Spring Bird Cards by Jami Steiger

 

Good morning, watercolor friends. With everything in Ohio now in full bloom and beautifully vibrant, I've been delighted watching the birds in our backyard. They served as my inspiration for today's cards.  

For my first card, I used the 5261-WC Large Birdhouse Set. I started by coloring the birdhouse stamp with Tombow markers 565 and 969. I stamped off once. I used the stamp positioner to place the birds in the scene. I then painted the birds, trying to make them as realistic as possible. After the scene was painted, I added Dr. PH. Martin's Bleed Proof White to add white highlights. I used a sentiment from the 5797-Little Sentiment Set and die-cut a tag using paper from the 6082-Bible Journaling S1 Paper Pack.

Tombow markers: 969, 565, 177, 837, 025, 879, 856, 528, N65, and N35.

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For my second card, I used these supplies: 5130-On The Sparrow Set; 6045-Scalloped Circle Dies; and Tombow markers: 969, 565, 177, N35, N65, 977, 837, 025, and 879.

Country Church and Hydrangea Florals with Guest Designer Julie Worthing

Hello Ai fans and welcome to Watercolor Weekend!

Today we have our second Guest Designer for April in place of Diane who
needed some personal time off.

Please give a warm welcome to Julie Worthing and enjoy her BEAUTIFUL creations.

Julie Worthing

 I was honored to be asked to create a card for the Guest Designer series. Today I created a beautiful scene focusing on a stamp from the Church set. The list of stamps and supplies used are as follows:

5058 - Church Set

5009 - WC Mini Flower set

5007 - Foliage Set 3 - tall grass

4051 - Original Foliage set - Large grass

5372 - WC Mini Foliage Set - Hedge, small grass and Tree

5373 - WC Large Tree Set - Leaves

Pens & Other accessories:

Dr. PH Martins

Pencil

Post it Tape - 3 1/2 by 3 3/4

Tombow Dual Brush Pens

173

177

249

526

533

565

856

933

969

993

Brown Twin Tone

First I used Post it Tape to make a frame for the painting. Next I stamped the church first using 565, then 969 and stamped off twice as the stamp is rubber.

Then I free handed the mountain line and greenway on either side of the church. Next I pulled color from the church lines and then water colored it with 565 and 969 mixed together for the roof and steeple. I used 565 on the window and then used Dr PH Martins for the panes. Next I painted the mountains with a blend of 565 and 553.

Then I stamped the small trees using the mini foliage set and the hedges. For the larger tree I used the leaves from the large tree set. Then used water to dab all trees and hedges and pulled some of the green down to create a slope. Next I used the grass from the mini foliage and stamped with 177 at the base of the church and after dabbing it with water, I added 249 off my palette as well as adding a little 249 and 177 to the trees.

After that I used various greens (177, 249, 177), orange (933) and yellow (993) to create the field base. I used the tall grass (5007) in the field and the large grass (4051) at the base of the card.

For flowers I used the tiny dots from the mini flower set with red (856) at the base of the Church and scattered in the field. I also used the yellow (993) with the mini stamp in the field. I then used Dr Ph Martin to create daisies and after drying, added yellow (993) to the center. The also used the white paint to added small dots in the field and next to the Church.

For the sky I used 569, 533, 993, 856, and 933 and a small amount of diluted Ph Martins.

Lastly, I added the cross on the top of the steeple with the brown Twintone and accented with the Twintone where I thought would enhance the picture and 565 for o

I removed the post it tape and then cut edges about 1/4 inch to crate a border.

For my second card I made a lilac colored Hydrangea floral arrangement.

Sets used:

4870 - WC Ornate Container Set

5827 - Hydrangea Set
5742 - Easter Journal Paper Pack

I hope you enjoy my little paintings and thank you Renee for asking me to help out!

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Thank you so much to Julie for helping out this month.

We hope you enjoyed her inspiration on this Watercolor Weekend.

See you tomorrow for more wonderful paintings from Jami.

Julie Worthing

Fresh Flowers For You by Janet

 Happy Saturday everyone! I'm in such a mood for spring so it's a good thing there are so many great Art Impression sets to explore the season with! Here I've had a great time exploring coloring with pencils and watercolor using the new 6196 - Fresh Flowers stamp set. 

