Sunday, October 4, 2026

Pumpkins and Sunflowers by Simone Carr

 


Hello AI Friends!

Welcome back for another Watercolor Weekend!

Autumn is officially here, and that means it is time to bring out the cozy colors and playful designs!

Grab your favorite cozy drink, your favorite paper supplies, and let’s dive into creating this whimsical fall scene.

I placed a piece of Canson Watercolor Paper in my stamping platform. I started with the 5426 set. I used 565 + 969 on the stamp, leaving out the container, bird, and the top of the pumpkin. I stamped it off once. I then stamped the image onto masking paper and cut it out to cover my stamped image.

I placed the stack of pumpkins from 5595 on top of the previous stamped image to see what would work best. I left the bottom two pumpkins out, so I only inked the top four pumpkins using 565 + 969, stamped off once.

I then used my stamp positioner to place the hay bale, sleeping gnome, container, and gnome on the ladder. I removed the masking sheet once I had stamped everything and began coloring.

I placed a piece of masking tape over the container and stamped in the flowers and grass. Afterwards, I added the sky blue background.

Once all the coloring was finished, I added a few touches of Bleed Proof White to bring out some extra details and finished the card with a paper from the Fall S2 PP. I love how all the little fall elements came together to create this playful autumn scene.





Materials Used

Stamps & Dies

  • 5598 Harvest Set
  • 5426 WC Veggies
  • 5595 Harvest Pumpkin Set
  • 5059 Harvest Set
  • 4868 Flower Set 2
  • 4051 Foliage Set 1
  • 5785 Gnomes Set
  • 4964 Branches Set
  • 5061 Square Double Stitched Die

Paper

  • 5973 Fall S2 PP
  • Canson Watercolor Paper
  • Masking Paper

Inks & Mediums

  • Bleed Proof White
  • TwinTone Brown

Tombow Markers

  • 565 + 969 – Stamped Image
  • 312 – Pumpkin
  • 837 – Gnomes Hat + Flowers
  • 117, 133 – Pumpkin
  • 947 – Ladder
  • N49, 992, 027 – Container
  • 985, 026 – Hay
  • 528 – Gnome Pants
  • 933, 946, 925, 055 – Pumpkin
  • 912 – Gnome’s Nose and Hand
  • 098 – Grass, Ground
  • 526 – Sky


For my bonus card, I wanted to create a simple scene using the Sunflower Border and the Bird Flock. I stamped the sunflower border onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper using Distress Ink Lost Shadow. I then added a light wash of 526 for the sky before stamping a few birds from the Bird Flock. I only used a portion of the Bird Flock stamp to add the birds to the scene. Once everything was stamped, I colored the images using the Tombow markers listed below.

Once everything was colored and dry, I added my sentiment and layered the panel onto paper from the Gnome PP collection. I used foam tape to add some dimension before adhering it to the card base.

I love how the sunflowers and birds came together to add a little extra interest to the card.


Materials Used

Stamps & Dies

  • 6255 Sunflower Border

  • WC0125 Bird Flock (2025 Exclusive)

  • Alternative for Bird Flock: 5473 Seagull Set

  • 5136 WC Sentiment Set 2

Paper

  • 5832 Gnome PP

  • Strathmore Bristol Smooth

Inks & Mediums

  • Foam Tape

  • Distress Ink Lost Shadow

Tombow Markers

  • 993

  • 985

  • 055

  • 905

  • 947

  • 526





Saturday, October 3, 2026

Whimsical and Fall by Gennette Houghton

 


Hello and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend!  I am so loving these new releases, they just keep getting better and better!

I love gnomes!  Isn’t this just the cutest thing ever!  The Storybook Series are such a beautiful piece that can be made as a special gift for someone.  Using 6223 Whimsical Storybook Set, I started off by stamping my images on watercolor paper with Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and stamped off once for each one.  I picked my paper from the 6083 Bible Journaling Season 1 Cover Paper Pack so I could coordinate the colors with my images.  I love this vine paper with its different shades of greens and purples!  After I had my images stamped I then took the die that cuts out the inside back piece and traced it around the little house for a guide. I colored each piece in the following colors.

