Hello Spring! Card by Tasha

Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a Spring card featuring the super cute 6008 Bunny Hugs Set and 6046 Scalloped Oval Dies. Now that we are in the Spring season, I have been pulling out my Spring and Easter sets and I cannot stop coloring the bunny stamps. I love all of them, but this sweet bunny with the tulips felt just right for this time of year.

For this card, I stamped the image in black ink and colored it with Copic Markers. I chose a pretty floral pattern paper for the background and matched the tulip colors to the soft pastel shades in the paper. I really love how those colors came together.

For the center, I used cloud and grass stencils to create a simple outdoor scene. I added a few glitter enamel sparkles to the clouds for a little texture and shine. I always like adding a bit of sparkle.

To finish the card, I used a scalloped oval die cut from metallic pink cardstock and layered it with dark purple, white, and lavender cardstock to coordinate with the flowers.

I hope you enjoyed today’s card and that it inspires you to start working on your Spring projects!

Have a wonderful day!

3D Challenge #423 Week #2

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to week #2 of our 3D challenge!

Last week, our Featured Designer was Dori and she created this incredible 3D

Easter card.

Check out the video below the card photo for Sharon's INCREDIBLE Stadium Wave Pop up card.

Stadium Wave Pop Up card video

Gennette created this great masculine card using 
4900 – Reel Great Guys Set

and

6072 – Father’s Day Paper Pack

Simone's gorgeous floral card used 6106 – Spring Keepsake Set.

I used 6062 – Hydrangea Floral Set
and

6008 – Bunny Hugs Set

Tasha's fun Easter card can be found here.

Lynn shared this darling Story Tile card.

I'm always so excited when I see the wonderful projects our Designers make!

Sometimes, adorable. Sometimes stunning. Sometimes funny.

Always amazing and appreciated!

We have some fabulous entries in our challenge so far!

Keep them coming.

You might be the next winner of a free stamp set.

 ✻ 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

Pop Up Easter Easel Box by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I found this cute little easel box on youtube and thought I would create one for Easter.  Have you ever fallen down the rabbit hole (no pun intended) when viewing youtube videos or even pinterest?  I love seeing all the creative ideas out there but, man, I get hooked and then away I go.

One of my favorites sites and where I found this box is The Paper Pixie.  If you click on that link, it will take you to her box instructions.  Box measures 3" x 3".  

Here's my version using Art Impressions #5742 - Easter PP and the #5870 - Peeking Bunny set.

When you pull on the ribbon, the box opens and the easel pops up.  I wanted to grab some easter candies and fill the box before I took the picture, but I went to the store and forgot the candy.  😬

I just LOVE the easel on the box top and how it pops up.  Sooo fun!

Thanks for joining me today!  Hope you have a fantastic day!

Keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53, E55, E95

N0, N1,       R20, R81, R83

B12, B14       V12, V15

G40, G43         YR20, YR23

Cottage Charm - Thinking of You Card by Lynn Dionne

Hello and Welcome!

Watch video tutorial here!

Today we will be using the brand-new Ai Story Tile Template Die Set (6158) and the cute Ai Cottage Charm (6179 Set. This stamp set, as well as three other sets, were designed specifically for this beautiful frame. There is the Ai Birthday Wishes (6178), Ai Garden Friends (6177), and Ai Dear Friend (6180) Sets. 

Let's stamp, color and fussy cut all of our images. For the coloring we will be using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Lt Pink, Ice Blue, Sea Green, Yellow, Lt Gray, Dk Gray, Mustard, Beige, Mid Brown, Sand.

For the little basket on the bike, we will stamp some tiny hearts using the Ai His Love Set (6150) and we will also color and cut a little puppy from the Ai Dwelling Animal Set 1 (5991) and place him inside the basket....so cute!!!

Next, we will die cut the frame die but we will be cutting it down to a square shape. I thought it would be fun to show you how to change up the frame to suit your needs and to make it more versatile. I'll show you exactly how I did this in today's video!

