Saturday, June 6, 2026

Flower Foundations by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello, and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend! It’s hard to believe that I have officially been on the Design Team for 2 years now, and it has been amazing so far!  I can’t wait to see what comes next! 

I am in love with the Flower Foundations, these are soooo beautiful! Even though they were created for the Holiday Lane Series, they are great as standalones for cards. 

For this card I used 6193 Petals and Blooms.  I started by stamping in Distress Ink Pumice Stone on my watercolor paper after stamping off once.  The main frame of the stand was painted with 228, the rest I used 947.  I really love how this combo turned out! The drawer handles were done in 026, which I feel is the closest to a gold color in the Tombow line.  For the pots on the counter, going left to right, I created a mask by stamping on some post-it tape and masked the pots after I had them colored.  I shaded the first pot with 565, and then added lines in with 817. Using the large foliage from 4051 Foliage Set 1, in 126 first using one of the short ends, and then added just a touch of 177.  4868 Flower Set 2 was used to add in the flowers by just inking the flowers with 025 and then separately with 905 in just spots for more of a contrast.  The 2nd pot I used 905, 5009 Mini Flower Set in the smaller version that I used on the first pot in 177 and 526.  I shaded the 3rd pot with 565 first and then added the detail in with 817. 5126 Foliage Set 4, small vine in 249. The last pot I used 636, and used a stamp positioner to place in the cat from 5324 MB Cat Accessories. I then masked off the cat and used 5126 Foliage Set 4, small vine in 126, and a line of 177 up the middle of the area that I colored with 126.  I stamped this multiple times going up and over the top of the stand, I also inked the stamp in just 177 and stamped a couple for a darker variation.  Going left to right on the bottom shelf, I also created a mask for these as well. I used 027 on the first pot and then added dots with the same color, I then took the large foliage again, and using one of the short sides and did the same thing I did for the pot above, but left the flowers out.  Next, the top pot, I shaded with 565, and the top rim I used 676.  The bottom pot I also shaded with 565, and used 905 on the bottom section.  I used the small vine in the combo of 126 and 177, I then decided I actually wanted it darker so I stamped in some more with just 177.  For the last pot I used 817 and added a darker line just below the top. I inked the daisy bunch from 4052 Flower Set 1 first in 703, and then only inked 1 flower and the dots beside it with 725 and stamped that in just a few times.  After removing the mask I added the small vine in 249.  I then went in with a damp brush and softened all of the flowers and foliage, making sure I cleaned off my brush between colors.  I added some shading with 565 around and under the stand.  I placed my piece in my stamp platform to add in the Petals & Blooms with 947.  Bleed Proof White was used throughout the scene for the white flowers. I then cut out my image with the 3rd from largest 6048 Scalloped Rectangle Dies, I also used the next one up to cut my mat for my image.  5838 Fall Paper Pack was used to mat my card base to finish off my card.   

