Focus on Faith: Covered Bridge by Sara Furr

 Blessings my dear friends, and welcome to my first "Focus on Faith" for the month of June.

Not too far from me are 2 covered bridges situated in some beautiful scenery in "God's Country". The beauty of them always brings me peace and the nostalgia of times long ago, so I wanted to recreate one of those local spots. 

I used this wonderful stamp set called "He Leads Me", along with a couple foliage stamp sets to create my watercolor scene. I really had fun practicing my watercolor. I have created a mini picture tutorial for you to follow my steps......

I started with an A2 panel of watercolor cardstock and taped it to my board with post-it tape about 1/4" all the way around. I then stamped in my covered bridge with a layer of blue and brown marker. Then the fence and trees with just brown. I just stamped the tree from the set 3x up the left side to create a "Big" tree.

I then pulled color from the lines to create depth and shadow. To soften the tree limbs so they weren't so heavy i added some water to soften and then blotted up the ink before stamping in the green foliage.

I then stamped in the small grass from the Foliage set around the fence posts and trailing the fence leading to the bridge. I stamped the little bushes from the WC Mini Foliage in a bit darker green up along the bank in front of the bridge, and I stamped the bushy tree limb from the same set in a brighter green for the trees' leaves, stamping several generations for each of the stamps, and then blended them out with a damp brush. I added in more shades of green to extend my grassy areas. I also added in some darker shadows on the roadway for the fence posts with more brown. I then added some pretty blue for the creek water under the bridge and then watered it down a bit more to blend in my sky. I let that all dry and then went back in to add some pretty flowers with a purplish blue color using the "lavender" stamp from the Mini Flower set, again stamping several generations onto the edges of the roadway. 

I also added the tiny leaf branch from that set to add some foliage around my fence posts out front and I used it to create some big bushes on either side of the bridge.

I blended those out just a bit with a damp brush and let it dry before stamping in the tiny purple dots, also from the same set.

I then stamped the flower bunches repeatedly over in the right hand corner to give some interest in that corner, and draw your eye around the whole scene. I added  some more blue into my sky for more depth, and lastly I stamped my sentiment with Black Archival ink.

And finally, the reveal! I carefully removed the post-it tape from the edges and admired the beauty of the scene!😊

I honestly wasn't fond of the brown on the "Big tree" on the left side, so after distressing the edges of my cardstock with scissors I added it to a soft purple mat and added a pretty bow to strategically "hide" my tree trunk! Hehe😁 It worked perfectly and it added a lovely touch of softness. Besides, it wouldn't be a "Sara" card without a pretty bow on it, right?! Haha

Behind the purple layer is an embossed layer of black that has little flowers on it, but its hard to see the detail in the photo. But trust me, you can see it in real life really well!

So, with all the layers, my card wound up measuring 5 1/2x6 3/4".

I hope you like my creation and are inspired to create some "God's Country" of your own!

I absolutely love living in the country where there is so much beauty and scope for the imagination! I always feel so much closer to God here!

I hope you have a great week my friends and I will see you again soon!

Blessings to you all, 

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick

Art Impressions products used:

5129- He Leads Me set

5372- WC Mini Foliage 

5009- WC Mini Flower set

4051- Foliage set

Other products:

Watercolor cardstock

Watercolor brush

Archival Black ink pad

Dye ink markers

Chiffon ribbon

Embossing folder

Die cutting machine

Scissors for distressing 

Paper cutter

Misti stamping tool

Stamping blocks

Adhesive

Foam adhesive 

June 2026 Monthly Challenge with Guest Designer Debbie Hedges

Happy June everyone and welcome to our Monthly Challenge!

As always, this challenge has no theme, so anything you want to create is fine as long as you use something from Art Impressions on it. You might be the next winner of a free stamp set from Art Impressions. Winner is chosen randomly so all skill levels have a fair chance of winning. Two lucky winners will also receive a freebie from me.  (Renee)

Now let's see what Debbie created to inspire you.

Father’s Day is only a couple weeks away and then it will officially be summer! 

