Impression Obsession Team Favorites Blog Hop is Going to the Dogs!

 Hello!  

Welcome to the Impression Obsession Team Favorites Blog Hop! Impression Obsession Designers are sharing their favorite projects from the June release.  

If you came from Laura Williams's blog, you are in the right place.  If not, head over to the Impression Obsession Blog to start the hop.  

We will be giving away 3 Impression Obsession Grab Bags so the more designer's blogs you comment on (1 comment per blog) the greater your chances of winning!  Comments will be open until Monday, June 21st at 11:59CT.  Winners will be announced on the Impression Obsession Blog on Tuesday, June 22nd. 

He. Is. So. Cuuuute!  I am a huge dog lover and I colored up Dog Face to look like my shepherd mix, Rudy.   

Dog Face was stamped with IO Black Ink on Arches Watercolor Paper and colored with Daniel Smith Watercolors.  He was then fussy cut out.  For the background, I watercolored a piece of watercolor paper with a turquoise blue color.  For the bottom portion, I used the Wooden Plank Cover a Card Stamp and stamped it in brown on a brown piece of cs.  The background pieces were adhered to a dark gray card base and the dog was then adhered, giving the illusion of laying on the floor.  The sentiment, Ruff Day, was stamped in IO Black Ink using the MISTI.  A twine bow and a few enamel dots finish the card. 

I am linking up to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Animal Shenanigans, and Make the Cards Challenge- Encouragement.  

Your next stop is Lynda!  Enjoy the hop!

Lee Ann  

Here is your hop list!

Impression Obsession Blog

Laura Fulcher

Laura Williams

Lee Ann Barrett

Lynda Pleckan

Vicki Garrett

Angela Bode

Anna Wight

Dina Kowal

Giovana Smith

Ilina Crouse

Jeanne Streiff

Kia Gibson Clapper

Just Ducky

 Hello!

Back with another spring themed card.  I am so enjoying the sunshine and warmer temps; it is showing in my crafting!  

Isn't he just the cutest??!!!  He (or she) is 'Just Ducky' from Impression Obsession Stamps.  I started by stamping the image with Scattered Straw Distress Ink on Canson Watercolor Paper.  I used a wet brush to move the ink around and loose the lines.  I repeated this process, using Wild Honey and Mustard Seed as well.  I dropped in a bit of Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry.  My goal was to get loose watercoloring by stamping and moving the color around and then doing a final stamping with a darker color in the same family and calling it done.  However, there was way too much detail in the image for that look so I ended up inking it up with IO Black Ink once the watercoloring was dry.  

Once I had the black image, I played around a bit with the color, then got my Daniel Smith Watercolors out.  I added yellows, corals and oranges to the image.  Once I was happy with the duck, I painted in a blue sky background followed by grass.  When all was dry, I stamped one of my all time favorite sentiments- I Miss Your Face- in IO Black Ink.  

I am linking up to The Paper Players for their Spring is in the Air challenge~

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

Lee Ann  

CASE This Sketch and a Valentine

 Hello All!  

I was so sad to read that CASE This Sketch would be closing it's doors.  I have found their sketches challenging and inspiring.  I used the latest sketch for this watercolored Valentine using a few Sweet n Sassy Stamps Stamp sets.  

Here is the sketch~

My adorable hotdog is from the Lots of Love Stamp Set.  I stamped it in IO Black Ink; in addition, I stamped a couple of different envelope images from the Happy Mail Stamp Set a few times and then water colored all with Daniel Smith Water Colors.  

The sentiment, from the Love Wordfetti Stamp Set, was stamped in IO Black ink.  Dashes were added inbetween the images and sentiment and the panel was then diecut with the rectangle from the Crazy Stitched Die Set by IO Stamps.   

I few sequins and a love themed patterned paper finish off the card.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful rest of the week!

Lee Ann  

Freshly Made Sketches #423

Hello All!

We are back with a fabulous new Freshly Made Sketches sketch, this one from Kim.  I love Kim's clean style and she knows how to use die cuts like no other.

Here is your sketch; I stayed true to it for a change!

