A Masculine Watercolor Birthday Card and a Card for a Friend.

Hello Crafty Fiends and Happy Watercolor Weekend!

Today, I want to share two projects that are completely different in purpose.

For the first project, a friend asked me to create a masculine watercolor birthday card for her husband. Knowing he loves the ocean and owns a boat, I designed the card with that theme in mind.

To start, I used the lighthouse and cliff stamps from the Light of the World set (6126). I inked everything except the tree using Tombow markers 969 and 565, and stamped the tree using Tombow marker 177. I then pulled the colors from the stamp and painted the lighthouse and the cliff.
                     

Next, I painted the tree and some background foliage using branches from the Branches Set (4964) and the Large Tree Set (5373). I also added the sky.

To add the ocean, I drew a line and masked the sky to create a straight horizon. I built up the ocean using different shades of blue, and then added a few wave lines using bleed-proof white. I kept it looking like a calm ocean without too much foam or waves.

For the sentiment, I used the Large Letter Die Set (5910) to cut the letters "HPPY" three times—twice in white and once in blue. I layered and glued them together with the blue letters on top. For the letter "A", I used the sailboat from the Sail Mini Dies set (5325). I added a few lines to one of the sails using a red marker (856) and a little gray for shadow. Finally, I added a "Birthday" stamp and cut a coordinating blue mat to be glued around the card.

I am really happy with how this card turned out, and I hope you like it, too!

    

                                              My second card:  Thinking of You card

I want to share the details of the second card I made. I am making this card for a friend who is going through a difficult time, and I hope it brings a smile to her face and lets her know that I am thinking of and praying for her.

Since she loves birds, I designed this card specifically with her in mind:

  - Background & Stamping: I started by sketching the paper using the die from Story Tile Die Set (#6158) and then stamped the birds from the Mercy Set (#6216). I left one space open for a sentiment from the Cottage Charm Set (#6179). 

- Painting: To give the birds a realistic look, I researched different sparrow species online for reference. Once the painting was dry, I applied a thin layer of Distress Glaze to seal it.    

 - Assembly: I cut the frame twice—once in black and once in kraft paper for the top layer. Finally, I glued the frame and mat together onto a matching kraft-colored card base.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope these cards inspire your own creations. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Happy crafting and watercolor painting!

Spotlight Daffodils Card and Floral Corner Bird Bookmarks by Diane Mason

  Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! Today I’m sharing two projects featuring stamps and dies from three of the newest releases: 6218 – BJ Long Stem, 6220 – Sing to the Lord Set, and 6209 – Corner Bird Bookmark. I used the first set to create the Spotlight Daffodil Card, and combined the second and third sets to make the Floral Corner Bird Bookmarks.

Spotlight Daffodils Card:

I just love daffodils—their structure is so elegant, and they come in so many beautiful colors. My favorites are the bright yellow ones. Using the spotlight technique allowed me to highlight those beautiful yellow blooms and really draw the eye to the focal image.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Cardstock: Black

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

Stamps & Dies:

• 6218 – BJ Long Stem
• 5588 – Journal Oval Frames Die Set
• 5724 – Nested Rectangle Dies

Ink for stamped images: Versafine Onyx Black Ink, Versamark

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 025, 026, 177, 403

Other: Foam squares, Ranger Super Embossing Powder – White, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Heat Embossing Tool

Creating the Background

Using a stamp platform, I stamped each long‑stem image in Versafine Onyx Black to build the background. I made sure to position the daffodil exactly where the spotlighted oval would later be placed.

For the spotlight image, I inked the petals with 026 and the leaves/stems with 177, stamped onto Canson XL watercolor paper, then pulled the color from the lines with a damp brush. I brightened the petals with 025 and deepened the shadows with more 026. The stems were shaded with a mix of 177 + 565.

For the background wash, I brushed a watery mix of 403 around the flowers using a No. 4 round brush. A few highlights were added with Bleed Proof White.

Assembly

I die‑cut the stamped background using the Nested Rectangle Dies (5724) and adhered it to an A2 black cardstock base. Next, I die‑cut the painted daffodil image with the oval from Journal Oval Frames (5588) and die-cut the scalloped oval from black cardstock. After layering them, I added foam squares and aligned the spotlight image over the background.

For the sentiment, I stamped the greeting from 6218 in Versamark clear embossing ink on black cardstock and heat‑embossed it with Ranger Super Fine White Embossing Powder. To complete the card, the sentiment was attached with foam squares.

I really enjoyed making this project. The simple black‑and‑white stamped background creates the perfect foundation for the spotlight technique. I can’t wait to try this approach with more Art Impressions images.

Floral Corner Bird Bookmarks:

The new 6209 – Corner Bird Bookmark die is such a delight to use—and these bookmarks come together quickly. You can absolutely make them with cardstock and patterned papers, but I decided to create my own patterned papers using images from 6220 – Sing to the Lord and 6150 – His Love.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Mix Media Paper

Cardstock: Purple

Brush: No. 0 round brush

Ink for stamped images: Versafine Vintage Sepia

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 177, 606, 026, 969, N25

Stamps & Dies:

• 6209 – Corner Bird Bookmark
• 6220 – Sing to the Lord Set
• 6150 – His Love Set

Stamping & Painting

I began by die‑cutting the tail, wings, and chest pieces from Canson Mix Media Paper.

