Santa Puppet Snowflake Frame Card by Lynn Dionne

Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!!!

Watch video tutorial here!!!

Today we will be creating an elegant, yet whimsical Santa Puppet Frame Card! This brand-new Santa Puppet Set (5931) includes all of the dies that you will need to create this adorable Santa. This set is part of a series of "Puppets" from Art Impressions. There have been two other puppet sets which include the Snowman Puppet Set and the Easter Bunny Puppet Set. If you are interested in checking out those other sets, I will link those videos for you down below.

These sets are like little paper dolls that you can dress up! I don't know what it is about these little puppets...but I just absolutely love them...and I think you will love them too!

We will die cut all of the pieces from some 100lb Smooth White Cardstock so that we can do some ink blending with our Distress Oxide Inks. This is a simple and easy way to add color and shading to your puppet pieces. However, you could color these with your markers or by using colored cardstock. In the video, I will show you all of the pieces and how to easily assemble this sweet Santa.

Next, let's create the background by inking a large, stitched panel using the Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies Set (5063). We will be using the Distress Ink in the Speckled Egg for a soft elegant look. We also need to die cut the Ai Snowflake Frame 5782) twice and glue them together for a bit more stability and dimension. Now we can ink the edges of this beautiful snowflake frame.

To make this frame stand out a bit more we will add some pretty "Arctic" colored cardstock the back of the frame and cut out the center so that we can still see through to the snowflake panel. I will show you exactly how to do this in today's video!

To add even more elegance to the background panel we will be die cutting several of the snowflakes from that same frame set and glue them all over. This will create such a beautiful panel that could be used all by itself. Just add a simple sentiment and you are all set to go!

For the assembly, we will have the Santa look as though he is popping out of the frame. Tack him down with a bit of glue and then we can pop up the entire frame and Santa with some 3D Foam Squares.

Now we can attach the panel to the card base and add the frame in the center of the card. For a bit of sparkle and interest we will add some pretty white gems to the center of each snowflake. Let's also add some red and white baker's twine at the top of the card.

Finally, we will stamp a lovely sentiment from the Ai Christmas Sentiments Set (5566) for the front of the card and the inside of the card! We can sprinkle a few more snowflakes on the inside of the card to compliment the front of the card!

Here are those other two videos that I mentioned earlier that you might enjoy watching:

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

Ai Santa Puppet Set (5931)

Ai Snowflake Frame (5782)

Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies (5063)

Ai Christmas Sentiments Set (5566)

Steel Die Cutters (5765)

Thankful Owl by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans and welcome to the current 

All the Fall challenge on the Art Impressions Blog. 

I used the 5953 – Woodland Critters Set, 5835 – Mini Journal Paper Pack and 5592 – Harvest Journal Die Set.

This set is an instant favorite of mine and obviously the rest of the design teams as well.

I'm also loving the self adhesive Watercolor paper for the more delicate Ai dies.

You cut it out, color it (or color and then cut) and stick it down.

So much easier than glue. 

Happy Fall, Y'all!! by Sharon Caudle

Hello AI Fans!

I don't know about you, but it was definitely a fall weekend in Reno! It was quite chilly and we had a fire going in the fireplace every day!  So there was definitely some frost on the pumpkins in the patch! But it didn't stop this adorable guy from going out and gathering them up! I just these super cute scarecrows from 5507 Harvest Together Set!! Next week I'll have a card using the sweet girl scarecrow.  Along with that set, I used 5598 Harvest Set for the basket of gourds, 5596 Harvest Farm Truck Set, and 5952 Portfolio Template Die Set for the banner. The images were stamped onto a Copic friendly paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with Copics which are listed below. This card fits into the All the Fall Challenge going on right now! I've seen some beautiful fall cards out there, so I sure hope you're entering for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice!! 

Well, that's it for me today. Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit, and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

YR12, 14, and 16

E02, 04, 13, 15, 18, 33, 35, 37, 50, 51, and 53

Y35 and 38

YG91, 93, and 95

R32, 35, and 37

for the truck:

E15, 17, and 19

N1, 3, 5, 6, and 7

B000

for the basket:

YG93, 95, 97, and 99

R32, 35, 37, and 39

YR12, 14, and 16

Y32 and 35

E21, 23, 33, 51, 53, and 55

A Christmas Bouquet & Scene by Karen Day

 Hello Ai Watercolour Fans!

It's November, so I'm in full holiday card making mode... first, I have a Christmas bouquet to share:

I stamped the jug from the 5923 - Farmhouse Container Set in N55 on the smooth side of my Canson XL Watercolour Paper.  I like to create my bouquets from the bottom up, so I used the two pine boughs from 5830 - WC Mini Wreath Set in 249/565, and between them, stamped the round pinecone from 5472 - WC Christmas Wreath Set in 969.  Using my stamp positioner, I placed the smallest bloom from 5828 - WC Poinsettia Set coloured in 847/837.  The rounded leaf sprig from 5472 was added in 312, and the holly from 5829 - WC Holly Set and the berries from 5828 were both added in 177.  Finally, Bonnie's favourite twig from 4964 - WC Branches Set was tucked in on either side using 969.

