Sassy & Sweet Notes

Impression Obsession: Bunny Love

A new challenge is being shared today on the Impression Obsession Blog, and I hope you join the fun! This week’s challenge is Bunny Love. Pull out your Impression Obsession stamps and/or dies, and join us!

The tag I created for the challenge uses Bunny (DIE785-V), the Stitched Tag (DIE798-Y) set, and Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banners (DIE814-U). I cut the bunny from watercolor paper and painted her with water based markers. I cut the tag and sentiment banners from various prints of patterned paper and adhered everything together with liquid adhesive.

Find all the details on how to enter this week's challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog. I hope you join us!

Chirp, Chirp!

Picket Fence Studios has a really fun release for April, and I am happy to share a project with with you today! The tag I made features the Chirp Chirp stamp set and Chirp Chirp coordinating die set. I love these little birdies! It’s a small set, with 8 bitty birds, just perfect for adding a little feathered cutie to your projects. I stamped Slice of Wood on white cardstock in brown Distress ink. I inked it up a bit with Blender Brushes, and adhered the colored, die cut birdies in place.

Check out the Picket Fence Studios website for this months full release.

Impression Obsession: Die Release Celebration Winners Announcement

Winners have been selected for last week’s Die Release Celebration gift certificates! Pop over to the Impression Obsession blog to see if you’ve won one of the many gift certificates being awarded. Congrats to all of the winners!

And, thank you for all of your amazing responses to the release! What a thrill!

Impression Obsession: Old is New

Today is an “old is new” day for the Impression Obsession team, where we feature older products in the Impression Obsession catalog. We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used All Your Eggs (E19914), and Baxter Bunbun (E19068). I stamped the images on watercolor paper and painted them with die ink reinkers. I added white gel pen details, and clear Wink of Stella for lots of shimmer and shine!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop over to the Impression Obsession blog for a full list of the designers participating in today’s inspiration!

Sunday at the Lake

I’m happy to share this card with you today, that features Good Day Fishing (DIE800-YY), an image of a man and his dog, fishing. The image is die cut from black cardstock and adhered over a piece of watercolor paper I painted with various shades of blue and purple. I added a couple of Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banners (DIE814-U), a piece of Pine Sprig (DIE319-K), and the Everything’s better at the Lake (B19156) sentiment, stamped in IO Black Hybrid ink.

Hope you have a terrific Sunday!

Happy weekend, cluck, cluck!

Thought I’d share some recent projects I made using my Chicken (DIE787-V) die set, which is of course, a personal favorite! I selected some pretty floral patterned papers and die cut the hen from various prints. She’s quick and easy to assemble, and so fun to dress up a card or tag. The base of the card was made with the Crazy Stitched Set (DIE797-YY), and it features a bit of fun faux stitching along the edges, similar to how I occasionally add a bit of wacky stitching with my sewing machine.

The tag was made with the Stitched Tag (DIE798-Y) set. The set includes the tag, the fun hole reinforcer and a fishtail banner. 

On this card, I added some leaves from the Stitched Flower Bouquet (DIE806-ZZ) set, and topped the bow off with a brown button.

These will be fun to gift out to a friend!

Impression Obsession: Birthday Wishes

A new challenge is being shared today on the Impression Obsession Blog, and I hope you join the fun! This week’s challenge is Birthday Wishes. Pull out your Impression Obsession stamps and/or dies, and join us!

The card I created for this week’s challenge uses Llama (DIE790-Q), Instant Photo Frame (DIE175-W), Balloon (DIE359-R), Crazy Stitched Set (DIE797-YY), and Perfect Day (B13623). I cut the llama, frame, balloon, and sentiment banner from heavyweight white cardstock and added subtle color to some of the die cut shapes with alcohol markers and ink. I added a fun plaid scarf to the llama, and he’s ready for a day of celebration!

Find all the details on how to enter this week's challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog. I hope you join us!

Impression Obsession: Spring Die Release Celebration Day 3

Thanks again for the wonderful response to my Impression Obsession Dies — Weee!! I’ve been having a ball making my projects!

