Great Impressions DT - Etsy Summer Inspired Card

I can't believe how fast May has gone. With the kiddos out of school we've had a few lazy mornings and I'm hoping for a few more!

Yay for sunshine and summer break!

And for Etsy...I found a darling pendant that inspired today's card. Love the two-toned background, the pop of color and the gleam of metal.

Click on the picture to visit Glittering Dreams to find your own inspiration!

Lots of blending using Distress Ink: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Broken China, and Peacock and a generous spritz (or two or four) of Perfect Pearls in Pearl.

Love making my own backgrounds - makes the most of the stamps I already have (and even sometimes that old paper I can't seem to get rid of...more on that later)!

You can do the same using these Great Impressions Stamps:

Rose Trio (stamped in Vintage Photo Distress Ink)

Butterfly Flourish (stamped in Peacock Distress Ink)

Butterfly Frame (stamped and cut out the butterfly)

A Flower (the sentiment)

The black satin crinkled ribbon was hard to photograph. IRL the texture is just right!

The sentiment panel edge is embossed in silver and touches of Fran-tage Mica fragments. Love the vintage shimmer...sigh.

Today's the last day to link up your project for Great Impressions Stamps May challenge - Anything Goes! Scroll to the bottom of the post to link up! Good luck!

Inky hugs,

Angi

WOYWW #24 (156) - 3rd Anniversary Edition!

Happy 3rd Anniversary to Julia Dunnit and her fabulous creation WOYWW!

Thanks to the lovely Julia, once a week you can visit her blog and have access to tons of creative spaces. There's lots of great inspiration for your space and even projects, new blogs you'll love...and when you get over 'no one wants to see my messy desk' syndrome, link up YOUR creative space, so we can visit you!

To help celebrate, she's hosting an ATC swap. Stop by her blog to see what I'm talking about or to sign up and make sure to leave her some comment love!

For those of you WOYWWers swapping more than one, I would love to swap with you, too! Email me with your snail mail address:

makingmayhem {at} gmail {dot} com

and I will get an ATC out to you!

So, I've been hanging out with the WOYWW crowd on and off since January 2011. Click HERE to see my first WOYWW post! Things were a little different...still messy (LOL), but I've done a little reorganizing since then...

Here's the desk, picture taken this morning:

Messy will always be a part of my creative mayhem...that's okay with me! A few things you may find...

...those pink buttons are from an old DKNY shirt

...Dyan Reaveley's Dylusions sprays

...Mentos (needed a temporary change from chocolate)

...bits & pieces of an ATC swap *wink*

...some new 'dollar' stamps from my LSS

Can't wait to make the rounds this week! I'll reveal my ATC next WOYWW...until then happy sightseeing!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop

How do you observe Memorial Day? Do you honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation?

In May 2000 a "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed that asks:

"...[on Memorial Day] at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps." (Memorial Day History)

This Memorial Day I not only wanted to honor the fallen, but the men & women and their families who are currently serving our great country. Operation Write Home is dedicated to "Helping heroes keep in touch with home."

(Please visit the OWH site to see how you can help!)

I know there is a lot of inspiration to be seen today, so I won't keep you much longer! I chose to use Sketch #62. (click the link to see more projects using sketch #62.) I love how it resembles a polaroid. Remember those 'instant' pictures?

I wanted to make a 'thank you' card using this adorable Great Impressions Stamp. We all have so much and so many to be thankful for, don't we?

God Bless America!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Be sure to leave a comment, so I can visit you, too.

Click the badge below to get back to the link list for the OWH Memorial Day Sketch Bloghop!

Inky red white & blue hugs!

Angi

Great Impressions DT - Canning Time

Less than a week left to link up your project for our May Challenge - Anything Goes! I'm sure you've made something fun this month...why don't you link up to our challenge for a chance to get a few of your own Great Impressions Stamps? 

A pinch, a tablespoon or maybe a cup...there are those days you know someone who could use a pick me up, a little reminder that you're thinking of them and wish them well even if you can't be there with them...

