lauralooloo: cards

And now. . . . GO SHOP! Take one last trip around the Impression Obsession shop. There are so many cute stamps, dies, and awesome ink pads to grab at prices you can't beat! Thank you to Impression Obsession for 20+ years of amazing crafty products!

xoxo

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Try This Idea Using Valentine Stamps for Christmas Card Making!

Do you ever get bored with your card making supplies? Sometimes taking a well-loved product and giving it a fresh new twist is just what we need to breathe new life into our favorite products. Today I'll share two Christmas cards that I made with Valentine stamps from Impression Obsession, and hopefully these ideas will inspire you to find some unexpected ways to use products you already have in your craft stash!

Both of today's cards feature the Valentine Hearts stamp set, designed by Nola Chandler, for IO Stamps. I love the sweet heart images in this stamp set - and when I looked at them, I saw so many more possibilities beyond just Valentine cards. Two things give a new twist to this stamp set: color, and sentiments.

Change Up a Color

Color changes everything, and simply adding green into the mix gave these images a whole new life for Christmas cards. (Now picture them with other assorted colors, and you might just grab this stamp set for birthday cards, baby cards, or many other occasions!)

Switch Up a Sentiment

Switching up the sentiments is another simple way to freshen up a stamp set for a different occasion. The Typewriter Sentiments dies are ones that I have pulled from over and over for holiday cards, because the font is versatile and easy to read, and the dies cut easily. (All the words are each one piece, so you don't have to fuss with lining up letters and tiny pieces!)

Pairing these sentiments and colors with the Valentine images completely changes them, doesn't it!? What stamps do you have in your stash that might have a secret superpower? They might be able to hop from occasion to occasion simply by changing the colors and sentiments! (And just in case you're in love with today's products, you can go grab them at an AWESOME discount on the IO website!)

Today is Day 2 of our two-day Christmas Card blog hop and I'm so glad you've stopped by!

Don't Miss These Important Details:

We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors in December 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! (No items will be restocked.) Everything is at least 50% off, including the latest releases.
Although there won't be any more new releases, we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info, so stay tuned!

Enjoy Every Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams <<you are here!>>

Valentine Hearts Stamp Set

Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards:

Typewriter Sentiments dies

Basics 11 - Greens Paper Pack

Looking for more Valentine and Typewriter Sentiment Inspiration?

You might love these cards too:

Simple Typewriter Sentiment Card Ideas

Valentine Hearts Card Ideas

Friday, November 1, 2024

How to Make a Christmas Snow Globe Shaker Card

Today's snow globe shaker card is festive and fun for Christmas and winter themed cards - and best yet, it's super simple to make with supplies you likely have in your stash already!

Snow Globe Supplies:

You'll need two important things to make a snow globe shaker card: a circle die, and some sort of clear plastic or acetate.

Circle die: Choose one that's appropriate to the size of your card, and however large of a scene you want to create "inside" of it.

Plastic sheet: Don't have an acetate sheet? Think about some recycled packaging that's laying around. Cut a piece that's slightly larger than the circle you'll use.

Step by Step to create this card:

Fold a pale blue card base to be the bottom layer of your card.
Cut a teal card-sized panel and die cut a circle from the center of it. (Position it to leave room for the snow globe base, sentiment etc.)
Add a piece of clear acetate behind the teal cardstock.
Die cut the same circle die from kraft cardstock and trim top and bottom off to create the snow globe base. Adhere to card front.
Create scene on pale blue card base with stamps and dies. Line up the acetate circle with the card base to position images properly so they'll fit "inside" the circle. Once completed, carefully pour a little pile of sequins or confetti - whatever you want your shaker filling to be.
On the back of the teal cardstock, surround the cut circle with foam adhesive. This will create "walls" for sequins or confetti when the card is sealed together. Peel off adhesive backing, line up teal card front on top of card base and carefully adhere together. This will sandwich the shaker filling inside of your snow globe!
Add sentiment and decorate the rest of the card as desired.

Is this the only way to create a shaker card? No. But this is the method that works well for me! There are many companies who make adorable snow globe themed products, but this is a simple way to make it with supplies that you likely already have!

I used the adorable Home Sweet Home stamp set from Impression Obsession for today's card. You can grab it now at 50% off, but move quick because products are selling out fast on the IO website!

Home Sweet Home stamp set

We're celebrating the start of the season with a two-day Christmas Card Hop at Impression Obsession. This is Day 1.

Don't Miss These Important Details:

We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors in December 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! (No items will be restocked.) Everything is at least 50% off, including the latest releases.
Although there won't be any more new releases, we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info, so stay tuned!

