WHAT IF? WEDNESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE

Hello blog friends!  

it's time for a sketch challeng at The House That Stamps Built Blog for Repeat Impressions Stamps.  

Since this weekend will be Memorial Day Weekend here in the USA, I wanted to make a card, using this sketch, that reflects my gratitude for our military men and women who have died for the freedoms I love.  

Memorial day was designated as "Decoration Day".  It was a day when the graves of the fallen were decorated in remembrance of their service.   Here is the original proclamation from 1868.  

The 30th day of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

The RI stamps I used for this card came from the awesome large sentiment sets "THANKS".  I masked off the "s" on Thanks in order to make it fit into the die circle.  

Come on over and play along with us.  It will be so much fun to see what you create with this sketch.  All the details on how to enter the challenge can be found at The House.  

My incredibly talented team mates have some inspiration for you too.  Check them out.  

                     Deonna   -   Heather   -   Joy   -   Kathy   -  Laurie  -   Patti J   -   Shirley

Thanks for stopping by.  Please take some time this weekend to remember those that died ensuring our freedoms.  

INTRODUCING FLOWER POWER BACKGROUNDS AND BORDERS BY REPEAT IMPRESSIONS

Hello blog friends!  As promised I'm here with  Repeat Impressions' Flower Power Backgrounds & Borders Release!

Here are two cards I created using these new sets.

I used the crayon resist technique to create this card.  The sentiment is from the "Hello" set.  I love how it all worked so well together.  

I colored the image with PrismaColor Pencils on a watercolor wash bg.  The sentiment is RI#2505-H "The Very Best..." .  I think this makes a beautiful anniversary card.  

Please join us at The House That Stamps Built this week as we celebrate another new release in Repeat Impressions' online store. This latest NEW stamp series is called Flower Power Backgrounds & Borders. This Thursday thru Sunday some of the RI Rock Stars are posting their wonderful creations to showcase the new series.

These stamp designs are all available now as wood mounts, cling mounts, and as plain, unmounted rubber in the Repeat Impressions online store. This complete series is also available as one plain unmounted sheet of rubber so that you can get ALL 7 stamps in this series at a huge savings.

To view the complete series and purchase any of the designs please visit this page of Repeat's online store.

Please visit The House That Stamps Built blog each day... Thursday, May 19th thru Sunday, May 22nd... and leave your comments to be entered into a drawing to win an unmounted sheet of RI's Flower Power Backgrounds & Borders series. 

Comment at THE HOUSE t

o qualify for this free giveaway your comments must be left no later than 5pm eastern time on Sunday, May 22nd. On Monday, May 23rd Wendy will announce the winner on Repeat's Facebook page so be sure to "Like" and follow them there if you don't already.  Follow on FaceBook.  

Thank you for stopping by, and GOOD LUCK!!! 

MAY INSPIRATION CHALLENGE AT THE HOUSE THAT STAMPS BUILT

Hi there!   

Time for an inspiration challenge at The House That Stamps Built!!!!   

From this photo, take some inspiration and create a card or project.  It's fun and your's could be a winner in the drawing for Repeat Impressions Stamps.  

Check out the details for entering this challenge at The House.  We can't wait to see what you create.  

For my card I took inspiration from the soft bg and the branch emerging from the mist.  The effect was achieved by sponging a variety of soft green die inks in layers, after stamping and masking the flowers.  The striped floral was then stamps over the solid with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  

I used some of the newest stamps - RI #10305 "Striped Flower Outline and #10312 "Striped Flower Solid", and you get a sneak peek at the next set to be released tomorrow!!!  

You will love to see the inspiration from these lovely ladies:

                        Deonna  -  Heather  -  Joy  -  Kathy  - Laurie -  Patti J  -  Shirley

Thank you for stopping by today, and I'll be back tomorrow with the newest release from Repeat Impressions.  

I hope you'll join our challenge, so don't forget to check out the details at The House.  

DESIGNER'S CHOICE CHALLENGE AT THE HOUSE THAT STAMPS BUILT

Hey there!!!  

I hope you've all had an opportunity to join in on the new Repeat Impressions Release Party at The House That Stamps Built!  These new floral stamps are so fabulous!!! 

There are more releases coming up, so hang on to your seats....you'll need a seat belt!!!  

Today, we're joining my friend and awesome Rock Star sister, Joy Hadden as she challenges us...and you... to a "use your scraps" challenge.  If you're like me, the hard part about a challenge like this is deciding which scraps to use.

I went with monochromatic color scheme because I had so much "green" in my scrap bin and that way I wouldn't have to think too much!  

I had so many pieces of green scraps, I just went with it.  I used RI# 10314-H "Daisy Solid Lg", (an image from the new set) and from the RI#9900 "Hello Series", I grabbed this sentiment.  

Come on over to THE HOUSE and play along....you've got scraps...we know you do...AND, you could possibly win $25.00 worth of RI stamps, just for entering.  

Some awesome inspiration can be found at these blogs.

                            Deonna  -  Heather  -  Joy  -  Kathy  - Laurie -  Patti J  -  Shirley

Thank you for stopping by.

CRACKED GLASS - PROJECT OF THE WEEK AT THE HOUSE THAT STAMPS BUILT

Hi everyone,  

I'm here with an older technique, but it’s so cool and different each time you do it.   It’s a technique that brings great texture and interest to your focal image.  It's call "Cracked Glass".  

Here are the supplies you'll need:  

.

Ultra Think Embossing Enamel (UTEE), your prepared image, VersaMark ink (or some other watermark ink) and a tray or box top to catch the embossing flakes, a heat gun (not shown).  

You can use clear embossing powder for this, however the UTEE works better because it's a thicker and heavier product.  But if you don't have UTEE clear embossing powder works okay.

Step 1:  Coat your prepared image completely with VersaMark Ink.

Step 2:  Sprinkle the UTEE all over the coated image then using your heat gun, melt the UTEE.  Working quickly, while the image is still hot from the melting, dip it back into the UTEE and heat it again.  Do this several times (3 or 4), building up to a smooth surface.  

I used a scrap piece of card stock and taped my image to it and used it as a "handle" so I could hold my image during the melting process.  You're looking for a super smooth coating. 

Step 3:  When your image is done to your satisfaction, place it in the freezer for 5 minutes or so.  It may be curled when you remove it, but that's okay.  Carefully, twist the image and snap the cold, hardened image.  The cracks will show up randomly.  It's so cool!!!! 

Step 4:  Use your image on your card as you like.  

My image is RI #2914-I "Duck's Take-Off" and for the sentiment I used RI# 2501-H "Happy Birthday From...".  (I cut this sentiment stamp, creating two separate sentiments - I put them back together when I want the entire sentiment).  

I hope you enjoyed the project and I hope you'll give it a try with some of your own Repeat Impressions images.