Today is the third and final day of a three day Spring Die Release Celebration for Impression Obsession, and I hope you have been enjoying the inspiration from my fellow design team members! All of the new dies you see on our celebration posts are available now on the Impression Obsession website, where you can see the full release.

The first project I am sharing today features three die sets from the release. I started by creating a scene with Desert Scene (DIE782-YY), by die cutting the three layers from three different colored card stocks, and layering them to create a single landscape. Next, I die cut Llama (DIE790-Q) from heavy white 110lb cardstock and colored him with alcohol markers and then added a bit of additional color with various brown inks. I added some leaves from the Stitched Flower Bouquet (DIE806-ZZ) set, and topped it off with a brown button. 

For the second project I’m sharing today, I used the Desert Scene (DIE782-YY) set to create a scene that looks like the sun is lighting the distant hills, while leaving the cactus in the shadows. This is another a quick and easy project to put together. I love it!

Find all the details on this amazing release on the Impression Obsession Blog.

I will be giving away one $25 gift certificate, drawn at random from comments left on my Spring Die Release posts (there are three posts - a comment on all three posts means you will have three chances to win the gift certificate!) Comments will remain open until Noon Pacific on Saturday, April 6th. The winner will be announced on my blog and the Impression Obsession blog on Monday, April 8th.

For a wonderful dose of inspiration, pop on over to the Impression Obsession Blog for a complete list of designers participating in this event. Enjoy the inspiration!

Even though today is the last formal day of the release celebration, I have gobs more to share, so please visit again! And, follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

Impression Obsession: Spring Die Release Celebration Day 2

Yesterday I shared that I am now designing Impression Obsession Dies — Weee!! Thank you for all your wonderful comments about the news, and the die designs! I’ve been having a ball designing all kinds of new dies, and am having just as much fun creating with them!

Today is the second day of a three day Spring Die Release Celebration for Impression Obsession, and I hope you enjoy the inspiration! All of the new dies you see on our celebration posts over the next three days are available now on the Impression Obsession website, where you can see the full release.

The first project I am sharing today features four die sets from the release. I started with the Crazy Stitched Set (DIE797-YY) and created a warm background, inked with various colors of brown ink. Notice the addition of some zig zag stitching on the right side of the panel, and some wacky back and forth stitching on the left. Fun! Next, I die cut the Milk Can (DIE796-C) from heavy white 110lb cardstock and colored the shape with light purple and blue alcohol markers, and then added lots of age with various brown inks. 

I used the tree branches from the Sheep Birds and Tree (DIE795-N) set as the trailing foliage, then piled on loads of die cut flowers and leaves that I created with Stitched Flower Bouquet (DIE806-ZZ) from watercolor paper, and painting the shapes lots of pretty colors. 

For the second project I’m sharing today, I used the Stitched Tag (DIE798-Y), Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banners (DIE814-U), Stitched Flower Bouquet (DIE806-ZZ), and Thanks (DIE807-G) to create a tag. This is a quick and easy project to put together, and I was able to use some of the left-over pieces from my floral card.

Find all the details on this amazing release on the Impression Obsession Blog.

I will be giving away one $25 gift certificate, drawn at random from comments left on my Spring Die Release posts (there will be three posts - a comment on all three posts means you will have three chances to win the gift certificate!) Comments will remain open until Noon Pacific on Saturday, April 6th. The winner will be announced on my blog and the Impression Obsession blog on Monday, April 8th.

For a wonderful dose of inspiration, pop on over to the Impression Obsession Blog for a complete list of designers participating in this event. Enjoy the inspiration!

I have gobs more to share, so please visit again! And, follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

Impression Obsession: Spring Die Release Celebration Day 1

I’m so excited!

I’m sharing something that I’ve been, busy-as-a-bee, working on for some time. I’m delighted to announce that I am designing Impression Obsession Dies — Weee!! I’ve been having a ball designing all kinds of new dies, and am having just as much fun creating with them! I hope you enjoy the new dies in this release, welcome some of them into your stash, and make all kinds of wonderful crafty creations with them. Impression Obsessions dies are made with high-quality US steel, and some now designed by me!