 For my June project, I created a tag with the adorable frog from the Spring Keepsake Set (#6106). I inked the little frog with Pumice Stone Distress ink, stamped off once on watercolor paper and then stamped him on Canson Mixed Media paper. I painted him mainly with lt. green (#11) and then olive green (#15) for the shading. Using the fine-tip, I added dots in olive green (#15) and then touched my brush to them to soften the color. Using a black Micron pen, I darkened his eyes, leaving a white spot for a highlight. I then cut out the frog on a scrap piece of paper and used that as a template to line up the die over my painted frog. Once I had it in position, I secured it with Post-it tape and ran it thru my Cuttlebug. My next step was to cut a stitched tag with Canson Mixed Media paper. I wanted the little frog to be sitting on a river bank, so I sketched a line for the water and then sketched another line for the bank. Using steel blue (#17) from my palette, I added water on the bottom portion of the tag, starting with a darker line where my pencil line was and then making sure I had light and dark areas. I then used sepia (#45) to do the same with my bank. I added my sky next, leaving light and dark areas with sky blue (#75). With my teeny tiny grass (#4051), I stamped grass in a repeat on the left side of the bank to almost the middle of the tag. I wanted wild grass along the bank in more than one height, so I used a tall cattail from Kim’s bird set (KH5820) and a tall grass from Foliage Set 4 (#5126). With the fine tip of my violet marker (#8), I added some dots to the tops of the grass stems for a few wildflowers. Then with Dr PH Martin’s white, I added daisies and some dots for wildflowers. I also added some white lines in my water to look like ripples. Once the daisies were dry, I added centers with the fine tip in brilliant yellow (#43). In the left upper corner of the tag, I stamped leaves to give the impression of a tree using Foliage Set 4 (#5126). I used an embossing folder to emboss the blue paper for the top of my tag. I then used the same tag die to cut the top of the tag and then a border die to cut the decorative edge. I used Art Glitter glue and glued the tag to my card base and then positioned the frog so he was just off the right edge of the tag, giving him a 3-D look. I glued him to the tag and also glued the heart button. I still use Marvy Le Plume markers for my projects.  Most of these can be converted to Tombow colors, but choose colors that work for you. These just happen to be 

some of my go-to colors for any project I work on. 

Here is the link for the Tombow conversion chart:

 https://www.artimpressions.com/shop/art-impressions-most-loved-color-conversion-chart/

 I hope you’ll give this project a try and please be sure to post your project so we can all enjoy it! I adore this little frog! Also, don’t forget to enter the Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set! Enjoy the beginning of summer and happy stamping! 

Now let's see who won our May Challenge!

Our Lucky Random Winner was: #4 Diane Z.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

The first winner of a freebie from me is #17 Licia B.

The second winner of a freebie from me is #9 Pat S.

Please email me at Renee@artimpressions.com
with your full name and address and I'll send you a photo of the freebies I have available for you to choose from.

Now for our new monthly challenge, 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.

One random winner will receive a free stamp set from Art Impressions and one random winner will receive a freebie stamp from me.

 ✻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

Seek Wisdom by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are getting a nice fresh start to a brand new week and month. Today I have created a small decoration that you can tuck anywhere to hopefully help inspire someone. This was so quick and easy to create! I started off by grabbing #5902 Mini Scalloped Frame. This is such a cute little frame and I love the added touch of the scallops. I learned that if you cut out the oval frame and turn it on it's side, the new Flower Border Sets (#6186 FG Tulip Border and #6187 FG Poppy Border), they fit perfectly. I wanted to add a small inspirational quote to it, so I reached for #6204 Wisdom Set 2. The beautiful paper is from #6205 Floral Shop PP. This also fits right in with the current "Yellow" Challenge that is still going on! I hope you've entered your creations for a chance to win a free prize! 

So that's it for me today! Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Strong, Loving, and Amazing by Janet

 I have been so happy with the die sets that Art Impressions have been releasing. The collection continues to grow with many options including shapes, alphabets, journals and more. Many of the dies can be used for more than their announced intention. Take 5809 - Decorative Journal Page Set 2. I used this set to create a delicate lacy mat for the 6054-You Are sentiment.

