Happy Holidays!

Hello!  Time for another Great Impressions card for you.  And, alas, this is my last post as a design team member.  These past 6 months have been so fun!  I will miss you all!

I've made not one, not two, but THREE cards this round. First up, I had to have the H203 Magical Tree stamp the moment I saw it.  It's so gorgeous!  I had a bunch of ideas but settled on this one.Here I used designer paper that had the look of layered stamping without all the fuss and muss.  I then stamped the tree using a matching blue.  I decided to emboss the panel for textural interest before adding the Tim Holtz star.

For my second card, I used a stencil in the background, sort of like bokeh lights and another stencil with glitter paste for the tree.  I wish you could see the sparkle in real life.  I like the swirls in the F621 Holidays sentiment with the other rounded elements too.

For my final card, I went ultra simple and modern with a one layer card using F621 Holidays and G496 Evergreen Wreath.  You may recall I have used this stamp before.  Totally different effect, right?

Well, there you have it.  I've enjoyed my time with Great Impressions and with you!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and yours!  

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Magic Wand

Hello!   Time for another Great Impressions card for you.

This time I'm using C492 Stenciled Pine Cone and E738 More Beautiful.  I created the background behind the fab sentiment by stamping the pine cone in Ranger Perfect Medium then brushing over it with gold Perfect Pearls.  It has an amazing soft glow in real life.  I added the die cut pine branches in white to add further depth to the card.  I love how elegant this turned out in no small part to the stamps, right?!

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Bright and Happy Penguins

Hello!   Time for another Great Impressions card for you.

I am so happy with this card.  I don't often use designer paper but I remembered I had some ornament paper that would be perfect.  It turned out so colorful and cute!  I used H273 Joyful Penguins, coloring the image based on the designer paper.  I finished it off with B229 Happy Hearts.   Cute cute cute!

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Holiday Hats!

Hello!  Time for another Great Impressions challenge--anything goes!   I'm not sure about you but anything goes means Christmas/holidays for me this time of year.  It always seems like the holidays creep up on you, right?!

I adore the F504 Winter Hats stamp--use the hats as a background, place them on animals, all sorts of fun possibilities.  I chose to create a colorful background of cheery hats with a bold F621 Holidays sentiment across them (to be honest, it hides a boo boo--total butter fingers--oops!).  The hats were randomly stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black then colored with Copics.  The sentiment was stamped with Versamark then heat-embossed with Stampendous detail fine white embossing powder.  The holly is a Memory Box die that I believe is my first time using.  Glossy Accents on the berries make those pop out a bit.

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

I'm entering this in Penny Black Anything Goes with a Stamp and Holly Jolly Embossing

Shake it up

We're having a super fun event over at Great Impressions this week.  You have a chance to win a prize if you can guess the carol correctly by leaving a comment on the main blog.  Be sure to stop by each day because each of us has chosen a different carol to test your holiday knowledge.

For my card I used J100 Christmas Town.  Don't you love this stamp?  It was great fun to color.  I added touches of sparkle throughout.  I love shaking a shaker so having blingy elements inside makes it even better.
 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Snowman Shaker

Hello!   We've having an ultra fun and inspirational holiday House of Cards blog hop with some really great sponsors for our December picture inspiration challenge.  I'm the last stop so if  you haven't already checked out Tammy's blog before mine, please do so.  If you've missed any of the other fab designers, you can head on back to HOC for a full list of participants!

For my card I'm using the cutest image from Great Impressions. I knew I wanted to use F251 Build a Snowman but wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with it.  When that happens with a Christmas card, I search through my box of crafty holiday goodness.  This paper was perfect--a little snow, lots of sentiments, and happy colors.  I colored up the image pulling in the reds, greens and blues from the DP.

I had also run across these instant shaker majiggers in my stash.  You just sprinkle a bit of glitter on the image, peel the backing off the instashaker and plop it right down on top of the image and pile of glitter.  So easy.  You then cut a circle in your top paper and pop it over.  I had cut the wrong size circle initially but no worries since that gave me the idea to turn it into a wreath.

Only Flamingos at My Thanksgiving

Hello!  Happy Thanksgiving to my US readers!  I don't have a Great Impressions turkey stamp but I do have this fab G446 Holiday Flamingos one that I thought would be fun to work up for today's inspiration post.  A bit of coloring, diecutting and punching (my fav Martha Stewart greenery punch) is what we've got here.  It's really hard to tell in the photo but the designer paper has glittery stripes and the "merry" is foil cardstock.  It's so blingy!