I used my new Paint a Poppy Stamp Set from Altenew.  What a beauty! I veered form the typical red/orange poppy color and decided on yellow.  I love the combo of yellow and gray and it has been too long since I used it.  In addition, yellow is a dominant color in this month's Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  The poppy image was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black Ink on watercolor paper and colored with Daniel Smith  Watercolors.  I added a branch of leaves from the same set to the gray sentiment panel to frame the sentiment.  In addition, I added a small bunch of flowers from the Beautiful Day Stamp Set. The sentiment is from the Extra Special Stamp Set.
I am also linking up to this month's The Flower Challenge~

And Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Add a Sentiment.
And Addicted to Stamps and More- Make Your Mark
Stop by and check out all of the amazing inspiration from the rest of the team and then join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann 

Some Inspirational Color

Hello All and Happy Saturday!

I am hosting a challenge in the Sweet n Sassy Stamps VIP FB group and it is a color challenge based on some gorgeous inspiration.  We are having a Stamp-A-Thon today and would love for you to join us!  Participate, and you could have a chance to win a $50 gift voucher to the SNSS store. 

I love the fresh, spring colors even though the inspiration is anything but spring! 

I love these colors, though I did have a hard time getting close to the actual yellow that seems to have a touch of green in it. 
I stamped the flower image, from the Birds and Blooms Stamp Set, in Versafine Black Ink on watercolor paper and colored with Daniel Smith Watercolors. The background was stamped with the Wood Backgrounds Stamp set. 
I used a sketch from the Fusion Card Challenge. 

The card was assembled and a sentiment added using the  Scripty Thoughts Stamp Set.  A few sequins finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you join us!

Lee Ann

Valentine Bouquet

Hello! 

I have been wanting to ink up this Impression Obsession image for some time, but time is such a funny thing!  It is called Shabby Chic Bouquet. 

I wanted to practice no line coloring, and this was quite the image to practice on!  a bit of a challenge, but I was up for it.  I stamped the image in Memento Desert Sand ink onto Arches Watercolor paper.  I am one to always try to cut corners $$, but I have to say, that just does not work with watercolor paper.  It really does make all the difference. 
The rest is just no line coloring with my Daniel Smith Watercolors.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I used a sentiment from the Sweet Celebration Stamp Set, which happens to be in the clearance section.  It is a longer sentiment, but I cut it apart to get the 'I Love You' and be able to stamp it multiple times. 
Impression Obsession's current challenge is 'Love is in the Air'.

I am also linking up to Casology's 'Repeat' Challenge~

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week! 

Lee Ann 

Good Morning, Glory!

Hello! 

When my son was young, I would wake him up in the morning and often say to him, "Good Morning, Glory"!  So when I started this post about Morning Glories, that old memory popped into my mind. 
Today, Morning Glories are in the form of the newest stamp of the month from Sweet n Sassy Stamps, Sympathy Morning Glories. 

I love the size of this stamp; large enough to stand on its own, small enough to stamp off the edge as I did here, creating a frame around the card. 
Using my MISTI, I stamped the flower image with Versafine Black Ink onto Arches Water Color Paper.  I then rotated the panel 180 degrees and stamped it again.  To do the remaining two corners, I needed to repostion the stamp, and then repeated the process. 
Once stamped, I watercolored the image with a combination of Daniel Smith Watercolors and Kuretake Gansai Tambi Water Colors. 
When the painting was dry, I die cut the panel with a SugarPea Designs Zig Zag Stitched Rectangle Die.  Some Wink of Stella was added to the flower centers and sequins added.

If you are doing some snss shopping, remember, this Stamp of the Month is FREE with a $75 purchase. To sweeten the deal, Korin at snss offers FREE shipping with your $75 purchase. 
That's it for me!  Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann

Cased Leaves

Hello!

Are you tired of leaves yet?  I hope not!  I have one more to share using the Autumn Splendor Stamp Set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  I have to give credit where credit is due, though.  Do you follow the talented Debby Hughes of Lime Doodle Designs?  I learn so much from her water coloring videos.
One of her most recent ones was water coloring leaves and I followed right along with my leaves.

My leaves are stamped in Old Paper Distress ink, using my MISTI to be sure to get a good impression of the image on the rough paper.  I used Daniel Smith Watercolors and the paper used is Arches 140# cold press watercolor paper.
I did not want to mask the leaf images to stamp the acorns, so I stamped them separately and then fussy cut them out, popping them up on dimensional adhesive to add some depth.
I am please overall with how this turned out.  Practice, practice, practice!

