Moments

Happy Last Thursday of 2012!

I hope that everyone made Santa's 'nice' list...did you receive any Great Impressions stamps? :)

My most recent order included a few stamps I've had on my wish list and, of course, I had to ink up some of my new rubber and show them off on a project!

I've been thinking of the highs and lows of my year, of the goals I accomplished and the ones I've yet to set. I can't believe how fast this year has passed! Already it's time for my last post as a member of the Great Impressions Stamps Design Team. It has been wonderful to work with a GREAT company with such fabulous products & service, not to mention the talented team!

 With those thoughts on my mind, Life is Not Measured... (F252) is the perfect sentiment for my New Year's card. I used Simple Elegance (H185) along the bottom edge of my sentiment panel. The flourish is embossed with clear embossing powder and glitter. Embossing with powders is another easy way to add texture and interest to a simple card.

(There is foil, embossing and glitter on this card. Hard to see, I know - they're not so easy to photograph!)

The tiny tag is handwritten with a Glaze pen - goes on wet and looks like the writing was embossed when dry. These pens are great for adding personal touches to patterned papers.

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit today and your 2012 has had more ups than downs! Thank you for your support, comments & participation (you still have a couple of days to link up to the december challenge!) and may 2013 be your best year, yet!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Cool Birthday!

Happy Thursday! Only 5 days till Christmas...and I'm sitting here typing up this post while a blizzard winds down outside my window! I love days like this where I can start a fire, grab some hot cocoa and take the time to get some crafting done. Even though we are in the last stretch of the holidays for 2012, I'm already looking ahead to 2013 birthdays.

Did you see my post last week? I used Snow Adorable (E774) on a cute Christmas tag and mentioned how versatile snowmen images can be. Frosty (G476) is another fun snowman image to use on some winter projects...

Frosty (G476)

My youngest daughter will be turning 10 in January and wants a snowman/rainbow party! This is quite the change from the normal glittery princess event, but I like a challenge!

I started with the birthday card...

I used a few dies, embossing folders, a little bit of distressing and my favorite Smash tape! And, of course, some clear glitter for the snowy parts...and I couldn't leave a nekkid inside...

And it's Swirly Happy Birthday (E367) paired with Snow Adorable (E774)! Such a cute stamp. I couldn't resist putting him on the inside. He makes me smile!

Thank Yous are always an important part of birthday celebrations around my house. If you would like to see the snowman Thank You tags my little girl will be using stop by my blog when you're finished here!

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy Holidays!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Snow Adorable!

Happy Thursday, Everyone! Angi here with a simple Christmas tag - with texture, of course! I've got a few more gifts to finish up, so these tags are going to be perfect!

The Distress Markers are great for this image! A little color, a little water, some sparkle with a Spica... Isn't Snow Adorable (E774) so cute?! 

Can you see the white flock on the brim and the pom-pom of the hat? (I decided not to use glitter on this project, but it would have looked fabulous, too!)

I love the texture of this frame. I inked it up with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to highlight the raised design. I felt like it needed just a little bit more character (see my issues with CAS? lol), so I tapped the edge with a Versamark pad and added some copper embossing powder. It's in the details, right?

(I could have stopped right here and made this into a darling tag or ornament...who knows? I still might make a few more of these!)

But if I had stopped, you wouldn't have gotten to see this lovely sentiment Hearts That Give (E775), dressed up with more copper embossing powder and a tiny red punched heart!

I backed this tag with a plain white one, so I can write 'To:' and 'From:'  and leave a little love on the back. The ribbon is wired and tied with a piece of jute twine and a jingle bell.

Snowmen are great winter images!
You could use any of these Great Impressions' snow related stamps for more than just Christmas...hmmm...maybe thank you or winter birthday?
(Watch for my post next week...hint, hint!)

(The 'Artboard' selections are previous Stamp of the Month sample boards. You can see those HERE. Scroll down a bit & click on the boards to see the samples. There's GREAT inspiration to be found!)

It's been great visiting with you today! Thanks for stopping by!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Need Another "Gift" Card?

Happy St. Nicholas' Day!

(Nikolaustag in Germany)

The clock is a tickin' and I needed a few quick and simple cards for those last minute gifts.  

This design fit the bill! I wanted a CAS look with texture. Easy peasy...

1. Stamp a white panel with Old World Merry Christmas (E739)

2. Color any details (optional)

3. Emboss the panel with the Sizzix Holly Swirls folder

(check your local craft store - they may still have it!)

