Love, Peace, and Joy by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Happy Monday! I hope this finds you well and enjoying this wonderful fall weather! I always love it when I can turn off the air conditioning and open up the windows and doors to let that cool fall air into the house! It's getting quite chilly at night though, and we have gotten some good frosts and freezes here in Reno. You know I'm getting ready to ask you if you've entered the Tres Chic challenge going on right now, right? LOL!  You've got just a few more days to enter to win a free stamp set of your choice! So if you haven't entered yet, I urge you to do so! Who doesn't love getting what you want for free??!!  So I made this card for this challenge using the wonderful 5350 Animal Nativity Set, one of my favorite Christmsas stamp sets! I stamped the images onto Copic friendly paper and colored them with Copic markers which are listed below. To frame the scene, I used 5768 Decorative Journal Page Set 1. I love the lacy look. The paper is from 5812 Christmas S2 PP. See links to products used below. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 02, 11, 40, 41, 42, 70,  71

C0, 1, 2, 3, 5

T1 and 2

 

Tis the Season for Pumpkin Spice and Warmest Wishes cards by Diane Mason

Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

 

Hello, Ai Watercolor Friends! I hope you are enjoying a fabulous fall weekend! For the last several weeks, it has been unseasonably hot in the San Francisco Bay area. It has finally cooled down, and it’s beginning to feel like fall has arrived—so bring on the Pumpkin Spice!

Today, I’m excited to share two Woodland Critter cards with you, one for fall and the other for Christmas. These cards feature stamped images from the recently released 5953 – Woodland Critters Set, KH5951 – Foxes Set, and 5954 – Woodland Bears Set. These new sets are so adorable, and both the Woodland sets come with dies that can be used to cut the images out!

Tis the season for Pumpkin Spice card:

Both of my cards today feature the adorable little squirrel from 5953 – Woodland Critters Set. I just love this sweet little image of a squirrel enjoying a hot beverage! I wanted it to appear that he was enjoying a Pumpkin Spice latte, so when I inked the stamp in 565/969 I purposely left off the candy cane. First, I selectively stamped the two pumpkins (from the pumpkin pile) from 5595 – Harvest Pumpkin Set in 969 and the stems and leaves in 249. I masked the pumpkins, and then stamped the squirrel image, remembering to leave off the candy cane. The leaves in the foreground are from KH5951 – Foxes Set and were stamped in 969. I watercolored the squirrel in 947 and 969. I added rosy cheeks with a touch of 856 and also inside the ears. I used 312 to paint the scarf and the plaid stripes. For the coffee mug, I used 993, 933 and 947. I shaded the whipped cream with 565. I painted the cinnamon stick with 947. For the left pumpkin, I painted it with 933 and 925. For the right pumpkin, I used a combination of 993 and 933. The stems and leaves were painted with 312. The tree stump was painted with 947 and 969. I washed in the grassy area with 312 before adding leafy foliage around the squirrel from KH5951 in 312, 249, and 993. I painted the leaves in the foreground with 993, 933, 312, and 947. I added grass with 249 using the tiny grass stamp from 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1. The sky was washed in with 565. I darkened the squirrel’s eyes and nose with a brown TwinTone. I also used the brown TwinTone to add back some details.

The “Tis the season for Pumpkin Spice!” sentiment from 5191 – Feast Mode Set was stamped in orange on watercolor paper and die-cut using a tag die from 5132 – Tag Stitched Dies. Using the leaf dies from 5783 – Fall Leaf Frame Die Set, leaves were die-cut from cardstock, embellished, and attached to the tag. The plaid patterned paper is from the 5838 – Fall Journal Paper Pack. The painting and tag were both mounted with foam tape for added dimension.

For the inside of the card, I stamped the sentiments from 5600 – Harvest Sentiments Set in green and orange. The pumpkin and vine in the corner are from 5595 – Harvest Pumpkin Set.

Warmest Wishes card:

For my second card, I inked the squirrel image from 5953 with 565/969. The squirrel’s body and tree stump were painted in the same way as the first card. For the scarf, I left it white and added shadows with 565. I then added a green plaid stripe using 177. The hot cocoa mug and candy cane were painted in 856. I added a green stripe to the mug in 177. Again, the whipped cream was shaded with 565.

I brushed in a watery sky and added snowy shadows with 565. Once the painting was thoroughly dry, I heat-embossed the snowflake images from the 5954 – Woodland Bears Set using VersaMark clear embossing ink and Ranger’s White Super Fine Detail embossing powder. Additional snow flurries were dotted in with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White.