After pulling out all the colour with a damp brush, I painted in each leaf, adding shadows with 565 where needed.  I painted layers of grey on the container, keeping the center area light or white, to be the highlight.  I added just the suggestion of a background with a wash of 565, and used it with N55 to provide a shadow behind the jug.  I added a few touches of gold to the berries and poinsettia centers with my gold gel pen.  I used the 5065 - Oval Double Stitched dies to cut out my image, and created my background using the 5962 - Classic Christmas paper pack.  The sentiment is from 5566 - Christmas Sentiments Set.

My second card is the wonderful 5818 - SF Snowman scene - these are so great, as with just one stamp, your entire image is just about stamped for you!   I stamped mine in N55 onto my Canson XL Watercolour paper, and pulled out the colour with a damp brush.  

After masking the house, I added my trees in using the evergreen from 5826 - WC Large Tree Set 2 in 249 - sometimes only colouring the top portion, to create a smaller tree.  I also added the spiky wreath from 5830 - WC Mini Wreath Set in 312/249 to the gate, and drew in a bow with my 856 marker.  I painted a wash of N55 on the house to be a pale grey shade, and drew in the siding with my pencil. N25 was used for the shutters, awning, dormers, lamps and his hat.  847 was painted on the door, his scarf and on the chimneys mixed with a little 969 to be more of a brick shade.  992 was painted on his coat, and 991 was added directly to the window panes with the marker.

565 was used to add in the sky, and to paint in the sidewalk.  I used it to add shading to the snowman, and under and around the tree branches and eaves.  After softening the trees with a damp brush, I used Bleedproof White paint to add snow to the branches, roof and around the sidewalk, as well as to add icicles to the roof and it was dotted to suggest falling snow.  A final touch was to add a little chunky glitter on some of the snowy surfaces.  Background paper is from 5962 - Classic Christmas, and the sentiment is from 5566 - Christmas Sentiments Set.

Fall Thanks by Janet

 

Hello everyone! I'm here today with a project inspired by the current Ai Blog challenge, All the Fall. This is so perfect for the season. I know we're all making Thanksgiving cards so post your creations on the challenge post, show off your talents, and get a chance to win a free stamp set! Post your creations HERE.

To start my project, I stamped and colored the fox image from the 5191-Feast Mode Set with Copic markers. I've been trying to improve my fur work and this was a perfect image to practice with. However, I always highly recommend to people that they can copy the package illustrations with Ai sets to get great results. Following it makes it easy if you want a good result without guessing what to do. Once colored, I fussy cut the image including the falling leaves on each side of the fox.

Next, I cut a piece of white shimmer cardstock that is approximately 1" wider than the measurements of the 5783-Fall Leaf Frame Set. I used 1/2" wide washi tape to mask off the 4 sides of the panel and then I blended Oxide inks into the center of the panel to create the background. Once I blended the ink, I splattered some watered down ink and some water droplets on the background to add some texture. Once dry, I peeled off the washi tape border. Then I added the magic of the Fall Leaf Frame on top. The frame fits the background perfectly, leaving a 1/2" border of white all around it. I cut out a few more leaves from the frame set and arranged them on top in orange, red, and kraft cardstock.

At this point, I tucked the fox into the frame and adhered the leaves that I had also fussy cut with the image and placed them approximately where they were in the original design. A sentiment was needed so I used a banner die from the 5543 - Journal Template Die Set and stamped it with a sentiment in the stamp set. I glued it in place and then glued the panel to a pre-patterned A2 card base. Finally, I added three gold glitter enamel dots in the corners to finish it off. One thing I like about my card is that there's lots of dimension and depth but it will fold completely flat for mailing.

Thanks so much for joining me to see what I created for you today. Please visit the Ai store for the sets I used and all the things you need for your card, journal, and tag making projects. Happy creating!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest  

Frame It! #11 November Monthly Guest Designer Challenge with Simone Carr

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our Monthly Guest Designer Challenge.

This month's theme is Frame It!

We want you to use frames.

These can be actual picture frames, frame dies, polaroid picture frames, 3D paper frames like the easel frames, you name it.

Any kind of frame you like.

Though Simone's cards are all holiday/winter themed, yours do NOT have to be as long as you frame something.

Our November Guest Designer is Simone Carr and she has several beautiful cards to inspire you. Before we see what she created, let's see who won our October, Along Came a Spider Challenge.

We chose Dot Freel for her spooky haunted house card!

Congratulations Dot!

You will be the Art Impressions December Guest Designer.

Dot,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com

so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.

