Lazy Days of Summer

Despite the INTENSE color I chose for this Summer card, there is not a lot of elements to it. I stamped the scene in Versafine Onyx Black. The scene just screamed out to me to use these intense warm colors. Is is too much? I cut out the scene using my Spellbinder's Labels One. I masked a circle for the Sun and masked off the words along the bottom. Then I airbrushed, and airbrushed, and airbrushed until I was satisfied, layering my colors from the top down. I think this would be a fab image to brayer over too, but you know I am still hopelessly brayer challenged. To create the sun - I used the reverse portion of my mask to cover the scene (so I only saw the circle for the sun) and I airbrushed again, keeping the deeper color heavier on the left side. I added a little crystal lacquer over the left side of the sun. I added a curved line of the lacquer along the sun's left edge, then used a toothpick flat against the paper to drag it towards the center of the sun, stopping about half way. It just seemed to need something, and I liked the way it finished it. The Crystal Lacquer seemed to give it a little texture and depth. I removed the mask covering the words and used the same Copic Colors to airbrush layered colors along the bottom. I added the little black ribbon securing it in each corner with a brad. I had an ugly place in the lower right corner where the ribbon ends showed -- so I covered it up with a flower, blinged it up in the center and added a dollop of Lacquer to keep all my little gems neatly in their place. And of course I could not stop myself from added some dots with an Orange Souffle pen and some black stitching marks around the edges. I am addicted to doodles. Whew. I said there was not a lot of elements to this card, and there isn't. But I guess I was feeling wordy today. Anyone out there stick with it and read this entire post??? Besides my stepmother?

• Stamps: Ferris Wheel by Prickley Pear Stamps
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Black, Neenah Peppercorn (to stamp on), Yellow, Orange, Black DP by DCWV
• Other: Copics/ABS, Crystal Lacquer, Brads, Spellbinder's Labels One, Prima Flowers, Bling, Misc. Ribbon, Souffle Pen, Micron Pen

Imagination Butterfly

I like this quote! This was a fun little card. I used a simple outline stamp of a Butterfly image, stamping it twice on the ivory. A third time, I stamped it over a printed butterfly image on the DP (the same Butterfly DP used in the background) to get the detailing on the butterfly wings. I used Perga Glue which is a fancy type of silicone glue for crafts --dries clear and it is not ooeey gooey gross like the cheap stuff (ummm... yes, I know that from a messy experience). Anyway, I popped some perga glue in between the layers of my wings and they stand right up, you can mail it and the wings are going to keep the lift and not flatten out. You can barely see a hint of the clear silicone in between in my pic to the right. I used some jute string to embellish my Spellbinder's Scalloped Oval, by winding it around and in between each little scallop. I added a teeny teeny bit of Spica gold to the butterfly wings for a little sparkle, looks better in person than in the pic! A few little buttons along the bottom to finish it up. I love, love, love ivory and black together. Card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps - Delicate Butterfly #CC0042, Knowledge Sentiment #CC0012
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Black, Neenah Environment Ivory,
• Other: Cuttlebug Folder, Misc Buttons, Jute String from Sharon, Spellbinder's Petite Ovals, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles, Spellbinder's Labels Two, Spica Gold Pen, Perga Glue

OCC Challenge - Sketch Time!

Our August hostess, Loretta is challenging the OCC and YOU

to create a card or project today using this sketch...

So please join us, get your stamps and Go Get Inky! For a close up view on the OCC's great projects for this week please visit the OCC Ladies on their blogs -Silke Ledlow, Jennifer Meyer, Loretta Lock and Joycelyn Turner.

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I combined the OCC sketch with TCP's Tuesday Challenge #73 this week, which was a great color challenge. I inked up my new Beach Bum Poochie and had fun making this card. I absolutely loved these colors together. I inked up the "Hot Stuff!" sentiment in Pacific Blue to create my background. After my minimalist card in the last post, you know I was gonna add lots of doodles and embellishments on this one! I paper pieced the umbrella with some Kiwi Kiss DP. Copics to color and airbrush the background. I used Spellbinder's New Labels Nine for Poochie and the sentiment, the sentiment label is turned on it's side and looks different, but both are the same shape. I dressed up Poochie's shorts with some snazzy Polka Dots and added Crystal Lacquer over the drink. I think his book is just a prop and he is really looking at the ladies. Some doodles, buttons, ribbon and jute string to finish things up.

