Friendship Mini Journal and Box Featuring Bear Freebies by Diane Mason

  Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I’m excited to share a sweet Mini Journal & Box project featuring all six of the new Bear Freebies. If your Art Impressions order totals $30 or more, you get to pick one of these exclusive little bears — and each one is absolutely adorable.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper, Canson XL Mix Media Paper

Cardstock: Blue

Patterned Paper: 6205 – Floral Shop Paper Pack

Brushes: No. 4 round brush, No. 0 round brush

Stamps & Dies:

• Exclusive Bear Freebies – Part 2
• 5718 – Mini Journal Template
• 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies
• 6220 – Sing to the Lord Set
• 5797 – Little Things Sentiment Set (Hi Friend!)
• 5734 – Friend Sentiment Set (You brighten my day!)
• 5904 – So Sweet Armful Set (You’re so sweet)
• 5817 – Potting Garden Shed Set (A true friend…)
• 5949 – Encouragement Sentiments Set (You’re stronger than…)
• 6107 – Snowman Hugs Set (You warm my heart)

 Ink for stamped images: Versafine Onyx Black Ink, Versafine Vintage Sepia & N52

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 723, 772, 856, 912, 993, 177, 555, 656, 606, 947, 969

Other: White, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Brown and Gray TwinTone Markers, Micron 005 Black Pen

Assembly

I die‑cut the base for the mini journal from blue cardstock using the 5718 – Mini Journal Template die. I attached small Neodymium Flat Disc magnets with mini glue dots to the interior front and back cover to keep the completed journal closed. Patterned paper is glued to the interior and will hide the magnets.

The following photos show the papers I chose from 6205 – Floral Shop Paper Pack for the interior of the journal.

Decorating the Mini Journal

I had so much fun decorating the mini journal. For the cover image, I only used part of the Birdie Bear so I could add a sentiment above the image. The following photos walk you through the journal. Sentiments are from the sets listed above.

All the bear images were inked with Versafine Vintage Sepia and painted with 947. The sky is a watery mix of 555.

And here’s a view of the completed journal.

Creating the Patterned Paper for the Box

I traced the interiors of the box template (5805) with a pencil to mark the pieces I would need to cover the box top, flap and sides. Using a stamp platform, I stamped the floral vine image from 6220 in N52 multiple times to build the patterned paper.

The leaves and vines were painted in 177. For the flowers, I used 723, 993 and 555. I used the bullet tip of each coordinating color to add dots to the flower centers.

Building and Decorating the Box

I die-cut a piece of blue cardstock with the box template die. Before assembling the box, I cut out all the patterned paper pieces and glued them to the box making sure all the pieces were in the right spots and correct orientation. Next, I die cut the opening on the box top using a decorative label die from 5718 – Mini Journal Template.

Again, I attached small Neodymium Flat Disc magnets with mini glue dots to the back of the flap and the inside of the box to keep the box closed.

Now place the Friendship Mini Journal into the box and gift to a special friend!

Thank you so much for joining me for Watercolor Weekend. I hope today’s project will inspire you to make your own mini journal! Until next time, Happy Painting!

All Things Beautiful by Janet

Hello Ai fans and welcome to the weekend and the Ai blog! Today's project features several new sets now available at the store. It shows off images from several sets and how they can be combined to create pretty collages and scenes.

My card starts with an aqua A2 card base. I cut a slightly smaller rectangle out of the 6205 Floral Shop PP. Then I used a die from the 5727- Nested Oval Set to cut out a frame which nests all my card elements nicely. I used a punch to the shaped corners on the soft striped paper which I mounted with foam tape on the blue card base.

Next I stamped and colored the flower image from the 6220-Sing to the Lord set. I colored the flowers to resemble one of my garden favorites, blue hydrangeas. I stamped the bible verse from the 6218-BJ Long Stems set in a frame found in the 6222-Frameworks Set 4. Then I colored a bird from the 6216-Mercy Set. I fussy cut all the images and arranged them in the oval window. As filler, I added a few silk leaves and a matching bright blue and white polka dot bow. Finally a few blue glitter enamel dots were added as accents.   