For each of the panels that are die cut from the frame, we will add a blue sky and some white spattering. And then we can die cut the panels again with some green cardstock and cut them down a bit to create the look of grass.

For one of the panels, we will stamp the "Thinking of You" sentiment from the Ai Dear Friend (6180) stamp set and emboss it using some white embossing powder. Also, for a few of the panels we will add a picket fence using the Ai Box Village Template (6114).

Once we have cut down the frame, we will add it to a pretty pink plaid paper layer from the Ai Valentine's Paper Pack S2 (6181).

Finally, for a few finishing touches we will add some hemp twine and sparkly sequins!

Please check out the Story Tile Frame w/ Birthday Wishes Card that I had done using another one of these brand-new sets and frame:

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

Ai Story Tile Template Die Set (6158)

Ai Cottage Charm (6179)

Ai Dwelling Animal Set 1 (5991)

Ai His Love Set (6150)

Ai Box Village Template (6114)

Ai Valentine's PP S2 (6181)

Focus on Faith Easter card with Sara Furr

 

Blessings Ai Friends, and welcome back to another edition of "Focus on Faith" with me, Sara Furr! I am so glad you are here with me today! Here were are in the middle of March already, with Easter coming just around the corner, so I knew I wanted to create a pretty Easter card for you today! I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

I started my project by pulling out my floral dsp from Art Impressions, and I chose a pretty blue floral and a blue gingham from the "Bible Journaling S1" paper pack. I already had a cross cut from the "Crosses" die set, so I pulled that out as well. I cut a fancy white panel from the "Decorative Journal Page" Die set and used all of those elements to start building my card.

I decided to use some of the pretty florals from the "Water of Life" stamp set. I began by placing my cross die cut,that I had cut from a fine glitter paper, in the center of my white die cut panel, and decided how I wanted to arrange my florals coming off either side of the top and bottom, behind the cross. I set the cross aside, and I began

stamping the outline posies and also one of the leaf branches in Black Momento ink, and I colored the florals with alcohol markers in a very light blue and green. Then, I went into each floral and added in details with the fine point of a dye ink marker in 2 darker shades of blue. I then added some foliage and flowers in the background stamped using dye ink markers. To blend and add in some blue shading, I used a very light greenish blue alcohol marker. Once I was happy with my background florals, I glued down my cross die cut. 

Next, I stamped the Hallelujah from the "Frameworks Sentiments" stamp set onto a piece of white scrap cardstock with Black Versafine Ink, let it dry a bit, and then fussy cut it out with my detail scissors, and popped it up with tiny pieces of foam tape. I applied foam tape to the back of that focal panel and set it aside.

I distressed the edges of both the gingham panel and the floral panel, and added foam tape to the back of the gingham panel and adhered that to the floral panel on the right side. I wrapped and tied a crinkle bow off to the left hand side with a white button tied to the middle of the bow. That whole panel was adhered to my white card base. Lastly, I adhered down the popped up focal panel with my pretty floral spray and cross with the Hallelujah sentiment. 

And that finishes my card for today. I hope you like it and that maybe you got inspired to create some pretty Religious Easter creations as well. I wish could have gotten the Religious Easter sets, as there are so many that I would love to get, but I just don't have the money, so I made do with what I have. After all, you can't go wrong with pretty florals and Crosses, right?! Haha.

I hope you all have a very happy and Blessed Easter with your family, and I will see you back here on the Tuesday just after Easter. 

Wishing you all many Blessings, 

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick 

Here is a list of all the products I used:

#5909 Crosses die set

#5417-Frameworks Sentiments set 

#5768- Decorative Journal Page 1 die set

#6055- Water of Life set

#6082- Bible Journaling S1 paper pack

LET'S...PAR TEE! By Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

My Brother-in-law has a birthday in 3 days and he lives on a golf course.

Yes, for real. His back and side yard butt up to the greens of the course. 

Though I don't think he golfs as much as he used to, I think he'll like this card.

