Love Bugs - Impression-Obsession Winter Hugs Release Day 2

Hello peeps!  Welcome back to the Impression-Obsession Winter Hugs Release Hop.  Today is Day 2, and the Design Team has lots of inspiration for you.  You can find a list of the others DT members' blogs with their projects HERE.

I have a $10 gift certificate to give away.  Comment below and let me know which new stamp is your favorite, and you just may win.  Comments will be open until Saturday, December 15th, at noon.

On to my project for today....

Stamps:  Love Bugs C19903 
              No Matter What B14771

I stamped the Love Bugs image onto light gray card stock, and colored it with my Polychromos colored pencils.  
I used a metal stencil from my stash to create the embossed frame of dots.  For the darker gray on the dots and background of the ladybugs, I brushed on some hickory smoke distress ink. A little layering and a fun gingham for final touches on the front.

Inside...

I couldn't resist these fun little 'love bugs.'  They make a cute and easy card. 

All of the new release stamps are available immediately.  You can view and order them HERE.

I am adding my card to:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - B is for....
Tuesday Throwdown  - Anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting. I will be back tomorrow for Day 3 of the Winter Hugs Release Hop, with more inspiration.  Hope to see you then.

Blessings,

 

You're My Favorite! Impression-Obsession Winter Hugs Release

Greetings!  Welcome to the Winter Hugs Release Hop at Impression-Obsession.   Would you like to win a $10 Impression-Obsession gift certificate?  I have one to give away today!  Just leave a comment below with your favorite stamp from this release...that's it.  You have until Saturday, December 16th, at noon CT.  The winner will be announced December 17th.  
Now, on to my project for today.....

Impression-Obsession stamps and dies used: 
     VALENTINE BUN E13729 
     MY FAVORITE A13740 
     LOVE DIE271-D 

For my card front, I stamped the Valentine Bun onto white bristol smooth card stock, and colored it with distress inks, using them as watercolor.  I added some colored pencil details for shading and highlights with my Polychromos colored pencils.

  
I used the 'YOU' from a previous stamp set, Life Stuff Sentiments CL491.  Then added the die cut LOVE - DIE271-D.  Before adding the die, I brushed some distress inks on in ombre' fashion, and layered the die four times for added dimension.  I die cut several hearts from various sets, including the center of this die, and colored and added them.
I added a couple of strips of patterned paper to bring in more gray and balance the composition.


And on the inside....

I hope you are inspired by my card today. 

All of the new stamps are available NOW!  You can find them HERE.  

Don't forget to comment about your favorite stamp from this release in the comments sections below, to be in the drawing for a $10 'IO' gift certificate to the Impression-Obsession store.  

For more inspiration from my amazing design team mates, check out the Impression-Obsession blog for a list of all dt participants.  Be sure to leave comments on their blogs, also, for more chances to win a gift certificate!

AND...while you're in the mood for winning, stop over at the Impression-Obsession's Quick Christmas Cards Challenge.  Enter, and you could win a $25 gift certificate to the IO store.  Challenge details are on the IO blog HERE.

I am adding this card to:
Addicted To Stamps Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Creations Challenge - Anything goes
Dragonfly Journeys - Holiday magic (I think Valentine's Day is a holiday?)
Little Red Wagon - Purrs and wags (house pets) We had rabbit when I was a child.
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything goes
Watercooler Wednesday - Anything goes


Thanks so much for visiting today.  I will see you back here tomorrow with even more ideas!

Blessings,

     

                                                     Polychromos colored pencils

A Holiday Cuppa

How I love My lattes, and Christmas!  Combine them and it's a perfect afternoon...or morning, or any time, really.  

I thought I would entice you to check out the Impression-Obsession Quick Christmas Cards Challenge with my card today.  The challenge is going on now, through December 18th. You could just win a $25 IO gift card if your name is drawn...all you have to do is play along...as many times as you like. You can check out my other card from my previous post here.

Doesn't that look enticing?  Just add some Christmas tunes and a fluffy robe, a few candles, a book, and/or fireplace.  Instant relaxation.  And if you don't like lattes or coffee, pour yourself a cuppa tea, or hot chocolate.  Or... whatever tickles your fancy.

I used Impression-Obsession stamps Toasty Treats E2342 and Refreshments WP270 (the verse from this clear set).

Some simple watercolor pencil coloring with Arteza watercolor pencils on kraft card stock here.  The trick with watercolor of any sort on card stock is to use a fairy dry brush...don't overdo it with the water.  The paper won't hold up to a lot of wetness.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
The Card Concept - Holiday treats
Cards In Envy - Spirit of Christmas
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Craft Stop Make It Take It - Anything goes
The Paper Players - Red, green, and color of your choice

Thanks for visiting today.  Hope you had a lovely weekend and will have a joyful week ahead.  

Blessings,

A Rose By Any Other Name

Hello!  Today is my debut as a member of the Impression-Obsession Design Team!  I'm so excited to be here, and to share in the fun happenings here with this amazing company!

My card today is for the new  Impression -Obsession Cnallenge, "Quick Christmas Cards."  I used the Lenten Rose stamp for my inspiration card for today's challenge.  I'm all about using stamps for more than one season, so although it's technically not a Christmas flower,  I'm going with Shakespeare's "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  In this case, a Lenten Rose smells like a Christmas rose!

