Sunday, September 27, 2026

You're SPOOK-Tacular!





Dear Crafty Friends,
With October just around the corner and the temperature in South Florida finally dropping into the 80s, cooler weather is on the way. It feels like a perfect time to make Halloween projects



First Project- Halloween Card

This week, I’m making a very non-traditional watercolor card using the 6111- SpookTacular stamp set, along with a matching bookmark. Here are the step-by-step instructions for both projects:

Watercolor Card Instructions:

1.  Die Cutting & Stamping Setup: After separating the dies, cut all the necessary pieces. Since the dies cut very close to the edges, cut a template first to help stamp after cutting the image.


2.  Cutting & Coloring Pieces:
      - Cut the house from black paper and heat-emboss it using Hero Arts white embossing powder.
      - Cut all other pieces from Canson watercolor paper, including a 1.5-inch circle for the moon.
      - Color all pieces using Tombow watercolor markers.



3.  Background & Card Base:
      - Create the background using watercolor paint, using shades of orange for the sky and green for the ground (starting about 1/3 from the bottom).
      - Once dry, use an arch die to cut the background shape, and use a 1.5-inch circle die to create the opening for the moon.
      - To make the card base, cut paper to 11 x 4.25 inches and fold. Position the arch die slightly over the fold so it cuts two connected arches.


4.  Assembly:
      - Position the moon in the background cut-out.
      - Stamp the big tree onto the background, followed by grass on both sides of the tree.
      - Glue all remaining pieces onto the card.- Stamp the inside of the card.
 




5.  Finishing Touches: Add glitter accents to the sky, lamps, and door using Wink of Stella and Stickles.


Second Project: A Halloween Bookmark
Project Instructions:

1.  Cut a piece of watercolor paper to 2 3/4 x 6 1/2 inches.
2.  Paint the pumpkins using watercolor markers and use watercolor paint for the background.
3.  Distress the edges using Black Soot Distress Oxide ink.
4.  Add a bit of Wink of Stella to the moon and include a few glittery stars to finish.

I hope these projects inspire you to start making your own Halloween or Fall cards,

Enjoy your watercolor weekend
Thanks a lot!

Neema



Saturday, September 26, 2026

Victorian Autumn Scarecrow Card and Autumn Treat Tag by Diane Mason

Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!


Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I have two fall projects to share with you today. The first card combines the new border scene 6254 – FG Thankful Border and 6250 – Victorian Shop Set. The second project is a Fall Treat Tag combining elements from 5492 - Front Porch Harvest Set and 5598 - Harvest Set.

Yay, it’s officially Fall! I’m looking forward to the cooler days, the colorful Fall leaves, cozy sweaters and flannel shirts, and all the yummy treats associated with Fall. 

Victorian Autumn Scarecrow Card:

The new FG Thankful Border (6254) and the Victorian Shop Set (6250) work beautifully together to create a lovely Autumn scene. All the new border sets and structures work well with each other; it’s fun to mix and match the buildings with the borders to create new looks. For this scene, I envisioned an old Victorian home all decked out for Fall! 

Colors and Supplies Used:

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

White A2 Cardbase

Patterned Paper: 5973 – Fall Series 2 Paper Pack

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

Stamps & Dies:

  • 6254 - FG Thankful Border
  • 6250 - Victorian Shop Set
  • 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4
  • 4868 - WC Flower Set 2
  • 4964 - WC Branches Set
  • 5372 - WC Mini Foliage Set
  • 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1
  • 5507 - Harvest Together Set (sentiment)

Ink for stamped images: Versafine Vintage Sepia

 

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 025, 026, 177, 249, 555, 565, 772, 847, 856, 925, 933, 942, 947, 969, 977, 990, 993, N35, N75

 

Other: Post-It tape, Brown and Red TwinTone Markers, and twine.


