Garden Scenes & Storybook Dreams by Simone Carr

 

Hello Fellow Crafters!

Welcome to another Watercolor Weekend! I’m excited to share this week’s card with you. I was especially excited to use the new Flower and Foliage Sets with this image. I love when one stamp can create an entire scene, and this image has so many fun little details to bring to life with watercolor.

On Canson Watercolor Paper, I stamped the image using 565 + 969, stamping off twice for a softer impression. With a damp #4 brush, I pulled out the stamped color first. Before I added color to the pots, I started with the larger elements of the scene and worked my way through each of the smaller details. The Tombow colors I used for each element are listed below.

After I had my pots colored. I started to stamp in the flowers and foliage. With a damp #4 brush, I dabbed the flowers and foliage to soften the look.

Once I finished the flowers and foliage, I added the final details to complete the scene. I really enjoyed bringing all the little elements of this image to life.

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies
• 5435 – WC Foundations: Potting Bench
• 6270 – Foliage Set 6
• 6271 – Flower Set 7
• 5009 – Mini Flower Set (Dots)
• 4051 – Foliage Set 1 (Grass)

Paper
• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
• TwinTone Markers – Brown, Gray

Tombow Markers
• N52, 757, 158, 177, 565 – Bucket with Foliage
• 026, 177, 565 – Pot, Bottom Shelf
• 947, 158, 565 – Birdhouse
• 947, 946, 177, 026 – Pot
• 158, 026, 757 – Watering Can
• N89, 177, 817, 526 – Crate
• 991 – Hat
• N89, 565, 177, 757 – Pot Next to Hat
• 947, 946, 565, 177 – Double Pots
• 026, 757, 158, 526 – Last Pot

For an extra project this week, I decided to create a little storybook scene using the new Whimsical Storybook Set.

I stamped all of the images onto Canson Watercolor Paper using Distress Ink Lost Shadow. Once the images were stamped, I colored each piece using the Tombow markers listed below and then used the coordinating dies to cut them out.

I chose a heavier cardstock to build the main outer box as well as the three inner layers.

I used the square die that comes with the set to cut three squares. I then stacked the three squares together and used the included oval die to cut the center opening. I attached an image to each inner layer and then stacked the layers together using foam dots in the corners to create dimension.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s projects and found some inspiration for your next watercolor creation. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again next time!

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies
• 6121 – Storybook Template
• 6223 – Whimsical Storybook

Paper
• 5832 – Gnome PP
• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums
• Distress Ink – Lost Shadow
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
• TwinTone Marker – Brown
• 2mm Foam Dots

Tombow Markers
• 126, 757, 565, 947 – House
• 856, 947, N49, 606, N15, 757, 177 – Wheelbarrow
• 947, 969, 177, 856, 985 – Stump
• 757, 126, 947, 969, 942, 912 – Gnome

Visions in Pink by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend! The new 6116 Thinking of Home Set in the Storybook Series is such a lovely set, the possibilities for this is amazing.  

I decided to go with a mix of browns and pinks, and I absolutely love how this turned out!  I was going to get a picture of the images after I colored them before assembly, but I got sidetracked, and when I returned to it and cut the images out with the included dies and started putting it together, is when I figured out that I had not.  This set comes with 5 images, one as the back piece and then 4 layers. I decided that I actually wanted to cut out the house so that I could pop it up on foam tape, so I stamped in a guide of the house on the piece of watercolor paper so that I could put in some flowering trees beside it.  I did a wash of 772 for the sky and then used 4964 WC Branches Set in 899, adding dots of 772, 817, and Bleed Proof White for the flowers.  I stamped a second image of the house, so that after coloring I could cut it out and pop it up over the guide I stamped on the back piece.  For the roof and the trim on the door and window, I used 899, and over that in areas 879. For the walls I did a light wash of 969, and also added details to the walls and roof using 4867 Foliage Set 2, the little foliage, in 990 on the walls and 969 on the roof. Which of course I figured out after assembly that you can’t see it.  I used 969 on the chimney and shaded with 565.  For the door and window panes I used 772, the handle on the door I used 947 and shaded with 969.  For the front porch I used the same colors as the house, a light wash of 969 with 899 and 879 on the roof, shading with 565.  Using the same foliage as before, I also added some details on the front post using 990. I did mask these off with post-it tape just in case.  For the next layer with the cat in the chair, I went a little darker with the 969 on the chair and shaded with 565.  For the cat I started with 565 to shade areas since part of the cat would be white, and then added some N52 for a light gray and a touch of 772 for the inside of the ears.  The flowers were done with 817 focusing more color in the center. 126 and 177 on the leaves and 899 on the pot.  For the stone I used N49 with N57 between the stones and then added shadows and shading with 565.  Next is the bird house, for the post 969, base color on the house is 772, adding details with 817.  The roof was done with 879, the perch 969.  For the hole, 969 and 879 was used.  The last layer with the mailbox, I started with 969 on the post, N60 for the base layer on the mailbox with some N52 in areas and shaded with 565.  For the flag I used 817. The little bird, I used a black micron on the eyes, beak, and legs first. I then did a base color of 772, contouring with 817, and then added a touch of 969.  Each of the stamp sets come with their own dies to cut out the images, but you will need 6121 Storybook Template Dies to create the ornament.  The Template has all of the dies you need to cut out the components to assemble it together.  The square to cut out the back piece and layers, and an oval to cut out the openings to line up with the opening in the outer casing.  Each of the stamp images stamp out a section that lines up with the oval opening that you glue behind the paper layer that just leaves the image visible through the opening.   Once you cut out the outer casing, you glue your back piece in, personally I prefer to put the layers together before attaching them over the back piece, a little easier for me that way.  You will want to use foam tape between the layers, usually a square in each corner does the trick. I used a double layer of foam tape for added dimension between the layers. Since I popped up the cut out image of the house, I wish I had added one more layer of foam tape to the back of the porch layer.  Just make sure as you are assembling that your layers are actually going to fit, I leave the backing on the foam tape and stack it inside to make sure there is enough room, then you can adjust from there if you’d like before putting it together.  Once I have my layers together I then fold along the crease lines and then attach my layers into place and then glue the edges down.  I used 6182 Valentines Series 2 Cover paper pack for the casing and the hanger.  Once the sides were set, I then attached the hanger and added a bow and ribbon.  I hope you will enjoy this set as much as I do!

