Glass Flowers and Birds and Bicycle Shop by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello, and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend!! I love playing with random ideas, it’s even better when they turn out the way you want them too! Ever since I started with the watercolor line, I have found myself seeing inspiration everywhere. The versatility of these stamps leave endless possibilities. The idea for my first card actually came from an embossing folder, I just added birds into the mix.  

I started out using the acrylic piece from the stamp positioner set, and traced around it to give me a guide on watercolor paper.  I then masked the sides off with post-it tape.  Stamping in 3 of the birds from Kim’s set 5980 KH Song Birds and Feeders in N49 and stamping off once.  I then created masks for each of the birds. Taking two of the flowers from 5981 My Joy Set, using both the left and right, and stamped them in N49 after stamping off once. Turning my paper in different directions as I was stamping them in. 

I wasn’t fully decided yet on where I was going with this, so I started with 569 for the background. I knew I wanted the design to be lighter, so I focused more color around the images to help them pop. Sometimes making decisions about what color to use can be hard. I used my stamp off piece to figure out the colors I wanted to go with, trying several different variations before I settled on a combo that almost made the images look like glass. Before painting the images, I used a pencil on the eyes and legs of the birds. Starting out with N52, which is a beautiful blueish grey, giving some depth to the center areas of the flowers, and using it to define the leaves and birds. I also used this color for any areas that would be shadowed. I then went back over it again with the N52, but focused the color around the centers of the flowers and darkening up any shadowed areas. I then used 526 to add a touch of color over the images, trying to keep it a bit subtle. I then matted my card with an embossed design, cut down my image leaving a bit of a white border and matted the image with a dark blue paper. Popping the image up with foam tape and offset the image on the card base. 

For my 2^nd card, I created a bike shop using 5260 WC Large Shop Set. On watercolor paper, I first stamped the bicycle from 5990 Dwelling Accessory Set and created a mask, the size of this bicycle was absolutely perfect!! I used the stamp positioner to help me place the shop exactly where I wanted it. I wanted to try out the new ink pad that is now available, Archival Ink in Shadow Grey, so that is what I used for both images.  I did, however, use a mix of 565/969 to add a bit of dimension to the building, just like you would if you were pulling the color out.

I then took a pencil and ruler to sketch in some details that I wanted on the roof, windows, and the sign.  Creating the roof tiles, I offset them and rounded the bottoms, using the pencil lines as a guide.  Using the largest circle from the Double Stitched dies, I also traced a guideline around my image.

373 is what I used on the roof, door, and trim, I also used that color on the canopies, after I had sketched in some lines on them later.  For the walls on the building I started with 090, I was going for a soft cream color, but next to the teal it almost had a green tint to it, so I lightly went over it with 990 to tone it down.  I played a little bit with the window panes, I wanted a look of an idea that there was a bunch of stuff in the shop. So in different sized blocks I used 565, 912, 055, 133, and 676.  I used 565 to shadow the door, canopies, roof peak, and also the window boxes.  I used 947 on the chimney, sign, and door knob, with a touch of 969 for the shadows. A little bit of 947 was also used on the tiles to create spaces with a little more dimension.  I also used 565 behind the sign for a shadow and at the base of it. For the bike I used 969 on the seat and handles, darkening the underside of both with the same color.  The frame of the bike was painted with 912, adding more in the shadowed areas. The pedal I used N15, and the tires a mix of 565/969.  I then masked off the bike again and each of the window boxes. The flower bunch from 5009, inked with 177 and 676, for the flower boxes.  As you can see, none of the green made it into the scene, but my masks are a lovely green! LOL! I then used the small vines from 5126 WC Foliage Set 4, inking just the tip in 177.  Stamping in multiples to create a bush under the boxes on each side, and creating a vine going up on the left side.  It was at this point I wished I had thought to add a light from 5263 WC Lamp Post Set, but I already had too much color in to do so.  Just throwing that idea out in case you wish to try.   Softening both the flowers and vines with a touch of water.  After they were dry I added in little dots of Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White.  I still felt the building needed something, so I decided to add bricks with 947, to give it some texture.  Some more of 565 was used to add a bit more shadows in the door well and behind the bike tires.  I used 526 for the sky, and a mix of 565/969 for the ground.  I then used 5064 Circle Double Stitch Dies, using the largest to cut out my image, and matted it onto a dark teal die cut from my stash.  I then matted my card base with paper from 6011 Basic Teal Paper Pack.  I really love how this came out.  Thank you for joining me today, and I hope you enjoyed my cards! Until next time!  Create….Share….Inspire!!

I'm Your Love Bug by Janet

Hello everyone! I hope your weekend is off to a great start. This week, I dove headfirst into the "Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT!" challenge on the Ai Blog, and let me tell you, I was thrilled! There's nothing I love more than making a creative mess, especially when it's for a good cause – like winning free stamps!