• Stamps: All stamps by The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pacific Point Blue
• Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Kiwi Kiss DP, Chocolate Chip, Baja Blue, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Spellbinder's Labels Nine, Jute String, Misc. Buttons, Crystals, Baja Blue Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Ribbon, Micron Pen, Blue Souffle Pen, Slot Punch,Crystal Lacquer, Copics/ABS

Stamp Simply #102 - Leave your comfort zone.

Stamp Simply #102 - August 28 - ssnotime102 - today’s challenge is about stepping out of your box and leaving your comfort zone. Sharon says create in a style that is not normally what you gravitate toward, leave our stamping style comfort zone and do a card or project in a style TOTALLY unlike what we normally do. Upload your project to Splitcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime102". Head to Sharon's blog No Time to Stamp to see her creation for today and get all the details for the challenge.

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Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: We welcome Pat Adam, our August Guest Designer, Janine, Jennifer, Julie , AJ, Tammy, Deb, and Barbara.

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I know you are looking at this card and thinking, OMG... Jenny was robbed... they took all her embellishments and left only white paper! I was not robbed, this challenge did almost do me in though. Our challenge this week was to create something not our usual style. This is a simple card -- how could it be difficult??? Well, you might have noticed I have a tendency to add - and add - and add on to my cards.... loving the doodles and bling and buttons... and well, really all of those awesome embellies. So, I thought what could be more out of the norm for me than to do a one layer, white card with no embellishments. YIKES. YIKES. YIKES. I love this look when others do it. But let me tell you, this was not a ten minute card for me. I agonized over this. I am not leaving my comfort zone again any time soon. I'll be back tomorrow with a card full of doodles! Check out this pitiful recipe of supplies, surely this is the least amount I have ever used on a card.

• Stamps: Bike by Inkadinkadoo, Sentiment by A Muse
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Red Ribbon, Slot Punch, Spellbinder's Labels Eight, Copics

OCC Challenge - Celebrate the IN colors!

Our August hostess, Loretta is challenging the OCC and YOU to create a card or project today using the NEW IN COLORS from Stampin Up! If you don't have the exact colors you can, of course ,use something close to it.

So please join us, get your stamps and Go Get Inky! For a close up view on the OCC's great projects for this week please visit the OCC Ladies on their blogs -Silke Ledlow, Jennifer Meyer, Frances Byrne, Loretta Lock and Joycelyn Turner.
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I was in the mood to color. So color I did! I used Copics to color my Harvest Pickings Scene . I airbrushed around the edges with yellow and taupe, adding some shading underneath the image to help ground it. I inked up the Celebrate Tag with Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango, then trimmed it out and roughed up the edges a bit before sliding it in between my layers. The IN COLOR card stock I used for today's challenge card are: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Soft Suede DP - and the reverse side of that was the tiny green polka dots. I embellished liberally (when don't I??) with Buttons, Silk Ribbon, Jewels, Border Punches and finished it off with what else, but a few doodle stitch marks. Finished card size is 6" Square.

• Stamps: All stamps by Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps: Harvest Pickings #HH0021 , Celebrate #BB0033
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango
• Paper: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Soft Suede DP (reverse side: Green Polka Dots), Neenah Enviroment, Dusty Durango
• Other: Copics/ABS, Martha Stewart Punch, K and Co. Jewels, Silk Ribbon by May Arts, Jute String, Buttons from Papertrey, White Gel Pen, Brown Micron Pen, Bow Easy Tool, Spellbinder's Labels One

Stamp Simply #101 - A Patchwork of Polka Dots!

Stamp Simply #101 - August 21 - ssnotime101 - today’s challenge is about "Polka Dots". Sharon says "Let's Polka", use a stamp or incorporate an item on your card that has some polka dots. Upload your project to Splitcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime101". Head to Sharon's blog No Time to Stamp to see her Polka Dot creation for today and get all the details for the challenge.
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Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: We welcome Pat Adam, our August Guest Designer, Janine, Jennifer, Julie , AJ, Tammy, Deb, and Barbara.

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This card took a million wrong turns from my original plan. I'm not sure if I like it or not. It looks too out of balance... I like all the elements, maybe just not the way I put them together. I love the sentiment, the small print under the saying is "said the cat with nine lives". This cat is the center kitty from a trio of cats on an image (a couple of posts down you can see the entire image on another card) from Coronado Island's new August release. I used a one inch punch for my squares adding a little ribbon tag. I think I fulfilled the polka dot part of the challenge. Maybe a little too much. I'll blame it on my cold! I feel better, but my nose is about ready to fall off it is so sore. I even bought the Puff's with Lotion, and which felt good at first, now it even feels like sandpaper. Hopefully my cold is on it's way out. Happy Friday everybody!!!

