Time to Dance! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends. 

Tasha here sharing a birthday card featuring the 6176-Exclusive Ballet Bear stamp. I have been loving all the little Ai bear stamps lately and this ballet bear is perfect for a birthday card. To make my project more unique, I stamped the bear three times and created a stage; I love their colorful tutus!

For the coloring I used Copic Markers and drew the background with a black liner pen. I wanted a spotlight on each dancer, so I used a variety of yellow markers to look like lights were shining down on the them; I also used the same shades on the tiny stars so everything blends together nicely.

Lastly, I attached gold glitter paper for sparkle, layers of purple and pink card stock, and a piece of Art Impression pattern paper. I thought the star print coordinated with the stars around the bears. I also stamped "To the Birthday Girl" with purple ink on a banner to complete the card.

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

Furry Friends Challenge #435 Week #1

Hello and welcome to our new 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 is Dori and she created the most darling
Triple Tunnel card.

After looking through her photos and reading her tutorial, be sure to scroll down
to see who won our Boy oh Boy! challenge.

Take it away Dori!

-----------------------------------------------------------

 Hello AI Friends!

Welcome to our new challenge #435 called "Furry Friends".  I chose the #5400 - Baby Critters set to feature for this challenge.  I used every one of the images since they are all SO cute.  I couldn't pick so why not use them all!  I also decided to make it a triple tunnel card so the animals could sit on display in each panel.

First, I stamped all of the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  Using the corresponding dies, I die cut each of the colored images out. 

With plain cardstock, I also die cut a second one of each image.  I like to layer the plain die cut behind the colored one for stability and extra dimension.

Now that the images are colored, it's time to create the tunnel card.

Using heavy cardstock, I cut one panel at 5" x 10" and scored in half along long side (5" mark).  I also cut another panel at 5" x 5 1/2" and scored at the 5" mark along the longer side leaving a 1/2" tab.  I layered a piece of pattern paper (cut at 4 7/8" square) over the top of the smaller panel leaving the 1/2" blank (see Pic 1).  I cut the same size of a second piece of pattern paper and adhered to the right of the fold on the double panel (see Pic 2).

Any shape die will work but I took a partial circle die (from my stash) and placed it in the center of the smaller panel (Pic 1) and ran it through my die cut machine.  I then lined this page up with the second panel and die cut the partial circle out of that panel. 

             Pic 1

               Pic 2

Now we can adhere the two panels together by gluing the 1/2" tab inside the double panel to create the triple panel card.

To finish up this card, I placed another piece of pattern paper to the inside of the back panel and also created frames around the partial circle openings.  I then adhered the animals on the panels making sure that they don't overlap each other when looking thru the windows.

And here is the final card again.

I hope you enjoy my card and it gives you inspiration to join in on the challenge.  Any animal will work for the challenge so grab a stamp set and play along for a chance to win a free stamp set.  Look forward to seeing your creations!  

Have a Happy Day!

Copics used:  N0, N1, N3, N5

E21, E23, E50, E51, E53, E55, E57

Y13, Y15, Y17, Y21

G40, G43, G46

R20, R22, R24, R27

B0000, B00, B12, B14

--------------------------------------------------------------

Don't you just LOVE that sweet card?
She packed so many fun animals on there using the tunnel technique.

Now, let's see who won our previous challenge.

To our winners, Leah is on vacation until August 31st so there may be a delay in her

answering your email and filling your order. Please be patient with her when she returns

to the office.

For our Top Spot we selected #4
Marcia H.
She did a fabulous job painting the Cozy Bear making this the 

perfect thank you card for a boy or man.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Our Lucky Random Winner was #17
Heather M.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to our winners!

Enjoy your new stamps.

Now, onto the details of our new 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! 

Gone Fishin' Slider card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

Today is the last day of the "Boy, Oh Boy" challenge so I made another masculine card for the occasion.  You can never have too many 'man' cards.  LOL!

For this one, I used the #5926 - Fishing Boat RIDES set.  I love these sets that have all the fun accessories plus the dies to cut all of the images out.  The other great thing about these, is that the accessories can be used with other sets and vice versa.  Back in June, Sharon used the fishing net on her Pickleball Patty card to have her catching butterflies instead of playing pickleball.  Ingenious!!  

I stamped all of the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then die cut each with the corresponding dies.

For the wave layers, I cut panels with a cloud die turned upside down.  I then used a stencil brush and stamped white paint (Dr PH Martin's Bleed Proof) across the top to mimic waves.