4. Cut 3 lengths of ribbon and layer 2 pieces. Tie a bow & adhere.

5. Pop up panel with foam squares, pop dots, etc. (optional)

If you leave out the coloring and adhere the panel to the card base, this card will be quick and easy to assemble. You could even skip the embossing, if you're really in a hurry!

Here's a close up of this lovely, detailed stamp:

Have you taken a look at all the entries in our monthly challenge? The theme is ANYTHING GOES! Can't get much simpler than that...I hope you find time to make a little something this month - we'd love to see it!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Little Angel White on White

26 sleeps until Christmas Day!

What have you been working on?

Finishing up cards? Tags? Gift wrap? Wouldn't this little angel look adorable on any of those?

Little Angel (E515)

She's just the sweetest little bit, isn't she?

I accidentally snipped off her halo when I was cutting her out. Good thing I love to try new hobbies and had some gold wire sitting in a drawer...happy serendipity!

 Have Yourself (E512)

There are so many wonderful sentiments in the Great Impressions Stamps online store (you can even check your local craft store to see if these are in stock!) and this was another perfect fit!

By the way I have really enjoyed stopping by to see your wonderful creations linked up to the monthly challenge! Thank you for sharing them with us!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Celebrate with Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know not every one of our wonderful Great Impressions fans celebrates Thanksgiving, but I'm sure no matter where we live, we all have lots to be grateful for this year.

Family.

I am most grateful this year for family.

How do you define family?

Blood relations? Closest friends? Community?

I am grateful for our Great Impressions' family & that includes YOU!

Thank you for taking the time to leave uplifting comments, for supporting Great Impressions and sharing your wonderful projects with us every month! We appreciate you.

Here's a card I made with you in mind...

I stamped Berry Sprig (D281) along the outside of the heart cut out.

It adds a layer without adding bulk to the flower embellishments.

I spritzed the flowers with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists: Tuscan Sun, Sugar Maple & Rum Punch

Bliss Mist: Whipped Honey Butter (I love those names!)

Isn't this sentiment perfect for today?

[Here's another card I made using Abundant Blessings (C384) that is NOT a Thanksgiving card.]

A couple of strips of patterned paper from the stash to finish off the inside.

Thanks for stopping by the Great Impressions Stamps blog.
Next week join us for our Holiday Hop with the Ribbon Carousel!

However you celebrate today, may it be full of friends, family & love!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Christmas Moose in Lights

Hey, Great Impressions Fans!
Hasn't this been another wonderful release week?
Today I've got an adorable moose to show you...

This Decorated Moose (G474) is adorable, right?!

The image is colored with Copics and then the tiny lights were covered with Glossy Accents.

Love how the lights look like they're glowing!

Added a little Polar Flower Soft...

And, of course, the perfect sentiment to go along...Tangled Up (C440)

Did you know there are 40 days till Christmas! You still have time to order a few Great Impressions Christmas stamps for a few more tags and cards...or even to gift! I know I have a wish list in the Great Impressions' online store!

Hope your Thursday is a great start to the weekend.

Inky hugs,
Angi

Name that Tune, er, Carol!

I am loving this week's design team cards! Christmas carols...I sing them all year round. Drives my family crazy! Once November rolls around there is a family tradition of absolutely no Christmas songs to be played until the day after Turkey Day. Sigh. This has been a long week! ;)

Alrighty...that means I have a card for you...based on a Christmas Carol...think you know which one?

Everyone's still in bed in my house; I'm humming it right now...just in case you're wondering. The Great Impressions Stamps I used:

Extra Snowflakes (A136)

Winter Hats (F504)

Jolly Snowman (H215)

Framed Winter Scene (K95)

Lots of sparkle. Snowflakes, trim on the hat (used liquid applique for dimension), on the trees, bling...

Good luck! Can't wait to see your guesses!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Teacups Thanks

Hello, hello!

Happy First Day of November! I've got a quick little project for you...those holidays are right around the corner...

Yep, it's another gift card holder! This one is so easy...it's a Sizzix Bigz XL die. All you have to do is decorate. My kind of gift wrap! Those little Elegant Tea Cups (F389) are stamped and then fussy cut. The tiniest bit of Copic coloring and then glitter was added to a few lines. I love tone on tone and that lovely chocolate brown ribbon on top of the brown. Well... it's just lovely!