This card is full of dimension, pretty colors, nature images and a reminder of God's role in making all things in the world including the earth's bountiful and beautiful natural birds and fauna.

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

Happy Birthday Gnomie! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends! 

Tasha here sharing a cheerful birthday card inspired by the current Floral Frenzy Challenge. I couldn't resist pairing colorful spring tulips with one of the adorable garden gnomes for a fun birthday design.

I started by stamping the sweet gnome from the 5000-Gotta Garden Stamp Set (Retired) and surrounded him with beautiful tulips from the 6220-Sing to the Lord Set. I colored everything with Copic markers, keeping the flowers bright with shades of purple and orange for a happy spring feel. A soft blue sky and grassy background help bring the scene to life.

To frame the image, I layered it with gold glitter cardstock and added coordinating yellow and orange mats. The pretty floral pattern paper from the 6205-Floral Shop Paper Pack ties all of the colors together while keeping the focus on the stamped scene. I finished the card with a simple Happy Birthday greeting to make it perfect for celebrating someone special.

If you're looking for inspiration, be sure to join the Art Impressions Floral Frenzy Challenge. It's a fun way to pull out your favorite floral stamps and create something beautiful. 

Have a wonderful Day!

Floral Frenzy Challenge #433 Week #2

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our challenge.

FLORAL FRENZY

Let's see your floral creations.

Remember, they don't have to be cards. You can create anything you like as long as you use something from Art Impressions. We'd love to see your gift card holders, gift tags, boxes and bags, bookmarks, place cards, cake picks, designer paper, framed art and more. Anything with flowers.

Last week Janet was our Featured Artist and she took the theme to heart,
creating the most amazing floral card.

Janet also created a second card with a bee theme.

Now for the rest of the Design Team cards.

Our Monthly Challenge inspiration artist is Debbie and she created a sweet

humming bird floral card.

Watercolor artist Gennette created this lovely floral Story Tile card.

Simone created two floral cards for her Watercolor Weekend post.

Our Focus on Faith artist, Sara, created this beautiful wall hanging.

I created a floral Story Tile card.

Neema created a lovely floral panel framed with a pretty border.

4603 Blooming Birdhouse (retired but HERE are lots of other options)

5892 Easter S2 PP

And, a second card from Neema. So pretty!

6216 - Mercy set

Simone also created two floral bookmarks.

5718 Mini Journal Template
6150 His love set
6055 Water of life Set
6230 Mini Decorative Bookmark Set

                

Tasha has a beautiful floral Story Tile card.

Dori has a dozing gnome and his friends, enjoying some flowers.

Sharon has some stunning daffodils for you.

Wow!! Talk about some amazing floral inspiration!

We can't wait to see what you create for the challenge.

Here are the details.

Please make a new project featuring any floral themed
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see what your beautiful creations.

Here are the rules...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation using either stamps, dies and or designer paper from Art Impressions. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)

✻ Limit two submissions per person.

✻Top Spot Winner and Lucky Random Winner each receive a free 

stamp set from Art Impressions

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission. You may include your entire last name, but it's not necessary.

✻We love to comment on your entries, but keep in mind if you use a private group or a platform that you need to sign up for, we probably won't be able to.

✻ The Ai Challenge is open to everyone, international submissions are welcome!

✻ Include a link back to the Ai Blog or grab our button on the top right of our sidebar!

✻ Share the Ai love if you can, by clicking and commenting on your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by the deadline to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Friends Gnome Matter What by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

My card today fits the new blog challenge - Floral Frenzy and features two new stamp sets - #6220 - Sing to the Lord and #6221 - Frameworks Set 3 along with the cute little gnomes from the #5785 - Gnomes set.  I personally think you can put gnomes on anything and it just creates cuteness overload!  Wouldn't you agree?

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with copic markers listed below.  I used the corresponding dies to cut the gnomes.  The florals are one stamp from the stamp set.  I colored the full stamp image and then cut it into thirds using a small circle die.  I stamped the frameworks image onto a 4" square piece of white cardstock.  I adhered a colored floral image into each of the frameworks.