Those of you who see my work here each week, know that I almost exclusively use markers but this set and the other five sets in this line have inspired me to try using two coloring mediums that I'm not very experienced using. Is this perfect? Absolutely not. But I had a wonderful experience using something out of my comfort zone and overall, I'm happy with the result. I hope you agree. 

Sometimes we are afraid to do something we haven't done before. Believe me, there were moments when I was tempted to quit and give up. I was critical of my technique and my skills. But you know what? Art and expression is about the journey not perfection. I'm so glad I didn't quit!

After finishing my coloring, I used a die from 6047 - Scalloped Squares Dies to cut it out for my card. I cut a larger scalloped lace border with the largest die from the set and mounted the two pieces together. I backed this with a slate blue glimmer cardstock. Then I mounted that on a piece of glimmer pink cardstock before mounting the stack on a 5 x 5 square card base. I added the sentiment from the set and I used a gold Signo pen to draw a dash dot border around the card edges. I used a white Signo pen to add some highlights to the canopy and flowers. Finally I added a pink satin bow to the corner.

Thanks for joining me on the blog today. I hope I've inspired you to try a technique that's outside your comfort zone. You might discover something that surprises you!

Please stop by the Ai store. You'll find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store!

Happy Crafting!

Fabulous Gardener Gail! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions Friends!

Tasha here sharing a card featuring the fun 6076-Gardener Gail stamp set and the 6099-Garden Paper Pack to create a fun little gardening scene.

I started by stamping Gail and used the included dies to cut the image out before coloring. I wanted to coordinate with the pattern paper, so I colored the flower with the same shades on the flowers in the background. I love the happy yellow petals!

To complete the card, I added several layers of card stock and a frame cut from Art Impressions floral pattern paper. I also stamped "Pruned & Fabulous" and attached a white frame around the greeting. I think these colors are great and the sentiment is perfect to send to anyone, anytime of the year!

I hope you enjoyed today's project and are having a wonderful day!

Feeling Crafty Challenge #426 Week #1

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to our

"Feeling Crafty" challenge.

This one couldn't be simpler.
Use craft paper on your project somewhere.

Our Featured Designer is Tasha and you're going to love her card!

After you browse what she's created, be sure to scroll down to see who won our

"I See Right Through You" challenge.
I just loved all of the entries! So many beautiful projects.

Take it away, Tasha!

Tasha here sharing a fun card fold featuring the 5798-Gardening Girlfriends Set and 5734-Friend Sentiment Set. These two friends look so happy and are perfect for a Spring card.

Card Tutorial:

Step 1: Card Base (Kraft Paper) - Cut at 4-1/4" x  8-1/2" and Score at 3"

Step 2: Inside Small Card Base (Kraft Paper) - Cut at 3" x 9" and Score at 4-1/2"

Step 3: Cut x2 pieces of pattern paper

Step 4: Stamp the image on to white cardstock cut at 2-1/2" x 4"

Step 5: Cut a layer to mat the stamped image at 2-3/4" x 4-1/4" (Pink)

Step 6: Glue the white card on to the layer

Step 7: Attach the two pattern paper layers to the main card base panels. 

Step 8: Cut a scalloped inside card using the 6048-Scalloped Rectangle Die Set

Step 9: Stamp a greeting (5734-Friend Sentiment Set)

Step 10: Attach the scalloped paper to the inside of the small card base.

Step 11: Attach the small card base to the center of the large card base as shown below.

Step 12: Fold all the panels on the score lines to complete the card.

A2 size card (4-1/4" x 5-1/2")

Step 13: Stamp a smaller greeting on to a paper strip or banner and attach it to the front of the card. 

Step 14: Send it to someone special!

Thank you for checking out today's card and I hope you will participate in the challenge!

Have a wonderful day!

What a pretty card, sure to bring a smile to someone's face.

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

 For our Top Spot we selected: Marianne H.
We loved her very creative see through net.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Be sure to grab your winner's badge to display on your social media.

Our Lucky Random Winner was: Zilla S.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Be sure to grab your winner's badge to display on your social media.