Here's a close up of the stamped panel inside the holder. I've used this stamp, Simple Thanks (D374), for a few projects already. I think it's on my top 10 Great Impressions' list... and here it is open! Since the cardstock base is so dark, I included a small panel for someone to write in their message.

Alright, folks...that's a wrap! *wink*

Don't forget to check out the top of the Great Impressions Stamps blog for special announcements!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Masking the Mouse

Snowed last night.

 Only flurries, but the temperature dropped and out came the wool sweater and slippers! Guess it's time to dig in and get to some serious crafting in the studio!

One of my favorite things about using stamps is the ability to combine images by masking. Once you know how to layer your images (foreground to background), you can customize any project by mixing and matching.

This card uses two Great Impressions Stickables for the scene:

Harvest Mouse (F169)

Mailboxes (G465)

and part of the Just For You (C370) Stickable for the sentiment.

When I first saw Harvest Mouse I thought he should be gifting this sweet pumpkin to a friend...now he is! First I stamped Harvest Mouse. Make a mask by stamping on a sticky note (make sure part of the image is actually on the sticky part. Just sayin'.) and then trim out the image.

Place the sticky note image over your stamped image. Ink up the Mailboxes and stamp it once on the left. Ink it up again and stamp on the right. Lift up the mask and ta-da!

Harvest Mouse is on his way to the Mailboxes!

The edges are sprinkled with Frantage Bronzed Mica Fragments. I love the vintage glam. It's hard to see in photos, but I used Spica Pens to add shimmer here and there, too.

That little strip was a leftover from trimming the front panel. Works great here!

Time for a refill on my hot chocolate. There's still time to enter the monthly challenge. Can't wait to visit you!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Pumpkin Envie - Got Your's?

The Echo Park and Great Impressions Stamps blog hop is still open! Find the details in THIS POST.

Now that the leaves are turning, I'm thinking about pumpkin pie and and homemade mashed potatoes (not together! lol) Lots of people in our daily lives to show some appreciation to: teachers, crossing guards, postman (or woman), coworkers, that thoughtful person at Starbucks who asks you if you want your 'regular' (that can't be just me...that's a chai creme frappucino with soy, whip and now pumpkin sauce, thank you!)

With friends and family scattered across the globe, gift cards are a lovely alternative, but they can be a little low on the 'WOW' factor when you receive/give one, right?

Spoiler: I'm planning on giving quite a few gift cards this year! ;)

How about a decorated envie (aka envelope) to dress up that drab little card?

I attached cardstock to the top and bottom side of the flap.

(What's normally the back of the envelope is the front of my gift card dressing!)

I prefer not to leave the inside of my cards nekkid.

(Yep, I know it's misspelled...hiding from the nasty searches...)

Same went for my envie! I used Pumpkin Flourish (F500) to stamp the tag and the inside.

The A2 envelope is large enough to hold multiple gift cards, a handmade card, money, even a wrapped cookie! (My 9 year old made a German version of Mexican wedding cookies today (are those really Mexican?). ..they were so yummy!)

Have you entered our Monthly Challenge - Fall? There's still time to link up your project!

What are you doing to make your gifts a little more special?

Inky hugs,

Angi

Blessings Abound during Release Week!

I just love Release Week! Lots of inspiration and fun stuff! I'm waving today from my hotel in Burlington, NC.

((( Hi, Everyone! )))

Hubs and I are on a business/pleasure trip. This week I have been thinking about how blessed I am to be able to work and play with truly wonderful people...and wouldn't you know it, Great Impressions Stamps had the perfect stamps for me this week!

Isn't this Sunflower Background (G472) stamp, just gorgeous? It's stamped on kraft cardstock in Versamark Watermark ink, embossed in copper and then colored with Copics. I used it several times on this tag. See the stamped image on the distressed heart? It's also stamped in Versamark Watermark ink. Versamark produces a tone-on-tone effect, if you just let it dry after stamping. (It does take a little longer to dry than regular dye inks.)

Can you see where else I used the Sunflower Background stamp?

Look along the top edge of the tag. This time it's stamped with Versamark and then embossed with clear powder. Love it!

The Blessings (D452) sentiment is also part of this release and just what this tag needed. I forgot to write down what paper I used, but I think it's a Simple Stories line...added a little torn muslin and a few tiny staples and ribbons to finish it off.

