You're a Hoot by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I have a gate-fold card for you today with a decorative closure.  

I used the newly released #6105 - Fall Keepsake set along with the #5973 - Fall S2 PP.  

I love all of the little critters and accessories that come in this set as well as the coordinating dies.

I began by stamping all of the images with Memento black ink onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I cut each of them using the coordinating dies.  I cut two panels with the leaf paper from the Fall S2 PP using a die from my stash, but any die will do.  I placed one oth the panels behind the critters and the other popped up to tuck some of the images behind.  

For the gate-fold closure, I cut two pieces of scrap cardstock approx. 1" x 1/2" and scored both at 3/8" and 5/8".  I folded the scored lines the same direction.  I butted up the scored pieces together and adhered them behind the owl, making sure to place the scored line horizontally behind the owl.  The flap openings should be to the top and bottom on the back of the owl.  I then adhered a circle to the other side.  See picture below.  Sorry that it isn't clearer, but hopefully you can see it well enough.

When you've added the owl and the circle to either side of the scored pieces, it will slide over the opening of the gate-fold to keep it closed.

Thanks for joining me.  I hope you have a wonderful day.  Keep creating!

Copics used:  N0, N1, N2, N4

E00, E11, E50, E51, E53, E55, E95, E97, E99

R20, R24, R27

Y11, Y13, Y15, Y19

YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18

G21, G24

Joyful Snowmen Gift Card Pocket Cards by Lynn Dionne

 Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!!!

Watch video tutorial here!

I've got a brand-new winter/holiday stamp and die set to show you today...and you are going to love it. The set Ai Snowman Hugs Set (6107) is the cutest collection of snowmen and lots of sentiments, as well as the coordinating dies! We will be using two of the snowman images today to create our Gift Card Pocket Cards!

Let's go ahead and stamp and die-cut the images. For coloring we will be using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Sugared Almond Pink, Peach Pink, Orange, Ice Blue, Sea Green, Haze Blue, Persian Green, Lt Red Grape, Deep Red Grape, Lt Gray, Ever Green, Mid Green, Beige, Mid Brown. Now we can add some nice details to the images using a white gel pen. Let's add a plaid and some polka dots for added interest.

Next, let's create the card base. We will add a pretty open scalloped border using the Ai BJ Decorative Margin Dies (5972). This nice long 7" margin die is perfect for your longer projects or scrapbook pages and journals. I'll show you in today's video how to die-cut just the border...it's quick and easy to do!

Let's create some pretty backgrounds for the front and inside of the cards using the Ai Christmas Magic PP (5853). We will select a pretty polka dot for the outside of both cards and a stripe and plaid for the insides.

We can glue those in place and next we can create the gift card pocket which will match the border on the front of the card perfectly. And to do this, we will use the Ai BJ Pocket Die Set (5985) which also includes a beautiful cross die!

We can fold the pockets along the score lines and add adhesive to secure them on the inside of the card. We will also cut another piece of leftover patterned paper for a layer on the pockets.

For the "Joy" sentiment we will use the Ai Jesus and Joy Die Set (5986). We will die-cut the word three times, once from some glitter cardstock, and two times more from some 100lb white cardstock. By gluing these together, we will get a nice thick sentiment for the front of the card.

Let's die-cut some snowflakes using that same die set from that same glitter paper and add them to the front of the cards and on the gift card pocket on the inside of the card.

For a bit of sparkle, we will add some pretty gems in lilac and green to each of the snowflakes on the front of the cards! Just insert your gift card or note card or both and you are all set!

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have a fun and crafty day!

Ai Snowman Hugs Set (6107)

Ai BJ Decorative Margin Dies (5972)

Ai BJ Pocket Die Set (5985)

Ai Jesus and Joy Dies (5986)

Ai Portfolio Template Die Set (5952)

Ai Christmas Magic PP (5853)

Fall drinks by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

It's time for pumpkin spice and everything nice, hot apple cider and hot cocoa.

Which one do you prefer?

I'm a cocoa girl myself.

I love Fall weather, colors and all of the activities that go along with it.
I can't wait for to host Thanksgiving.
My card is pretty simple this week, but imagine the joy it

could bring someone when they open their mailbox and find this, 

especially if you tuck a gift card into it.

