Too Cute To Spook! Halloween Critters by Janet

 

Hello Ai Fans! Janet here with another pair of Halloween cards for the second half of the Going Batty Challenge. 

This pair is made with the very cute Halloween Critters set. The baby critters all ready for Halloween are precious. They remind me of my son in his toddler costumes. If you dressed up your little ones, I'm pretty sure they will make you think of those days too. 

For both cards, I started by stamping and water coloring the critters, candy and pumpkin bucket using Karin Brushmarker Pro markers and a water brush. The set comes with dies so cutting these out were a breeze. Then I set about creating the colorful backgrounds. I used the Stepped Back Blocks layered stencil set and distress inks in Carved Pumpkin, Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet. The dark plum diamonds are created by using all three colors in the same area. I applied dry clear paste using the smallest triangle stencil layer and sprinkled orange glitter over top. The paste holds the glitter very well and there is little shedding which is important to me. 

The first card is an A2 landscape style. I cut two small circles using the Ai Circle Double Stitched die set and I arranged the two cute critters and a sentiment on the card. I also placed the spider in the stamp set so that it would be coming down from the sentiment strip. The two critters were placed with foam tape to add additional dimension. I used a black Glossy Jelly Roll pen for the web string and to put details in the critter's eyes. Dark purple dew drops were added as an accent. Last, I placed the completed panel on a premade orange glitter card base.

For the second card, I created a shaker card using another layered background, the rabbit critter and candy pieces. I cut out the shaker circle with an Ai Circle Double Stitched die. Double sided foam tape was used to create the shaker well and acetate sealed the window containing a fun Halloween mix. Once the shaker was completed, I accented it with the bat from the set. I also placed candies and sequins on the front to finish it off.

I hope you enjoyed this cute little critter Halloween cards. They really are too cute to spook! Don't forget to enter your Halloween creation in the Going Batty Challenge before it's too late. 

Happy Creating!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest

Magic is in the Air Card by Tasha!

 Happy Friday Ai Fans!

Tasha here sharing a Fall card created with the fun Happy Hauntings Stamp Set!

This set has a variety of images and sentiments, but nothing says Fall like owls! These witchy owls are too cute with their little hats and the bright colors pop against the dark sky background!

The circle frame is from the Bible Journaling Frameworks Set 1 and the frame design works perfectly with the owl images!

The sentiment "Magic is in the Air" was stamped with black ink and I used purple Distress Oxide Ink around the edges. To complete the card, I added glitter card stock and a Halloween pattern paper to the panels; I love all the sparkle!

Thank you for checking out today's project and I hope you are inspired to create a Fall/Halloween card!

Week Two "Going Batty” challenge #312!

Hello Ai fans!

It's time for a week two of our challenge
Going Batty!

Halloween will be here before you know it.  We want to see your
Halloween creations.  It doesn't have to be a card.  Anything crafty will do as long
as it's Halloween themed.  Bonus points if you use Art Impressions stamps!

 

Our Design Team has some AMAZING inspiration for you.  

First up we have Lynn who was our featured designer last week.

She used 5129 – He Leads Me Set, 5352 – Halloween Critters Set
and 5182 – Pumpkin Mice Flip Card

Next we have our guest designer Sharon who is filling in for Jil.

She used 4926 – Holiday Mansion Set and the 4927 – HM Accessory Set.

Bri used 4786 – Meow-lloween Set

Janet has a pair of cards using 4940 – Happy Haunting Set

Crystal used 5352 – Halloween Critters Set

Tasha made a pair a pair of cards using 5352 – Halloween Critters Set

Here are the Challenge Rules...

✻ Please make a new card or creation. You can make any crafty item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. You will receive extra votes if you use Art Impressions stamps!

* Please include first name and last initial on your submission.

✻ 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 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

A true Friend Listens With Heart by Crystal

Hi Ai fans! This week I had fun playing with the Paws to Love stamp set. This set is so much fun and adorable. Art Impressions does have pre-made Tri-folds card bases and envelops in the shop but I made my own. I just use two A2 card bases and adhere them together folding them in on each other. 

I love the cute little puppy cuddling with his little kitten friend. 

One card I added the sentiment "A true friend listens with the heart" on the front of the card. One the second card I added the sentiment in the inside of the card.

I added some fun pattern paper to both cards. 

This is one of my favorite card sets. I love the different layers in a card when making a tri-fold cards.  

