

Since I reversed the sketch I thought I would do it again.  This time I am using Spring Special Thanks (G364) paired with some bright floral papers.  I am so ready to warm up some.  This hasn't been a hard winter but I am a bit tired of being cold.  I thought this would be a nice way to look forward to Spring since the ground hog saw his shadow.

I have colored with my Copics and then added some gloss to the flowers and used sparkle on the words.  Since the sentiment is included I thought some flowers and ribbon were in order.  Then I found this cute floral button in my stash to top it off.

I really love this sketch and hope you all will join in on the February Great Impressions Sketch Challenge!  Can't wait to see what you create!!

Many good wishes and hugs,

Robin

Kitchen Memories.

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back. Thank you for joining me today. I have another project featuring Great Impressions Stamps. I decided to do something a little different with this one. Instead of making a card, I made a 5x7 single sided picture which I will put in a frame and give as a gift for a family member.
I chose Cooking Border and Warm Memories 

I stamped the border around the edge of some white card stock and then used some Prismacolor pencils to color in the pieces. I layered the middle as shown and stamped the sentiment in the middle with Teal ink. I added some silver cord ribbon and a few sequins for final embellishments.

Have great day and I'll see you again soon!