Today is the first day of a three day Spring Die Release Celebration for Impression Obsession, and I hope you enjoy the inspiration! All of the new dies you see on our celebration posts over the next three days are available now on the Impression Obsession website. 

The first project I am sharing features three dies from the release. An absolute favorite is Wirehair Terrier (DIE793-Y). I also used Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banners (DIE814-U), and Stitched Tag (DIE798-Y). I die cut the Wirehair Terrier from heavy white 110lb cardstock and colored the shapes with light brown and cream colored alcohol markers. I used various colors of brown ink to color the die rich shades of brown. For added visual texture and interest, I then very lightly stamped the pieces with the large cover a card stamp, Beauty Text. I assembled all of the pieces and *squeeeee!* how CUTE! 

I used two of the Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banners to create the green and black polka dot banners, and used the Stitched Tag die to create the base of the tag. The tag comes with a marvelously fun hole reinforcer for the top. 

The next project I’m sharing features the same Stitched Tag (DIE798-Y), Pinked Stitched Sentiment Banners (DIE814-U), and Chicken (DIE787-V) — seriously — I’m so in love! I die cut the hen and chick from various designer paper prints, lightly inked the edges, and assembled her for the tag. With the Hen and Chick set, you can create gobs of chicks, hens in various positions, and even a rooster!

Tip: Adhere the thinner designer paper pieces to die cut heavyweight cardstock and your projects will have a good, sturdy weight to them.

Find all the details on this amazing release on the Impression Obsession Blog.

I will be giving away one $25 gift certificate, drawn at random from comments left on my Spring Die Release posts (there will be three posts - a comment on all three posts means you will have three chances to win the gift certificate!) Comments will remain open until Noon Pacific on Saturday, April 6th. The winner will be announced on my blog and the Impression Obsession blog on Monday, April 8th.

For a wonderful dose of inspiration, pop on over to the Impression Obsession Blog for a complete list of designers participating in this event. Enjoy the inspiration!

I have gobs more to share, so please visit again! And, follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

Impression Obsession: Old is New

Today is an “old is new” day for the Impression Obsession team, where we feature older products in the Impression Obsession catalog. We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used the adorable clear set Ickie Sickie, and coordinating Ickie Sickie die set. I stamped the images on watercolor paper and painted them with die ink reinkers. Once the images were painted and die cut, I added clear Wink of Stella for lots of shimmer and shine!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop over to the Impression Obsession blog for a full list of the designers participating in today’s inspiration!

Today is an “old is new” day for the Impression Obsession team, where we feature older products in the Impression Obsession catalog. We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used the adorable clear set Ickie Sickie, and coordinating Ickie Sickie die set. I stamped the images on watercolor paper and painted them with die ink reinkers. Once the images were painted and die cut, I added clear Wink of Stella for lots of shimmer and shine!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop over to the Impression Obsession blog for a full list of the designers participating in today’s inspiration!

Today is an “old is new” day for the Impression Obsession team, where we feature older products in the Impression Obsession catalog. We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used the adorable clear set Ickie Sickie, and coordinating Ickie Sickie die set. I stamped the images on watercolor paper and painted them with die ink reinkers. Once the images were painted and die cut, I added clear Wink of Stella for lots of shimmer and shine!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop over to the Impression Obsession blog for a full list of the designers participating in today’s inspiration!

Picket Fence Studios - Gift Certificate Winner Annoucement!

Thank you so much for the comments on the Wild Rose Bouquet and Boho Bull with Slice of Wood cards I posted earlier this week! In that post I mentioned that I have a $15 gift certificate for the Picket Fence Studios website to give to one commenter on that post.

I placed all names from the comments in a bowl, and drew one name — big congrats to Nise! I’ll be in touch via email with you, Nise, to provide you with a gift certificate code to use on the Picket Fence Studios website.

Thank you everyone for participating! I really appreciate it — I hope you have a terrific day!

Impression Obsession: Happy Easter

A new challenge is being shared today on the Impression Obsession Blog, and I hope you join the fun! This week’s challenge is Happy Easter. Pull out your Impression Obsession stamps and/or dies, and join us!