I think I may have to make a few more of these along with a few loaves of something yummy. Are you in the baking mood? Fall is in the air!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Creative Notebook

Do you ever have one of those crazy creative ideas in the middle of the night? I keep notebooks on my nightstand, in my purse, in my car...just in case. I know if I don't write an idea down as soon as possible, when I get a chance to make something I'll have forgotten that great idea.

The other day, I had an idea...

It involved the Great Impressions Stamp Very Creative (G439),

a few Copics, a Spica Pen or two, and some paper scraps...

a rub-on and a notebook!

Can't have too many of these. They make great gifts. I've been having fun using up paper scraps, stamps and orphaned rub-ons and stickers to make a few more notebooks.

(If you've been looking for my leaf tutorial for the leaves on THIS card

and my RMH card, stop by my blog on Saturday...)

Okay, I'm off to clean up the studio...after all this Saturday is World Card Making Day!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Simple Things

Happy, happy Thursday! Today, I've got a sweet card

featuring another adorable Great Impressions' image...

This is Harvest Mouse...didn't I tell you this is one adorable image?! I colored with Copics and then used clear glitter over the pumpkin and the leaf.

A few colorful, leaves cut out with my Sizzix eClips.

(Do you like my fall leaves? Stop by my blog next week for the tutorial!)

You may have seen this sentiment, Simple Things on a card I made last week...works on this card, too!

I remembered to keep out the Copics I used this time...

 Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for our Blog Hop - lots of inspiration and even prizes! You don't want to miss it... See you soon!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Halloween Special for You!

Good morning! Still playing with a few of my Great Impressions' Halloween stamps...

Just For You (C370)

Spooky Tree (G432)

Add a Stampin' Up! embossing folder and Perfect Pearls powder...

And a few Distress Inks and you've got yourself a Halloween card!

There's still time to sign up for the charity hop...and enter the September Challenge!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Release Week - Couldn't 'Bear' to Miss it!

Would you like 20% off your next Great Impressions Stamps order? How about FREE shipping to go along with it? Get the details HERE!

Don't you just love Release Week? I know I do! I've got another suh-weet stamp for you and if you like to color...this was made for you! This is Garden Bear (G467):

Garden Bear is all colored up with Copics and then die cut using the "Out of the Box" technique and a Spellbinders oval.

And, of course, there's a matching sentiment! TLC (B226)

Did you see that tag with the chevrons...behind the bear? Don't let it fool you...it's a 4th generation tag! I knew what I wanted. It just took a little longer getting there than I thought.

Now don't be shy! Leave a comment here, or any of the DT's posts from this week to win your very own Great Impressions stamps!

(For more deets on the tag and a list of Copics, stop by and see me...and leave a comment for another chance to win!)

Inky hugs,
Angi

Ghoulish Boo!

Just a reminder...Have you signed up for our charity blog hop

to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, yet?

Can you feel it?

A little coolness to the air, a tinge of yellow in the trees...Fall is just around the corner!

My most favorite season is coming and with it the holidays!

Halloween is one of those holidays that crafters seem to love or not...with very little in-between. I'm one of those that loves Halloween. It's a holiday full of color, glitter and fun! I mean, c'mon...you get to dress up and eat chocolate...caramel apples, cider, pumpkin donuts...have I mentioned I'm a bit of a foodie? *grin* If you've got a favorite Fall recipe, I'd love to hear about it!

Speaking of recipes, I have one for you featuring Great Impressions Stamps'

Ghoulish (F501)

and Distressed Background (K94)!

A few layers, scraps of patterned papers and fiber, an embossing folder, Distress Inks...

and Stains and Stickles...

and a Tim Holtz Sizzix die...an oldie, but goodie!

Okay, here we go...stamp Ghoulish with Staz-On on the front of the vellum. Use Distress Stain in Picket Fence on the back...don't worry about staying in the lines. It's okay to get messy! Once dry, use Spica pens to add a little color and glitter to the ghosts eyes on the front side. Carefully tear along the edges of the vellum

I embossed the orange panel with an embossing folder, but if I had Spider Web (G379), I would have heat embossed it to make the background instead! Use Distressed Background to give the background more character.

The rosette was made using scrap paper and the Tim Holtz Mini Rosettes die. Now you can get out those Distress Inks and go to town making each layer look a little more vintage and add Stickles where ever you need some sparkle!

Don't forget to visit our September Challenge post

& enter your fabulous creation for a chance to win!

Inky hugs,

Angi