Reeling in the BIG ONE! by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

My Father-in-law turned 90 last week and he used to love to fish.

I knew he'd enjoy this card.
(He did. He emailed me.)

I used two fun stamp sets from Art Impressions along with a beautiful masculine paper pack.

Everything is linked below. This was a super simple card. I just stamped, colored and cut out

the images with the coordinating dies for the Hats Off set. 

The fish from the Reel Great Guys set are a little older and don't have dies but they 

were super simple to fussy cut. I love all of the fun sayings in this set.

Copics used:

B21, B45, E30, E74, YG05,

YG41, C1, T4, RV1, RV93 

Another card for the Round & Round Challenge by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans! 

I've got another card today that works for the current Round & Round Challenge that is going on right now. Here's a link so you can enter your project if you haven't already. Just click HERE.  I started out by using the adorable bear from #6103 Baby Keepsake Set. I stamped it onto a Copic friendly paper with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and then colored it with the markers listed below. Then I just grabbed some circle die sets. So I used #5064 Double Stitched Circle Dies, #5726 Nested Circle Dies, and also #6045 Scalloped Circle Dies. That pretty patterned paper is from #6057 Baby Girl PP. To embellish the card a bit, I used some hearts from #5721 Nested Heart Dies, stamping the sentiment onto the larger white one. I also added a set of those adorable booties from the set as well. 

So that is it for me today! I sure hope you're joining in on the challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set! Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit today and until next time - stay crafty! 

Copic markers used:

E51, 53, and 55

R81 and 83

V12 and 15

RV91, 93, and 95

Spring Blooms & Garden Views by Simone Carr

Happy Easter everyone and welcome to Watercolor Weekend!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful day! Today I’m sharing a card featuring Love Blooms (6195) from the new release, and it was so much fun to create.

On Canson Watercolor Paper, I stamped the image using Archival Ink in Shadow Grey. I began by painting the pots, pillows, cat, and curtains, then moved on to adding the flowers and foliage. The flowers are stamped in the desired colors and softened with a damp brush.

For the view from the window, I added a light wash of green along the bottom and a soft touch of blue for the sky, keeping it subtle to create a peaceful outdoor scene. I also used a pencil and ruler to add grid lines to the window for a bit of structure and detail.

I thought it would be fun to place a sign above the window using the sign from the Front Porch Farm House set (5490). I stamped the sign on Canson Watercolor Paper, colored it, then stamped the sentiment and used the coordinating die to cut it out. I added foam tape underneath for dimension.

After everything was colored, I cut the frames using the 3rd and 4th largest Scalloped Rectangle Dies (6048).

All 6 newly released Flower Foundations stamps are simple, easy, and fun—perfect for creating cards or journal booklet.

Materials Used

Stamps
Love Blooms (6195)
Foliage Set 4 (5126)
Foliage Set 1 – Small Grass (4051)
Bible Flower Set – Daisy Bunch (5074)
Mini Flower Set (5009)
Front Porch Farm House – Sign (5490)

Dies
Scalloped Rectangle Dies – 3rd & 4th Largest (6048)

Paper
Canson Watercolor Paper
Inspirational Easter Patterned Paper (6033)

Inks & Coloring Mediums
Archival Ink – Shadow Grey (for stamping)
Tombow Markers:
177 – Grass, foliage, pillow
526 – Window
493, 985, 685, 725 – Flowers
757, 942, 947 – Flower pots
925, 026 – Pillows
991 – Curtain
912 + 933 – Cat
565 – Shadow
Twin Tone Brown – Details

Other
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

For my second card, I used Canson Watercolor Paper. I inked my stamp with 969 and 565, stamping it off once before stamping onto the paper. Using a damp brush, I pulled out the color first to create a soft base.

Using 312, I lightly colored the shed (5121). I darkened the shed frame with 969, along with Twin Tone Brown, to give it an aged look. I colored the door using 026, then used Twin Tone Brown to add lines and create a wood effect.

Next, I stamped in the flowers and foliage and used a damp brush to soften the look. I finished the scene by adding a light wash of 526 for the sky.

To add another fun detail, I thought the watering can from the Spring Keepsake Set (6106) would be a perfect fit for the scene. I colored the watering can using N49, then used Twin Tone Brown to add details and give it an aged, rusty look.

I hope you enjoyed these cards—thanks so much for stopping by!