One more Halloween card by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

I know Halloween is over, but I have just one more card I want to show you that goes along with our current challenge "Along Came a Spider". You still have a couple of days to enter! I used a fun fold for this one and had it where the right side overlaps the middle panel. I started out with #6112 Pumpkin Parade and colored up the adorable mouse pushing his cart full of candy down the street. To create this very easy scene, I grabbed a piece of paper from #6130 Halloween S3 PP and then used a piece of gray cardstock and drew in sidewalk lines. Couldn't get any easier. Of course I added a little spider hanging from his web up in the corner. Just a little note that I used a set of magnets from Amazon to hold the top down. It's just enough pull to keep it closed until you want to open it up. I simply glued one under the paper of the top flap, and the other one under the paper of the middle flap. It works like a charm!! 

When you open the front flap, it unveils a couple more spiderwebs and a spider with googly eyes. LOL! I just love those little ghosts from #5604 Halloween Journal Die Set. There are so many fun dies in that!! 

Once you open up the final flap, you get to see the cute girl ghost in all her glory telling you how Spook-tacular you are!! She is from #6111 Spooktacular Set, and I got the idea for the bow on her hear from my Bestie Dori! She has so many fangtastic ideas!! Since I wasn't going to use the ghost as a pop up, I just fussy cut it out so it wouldn't have the score lines for the pop up. It was super simple to cut it out. 

So that's it for me today! I hope you grab your paper and glue and play along with our challenge. You just might win a free set of your choice from Art Impressions!! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Fall Keepsake and Cozy Christmas Ornament by Karen Day

 Hello Ai Watercolour fans!

I have a couple of projects featuring some of the newly released sets today!  First is a card using the 6105 - Fall Keepsake Set:

I coloured the images with my N45 Tombow Dual Brush Marker, and stamped them on my Canson XL Watercolour Paper.  I started with the fox, then the toadstool, and added masks to both of them.  The pumpkin and pail followed, and finally the fall bouquet was added to the pail.  After pulling the colour out of the lines with a damp brush, I added a pale coat of #993 to the pumpkins and fox, followed by several layers of #947, and finally a mix of #947/977 to create the really dark areas.  Shades of #N55 were painted on his paws and to the bucket, layering to keep the sides of the bucket and bottom of his paws darker.

I wanted the leaves to be multicoloured, so did sections of #993/947/856/126/346/977, blending them together.  I added #346/126/977 to the stems of the pumpkins, and the stem of the toadstool, and painted shades of #856 on the top of it, touching the dots with a little 346.  I used the N55 to add shadows to the fox's white areas, and finally painted a wash of #126/346 for the grass, and stamped the small grass from 4051 - Foliage Set 1 in #126, and then I used the fine point of the 346 marker directly on the paper to add a few darker lines of grass.  A wash of #493 was painted in as the sky.  I used my Grey Twintone marker to colour in the eyes/features and redefine any areas that needed it.

My scene was die cut using the 5724 - Nested Rectangle Dies, and adhered to a brown mat with 3D foam adhesive.  The word 'hello' is from the 5718 - Mini Journal Template set, cut twice in brown and stacked to be a more stable die cut.  Both pieces of background paper are from the 5838 - Fall paper pack.

My second project is featuring the new 6117 - A Cozy Christmas Set, that creates a sweet little ornament!

I have a lot of photos for you today!  I tried to capture a few steps in the assembly process, but I highly recommend that you watch the Ai video by Kim to see how to assemble it.

In addition to the stamp set, you need to purchase the 6121 - Storybook Template die.  The die cuts out the box (at the top) and you cut three of the inner frame piece.  The images were stamped on Mixed Media paper with #N55, and painted in with #349/993/493/837/N55, and a few touches of gold ink.  Images were cut out using the coordinating dies that are included with the stamps.

I cut a piece of patterned paper from the 5838 - Fall Paper Pack at 3 1/8" x 2 5/8" to act as the background, and glued it to the back of the box.  I fussy cut the fireplace out, and glued it down so that it would appear behind all the other pieces.  Each of the stamped images is drawn along the curve of the oval opening, so each piece was die cut and glued under one of the frames (there is a tab where you can add the glue, see the photo below from the backside).

Each of the frames got pieces of 3D foam adhesive attached to the corners and in a few other spots, and then each of them is layered on top of each other starting with the tree.