The peppermint striped patterned paper from 5853 – Christmas Magic Paper Pack was die-cut with the second largest banner die from 5134 – Banner Double Stitched Dies. To create a flap for the card front, I needed the banner to be longer to make a fold at the top. To extend the banner, I did a partial cut, then shifted the die and did another partial cut, and voilà – a longer banner die-cut! The card front was matted with red embossed cardstock. I used double-sided tape to attach the banner flap to the inside and folded it over to the front. The painting and embellishments were arranged and popped up with foam tape (leafy vine from 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies, snowflakes from 5782 Snowflake Frame Die, and decorative frame cut in half from 5768 – Decorative Journal Page Set 1). I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment from 5953 – Woodland Critters Set in green, die-cut with a banner die, and mounted with foam squares

To open the card, you lift the banner and open the card from left to right. For the inside of the card, I added a strip of patterned paper to the bottom edge, snowflake die-cuts from 5782, and stamped the sentiment from 5566 – Christmas Sentiments Set in red.

Thank you for joining me for Watercolor Weekend! I hope these cards brought you as much joy as they did for me while making them. It was a fun challenge to use the same image and adapt it for both fall and winter. Until next time, Happy Painting!

Tres Chic! Harvest Blessing by Janet

 Hi everyone. Today I have a card that's quite different from my usual. If you have visited here enough, you know that I like to use characters, critters, and always bright and cheerful colors. Today's project was made for the current challenge, Tres Chic. The challenge asks for projects made using the color palette and inspiration shown in the pictures posted for inspiration. I did my best! As usual, the end result is a bit brighter than I had intended but I have used twine and some neutral colors. Good thing the challenges are always pretty lenient! Most of the features in this card was created using 5783-Fall Leaf Frame Set.

I made this with inspiration from a video I watched from Laura Evangeline. I masked a piece of watercolor cardstock with 1" wide washi tape. Then I blended Antique Linen, Dried Marigold, and Victorian Velvet Ranger Distress inks in the unmasked rectangle. Then I splattered water, white, and copper watercolor inks over the panel. I next created my own stencil by arranging the leaf and acorn dies from the Fall Leaf Set on thick cardstock. Once done, I taped it in place over the inked rectangle I had just finished and then applied rose gold stencil paste over my homemade stencil. 

This method worked reasonably well. There was a little leaking but overall, that didn't take away from the result. Before the copper paste dried, I used a pin to draw in the veins of the leaves.

  I next cut more leaves, mushrooms and plant sprigs from the dies in the set in a few different colors. I picked some of them and arranged them as shown by gluing the stems and backs with just a little bit of glue. I used 5600-Harvest Sentiments Set to stamp the sentiment on kraft cardstock before cutting it out. I cut a circle out of vellum using the Nested Circle Dies and glued the collage and the sentiment to it. I added the crystals to the circle and to the inked and stenciled rectangle. The crystals are leftovers from a diamond art kit I had finished a while back. They worked great for this use.

I wrapped natural twine around the bottom of the card and added a bow. Then I attached the completed circle with foam tape placed strategically behind the sentiment and the collage. The last step was to attach the finished panel to a mustard gold card base. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my interpretation of the Tres Chic challenge. Be sure to go to the challenge post and upload your entries. Share your work for a chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions.

Thanks so much for joining me to see what I created for you today. Please visit the Ai store for the sets I used and all the things you need for your card, journal, and tag making projects. Happy creating!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest

Holiday Hedgehog Card by Tasha!

 Happy Friday Art Impressions Friends!

Tasha here sharing a new holiday card inspired by the current Tres Chic Challenge. I was inspired by the brown tones and buffalo check prints in the challenge photo and thought this color combination would be perfect for a holiday card.

The sweet little hedgehog image is from the new 5953-Woodland Critters Set. I love animal stamps and this one is adorable with his little scarf and tree. I colored him with markers and used the included die set to cut the stamped image out. For the scarf, I used a white gel pen to add a knit-like detail; love the teal and white colors!

To create the background, I attached several glittery snowflakes and used the same glitter paper for the ground. The sparkle is so pretty and these falling snowflakes are a great size for cards. I also thought mixing up the sizes and having some outside of the frame gave the card more interest.

Lastly, I embossed "Merry Christmas" on to black paper and attached layers of brown, red, and black card stock. I also added a piece of buffalo check pattern paper to bring in the colors/patterns from the challenge inspiration photo. I love how this turned out!

Thank you for checking out today's card and I hope you will join in the challenge!

Have a wonderful day!

Très Chic Challenge #389 Week #2

 Hello and welcome to week #2 of our Très Chic Challenge.

Our Design Team really did a great job with this photo inspiration challenge. They each had a slightly different take on the photos and ALL did an amazing job!

We hope you will find something you like in one of these photos, that will help you imagine a beautiful craft project. We're LOVING all of the creative entries we've seen so far.

 

           

I was the Featured Artist last week and created three snowflake cards.

Tasha created this darling hedgehog card using 5953 – Woodland Critters Set, 4804 – Snowflake Dies and 5543 – Journal Template Die Set.

Sharon's precious Christmas scene used 5350 – Animal Nativity Set along with 5768 – Decorative Journal Page Set 1.

I also made a pair of fall cards and you can find the details here.

