It's All Good In the Woods - Campfire Card Ideas {New from Impression Obsession}

Today I have some handmade card ideas for you that are the BEST kind of outdoorsy. . . .free of bugs, plenty of air conditioning, and complete with indoor plumbing! Whether you're the outdoor adventuring type or not, you'll love these camping themed card ideas, with brand new stamps from Impression Obsession. Ready to adventure on???

All of today's card COULD be perfect for a Father's Day card, or anything with a more masculine vibe. But they're also perfect to send to a kiddo at camp, or to make a scrapbook page of your summertime adventures. 

The card above starts with some patterned paper, the Wood Planks dies, and some die cut circles. Finish it off with some stamped and colored images plus a sentiment. I love the font on these sentiments! It feels like summer!

Next up - I really had fun with the next two cards. I wanted to create a scene that felt almost like a map, or an overhead image of a campsite. To create this idea, start by creating a body of water using the curved line dies from the Hill Landscape Layers die set. (Or freehand them if you need to!)

Next, start adding the scenery from the Good in the Woods stamp set. I stamped some of the trees straight onto the card base, and added others in a contrasting green. Because I had so much fun with it, I created a horizontal and a vertical version. 

The designers at Impression Obsession are celebrating the June release with a two-day blog hop that's jam packed with inspiration just for YOU! I hope you'll hop around and see what everyone else has been creating. Today is DAY TWO!

Catch Every Stop on the Blog Hop!

IO Blog

Laura Williams <<you are here!>>

Robin Clendenning

Vicki Garrett

Angela Bode

Anna Wight

Dina Kowal

Giovana Smith

Jeanne Streiff

Laura Fulcher

You'll Love These Fishy Birthday Cards {Birthday Fishes!}

Masculine cards, birthday cards, and cards with puns. . . .three things always on the top of my card making to-do list! We're celebrating all things die-cutting today, on the Impression Obsession blog, and I've got some birthday FISHES to share with you. 

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make purchases through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. I appreciate you supporting my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart! 

You may remember the adorable Pail & Fish die set that released a few months ago at Impression Obsession. I just love the simplicity of crafting with this set. The pail and multiple fish are all attached together - you can certainly snip the dies apart, but I love cranking this set through my machine at one time, and instantly have a stash of pieces to play with. Die cut the set in a couple different colors, and you'll quickly and easily be making pails full of fish! 

Here's a tip: Keep any extra pieces in an envelope with your dies, and then pull from them for the next fishy card! In fact, next week I have a CHRISTMAS card to share featuring these fish. (Christmas and fish? YES INDEED!)

And since we're feeling FISHY today, here's one more fishy birthday card that features the same sentiment set. It's packed with fish puns, and it's adorable with stamped or die cut fish. 

Stop by the Impression Obsession blog to see all the designers participating in our Die Cut Product Focus! I bet they've been die cutting some cuteness to share with you!

Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards:

Birthday Fishes Clear Stamp Set

Pail and Fish Die Set

Basics 9 - Teals 6x6 Patterned Paper Pack

Rounded Rectangle Layers dies

Basics Yellows 6x6 Paper Pack

Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine

Magic Mat that fits Platinum 6

Shop all the Magic Mat sizes here

3 Outdoorsy Card Ideas for Dads and Grads {New Release from Impression Obsession!}

Today's cards feature a super cool new die from Impression Obsession, called Off Road Die. It's perfect for our theme day on the IO blog - the great outdoors! If you know someone who loves to be out exploring and adventuring outside, then today's cards are probably perfect for that person. (And if they drive a Jeep, then they'll DEFINITELY need a handmade card made with today's crafty goods.) 

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make purchases through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

How cool is this die?! I love the bold lines and circle format, and the play of positive and negative space. For today's first card, I did some simple paper-piecing. To create this look, die cut the Jeep from three shades of blue and pop the pieces into the outline. (Using that tan die-cut circle as my base made it easier to glue this together. 

My dad drives a yellow Jeep, so this was his Father's Day card this year. Perfect, right!? It's simple and striking to just die cut from black cardstock and adhere to a yellow (or any bright color) background. The stitched edges on my yellow circle are the perfect finishing touch. 

Along with this new die, you'll also find a great coordinating stamp set, called Outdoor Adventures. On this card, I used just the stamp set to create a simple encouraging graduation card. 

Head over to the Impression Obsession blog for a list of all the designers participating in The Great Outdoors theme day! And then, check out the entire NEW PRODUCTS section to see the latest release of stamps, dies, paper and more!

 Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards

Off Road Die

Outdoor Adventures Clear Stamp Set

Scalloped Stitched Circles Dies

Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine

Magic Mat that fits Platinum 6

Shop all the Magic Mat sizes here

links updated

Birthday FISHES: Two Handmade Birthday Card Ideas {New from Impression Obsession}

Whether you enjoy fish swimming in a tank, or fish hanging from your fishing pole . . .or you know someone who does, you'll love the fishing themed stamps and dies that are brand new from Impression Obsession. Today I'll show you two very different ways to use the Pail and Fish die set, plus the adorable coordinating fish puns from the Birthday Fishes stamp set. These handmade cards will make all your FISHES come true! ;) 

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you shop through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart! 