Congratulations to both of our winners!

Now for our new challenge!

 ✻ 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

Bunny in Flower bendy card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I recently purchased the Bunny set #4886K – Easter Blessings, and I’ve already made so many cards with it. It’s not just for Easter either! I’ve used it for birthdays, spring cards, thinking‑of‑you cards, and more. The images in this set are adorable and so versatile.

I love making fun‑fold cards, and this design works perfectly on a bendy card. It’s simple to put together, lays flat for mailing and the recipient enjoys how it stands on display.

I began by stamping this cute little image onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut with one of the dies from the #6045 Scallop Nested Circle die set and then matted on pink cardstock cut with the #5726 Nested Circle die.  

To make card base - Cut a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" piece of heavy cardstock.  Score and fold in half (valley fold) at 2 3/4".

Also cut a piece of white cardstock using the #6155 Margin die.  I cut the straight edge to make the margin die approx. 1 1/4" wide (high) and then cut a bit off of each side evenly to make it 6" in length with the heart being in the middle.  I trimmed a piece of pink cardstock and glued behind the heart cutouts.  I then scored at 1/4" along each side of this 6" panel.  Fold the 1/4" tabs under and glue to the front side of the card base.  

  Cut two panels of designer paper to fit each half of the card base (2 5/8" x 4 1/8").  Glue one of these to each side of the card base, in between the margin die panel and the card base, covering the tabs of the margin die panel.

For the bendy portion of the card - Cut a piece of pink cardstock at 5" x 4".  Score and mountain fold each at 1/4" and 2" from both sides of the 5" length.  Place liquid glue on each of the 1/4" tabs only and glue to the designer paper (under the margin die panel) centering this onto the base card.  I cut designer paper panels to fit each of the bendy folds leaving a slight border.  

Lastly, adhere the circle image panel to the middle fold of the bendy panel only, otherwise the card will not bend.

Add hearts, ribbon and the word "loved" (from the margin die set) for accents and dimension.

I hope you enjoyed my card today!  Thanks for joining me!

Have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53,     B000

R20, R22, R81, R83, R85

G20, G21, G24

Pretty Peony Margin w/ Vellum Overlay Card by Lynn Dionne

Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!

Watch video tutorial here!

Today's card would be great for the current Ai "I See Right Through You" Blog Challenge since we will be creating a card with a sheer vellum overlay. That will allow us to see right through to the pretty peonies and will soften the look of the card and give it and elegant touch! For the images, we will use the brand-new Ai Peony Margin Set (6164). This beautiful set comes with two margin stamps, and each have an elegant scroll border around the edges! What's also great is that the stamps are the reverse image of each other!

Next, we will stamp the image and color it in using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Lt Pink, Pink, Yellow, Ever Green, Green Gray. Now we can grab our gold gel pen and color the pretty scroll border. This will add some shine and elegance!

Using the brand-new Ai Ornate Margin Dies (6155) we will die cut the border of a 5" x 7" card base. We are only going to cut the border... so I will show you exactly how to do this in today's video.

We will add a gold metallic border around the peonies and die cut a sentiment from this same set. This set comes with two border dies and four sentiments. Just select the sentiment that you like best!

Now, let's add the vellum overlay by cutting it down to the same width as the peony panel and wrapping it around, and attaching it using some 1/4" double-sided tape.

For the inside of the card, we will cut a piece of pretty pink cardstock, wide enough to fit behind the scroll border on the front of the card. Then we will also add a thin strip of gold metallic cardstock right next to the pink.

Let's also add a metallic border around the peony border. And then we will select a patterned paper from the Ai Valentine's Series 2 Cover PP (6182). This paper is plenty long enough for a larger project like this one. We will cut this patterned paper to fit on the left side of the front of the card.

With another piece of pink paper cut to fit on the center of the card panel we will add the "loved" sentiment and pop up the entire piece onto to the card.

Let's add the peony margin to the card front and add some sparkly pink hearts. We will color in the hearts using our alcohol markers.

Finally, let's also add a few sequins for a bit more sparkle and interest!