I loved the color combo so much on my first project that I decided to continue with that color theme.  This time I used the 6179 Cottage Charm with the 6158 Story Tile Template Die. I cut down my watercolor paper down to 4 ¼ by 5 ½ and then placed the die over the paper to trace out some guides with a pencil. Just don’t make the same mistake I did, I put the die with the cut side up, which meant that I had to turn my paper over and cut from the backside to get it to line up with my images.  (Still shaking my head!) So place your die, cut side down before you trace your outlines. I then decided where I wanted to stamp each image. I used Distress Ink in Pumice Stone and stamped each one off first, if you are worried about the position you can always use a stamp positioner. For the sentiment I used Versafine Clair in Nocturne, using a permanent ink allowed me to watercolor the background in without causing the sentiment to bleed.

Flower pots: I used 879, 947. 4868 Flower Set 2/flower bunch in 177, 772, 817. 4052 Flower Set 1/ daisy bunch in 772, 817.  5126 Foliage Set 4/small vine in 249. 177 for the ground and 526 for the sky.

Bird Bath: 565 and 969 mixed with a touch of 526.  Water: 565 with a touch of 526 and 817 for the reflection.  Bird: 772, 817, and a touch of 969. 5126 Foliage Set 4 for the leafy branch in 126 and a line drawn up through the image with 177.  5008 Flower Set 3 with 772 and 817 at the base of the petals and 177. 

Fence: Background 526.  5826 Large Tree Set 2/grass: 177 with a touch of 969 in 2 small spots at the base.  5476 Foliage Set 5/grass, just inking the tips in 817. Fence: 565 for shading and a couple of touches of 947 in light wash for interest. 

House: Roof, window and door trim. 899 and 879. Walls, light wash of 969.  Chimney and steps, 565 and 969 mixed, 565 for shading.  Door and window panes 772. Door knob 969. Shutters, 772 and 817 for the slats.  Ground 177 and 526 for the sky. 5372 Mini Foliage Set/bush line in 249, Bleed Proof White for the flowers.  4964 Branches in 899, dots of 772, 817, and Bleed Proof White for the flowers.

Sentiment: 772 for the background.   

Bike: 772, 817, 969, N15, 565 for shading, pencil for spokes.  5126 Foliage 4/leafy branch in 126 with 177 right up the center.  947 for the ground, and 526 for the sky.

Always remember that sets like these can be used in so many ways. You can use each stamp individually, or create your own scenes.  I for one am looking forward to playing with the possibilities.  Thank you so much for joining me today, until next time! Create….Share….Inspire!

Party Animal! by Janet

I'm celebrating a birthday with my card today. We are also a little more than half way through the current Ai Challenge - Furry Friends. We hope you upload your cards featuring one of your favorite animals. With so many to choose from, this one should be no problem at all! Just link your card up to the Furry Friends Challenge post and see if you win. It's a lot of fun to participate in!

My card features a cute giraffe. I've always loved giraffes and this one is all set to celebrate with a banner, party hat, and balloons. He is definitely stealing the show on this card! He is found in the 5400 - Baby Critters Set. This set includes dies so it's a cinch to cut the animals and party accessories out if you prefer that over staging them on as a one layer scene. I like cutting the animals out because you can make them pop on foam tape which gives the card a lot of dimension and interest.