This golfer is an older image so there are no dies with him. He did require fussy cutting

but the paper creates an instant background which saves time, balancing thing out.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone.

Though I didn't share a card for the holiday, hopefully you enjoy the green!

Have a great day.

Stadium Wave Pop up card by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

We have a new challenge that started last Thursday and it's to make a 3D card or project. I love anything popped up or 3D, so I definitely had fun with this one! I had seen a fancy fold card called a stadium wave pop up card and knew I was going to use it for this challenge. If you do a search on You Tube, you will find several free videos on how to create this, and I also added a link in my post below. I did my own size as I didn't want a huge card, so I will give you the measurements of what I did. They really are not difficult to make at all, but boy what a presentation it gives! So real quick, let me show you a video of the card, then I'll explain how I made it. 

So to begin with, I cut my card base to create a 5 1/2" square card and added my layered mats to it including the front and inside. The pattern paper used is from #6052 Mother's Day Cover PP and #6057 Baby Girl PP. I then created the strips for the inside. You need a total of eight of these strips. so I needed two pieces of the paper from the cover pack. I cut one full piece to measure 6" x 8", then took another piece and cut it to  measure 2" x 8". With the 8" side along the top of your score board,

score at 3", 6", 6 3/4", and 7 1/2". 

Do this to both the 6" piece and the 2". You will then turn the paper and cut it in one inch strips which will give you a total of eight 1" x 8" strips that are scored at the measurements above. Fold and burnish your strips, then add glue to the 1/2" edge of the strip and attach it to the other end so that the strip ends up looking similar to a long heart. Here is a link to an instructional video. Just remember that mine is a different size. 

https://youtu.be/Lj7C2RltYB0

I really wanted to make a baby card with it, so I used #6106 Spring Keepsake Set and #6103 Baby Keepsake Set for the adorable little animals they both have. To spell out the word BABY, I then used #5910 Large Letter Die Set and cut them each out with pattern paper and then the lavender cardstock so I could offset the letters a smidge to help them stand out better. I stamped, colored, and cut a LOT of beautiful daisies from Baby Keepsake Set. And now that I am typing this post, I don't know why I didn't think of adding some adorable pieces using #5338 Baby Mini Dies!  DOH!!!  Maybe if you make one of these, you will use them to help decorate! For the card front, I added a large heart from #5721 Nested Heart Dies along with that adorable frog, then scattered some open hearts from the same die set. After adding a sweet bow, the front was finished. 

Making my strips shorter than what is stated on the instructional video gave me more room to add a sentiment panel for your message and signature. But it did not take away from the "wow" factor when the card is opened. 

So that's it for me today! I sure hope I was able to inspire you a little with creating a 3D project for our new challenge. You never know when you might win a free set of your choice! Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E00, 30, 31, 33, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 51, 53, 95, 97, and 99

C00, 0, 1, 2, and 3

YG01, 03, and 05

B00 and 01

R11, 12, 20, 22, 81, and 83

YR20 and 21

Y00, 11, 21, 23, 32, 35, and 38

Watercolor Weekend: Story Tile and Bunny Cards with Simone Carr

 Hello everyone and welcome to Watercolor Weekend!

Today I’m sharing another fun card using the 6158 Story Tile Template Die. This die is such a creative way to tell a little story within each tile!

To begin, I die cut the 6158 Story Tile Template Die from Canson Watercolor Paper. After running it through my die cutting machine, I gently punched all of the tile pieces out of the frame and arranged them in front of me.

Next, I selected the stamps I wanted to use and placed them on the tiles to plan out the scene. Once I was satisfied with the placement, I stamped the images using Shadow Grey Archival Ink.

I colored in all of the stamped images first before stamping the flowers. I used masking tape to tape off the tops of the containers before stamping the florals. A stamp positioner can be very helpful for getting the flower placement just right.

After stamping, I used a damp brush to pull the color out from the stamped flowers to create that soft watercolor look.