This card really is quick, though at first glance it may look complicated.  I sponged some green distress ink onto the white card base, then layered a gold glitter frame over the sponging.  

On Canson XL watercolor paper, I used Ranger Archival inks to stamp the Lenten Rose, then watercolored the image with Daniel Smith extra fine watercolors .  No fancy coloring here, just some quick painting....the stamp does the work with all the details etched in.



A few touch ups and details with my Polychromos colored pencils finish it off.  I brushed the same ink I used around the frame, and then layered it onto the gold panel.

The JOY die and some punched dots from the same gold glitter paper finish off my card


I hope you are inspired to enter the challenge at the Impression-Obsession blog.  Jeanne has all the details there.  You just might win a $25 gift certificate to IO just for playing along, and a random card is selected to be showcased on the blog. 
Be sure to check out the other DT members' blogs for more challenge inspiration.

Challenges for this card:
Impression-Obsession - Quick and easy Christmas cards (DT)
Addicted To Stamps - Anything goes
Cards In Envy - Spirit of Christmas 
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Dragonfly Journeys - Handmade holiday magic
The Flower Challenge - Use older stamp and/or die
Watercooler Wednesday  - Anything goes

Thanks so much for visiting today. 

Blessings,

  Click on the pictures to go to see/order the products

   

 

 My favorite watercolor brushes!

My favorite go-to colored pencils 

Love my Polychromos!!!

Christmas Joy Poinsettia

Greetings....it is officially December!  Although, I had my home decorated, tree up, etc. a few days before Thanksgiving.  Sometimes ya just need that lift that comes with the Christmas season.  Anyways, on to my card for today, a Christmas card, of course.  This is my dt card on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog today.

STAMPS:  Penny Black Solitaire, Wonder, and Script Text, Swirl Border

On white bristol smooth paper, cut 4 1/4"  square, I used my makeup brushes to apply distress ink in sage green along the bottom right, and one of the browns along the edges.  Next, I stamped the script and border swirl lightly.  
I stamped the Solitaire image, using my Misti.  I like the Misti for adding shading and colors to my solid images like this one.  I added light colors first, gradually adding darker, and finally the darkest for shading and realism.  I used mini distress ink cubes.

I am adding my card to these challenges:
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Color Throwdown - Use colors 
Make My Monday - Non-traditional Christmas colors 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - All about the holidays

That's it.  Go and have a fabulous day!  And stop on over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge and play along.  The theme is Anything Goes....with option of Winter or Christmas.  You just might win some free goodies!

Blessings,

Happy New Year?

I'm sure the title of my post got your attention.  I know, I know, it's not even Christmas yet, let alone New Year.  But, it was my turn to do the Technique Junkies blog post today.  I made a New Year's card, so that's what the post is.  

I wanted to get a link on my blog so you could check it out if you are so inclined.  Just hop over to my TJ post HERE to check it out.  I put the full details of how I made it, stamps used, etc. on that post.  I also posted my coupon code for 10% off in the Technique Junkies store.  Let me know what you think in the comments while you are there, or here, if you like. 

We just finished the last of our Thanksgiving dinner leftovers, finally.  Today was the last of the mashed potatoes.  Don't get me wrong, I love turkey as much as the next person, but a week is about enough time to eat nothing but turkey, potatoes, yams, squash, turkey pot pie, turkey soup, turkey salad sandwiches, hot turkey sandwiches (well, pretty much anything turkey), I think.  Today it was meatloaf.  With leftover mashed potatoes.  Tomorrow we're going rogue and not having any leftover remnants of last week's feast!  

I am adding my card to these challenges today:

Allsorts Challenge - Inspired by a song (Auld Lang Syne)
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
House of Cards Challenge - Gold and pearls
Little Red Wagon - Leftovers (something left on your desk) - mine was pearls
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes
Watercooler Wednesday - All about the holidays

Thanks for visiting today.  I do enjoy when you stop by and your comments.

Blessings,

Grateful Pine Cones

Pine cones are everywhere this time of year.  They adorn wreaths, baskets, and swags; and of course, on trees and scattered on the ground.  Today, they are on my card.  I am using the Layered Pinecone clear stamp set from Impression-Obsession.  

I embossed two of the pine cone layers from the set in black onto Arteza watercolor paper.   I used a waterbrush to color the pine cones and background with distress ink, then added touches of the French Script stamp.  The rectangle panel of blue/green shimmer was painted on with Twinkling H20 paints from my stash from years ago.  They are a shimmery watercolor paint you just add water to and use as paint, only they shimmer in real life.

The word 'grateful' is from an old Impression-Obsession clear set WP22 Express Yourself, which has dozens of fabulous expressive words.  I embossed it onto a scrap panel, and attached it with foam tape for dimension.

A few spatters and some layering complete today's card. 

Now, for a couple of fun facts about pine cones that you may not know:
* Pine cones come only from pine trees.
* The main function of the pine cone is to keep the pine tree's seeds safe.
* Pine cones close their scales to protect the seeds from wind, cold, and animals who may try to eat them.
* Pine cones open up and release their seeds when it is warm and it is easier for the seed to germinate.
* Pine cones can stay on a tree for more than ten years before dropping to the ground.

Hope you enjoyed these piney facts, and my card today.  Next time you see a pine cone, let it remind you to be grateful for your many blessings.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I appreciate your visits and comments.

Blessings,