I've actually used the G446 Holiday Flamingos stamp a few times before.  The first I never got around to posting; just some DP and a digital sentiment.  I love the sunglasses.  The second is about as shabby chic as you're likely to see me get.  In all honesty this is one of my fav Christmas cards.

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Merry Wreath

Hello!   Time for another Great Impressions card for you!

I had great fun with this card.  I stamped the G496 Evergreen Wreath twice, once in a dark green and once in a lighter green.  This makes for a  really fully looking wreath without a lot of fuss.  I then colored in the berries.  A simple diecut straight across the center finishes the card.  I also used texture on this card in the form of falling snow and woodgrain.  Still my beloved white on white but added interest.

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Winter Birds

Hello!  It's time for more inspiration for you from Great Impressions!   The holidays are just around the corner so you'll start seeing more holiday cards up in these here parts.  Gotta get a jump on them sooner rather than later!

Here I wanted to spotlight the G443 Winter Birds stamp on the card.  I masked off a stencil to create the backdrop then stamped on top of that.  I stamped the image a second time, colored and fussy cut the birds out.  The cardinals are popped up on foam but the bluebirds stick out a bit too since it's thick cardstock.

See you next week!

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Gratitude

Hello!  Time for another Great Impressions card for you!  This round we're sponsoring The Shabby Tea Room's grateful inspiration picture challenge.

I wanted to include the texture (PTI's linen texture plate), candles (Memory Box Glowing Candles) and centerpiece idea.  The greenery is a Martha Stewart punch.  I cut away much of the holly from the candle die and covered up the remaining with the greenery.  That done, I stamped the D451 Gratitude sentiment in VersaFine Vintage Sepia and impressed around it with an oval pierced die (see the oval in the chair back--totally inspired by that).  I don't normally build a little scene like this but I enjoyed it so much!  Reminds me of dioramas in grade school. 


See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Bling on the Holidays!

Hello!  It's time for a new challenge from Great Impressions:  Bling on the holidays!  Are you ready to get your bling on?

I certainly am!  Here I used G441 Snowflake Tree and B218 Magic in the Air.  I used the paper as the basis for my card.  The melon paper is an elegant wallpaper motif meant to coordinate with the subtle gray snowflake paper; both are from Echo Park 'tis the Season.  I embossed the tree in platinum and the sentiment in clear over Memento Luxe Rhubarb.  The vellum was just a touch too transparent so I added another layer.  Since that meant I had to glue them together, I covered up the messies with strings of sticky pearls.  And you know you can never have too much bling so I added rhinestone gems to the tree.  Can you believe this card started out as a masculine one in my head?  LOL.

Now go create and link up your blingy creation.  See you next week!

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!
You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!
Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Thankful Hearts

Hello!  It's time for more inspiration for you from Great Impressions! 

Here I used the D452 Blessings sentiment and H184 Wildflower Silhouette.  I was thinking of the harvest moon when I decided to contain the scene in a circle.  And, of course, it's during Autumn that we're thankful for what we've harvested, be it crops, my three lonely tomatoes, or a wonderful group of friends.  The sentiment is perfect for capturing that feeling.

I sponged Distress Inks over the circle starting with the darkest color at the bottom.  I then stamped the Wildflower Silhouette in a Versafine Onyx Black.  I considered adding the sentiment directly on the background card but wanted more oomph so went with a bold black strip.  I kept up the geometric shapes with the black enamel dots.

See you next week!

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Friends Are Like Quilts

Hello!  Time for another Great Impressions card for you.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the D266 Give Comfort sentiment, especially since we're moving into Autumn.

I took my PTI hexagon die plate and first cut it out in cream cardstock before adhering it to Scor-Tape.  This is so much easier than individually gluing on the hexagons.  Next I die cut a bunch of coordinating My Mind's Eye and Miss Caroline papers then randomly placed them.  Here's a tip:  as long you don't press hard on the Scor-Tape, you can gently remove the designer paper and reposition it if necessary.  I did that in a couple of spots when I changed my mind about placement.

Now I've included a pic of the resulting "quilt" without embossing.  This is when I should have stamped the sentiment but I was so eager to emboss I completely forgot--LOL.  It turned out fine using the MISTI to stamp the sentiment a couple of times.  I love how this turned out.  The texture is amazing.  If only it were this easy to make a quilt in a real life!