Once everything was stamped and colored, I doubled up the frame for a little extra dimension and then glued all of the tiles back into place to complete the design.

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies
• 6055 Water of Life Set
• 5981 My Joy Set (Butterflies)
• Mini Flower Set – 5009
• Foliage Set 5 – 5476
• Foliage Set 4 – 5126
• Foliage Set 3 – 5007
• Foliage Set 2 – 4868
• Foliage Set 3 – 5008
• Frame Die
• 6158 Story Tile Template Die

Paper
• Canson Watercolor Paper
• 5892 Easter S2 Patterned Paper

Ink
• Shadow Grey Archival Ink – Ladies

Tombow Markers
• 026 – Hat, Butterfly
• 933 – Butterfly, Flower
• 856 – Lips, Cheeks, Shirt
• 725 – Flowers
• 676 – Flowers
• 761 – Shirt
• 942, 912 – Skin
• 528 – Apron, Pants
• 533 – Vase
• 113, 173, 177 – Flower Pot, Cup
• 177 – Grass, Flowers, Foliage
• 977 – Hair
• 947 – Hair, Bucket
• N52 – Stamped Cup, Vase, Bucket
• 565 – Flowers and Shading
• 969 – Rocks and Bucket Handle
• 526 – Sky

My bonus card features the little bunny from the 6008 Bunny Hugs Set.

To create the card, I cut out a Scalloped Circle and a Double Stitched Circle. I also cut a fence piece and a grass die from another company. The fence and grass were both run through the same Double Stitched Circle die so everything would fit nicely inside the circle.

Before assembling the card, I used a splatter stamp with some Distress Oxide inks directly on the card for added texture. I colored the stamped images, then layered and stacked all of the pieces together, adding foam tape for dimension to complete the design.

Materials Used – Bonus Card

Stamps & Dies
• 5925 Honey Bee Set “A Flower”
• 6008 Bunny Hugs Set
• 6045 Scalloped Circle Dies
• 5064 Circle Double Stitched Dies
• 5807 Journal Fence Die

Pens
• White Jelly Roll Pen
• Black Fine Tip

Paper
• 6012 Basic Yellow Patterned Paper

Tombow Markers
• 555 – Flowers
• 985 – Overalon Bunny + Tulip
• 933, 925 – Flower Pot + Tulip
• 856 – Tulip + Pocket
• 177 – Leaves
• 723 – Flower
• 977, 947, 992, 912 – Bunny

Distress Oxide Inks
• Mowed Lawn
• Squeezed Lemonade
• Candied Apple
• Spiced Marmalade
• Prize Ribbon

I love how both of these cards came together — the Story Tile Die is perfect for creating a little scene with lots of color and texture, and the bunny card is a quick, cheerful design that’s fun to assemble. I hope these cards inspire you to pull out your watercolor paper and dies this weekend and get creative!

St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Card and Z-fold Birthday Card by Diane Mason

 Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend! 

Hello, my Ai watercolor friends and fans! I have two watercolor cards to share with you today. First up is a St. Patrick’s Day Gnome card. My bonus card is a sweet little Z-fold Birthday card.

St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Card:

I know not everyone celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, but I like to think everyone feels a little Irish on March 17th. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to pull out one of my favorite sets (5785 – Gnomes Set) and create an adorable St. Patrick’s Day gnome. For this card, I’m also using the newly released 6158 – Story Tile Template Die.

For this painting, I started by preparing a piece of Canson XL watercolor paper. Using the Storybook Tile Template Die itself—not the die‑cut—I lightly traced the interior of each section with a pencil. This leaves a clean white border around each painted panel once everything is finished.

Next, I stamped each gnome into its section using a stamp platform and N79 ink. I sketched the pile of gold inside the planter pot with a pencil, then used a large oval die to trace a smooth curve for the rainbow rising from the pot of gold. I used Post-it tape to mask each section to maintain the white border around the paintings.