I cut a slider track out of the darkest wave piece and placed foam tape along the back side bottom, top and left side.  

I also placed a small piece of foam tape on the back of the boat to fit in the slider track. 

 I then created a slider pull tab long enough to fit behind the boat to the right side of the panel.   Place the boat foam through the slider track and attach the pull tab to the foam tape.  Adhere to the card base.

Place foam tape (double stacked) onto the back side bottom and sides of the second wave panel.  Make sure that this foam tape does not hinder the movement of the boat.  Adhere this piece over the darkest wave panel on the card base.  Lastly, add the lightest wave panel over the top.  I did not pop up this layer.

Here is a video of how the boat rides the waves:

That's it for my card today.  Hope this gets you in the mood to enter the challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set.  

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  C00, C0, C1, C2

E00, E01, E11, E21, E25

Y13, Y15, Y17

YR12, YR14, YR16

YG91, YG93   R22, R24

B000, B12, B14

Little Pink (Storybook) Houses by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!!

If you haven't had time to check out the two new Storybook series releases,
now is the time to head over to the website and see them.

I've used the 6116 – Thinking of Home
on my card.

My card is for the Furry Friends challenge.

Enter your handmade creation by clicking on the challenge banner.

Although I used the template die set that coordinates with the stamp sets,

I chose to place it on the card like a frame.

I finished it off with a pretty little bow.

These sets are so cute!

Whimsical Storybook by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Art Impressions just released two brand new sets for the Storybook Line and I'm in love with both of them! They are soooo cute and perfect for little pieces of decor to place around the house. My post today shows you the project I created using #Whimsical Storybook. I wanted this one to actually be like a little book where you could flip the pages, so instead of using #6121 Storybook Template, I grabbed #5806 Slim Journal Template. The slim journal is perfect for doing so many different types of projects!! I stamped all the images from #6223 Whimsical Storybook Set onto a Copic friendly paper using Memento ink. The colors I used are listed below this post. After coloring and die cutting them all out, I set out to create a home for them. 

I die cut the slim journal out of cardstock and then added paper from #6205 Floral Shop PP. To make the frame around the center cutouts, I taped together two dies from #5065 Oval Double Stitched Dies and cut enough for all the pages of the journal. I thought the size of the fence from #4967 WC Fence Dies was perfect for this project!  Here's a look at the inside layers of my project. 

I added a few layers of clouds for fun. 

There's plenty of room to sign this I want to give it away as a card to someone! 

And one last look at the finished piece. 

So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and I hope I was able to inspire you to get and use the brand new Whimsical Storybook Set #6223. Until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 11, 17, 31, 33, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 51, 53, 55, and 57

YR20, 21, 23, 24, and 27

YG01, 03, and 05

V25 and 28

Y13, 15, and 19

G000, 82, and 85

B000 and 01

W0 and 2

C0, 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, and 7

R00, 20, 22, 24, and 27

From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

Welcome to Watercolor Weekend; today is August 23, 2026

There’s something truly special about giving a classic stamp a new look. For this A2-size card, I combined the classic door stamp #5433 (WC Foundation Door) from 2021 with the recently released flower stamps #6270 and #6271 (Foliage Set 6 and  Flower Set 7) to recreate a charming scene filled with color and texture.

Painting the Door and Creating the Brick Wall

I began by stamping the door using Tombow markers #969 and #565. To color the door, I chose light shades of gray, purple, and blue to give it the appearance of weathered white wood. I then colored the flower pots and steps using very light shades of pink, purple, green, and blue.                   

                             

To create the background wall, I used a brick stencil paired with a dry-brush watercolor technique for a soft, artistic look. By applying a small amount of watercolor to a relatively dry brush and lightly sweeping it across the stencil, I achieved a beautiful, uneven texture that gives the wall an aged character.

                    


   
Adding the Flowers
Using Foliage Set 6 and Flower Set 7, I inked the stamps with markers and stamped the flowers directly into the pots. I also added foliage over the door and a wreath using stamp set 5830. Because the ink dilutes slightly with water, each flower features a unique blend of color, making it look as though a vibrant garden is growing right outside. To finish, I used PH Martin Bleed Proof White to add small white flowers. I painted the door hardware in gold and added a touch of grass to the bottom step using foliage set 1 (#4051).
                                                        

Putting the Card Together

Once completely dry, I trimmed the main panel to 4" x 5.25" and layered it over a 4.25" x 5.5" coordinated background from the Winter Woodland paper pack (#5964). Finally, I mounted the entire piece onto an A2 card base.