This card is perfect for the newest Ai challenge, Yellow, with its yellow and gold cardstocks. You can enter your own card in this challenge. Just link it up following the directions on the challenge blog post.

To make this card, I created the card base using 6206-Floral Shop Cover PP. I die cut the Z-fold connector piece and die cut the mats out of yellow polka dot paper from the 6205-Floral Shop Paper Pack. I made a Z-fold card base out of more floral paper from the pack. Then I glued it to the card base.

   The star of the show is the scrolled frame. I die cut it out of gold cardstock and then cut it again in Brown cardstock. I pieced the small scroll cuts into the negative spaces. This is a little tedious but to me the end result is worth it. I cut the frame again out of white, using only the middle section this time. I stamped the sentiment on it, and secured it to the middle of the frame with foam tape. This gives it a great dimensional look. 

I cut the largest piece of the die set out of bronze cardstock. Then I trimmed off the piece that is meant to be folded to put into a journal. I adhered it to the Z-fold piece to create the front of the card.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will enter into the Yellow Ai Challenge by uploading a card that includes the color. You might win a free set of stamps for your efforts!

As always, please find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store!

Happy Crafting!

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Stay Fabulous! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday!

Tasha here sharing a Summer card featuring the fun 5928-Stay Hydrated Set. Every time I use this stamp set this lady reminds me of myself and the large tumblers that I tote around. I do not have a leopard print one, but would totally get this colorful design!

For the card, I stamped the lady and used the included die to cut the image out. After, I used Copic Markers for the coloring and added details with a black liner pen and white gel pen. Coloring clothing is one of my favorite things to do and this outfit looks perfect for enjoying a warm day outside. I also love her cool, sunglasses!

Lastly, I created a simple background and cut the center card and frame layer with wavy rectangle dies. I thought this creative border would go with the Summer vibe. I also added layers of cream and orange card stock and a piece of Art Impressions pattern paper to bring in more color and interest. This print is so fun and the color worked great with the shades used on the center card.

I hope you enjoyed this project and are having a wonderful day!

Yellow Challenge #428 Week #2

                          

Hello Ai fans! 

Welcome to week #2 of our Yellow challenge.

I've always thought yellow is so cheerful and you'll see what I mean when you see

what our Design Team has created to inspire you.  You'll want to be sure to get your creation

featuring yellow entered into our challenge. You might win a free stamp set!           

 
Last week Sharon was our Featured Artist and she created this darling frog slider card.

 

Now let's see what the rest of the team has created.

     I created this cat napping among some flower pots.  



Tasha is serving up sass and smashes with her fun Pickleball card.

Lynn has the most precious bee themed card.

 

Dori is sending Birthday Wishes.

Diane's floral card is simple and elegant.

She used 6163 – Poppy Margin Set
6155 – Ornate Margin Dies

Winsor Newton Ink – Gold Paint

 

Janet created a fun masculine fishing card. 

 

 ✻ 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

Bunny Birthday card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

The color yellow is the theme for the current blog challenge, and honestly, it’s hard not to smile when working with such a bright, happy shade.  I decided to turn that sunshine into a birthday greeting, by using the #4886K - Easter Blessings stamp set.  Even though it’s themed for Easter, it’s wonderfully versatile and perfect for spreading a little extra joy.

                                          

I started by stamping the image onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I used the #5061- Square Double Stitched die to frame the image and matted it onto a yellow piece of cardstock.  The pattern paper background is from the #6205 - Floral Shop PP.  This paper pack has the most beautiful colors and patterns.  I used the #5132 - Tag Stitched die and partial cut the sentiment.  To finish the card, I tied a yellow ribbon around the matted frame and adhered it to the A2 card base.

Pretty simple card for today but so bright and cheery!  

 Keep creating and make sure to enter the blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.

Hope you have a nice day! 

Copics used:  N0, N1,   R20,   B000

 Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17

G40, G43, G46