Today's first card features some inky watercolor fish. These guys were really fun to make. To try this technique, begin with a sheet of watercolor paper. Mist it lightly with water, and then drip some liquid watercolor or re-inker onto the paper. I used shades of blues and greens, and then added a splatter of Spellbinders Gold Silk. Allow the watercolor paper to dry, and then die cut fish from it. This die set includes four fish, so it's quick and easy to cut as many fish as you'd like!

Many fish is exactly what you'll need for the second fishy idea. Anyone saying, "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" in their head right now? This card begins with plain and simple die cutting. Grab whatever colors you'd like, die cut and assemble. I put my fishies on an embossed background, that looks like bubbles! Then, finish those cuties off with some wiggle eyes! Here's a tip: cut some of the fish in half, attaching them at the edge of the cardstock to give your fishy scene added interest.

This week the Impression Obsession designers are celebrating the May release with a two-day blog hop! Ready to CATCH all the fishy details? 

CATCH this!

• Check out all the designer inspiration using this month's new clear stamps, dies, and papers. Find today's links below, or stop by the IO blog for a list of participants. Shop the new release HERE!
• Two lucky customers who place an order between May 15-21 will receive a special Impression Obsession prize package added to their order! Will it be YOU?
• Have you been to the IO website lately? It's undergone a huge makeover. You'll LOVE the new layout, enhanced features and usability! Plus...it looks BEAUTIFUL! 

Don't Miss a Stop on the Hop!

IO Blog

Angela Bode

Anna Wight

Dina Kowal

Giovana Smith

Jeanne Streiff

Laura Fulcher

Laura Williams <<you are here!>>

Vickie Garrett

Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards

Birthday Fishes Clear Stamp Set

Pail and Fish Die Set

Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine

Magic Mat that fits Platinum 6

Shop all the Magic Mat sizes here

Two Simple Stamped Father's Day Card Ideas {Fishermen Will Loves These!}

The start of a new month means a new limited edition red rubber stamp set at Impression Obsession. This month's stamps are perfect for masculine cards and Father's Day in particular. Today I'll show you two simple Father's Day cards that you can make for the dads in your life!

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you shop through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

Both of today's cards follow the same basic layout, and I used the same materials. I'm a big fan of knocking out two projects with one mess. If everything is already spread out on my desk, why not make TWO cards instead of one, right? 

For each card I stamped an image from the May limited edition stamp set onto kraft cardstock. I added a strip of patterned paper, and a torn stripe of corrugated cardstock. Then, I finished it off with a die-cut circle and sentiment. Easy peasy, right? 

The biggest difference between these two cards is the orientation, although I also trimmed everything a little more on the horizontal card. A simple adjustment to suit the size/shape of the stamped image.

As one last detail, I added some staples, and white gel pen highlights.

Today's cards feature the May Limited Edition Red Rubber Stamp Set. This stamp set is only available for two months before it retires, so if you love it, don't miss it! 

Here's the SCOOP!

• Two lucky customers who place an order between May 1-May 7 will receive a special Impression Obsession prize package added to their order! Will it be YOU?
• Have you been to the IO website lately? It's undergoing a huge makeover. You'll LOVE the new layout, enhanced features and usability! Plus...it looks BEAUTIFUL! 
• Check out the entire NEW PRODUCTS section to see the latest IO release!

Don't Miss a Stop on Today's Hop!

Impression Obsession blog

Angela Bode

Anna Wight

Giovana Smith

Jeanne Streiff

Laura Fulcher

Laura Williams <<you are here!!>>

Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards

May 2023 Limited Edition Red Rubber Set

Pinked Stitched Circles die set

Basics 9 - Teals 6x6 Patterned Paper Pack

Gel Roll 10 white pen  (from Simon Says Stamp)

I'm so glad you stopped by today! 

Let's connect again -subscribe so you don't miss a blog post! xoxo

Create This Warm, Nautical Background for Your Next Summer Card

Warm sunshine, crashing waves and the smell of salty air are some of the best parts of summertime. Today's handmade cards feature a stamped and distressed background to create a warm, vintage style for two nautical themed cards that are just in time for summer getaways to the shore.

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

So let's take a look at this background. To create this look, start off with white core cardstock in a kraft/oatmeal color. The beauty of white core cardstock is that it allows the white to peek through when you sand and distress the edges. 

• Stamp the compass (or whatever background image you choose) in brown ink. 
• Then use a sponge dauber, to blend brown ink (the same shade or a little lighter) onto the cardstock, focusing mainly on the edges. 
• Next comes the fun part - use a sanding block, a piece of sand paper, or even a nail file, to sand over the top of the images, and across the edges. (There's that white core doing it's magic!) I created the panel for the second card in just the same way, although I folded and rolled the edges a bit to create some more dimension and texture. You can also add a splatter of ink or paint to finish off this look, which became the perfect landing spot for my seagull! 