My card is a vibrant message of love, centered around an adorable ladybug from the 6041 - Flower and Bug set. She's perched on a beautifully stacked and layered heart, crafted from seven layers of pink and navy cardstock using the 5721 - Nested Heart Dies. Building it up with foam tape really makes this heart pop right off the card, creating a bold statement. In the four corners, I spelled out "LOVE" using gold cardstock letters from the 5910 - Large Letter Die Set, placing them strategically above and below the prominent heart.

Before adding these elements, I had some serious fun creating the background. The colorful mat started with a three-layer stencil, blending cheerful blue and pink Oxide inks. For the dazzling third layer, I painted it with Winsor Newton Gold paint from Art Impressions – pure metallic magic! Once that was done, I watered down some blue watercolor paint and generously splattered it across the panel. Then, I followed up with simple water droplets. Because the bright pink and blue inks are water-reactive, these drops created a fantastic bleached-out, textured effect where they landed. To push the texture even further, I ran the whole panel through an embossing folder.

After arranging and gluing all the pieces, I felt it needed one final touch. A sweet pink and white polka dot bow, complete with a heart gem in the middle, was the perfect complement to the main heart and ladybug.

I truly hope you'll join in on the "Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT!" challenge! It's a fantastic excuse to play and create, and you'll get a chance to win free stamps just by uploading your creation to the challenge post on the blog. I can't wait to see what amazing things you create!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Don't forget to find your favorite stamps, dies, and accessories at the Ai Store! Make a visit today.

Happy crafting!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest 

Happy Bee-day! Card by Tasha

Happy Friday, Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a fun card I made for the current Ai “Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT!” Challenge. I had so much fun getting a little messy with this one!

For my project, I used the super cute 5925-Honey Bee Set; these little bees are just adorable and perfect for a cheerful birthday card. This set has tons of great stamps for building your own custom scene, and I love that it comes with the matching dies too!

Since the challenge theme was all about spritzing, splattering, and painting, I really leaned into that by splattering some gold Winsor & Newton ink over a golden ink-blended background. I also used the honeycomb stamp from the set to add some extra texture and detail behind the bees.

To pull everything together, I layered gold glitter paper with pink, black, and gold cardstock, and added a pop of yellow plaid pattern paper; I just love how cheerful and bright these colors look together! The pink and yellow combo might be one of my new favorites.

To finish the card, I added a simple “Happy Birthday” sentiment on a little banner. That was the perfect final touch!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you’ll join in on this fun challenge!

Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT! Challenge Week #2

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to week #2 or our
Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT! challenge!

The reason behind this fun new challenge?

There is amazing new gold paint available at Art Impressions!

Winsor Newton Ink 14ml – Gold Paint

You can splatter this on your projects, add highlights, paint paper, stamp with it...yes, you heard me...It is SO gorgeous and versatile.

To enter our challenge it doesn't have to be gold. You can use the ever popular Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White, some spritzes you may have on hand or any other paint that you like to craft with.

Last week I was the Featured Designer.

Read my post to hear all about it.

Now let's see what the other Design Team members created for you.

Tasha created this adorable bee themed card.
She used 
Winsor Newton Ink 14ml – Gold Paint
5925 – Honey Bee Set
5063 – Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies

5724 – Nested Rectangle Dies

6012 – Basic Yellow Paper Pack

Signo Pigment Ink Gel Pen – White

  

Next, we have Janet's fun card using

5721 – Nested Heart Dies

6041 – Flower & Bug Dies

5910 – Large Letter Die Set

Winsor Newton Ink 14ml – Gold Paint

You can find Lynn's lovely card and tutorial HERE.

Dori's darling card is HERE.

Sharon's sweet card is HERE.

I made a second card for the challenge and you can find that HERE.

We hope you've enjoyed our DT inspiration.

Now onto our challenge!

Go ahead and try out some paint on your projects! It doesn't have to be gold. You can use the ever popular Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White, some spritzes you may have on hand or any other paint that you like to craft with.

Be sure to enter your creation for the chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions. 

We award one Top Spot and one Lucky Random Winner and each will win a free stamp set from Art Impressions.

✻ 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.

 ✻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

Golden Mermaid by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

My card today was inspired by the current blog challenge "Spritz, Splatter and Paint!"  A perfect way to showcase the new Winsor Newton Ink 14ml - Gold Paint sold now on the Art Impressions website.  Although the challenge does not stipulate that you have to use gold, you can use any spritz, splatter or any color paint.  I chose to use the new product, since it was new to me too.