The card I created for this week’s challenge uses Easter Cutout Square (DIE264-ZZ), the flowers from the Spring Wreath (DIE262-Y) die set, Tulip Set (DIE147-A), leaves from Layered Floral Set (DIE047-J), and Leaves & Stems (DIE150-D). I cut all of the pieces from heavyweight white cardstock and added subtle color to the die cut shapes with alcohol markers.

Find all the details on how to enter this week's challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog. I hope you join us!

Impression Obsession: Die Cut Obsession

The Impression Obsession design team is featuring dies as the main focus for our inspiration projects today. To make my card for today, I used the Deepest Sympathy Word Block die, cut from a piece of heavyweight white cardstock. I layered three die cut dogs made with the Dog die set, and added a felt heart, made using the Double Heart Edger die.

Check the Impression Obsession blog for a list of designers providing inspiration today!

The Impression Obsession design team is featuring dies as the main focus for our inspiration projects today. To make my card for today, I used the Deepest Sympathy Word Block die, cut from a piece of heavyweight white cardstock. I layered three die cut dogs made with the Dog die set, and added a felt heart, made using the Double Heart Edger die.

Check the Impression Obsession blog for a list of designers providing inspiration today!

Slice of Wood and Wild Rose Bouquet

Picket Fence Studios has a wonderful release for March, and I am happy to share two cards with with you today! The first card features the Slice of Wood stamp. It’s perfect for background stamping (especially for masculine cards). I stamped Slice of Wood on kraft cardstock in brown Distress Oxide ink. I gave it a light spritz with water, and flicked on some additional splatters of ink. I stamped the Boho Bull image on heavyweight cardstock with Black Hybrid ink and used the Boho Bull coordinating die to diecut the colored image. I added a pretty paper flower to coordinate with the strip of patterned paper, and added faux stitching for fun.

The second card features the Wild Rose Bouquet and the Petite Cup die. I started by stamping the wild rose image on watercolor paper and colored the image with waterbased markers. I used the tea cup die to cut out a Petite Cup shape painted with the lovely roses. I added some pretty paper flowers, a twine bow and a pretty green button for embellishment.

While you’re here, leave me a comment and let me know which one of my cards you like better... I have a $15 (USD) Picket Fence Studios gift certificate to give away to one lucky blog reader, and I’d like the winner to be you!  There’s free shipping to US addresses on orders from the Picket Fence Studios website, so the gift certificate can go completely towards new goodies if the order is shipped to a US address. Yay!

Check out the terrific full release today at the Picket Fence Studios site. You’re sure to find something you love!

Comments will be closed at midnight Pacific time, March 20, 2019. The winner of the $15 gift certificate will be announced here on my blog on a follow-up post by midnight Pacific, Friday, March 22nd. 

Impression Obsession: Old is New

With such a huge collection of dies and stamps from so many artists, sometimes the older products in the Impression Obsession catalog find their way out of the spotlight. We don't want them to be forgotten, so from now on you'll be seeing the Impression Obsession team feature older products regularly. Today is one of those days! We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used Winter Moose, Pine Branch, and Beauty Text, along with the Pine Sprig Cluster die set to create a fun embellishment for my card. I stamped the moose image on watercolor paper in black ink and inked up the panel with brown hybrid ink. I stamped Beauty Text over the top of the image. I stamped the base of the card with the Pine Branch image in brown ink.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop over to the Impression Obsession blog for a full list of the designers participating in today’s inspiration!

With such a huge collection of dies and stamps from so many artists, sometimes the older products in the Impression Obsession catalog find their way out of the spotlight. We don't want them to be forgotten, so from now on you'll be seeing the Impression Obsession team feature older products regularly. Today is one of those days! We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used Winter Moose, Pine Branch, and Beauty Text, along with the Pine Sprig Cluster die set to create a fun embellishment for my card. I stamped the moose image on watercolor paper in black ink and inked up the panel with brown hybrid ink. I stamped Beauty Text over the top of the image. I stamped the base of the card with the Pine Branch image in brown ink.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop over to the Impression Obsession blog for a full list of the designers participating in today’s inspiration!