Now for the Lucky Random Winner of a freebie stamp from me, provided you have a U.S. address.

#5 Gabriella B.

Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now for our November Guest Designer.

Let's see what Simone has to share.

Her task was to frame something. This was the first card she sent me and I was THRILLED.

Hello Everyone,

I'm thrilled to be back as the guest designer for November! For this project, I’ve used the 5350 Animal Nativity Set, a stamp set I haven’t had a chance to use until now, and I’m excited to share how I brought it to life.

I started by stamping all the images with Memento Toffee Crunch ink on Canson Watercolor Paper. Then, I colored each image using the Tombow Watercolor Markers in the following shades: N25, O26, N35, N55, O55, N65, 177, 526, 703, 856, 942, 947, and 977. After die-cutting the images, I moved on to the background.

For the background, I ink blended Distress Oxide in Squeezed Lemonade to create a soft glow, surrounded by Chipped Sapphire to evoke a nighttime sky, all on Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock. To add a magical touch, I splattered Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White for a starry effect.

For the frame, I used wood grain cardstock, inked the edges with Memento Toffee Crunch, and then layered it with foam adhesive between two frames for extra dimension. The frames were adhered to the ink-blended background, and I arranged the nativity animals with a mix of foam adhesive squares and glue to create depth. Finally, I added a little extra shine by applying Nuvo Crystal Glaze on the star for dimension and sparkle.

Materials & Tools:

Tombow Watercolor Markers: N25, 026, N35, N55, 055, N65, 177, 526, 703, 856, 942, 947, 977

Canson Watercolor Paper

Strathmore Bristol Smooth

Distress Oxide: Squeezed Lemonade and Chipped Sapphire

Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White

Memento Toffee Crunch Ink

Penny Black 51-825 Double Frames

Spellbinders Indigo Cardstock

Nuvo Crystal Glaze

Glitter Pen

Double-Sided Adhesive Tape and Foam Squares

Card Measurements:

Sidefold card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Background card: 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"

I’m looking forward to seeing what you all create and can’t wait to share more inspiration with you throughout the month!

Best regards,

Simone Carr

Simone loved this challenge so much, that she created three more amazing cards for it!
I'm blown away by the beauty of each one.

We're so lucky to have so much inspiration for this challenge.

Happy Holidays everyone!

For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.

These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally

and not Art Impressions.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have

and you can choose from that.

Here is the fine print...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation.
✻You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. 

✻You MUST use Art Impressions stamps or dies! You may use other companies products but the main focus should be on Ai items.

✻If you win, you will receive one free stamp set of your choice. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻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 crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Next Stop the North Pole! Card by Tasha!

 Happy Friday Art Impressions Friends!

Tasha here sharing a new holiday card featuring the 5929 - Christmas Train Set. Today is the first day of November, so it's time to get a jump start on holiday card making and this set is perfect for this year's Christmas cards, gift tags, and craft projects!

This set includes the coordinating dies and you can mix and match the train cars to fit your project. I decided to create a slimline card and wanted to use as many little penguins that I could fit; I love penguins!!! My favorite part was coloring the little hats and scarves, I made each one a different color and used a white gel pen to give a knitted look.

For the greeting, I embossed "Choo-Choo Merry Christmas" directly on to one of the train cars and love how the bright white color pops against the dark red. To go with the holiday theme, I colored the train in shades of red & green and attached holly to three cars for extra detail.

Lastly, I added a a night sky and white paper for the ground to resemble a snowy hill; I like the Winter night look. To continue with the holiday theme, I attached layers of black and red card stock, and snowflake pattern paper. I also adhered little peppermint shaped enamel pieces to the train's wheels and added red glitter to the berries to complete the design.

Thank you for checking out today's card and I hope you enjoyed a peek at the new 5929 - Christmas Train Set.

Have a great day!

All the Fall Challenge ##390 Week #2

Hello Ai fans and welcome to week #2 of our All the Fall challenge.

We want to see your fall themed projects.

These can be Halloween, Thanksgiving or anything with a plain old fall theme like leaves, scarecrows, pumpkins etc.

Last week, Tasha was our Featured Designer and she created two adorable Halloween cards with a fabulous tutorial. You can see her post HERE.

Now we're sharing all of the other DT cards.

Tasha created another sweet fall card HERE.

Lynn showed us how to combine our Christmas stamps with Fall.

She has a video tutorial on her blog post.

Dori is welcoming Fall with open arms and a fist-full of leaves.

Sharon used 5507 Harvest Together Set

5596 Harvest Farm Truck Set

5952 Portfolio Template Die Set

A fabulous Fall fox card from Janet.

I used the 5953 – Woodland Critters Set, 5835 – Mini Journal Paper Pack and 5592 – Harvest Journal Die Set.

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)

✻ Limit two submissions per person. You will receive extra votes if you use Art Impressions stamps!

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻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