For my 2nd card I used the 6194 Flower Shop. I stamped it on my watercolor paper with Distress Ink Pumice Stone after stamping off once.  I started with 312 for the walls and I also added some brick detail with the same color.  A light wash of 312 was also used on the sign and door, adding a bit of 565 to shade the top of the door.  I used a pencil and ruler to put in the grid panes on the window.  565 and 969 mixed to shade in the steps with an additional amount of 565 for a little more shading.  969 was used for all of the wood trim throughout the scene.  For the glass on the lantern I used 526 and shaded a bit with 565.  I also used 526 on the window, adding in a bit of 177, 025, 725, and shaded with 565. I finished off the lantern with N15, making sure I left a highlight in the middle.  For the door knob I used 026, and shaded just the bottom portion with a little bit of 947.  I masked around the top of the canopy with post-it tape and used the daisy bunch from 4052 Flower Set 1 with 817, stamping multiple times to get a variation, I blended these out with a damp brush and spreading the color out a bit.  I shaded the top and sides with 565.  I also added 817 to every other sections of the overhang, and shaded the ones left white with a bit of 565.  For the sprig on the door I used 5008 Flower Set 3, and a stamp positioner, inking just one of the flowers with 676 and a touch of 636, stamping several times with the aid of the positioner to get the flowers where I wanted them. I then took the foliage from 5009 Mini Flower Set in 177, and using the positioner again stamped it twice.  Using my brush and 177 I added two little ribbons hanging down.  For the hanging pot, I shaded with 565 first and then added details in with 817.  Using the vine from 5126 Foliage set 4, I inked it first in 126 and added a line up through the stamp with 177, stamping multiple times before re-inking the stamp.  For the top of the building I started with 5126 Foliage Set 4, using the leafy branch with the same combo of 126 and 177.  Stamping it a couple of times overhanging both sides.  I then masked off the sign and used the vine from 4051 Foliage Set 1, again using the same combo.  For the pot on the far right I used 947 and used 4051 Foliage Set 1, using the large foliage I inked first with 126 on one of the short sides, and then went back in inking just a very small section with 177 to add a bit of depth.  For the pot next to it, I used 565 to shade the pot first and then added in details with 905.  I then masked off the pot to stamp in the same flowers I used on the door, in the same colors, I then removed the mask and used the small vine from 5126 Foliage Set 4 in 249.  For the pot on the far left, I shaded with 565 on the top rim and used 676 on the bottom also using this color for the details.  I masked off the edge of the open sign with post-it tape and used the small vine from 5126 in the 126, 177 combo.  I then put my project in my stamping platform to add in the Flower Shop in 312, and the Now Open in 177.  A helpful tip if you need it, I use a piece of acetate to cover my project and stamp on this first before committing to the placement.  It allows for you to see how it looks before stamping on your project and lets you adjust if need be.  I then used Bleed Proof White to add in all of the white flowers.  I decided I wanted to add some color to this so I used 676, 026, 725, 526, and 565, using a different color for each set of flowers.  I cut out my image with a circle die from my stash, and matted this with purple cardstock cut out with the largest die of the 6045 Scalloped Circle Dies.  I matted my card base with paper from 6082 Bible Journaling S1 Paper Pack, completing my card.  Thank you for joining me today, I hope you enjoyed my projects.  Until next time! Create....Share....Inspire!



   

 


House of Blooms by Janet


Hi Ai Fans! It's Saturday, my favorite day of the week and today I'm celebrating the passing of spring into summer. I've created a super cute box which is designed to hold a journal. The box itself is made with the 6114 - Box Village Template Dies. This set gives you everything you need to make a charming house box that perfectly fits a journal with many embellishments. Both the box and the journal dies come in this set. 

Cleverly, another companion decorative set was recently released called 6159 - Floral Shop Die Set. This includes everything you need to decorate the original box with a floral theme! It's so fun that there's more than one way to decorate this charming box. I can't wait to see if we will get a fall set as well. A spooky haunted house would be so cool for this box design.

To start this project, I first used a brick stencil and a dark brown ink pad to create the brick background on a dark orange piece of cardstock. This became the front of my house. Then I used the die from the 6114 - Box Village Template Dies to cut it out. I cut a matching piece out of blue checked paper from 6206 - Floral Shop Cover PP. These two pieces glue together to form the box.

After cutting the first piece for the front, I went ahead and cut all the Floral Shop elements out of colored cardstocks. I then decorated the front of the box with all the house elements. It was a lot of fun to use different colors to create a colorful scene that is so cheerful and full of bright blooms.

Once decorated, I glued the two box pieces together to form the finished box. I would recommend you decorate your front piece first like I did because it makes it easier to decorate with all the flower shop embellishments. It really turned out adorable!

Thanks for stopping by today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your own Floral Shop Dies. While you're there, you'll be sure to find your new favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories.

Happy Crafting!

Friday, June 5, 2026

Beary Happy Birthday! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends! 

Tasha here sharing a fun birthday card featuring the adorable Party Bear Freebie Stamp and 6178-Birthday Wishes Stamp Set. These little freebie bears are so sweet, and this one is perfect for birthday cards or gift tags. I just love his happy smile and festive balloon!

For this little party scene, I stamped the bear first and used masking paper before stenciling the brick wall background. Since pink is one of my favorite colors, I wanted this card to be bright, cheerful, and full of different shades of pink. I also blended pink Distress Oxide Ink around the edges of the center panel to create a soft spotlight effect around the bear.