Impression Obsession: Sending Hugs

A new challenge is being shared today on the Impression Obsession Blog, and I hope you join the fun! This week’s challenge is Sending Hugs. Pull out your Impression Obsession stamps and/or dies, and join us!

The card I created for this week’s challenge uses Sadie and Being There. Sadie and the sentiment are stamped in black hybrid ink and colored with alcohol markers, with a bit of Stickles glitter glue for sparkle and shine. The background is stamped with Cable Knit Cover-a-Card.

Find all the details on how to enter this week's challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog

Impression Obsession: Die Cut Obsession

The Impression Obsession design team is featuring dies as the main focus for our inspiration projects today. To make my card for today, I used the Lighthouse Circle die.  I cut the image from a piece of watercolor cardstock, overstamped the Cover-a-Card Map image, and inked the design with various colors of Impression Obsession hybrid inks.

I added clear shimmer pen and glossy accents to the waves, windows and top of the lighthouse. I die cut several Shells from cream heavy-weight cardstock and inked them up with several brown colors of Impression Obsession hybrid inks. Finally, I added a small double twine bow.

Check the Impression Obsession blog for a list of designers providing inspiration today!

Impression Obsession: Old is New

With such a huge collection of dies and stamps from so many artists, sometimes the older products in the Impression Obsession catalog find their way out of the spotlight. We don't want them to be forgotten, so from now on you'll be seeing the Impression Obsession team feature older products regularly. Today is one of those days! We hope you're inspired!

For today’s card, I used the Lures and Fishing Line images. I stamped the lures image on watercolor paper, and painted it with waterbased brush markers.  I stamped the base of the card with the fishing lines image in brown ink. I added glitter pen to all of the lures, and glossy accents so all of the lures have a nice shine to them. The layers are all inked with brown hybrid ink. 

Impression Obsession: Flowers for Friends

A new challenge is being shared today on the Impression Obsession Blog, and I hope you join the fun! This week’s challenge is Flowers for Friends. Pull out your Impression Obsession stamps and/or dies, and join us!


The card I created uses Mother Goose (E19967) and Chickista (D19964). The ladies are stamped in black hybrid ink and colored with alcohol markers, with a bit of Stickles glitter glue for sparkle and shine. The background is stamped with Music Cover-a-Card (CC029).

Find all the details on how to enter this week's challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog

You Make My Heart Happy

I pulled out an older stamp and die set to make the snowman for this card today. I love the simplicity of this snowman and his super cute face. I also like that the dies can be used to cut felt, so his scarf and hat are super fuzzy! Hats and scarves are necessary these days around here — brrrr! I colored the body of the snowman with colored pencils and Gamsol. I am not sure if the snowman stamp/die set are from Sizzix or Hero Arts... I’m leaning towards it being a Hero Arts set, since the back of the dies aren’t etched w/ Sizzix or a item number, which seems to be pretty standard for Sizzix.

The heart dies I used are from Impression Obsession. The small hearts were made with Double Heart Edger (DIE132-D) and Heart Set (DIE135-E). The “you make my heart happy” sentiment is from the Whipper Snapper Designs Everyday Sentiments cling mount set. I used one of the sentiments from the Whipper Snapper Designs All Things with Love cling mount set to stamp subtle grey text on the background, and across the body of the snowman for interest. 

We have a lot of days in our upcoming weather forecast that call for snow... still plenty of winter remains for snowman cards! Hope you’re keeping cozy!

Impression Obsession: Die Cut Obsession

The Impression Obsession design team is featuring dies as the main focus for our inspiration projects today. I created a tag with the Sea Plants die set, and Shells die set. The seaweed is cut from green cardstock, and the shells were cut from white heavy-weight cardstock and inked with various pink, yellow,  purple, and blue colors of Impression Obsession hybrid inks.

I added some drops of Glossy Accents, adhered a few sequins, and brushed on some Wink of Stella glitter pen for a bit of sparkle.

This tag was fun to make! I look forward to adding it to a gift for someone special.