This gold paint is awesome and adds such glimmer and shimmer to your project.  I played with it a little bit to see how I wanted to use it.  I loved the look with stencils and a makeup sponge, smooshed onto the paper and spritzed or splattered.  For my card, I chose to paint with it, stamp it and also used it in a mister (mix with a touch of water in a mister).  

I stamped the #5903 - Treasured Armful Mermaid images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then die cut each of the images using the coordinating dies that come with the stamp set.  I'm using a background that I made awhile back but thought it would be perfect for this card.   Using the backside of photo paper, I believe I used Ranger alcohol inks - Mermaid and Glacier - but any blues will work.  I also used a bubble frame die that I had in my stash.    

I painted the treasure chest with the Winsor Newton gold paint as well as the middle of the flower in her hair.  When you zoom in, you can really see the result.  I painted some gold onto the sentiment stamp and stamped it onto white cardstock.   But, I liked the use of the gold paint in a mister the best.  This produced the best shimmer and still left the color underneath showing through.  See the sand in the picture above and the mermaid tail and hair in the picture below.  One or two mists will do the trick, but it's hard to stop.  I actually sprayed too much the first time but was able to wipe some of it off.  Wait until it slightly dries first, then wipe a paper towel lightly over it.    

After all the images were colored, painted and sprayed, I assembled the card.  This little mermaid actually swings back and forth as if swimming.  

Punch a hole in the background behind where her head will be, large enough for a foam pop dot.  Glue a penny, button or paper disc to one side of the pop dot.  Place the pop dot through the hole from the backside and adhere the mermaid (approx. forehead) to the pop dot poking through.  She should rock nicely at this point.  Place a thicker layer of foam tape on the backside of the background avoiding the penny, button, or disc.  Adhere onto your card base.  Test to make sure that she moves freely.  Pop up the frame so it is slightly higher than the inner square.  This will help stop her movement so she doesn't flip all the way around.

I hope you join in our blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set.  We love to see what you create!

Have a wonderful day and keep crafting!

Copics used:  E000, E01, E11, R20

E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, YR31

RV63, RV66; V05

YG09, BG05

Create a "FAUX" Large Background Die Using Your Border Dies - by Lynn Dionne

Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!!!

Watch video tutorial here!!!

Today we will be using our border/belly band dies to create the look of a full background die-cut panel, thereby, creating a "faux" background die with just one small border die!

Today's card was inspired by the current Ai "Spritz, Splatter, and Paint" Blog Challenge ... and we will be doing a lot of that today!

To begin we will create the colored background for the card by applying some Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Shaded Lilac and Villainous Potion using a blending brush. This will give us some light and dark areas on the panel.

Next, we will add some spatters using the Tim Holtz Distress Spritz in the Villainous Potion as well. This will add some color and shimmer!

Let's also spatter on some Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White Ink all over the background. This will brighten up the panel and bring in some more of the white which will tie in nicely to our "faux" background die.

To create the "faux" die cut large background you can use any of your border dies or in this case we will use a die from the pretty Ai Decorative Belly Band Dies (5804) Set. You will need to die cut 7 times from some white cardstock.

Once you have all 7 die-cut we can attach them to the colored and spattered panel being sure to line them up nice and straight and butt them up against each other. This will honestly give you the perfect look of a large background die. This is fun because you can create your own patterns and looks with just a simple border die!

Let's attach this to a piece of black cardstock just slightly larger than this background. That will frame everything nicely. Now we will add some pretty purple velvet ribbon around the center of the panel. Before we pop this up onto the card, we can stamp the "Thinking of You" sentiment in the bottom right-hand corner from that same stamp set.

Now we can die cut two hearts, a larger in black and a smaller one in white, so that we can stamp the flowers onto the smaller white one. For the beautiful irises, we will use the stamp from the Ai Tulip Floral Set (6061) and color the center of the flowers and stems using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Yellow, Lt Green, Green. However, to color the flowers we will use the TH Oxide Inks that we used on the background. That way everything will match up perfectly!

Once the coloring is done, we can add some Wink of Stella Glitter to the flowers. Let's also add a few "ice" gems to the die cut panel for some added interest!

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

Ai Tulip Floral Set (6061)

Ai Decorative Belly Band Dies (5804)

Ai Nested Heart Dies (5721)

#0 Royal Round Detail Brush

Wink of Stella Glitter Pen - Clear

Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White Ink

Hello card with GOLD paint! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing the second card that I made for the
Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT challenge here on the Art Impressions Challenge Blog.

I started by embossing a light blue piece of cardstock and then I chose certain raised parts of it to paint with the new Winsor & Newton Gold paint from Art Impressions.

I also die cut two pieces of Canson watercolor paper. One, I painted gold. The other was glued to the back of it to make it sturdier because I wanted to pop up my frame.

Inside the frame I added the recipients initial, a little flower and (of course) a bee!