Happy Stamping! 

 

Lovable Owl Birthday Card by Lynn Dionne

 Hello Ai Fans!!!

Watch the video tutorial here!

In today’s video and card we will be creating a fun birthday scene using the cutest little owl from the Lovable Animals Set (5219). To create the background we will start by creating a tree for our owl by using a Woodgrain die and some distress inks!

To set the remainder of the scene we will create a circle opening for our owl to peek out of and a colorful birthday border of presents and flowers! And for a sweet sentiment we will use the Birdhouse Cubbies Set (5346) which says “It’s your Bird-Day, just wing it”.

The coloring will be done using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens...and I will list all of those colors below.

For a finishing touch we will add a few gems to each of those flowers for extra texture and dimensions! These pretty gems just make this card pop!!!

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

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens used: 

Blender, Bright Yellow, Orange, Sugared Almond Pink, Lt Brown, Beige, Mid Brown, Platinum Brown, Olive Green, Mid Green, Cornflower Blue, Persian Green, Violet, Deep Red

Fan Group Features Part 3

Hello Ai fans! 

Is it just me or is September flying by?
I can't believe this is our 3rd fan group feature already!
These amazing artists have been filling in while Jil from our Design Team is away.

Kicking off week three is Irm Fondse-Beerens! 

She used 5376 Basic scene, 5371 Barn set, 4607 Flowering mailbox, 5388 Rugged tree, 5010 Tree set 1, 5426 Veggies, 5416 Vintage car set, 4052 Flower 1, 4051 Foliage 1, 5007 Foliage 3, 5372 Mini Foliage, 5414 Small rocks set and 4964 Branches.  Irm created a farm scene that reminds us of where we live.  So pretty!

Oh De Furey!! 
Cardinals are not the state bird of 7 states for no reason!  Your bird is so beautiful as is your entire scene. Your rustic wooden barrel is so realistic!  De used 5414 small rocks, 5261 Bird, 4871 rustic containers

5418 “Kendra" dots, Grasses 4875, 5007, 5059 and tiny grass, Tombows #177, 969, 528 and 856

Our fan group shares aren't limited to just fans.  Some are former Design Team members.  We all miss Diane Zechman's weekly inspiration terribly!  She used 5193- Woodland Holiday Set and 5134- Banner Double Stitched Dies on her sweet, rustic Christmas cards! We LOVE owls!!

Debbie Hedges...what can we say?  You've all heard "simple and elegant"...that describes her style.  She is an amazing artist that creates many sweet and simple scenes for the most perfect cards!
She used 5194 - WC Shoe Set, 5059 - WC Harvest Set, 4868 - WC Flower Set 2, 4604 - WC Chest of Flowers, 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4, 5418 - Bible Foliage Set 2, 4051 - WC Foliage Set, 5414 - WC Small Rocks Set, 5064 - Circle Double Stitched Dies

Diane Mason!  This woman can PAINT!!  
I dream of having this spooky pumpkin topiary on my front porch!

Art Impressions Stamps used for Decorative Pumpkin Topiary:  4870 - WC Ornate Container Set, 5426 - WC Veggies, 5069 - WC Harvest Set, 4964 - WC Branches Set, 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2, 5018 - WC Cobblestone Set, 5065 - Oval Double Stitched Dies

Kathy Acres created the sweetest  (Yes, pun intended...) Gingerbread Cubbies #5178 card!!  The Cubbies are a very cute, interactive more recent line at Art Impressions.  Kathy has shown us how much fun this set can be!  They are so easy to assemble because they come with matching dies so you don't have to fussy cut!

Michelle Hoskins is so good at using Art Impressions stamps and then adding her own personal touch to create fabulous scenes.  In this one there are two tiny, hiding gnomes.  I found them.  Can you?  She used 5102- Succulents set, 4763- Southwest, 5009- Mini flower set, 

4051- Foliage set,  5015- Hobbit Door set, 4961- WC Mini Cottages set, 5265- WC Wrought Iron set

Our personal favorite cards are fall themed cards and Roberta Bostrom has shown why!  Her fall wreath is just perfect with those colors and pumpkins and gourds!  We think she's channeling her inner Karen Day with the plaid paper background!   Beautiful!  She used 5426 – WC Veggies, 5418 – Bible Foliage Set 2,  branches, foliage sets 2 and 3.

