looks a little fishy to me!

I started this card about a month ago, drew out a sketch for it on the paper I use to cover and protect my stamp table and finally finished it! I'm happy to say it turned out just as it looked in my mind (and that doesn't *always* happen, let me assure you!). The fish and seascape are colored with shimmery chalks and are 3d using double side foam tape (probably my favorite stamping "tool"). The circles are punched out to show the darker blue color underneath and then the tiny fish and bubbles are from a clear set called Angelfish .

Hope you're having a happy summer!

Masculine projects always stump me.....I'm not sure why, I guess I'm just more of a girly stamper. That's why I love this set! It's called Circle Elements 2 by Impression Obsession and I think it's perfect for masculine or girly, don't you? This was a end of the year thank you card for my younger daughter's favorite teacher. I didn't want to use ribbon on it, so instead I cut a strip of matching cardstock and made "faux ribbon" Ha! I'll definitely be using this set quite often!

Summer Stampin' Challenge

It's time for an Impression Obsession summer stamping challenge and pink and orange say summer to me! I used the hibiscus from the Floral Duos III set from Impression Obsession, using bright fuchsia and orange inks to create an all over background. The center orange flower uses both the solid and open hibiscus stamps in the set and is actually 3-dimensional inside the scalloped circle. Kind of makes me want to host a luau!! Happy Summer everyone!!

Be sure to visit the design team blogs for their summer creations! They are a very creative team and you'll feel like summer is really here:

Laura
Julie
Daniela
Deborah

Time to retire

A co-worker of mine needed a retirement card, so when she asked me to make one for her, I immediately thought of the new Impression Obsession retirement stamps! And since we both work at IO, I just had to use them, right? LOL I also chose one of the Floral Duos sets for the background. I actually stamped the inside with another retirement stamp, however, in my haste to get it to my friend, I totally forgot to photograph it! Hope she likes it!

Happy Birthday Mitra!!

Happy Birthday Mitra!! This simply gorgeous greeting was created by Impression Obsession design team member, Melinda Doster, especially for Mitra. Isn't it beautiful? I wish you could see it in person....these pictures don't do it justice.

I love the way she designed this card! And it even has magnetic closure on it. And sparkles, too. Melinda lined the flourishes with a clear glitter pen and while I'm not sure of the names of the images used, she certainly outdid herself with this card.

(a side note to Melinda.... when I presented Mitra with your card, she LOVED it! She's very interested in the magnetic closure, too. Thank you so much for your card)

Birthday surprise for Mitra!!

Happy Birthday to Mitra, the owner of Impression Obsession. The design team decided to secretly create birthday greetings for her and post them today. Let me tell you, when I let her in on the surprise, she was tickled to death!! I think we really put a big smile on her face---a big thanks to the design team for participating and for keeping the surprise a secret! I know I was afraid to say much on our email group for fear of giving it away--LOL.

I made a peanut butter cup floral bouquet for her. The flowers were made using a scalloped circle punch and then cutting into them to make the petals, then added a Reese's pb cup for the center of the flower. They're attached to bamboo skewers and then stuck into floral foam inside the can.

I actually made her a birthday card, too, but forgot to take a picture of it before giving it to her! Duh, me--LOL....she said she'll take a picture of it and when she does, I'll post it.

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Mitra!!

Blog candy

Want to win some Impression Obsession stamps? You better run over to Penny's blog ASAP!! And oh my goodness, wait until you see the samples she made with the stamps she giving away---you're in for a real treat!