• Stamps: All stamps from Coronado Island: Three's Company Kittys #1199060-F, Celebrate Your Life... Live #1199055-E
• Paper: Misc. Polka Dot DP, Soft Suede by SU, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Misc. Red DP
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other: Copic ABS with Y28, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles, White Gel Pen, Black Micron Pen, Polka Dot Ribbon by SU, Misc. Buttons, 1" Square Punch, Country Heart Small Punch

Twiggy Bird Pumpkins

The DT for Impression Obsession has two challenges a month and we create something with the chosen theme and then share it on our blogs. Today's theme was Halloween. Please check out these links to every one's blog to see what the Impression Obsession DT ladies created for today... Daniela Dobson - Laura Fulcher - Dina Kowal - Shirley Ross - Jeanne Streiff - Julie Koerber and Kathy Menzies - Guest Designer
You are all invited to enter your creations for the "Halloween" Challenge and any future challenges we have too. Below is how to enter your card so it can be posted on the Impression-Obsession Blog and in the gallery located there just for I/O customers:

• Use Impression-Obsession stamps for your card.
• Email the card to Shirley, our webmaster.
• Every week cards will be selected to be showcased on the I/O blog and in the Customer Gallery there too!
• This challenge will be open until Sunday, August 23. Go get Inky!!!

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A quickie card today. I still have the stupid sniffles, but other than going thru a box of Kleenex every hour I am feeling fine. Really, this is an ultra simple card I am sharing with you today. I used my new Spellbinder's Labels Eight to frame the twiggy pumpkins. I used some cat's eyes ink pads to randomly dirty the edges a bit, and some black dots along the border with a Micron Pen. The distressing of the edges came about because I made a boo-boo that I needed to cover up. Don't tell anyone. I LOVE this Halloween saying and wanted to show it off, so I added some eyelets and jute string around the edges. Copics on the pumpkins and a little Yellow Spica on the crow to finish it off.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - Twiggy Bird Pumpkins # D8279, Witches Go Riding # C5526
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Misc. DP, Curious Cryogen White, Black
• Other: Copics, Cat's Eye Inks, Micron Pen, Yellow Spica Pen, Spellbinder's Labels Eight, Eyelets, Black Jute String from Sharon

The Winner is....

I have a stupid summer cold... I was trying to spend my evening getting well on the couch watching some TV. I have no idea what made me all of a sudden perk up and remember that I was supposed to post the Winner tonight... but something clicked in my doped up, Day-Quil mind that reminded me! I apologize for being LATE!

So, with out any more rambling from me.....

The blog candy winner left me this comment...

Ravengirl said...
Love that BG paper. I guess I should cut into mine instead of just drooling over it! Thanks for the inspiration!

If Ravengirl will please email me with your info... jennygropp@comcast.net

I will happily ship the goodies to your doorstep. I have to go find the Kleenex now.

Three's Company!

I fell in love with this kitty trio the instant I saw it.... I LOVE me the cats! What is better than the company of three kitty cats? Oh so sweet, just pawsitively the best! OK, I'm done being cute with words. Seriously, Love this image. it is brand spankin' new from Coronado Island Designs in the new August Release. I stamped in Versafine Black. To create the oval shadows, I cut out an small oval using a nestie from Vellum paper, then used that as a mask to airbrush the shadow spot. Since I used Vellum I could see exactly where my image was and where I wanted the shadow. I went heavy on the doodles, dots and dashes every where. The grey panel in the background is heavy vellum, I used a Cuttlebug folder on one side, and on the other just scored some lines. The black paper has little silver metal dots embedded in it, so I continued the silver metal with the buttons and nail heads. Finished card is 6x6.

• Stamps: All stamps from Coronado Island: Three's Company Kittys #1199060-F, Pawsitivley the Best #1199056-CX
• Ink: Vesafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest White, Vellum, Specialty Black, Black Card Stock
• Other: Cuttlebug Folder, Copic Airbrushing, Misc. Ribbon Silver Nail heads, Spellbinder's Ribbon Tags Trio 2, Misc. Buttons, Micron Pen, White Gel Pen, Black Jute String, Spellbinder's Label Six,

OCC Challenge - Chistmas in August

Our August hostess, Loretta is challenging the OCC and YOU to create a Holiday card or project today. So please join us, get your stamps and Go Get Inky! For a close up view on the OCC's great projects for this week please visit the OCC Ladies on their blogs -Silke Ledlow, Jennifer Meyer, Frances Byrne, Loretta Lock and Joycelyn Turner.