For the sentiment, I stamped "Happy Birthday" from the 6178-Birthday Wishes Stamp Set. Instead of coloring the letters completely, I used pink Copic markers along the bottom and left the tops white for a simple ombre look. I also added a few white gel pen highlights for a little extra shine.
Lastly, I added layers of pink, orange, and white card stock and a piece of pink plaid pattern paper. I have been really into bright colors lately, and pink and orange always look great together!

Thank you for checking out today's project and I hope you are having a wonderful day!




Thursday, June 4, 2026

Enjoy the Ride Challenge #429 Week #1

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our new challenge.

Enjoy the Ride!


We want to see all of your projects featuring something you can ride on or in.

Cars, trucks, trains, planes, wagons, scooters, motorcycles, wheelbarrows,
hot air balloons, tractors, boats, skateboards, campers...did I miss anything?? lol!

We always like to provide you with some inspiration.
This time, Dori is our Featured Artist and you're going to LOVE her fun fold card.
She came up with one that wasn't on my list, a golf cart. It's SO CUTE!!

After checking out her card, be sure to scroll down to see if you won our Yellow challenge.

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Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Welcome to the new “Enjoy the Ride” Blog Challenge! There are so many fun stamp sets that feature things you can ride on or ride in, and I couldn’t resist reaching for the Par‑Tee Golfers #4902 for my project. I created a playful Z‑fold style card, which this golfer looks like he’s having way more fun driving the cart than actually golfing. My style of golf. LOL!

Here’s the finished card opened up so you can enjoy the full scene.

Here's a picture of the card when shut:


Many of you have probably made many Z fold cards, but for those that have not, here is how you make one.  Cut your cardstock to 8 1/2" by 5".  Along the 8 1/2" edge, score at 4 1/8 and 6 1/4.  
If you want to add the Z fold strip along the bottom (you can also put this strip higher up on the card, if you prefer), cut a strip of cardstock at 8 1/2" x 1 1/8" (or wider, if preferred).  Score along the 8 1/2" edge at 4 1/8" x 6 1/4".  Flip the main card base so that the score panels are opposite each other.  See picture below.  The scored panel of the card base is in the front and the scored panel of the strip is toward the back.


I made a yellow and green mat for each panel.  Cut the yellow mats to be 1/8" less than the white base for each panel.  Cut the green mats to be 1/8" less than the yellow mats so that there is a nice mat layer for each.  Using the Golf PP #6101, I cut the two matching pattern papers down to fit on the green mat (approx. 3 3/4 wide by 4 3/4 tall), cutting the bottom portion of the pattern paper off first (you will need for the strip).  

Adhere the long edge of the strip to the front scored panel of the base.  Adhere the right edge of the strip to the back right edge of the base.  Do NOT place glue along the whole strip as two portions do not get adhered down.  See the picture above.

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  This stamp set does not contain dies but these images are fairly simple to fussy cut.  For the inside cuts of the cart, I used a craft knife.  

I adhered the gal golfer directly onto the pattern paper with the golf club head adhered to the top of the strip.  I popped up the flag with foam tape.  I also popped up the golf cart, placing foam tape to the wheel base and only the left half of the cart.  The right half of the cart will not be adhered down.  The sentiment is also popped up, but again, only the left half.

Use the back side of the card for your personal sentiment.


Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you have fun making a card/project for the "Enjoy the Ride" challenge.  Can't wait to see what you create!

Have a great day and keep crafting!

Copics used:  N1, N2, N3, N4
E00, E01, E11, E50, E51, E53, E55, E57
R20, R22   B01, B12, B14
G40, G43    Y21, Y32, Y35, Y38

Thank you Dori!
Your card is absolutely adorable.

Now let's see who won our last challenge.


For our Top Spot we selected: Cynthia O.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim your free stamp set.






Our Lucky Random Winner was #9
Andrea W.


Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to both of you. We loved everything we saw. Don't be discouraged
if you didn't win this time. There's always the new challenge or hop on over to our 
Monthly Challenge. That one has no theme so anything goes, as long as you use something
from Art Impressions to create it.