Cup of Cheer (D272), Canning Time (G316) and Lacey Border (H225) together with a bit of inspired splatter and lace, a die cut tag...

(I customize my splatter paint using white acrylic paint, a little water and Distress Stain, Shabby Shutters in this case, or reinker. )

Covered the jars with Diamond Glaze and paper pieced the labels after the glaze dried. I popped up the kraft tag and the bottoms of the jars.

Happy Thursday & Inky hugs!

Angi

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Spatter Technique Challenge in the Moxie Fab World
Spring Colors Challenge - Oozak
CAS-ual Fridays CFC53

Great Impressions DT - Beautiful You

Another fabulous week on the Great Impressions' blog, wouldn't you say? Did you miss the special post yesterday? Great Impressions sponsored the Midweek Throwdown - a Color Challenge - with Operation Write Home. Be sure to stop by OWH for the details and then link up a project for a chance to win a gift certificate...and then go and link up with our Monthly Challenge - Anything Goes! Easy, peasy, right?

This week I used a few gorgeous stamps - Scent of a Rose, Rose Trio and Beautiful Forever. I love being able to use my water-based markers with the Great Impressions' lovely sentiments; I'm able to use only the words I need to create the perfect sentiment for my project.

Want to see what I mean? Take a look at my card...

The original sentiment is wonderful just the way it is - great for an engagement or wedding card - but I wanted something a little different for this beautiful silhouette stamp.

I think I'm going to have to make a few more of these...I know more than one deserving woman! Take some time to stop by the Great Impressions Stamps blog for more inspiration...

Happy Thursday!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Entering this card into the following challenges:

Lily Pad Cards - Vera's View Challenge
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 217 - A Touch of Sparkle
By the Cute and Girly - May - Spring is in the Air

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Challenge Sponsored by Great Impressions Stamps

Today I'm proud to announce that Great Impressions Stamps is sponsoring the Midweek Throwdown  Challenge on the  Operation Write Home blog!

Being a military family, we appreciate organizations that support our men and women serving in the armed forces and Operation Write Home (OWH) does that in an important way. The mission of OWH:

"Supporting our nation's armed forces

by sending blank handmade greeting cards

to write home on, as well as "AnyHero"

cards of gratitude to encourage them."

When was the last time you received a handmade card? There's something about knowing that someone took the time to design and create a card just for you, isn't there?

Well, thousands of volunteers - around the country - through OWH, help military members keep in touch with their families and friends by creating wonderful handmade cards and sending them off to remote areas. The military member gets to choose a card and hopefully will find just the right one to send.

There is an incredible amount of detail and care involved in the OWH operation: prepping the cards, making sure they arrive in time for the holidays, making sure there is a variety in each box and the actual mailing of the boxes. Making cards is not the only way to help support service members and OWH.  Be sure to stop by the OWH website to see how you can help!

Okay...some of the Great Impressions Stamps Design Team created cards for this throw down...here's my card for the challenge...

Great Impressions Stamps has fab images to choose from like this Elegant Butterfly and you can get your own at the Great Impressions Stamps online store!

Tropical Colors (think purple, turquoise, pink, orange etc.)...now it's YOUR TURN!

Go to the OWH blog for the Throwdown details, to see more inspiration by some of the Great Impressions Design Team and link up your card...

Can't wait to see what YOU make!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Mother's Day Gifts - DIY Frame & Easel

Happy Monday!

I can't believe in just a couple of weeks my kiddos will be home for the summer...I have to admit I am looking forward to the family time!

For the last couple of weeks I have been working with a classroom of 3rd graders on a Mother's Day project. Did you see the peek in yesterday's post?

I was hoping to send home a little something different, something their mom's just might want to keep around for longer than the weekend...

I know I will! I think the kids and I will be making a few more of these.