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Boo!

Hello!   Time for another Great Impressions card for you.

I had great fun with this card.  I stamped the H246 Spooky Sayings Background multiple times and embossed it.  I then watercolored over it in deep purple and navy.  I added the ghostly vellum and mounted the ultra cute F413 Ghostly Friends panel.  Cute cute cute!

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Hope Your Halloween is a Hoot

Hello!  And welcome to another Great Impressions post.  Halloween is right around the corner, can you believe it?  I need to get to crafting if I want to make enough for all of my nieces and nephews.  Are you in the same boat?  Or should I saw on the same broom? :)

I created the sentiment (font = clicker script) and used  F470 Halloween Owl.  I was originally going to mount the image on wood grain kraft cardstock but am glad I used the glitter purple card stock.  So blingy!  And it's an easy way to dress up the card.  I swear everything is better with glitter on it.  LOL.

Don't forget about our GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

I Like Hanging Out

Hello!  It's time for a new challenge from Great Impressions!  Are you ready to create a card for a child?  Fun!

Here I used G367 Just Hanging Around. I couldn't resist such a cute cat image since you know I love cats!  I didn't try to color this one like my Frankie but instead like a local pet shop's resident cats.  They're chubby brothers, orange, and named Mac and Cheese.  Squee--I love it!  Btw, I used Copic YR20, YR21, YR24 and YR27 for the cat.  The sentiment I printed out using a font called Jenna Sue at 24pt.  Can't wait to send this out!

See you next week!

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!
You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!
Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Little Autumn Scene

Hello!  It's time for more inspiration for you from Great Impressions! Today also marks the start of the CRAFT sketch challenge that we're sponsoring.  Be sure to link up your card here as well as there if you use the sketch!

Here I used the D445 Patience sentiment.  Isn't it fab?  I die cut some leaves out of watercolored scraps and used a tree die to create a little Autumn scene.  The green faux ribbon acts as ground as well as a nice way to focus on the sentiment in the bottom panel.

See you next week!
 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Sit for a Spell

Hello!  Time for another Great Impressions card for you.  I was totally bewitched (hee hee--get it? Yes, I am a dork!) when I saw the G433 Witches Brew and B217 Have Some Brew coordinating sentiment.  Again, I mucked with the sentiment by cutting it apart before stamping so it would look like it's blasting up from the cauldron.  I'm a lover of white space but the area above the sentiment seemed very lonely so I extended the stippling up and around to look like swirling, sparkly smoke.  I love how this turned out!  Btw, one of my favorites movies is Hocus Pocus; Bette Midler and those lips--LOL.

See you next week with another GI design!

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Glittery Cupcake

 

Hello!   Time for another Great Impressions card for you, this time covered in glitter goodness.  I was totally inspired by my design teammate, Donna's wonderful glitter card (if you haven't seen it yet on the GI blog, you will!).   I had some black vinyl stickers in my stash so I grabbed one of those and went nuts with glitter and Copics.  And do you see how well the E694 Sorry I Missed Your Special Day sentiment brings it all together?  Love!

You know, it just occurred to me the sentiment could be used for any occasion that you missed--wedding, graduation, etc, by omitting the bottom.  Versatility!!!!

And lest I forget, I included a pic of the sticker outline and what happened when I tried placing it on the glitter, a bit wonky but salvagable.  Next time I will lay the black sticker sticky side up then place the sticky paper carefully on top of it.  Very carefully :)

See you next week with another GI design!  Toni 

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.

Be as a Bird

Hello!  It's time for more inspiration for you from Great Impressions!  We're pairing up with AUD sentiments so be sure to check out their anything goes with a sentiment challenge.

Here I used E737 Be as a Bird.  It's a beautiful sentiment isn't it?  I love the font too.  I really wanted to focus on the sentiment so I masked off part of a Crafter's Workshop stencil to create a lot of white space.  I used Distress Inks in Seedless Preserved, Chipped Sapphire and Faded Jeans to create an ombre effect for added interest.  Now wasn't that simple? 

See you next week!

Don't forget about the GI monthly challenge!

You don't have to use GI stamps but it'd be totally awesome if you did!

Also, if you do use GI stamps, be sure to link up to the customer gallery to show us your fabulous work and for a chance to get a little year-end prize.