Stamping:

 

To begin, I die‑cut a 3.75" x 5" stitched rectangle from Canson XL watercolor paper. I stamped the scarecrow border (6254) in Versafine Vintage Sepia onto the die‑cut rectangle using a stamp platform, then stamped the Victorian house (6250) above it.



I used a branch from (4964) to stamp in a tree to the left side of the house inked in 969 and also along the fence. Just the top of the small vine from (5126) was used for stamping in leaves and vines. The grass is from (4051) and inked with 177. For the bushes in front of the house, I used the row of bushes stamp from (5372). For the flowers in the basket, I used the mums stamp, adding 177 to the stems and 856, 933, and 993 to the flowers and stamped three separate times.

 

Painting:

 

I brushed in the sky with a watery mix of 555. For the white details, I used Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White. 565 was used to darken the inside of the windows and also to add shadows throughout the painting. I used a gray TwinTone marker to add details to the roof, and a brown TwinTone to add details where needed.


Please refer to the above list of colors used and also the photo for reference for the other images in the scene.

 

Card Assembly:

I die-cut a 4.25” x 5.5” piece of patterned paper from (5973) using a stitched rectangle die and attached it to the card base front, and then adhered the painting.


Interior:

For the inside of the card, I die‑cut a 3.75” x 5” stitched rectangle of white cardstock and added a ¼” strip of leaf patterned paper along the top and bottom edges. Then I stamped the sentiments from 5507 – Harvest Together Set in orange and red ink.


This adorable fall card is ready to send to a friend to kick-off the Fall season!


Autumn Treat Tag:

Autumn brings lots of tasty treats like Caramel Apples and Pumpkin Spice everything! I made a cute tag and attached it to one of my favorite treats - a bag of Caramel Apple flavored Caramels! 


My bonus project combines images from 5492 - Front Porch Harvest Set and 5598 - Harvest Set. I love to shop my stamp stash and find new ways to combine images from different sets. The Front Porch series of stamps contain lots of hidden gems for many occasions and holidays.



I die-cut a piece of Canson XL watercolor paper using the large tag die from 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies. I inked the images with Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink. I stamped the scarecrow first and also created a mask. I stamped the hay bale next and then the basket of apples. I masked the apple basket too. With masks in place, I stamped the corn stalks in the background and a cluster of leaves behind the basket. Additional leaf clusters were stamped in the forefront. The sentiment stamped in brown is from 5600 - Harvest Sentiment Set.


Colors used: 025, 026, 055, 158, 173, 177, 555, 772, 847, 856, 910, 925, 933, 947, 977, and 992.


The decorative papers used to mat the tag are from 5973 - Fall Series 2 Paper Pack.



For the back of the tag, I stamped the sentiment (Treat Yourself!) from 5735 - Birthday Sentiment in Brown onto another die-cut watercolor tag. I also added leaves from 5598 to the bottom edge of the tag. Just add twine and your tag is ready for gifting!



Thank you so much for joining me for Watercolor Weekend! I hope you have enjoyed today’s projects. When you aren’t busy painting, be sure to get out and enjoy all that Autumn has to offer. Until next time, Happy Painting!



Friday, September 25, 2026

Sending Birthday Bucks Your Way! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends! 

Tasha here sharing a fun birthday card created with the 5043 – Ole Buck Set.

I had so much fun coloring this group of hunters with Copic Markers. I used lots of greens and browns for the camouflage and added pops of bright orange to really make the images stand out.

For the background, I created some soft orange clouds with Distress Oxide ink and a cloud stencil. I also added a simple grassy ground using quick Copic Marker flicks to keep the focus on the stamped images.

I layered the card with orange, green, brown, and plaid papers to coordinate with the coloring. I also added a couple layers behind the sentiment to give it a little extra dimension.

The “Sending a Few Bucks for Your Birthday” sentiment makes me smile and is perfect with these guys!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!




Thursday, September 24, 2026

Spread Kindness Challenge #437 Week #1

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our new challenge, Spread Kindness.