I love how this project turned out! The only things I would have liked to have done differently...allow each child more time to get messy and personalize their frame...alas, when working with 25 kids and a limited window of opportunity...well, you do the best that you can, right?

All said and done I think this class project would come to less than $10 - I paid about $4 for the photos (there were some glitches with the editing/printing and I ended up paying for two sets of prints), $2 for the rose ribbon and I had everything else on hand. I think it took all of 4 sheets of poster board - if you're using gesso feel free to recycle old poster board, chipboard, cardboard - whatever!

If you have any questions about this project, leave a comment or send me an email.

Inky hugs,
Angi

WOYWW #23 (153) - Happy Mother's Day!

Happy What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday on this Sunday - Mother's Day!

To WOYWW women everywhere...thank you for your love, support and generosity. I have loved visiting your blogs to peek into your wonderful creative spaces, share in your artful endeavors and to read your sweet comments.

Thank you, Julia. Can't wait to help celebrate another WOYWW anniversary in just a couple of weeks or so!

To the women who share my life...thank you. I appreciate how blessed I am to know you - whether you live on my street, met you on Facebook or through your blog or mine -  so many women who stand up for what they believe in, fight for those they love and always give more than they receive.

I am continuously counting my blessings. Thank you.

I know I'm really late for WOYWW, but at least I made it before the next one! lol

Here's a picture of the work desk...16 swap cards, 2 projects, & 25 Mother's Day projects later (assembled and delivered)...

and a peek of the Mother's Day project...

Stop by Monday to see the whole project...I've already scheduled the post! ;)

Inky hugs,
Angi

Great Impressions DT - Framed Butterfly Flourish

Hello, Crafters! I've got butterflies on the mind...probably because there are Miller Moths every where I go - I think I just needed something prettier to look at! lol My last few projects have had a butterfly or two on them somewhere...well, today's project does, too!

This time I stamped Butterfly Flourish (G405) onto watercolor paper. For the coloring, I used the Distress Markers. This is one of those stamps I liked from the first time I saw it, but for one reason or another didn't pick it up. Finally, I just ordered it! 

The background is the Damask Background (K91) (another favorite!) and is clear embossed on this week's card. Love the texture and depth embossing brings.

Have you entered our May Challenge - Anything Goes, yet? It's so exciting to see so many new faces! If you need to read the guidelines - check out the sidebar; the challenge is located above the current posts. Make sure to scroll all the way to the end to link up. Can't wait to stop by to see your project!

Don't forget to stop by the Great Impressions Stamps blog to see what the other design team members have been up to...

Have a great Thursday!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions Stamps May Challenge - Anything Goes!

Did you have a great weekend? Celebrate Cinco de Mayo? I managed to get sunburned Friday morning, so not a lot of out and about for me! Stayed in, attempted to get caught up on emails, Facebook, projects...it seems my to-do list is just growing and to think the kids are almost out of school, so more fun there!

Well, thank Goodness this month's Great Impressions Stamps Challenge is Anything Goes! You can create anything your creative heart desires...cards, boxes, tags, scrapbook pages, etc.

There are some juicy details about bonus entries and even a 25% discount offer, so even if you've read the challenge guidelines before, I highly encourage you to read them again!

I'm still in clean and purge mode - purge mode meaning I'm working at *using* my stash - so this month for my challenge project I'm using one of my 'dirty tags' again...

Pulled bits of vellum, card stock, papers and embellishments...all from my bits and pieces...

If you haven't had a chance to see all of Great Impressions' April Stamp of the Month sets...go now to the online store...they're gorgeous! You can see how I used some of the stamps in this picture...

Beyond the Board is a monthly class I teach at a LSS using the Great Impressions Stamp of the Month sets.  Classes are available as kits, if you can't make the date.  Contact me for more info!

Alrighty...enough chit chat...go work on your challenge project - can't wait to see it!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Great Impressions DT - Banner of Roses

There are definitely some Great Impressions Stamp of the Month (SOTM) stamps that I find more versatile than others...April's SOTM stamps were so great! If you missed out picking them up from your local store the SOTM stamps for April 2012 (and older) are available from the Great Impressions Online Store!