Both of today's cards feature the June stamp set from Impression Obsession. Impression Obsession's monthly stamp set requires no membership or recurring charges. Simply stop by the shop each month and check out the  limited edition kit. Because these sets have been so popular, we've extended the availability and each set will be in the shop for TWO months instead of one - that means you have until the end of July to grab this set. Check out the current monthly sets HERE. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope your summer is filled with sunshine, and all the things you love best! 

Let's connect again - subscribe so you don't miss a blog post! Plus, follow me on Pinterest where I'm sharing crafty projects every day!

Come and Meet the June Stamp Set from Impression Obsession!

Have you met the latest limited edition red rubber stamp set from Impression Obsession? It's full of summer seaside vibes, and it's perfect for handmade masculine cards too. Today we'll take a look at two card ideas with simple stamping, as part of Impression Obsession's June Kit Celebration. At the end of today's post you'll find all the details for our blog hop plus a chance to WIN goodies from Impression Obsession! Here we go. . . !

 This blog post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

The June 2022 limited edition stamp set includes a stunning lighthouse, elegant compass, and a friendly seagull, plus coordinating sentiments for a variety of occasions. As always, Impression Obsession's monthly stamp sets require no membership or recurring charges. Simply stop by the shop each month and check out the limited edition set. Because these sets have been so popular, we've extended the availability and each set will be in the shop for TWO months instead of one. After that, the sets will be retired so grab them while you can! 

Both of today's cards feature super simple stamping - you can create this look with just black ink on white cardstock - because sometimes we like to color. . . and sometimes we don't - right?! This first card, featuring the seagull, has lots of layers and texture with twine and corrugated stock and torn paper. I layered the gull onto a preprinted journaling block that I had tucked away.

Today's second card features an inky background created with Distress Oxide inks. I inked up the panel, misted it with a little water for some texture, and then added a splatter of Sparkle Silk from Spellbinders. After trimming and adhering the lighthouse, I added yellow marker and glitter to the bulb inside the lighthouse. 

If you love red rubber stamps, Impression Obsession's monthly stamp sets are a fun way to grab a new limited edition set each month. But remember, they don't stick around for long so grab it while you can!

This week the Impression Obsession design team is celebrating the June limited edition kit with a blog hop.

Here are the important details on the June Celebration Blog Hop:

• Check the Impression Obsession blog each day, June 6-8th for links to NEW inspiration featuring the June stamps.  
• THREE lucky winners will be chosen from the comments to win an Impression Obsession grab bag of fun product, so the more you comment through our Celebration the more chances to win!
• Comments for each post will be open until Saturday June 11th at 8pm CT. Winners will be announced on Sunday June 12th on the Impression Obsession Blog.

Today's Blog Hop:

Impression Obsession Blog

Laura Williams <<you are here!>>

Angela Bode

Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards

June 2022 limited edition stamp set

Let's connect again - subscribe so you don't miss a blog post! Plus, follow me on Pinterest where I'm sharing crafty projects every day!

Two Simple Card Making Ideas for Dads on Father's Day {and All Year Long!}

One great die set from Impression Obsession makes creating handmade cards for Dad a breeze, not only for Father's Day but also all year long. Today we'll look at two fun ways to make cards for Dad, for Father's Day or to celebrate how awesome he is any time of year. 

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through my links I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart.

Both of today's cards begin with the DAD die. (You might remember the matching MOM die I shared a few weeks ago in THIS blog post.) It's a great starting place for any occasion card, but obviously this first one is straight up Father's Day. This die set cuts the thin outside line, and the inner shape of the letters, so it's simple to die cut from two colors, and then mix and match the inner and outer pieces. 

On the background I used the Wood Planks Dies. I die cut them from white  core cardstock (from CTMH) and then sanded them, which really brings the texture of these dies to life. I used a small hole punch to add silver cardstock "nails" onto the panels, added a die-cut hammer, and the simple sentiment strip.

This second card uses the reverse pieces that I die cut initially. The first card used the white outline and black inside pieces, and now the opposite. It's so simple to make two cards at one time using this set. This card could be sent all year long - it would make a fun birthday card, or a card to say thank you. I paired the DAD die with a BBQ sentiment and grill tools, which feels like a fun card for summer.

Today is Die Cut Day on the Impression Obsession blog. It's the day we celebrate all things die-cutting! I hope this blog post gave you some great ideas for pulling together cards for the DADS in your life. I hope you'll hop around and check out all the die-cutting goodness the other designers have to offer.  

Shop the Supplies on Today's Cards:

Dad die

BBQ Time Clear Stamp Set

Grill Utensils Dies

Wood Planks Dies

Mr. Fix-It clear stamp set

Hand Tools Dies

Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine

Magic Mat that fits Platinum 6

I love using the Magic Mat from scrapbook.com with my die cutting machine, because it alleviates those pesky cutting lines on the underneath side of die cut shapes. You know, the ones from your best used cutting plates? 

Before you go:

• Are you looking for more Father's Day card ideas for dads? Check these out!
• Let's connect again - subscribe so you don't miss a blog post! Plus, follow me on Pinterest where I'm sharing crafty projects every day!

links updated 4/11/24

Looking for card ideas for mom too? You'll love the MOM die that matches the DAD die above! 

Click for more ideas!