From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

Welcome to Watercolor Weekend; today is August 23, 2026

There’s something truly special about giving a classic stamp a new look. For this A2-size card, I combined the classic door stamp #5433 (WC Foundation Door) from 2021 with the recently released flower stamps #6270 and #6271 (Foliage Set 6 and  Flower Set 7) to recreate a charming scene filled with color and texture.

Painting the Door and Creating the Brick Wall

I began by stamping the door using Tombow markers #969 and #565. To color the door, I chose light shades of gray, purple, and blue to give it the appearance of weathered white wood. I then colored the flower pots and steps using very light shades of pink, purple, green, and blue.                   

                             

To create the background wall, I used a brick stencil paired with a dry-brush watercolor technique for a soft, artistic look. By applying a small amount of watercolor to a relatively dry brush and lightly sweeping it across the stencil, I achieved a beautiful, uneven texture that gives the wall an aged character.

                    


   
Adding the Flowers
Using Foliage Set 6 and Flower Set 7, I inked the stamps with markers and stamped the flowers directly into the pots. I also added foliage over the door and a wreath using stamp set 5830. Because the ink dilutes slightly with water, each flower features a unique blend of color, making it look as though a vibrant garden is growing right outside. To finish, I used PH Martin Bleed Proof White to add small white flowers. I painted the door hardware in gold and added a touch of grass to the bottom step using foliage set 1 (#4051).
                                                        

Putting the Card Together

Once completely dry, I trimmed the main panel to 4" x 5.25" and layered it over a 4.25" x 5.5" coordinated background from the Winter Woodland paper pack (#5964). Finally, I mounted the entire piece onto an A2 card base.

The watercolor effect from the Tombow markers brings everything together beautifully, creating a soft, hand-painted finish that looks completely custom.

A Quick Tip
When using Tombow markers with stamps, experiment with your water ratio. Less water preserves defined details, while more water creates softer, blended colors. Don't be afraid to let the colors mix and move naturally—those minor variations are what make each image look like a miniature watercolor painting.
 

Second Project: I will SEA you Soon

For my second card, I used stamps 5054 and 5509 along with Tombow markers to craft another watercolor-style scene. This image features a boy pausing during a playful day at the beach to watch a sailboat in the distance (featuring the exclusive sailboat stamp, WC0526).

I hope these projects inspire you to break out your classic favorite stamps and combine them with something new. Sometimes, the most unexpected combinations create the most beautiful cards!

Happy Crafting!

Neema 

Last Days of Summer Card and Interactive Whimsical Storybook Box by Diane Mason

  Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

 

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I have two projects to share with you today. The first is a card featuring a darling, sleepy little girl resting in her favorite rocking chair, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the last days of summer. The second project highlights one of the newest additions to the Storybook Box Series.

Last Days of Summer Card: 

This square card was inspired by all the kids heading back to school. I was always a little sad when Summer Break came to an end — it always seemed to fly by too quickly. This sweet little girl is nestled in her rocking chair in the garden, soaking up the sunshine and savoring those final, carefree days of summer.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Cardstock: Purple

Patterned Paper: 5939 – Fairy Garden Paper Pack

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

Stamps & Dies:

• 5360 – WC Rocking Chair Set
• 5578 – Little Angels Set
• 5475 – Flower Set 6
• 6271 – Flower Set 7
• 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1
• 6270 – Foliage Set 6
• 6047 – Scalloped Square Dies

Ink for stamped images: Versafine Smokey Gray & N52

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 177, 249, 555, 565, 603, 606, 910, 912, 977, 969, 772

Other: Post-It tape, Masking Paper, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Brown TwinTone Markers

Since I knew I’d need to do some masking for this scene, I first stamped the rocking chair (5360 – WC Rocking Chair Set) and the girl (5578 – Little Angels Set) on scrap paper. This helped me see exactly where to place the masks so the girl would look naturally seated in the chair. I also left off her wings for this design. The rocking chair was inked with Versafine Smokey Gray, and the girl was selectively inked with N52. Once I had the placement figured out, I stamped the images on to Canson XL watercolor paper.

Painting:

I brushed in the sky with a watery mix of 555. For the foliage, I stamped with 177 and 249, and the flowers were stamped in 555 and 606. I used 603 for the girl’s dress and 277 for her hair and shoes. Her skin was painted with 910 and 912, with 172 added to her cheeks. The rocking chair was shaded with 565.