Wheelbarrow:

Blackberries – M108 Marvy Black Cherry, M15, leaves – 126, 177

Wheelbarrow – mix of 565 and 969, 969, 947, N15

Ground – 177

Strawberries – 856, 947, 565, leaves – 177, 249, Bleed Proof White

 Mushrooms:

Mushrooms – Tops – M108, 837, 969, bottoms – 992, 969

Mailbox – Post – 947, 969, Box – 312, 026, Flag – 026, 856, Black Micron for the numbers

Ground – 177

 Gnome:

Hat – M108, 565

Shirt – 126

Pants – 565

Shoes – N15

Skin – 850, 910, 912,

Beard – 565

 Fairy:

Black Micron and pencil for the facial feature

Hair – 992, 026, 947

Skin – 850, 910, 912, 772

Dress – 177

Wings – 526 and Wink of Stella

 Stump:

992, 969, 947

Flower- 565, 055, 025, 177

 House:

Chimney – mix of 565 and 969, 947, 249

Roof and trim – 947, 969

Windows – pencil and 565

Door- 312, door knob – 026, 947

Ground – 177

Path – 969

Sky – 526

Shadows – 565


 I die cut the images with the included dies once done.  The house also has a die which I chose not to use. When I stamped out my images, I also created a mask for the house.  After putting the mask in place I then used 2 branches from 4964 Branches set in 969 to place 2 trees and some vines in front.  I used the tree foliage from 5372 WC Mini Foliage in 126 and 177.  The vine from 5126 WC Foliage Set 4 in 126, 177.  The grass from 5826 WC Large Tree Set 2 in 177, 969. I softened all of these with a damp brush and after it dried I added in some Bleed Proof White for some flowers. I then took the 6121 Storybook Template and cut it out of the paper from 6083.  I used a solid purple cardstock to cut out the 3 pieces that stage the cutout images, and also cut out my back piece with the house.  I assembled the inserts first and then attached them together with foam dots, along with the back piece.  I then folded along the crease lines in the box and centered my assembled piece behind the oval in the box.  It wasn’t until after I put this together that I realized that I should have taken pictures of this process, my apologies for that.  Once I had the inserts attached I then glued the box together.  I used one of the oval cutouts to cut out the hanger.  I creased and glued the two sides together and then glued it to the back side of the box.  Finished it off with some ribbon, a dot of bling, and the gnome on the front.   Don’t forget that you are not limited to this alone, get creative with the stamps and use them alone by leaving off the attaching guidelines.  Use nested dies to create a scene on a card.  You could even create a 3D shaker piece.   


For my 2nd card I used two of the newest releases in the Countryside Series, 6249 Country Chapel and 6254 FG Thankful Border.  Each one was stamped on watercolor paper with Distress Ink in Pumice Stone, after stamping off once.  I started with the Thankful Border, and then with a stamp positioner I placed in the barn from the Country Chapel Set, leaving off a bit of the edges on the sides. I colored each piece in the following colors.

 Barn - walls – mix of 565 and 969, and 969

Windows – 565, 969

Hayloft – 969, mix of 565 and 969

Roof – N52, 947

 Scarecrow – Brown Micron, 990, 992 – nose – 098, 993 – cheeks – 772

“Hay” – 076, 055

Shirt – 098, 993, 905 – button – 905, 947 – belt – 969

Pants – 879 – patch – 026

Hat – 027 – patch – 993 – Band – 228

Scarf – 905

Shoe – 947

 Mushrooms – 990, 992, 856, 837, and Bleed Proof White

Pumpkins – 993, 933, 885 – stems – 098, 249

Tree – 969 – leaves- 025/933, 993/837, 025/126, and 947

Fence – mix of 565 and 969, 969

Basket – 992, 969

Bucket – mix of 565 and 969 – apples – 126, 856, and 969

Leaves – 025/933, 993/837, 025/126

I then used 4868 Flower Set 2 for the mums in 933, adding right over this with 885 in spots, and 249 for the stems.  After adding water I went back in with 885 in just the flowers in spots and stamped again before adding some Bleed Proof White.  I used the grass from 4051 Foliage Set 1 in 228, softening with a damp brush.  From the same set I used the vine to add a few more leaves into the tree with 993 and 885.  I used a branch from 4964 Branches Set in two spots in 969.  5010 WC Tree Set 1 was used for the pine trees in 249 after masking off the edge of the barn with post-it tape.  I also added some Bleed Proof White into the grasses for some wildflowers.  I then cut out my image with the largest die from 6045 Scalloped Circles Die and then chose two pieces of paper from 5973 Fall S2 Paper Pack.  I matted my card base with one, and used a border die from my stash to cut a header for the card.  I then mounted my image with foam tape finishing off my card.  Thank you for joining me and I really hope you enjoyed my projects! Until next time!  Create….Share….Inspire!


Cabin in the Woods by Patty Sprague

Hello Ai fans!