Materials Used

Stamps
WC Garden Shed Set (5121)
Spring Keepsake Set – Watering Can (6106)
Foliage Set 1 (4051)
Foliage Set 3 (5007)
Foliage Set 5 (5476)
Flower Set 1 – Daisy Bunch (4052)

Dies
Rectangle Double Stitched – Large (5063)
Circle Double Stitched – 2nd Largest (5064)

Paper
Canson Watercolor Paper
Basic Pink Patterned Paper (6010)

Inks & Coloring Mediums
Twin Tone Brown (stamping)
Tombow Markers:
969 + 565 – Stamped shed
312 – Shed
026 – Door
685, 555 – Flowers
177 – Grass, shrub
526 – Sky
N49 – Watering can

Dreaming of Spring by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello, and Welcome, to Watercolor Weekend!  Technically, it is Spring, but the weather says otherwise. It’s coming, but the tug-of-war continues, we call these the yo-yo months, it is enough to drive one batty when you just want warmth and sun! (Yes, yes, I know…..I will be complaining of it being too warm soon enough!  LOL!) I can not tell you how happy it makes me to create colorful creations right now, I may enjoy a good snowman, but I do love when things start coming back to life! 

Daffodils are usually one of our first flowers to show up here, there is something about that pop of bright sunny yellow after months of gray days.  The irony of them getting covered in snow is not lost on me.  The 6106 Spring Keepsake Set was a big hit for the frog alone, he is cute isn’t he! I started out with a piece of watercolor paper and stamped in the frog with Distress Ink Pumice Stone after stamping off once.  I created a mask and covered him, and then using a stamp positioner I stamped in the pot like I did the frog.  I then masked the pot and stamped in the flowers.   Starting with the frog, I used 126 as the base color, adding in 177 especially around the edges and shadowed areas.  N15 for the pupils, with a touch of 565 along the edges of the white. This really helps the eyes to pop! For the tulips I used 725 and shaded with 676 for more dimension.  The daffodils I started with 025 and then used 026 for some depth, with 947 for shading.  I added a couple of dots of 969 right in the centers.  The stems and leaves I used 126 as the base and contoured with 177.  For some of the areas farther back I also used a bit of 249.  I added some 969 inside the pot, darkening the back edge for dimension.  For the pot itself I used 636, darkening the sides and leaving a highlight in the middle which helps make the pot look rounded.  I also added a stripe with the same color.  The sky I used 526, and put a light wash of 969 for the ground.  Using my favorite grass from 5826 WC Large Tree Set 2, I masked off the frog again to place the grass behind him and on the other side of the pot using 177 with two small spots of 969 towards the bottom and then used a damp brush to soften.  Bleed Proof White was used for the little flowers.  I added a bit more 969 for the shadows at the base of the pot and frog.  5064 Circle Double Stitched Die, 2^nd from the largest, was used to cut the image out. I then matted this with silver cardstock using dies from my stash, and then backed this with a dark purple solid cardstock, cut out from the 2^nd largest 6045 Scalloped Circle Dies.  I matted my card base with paper from the 6010 Basic Pink Paper Pack.  Before attaching my image, I stamped in the sentiment in the bottom corner with Versafine Clair in Nocturne.  I then added my image to finish off the card.  I still can’t get over how cute this frog is!!  Ah, Spring, I am waiting for you!

 For my 2^nd card I used 6177 Garden Friends from the new Story Tile Series. There are currently 3 other sets in this line, and boy are they good ones! I made a card using the 6179 Cottage Charm, and kept that one pretty simple, you haven’t seen this one yet, but it is coming. I did, however, learn a valuable lesson making that card. Not thinking, I traced my openings using the die on my watercolor paper with the cut side up. I figured out pretty fast my mistake when I cut out the template. (Opps!) This time I made a template for tracing with heavy cardstock that I now keep with the die and use that instead.  The beautiful thing about these sets is that you can mix and match to create different versions. 6158 Story Tile Template Die can be used with any number of sets as well.  I am so looking forward to what Art Impressions has in store for this series! With the foliage and flower sets there are so many things you can do to change the look of this set, your only limitations are your imagination.  Bonnie, however, made some beautiful samples that are on the stamp cards to get you started.  After cutting down my watercolor paper to 4 ¼ x 5 ½, I used my cut out template to trace the openings with a pencil. I then used the stamp positioner to stamp my images where I wanted those, using Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and stamping off once. Here are the other sets I used throughout this project.