I stamped the giraffe and colored him with Copic markers. I chose to color the pennants and balloons in blue and red. His hat follows the same theme. The set has star ornaments but I turned them around and made them part of the balloon bouquet instead. I used the 6048 Scalloped Rectangle Die on a leaf design from 6025 Floral Shop PP. I also used the 5724 Nested Rectangle Set to cut out the green, gold, and pink mats for the card. Finally I stamped a sentiment from the set on a piece of white cardstock. This guy is certainly ready to give it his all to party with the guest of honor!

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 Fall! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!  

Tasha here sharing a Fall themed card featuring the fun 5507-Harvest Together Set and the new 6255-FG Sunflower Border Set. I love sunflowers, and when I saw the new sunflower border stamp, I immediately thought it would work perfectly with the lady scarecrow from the Harvest Together Set. I just love all the flowers!

To created this card, I started by stamping the front sunflowers. After, I used masking paper to mask the flowers and bottom of the card before stamping the scarecrow and birdhouse. I used Copic Markers for the coloring and tried to use Fall colors; the blues, yellows, and pop of purple look awesome together!

After the images were colored, I added clouds and a "Happy Fall Y'all" greeting. I also attached layers of metallic red, brown, white, and orange cardstock to coordinate with the colors used on the flowers. Lastly, I added a piece of plaid pattern paper in a light tan color and cut a scalloped frame to complete the design.

I hope you liked today's poject and are inspired to create a Fall themed project!

Have a wonderful day!

Furry Friends Challenge #435 Week #2

 Hello and welcome to week #2 of our challenge,

Furry Friends

We want to see your handmade creations using animals.

Pretty much anything goes as long as you have an animal and something from Art Impressions on your project. (Stamps, paper or dies)

Our Featured Artist for this challenge was Dori and she created the most darling
Triple Tunnel card.

 

Diane made a festive fall fox easel card.

6255 – FG Sunflower Border
5191 – Feast Mode
5901 – Mini Rectangle Frame Dies (Front)

     

Tasha has some sweet dancing bears.

Neema has a tower of pretty pumpkins.

4873 – WC Cats Set
5595 – Harvest Pumpkin Set

Sharon has a darling shadowbox for you.

 

I also created a shadowbox and mine doubles as a gift card holder.

   

Janet has a beautiful, bright birthday card.

5400 - Baby Critters Set
6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies
5724 - Nested Rectangle Dies
6205 - Floral Shop PP

Don't you just love all of these fun, furry friends?

Our Design Team always does such an amazing job!

Now, onto the details of our challenge.

Please make a new project featuring animals using
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see your 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

Window Shaker card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

Today I wanted to make a card pairing the latest release of Countryside Series called #6253 - FG Poinsettia Border with the current blog challenge - "Furry Friends".  This little bunny from the #5461 - Christmas Slimline set is definitely one of my favorite furry friends and it was the perfect image to use with the poinsettia floral window swag.   

I started by stamping the poinsettia border and the bunny onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink.  I colored both with my copic markers listed below.  I used the coordinating die to cut the bunny but I fussy cut the poinsettia border.  

I made the shaker window using the #5408 - Shadowbox window die set.  I die cut two panels and placed a 2 1/4" square piece of acetate in between the panels.  I then placed foam tape around the outer edge of the window and filled with small glass beads to resemble snow.  I also took a 2 1/8" square piece of light blue cardstock and blended ink (Broken China and Salty Ocean) around the edges.  I then splattered white paint onto that panel.  After letting that dry, I adhered this piece to the back of the shaker window.  The shaker is now ready.  

I glued the poinsettia border to the top edge of the window and placed foam tape onto the back side so that it would be level with the window when adhered to the front of the card.  I adhered the sentiment to the bottom edge of the window and placed the bunny onto the card.  I added a few enamel dots and a bow and the card is finished.

I hope you enjoyed my card.  Make sure to enter the blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set.

Thanks for joining me today!  Keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53

R20, R22, R24, R27      N6

G20, G21, G24

Shadowbox Gift Card Holder by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I'm sharing my creation for the Furry Friends challenge today.

I used the 6121 – Storybook Template because I love the look of the shadowbox.

Tucked in a little bear from 6017 – Baby Panda Set and accessorized with several other sets which are all linked below.

On the back, I added a pocket to tuck in a gift card.
The gift card pocket wasn't meant to go with this set so the card does

stick out over the top a bit, but that didn't bother me.

I think it's a cute way to present a gift card to an expectant parent.

September 2026 Monthly Challenge

 Happy September, everyone! Summer is drawing to a close and it is almost fall! It feels like summer was just starting.

For my September project, I am using my favorite puppy that I haven’t used in quite a while. He’s sitting in a flower garden enjoying the beautiful end-of-summer day.