Using Versafine Vintage Sepia, I stamped the floral vine from 6220 repeatedly across the tail and wings. For the chest, I stamped the mini hearts from 6150 to fill the shape.

The images were painted with 177 and 606, deepening the flower centers and leaves with additional layers. The eye was painted with 969, with a dot of N25 for the pupil. The beak was colored with 026.

Two Ways to Build the Bookmark

The standard construction (shown in the bottom-left finished sample) slides onto the bottom corner of a page.

To create a version that sits at the top of a page, follow these steps:

1.     Glue the folded cardstock body piece together.

2.     Attach the tail feathers to the outside, facing downward, gluing only at the top so the feathers remain open to slide over the page.

3.     Die‑cut two extra chest pieces from purple cardstock to extend the body and glue them over the tail feathers.

4.     Add the wing, chest, beak, and eye pieces as usual.

Now you have a second way to enjoy these adorable bookmarks!

Here are a few more bookmarks I’ve made for extra inspiration.

Thank you so much for spending a little creative time with me today. I can’t wait to see what you create with these new sets—be sure to tag us on social media. Until next time, Happy Painting!

Summerween Window Peeking by Janet

 

Hello Ai fans! Today the Summerween fun continues with another Halloween card. I thought it would be fun to use the shutter peeker feature and characters in the 5506 Peek-A Boo Set on the 6158 Story Tile Template Die. To my delight, the shutter is just the right size to cover one of the tiles.

To make this, I first stamped and colored several of the characters in the Peek A Boo set including the witch, pumpkin, Frankenstein, cat, and the shutter. I used the included dies to cut them out and set them aside.

Next I cut the story tile frame out of orange cardstock. I used the pieces it cut out of each frame to trace around patterned papers in the 6130 Halloween S3 Paper Pack. This made it easy to use different papers that fit perfectly in the tile openings without much waste. Then I placed the images and the sentiments in the tiles. Last I glued little Frankenstein into the middle tile and then glued the shutters over the frame section. Now Frankie waves hi when the shutters are opened! Cute! Finally I added two puffy glittered stars and one metallic star for accents.

I hope you enjoyed seeing a little Halloween in the middle of summer! I invite you to join in and enter your Summerween creation in the Ai Challenge. Just link it up to the post for it. Easy peasy! 

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. 

Happy Crafting!

Boo To You! Halloween Card by Tasha

Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a Halloween card inspired by the current Summerween Challenge! For my project I used the cute trick-or-treating bunny from the 6112-Pumpkin Parade Set to create a simple Halloween night scene.

The bunny was stamped with black ink and colored with Copic Markers. I used the coordinating die to cut her out and layered her on to the card with foam tape to give some dimension. Instead of coloring the background, I used a star stencil to add tons of glittery stars on to a dark blue sky. The stars a super sparkly in person and have a green almost glow-like look; I love all the stars!

To complete the card, I added Gold glitter paper for more sparkle, orange, purple and white card stock, and attached a ghost pattern paper layer to coordinate with the Halloween theme. I also added a fun "Boo To You" sentiment. I thought the greeting went perfectly with the ghost pattern paper.

I hope you enjoyed today's project and will join in the Summerween challenge!

Summerween Challenge #432 Week #2

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

(posting a little early today, because...why not?)

SUMMERWEEN!!

Summerween is a new expression for me that Tasha brought to light.

Just like there's Christmas in July, a lot of people like to have a mini

celebration of Halloween in the summer. (It's usually in June but I couldn't

fit it in.)

I loved this idea, so here we are. Let's see your best Halloween (or Fall) creations.

Cards, treat bags, boxes, gift card holders and more!

Also...did you see??

It's that time of year when the second set of Freebies become available.

Check out the cuteness overload on these bears!

My personal favorite is the Study Bear.

You can select one of these free stamps when you spend $30 or more on the

Art Impressions website.

Last week Tasha was our Featured Artist and she created a darling Story Tile card.

Tasha also created this cute card.

Janet created 2 cards as well. Her first card is an adorable Frankenstein puppet card.

Her second card is a Story Tile card like Tasha's. Janet used the following sets to make hers.

5506 - Peek-A-Boo Set

6158 - Story Tile Template Die

6130 - Halloween S3 PP

A lot of our designers made 2 cards this week. Please enjoy these watercolor cards from Neema.
Her first card used:

5038 Ghoul Friend Set

5372 WC mini Foliage

Her second fun card used:

M3175 Lighthouse Window

5059 WC Harvest set

5038 Ghoul Friend Set

4807 old Barn Mini

5373 WC Large Tree

5826 WC Large Tree 2

5372 WC Mini Foliage

4927 HM Accessory set (Retired but here are some samples)

This fabulous window card is from Diane.

6111 – Spooktacular Set
6130 – Halloween S3 Paper Pack
5065 – Oval Double Stitched Dies

Next up we have the cutest little slider card from Sharon!

I made a ghostly tunnel card that you can find the details for here.

And...last but not least, Dori has an incredible little box with a lid that opens not once, but twice!

Please click HERE and view her video to see how it works. She's SO CREATIVE!!

I hope that something here has inspired you.

Art Impressions has the most amazing Design Team. They care so much about 

bringing you fresh ideas that are easy for you to create, help you think outside the box

and use the supplies you have while still keeping current.

Please make a new project featuring any Halloween or Fall themed
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
This is going to be a fun one! I can't wait to see what you create.

Here's 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