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

Ai Peony Margin Set (6164)

Ai Ornate Margin Dies (6155)

Ai Valentine's Series 2 Cover PP (6182)

Signo Gel Pen - Gold

Focus on Faith: Tree of Knowledge card by Sara Furr

Blessings Crafty Friends, today I am sharing with you a card created using the new "Wisdom" Bible Journaling stamp sets.

I started by die cutting 3 Scalloped Ovals; the largest from a Teal colored 2 tone cardstock, the next largest from a piece of dsp from the "Bible Journaling S1 paper pack, and the smallest from Watercolor cardstock. After cutting the smallest scalloped Oval, I left the watercolor paper in the die and ink blended some blue at the top for sky, and some green at the bottom for grass. I then placed it in my MISTI stamping tool and lined up the tree of life stamp in the center of the oval, picked it up with the door, and inked it up with a brown marker, and stamped it onto the watercolor paper. (* Make sure you do not remove the stamp from the MISTI.)  I then pulled color from the lines with a damp brush, making sure to leave some white space in the center to make the tree appear round. I added in a bit more brown to the edges to darken them.  I then added 3 different shades of green "leaves" to the tree, working lightest to darkest, using a pouncing and smudging motion. I then added some more ground beneath the tree with a wash of light Grey and green. 

When that was all dry, I placed the oval back into my MISTI in the same position I had stamped it before, and inked up my stamp with Winsor Neuton gold paint and immediately stamped over top of the tree to give the outline of the tree a gold shimmer and make it appear "magical" as I imagine the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden must have appeared to Adam and Eve. This is very hard to capture in the photo, but in real life it shows up really well when you tilt it in the light!

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "Seek Wisdom" from the "Wisdom set 2" with black Versafine ink. I popped that focal point up with foam tape and applied a nest of DMC gold metallic thread behind that focal piece before adding it to the dsp oval. I added more foam tape behind that oval before adding it to the largest oval. I then set that focal piece aside to work on my base.

 I created a 6x6 card base out of a 2 tone Teal cardstock. I used the square of the same cardstock that I had cut the largest Scallop Oval out of (that will be hidden behind my embossed panel and no one will know I took it! Waste not, want not!). I created a slightly smaller panel from white cardstock that I dry embossed with a Spellbinders embossing folder. I distressed the edges of both of those 2 panels and adhered them together. Before adding that to my base, I tied a crinkle bow, that I had hand dyed from seam binding and a Light purple reinker, around those 2 layers off to the right hand side, and then added it to my base. I then added my focal piece ovals off to the left side over the ribbon. As a final touch, I added some self adhesive gold pearls to draw your eye around the card.

For the inside, I used the piece of dsp that I had cut my dsp Scalloped Oval from ( again it will be hidden from view and no one will know I took it!) I followed that with another layer of the Teal dsp and a white oval cut with the largest Scalloped Oval die. I placed that into my MISTI and positioned the 2 florals from the Wisdom set 1 at the top and bottom and the sentiment from the Wisdom set 2 positioned in the middle. I picked them up with the door and then applied an antistatic powder to the oval so I could do some heat embossing.  I inked up the stamps with Versamark ink and stamped them. I applied gold embossing powder and heat set the images. When that was cooled I added it to the center of the inside.

I thought the gold embossing on the inside helped tie together the gold elements I used on the front.

That finishes my card for today, I hope you like it and that you got inspired to get these 2 wonderful sets to create some of your own Faith inspiring projects. Thank you so much for joining me today.

Many blessings to you all, 

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick

These are all the supplies I used:

Art Impressions products:

6204-Wisdom set 2

6203-Wisdom set 1

6046-Scalloped Ovals

 6082-Bible Journaling S1 paper pack

Winsor Neuton gold paint

Canson Watercolor cardstock

Other products used:

MISTI stamping tool

Paper cutter

Die cutting machine

Scissors for distressing edges of cardstock

Paint brush

Water

Antistatic powder

Versafine Onyx black ink

Versamark ink

Gold embossing powder

Heat tool

Embossing folder

DMC gold metallic thread

Gold pearls

Foam tape

Adhesive

Seam binding ribbon

Blending brushes

Dye ink markers

Blue and green ink pads