Enjoy Every Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams <<you are here!>>

Looking for more shaker card ideas?

Check these out!

Birthday Shaker Card

YAY shaker tag card

Easter egg shaker card

Monday, October 28, 2024

Make a Card for Any Occasion With Die Cut Patterned Paper Hearts

Today I'll let you in on one of my best card making tricks. It involves a little math (but not really!) Create a design formula that works over and over again in totally different ways. For instance, today's card = one die + one stamp + one pack of patterned paper but you can recreate this idea for absolutely any occasion, in any color, and with any sentiment stamp for countless variations. Let's look at today's card, and I'll show you what I mean!

I used one of my tried-and-true favorite little die sets, called Layered Heart Trio. This little powerhouse die set includes three solid hearts, plus three half-hearts. Use the hearts on their own, or mix and match colors or patterns and add the half heart on top. I love to cut this die a bunch of times on different papers, and keep a little bag of colorful hearts ready to add onto projects. (I love that this set includes three hearts and three halves, so cutting multiples is super quick!)

Now that you know all about these adorable hearts - you can see how quick and simple it was to cut these hearts from assorted purple patterned papers and add them to a card base. Now . . .close your eyes and envision this card with a paper or cardstock in your stash. Need thank you cards? Or Valentines? Or birthday cards? This formula works for them all. Simply change up the colors, and change up the sentiment to suit your needs. (These hearts look amazing with glittered or metallic cardstock too!)

One of the great things about this card idea is that it's pretty flat and easy to mail. To have perfectly coordinating embellishments, that are also flat, I have one more trick for you. Grab a hole punch from the desk drawer, and use the scraps of patterned paper to punch some dots to add to your card. If you want to get fancy, you can even coat them with Glossy Accents or dimensional glaze to add shine and pop.

Today's card is so simple, and completely customizable! Remember, Impression Obsession is closing at the end of this year. You can still grab the adorable Layered Hearts Trio die set, and it is SUPER affordable, but once it sells out it's GONE. So please don't delay. Grab the things on your wish list, because items are selling out fast!

Layered Hearts Trio dies

Don't Miss These Important Details:

We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors at the end of 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! (No items will be restocked.) Everything is at least 50% off, including the latest releases.
Although there won't be any more new releases, we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info through December, so stay tuned!

Enjoy Every Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams (you are here!)

Looking for more inspiration with the Layered Heart Trio dies?

Check out these blog posts:

Valentine Cards

Cheery Thank You Cards

A few more card ideas using these adorable hearts!

Monday, October 14, 2024

Wish Big Birthday Card Idea and 40% Off Sale at Impression Obsession

It's theme day on the Impression Obsession blog, and we're celebrating the cards you need all year long, for everyone you know - it's birthday card day! If you need some fresh inspiration for birthday card making, today is just for you - our blog hop is packed with new ideas that you can try out for everyone on your list.

Today's card features the Birthday Words, Party Hat, and Balloons die sets from Impression Obsession. They all work so well together to create fun and festive birthday cards. Try out this idea with different color palettes to suit just about anyone you need a card for.

This card is fairly busy, with some patterned paper and layers. Here are a few tips when creating a card that's got a lot going on:

Limit your color palette just a little. Four or five colors is plenty on a card like this. Tie in the colors between the hat, balloons, and sentiment to create a cohesive flow. (Multiple shades of one color also help with this. . .like the two shades of pink I used on this card, plus the yellow patterns, tie in with the yellow balloon.)
Make the sentiment STAND OUT. I added two layers to the birthday words - using the white as a highlight layer behind. Adding white gel pen details also helps to the sentiment to stand out. (And for repetition of color again, notice those black stars, and black/white twine to bring it together.)
Lastly, add DIMENSION. Popping the hat up on foam adhesive gives it some distance from the balloons, creating a foreground and background.

And now, I know my friends have lots more birthday inspiration to share, so go check out what they've created for you! And then, be sure to head to the Impression Obsession shop for some AMAZING deals, during the Closing Sale.

Don't Miss These Important Details:

We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors at the end of 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! (No items will be restocked.) Almost everything is at least 40% off, (except the September release which is 30% off.) UPDATE: Sale is now at 50% off!
Although there won't be any more new releases, we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info through December, so stay tuned!

Don't Miss a Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams (you are here!)

Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine

Shop the Supplies on Today's Card!