White highlights were added with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, and I finished the scene by adding small details where needed with a brown TwinTone marker.

I matted the painting using the largest square scalloped die (6047 – Scalloped Square Dies), cut from purple cardstock, and layered it onto a 4¼ x 4¼‑inch piece of patterned paper from the 5939 – Fairy Garden Paper Pack. The panel was then adhered to a square white card base of the same size.

Interactive Whimsical Storybook Box:

My next project features the newly released 6223 – Whimsical Storybook Set. This set includes both a fairy and a gnome that can perch on the wooden stump, and I couldn’t choose between them — so I used both and made the box interactive! I attached tiny magnets to the backs of the fairy and the gnome, as well as to the inside front and back of the box, so you can swap them out whenever you like. It’s such a fun little detail that brings the whole Storybook scene to life.

Here are all the images painted and die cut. Colors used: 679, 177, 249, 885, 847, N25, N52, 565, 555, 905, 845, 992, 977, 925,192,133, 526, 912, and 942. I used branches from 4964 – WC Branches Set for the trees and leaves from 5372 – WC Mini Foliage Set. The grass is from 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1. The images were stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink. Red, blue and brown TwinTone markers were used to add detail.

Adding the magnets:

 

Interactive Options (front):

Interactive Options (back):

The gnome and fairy can be attached magnetically to the back too!

The sentiment is from 5935 – Fairytale Houses Set. Patterned paper is from 5832 – Gnome Paper Pack.

I think anyone would be super excited to receive this adorable interactive Storybook Box as a gift! Reminder: Safety First - this should not be given to a small child – tiny magnets are a chocking hazard and should not be ingested!

Thank you so much for joining me for Watercolor Weekend. I hope you have enjoyed today’s projects! Until next time, Happy Painting!

Blessings in Poppies by Janet

Hello Ai fans. If you come here enough, you will know that I favor bright and bold colors. Today is a perfect example of it. Color makes me happy and somehow pastels and light shades alone rarely work for me. It's true from wardrobe, my home, and my artistic card making. Today's card once again showcases a dark fuchsia that's tamed down by some quiet yellow, cream and kraft cardstock choices.

To create my project, I started by stamping an oval frame from the 6221 - Frameworks Set 3. Then I stamped in the poppy flowers using one of the floral images in 6218 - BJ Long Stems. I colored the poppies and the frame in reddish orange colors with Copic markers. I also colored a light blue background into the blank space in the frame. I stamped another round frame from the same set and stamped a sentiment from the 6216 - Mercy Set. I colored the background in blue here as well. Once complete, I fussy cut the frames and set them aside.

The next step was to use two dies from the 6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies. The inner mat was cut out of a nice pale yellow and cream striped paper design found in the 6205 - Floral Shop Paper Pack. The exterior scalloped frame was cut from from Stardream Metallic cardstock in Jupiter. I stacked these two mats on top of a kraft A2 card base. Then I mounted the two frames on the card. To add a delicate touch and additional texture, I included a cream chiffon bow enhanced with a cream ribbon rose. 

While this card has a strong burst of color, it doesn't take away from the flower image and sentiment. In fact, it enhances the colors in the poppy and ties the entire card together. I hope you agree that the neutral cardstock colors play nicely with the dark fuchsia cardstock and reddish orange hues.

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

 

Home Sweet Home Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a card created with the new 6116-Thinking of Home set. I love cards that feature animals and this little sleeping kitty is just so cute; she looks like she is enjoying a cat nap on a warm Summer day. I also love the little blue bird!

To create the box card base, I used the 6121-Storybook Template die and selected a pretty piece of Art Impressions pattern paper from the 5955-Encouragement Paper Pack. The light colors in the pattern paper really frames the center design nicely.

Lastly, I colored all the images with Copic Markers before attaching them to the inside of the card base. The stamp set also includes all the dies and similar to the Art Impressions Matchbook sets, the images all have a scored tabs to allow each piece to fit perfectly together. I love building little scenes and this one is perfect to send to someone special any time of the year!

Thank you for checking out my card today and I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Boy oh Boy! Challenge #434 Week #2

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to week #2 or our challenge,

Boy oh Boy!