A little hello finished it off.

Be sure to enter your creation that uses paint in some form on your project.

Rusty bucket of daisies by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!!

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend and a safe and happy 4th of July if you celebrate! So, who doesn't love old rusty buckets, daisies, and gnomes?! LOL! I created a cute summer scene for you today using several different sets from Art Impressions. I started out using the bucket from 5597 Harvest Wheelbarrow Set. When I stamped it onto my Copic friendly paper, I also stamped another one onto masking paper. After applying the mask, I stamped one set of the daisies from 5918 Floral Long Stem Bouquet Set and also created a mask for that stamp.  That allowed me to stamp another set of them on the other side of the bucket to fill it up. Have you seen the new Winsor & Newton Gold Paint that Art Impressions is carrying now? Gorgeous and so easy to use! I grabbed it and a butterfly from 5981 My Joy Set. I messed one of them up (sad face), but I still love the way they look! I also added the paint to the centers of the flowers, the leaves, and the belt and button on one of the gnomes! I love the glimmer it added to the card! 

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

Water of Life and Hiker Foundation by Karen Day

 Hello Ai Watercolour fans!

My first card is using one of the newly released Scenic Foundation sets that have more of a masculine feel to them.  This is the 6068 - Hiker Foundation set.

Using my Misti, I stamped the image onto my Canson XL watercolour paper using Tombows #969/565.  *With a larger image like this, it helps to use a stamping platform, as you can reink and stamp it a second time if your first impression isn't perfect.  Before stamping the foliage, I painted light shades of #565 on the mountains, getting a little darker for the hills in the foreground.  I was aiming for some striking contrast, so used #346 to paint in the two closest bits of land.  I wanted a bit of a sunset sky, so I started by mixing #991 and #856 to give me tones of yellow and peach.  I echoed the same colours in the water, reflecting both the mountains and the sunset.  I added streaks of darker tones to the water to make it look like ripples on the lake.

The grass in the foreground was painted with a wash of #177, and layers of #992 were painted on the pathway.  The two main trees were painted with streaks of #992/969/947, as were the edges of the pathway under the grass overhang.  After pulling out the colour of the rocks with my damp brush, I added more shades of N52/565/992 to the stones, creating contrast between the rocks.  I used the foliage stamp from 5373 - WC LG Tree Set and #177/249 to stamp the foliage on each of the trees, turning the stamp so that it would appear irregular.  I touched the foliage with a damp brush to soften it, and added in a few darker tones for shadows.  I used the tiny sprig from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set and #177/346 to add a few low shrubs in and around the trees and rocks, then added a few branches from 4964 - WC Branches Set in #969.  A little grass was added in #177 using the small grass from Foliage Set - 4051.

I painted the hiker in coordinating colours #565/992/177/969, other than his bright hat in #856.  I hadn't painted in the sun before I added the foliage (should have!), so I just dabbed some white at the edge of the mountain, and then painted some white streaks into the water to indicate the sun.  White paint was also used to add in some flowers on the shrubs.  As a final touch, I used my paint brush and #346 to add a line of pine trees to one of the hillsides.  The image was die cut with the 5063 - A2 Rectangle Double Stitched Dies, matted with a warm brown, and adhered to my base with 3D foam adhesive.

My second card is using two of the new sets from the Bible Journaling line.

I die cut my Canson XL watercolour paper with the 5063 - A2 Rectangle Double Stitched Dies, and stamped the sleeping lamb from 6025 - Fear Not Set using #969/565.  After masking him, the stone well from 6055 - Water of Life Set was stamped behind him.  I pulled out the colour from the lines on the well, concentrating the colour where shadows would be - then added more N52/565 to darken the stones.  On the lamb, I added #850 to his ears and nose, and painted it as a wash over his fleece, to add a little warmth.  N52/565 were used for shadows, and to add some dabbled texture to indicate the fleece.

#126 was painted as a wash for the grass, and #493 done as a wash in the sky.  The two long grass stamps from 6025 were stamped around the well in #177, and two of the floral images were stamped in #177/856, on either side.  The small grass from Foliage Set - 4051 added a little texture in #177 around the bottom.  I used a light version of #565 to paint the bird, and touch some pale orange to his beak.  I used my black Twintone marker to darken the eye of the bird, and those of the lamb.  My grey Twintone marker was really helpful in redefining the lines of the well that had blurred a bit after painting, and for darkening the bird's legs.  Since I don't have a lot of luck in spattering paint on my images, I used the grey Twintone to add little dots around my image to suggest a little texture in my painting.

The sentiment is from the retired Exclusive Daisy set from several years ago.  I added a grey mat to my painting, and adhered it with 3D foam adhesive to my base which is paper from the 6011 - Basic Teal PP.