Section 1

• Gnome: 195, 177 (hat and clothing), 850, 942 (hands and nose), 977 (shoes), 933, 925 (beard). All gnomes will be painted with these same colors.
• Rainbow: 856, 933, 025, 195, 476, 606 (used also in Section 4)
• Sky: 555 (all sections)

Section 2

Mask the gnome and stamp leaf from 5795 – Berries in 177, and drooping flower from 5794 – Whimsical Flowers inked in 177 (stem), 025 (flowers).

• Gnome’s belt: 025
• Leaf and flower stem: 177, a touch of 195 for highlights
• Flower: 025
• Grass: 177 (4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, small grass)
• Tiny white flowers: Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

Section 3

Mask the gnome’s foot and stamp vine from 5794 in 177.

• Vine: 177, a touch of 195 for highlights
• Grass: 177 (4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, small grass)
• Tiny white flowers: Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

Section 4

• Rainbow: same as Section 1
• Planter pot: N25
• Gold: Winsor Newton Ink 14ml – Gold Paint, Brown TwinTone marker
• Grass: 177 (4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, small grass)
• Tiny White Flowers: Dr. Ph Martin’s Bleed Proof White

Section 5

Ink vines (177), flower (933) from 5794 and stamp into section.

• Vines: 177, a touch of 195 for highlights
• Flower: 933 (petals), 025, 026 (center)

Section 6

Mask the gnome and stamp the mushroom inked in 969. Stamp vines from 5794 in 177.

• Gnome’s belt: 025
• Mushroom cap: 025, 026
• Dots on mushroom cap: Dr. Ph Martin’s Bleed Proof White, 565 for shading
• Underside of mushroom and stem: 977, Brown TwinTone marker
• Vines: 177, a touch of 195 for highlights
• Grass: 177 (4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, small grass)

Next, I die cut the frame (6158 – Story Tile Template Die) from patterned paper, erased the pencil lines and adhered the painting and frame onto an A2 card base.

I used fonts from my computer in coordinating shades of orange and green to create the sentiment for the inside of the card. To finish the interior panel, I adhered a half‑inch strip of patterned paper along the bottom edge of the white mat.

This card is ready to send to a friend to wish them a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! PSA – Don’t forget to wear green. Legend has it that wearing green on the holiday prevents a leprechaun’s pinch or from a pesky friend - lol!

Bonus Card: Z-fold Birthday Card

For this A2 fun fold birthday card, I chose a birthday cake image from the recently released 6178 – Birthday Wishes set. The set was designed to coordinate with the Story Tile Template Die, but all the images work great on their own too!

Frame for finished painting

5591 – Journal Rectangle Frames Die Set watercolor mat decorated with the Daisy Bunch stamp from 4052 – WC Flower Set 1 and the small vine from 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1

• Daisy bunches: 743 and 565
• Vines: 177
• Happy Birthday: 6039 – Just for Her Set, black ink
• Foam tape for mounting

Painting

The image was inked in N52.

• Cake: candles (403), flames (025, 933), candle glow (025) icing (743, Fuchsia TwinTone, Dr. Ph. Martin’s), cake (977, Brown TwinTone)
• Pedestal: 403 and 565 for shadows
• Planter: shaded with 565 and also for the stripes
• Flowers and foliage: 4051 small vine (177), 4052 daisy bunch (565), 5009 single flower (743, 177)
• Tiny white flowers: Dr. Ph Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Chrome Yellow TwinTone marker for centers.
• Grass: 177 (4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, small grass)
• Sky: 555

Purple Card Base

• 8 ½ x 5 ½, scored and folded at 2 ⅛ and 4 ¼
• Front panel strip: 2 x 5 ¼
• Interior sentiment inked in purple:  Dessert pedestal (6180 – Dear Friend), sentiment (5735 – Birthday Sentiment Set)

  

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s cards and found a little inspiration along the way. That’s all for now—thank you so much for stopping by for Watercolor Weekend. Until next time, Happy Painting!