5126 Foliage 4 – small vine

4051 Foliage Set 1 – small grass, large foliage

5826 Large Tree Set 2 – grass

5418 Bible Foliage Set 2 – dots

5009 Mini Flower – 4 flowers

5074 Bible Flower Set  – daisy bunch

 Tombow colors used: 565, 969, 312, 947, 025, 026, 177, 676, 555, 526, 126, 249, N15. Also Bleed Proof White. 

I used paper from 5835 Mini Paper Pack for the Story Tile Template and adhered it to my watercolor paper after erasing the pencil lines. Mounting this on my card base. (This time in the right orientation!!) Thank you for joining me, I hope you enjoyed my cards, until next time!  Create….Share….Inspire! 

Peony Grace by Janet

I am very much enjoying the new Bible Journaling Margin sets that are recent releases at the Ai store. I've made several cards with the beautiful margin stamp sets and they pair so well with the 6155 Ornate Margin Dies. Today, I've used the 6164 Peony Margin Set and the Margin Dies to create an elegant card with a flap closure. This card also fits the Round and Round challenge on the Ai blog thanks to the round jewel bling used on it.

To start this card I stamped and colored the Peony margin image with red and green copic markers. Inside the border I used a pale pink marker and then used a Gold Signo Pigment Ink Pen to add gold dots for additional interest. Once complete, I trimmed the piece into a rectangle and rounded the corners. 

To form this card, I started with a pink A2 card base, I added a red long rectangle piece that I embossed with a folder. Then I used the heart Ornate Margin die on a piece of rose patterned paper from the 6181 Valentine Series 2 Paper Pack. I ran the long edge of this die off of the cutting plate so that I could then trim the right edge so that it was 1/2" wider than it would normally be if I cut it as it intended. This gave me a little extra length to score and then I could glue it to the back of the card base to create a flap. Before I glued it in place, I inked the left edge to show off the stitching in the paper and help it stand out. To secure the flap, I installed two round green and clear gems so that only half is attached to the card front. The other remaining half allows the flap to be tucked under and stay in place. The result is an elegant card with a unique flap closure.

Thanks for joining me on the blog today. As always, find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store!

Happy Crafting!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest   

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's on its Way! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday everyone!

Tasha here sharing a fun new Easter card. I still can't believe it's already Easter time, seems like the year just started. For my project, I used the 6008-Bunny Hugs set and 6103-Baby Keepsake Set to make a cheerful little scene. I had a lot of fun coloring the pretty flowers and love the mix of colors!

I started by stamping the bunny, flowers, and basket and used the included dies to cut all the images out before coloring. After, I used Copic Markers to color before layering the pieces on to the card with foam tape. I  like having a little dimension on my cards. 

For the greeting, I stamped "Bunny Hugs" on to white paper. I love the scripty font style and the size of this sentiment. I also matted the greeting with the same papers I used for the larger layers to have everything coordinate.

Lastly, I attached layers of white, pink, metallic pink, and pink plaid pattern paper. I also used a white gel pen to add little accents to the images to complete the design. 

Thank you for checking out today's project and I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Round & Round Challenge #424 Week #2

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to week #2 of our

Round & Round
challenge!

We want to see your circle cards, cards with circle dies or stamps, circular gems and embellishments,  dotted embossing folders...anything round!

Our Featured Designer last week was Lynn and she created a gorgeous floral wreath card.
If you didn't already check it out, be sure to view her YouTube tutorial for this card.

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

Tasha loves bees and always creates the best bee themed cards.

I created two circular cards with added circles on them.

 

Sharon has a whimsical giraffe for you.

Jami created a darling bear inside of a wreath.

Diane has a sweet Easter rocker-card.

Dori also has a cute little rocker-card.

Janet created a romantic looking floral card.

Well, you've seen them all. From cute to elegant. We hope one of these amazing cards

will inspire you to enter our challenge. You have nothing to lose...except for a free stamp set.

Get busy creating and show us your circles!

 ✻ 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

Ride the Waves Pup Card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have two cards for you that both fit the Round and Round Challenge.  The first one is an interactive rocking card and the second is more to show you how many ways you can use your dies and stamps, just add some imagination.  