We want to see your cards that will bring joy to either a friend or a stranger.
Anyone who needs a little joy in their life.

This week I'm the Featured Artist and I created a pretty foliage and bee themed card that would be perfect for any friend you want to let know that you're thinking about them.

After you peek at my card, be sure to scroll down and take a look at who won our On the Border Challenge.



Bees are one of my favorite things to create with and my friends know that. Even if they aren't their favorite thing, they love receiving cards from me that are bee themed because they know that if I use them on a card for them, it's because I love them. 


Please see below for links to all of the Art Impressions products that I've used on my card.


I hope you enjoyed my "kindness" card.


Now let's see who won our On the Border Challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected:

She created a beautiful circular border around her fall wreath.





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

 Our Lucky Random Winner was:




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

Congratulations to our winners!
Enjoy your new stamps.


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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Halloween Farm Scene


Good morning, everyone! Today I am sharing a card using the newly released Country Side Series stamps from Art Impressions! This particular scarecrow stamp is made into a fall theme, but I changed it up and added some bats, spiders and added faces to the pumpkins for a fun Halloween card. This card was made using craft paper and colored pencils. I use both Faber Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils and Prismacolor colored pencils. You do not need both. I just have had a set of each for YEARS so I use them both together. I blend the colors with Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits, also known as OMS) and paper blending stumps. 



 I first stamped my two images onto the craft cardstock. Then I made masks for the barn and the top of the scarecrow fence scene out of some paper. I also secured a Tim Holtz moon mask, and then I ink blended some dark blue and dark grey ink around the edges of my paper. This created a nice and dark sky for a spooky nighttime scene. I went ahead and blended some white ink over the moon to create a glow on the moon and around it. The rest of the project was colored with colored pencils and OMS. I added spiders, bats, and webs for a little extra spookiness. I hope you like it! 

Materials Used

Stamps

  • 5601 Halloween Accessories Set
  • 6249 Country Chapel
  • 6254 FG Thankful Border
  • 6271 Flower Set 7
Paper
  • Craft Colored Cardstock
Markers, Inks & Pencils

  • Momento Ink Pad
  • Prismacolor Pencils, Polychromo Pencils
  • Odorless Mineral Spirits and blending stumps

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Spooky fun fold card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

Halloween is just around the corner and I love making cards using Art Impressions fun assortment of sets.  This card also fits the "On the Border" challenge which ends tonight so I hope you all have entered for a change to win a free stamp set of your choice.

I used the #6111 - Spook-tacular set for this card as well as the #5604 - Halloween journal die set.  These sets are currently on sale at half off.  YAY!
 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 them out with the coordinating dies that come with the set. 
I cut a base A2 card from white card stock.  Score in half and burnish.  I then trimmed off a 1 inch strip from the front.  I cut two pieces of black cardstock - one at 1" x 5 3/8" and one at 1" x 2".  I adhered a piece of the purple designer paper over the 1" x 2" piece.   I scored this piece at 1/2" and burnished it.  Adhere a piece of pattern paper to the other longer strip of black cardstock.  Glue the 1/2" tab of the 2" strip to the back of the longer strip (just above the center).  Now cut a scalloped circle from black cardstock and adhere that to the top of the smaller strip.  I then cut a piece of pattern paper using the #5726 - Nested circle dies and placed that over the black scallop circle.  
For the left side of the card, I cut a black piece of cardstock to fit the left panel and also a piece of pattern paper to fit over the top.

I decorated with the images and the card is finished with a fun fold opening.  BTW - the little grasses are in the #5935 - Fairytale Houses set.

 


I hope you enjoyed my card today and you enter the challenge.  Wouldn't you love to win a free stamp set?  

Have a great day creating!

Copics used:  E21, E23, E25, E50
T0, T2, T4, T6     R20
Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17
V12, V15, V17
YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18