I am linking up to the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge where this week's theme is fall/autumn.

 Thanks so much for stopping in!  Have a magnificent week!

Lee Ann 

Turn My Eyes

Hello Everyone!

I sat down to make a couple of cards today and the MOJO just seemed flat.
This creative worship idea had been in the back of my head for a while and I really wanted to give it a go.
I watched a few videos on drawing eyes and sketched one out on paper, then cut it out and used it as a basic template.
Once I was happy with the basic shape, I outlined it with a Sakura Pigma Micron pen.  Then I started mixing colors with my Daniel Smith watercolors.  Yes, I said mixing.  I really stepped out of my comfort zone with this.

Once I was happy with the coloring, I made sure it was all dry and then added eye lashes.  I used a smaller Micron pen for the lower lashes.
Well, I had to do some hand lettering.  Not liking it but it is what it is.  I also used the Sweet n Sassy Stamps Rebecca Alpha Stamp Set to stamp the name 'Jesus'.  I like the stamps much better, lol.
But my friend MariLynn reminded me that it is not about perfection or wanting my lettering to look like others.  And she is so right.  It is about worship, after all.
I need to remind myself multiple times a day to go to Jesus first.  I want so badly to handle everything in my own puny strength.  Keeping my eyes on Jesus helps me to stay grounded in Him and turn to Him for my needs.    He does a far better job than I could ever even begin to do.

Thanks for stopping by, friend!

Have a blessed week!

Lee Ann 

A New FMS Sketch and Sweet n Sassy Stamps Oct. Release Blog Hop!

Hello All!

Welcome to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps October New Release Blog Hop!  You are in for a treat with all of the amazing inspiration along the way.  Hop along with us, leaving a comment on each blog hop post, and you will have a chance to win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet n Sassy Stamps store.  Deadline to comment is October 22nd, 10pm ET.  Winner will be announced on the snss blog on October 23rd. 

I love a neutral palette, so the inspiration at Inspired By was right up my alley.  I also used the newest Freshly Made Sketches sketch for this card.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Keeping with the neutral palette theme, I heat embossed my leaves and acorns with gold ep on vellum and fussy cut them out.  The leaves are from the fabulous Autumn Splendor Stamp Set.  I stamped the background stamp, Typewriter Text, in kraft ink.  A bit of black and white striped paper and a bit of kraft cs make the perfect strip for the black die cut sentiment.  A few sequins and gold thread behind he sentiment finish the card.

Next up, a super CAS card using one leaf image from the Autumn Splendor Stamp Set.

Inspiration for this card came from CASE This Sketch!~

 I gave no line water coloring a go again, this time stamping with Old Paper Distress Ink. I  used Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper and colored with Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints.
The sentiment, from the Sympathy Innies Stamp Set, was heat embossed in brown ep on vellum.

Sweet n Sassy Stamps has a fantastic sale going on now through October 31- 15% off on all autumn themed stamps.

Hop along with the rest of the design team for some fabulous inspiration!  

Sweet n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman

Cathy McCauley 

Ceal Pritchett

Diane Zechman

Jane Bosi

Lee Ann Barrett- You are Here

Lucinde van Ballegooijen

Lyn Tomlin

Have a blessed day!  

Lee Ann 

Happy Fall!

Hello Everyone!

It is a gorgeous fall like day here in st Louis.  Unfortunately we don't really have any color yet- need to wait until we are into October for that.  But one can dream, right?!

I played in a couple of challenges with this card, which uses a Technique Junkies Stamp from the Autumn Framed Sentiments Stamp Set.  Sentiment is In My Prayers.
Leaves were colored with Daniel Smith Watercolors.  Paper is Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper.   I also splattered in blue and black DS watercolors.  I used Quin Deep Gold, Pyrrol Scarlet and Mayan Dark Blue. 
I used the sketch and inspiration from Fusion-

My colors are from Inspired By -

And I used the word prompt from Inkspirational which is 'crop'.
I am also linking up to The Male Room- Autumn.

 Thanks for stopping by and have a glorious weekend!
 Lee Ann 

All About the Browns

Hello All!

September 1st and that means time for a new challenge at The Rainbow Card Challenge!