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I have been making Christmas cards early this year-- for once!!! I am getting ahead of the game instead of my usual rush around December 15th! These trees are actually a stamp of five trees, but I cut it down and just used the trio. Colored in with Copics, as usual. Spica Red on the red ornaments and then coated the tree toppers and the red ornaments with crystal lacquer. I added a trio of buttons to match the tree toppers, stringing them with jute string and fraying the edges. Some paper piercing and doodles to finish it off. Final card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - Tall Trees
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Polka Dots by Basic Grey, Baja Blue, Green, Neenah Environmental
• Other: Spellbinder's Petite Circles, paper Piercer, Ribbon by SU, Cuttlebug Folder, Jute String, Basic Grey Buttons, Bow Easy Tool

Stamp Simply #100 - Celebrating with some CANDY!

Stamp Simply #100 - August 14 - ssnotime100 - ONE HUNDRED!

That's right, The Stamp Simply Challenge is 100! The Stamp Simply Crew, past and present, is celebrating! Please join us in the challenge for this week by creating a Birthday card or project, easy peasy, right! Upload your project to Splitcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime100". Head to Sharon's blog No Time to Stamp to see her Celebration Creation for today and get all the details for the challenge.

And....what kind of a celebration would we have with out some sweet offerings for YOU?? We have some serious candy up for grabs!

Keep reading and you'll get to the good stuff, after my card!

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Happy Bird-day!!! Yeah, yeah.... corny but cute!!!!! I used my new Spellbinder's Label Six to frame my little partying birdies, outlining the inner frame and airbrushing before I removed it from the Nestie. I colored them with Copics and added some Spica Sparkle to everything for a touch of glitz. I had a lot of colors and patterns going on so I opted to leave some white edges here and there to help balance it. Just a little double bow, made with the Bow Easy and two buttons for embellishments to complete it. Final card size is 5 1/2" Square.

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• Stamps: Birdie Birthday Party by Denami
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey "Lemonade" Collection, Kiwi Kiss, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Raspberry by Bazzill
• Other: Misc. Buttons, Spellbinder's Labels Six, Kiwi Kiss Ribbon, Bow Easy Tool, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Copics/ABS, Spica Pens

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NOW THE SWEET STUFF....

Below is a list of links you can use to hop around and check out every one's Stamp Simply Challenge Card for the day and find lots of goodies up for grabs. All of these talented ladies are or have been part of the Stamp Simply Challenge Team or have been featured as Guest Designer. Happy Hopping... lots of great eye candy and stamp candy!!!

1. Pat Adam - Christmas Gift Tags with BLOG CANDY
2. AJ - 1 Card Done 3 Ways
3. Janine - A Stress Free Summer Menu with BLOG CANDY
4. Tammy - Birthday Reminder Book with BLOG CANDY
5. Jennifer - Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY
6. Julie - Card Set in Tote with Directions
7. Barbara- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY
8. Deb- Tutorial on Dying Silk Ribbon Using Copics and Refills
9. Jenny- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY - YOU ARE HERE!!!
10. Jerri - Birthday Card and Tutorial on Hand Embossing with Light Box
11. Joan- Birthday Card and Etched Glass with BLOG CANDY
12. LeAnne - Birthday Card with Glitter
13. Barb- Birthday Cake 3-D Gift Item with BLOG CANDY
14. Darlene - Birthday Card with Special Recipe
15. Rose Ann- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY
16. Leslie - Gift Tin of Soaps with Coordinating Card
17. Heather - Birthday Card
18. Sabrina- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY
19. Sharon- Monogrammed Birthday Gift Set with BLOG CANDY

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My Blog Candy offerings....... are shown in this very poor picture below. If you want a chance at having these goodies land on your doorstep, just leave me a comment on this posting. I'll draw a random winner on Monday evening, August 17th, 8PM. So check back!

Fiskars 43 pc "Love Themed" Stamp Set - Two Hero Arts Stamp Sets
Three Basic Grey Rub On Packages - Gina K "Warm and Fuzzy" Stamp Set

Puffy Snow, Shrinking Lace!

