BIG Impressions

Well, what a weekend I had when I was out of town. Have you ever been so close to the edge of the bed that it surprised you when you went to get out and just fell? Well that's exactly what I did. When my foot went to the ground, it slipped and I literally fell "onto" the corner of the night stand before I hit the ground. I was in PAIN for a couple of days, complaining and groaning, and missing work until I finally decided I should go to the doctor even though it didn't feel like they could do anything. X-rays showed I actually have two broken ribs, broken to the point the ends are rubbing together which is the cause for the popping and grating when I move..... You probably didn't want to hear this so graphically, huh? To make a long story short, by going to the doctor, I now have powerful DRUGS which make life much more enjoyable and less painful. Anyway, stamping must go on, right???????????????
I also had to try this cute little flowerpot card that I've been seeing everywhere. It's so easy to make, but took me forever to decide on the flowers I wanted to use on the insert. I must have cut out 15 different flowers, trying to mix them, but I liked these the best. These flowers were created by using the "Simple Flower" embosslits die which not only embosses, but cuts it out too. How easy can that be? I used some Rhinestone Brads and a colored button, which I believe is retired now. I also punched out a flower from the Boho Blossoms punch to dress up the riding hood red flower. The leaves you see is using the "Little Leaves" sizzlits die and running through the Big Shot. This die cuts the leaves out so you don't have to. Did you notice the cute little tag I hung on the 5/8" striped Riding Hood Red ribbon? It's a new stamp out of the Occasions Mini Catalog called Oval All #113790 and then after I colored it, I punched it out with the Brand New Scallop Oval Punch, also from the Occasions Mini Catalog! Speaking of the Occasions Mini catalog, did you know that if you purchased $40.00 of merchandise from this Mini Catalog, you could cho0se a FREE "Under $10.00" item from page 208 of the Spring-Summer Catalog?????? Check it out, because there are some really cute stamps and also some Mini Note Card kits. Each of the note card kits come with two stamps that keep on stamping even after the notes are gone.

I also "copied" this cute Masculine card thinking it was very clean and really nice for a man; could be fathers day, birthday, thinking of you, etc. All I did was run the front of the Whisper White cardstock through the Big Shot using the Texture Plates Kit #4. I don't know what this impression might be called, but I'll call it "wood" LOL. The other impressions are much easier to name than this one, but this is the one I really love! The Texture Plates are great. There are three plates per set, each are double sided, so you get 6 impressions for only $9.95. The Backgrounds Plates are just as fun and again there are 6 images on three sheets for only $9.95. Using these background/texture plates really make a difference in your cards and projects as it gives them a 3-D image you wouldn't otherwise have, and dresses them up making an even bigger "impression" on your friends, family and customers. How do you like that play on words...... Anyway, the stamp I used is from the Eight Great Greetings stamp set displayed in the new Occasions Mini Catalog. What a cute set it is with so many different ideas and uses for lots of occasions. The reason I bought it in the first place is for the bunny; she is SO cute. I mounted the stamped image on a square of Chocolate Chip Cardstock and adhered it to the card using dimensionals to pop it up from the card. The last thing was to tie a piece of 1" Double Stitched Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. This is such an easy, stunning masculine card...... Homemade cards don't have to be really hard to be gorgeous do they?

When I was at our Demonstrator Meeting last week one of the girls showed how she ran her business card through the Big Shot using her Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die. Well, I tried it and it is soooooo coooooool. What do think?
If you don't have this Textured Impression die and would like to see it up close and personal, respond to this post and I'll send you one of my business cards that I texturized. You will love it too; so much so, you will HAVE to have your own Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die. How better to impress your customers.....what a fun idea!!