After the tree comes the Mama bunny, and finally the baby bunny on the top layer.  *I used 2mm thick adhesive, but there is plenty of room to use a thicker adhesive if you prefer.  I'm happy with how this looks, though.  When you adhere the layers, you want to make sure that the openings are stacked directly over each other.

The Storybook die includes a tab piece which I cut out of some woodgrain paper from the 5812 - Christmas S2 Paper Pack.  I wanted the woodgrain on the outside of the box, so I used the inner frame piece to cut it out, then attached it to the front of the box.  I added pieces to cover the sides, top and bottom also.  The tab is adhered to the top back of the box after it's assembled.  Glue was added behind each of the tabs, the box was folded and attached to the other side, enclosing the scene.

November 2025 Monthly Challenge with Sara Furr

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our November Monthly Challenge.

This month we have the amazing Sara Furr as our Guest Designer.

Happy November dearest AI fans! I want to start out by thanking Bonnie and Renée for giving me this opportunity to guest design for Art Impressions this past year. It has been so much fun creating for all of you. I also want to thank all of you fans and fellow crafters that have supported me, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I have created 2 totally different themed creations for you this month.... a Faith inspired card, and a fall card. 

I am going to start off with the Faith inspired creation that uses the following products:

[ ] 5420- Frameworks set 1

[ ] 5419- Bible Icons

[ ] 5417- Frameworks Sentiments 

[ ] 6082- Bible Journaling S1 paper pack

[ ] 5008-Flower set 3

[ ] 5418-Bible Foliage set 2

[ ] 4876- Wooden Chair Mini set

[ ] 6047-Scallop Square die set

[ ] Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad 

[ ] Versafine Onyx Black ink pad 

[ ] Ohuhu markers:

Black120, BG042, BG038, WG170, WG180, WG150, E288, E340, E357, E191

[ ] Stampin' Blends markers: L & D Soft Seafoam 

[ ] Stampin' Write markers: Island Indigo, Orchid Oasis, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow

[ ] Wink of Stella glitter pen

[ ] Wide White Cotton Lace trim

[ ] Clear and Opal bubble gems

So, to start, I stamped the grapevine wreath from the "Frameworks set 1" stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it in with E288, E340, E357 and then added the bird on the branch from "Bible Icons" set. I colored the Chickadee with Black120, WG180, WG170, and WG150Then I stamped a leafy branch from the "Bible Foliage "set randomly around the wreath with Pear Pizzazz dye ink marker, as well as the "lavender heads" from the "Wooden Chair" mini set in Mossy Meadow, stamping up to 4 generations and extending to make my wreath nice and full. I stamped the flowers from "Flower set 2" in Island Indigo, and the flower heads from "Wooden Chair" set in Orchid Oasis, the stems are inked in Old Olive. I then went around all the foliage with the Soft Seafoam alcohol markers to blend my greens and give a sort of "faux watercolor" look to it. When that was all dry, I stamped the sentiment with Versafine Black and then as a final touch, I added some Wink of Stella glitter pen to the wings of the bird. I then die cut the whole image with the largest Scallop square die turned so it will look like a diamond shape in the center of my square card base, and then I added fun foam to the back for dimension.

 To assemble my card I created a 5 1/2" square panel from the light blue polka dot pattern paper from the "Bible Journaling S1 Paper pack, and matted it with a 5 3/4" coordinating purplish blue cardstock. I distressed the edges or both panels with the edges of a scissors to give them a shabby chic distressed look, and then adhered them together, and then to my white card base that is 6x6. I adhered 2 pieces of white lace back to back to the center of my panel and then added my focal piece popped up on top in a diamond shape. I added some bubble gems to each corner for added interest, and draw your eye around the card face.

 I created the inside following the same technique, but I only used the bird on the branch and just created a "swag" of sorts.

 This project was a ton of stamping, but I had so much fun playing around designing my wreath and swag.

*** Here is a little tip.... if you want to create your own wreath, but aren't sure how the flowers, foliage, or colors of ink will look together....stamp your wreath on your cardstock inside your stamping tool (MISTI) and then place a piece of clear acetate over the image and start "practice stamping" your design in the colors you want and see how it looks. If you like it, then just remove the clear acetate and re-stamp the images onto the actual cardstock to create your image. That is how I built up each layer of stamping so that I was sure it would look the way I wanted it to.