Let's start with the rocking pup:

I used the Pup floating in the inner tube from the #4900 - Reel Great Guys stamp set along with the beach toys from the #5509 - Beach Accessories stamp set.

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored them with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut the beach toys with the corresponding dies and fussy cut the pup in the inner tube.  I cut off the water beneath the tube since I was making my own water. 

I cut a 5 1/2" circle out of heavy weight cardstock and scored in half to make the base.  I then cut waves with dies I had in my stash.  I positioned the blue waves together and taped the back side.  I die cut these layers with the same round die, lining up the halfway mark of the circle die to the top wave.  I also placed a smaller circle over the waves for the middle circle panel.  I die cut a sand layer using the bottom edge of the circle die.  I glued the outer layers together onto the circle base card. 

To create the middle circle and the mechanism for the pup to rock, I cut a white base panel with the circle die that is just larger than the one used to cut the middle of the waves.  I cut the cloud panel from the smaller circle die used to cut the inner waves.  I punched a dime size hole in the darkest wave and cut two larger circles (approx. 1") from scrap white cardstock, making sure they will be hidden under the pup.  Adhere one of these scrap circles to one side of a pop dot and feed the dot into the hole from the back side of the wave.  Adhere the other scrap circle to the top of the pop dot and then glue the pup onto that disc, hiding it under the pup.  Place foam tape onto the back side of the darker wave, making sure that you don't hinder the disc from moving.  Adhere this layer to the white/cloud panel, matching up the waves to the circle base.  Test it out and see if your pup rocks.  Place foam tape to the next layer, again making sure that it doesn't hinder the pup.  Adhere to the white/cloud panel, matching up to the outer waves.  The lighter blue waves are adhered directly onto the middle blue layer.  Adhere your wave bubbles to the base card and then adhere the white scene panel to the base.  Add your beach accessories, sun and sentiment.  Your card should rock and so should your pup.  See the video below.

Baseball card

This next card was made for my grandson's birthday.  He loves baseball.  

I used the #5054 - WC Little Boys stamp set and flipped him by stamping a mirror image.  I wanted him to be right handed.  😂  To create a mirror image, I stamped him onto a silicone embossing mat that came with my die cutting machine and then placed my white copic friendly paper over the top and pressed.  The image is just as clear as the original stamp.  

  I used the #5510 - Sports Accessories for the cap, bat and ball.  For the ball in his hand, I used a hole punch and a marker to draw the stitches.  

Okay, now for the crazy part, can you guess which die sets I used for the stitches on the larger baseball? 

I should have made this a contest to see if anyone could guess OR maybe I'm not as creative as I think I am.  😂😃  Probably the latter, but I wanted to show you that you can use your dies in soooo many different ways.

First of all, I used the 5064 - Double Stitch circle die for the baseball.  Then for the half circles, I used two of the #5726 - Nested Circle dies together to create the thin circle frame.  Lastly, I used the eyes/brows from the #5339 - Santa and the #5340 - Snowman GCH for the red stitches on the ball.

Now, would it have been easier to draw the ball, probably, but I can't draw.  😂

Well, there you have it!  Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you create something fun for the Round and Round challenge and enter for a chance to win a free stamp set.  We love to see your creations!

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  Pup - N0, N1,  B0000

                                                 E21, E23, E50, E51, E53  

                                                             B21, B24,   YG21, YG23, YG25  

                                                      Baseball - E00, E01, E11, E51, E53, E55

                                                                      T0, T2, T4   R22, R24,    Y23 

                                               B21, B23, B24 

April 2026 Monthly Challenge: Springtime Bunny by Debbie Hedges

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to our April Monthly Guest Designer Challenge!
This time Debbie has the sweetest little bunny for you.
After you read through her post and admire her card, be sure to
scroll down to see who our March winners were.

Happy April everyone! It’s almost Easter and I am enjoying spring flowers in bloom!

or my April project, I wanted a simple scene with a bunny in a meadow with some rocks and flowers surrounding him. I used the left facing bunny #5870 Peeking Bunny and stamped him on the right side in Pumice Stone Distress Ink. Then I inked a few of the rocks from #5378 WC Stone Creek Scene in Pumice Stone Distress Ink and stamped them to the left of the bunny.