Janet has an elegant fall card using 5783-Fall Leaf Frame Set, 5600-Harvest Sentiments Set and
5726-Nested Circle Set.

Dori has two chic gift tags using 5367 - Birdcage Dies, 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies, 5591 - Journal Rectangle Frames, 5949 - Encouragement Sentiment Set and 5592 - Harvest Journal Dies.

Lynn's stunning wreath cards have a video tutorial that you can find here.

Sharon created one final fun Halloween frame card that you can read all about here.

Each one of these is so unique and beautiful and we hope you're inspired to join in our challenge. You may just win a free stamp set! Good luck to you all and happy crafting.

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

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

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

✻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

Tres Chic Tags by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I have a couple of tags for you today that are inspired by the "Tres Chic" challenge going on this week.  Have you ever tried something out of your norm?  Every challenge expands your creativity and it's fun seeing where your imagination will go.  Plus it's extremely inspiring to others!  Please join us for this challenge.  Check out the tab above for details and a chance to win a free stamp set.  WhooHoo!! 

Both tags were made with many of the same die sets but produced quite different looks.

My first tag uses the #5367 Birdcage die.  I die cut it twice, once with black cardstock and one in a pattern paper.  I placed the black die cut behind the pattern piece slightly to the left to create a shadow look, plus to offset to give it more dimension.  I also used #5132 Tag Stitched Die and #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame die.  I inked all of the edges with Distress Oxide Vintage Photo.  The wood bird, heart, ribbon and flowers came from my stash that I have had for years.  Finally I can say I used them.  😄  

For my second tag, I used #5592 Harvest Journal Dies for the pumpkins, leaves and the "Hello Fall" die cuts.  I also used the #5132 Tag Stitched dies as well as the #5591 Journal Rectangle frame die.  Again, I inked all of the edges to give them a distressed look.  Placed a checked ribbon around the frame and at the top of the tag and, voila, tag is complete.  

I hope my tags today have inspired you to try something outside of your norm.  You never know where your imagination and creativity will go.  Have fun with it!!

Have a great day and keep creating!!

Christmas Magic Wreath - Using Elegant Earth Tones by Lynn Dionne

Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!!!

Watch video tutorial here!!!

For today's card and video, we will be creating a soft, elegant, earth toned Christmas wreath. If you want to get away from the typical reds and greens for your Christmas cards, you may want to have some fun by combining some earth tones and metallics for a different, yet beautiful look!  

We will talk a little bit about some tricks and tips for mass-producing your holiday cards in today's video as well!

Let's get started by stamping our images using the Ai WC Poinsettia Set (5828) and the Ai WC Christmas Wreath Set (5472). We will be coloring the images using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Beige, Mid Brown, Olive Green, Mid Green, Brown.

We will stamp several sets of the poinsettia, leaves/sprigs, and pinecones because we will be creating 3 cards today! Once all of the coloring is done, we will use our detail scissors to cut these out, leaving a small white border around the edges.

Next, we can create all of the layers for our cards using the Tim Holtz Distress Kraft Heavystock, Strathmore Bristol Smooth Cardstock, and some pretty Tim Holtz Metallic Cardstock in copper. These pretty stitched border layers will be die-cut using the Ai Square Double Stitched Dies (5061). For the metallic layer we will create a frame for our wreath, and I will show you how to do this in the video.

On the white layer we will stamp the twig wreath using the Ai Frameworks Set 1 (5420). To color the wreath quickly and easily we will just using a small blending brush and add some oxide ink all around. Let's also spatter this panel for a bit more interest!

Now the fun part, attaching all of the layers and creating our pretty poinsettia floral arrangement. We can also add one of the pinecones to the inside of the card and stamp the "Christmas Blessings to you and yours" sentiment using the Ai Christmas Sentiments (5566) Set.

And for a finishing touch, let's add some pretty champagne pearls!

Thank you so much for joining me today!

Ai WC Poinsettia Set (5828)

Ai WC Christmas Wreath Set (5472)

Ai Christmas Sentiments (5566)

Ai Frameworks Set 1 (5420)

Ai Square Double Stitched Dies (5061)

Trés Chic Woodland Critter Cards by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I have two more cards for the Très Chic challenge.

Last week I created three snow themed cards and this week I decided to go with a fall theme.

I used 5808 – 5pk Snow Globe Shaker Dome to create both of my shaker cards. Although these are difficult to photograph due to the glare, they are so pretty in person.

I used a combination of little diamond dots and tiny die cuts from Art Impressions to sprinkle in my shakers.

I used the self adhesive Watercolor paper to cut my Thankful phrase. It was so easy to color and stick down. No more fussing with glue on delicate die cuts and making a mess.

I love rustic cards, nature and animals. I fell in love with this new set the second I saw it. All Ai products that I used are linked below. Happy Fall everyone! I hope you join in this photo inspiration challenge!

Copics used:

B00, BG05, RV02, YG05, YR31, W2, W4, YR24, E34, E55, E99