To begin my project, I inked the puppy in Pumice Stone Distress Ink, stamped off once onto watercolor paper, and then stamped in the middle of my watercolor paper. I then inked the rocks in Pumice stone, stamped off on watercolor paper, and stamped the rocks to the left. Next, I added a grass line using #15 olive green to set up my scene. I painted the puppy first, using mainly #54 burnt umber and shading with #45 sepia. I left areas of his face lighter and once he was dry, I used my Micron to color his eyes and nose – leaving a highlight on each. I then painted the rocks, starting with #40 brownish grey to add shadows toward the lower portion of the rocks. I then added shading with #21 dark grey, #45 sepia and #15 olive green. Rocks are multiple shades of color, so a variety of colors helps. Using the fine tip on my #40 brownish grey, I added some accents where the rocks meet to add darker shading.

I put the sky in next using #75 sky blue, keeping it lighter where I had flowers planned. I find it easier than trying to work around the flowers once they are stamped. Once the sky was in place, I stamped grass in repeat along my grass line next to the puppy and rocks, mainly using the teeny tiny grass from Foliage Set 1 and also stamped the grass stamp from WC Tree Set 2 a couple times to the right of the puppy. I masked off the rocks and used a positioner to place the tall flowers from Foliage Set 7 to the left of the rocks. I inked the foliage with #15 olive green and the flower buds with #79 grape and then added a little #8 violet at the base for shading. Once the flower was stamped, I carefully dabbed at the flower buds with my paintbrush. I also carefully touched my brush to the leaves of the foliage, but avoided the stems.

I stamped the tall blue flowers from Foliage Set 7 on the right side of my project – also using a stamp positioner for placement. I inked the foliage in #15 olive green and the flowers in #29 Prussian Blue. I then carefully touched my brush to each flower bud and leaf. I then stamped the flower bunch from Foliage Set 7, inking the foliage with #15 olive green and the flowers with #96 auburgine. I used the stamp positioner for placement and again, touched my brush to each flower and a few of the leaves.

I then used the small dot flower from the WC Mini Flower Set and inked it in #43 brilliant yellow. I stamped it in repeat above the grass line on the left and right edge of my project. There was a small gap between the grass line and the puppy, so I used the fine tip on my #15 olive green and added a few blades of grass. I then used my fine tip on my #8 violet and added a few dots to the top of the grass stems for random wildflowers.

I then added a wash of #15 olive green for the foreground, making sure to have light and dark areas, especially under the dog to create a shadow. It needed a little more, so then I used #45 sepia to also add a wash of brown, leaving light and dark areas. I felt that something was needed above the rocks, so I added a small butterfly from My Joy Set. I stamped it in Pumice Stone and used #8 violet, #79 grape and #3 blue to paint the wings. Once it was dry, I used my Micron to add the body and very small antennae. I also used Dr PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White to add some dots to the grass and the yellow dot flowers. I cut a simple frame from black cardstock to mount my project and then used single sheet of background paper to cover my card front.

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/)

Happy Stamping! As always, I hope you will give this project a try! Don’t forget to
enter the Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice!

Accessories:

Pumice Stone Distress Ink

#1 Connoisseur Brush

#4 Connoisseur Brush

Marvy Markers

           

      

What a sweet and beautiful card from Debbie.
Now let's see who our August winners were.

#10 came up first so Kathy R. wins a free stamp set from Art Impressions.

Please contact Leah at
Feedback@artimpressions.com

    

#1 Bev Sizemore and #8 Patty S. have won a freebie from me.

Please email me with your full name and address at Renee@artimpressions.com

and I'll send you photos of the freebies I currently have available.

Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you Debbie for you hard work and inspiration!

What will you guys create for September?

We can't wait to see.

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.

✻Lucky Random Winner will 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

Focus on Faith with Sara Furr: Lacy Pink Church

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

If you have been following me, you know that I like to use several different kinds of medium to color and create my projects.

 This week, I have a lovely little country church scene I created using colored pencils and dye ink markers. 

I just stamped the front flowers and the church with Versafine Onyx black ink and colored them up with colored pencils. I stamped the foliage (tree, leaves, shrubs, and grass) with dye ink markers.

 To create the sky and the grassy foreground, I just turned my pencils sideways to swipe them across my cardstock and blend them into each other. I added some tiny white accents to the flowers and grass with Dr. Ph Martin's Bleedproof white paint.

If you have any questions on how I created this, please feel free to leave me your questions in the comments section. 

I pray you all have a very blessed month and I will see you soon.

Blessings to you all, 

Sara E. Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick 

Supplies used:

Canson XL Bristol Smooth cardstock 

Colored Pencils

Dye ink markers

Versafine Onyx black ink pad

Stamp platform

Paper cutter

Scissors

Lace

Sewing machine

Foam adhesive