Using #75 sky blue, I added sky, adding color so there were light and dark areas and also some white space to show clouds. I usually add sky first so I don’t have to work around the flowers later. I then painted the bunny in #84 taupe. I used #67 bubblegum pink for his ears and once he was dry, used my black Micron to darken his eyes. I colored the rocks next, leaving a highlight on the top and using a variety of grey and brown tones (#40 brownish grey, #21 dark grey, #45 sepia, #15 olive green, and #84 taupe).

Next, I made a mask of the bunny and stamped grass on both sides of him in #15 olive green, using the teeny tiny grass (#4051) and the grass from #5826 WC Large Tree Set 2. I also added some grass along the bottom right of my project. I pulled the color out of the lines and then used a single flower from #6055 Water of Life Set to stamp the flowers on the right in #79 grape.

For the flowers on the left, I started by inking the small vine stamp from #5126 Foliage Set 4 and stamped it several times for light and dark to create the base of the plant (I made a mask of the rocks to protect them for this step). I used #15 olive green for the foliage. The long stem is also from set #6055 and I inked it in #93 aubergine and used my stamp positioner to stamp it 3 times and then touched each bloom with my brush to soften the color. The tall grass is from #4875 Garden Wagon Mini set. I inked it in #15 olive green and inked the ends in #8 violet. Using my positioner, I stamped it twice. I then used the fine tip and added a few more flower bud dots in violet. I added the hint of a tree by inking leaves from #5126 and stamping them twice in the left corner of my project.

To finish up, I used #15 olive green to anchor the rocks and bunny by adding some “ground” as grass along the base of the rocks, bunny and grass. With Dr Ph Martin’s Bleed Proof White, I added dots to the bunny tail so it would look fluffy – but left the shading at the base. I also added a few dots along the ground and in the grass I added at the bottom right. I also used the fine point of my taupe marker to darken areas on the bunny and rocks for shading.

I still use Marvy Le Plume markers for my projects.  Most of these can be converted to Tombow colors, but choose colors that work for you. These just happen to be some of my go-to colors for any project I work on. (Here is the link for the Tombow conversion chart: https://www.artimpressions.com/shop/art-impressions-most-loved-color-conversion-chart/)

I hope you’ll give this project a try and please be sure to post your version so we can all enjoy it! Also, don’t forget to enter the Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set! Happy stamping!

Now let's see who won our March Challenge!

Our Lucky Random Winner was: #3

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

The winner of a freebie from me is #18

Please email me at Renee@artimpressions.com
with your full name and address and I'll send you a photo of the freebies I have available for you to choose from.

Now for our new monthly challenge, 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.

One random winner will receive a free stamp set from Art Impressions and one random winner will receive a freebie stamp from me.

 ✻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

Easter Place Cards by Lynn Dionne

 Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!

Today I thought that I would share a few of these easy "last minute" Easter place cards that I am currently working on by using the Ai Bunny Hugs Set (6008). Also, to create the place card itself we will be using the Ai Scalloped Rectangle Dies (6048).

We will begin by die cutting the scalloped rectangle onto some white cardstock. Now we will stamp the little bunny in the center and color it in using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Sugared Almond Pink, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Ice Blue, Sea Green, Lt Gray.

Now that the coloring is complete, we can use the bunny die to partially die cut the bunny. For that, we will only die cut the top of the bunny (about from the neck upwards). When you are doing a partial die cut you will want to put the top plate on your die cutting machine only over the area that you want to cut!

Now we will score at the center of the scalloped rectangle from the cut line to the edge of the card. You will need to do this on both sides of the bunny. At this point, you can fold the place card in half right on that score line. This will make the bunny pop-up over the top of the place card!

Let's add a strip of plaid paper to the bottom of each of the place cards using the same rectangle die, but we will only need about a 1/2" strip.

After we attach the plaid strip, we will then add a solid strip of 1/4" coordinating cardstock. We can also add a bit of interest to each of the eggs using our gel pens in a variety of colors.

Next, you may want to add the names of your guests to each place card, or you can just simply stamp a cute easter sentiment on each of your place cards. For the lettering, I used the Ai Journal Letter Dies (5562) and some black 100lb cardstock. However, you could also stamp the names using the Ai Letter Stamps (5284).

Finally, let's add some sparkle using a few pretty gems in those same coordinating colors!

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

Ai Bunny Hugs Set (6008)

Ai Scalloped Rectangle Dies (6048)

Ai Journal Letter Dies (5562)

Ai Easter Bunny PP (6036)