 ✻ 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

Tulip Frog Frame and Box by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

The frogs are a croaking in our backyard, which means summer is here!  We have just the cute little ones, so I can handle them.  It's the big ones that are yucky!  šŸ˜  In celebration of summer, I went frog crazy and made a cute little frame as well as gift boxes that housed a cute little porcelain frog.

  Both fun little projects!

Let's start with the mini frame:
    I cut the scallop frame using the #5902 - Mini Scallop Frame die with a piece of pattern paper from the #6205 - Floral Shop PP.  I die cut an oval frame to cover the opening.  The poppies are from the new countryside series set #6187 - FG Poppy Border and the frog in the tulip is from the #5283 - Frog set.  I stamped these images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then fussy cut these images and popped up inside the frame.  I stamped the sentiment and die cut with the small scallop die from the #5543 - Journal Template die set.  Lastly, I added a bow and an easel piece for the back of the frame. 

For the box:
    This is made from a 6 x 6 piece of paper.  Final dimensions are 2 1/4"W by 2"D x 2 1/8"H.  
    Place your 6 x 6 piece of pattern paper diagonally onto your scoreboard at the 6" mark.  Score at 5" and 7".  Turn your paper 1/4 turn and score at 4 7/8" and 7 1/8".  Burnish all of the score lines.  Cut along score lines on both sides of two ends to make tabs.  See picture below.  Score at the top of each pointed end where the triangle meets the square.  Fold up the edges and place glue on the tabs and line up nicely to form the box.  


  Using the scraps that you cut off to make the tabs and the die from the #5718 - Mini Journal Template (see pic below), I die cut decorative edges for each pointed end.   I had to cut one side and then the other and piece them together onto the box (one on outside and one on inside).  This will add strength for the ribbon closure.   Lastly, I cut a 1/4" hole for the ribbon.  Fill the box with your treat or gift and tie up with your ribbon.


Thanks for joining me today!  Hope you have fun making these gift boxes and frames.

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  R24, R27, R81, R83, R85
B000,    G40, G43, G46
Y32, Y35, Y38

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

NEW Floral Shop Paper - Simple Layered Card by Lynn Dionne

Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!

Watch video tutorial here!

Today we will be using the spectacular new paper packs in the Art Impressions collection of papers. They are the Floral Shop 6"x6" Paper Pack and the Floral Shop Cover Paper Pack which is approximately 6"x9".

With these new papers we will be creating a simple layered card that will have lots of interest and texture in a very easy way!

For the focal image today, we will be using the new Ai Dear Friends Stamp Set. This little set includes so many cute items to create a fun scene. It includes the tea set that we will be using today, and a bench, cake platter, house, vases, and "Dear Friend" sentiment.

We will stamp the tea set and color the set using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Sage Green, Hyacinth Blue, Aqua Blue, and Beige.

Next, let's cut this out with our detail scissors and add some fun details using our gel pens in white and blue.

With a white card base, we will add a layer of floral paper using the Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies. We will also die cut some pretty Ric Rack from the Ai Journal Template Die Set, and finally we will die cut a beautiful frame using that same set.

Before, we do the final assembly, let's stamp the "Thinking of You" sentiment, using the Ai Cottage Charm Stamp Set. 

Let's quickly assemble all of the pieces onto the card, popping up the frame for some added dimension.

For a finishing touch, let's add a little white clay heart to the teapot and a few white gems for a bit of sparkle!

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

Ai Floral Shop PP (6205)

Ai Floral Shop Cover PP (6206)

Ai Dear Friends (6180)

Ai Cottage Charm (6179)

Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies (5063)

Ai Journal Template Die Set (5543)


Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Focus on Faith: Covered Bridge by Sara Furr

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

Not too far from me are 2 covered bridges situated in some beautiful scenery in "God's Country". The beauty of them always brings me peace and the nostalgia of times long ago, so I wanted to recreate one of those local spots. 


I used this wonderful stamp set called "He Leads Me", along with a couple foliage stamp sets to create my watercolor scene. I really had fun practicing my watercolor. I have created a mini picture tutorial for you to follow my steps......