The watercolor effect from the Tombow markers brings everything together beautifully, creating a soft, hand-painted finish that looks completely custom.

A Quick Tip
When using Tombow markers with stamps, experiment with your water ratio. Less water preserves defined details, while more water creates softer, blended colors. Don't be afraid to let the colors mix and move naturally—those minor variations are what make each image look like a miniature watercolor painting.
 

Second Project: I will SEA you Soon

For my second card, I used stamps 5054 and 5509 along with Tombow markers to craft another watercolor-style scene. This image features a boy pausing during a playful day at the beach to watch a sailboat in the distance (featuring the exclusive sailboat stamp, WC0526).

I hope these projects inspire you to break out your classic favorite stamps and combine them with something new. Sometimes, the most unexpected combinations create the most beautiful cards!

Happy Crafting!

Neema 

Last Days of Summer Card and Interactive Whimsical Storybook Box by Diane Mason

  Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

 

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I have two projects to share with you today. The first is a card featuring a darling, sleepy little girl resting in her favorite rocking chair, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the last days of summer. The second project highlights one of the newest additions to the Storybook Box Series.

Last Days of Summer Card: 

This square card was inspired by all the kids heading back to school. I was always a little sad when Summer Break came to an end — it always seemed to fly by too quickly. This sweet little girl is nestled in her rocking chair in the garden, soaking up the sunshine and savoring those final, carefree days of summer.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Cardstock: Purple

Patterned Paper: 5939 – Fairy Garden Paper Pack

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

Stamps & Dies:

• 5360 – WC Rocking Chair Set
• 5578 – Little Angels Set
• 5475 – Flower Set 6
• 6271 – Flower Set 7
• 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1
• 6270 – Foliage Set 6
• 6047 – Scalloped Square Dies

Ink for stamped images: Versafine Smokey Gray & N52

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 177, 249, 555, 565, 603, 606, 910, 912, 977, 969, 772

Other: Post-It tape, Masking Paper, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Brown TwinTone Markers

Since I knew I’d need to do some masking for this scene, I first stamped the rocking chair (5360 – WC Rocking Chair Set) and the girl (5578 – Little Angels Set) on scrap paper. This helped me see exactly where to place the masks so the girl would look naturally seated in the chair. I also left off her wings for this design. The rocking chair was inked with Versafine Smokey Gray, and the girl was selectively inked with N52. Once I had the placement figured out, I stamped the images on to Canson XL watercolor paper.

Painting:

I brushed in the sky with a watery mix of 555. For the foliage, I stamped with 177 and 249, and the flowers were stamped in 555 and 606. I used 603 for the girl’s dress and 277 for her hair and shoes. Her skin was painted with 910 and 912, with 172 added to her cheeks. The rocking chair was shaded with 565.

White highlights were added with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, and I finished the scene by adding small details where needed with a brown TwinTone marker.

I matted the painting using the largest square scalloped die (6047 – Scalloped Square Dies), cut from purple cardstock, and layered it onto a 4¼ x 4¼‑inch piece of patterned paper from the 5939 – Fairy Garden Paper Pack. The panel was then adhered to a square white card base of the same size.

Interactive Whimsical Storybook Box:

My next project features the newly released 6223 – Whimsical Storybook Set. This set includes both a fairy and a gnome that can perch on the wooden stump, and I couldn’t choose between them — so I used both and made the box interactive! I attached tiny magnets to the backs of the fairy and the gnome, as well as to the inside front and back of the box, so you can swap them out whenever you like. It’s such a fun little detail that brings the whole Storybook scene to life.

Here are all the images painted and die cut. Colors used: 679, 177, 249, 885, 847, N25, N52, 565, 555, 905, 845, 992, 977, 925,192,133, 526, 912, and 942. I used branches from 4964 – WC Branches Set for the trees and leaves from 5372 – WC Mini Foliage Set. The grass is from 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1. The images were stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink. Red, blue and brown TwinTone markers were used to add detail.

Adding the magnets:

 

Interactive Options (front):

Interactive Options (back):

The gnome and fairy can be attached magnetically to the back too!

The sentiment is from 5935 – Fairytale Houses Set. Patterned paper is from 5832 – Gnome Paper Pack.

I think anyone would be super excited to receive this adorable interactive Storybook Box as a gift! Reminder: Safety First - this should not be given to a small child – tiny magnets are a chocking hazard and should not be ingested!

Thank you so much for joining me for Watercolor Weekend. I hope you have enjoyed today’s projects! Until next time, Happy Painting!