September 1st also means that it is time for the new release from Sweet n Sassy Stamps.  Oh, My. Word.  This new set, Fur-Ever Friends- is the absolute cutest set ever! I just keep making cards with it, lol!  I tried some no line watercoloring with my Daniel Smith watercolors.  The background is made with the Wood Background Stamp Set.  The card needed a little more something, so I added a leafy branch from the Scribble Flowers Stamp Set, that I heat embossed in gold on vellum.
I used the sketch from CASE this Sketch~

I am also linking up to Simon Says stamp Wednesday Challenge, 'Anything Goes'

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!
Lee Ann  

Another Look Back with Freshly Made Sketches!

Hello All!

Welcome back to another look back with Freshly Made Sketches!  Today's sketch is 

sketch number 200.  

Here is your sketch!

I used this gorgeous new bird from Sweet n Sassy Stamps from the Singing Praises Clear Stamp Set.  This set happens to be the Stamp of the Month and is FREE with a purchase of $75.
The sentiment is from Lots of Spots. 
I stamped the image in Versafine Black ink using my MISTI so I could stamp multiple times to get a good image on the rough watercolor paper.   It is watercolored it with Daniel Smith Watercolors.  I noticed that some people swatch out the colors they use when painting, so I tried that; I can never do things the way one is supposed to though, lol.  I started using paint that was dried and already on my palette, lol, so I have no idea what green and yellows I used.  This is my pathetic attempt at trying to keep up with the big kids!  And because my DS paints are splits from Lydia Fiedler, my numbers mean nothing to you, lol.  the DS colors are actually Ultramarine Blue, Mayan Dark Blue, Piemontite Genuine, Transparent Red Oxide, and Quinacradone Coral.

I just love the birds in this set.  It was perfect for watercoloring and splatters. 
Check out what the rest of the team has for you; they ALWAYS inspire!  I am blessed to be a part of it. 
Thanks for stopping by and can't wait to see you in the gallery!

Lee Ann 

Sympathy in Blue

Hello Again!

Cold weather tends to mean more crafting, doesn't it?  Cold weather has been rolling in here in St Louis.
Sadly, I needed a couple of sympathy cards this week.  33 is too young for cancer to strike.  It certainly makes you think about eternity. 

My colors are from this week's Color Throwdown Challenge~

I love this peony from Studio Katia and it really needed to see ink.  I played with my new Daniel Smith Watercolors- I really love how this turned out.  I hope it brings some comfort to my friends.  The sentiment is from Sweet n Sassy Stamps, though I think it may be retired.  I added a navy strip of card stock and mounted on a Very Vanilla card base.  Some paint spatters and sequins finished off the card.



Have a blessed week,

Lee Ann 

Monochromatic Reminder in Red!

Hi Everyone!


I am back with a reminder about The Rainbow Card Challenge; you have 2 more weeks to get your card linked up!

We are midway through the first challenge at The Rainbow Card Challenge.  This month's monochromatic color is RED.  Hope you can join us!
For this card, I used a new to me set that was begging to see ink as well as my brand new Daniel Smith Watercolors that I bought from Lydia/aka Understand Blue.  She has a FB group dedicated to Daniel Smith watercolors and sells splits of the paints which makes them AFFORDABLE!!!!  You can check it our HERE~
I am just learning how to use watercolors- it is not as easy as it looks for sure!  But that is my crafty resolution for the new year- to learn how to use/improve my use of watercolors, especially the DS ones.
So for this card, I used Impression Obsession's Mushroom stamp by the talented Dina Kowal.  The sentiment comes from the Impression Obsession Happy Trails stamp set.  I thought that the mushroom would be a good first image to try the watercolors on.  Not overly detailed and only a few colors needed.  I have to say, it was fun using the paints and I am happy with my first DS watercoloring.
I am linking up to Impression Obsession's challenge, 'New Beginnings'.  I suspect you are wondering about the 'new beginnings' on this card.  Well, you would think, as a cardmaker, I would send out tons of snail mail.  I don't.  Can you relate?  I really, really struggle with writing inside the cards.  So this year is a 'new beginning' of sending out snail mail- hence the happy mail sentiment on the card.  This will go to a friend of mine in Indianapolis.  She sent me a Christmas card and I am remiss in responding to her.
And don't forget to link up your RED project at The Rainbow Card Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lee Ann