Birthday Words dies

Party Hat dies

Balloons dies

Gelly Roll 10 white gel pen from Simon Says Stamp

Gel Roll 10 white pen

*affiliate link at Simon Says Stamp

*affiliate link at scrapbook.com

Looking for more birthday card making ideas?

Check out this idea too!

Exploding Envelope Card

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Pumpkin Kisses and Harvest Wishes Card Making Idea

Welcome to Day 2 of the Halloween blog hop at Impression Obsession! We're celebrating all things spooky and sweet from the IO shop. Today's card features a simple stenciled background, and a perfectly plump little pumpkin!

Let's talk about this background first . . .I've used the Retro Ovals stencil a few times now, and each time it's had a completely different look. Gotta love a super versatile product like this! This two-step stencil allows you to make a two-color background without any hassle. Line up your first stencil and ink orange across it. Then, simply line up the second stencil to coordinate (the small ovals) and ink with gray. After that, I lightly rubbed additional orange ink across the panel to create less contrast. The rest of this card is pretty simple. A stamped sentiment, stamped pumpkin, a few gel pen details, plus a heart and some washi tape. Quick and simple, and sweet as can be for fall!

Don't Miss These Important Details:

Have you been to the IO website lately? We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors at the end of 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! (No items will be restocked.) Everything is at least 40% off, including the newest releases. Plus, check the sale section for steeper discounts!
Although there won't be any more new releases, we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info through December, so stay tuned!

Don't Miss a Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams (you are here!)

Shop the Supplies on Today's Card!

Pumpkin Patch stamp set

Retro Ovals Stencil

Oval Labels Dies

I am in love with all 48 of Impression Obsession's hybrid ink colors.

Grab them in the adorable Ink Cube size, or standard ink pads - and don't forget to grab reinkers

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Eeek! Birthdays Are Scary! {Cute Card Idea for a Halloween Birthday}

Who's got October birthdays to celebrate?! Today's card is all sweet, and not really spooky but it's a fun play on Halloween birthdays. Featuring the Monster Birthday stamp set from Impression Obsession, this card is playful and fun with lots of bright colors. It's part of our two-day Halloween blog hop, which is packed with inspiration and the latest info on the closing-sale at IO!

First, let's hit the important details on today's card. I paired the ADORABLE Eeek die, (cut from glitter foam) with the Birthday Monster stamp set - a great set for Halloween cards, birthday cards, or Halloween-birthday cards! Plus those balloons and cute eyeballs are perfect for year round cards. (Here's a TIP: Think about other stamp images you have, that would be adorable with those crazy faces on them!) On today's card I used wiggle eyes for added dimension, and colored the teeth with a white gel pen, to really make them pop.

Now, onward to some business. . . .

Don't Miss These Important Details:

Have you been to the IO website lately? We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors at the end of 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! Everything is at least 40% off right now (including the newest releases.) Plus, check the sale section for steeper sales!
Although there won't be any more new releases, we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info through December, so stay tuned!

Don't Miss a Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams (you are here!)

Monster Birthday Stamp Set

Shop the Supplies on Today's Card!

Eeek!

Monster Colors 6x6 Paper Pack

Monday, September 23, 2024

Check Out These Cute Nordic Christmas Card Ideas {With Teal and Pink!}

Hello friends! Today's cards are cute, cozy and colorful for Christmas and winter. The cold weather critters in the Nordic Christmas stamp set, from Impression Obsession have the sweetest details, and you'll love mixing and matching these images for your card making this season!

Today's first card starts with a stenciled background. The Retro Ovals Stencil is a two-step stencil. It makes it simple to create a two-color background, but for today's card I created a tone on tone look, using shades of teal ink for both parts of the pattern, and applied onto teal cardstock.

For both of today's cards I used marker to color the images, but I kept it pretty simple and clean. I wanted to add some shading, but also keep them light and bright against the patterned backgrounds. Speaking of backgrounds, on this card I used the darling Nordic Patterns 6x6 paper pack. The colors are just what I love! Shades of aquas, pinks, and red. Perfect for Christmas, winter, and also. . .awfully cute for Valentine cards too!

Don't Miss These Important Details:

Have you been to the IO website lately? We are so sad that Impression Obsession is closing their doors at the end of 2024. Keep shopping the awesome sales, and grab everything on your wish list while you still can! Everything is at least 30% off right now (EVEN THE SEPTEMBER RELEASE!) and check that sale section for steeper sales!
Although September is the last new release, for the next few months we'll still be sharing blog hops with awesome inspiration, card making ideas and all the sale info through December, so stay tuned!

Don't Miss a Stop on the Hop!

Laura Williams (you are here!)