Ruthan Plant has taken me back to my childhood.  I grew up on the road where the very first hot air balloon pilot in my area lived.  When the kids would hear the burner firing we'd come running.  He would "hop" us across his horse pasture before taking up his paying customers.  Ruthan's scene is just stunning with her balloon meandering down the river bed.  This is so peaceful!  She used  #5378 WC Stone Creek Scene, #5372 WC Mini Foliage Set, and #5120 WC Palm Tree Set

Sharon's cards are just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!  Always!  This time she used 4382 Giant Cake Set with a sentiment from 5280 Practically Perfect Set.  Her cards are fun and bright and would put a smile on anyone's face.  She's a former DT member and always has amazing inspiration for you!

We can't believe that next Tuesday is the last of our fan group shares.  There has been so much

lovely inspiration through all of these amazing cards.  We'll miss these ladies but look forward to having JIL back!!  Don't forget to check out our bi-weekly challenges too!  You could win 3 stamp sets of your choice!

Happy Stamping!

 

Happy Meow-lloween Card by Bri Firth

Hello Ai Fans - Bri Firth here! Today, I am sharing a spooky card design featuring the Meow-lloween Set. This project is perfect for Ai's current challenge, "Going Batty". Also, this Halloween card is featured on my personal blog today, check it out here! 

First, I die cut a stitched rectangle panel from the Rectangle Double Stitched dies set and ink blended over it with Wilted Violet and Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide inks. I used gold paint and the splatter technique to add some shimmer to the ink blended background.

I colored the images with my Copic Sketch markers. The colors I used are listed at the end of this post.

To finish this card front, I stamped the sentiment in pigment black ink into a stitched flag die cut from the Flag Double Stitched dies set. I heat embossed the sentiment with clear embossing powder.

I decided to decorate the inside of this card as well to make this card extra batty! I used a Spiderweb Stencil with Black Soot Distress Oxide ink to decorate the top panel. I stamped the "Boo" sentiment and colored the spooked critters on the bottom panel.

Check back next week for more Ai inspiration made by me!

Ai Products Used

Meow-lloween Set

Rectangle Double Stitched Dies

Flag Double Stitched Dies

Copic Coloring

Bats: BV20, BV23, BV25, BV29

Cats: W9, W7, W5, W3, W1, RV11

Middle Pumpkin: YR18, YR16, YR12, YR00, Y00, E81, E84, E87

Outer Pumpkins: YR09, YR07, YR04, YR02, YR00, Y00, E81, E84, E87 

This IS my happy face! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing my Mrs. Mask card.
I work in an elementary school and we are once again required to wear
masks while in school. My coworker and I have a "deal."  She makes me 
masks and I make her cards.  We swap every month or so.

It's a win/win situation!

For my card I've used 5405 – Mrs. Set.

I have a mask for every outfit and holiday thanks to her.
It's not how I love going to work but if we must...She keeps me

in style!

The Mrs. Set is part of the new Hats Off series at Art Impressions.

I just love this mix and match group of stamps. 

Watercolor Weekend Roundup 9-18-2021

Hello watercolor fans! 
It's time for Watercolor Weekend Roundup!
This weekend our Watercolor Design Team is all about the fall scenes!

Tricia has a fall table full of pumpkins and apples,  Dot has another wonderful "farmhouse chic" creation...this time in a fall theme and Karen has a stunning scene using the new Vintage Car.  You can see the leaves in her trees beginning to change.

 Hi Watercolor Fans, Happy Almost Fall! It is one of my favorite seasons here in New England. I thought I would welcome all the things that make me feel fallish and put them on a card.

 I added the Blessed & Grateful sentiment at the bottom which I find is pretty perfect for those Thanksgiving cards. The Painting To start, I inked the WC Foundations Wood Table stamp with 969. I stamped it in the middle of my watercolor paper and pulled the color out of the lines. Using my palette, I added some additional color to the pots. To add some interest, I painted in a flower on one of the pots and decorated the other pots using the fine point of my 606. To mask the pots, I used small post it tape strips and using the stamp positioner, placed the pumpkins and apples into the pots. I added layers of yellow and orange to the pumpkins and green to the stems. I added red in layers to the apples. For the watering can flowers, I inked up the single stem from WC Flower Set 4 with 606 and 177. I stamped it multiple times before reinking it. I added water to the leaves and buds. For the grass, I inked the small grass with green and stamped it in several places below and beside the pots. I inked the small dots with red and stamped a few above the grasses to create some wildflowers. I masked off the pumpkins and apples and stamped the small wheat with yellow and brown behind the pots underneath the table. I inked the ferns up with green and stamped them around the outside of the scene. For a last final touch, I inked a branch with brown and stamped it around the outside. I used some blue to create a simple cloudy sky. I finished it off with my initials and date. It is so amazing to go back and look at your previous years’ work. It truly shows you how much you have grown as an artist. So that’s my Blessed & Grateful card for this weekend. I hope you all have a wonderful creative weekend and thank you for stopping by and spending some time with us. Make sure you put your pictures on Instagram and tag us so we can see what you come up with! #AIWatercolor See you next time! SUPPLIES:

Hello!
Are you ready for the bi-monthly Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend? I created another "Shabby Chic" scene as Renee from Art Impressions called it, but this one has a fall theme. It's pretty fast and would be good for a fall birthday or Thanksgiving card, don't you think?

 You could use whatever containers, foliage or flower stamps you already have but you need some pumpkin stamps from the 5426 Veggies Set or the 5059 Harvest Set and the apples and basket stamps from the 5059 Harvest Set. Stamp the watering can first from the 5123 Decorative Jar Set inked in the 969 then 565 Tombow pens and stamp it off before stamping it onto your watercolor paper. Cover it with post-it tape to stamp the pumpkin next to it inked in 969. Then you cover that pumpkin with a mask and stamp the other pumpkin. Mask that pumpkin then stamp a pot over the pumpkins as it is behind them. Ink the basket in 969 then stamp it next to the watering can. Cover it with post-it tape and stamp the apples inked in 969 into the basket. Pull the color out of the lines on everything. Color the basket with 947 and 026. Color the apples with, 158, 847 and 993, leaving a white highlight. Stamp the flowers from the 5008 Flower Set 3 inked in 026 onto the watering can. Stamp the foliage from the 5126 Foliage Set 4 on the can inked in 925. The yellow, red and brown foliage is from the 4963 Fall Set. The curly branches are from the 4964 Branches Set inked in 947. The orange pumpkin is colored in with 925 and a little 847. The green pumpkin is colored with 026. Use the brown Tombow TwinTone pen for the stems and curly cues. The pot is colored in with 969 and the flowers are from the Flower Set 4052 inked in 847 and the foliage is from 5126 inked in 249. The shiplap wall is made when you are done using a pencil, t-ruler and then a little Tombow 565 for the shadows. Hope you give this a try and tag me in it!

 Hello Ai Watercolor fans!
I have really been loving all the purple that I've seen recently in a lot of fall cards, and decided to incorporate it into my scene using 5416 - WC Vintage Card Set:

I coloured the car with Tombow markers #969 Chocolate/565 Deep Blue, and then did the same with the barn from 5371 - WC Barn Set, using my Stamp Positioner to get the placement right.  I also used it for my fence, as I wanted it to appear along side the car - and I only coloured a portion of it.  I sketched in the hillsides, the path to the barn and the roadway, then after masking the barn, I stamped the trees from 5372 - WC Mini Foliage around it, and used the foliage stamp in the set to add the leaves using #933 Orange, #177 Dark Jade and #126 Light Olive.  I painted a wash of #177 on the hillsides, then masked them off and stamped the pine tree from the set in various heights to create a line of trees in the distance.

I used my damp brush to pull the colour out from the lines on the car, and then picked up #493 Reflex Blue from my palette and painted several layers on it to look worn and a bit faded.  I followed the packaging from the stamp set for most of my design as it works so well!  Using the daisy bunch with #933 Orange and #856 Chinese Red, I stamped flower clusters around the car, and then did the same with the vine from 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 using #177 Dark Jade and #636 Imperial Purple.  After dabbing everything with my brush, I added some rocks from 5415 - WC Rocks Set in the foreground, shading them with greys & blues.  Using the grasses from Foliage Set 4, I filled in around the base of the car and fence.  I added shades of #969 Chocolate and #565 Deep Blue to the fence to darken the wood.  The barn was painted with #856 Chinese Red with a little brown mixed in to dull the colour, and the grey tones were added to the roof.  Some #493 was painted in as the sky.

These designers work hard on each card they make for your inspiration!

If you like what you see be sure to let them know!  You can leave comments here or on their

social media.  All 3 of these ladies are on Instagram and you can follow them there.

Tricia

Dot 

Karen