Great Impressions DT - Abundant Blessings

Sigh. You know that Fall is on its way when Labor Day weekend rolls around, right? Hard to believe that another season is passing and we are just months away from 'The Holiday' season!

Thinking about the upcoming holidays has got me moving into 'giving mode' and wouldn't you know it? Great Impressions Stamps is going to help us out!

YOU are invited

to join us in a weekend blog hop to benefit the Ronald McDonald House,

September 28th through September 30th.

Click the badge at the top of my blog (right hand corner) for more info on the Ronald McDonald House, the hop details and how to sign up.

There are a limited number of participants allowed,

so be sure to sign up early!

I've got Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas on the brain, but have been wanting to ink up these Great Impressions Stamps images for awhile now...

Seeded Dandelions (G298)

Blowing Seeds (A118)

and work with these challenges:

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes!

...and play around with some CAS techniques...here's what I put together:

This is about as comfortable as I get with CAS! lol

No Copics, Distress Markers, pencils...just quick swashes of color!

This sentiment stamp Abundant Blessings (C384)

is a lovely Thanksgiving saying, but I thought the first two lines matched the dandelion stamps perfectly!

Washi (Smash Tape) DIY banners are about as easy as they get. Snip, flip & trim!

I like the simplicity of the Seeded Dandelions image and that the matching Blowing Seeds has 3 tiny seeds to choose from. I've got plans to use these images with embossing powder and a little color...loving the 'wish' thoughts that come to mind with these.

If you like these images, too, you can find them locally or online at the Great Impressions Stamps store.

For more Great Impressions Stamps inspiration, be sure to visit the blog and see what the other Design Team members have created!

Our very own Mary is hosting this week's color challenge on Splitcoaststampers - check out the details & play along, too!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions DT - Very Creative

Hello, hello!

Are you just loving the stamps this week?

I'm having a great time using the back to school themed ones...like this Very Creative kitty! Kitty is colored up with a few Copics.

When I saw this stamp, I just knew what I was going to do...color splats with the Distress Stains! Open the bottle and SMACK the dauber on your project...really...that's it! Practice on a tag. If you don't really like the results, spray it with some Perfect Pearls mist - makes wonderful backgrounds!

(This technique is great for working out a little stress...

just make sure to wear an apron and cover up your work area!)

I added some clear embossing powder over the paint bits on the palette and the splats for some shine and texture and a computer generated sentiment.

I hope YOU find some 'di-stressing' time this week!

Visit the Great Impressions Stamps blog for more inspiration!

Inky hugs,

Ang

Great Impressions DT - Rudy's Latest Dirt

Ever wonder how to call a pig? I did. Started out asking my husband what kind of noises pigs make and he started snorting and oinking...making me laugh!

Being a bit of a city girl, I decided I should find out...hello YouTube!

check out this fun video showcasing people making pig calls.

I'm not sure I've figured out how to call a pig, yet, but I've got one for you, anyway...

and he's darn cute!

Lots of 'dirty' details on this card...sponged die cuts, Distress Embossing powder, paper piecing...the dirt was made using versa mark reinker straight out of the bottle onto the card. Use the tip to spread it around for the 'splats' and movement. Dump on some Distress Embossing powder and hit it with the heat gun...instant dirt...and you don't have to clean it up!

A handmade card is a great way to stay in touch with friends...

especially the ones you want to dish the dirt with!

You know you want to have Rudy for yourself...here's where you can get him!

Rudy (E765)

Latest Dirt (A141)

Don't forget to leave a little comment love on the Release posts this week on the Great Impressions Stamps blog and on the designers blogs for chances to win your very own Great Impressions Stamps!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions DT - Oh Baby Two!

Woohoo! It's Thursday and I've got another baby project for you - this time it's baby tags times two!

I love that there are girl shoes AND boy shoes. Having both made it super simple to change up the colors while using the same layout design. Now I'm prepared!

I used Ranger's Distress Crackle Paint in Rock Candy to give the shoes texture and dimension.

You can make these tags, too! You'll need these Great Impressions Stamps:

Baby Girl Shoes (E757)

Baby Boy Sneakers (E756)

New Little Baby (C434)

Have you entered the Great Impressions Stamps' August Challenge, yet? What are you waiting for?  :) You can enter up to 3 projects! (No backlinking, please. Only new projects.)

Inky hugs,

Angi

Great Impressions DT - Simple Collage Tag

After my crafting hiatus, I needed a little bit of play time! Out came the tags and bits of ribbon and a few of my favorite Great Impressions Stamps!

Distress Inks, Versamark and clear embossing glitter give this tag its soft colors and texture.

Water Swirl Border (H200)

(Did you notice the item number is H-2-O? lol)

Butterfly Flourish (G405)

4 Squares of Summer (F527)

Just a few more days until the next Great Impressions Stamps monthly challenge begins...why don't you warm up with a few tags and your favorite Great Impressions Stamps? 

Stop by the Great Impressions Stamps blog for more inspiration.

Can't wait to see your lovely creations!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Count One Thousand Gifts...the Act of Being Grateful

Dear Friends,
It seems that it has been a long time since we've chatted. I have been wanting to get back to sharing more than just my paper crafting and now is as good a time as any, right? No worries - I'm still going to share the crafty stuff, but I'm going to be popping in on occasion to share the personal stuff, too.

We've only been back a week from a crazy 2 week road trip across the states to the East Coast. WY, NE, KS, MO, KY, VA, NC, PA were just a few that we either drove through or stopped in. Most of those in about 48 hours...yep.

House stuff, laundry, pets, kids going back to school this week...I have too many things on the proverbial plate, but I've been doing a little here and little there, trying to stay calm knowing that every little bit is progress. So, today while doing a little research for some issues I came across Ann Voskamp's blog.


How did I not know about her blog?


I'm sure I heard about Ann's book on some Oprah episode and had every intention to read it, but some how it didn't happen. I'm sure many of you MOMs understand...

Suffice it to say that I am in awe and have felt the gentle tug of her written words pulling on my heartstrings.

I have so much to be grateful for, especially right now, and I want to be able to be conscience in the experience of sharing of my gratitude. This will require a shift in my priorities, my day to day activities, but I look forward to "...happily changing everything..." knowing it will be worth it.

I don't have the time to explain Ann's work; I don't want to wait another second to get started. (I don't think I'll share my Gifts every day here on the blog, but I'll tweet them.)

Go read it for yourself - I'm just discovering it, too.
(This is where I started reading...btw the pause button for the music is under the header.)

Gratitude: 3 Gifts White

My Children's Eyes | My Magic Mouse | White Space

1. I'm blessed with four children who are crazy similar and divinely different! I'm grateful when they trust me enough to tell me about their friends, share their joys and drag their fears into the light of day so we can slay them together.

2. My Magic Mouse. The wonders of technology. When I bought my laptop, I didn't want to spend the extra money on another peripheral. So I didn't. Not for two days. It makes photo editing, blogging, emailing...whatever I do on the laptop so much easier!

3. White Space. One of the purposes of white space in art is for the eye to have some place to rest. Some days I need white space in my life. Sometimes it's to get away from everything, but inevitably after the hubbub softens to a low roar, I can see the trees for the forest and gain a new perspective on what's going on.

Love & hugs,

Angi