Now, on to my second creation, which is a fall card using the following products:

[ ] 5507- Harvest Together stamp set

[ ] 6046- Scallop Ovals

[ ] 6047-Scallop Squares

[ ] Oval dies

[ ] Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad 

[ ] Versafine Onyx Black ink pad

[ ] Ohuhu Markers:

R193, R865, R872, R586, R588, YR792, Y696, E679, E357, E280, E288, E191, E340, WG180, WG150, MG109, MG069, MG170, G554, G483

[ ] COPIC markers- B0000, N1

[ ] Distress inks: Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso

[ ] Wink of Stella

[ ] Wide Cream Colored Lace trim

[ ] Burgundy colored self-adhesive pearls

I began by stamping the sweet little Scarecrow boy holding the pumpkin on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then I stamped the crow sitting atop his hat. I colored the image with the alcohol markers listed and then stamped the sentiment with Versafine Black ink. I added some Wink of Stella glitter pen to the wings of the crow. I cut out my focal piece with a large Oval die and then ink blended Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks around the outside edge. I adhered that to the largest Scallop Oval die. I then created my dark brown 6x6 card base and blended some Ground Espresso Distress ink around the outside edge. Then I created to panels.... a burgundy mat and an orangey fall dsp panel and I blended Gathered Twigs Distress ink around the edges of both panels and then distressed the edges with the edge of a scissors. 

**This is one of my favorite ways to not only add softness, but also some wonderful texture. You should try it! 

I layered both mats together and added my pretty cream colored cotton lace trim to the bottom half of the panel, wrapping the tails around the edges and adhering to the back, and then I added fun foam to the back of that whole panel and adhered it to my card base. I added some strips of foam tape above and just below the lace where I wanted to place my focal piece so that it would all lay the same and my Oval wouldn't lay all wonky with the middle pushed up where the lace is. This makes everything the same dimension. I added burgundy self-adhesive pearls in the corners to drawn eye around the card. 

To create the inside, I die cut the largest Scallop Square die out of white cardstock and while the cardstock was still inside the die I blended some Vintage Photo Distress ink around the inside of the die edge and then removed the cardstock from the die and then stamped the flying crow with Memento ink, and colored with alcohol markers, and again added some Wink of Stella to the wings. I stamped the sentiment below him with Versafine Onyx black ink. I layered that focal piece onto another piece of the fall pattern paper I used on the front. I did more inking around the edges of that and then adhered everything to the inside of the card base.

I love to make sure that the insides of my cards coordinate, and look almost as pretty as the outsides. 

And that wraps up my tutorial for today my friends! I hope that you liked my creations and hopefully they inspire you to create something if you have these stamp sets. If you did find my creations inspiring and you create something, please tag me on social media : 

IG- @sarae.furr_thecraftyfarmchick

Facebook- Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick

 because I would LOVE to see what you create! Nothing makes me happier than knowing that I inspired someone. 

Thank you all so very much and I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a very happy New Year! Blessings to you all.....

Love, Sara

We have our winners from our October Challenge.

The first number to come up was 2, and then 8.

Diana S. wins a free stamp set from Art Impressions.

 Diana, please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com to 

claim your stamp set.

Barb E. is the winner of a freebie from me.

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Elf Stocking Card by Janet

Sometimes when I see something, I get a flash of inspiration. Such was the case with the new 6119 - Elf Puppet Set! I immediately used the dies to construct a cute, cheery elf. I could have drawn a simple face on his face but I remembered that I had an old face stamp in my stash so I tried that with success. His pink cheeks and the shading on his clothes were achieved with another old standby, chalk. Every once in a while I still find ways to use the chalk palette I purchased years ago. Once I had him made, I added some bling to his collar and his hat. 

Then I set to work on the stocking shaped card. For this I used a stocking pattern in Cricut Design Space. I sized it so it would fit the elf and I added the toe patch by manipulating the existing pattern. Then I cut it out and a matching front shape and the toe patch from 5969 - Classic Christmas Cover Paper Pack and 5812 - Christmas S2 PP. I cut the Joy word from the 5986 - Jesus & Joy Dies.

I folded the stocking to form the card and added the white stocking trim and the toe patch. I decorated it more by gluing cotton lace on the trim and and the patch. Then I glued the Joy die cut on the toe patch. For the finish, I made a bow out of red satin and I glued it to the top of the stocking.

Thanks for joining me on the blog today. As always, don't forget to find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store! You'll always find something that calls to you. 

Happy Crafting!

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