It would be hard to pick a favorite, but I can tell you that you need to get the Rose Trio and Butterfly Frame stamps!

Aren't those mini banners adorable? Tiny details, colors and glitter...stop by Great Impressions Stamps blog to see more inspiration!

Inky hugs,
Angi

WOYWW #22 (152) - Creative Chaos

Hello! Can you believe it's already Wednesday and time for another peek into my creative mess?! Today's a busy day...working on design team projects, studying, taking pictures for a Mother's Day project, going through some of the creative chaos at an attempt to organize and purge (I think I hear my family laughing hysterically at the 'p' word...) and somehow in the midst of my crazy Life I will make time this week to stop a moment, grab a hot chocolate and enjoy visiting my WOYWW friends...

(Thank you for the advice and the lovely comments last week! I really appreciate the feedback. If I haven't been by to visit you, yet, please know I will make it over this week - pinky promise!)

All thanks to Miss Julia Dunnit who shares her craftiness with a side of wit. Please visit Julia, if you want to know more about What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday...you know we want to see where you create!

Enough of the chatter...here's my desk...in all the messy glory!

This is the aftermath of a few projects, a project in progress... Serious clean up is scheduled for this evening...I'm going to need the space to work on my Mother's Day project...reveal after Mother's Day...don't want to spoil the surprise!

Anyone taking the "Your Living Canvas" workshop with Christy Tomlinson? I am! She's having some great giveaways for the person who signed up and the person who referred them...so if you decide to sign up after checking out this link, please mention that you were sent by me, Angela Crandall...and don't forget to leave me a comment, too. Thanks! Hope to see you in the classroom!

Happy Wednesday!

Inky hugs,
Angi

Dirty Tag Tutorial

Thanks, again, for stopping back by to see the tutorial! I apologize for taking so long to get this up, but better late than never, right?

Okay...this first picture is bits and pieces from my dirty tag ring. I keep it very close at hand (...in a very convenient place...any Girl Scouts out there? lol) hanging above my workbench. Whenever I use dye inks, sprays, mists, even paint on a project and there's overspray or mess (and we know there's always mess!) I use a tag or two to wipe it up!

The essentials to have on hand:

> craft mat/sheet (anything nonporous)

> water bottle/mister

> wet mess (dye inks, sprays, paint, etc.)

> cardstock/manilla tags ready to go (I prefer manilla or watercolor paper. Some card stocks will pill or the fibers will raise up when wet. Experiment - sometimes those results are desirable!)
> heat gun

Step 1: Mist the mess with water. (When I'm working I wait until I'm finished to clean up, so sometimes the 'mess' is dried.)

Step 2: Place a tag directly onto the wet area. Lift it off.

Step 3: Decide if you like what you see...*if the answer is 'yes' go to Step 4.

...if the answer is not yet (sometimes I want more color on my first layer) you can lay the tag onto the wet area again, then go to Step 4.

Step 4: Dry tag with a heat gun and repeat, repeat, repeat until you feel it's done! (If you don't use a heat gun between layers, the colors may get muddy and look like one color.)

Notes:

The key to these backgrounds is LAYERS. Very rarely do I dip a tag once and decide it's finished. Most of the time I use a tag to clean up, hang it on my ring and the next time I need to clean up I grab a 'used' tag off the ring instead of a new one.

*If after one dip into the mess I like what I see, but there's more mess...I dip another tag!

Experiment...instead of laying the tag down and lifting it up, give it a whirl on the craft sheet before picking it up...use less/more water...I even use Perfect Pearls Mist in Pearl instead of plain water so my tag will have lots of shimmer in addition to color...try it!

Warning: You may find yourself making more messes, just so you can clean them up! 

If you want to see how I use a tag with a 'dirty' background, check out This Great Impressions Stamps  Post, this post, and this post.

Inky hugs,
Angi