I started with an A2 panel of watercolor cardstock and taped it to my board with post-it tape about 1/4" all the way around. I then stamped in my covered bridge with a layer of blue and brown marker. Then the fence and trees with just brown. I just stamped the tree from the set 3x up the left side to create a "Big" tree.


I then pulled color from the lines to create depth and shadow. To soften the tree limbs so they weren't so heavy i added some water to soften and then blotted up the ink before stamping in the green foliage.


I then stamped in the small grass from the Foliage set around the fence posts and trailing the fence leading to the bridge. I stamped the little bushes from the WC Mini Foliage in a bit darker green up along the bank in front of the bridge, and I stamped the bushy tree limb from the same set in a brighter green for the trees' leaves, stamping several generations for each of the stamps, and then blended them out with a damp brush. I added in more shades of green to extend my grassy areas. I also added in some darker shadows on the roadway for the fence posts with more brown. I then added some pretty blue for the creek water under the bridge and then watered it down a bit more to blend in my sky. I let that all dry and then went back in to add some pretty flowers with a purplish blue color using the "lavender" stamp from the Mini Flower set, again stamping several generations onto the edges of the roadway. 


I also added the tiny leaf branch from that set to add some foliage around my fence posts out front and I used it to create some big bushes on either side of the bridge.

I blended those out just a bit with a damp brush and let it dry before stamping in the tiny purple dots, also from the same set.


I then stamped the flower bunches repeatedly over in the right hand corner to give some interest in that corner, and draw your eye around the whole scene. I added  some more blue into my sky for more depth, and lastly I stamped my sentiment with Black Archival ink.

And finally, the reveal! I carefully removed the post-it tape from the edges and admired the beauty of the scene!😊

I honestly wasn't fond of the brown on the "Big tree" on the left side, so after distressing the edges of my cardstock with scissors I added it to a soft purple mat and added a pretty bow to strategically "hide" my tree trunk! Hehe😁 It worked perfectly and it added a lovely touch of softness. Besides, it wouldn't be a "Sara" card without a pretty bow on it, right?! Haha


Behind the purple layer is an embossed layer of black that has little flowers on it, but its hard to see the detail in the photo. But trust me, you can see it in real life really well!



So, with all the layers, my card wound up measuring 5 1/2x6 3/4".

I hope you like my creation and are inspired to create some "God's Country" of your own!
I absolutely love living in the country where there is so much beauty and scope for the imagination! I always feel so much closer to God here!

I hope you have a great week my friends and I will see you again soon!

Blessings to you all, 
Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick



Art Impressions products used:
5129- He Leads Me set
5372- WC Mini Foliage 
5009- WC Mini Flower set
4051- Foliage set

Other products:
Watercolor cardstock
Watercolor brush
Archival Black ink pad
Dye ink markers
Chiffon ribbon
Embossing folder
Die cutting machine
Scissors for distressing 
Paper cutter
Misti stamping tool
Stamping blocks
Adhesive
Foam adhesive 

Tony's Tiny Joke Book by ReneƩ Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I had a request for a birthday card for a 9 year old boy.

One of the things I was told he likes was "9 year old boy humor."

I very much like lame dad jokes and instantly thought of making him his own little
journal full of jokes he can tell people.

I'll start by showing you the box I made to give it in and the cover and first two pages.
The box was created using 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies and 5940 – Journal Cover Paper Pack – Plaid.
The sentiment is from 5866 – Mini Birthday Sentiment Set.


The journal and frame dies are from 5718 – Mini Journal Template.
I only did a "half journal" because I'm limited in time. This means I only cut the journal template twice so it looks like a regular book and not a fold out journal. I still plan to hopefully fit 10 jokes into it.


Here are the first two pages, the inside of the cover and the front of page one.
I used the corner die to hold the flaps closed. The little octopus is from retired 5397-Submarine Cubbies Set and the sweet duck is from 5180 – Barnyard Animal Cubbies.



The journal and pages are made from 6058 – Baby Boy Paper Pack.


Stay tuned at a later date for more jokes from Tony's Tiny Joke Book!
LOL!!!