Let's see your masculine creations.

Remember, they don't have to be cards. You can create anything you like as long as you use something from Art Impressions. We'd love to see your gift card holders, gift tags, boxes and bags, bookmarks, place cards, cake picks, party decorations, designer paper, framed art and more. Anything with a masculine flair.

Last week Sharon was our Featured Artist and she made such a fun guy card!
Click her photo to see her tutorial.

Now let's see what the rest of the Design Team created.

I made a diaper bag.

Simone's little guy is hanging with his best friend.

5057 Boat Set (retired)

5054 Little Boy Set

4959 dogs

4964 Branches set

Gennette painted a beautiful fox.

6222 Frameworks Set 4
KH5951 Foxes Set
5413 WC Weathered Stumps Set
5476 Foliage Set 5
5126 Foliage Set 4
6072 Father's Day Paper Pack

Dori created a darling slimline card.

Neema created a farm scene.

6066 Classic truck foundation

5059 WC Harvest set

5373 WC Lg tree set

4964 Branches set

5372 WC Mini Foliage

4051 Foliage Set

Tasha has a Halloween card for you.

Janet created a fun fold card.

6064 - WC Bear Set

6072 - Father's Day PP

5725 - Nested Square Dies

Such fabulous work from everyone.
I'm sure one of these has inspired you to enter something into the challenge.
You could be the next winner of a free stamp set.

Now, onto the details of our challenge.

Please make a new project featuring any masculine themed
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see your creations.

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

Sweet As Can Be by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

For the current blog challenge "Boy, Oh Boy", I couldn't resist using the #6103 - Baby Keepsake stamp set and the #6060 - Baby Boy Cover PP for my card today.  This stamp set has got to be the most darling set EVER!  Plus, the dies are included!!!  Yay!

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I matted baby boy paper onto a blue piece of cardstock and die cut each of the images out.  I popped the images up with foam tape and placed within the windows of this slimline card.  Added the matted sentiments and a little piece of twine and the card is finished.

How fun and easy is that?  

Hope you enjoyed my card and it inspires you to join the blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  We love to see your creations!

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  N0, R20

E000, E21, E23, E25, E50, E51, E53, E55

Y11, Y13, Y19

G20, G21, G24, G40, G43, G46

B12, B14

Focus on Faith with Sara Furr: Misty Sunrise

 Blessings dear friends and welcome to my second edition of "Focus on Faith" for the month of August. 

Every morning I wake up and I thank God for the gift of a new day! New Blessings! The other day I woke up and came downstairs, and while I was walking around with my morning cuppa tea, I caught a glimpse of the beautiful misty sunrise, and had to run out to capture it.

This photo I took is the inspiration for my card today. I will be taking you through a step by step tutorial of my process.

Step 1- colored in my background grass and tree line with a green alcohol ink marker onto Canson XL Bristol Smooth cardstock. I created a small circle mask with a circle punch out of post it tape and applied it above the tree line to mask out my sun.

Step 2- ink blended in some blue sky and some yellow for sunrise, then removed the circle mask, and ink blended some white pigment ink in the tree line for the mist.

Step 3- stamped the barn from #5011- WC Truck mini set,  and colored barn with black alcohol ink marker.

Step 4- stamped in bushes from #4051- Foliage set and #5372-WC Mini Foliage Set with dark green inks.

Step 5- stamped in tree foliage with dark green ink.

Step 6- added in darker shades of grass line with alcohol ink marker.

Step 7- added white permanent ink marker to roof of barn.

Step 8- added foliage back in over the barn roof.

Step 9- stamped in sentiment from #5127- Build My Life set, with stamping tool, in blue ink.

When I was done, I went back in and added some sparkle pen to the sun and tree line to look like the mist. I wanted to male my sun even whiter, so I added some Ph Martin's Bleedproof white ink to the sun with a small paint brush. I trimmed my panel down just a bit and then matted it to a dark green cardstock  and then to a white panel. I popped that up over a panel of light green striped dsp from the #6072- Father's Day PP and a bow of green twine.

Here is my creation....

If you look close you can see the glitter pen I used for the mist.

So, here again is my photo...

AND here is my card...

I hope you are inspired to recreate of little bit of God's creation too.

God Bless, 

Sara Furr -The Crafty Farm Chick