I love using Liquid Applique for snow. If the scene has snow; I can not resist. One thing I learned from this card that I will share with you..... I did the Liquid Applique last thing, my oval panel was already attached with the lace. Don't know why I saved it for last, but I did. I learned that the heat gun and lace do not like each other. Look at the lace in the bottom right corner.... looks a little lean doesn't it? Before I knew it it was was shriveling and shrinking up right before my eyes under the blast of the heat gun!!! LOL! So word to the wise -- the heat gun and lace is a no-no!!!

• Stamps: All stamps by Impression Obsession - Very Merry Wishes #C8272, Park Fence #J-2350
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Misc. Green, Red, Baja Blue, Curious Cryogen White
• Other: Misc. Lace, Copics/ABS, Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Martha Stewart Lace Punch. Crystals, Liquid Applique, White Gel Pen, Red Micron Pen

OCC Challenge - Harvest Time

Our August hostess, Loretta is challenging the OCC and YOU to an Inspiration Challenge today. In rural communities it is time to Harvest the fruits of summer. Loretta has provided us with two pieces from Artist Lowell Herrero to inspire and spark your creative juices..... I think an Inspiration Challenge is open to any interpretation that inspires you, be it the theme or the colors... So when you see my card... you will know I went with the theme!

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So please join us, get your stamps and Go Get Inky! For a close up view on the OCC's great projects for this week please visit the OCC Ladies on their blogs -Silke Ledlow, Jennifer Meyer, Frances Byrne, Loretta Lock and Joycelyn Turner.
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I went with the Harvest "theme" for today's challenge and inked up these Apples. My first instinct was to make them Red Apples, but then I decided to go the other way.... that green ribbon has been sitting on my desk and I was determined to use rather than put it up! I also took inspiration again from the Belli Challenge #71 to use Wood on your creation. Since a wooden crate was in the image, I thought it was a good tie in. I am loving these new wood sheets from SU. I inked edges of the wood pieces with Taupe using a sponge to make them a little darker. Once I had the wood piece adhered to the cardstock, I used my Crop-a-Dial to punch the holes and set the eyelets, clean and neat right through the wood sheets. I colored the image with Copics and added a little shading under the image and some soft airbushing. I fussed up the edge with a Martha Stewart Border punch and threw some buttons with Jute string on as a finishing touch. Finished card is 5" Square.

• Stamps: Image by SU from "For Father"
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Misc. Blue, Taupe by SU, Wood Sheets by SU, Misc. Light Grey, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Martha Stewart Punch, Skinny Jute String from Sharon, Spellbinder's Labels Three, Eyelets, Buttons, Green Ribbon from SU

CAKE!

Wanna know more about me and why I blog???

Well, my blog buddy Toni Armstrong asked me if she could feature little ole me in her Featured Friday Blogger posting. Um, of course!!! What a thrill and I am totally honored to be invited, Thank you Toni!!! Toni sent me over a list of questions to answer..... I tried not to sound too cheeeesy, and I answered them. So please head over to Toni's awesome blog Moved to the Mountains to see lots of fab cards created by Toni and a learn a few facts about my blogging experience in her post for today!

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The TCP Tuesday Challenge this week is hosted by Susan. The challenge she issued was to use a CAKE image on our creation. You can find the details here: TCPTUES#70. YES, I know it's Friday now!!! I'm just getting to it!!! So here is my CAKE card. I don't know if green icing is very appealing, but it went with my color scheme. My cake image panel is cut out from the inside frame of a Spellbinder's Die "Polka Dot Frame". I fussed it it up with some Copics and doodles around the edges. I used my craft knife to make a slit in the sides to poke my ribbon thru, wrapping it around to the scalloped oval behind the cake panel. I added a triple loop bow, made of course with the Bow Easy. A little cuttlebug action, using the de-bossed side of Swiss dots in the background, some white gel pen stitch marks and added my sentiment on the bottom to finish it off. The colors on this card are kinda weird, I know. At first I liked them, then towards the end, not so much. LOL! Final card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All Stamps by The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP from June Bug by Basic Grey, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Black, Bazzill Coral
• Other: Cuttlebug Folder Swiss Dots, Bow Easy Tool, White Taffeta Ribbon by SU, White Gel Pen, Adhesive Pearls, Spellbinder's Polka Dot Small Frame, Spellbinder's Oval Nesties, Copics/ABS, Black Micron Pen, Piercer Tool

Stamp Simply #99 - Friends

Stamp Simply #99 - August 7 - ssnotime99 - today’s challenge is abouts "Friends". Sharon says we need to celebrate friends, use a stamp or incorporate an item on your card that has the word *Friend*. Upload your project to Splitcoast and use the keyword "ssnotime99". Head to Sharon's blog No Time to Stamp to see her Friend creation for today and get all the details for the challenge.