To make the "Book Cradle" card style:  There are several tutorials showing how to make this fun fold but I watched the one from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts and made a slight change to it.

Start with a base white cardstock measuring 4 x 8.  Score on the long side at 1/2, 4 and 7 1/2.  Fold and burnish each score as a mountain fold.

For the cradle base: Cut a 4 x 5 inch white cardstock piece.  Score at 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 on the long side.  Burnish at 2 1/2" as valley fold.  Glue the second fold (as mountain) up to the 2 1/2" leaving the first 1/2" as a tab.  Do the same on the other side.  You should be left with 1/2" single width of cardstock, then 1" double width on next two folds and then lastly, a 1/2" single width tab.  

Make the support stand that fits at the bottom of the base:  Cut a 4 x 2 1/2" piece of cardstock.  Score along short side at 1/2, 1 1/4 and 2.  Shape into a W.  Glue the 1/2" tabs of this stand to the inside bottom of the base piece.  See below (bottom of card).  

Adhere the card base 1/2" tabs to the cradle base 1/2" tabs.   The card should fold flat and pop up when standing.  Finish decorating with mat layers and pop up the gnomes with foam tape.  Add the sentiment to the bottom using the banner from the #5588 - Journal Oval Frames.

Once you make one of these cards, you will find out how fun and easy it is to make plus so cute when on display.  I'm hooked so you may see more of these in my future posts.  😁

Make sure to join our blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  It's easy, just check out the tab above.  

Have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  W0, W1, W3

E00, E02, E21, E23, E25

B0000, B000, B01

G40, G43, G46

Y13, Y15, Y17

RV10, RV32, RV34

Focus on Faith with Sara Furr: Bird and Tulip Wall Hanging

 

Blessings, dear friends, and welcome to my first edition of "Focus on Faith" for the month of August.  Today, I have a fun project for you that is not so much card as it is a quaint little wall hanging.

I started by die cutting an oval panel of Canson XL Bristol Smooth cardstock, on which I stamped the tulip image from the "Sing to the Lord" set, in Versafine Black Ink using my stamp positioner. I then inked up just the bird from the "Songbirds and Feeders"set. It is the bird perched on the side of the bird bath.  I stamped it so that it was just at the top of the back tulip. I then proceeded to color my images using Polychromos colored pencils. 

 When  was done,  I ink blended some yellow ink up in the right hand corner for a bit of sunlight ,and then I placed the oval back into my stamping tool, and stamped the sentiment from the "Sing to the Lord" set, with Versafine black ink. 

I die cut the black frame and applied it to the top of my oval and then I applied foam tape to the back of it. I die cut a larger oval of white cardstock and embossed it with a tulip embossing folder, and I applied ink to the raised embossing with mini ink blending brushes. 

 I then adhered that panel down to my scalloped green oval base with foam tape, and added the black hanger with adhesive. 

 That finishes my project for today. I hope that you got inspired to look at your stamp sets in a new way, and that you will try coloring your images using colored pencils. I love the amount of texture and shading that I can achieve using colored pencils.

 I wish you all a very blessed and crafty week!

 Your friend in Faith, 

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick

 

Other supplies used:

Canson XL Bristol Smooth cardstock 

Paper cutter

Die cutting machine

Oval dies and hangers 

Embossing folder

Foam tape

Versafine black ink 

Polychromos colored pencils 

Yellow ink

Green ink

Coral ink

Blue ink

Red ink

Mini blending brushes

Floral Frenzy Story Tile card by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!
The current challenge on the Art Impressions Challenge Blog is
Floral Frenzy!

Who on this planet doesn't love flowers?
You don't have to grow them or keep fresh flowers
in your house, but doesn't everyone love flowers?

I love the 6158 – Story Tile Template Die.
You can place an image in every section, or you can fill them with
sentiments or even just pretty paper. It's a great way to have an instant layout

for a card.