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Please check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these totally creative designers: We welcome Pat Adam, our August Guest Designer, Janine, Jennifer, Julie , AJ, Tammy, Deb, and Barbara.

AND you better come back next week - Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge turns 100!

Sharon says we are gonna PARTY! Oh yeah!!!
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So here is my simply stamped but heavily embellished Friend Creation for the challenge. I used one Floral Pattern Stamp with black ink to create the patterned squares next to the sentiment and along the bottom edge of the card. I used the new Wood Grain paper from SU on this card. It is backed with a paper layer, so it cuts nice and clean. I lightly airbrushed my sentiment panel with a Copic W3 and outlined the frame it while still in the Nestie to get my border. This card is loooong, to fit in a business size envie, so I went long with my embellishments too. I added three little wood strips and loaded them with some bling. I was inspired to use the wood on my project by the Belli Challenge #71 this week. I finished it with a little natural jute bow, created with the Bow Easy Tool.

• Stamps: Friend... Near You by Penny Black # 3125H, Floral Chrysanthemum by Kodomo # 3935-002
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Green Plaid DP by SU, Black, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Wood Grain paper by SU
• Other: Copic W3 Airbrushed, 1" Square Punch, Crystals, Skinny Jute String from Sharon, Cuttlebug Folder, Black 1/16" Rainbow Tape, Black Micron Pen, Bow Easy Tool

Free Parking!

The DT for Impression Obsession has two challenges a month and we create something with the chosen theme and then share it on our blogs. Today's theme was FALL COLORS. Please check out these links to everyone's blog to see what the Impression Obsession DT ladies created for today... Daniela Dobson - Laura Fulcher - Dina Kowal - Deborah March - Kelli Richardson -Shirley Ross - Jeanne Streiff - Julie Koerber

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You are all invited to enter your creations for the "FALL COLORS" Challenge and any future challenges we have too. Below is how to enter your card so it can be posted on the Impression-Obsession Blog and in the gallery located there just for I/O customers:

• Use Impression-Obsession stamps for your card.
• Email the card to Shirley, our webmaster.
• Every week cards will be selected to be showcased on the I/O blog and in the Customer Gallery there too!
• This challenge will be open until Sunday, August 9. Go get Inky!!!

----------------------------------------------------For my Fall Color card I knew I wanted to use this new stamp "Free Parking" from IO! It has been on my desk anxiously awaiting it's first inking! I airbrushed my background with Copics, after I was done I wished I had created a mask for a moon in the upper left corner. Oh well!!! - next time! Everything is colored using Copics. I airbrushed a few layered colors for the sky while my nestie was still in the die and outlined the nestie's inner frame with a black Micron pen. To create the borders I used an orange Copic marker to color the nestie's edge and then a dark orange Copic next - but only on the outermost edges. Then I trimmed an additional brown layer for my Nestie shape using scissors and added my little dot border around that. Some stitch marks around the edges, and I'm done!

All of the NEW Fall and Christmas Stamps from Impression Obsession are NOW AVAILABLE! You can use this link to hop right over there and check them out! There are almost 200 new images and products that have been added to the store! This was a huge and fantastic release! CLICK HERE TO SEE NEW RELEASE!!!

• Stamps: Free Parking # G2357 by Impression Obsession
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Brown, Orange, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Misc. Yellow DP
• Other: Misc Ribbon, Black Eyelets, Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles, Spellbinder's Tags, Orange Souffle Pen, Black Micron Pen, Copics/ABS

Soft Floral

This is the card I had intended on making instead of the card I posted yesterday. I used the same floral stamp. I needed a sympathy note and I just wanted something soft and simple, none of my fussy usual details. It was the message that was important here. So here it is, not my usual I know, but it was what I had envisioned for the card. Yesterday's card was just too bright for my liking. I hate making sympathy cards. I think every thing is pretty straight forward on the card... so no long post today. Final card size is an A2.

• Stamps by Repeat Impressions: Tulip Bouquet # 912-K
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Misc. Dp, Sage Shadow, Neenah Environment
• Other: Jute String from Sharon, Bow Easy Tool, Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Japanese crew Punch, Copics/ABS