We have a Guest Designer today and next Saturday.

We're so excited to share the art of Patty Sprague with you.

Take a look at the wonderful masculine scene she created to inspire you!


For the card I am sharing today, I chose to create a hunting scene—you can never have enough masculine cards in your stash. I used the 6069 Outdoorsmen set for the main theme and added a rustic cabin.  As hunting season approaches, it felt like the perfect time for this project, and I kept the sentiment generic so it can be used for any occasion.


Outdoorsmen Card Details:


Colors & Supplies:

  - Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper, White A2 Card base, Green Matte
  - Brushes: No. 4 round brush, No. 1 round brush, 18/0 script liner
  - Stamps & Dies:
      - 6069 – Outdoorsmen
      - 4962 – WC Rustic Cabins Set
      - 5131 – Stone Path Set
      - 5388 – Rugged Tree
      - 4960 – WC Fir Trees Set
      - 5059 – WC Harvest Set
      - 5196 – WC Desert Set
      - 5372 – WC Mini Foliage
      - 4051 – Foliage Set
      - 5735 – Birthday Sentiments Set
  - Ink for Stamped Images: Ranger Archival Ink in Shadow Grey
  - Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 027, 098, 177, 228, 249, 528, 555, 565, 899, 912,  942, 947, 969, N49
  - Other: Post-it Tape, Brown TwinTone Marker, Micron 005 Black Archival Ink

Stamping:
To begin, I cut a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of Canson XL Watercolor Paper. Using a stamping platform, I stamped the Hunter (6069) in Shadow Grey, the Tree and Lake (6069) in 565/969, the Rustic Cabin (4962) in Shadow Grey, and the Rugged Tree (5388) in 565/969. I then stamped the sign (5131) in 969 using a stamping block.

Behind the house, I added the Fir Trees (4960) inked in 899 with branches in 249. I added additional branches to the trees in 249 and foliage (5372) around the house in 228. For the grass along the back of the lake, I used the teeny tiny grass from (4051) stamped in 027 and 098, with small twigs (5059) in 969. For the foreground of the lake, I used tall grass (5196) in 027 and 098, and the branches (5196) in 969.

Painting:
I painted the sky using a watery mix of 555, and the lake with a mix of 177, 249, 528, 555, used the brown TwinTone marker and bllack Micron 005 to add fine details where needed.

Assembly:
I used rectangle dies to cut the painted panel and the green matte. Finally, I layered the painting onto the green matte and attached them to the A2 card base.

Best,
Patty

Friday, October 2, 2026

Sending Kindness! Card By Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a new card inspired by the current Art Impressions "Spread Kindness" Challenge. 

For my project I used the fun 5507-Harvest Together Set and pretty pattern paper from the 6237-Pastel Meadow Cover Paper Pack. 

I wanted to create a Fall-themed card, but decided to use soft pastel colors that coordinated with the floral pattern paper. I love the pink and tan color combination! I also added clouds to the background in similar orange and pink pastel shades to keep the background bright but still have a Fall feel.


Lastly, I attached layers of pink, tan, and white card stock and a white scalloped frame to the center card. I also attached a simple banner for the greeting and added little stitch marks with a black pen for some extra detail. I hope you enjoyed today's card and will join in the Challenge!

Hope you have a great weekend!






Thursday, October 1, 2026

Spread Kindness Challenge #437 Week #2

 Hello and welcome to week #2 of our

SPREAD KINDNESS

challenge.

We want to see your cards that will bring a smile to either a friend or a stranger.
Anyone who needs a little joy in their life.

Last week I was the Featured Artist and I created a pretty foliage and bee themed card that would be perfect for any friend that you want to let know you're thinking about them.


Now we get to see the beautiful work of the other designers.

Dori created a sweet notebook to gift to a friend.


Diane has a darling boy scarecrow.
5507 – Harvest Together Set


And Tasha has the matching girl scarecrow.

Neema created 2 cards.
The first a lovely bench with flowers.
6180 – Dear Friend
5949 – Encouragement Sentiments Set


And the second is a pretty rocking chair with sweet little birds.

Sharon's fun gal is "rootin' for ya!"

Now let's see who won our Gift Card Holder giveaway in honor of Andrea
joining our Marker Design Team.

#2 was randomly selected and that comment came from Kathy.




Your gift card holder envelope template, Santa set
and snowman will be on their way to you shortly!



Congratulations!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to welcome Andrea.

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

October 2026 Monthly Challenge


 Happy October, everyone! It’s officially fall now and the leaves are starting to change color in Oregon.

For my October project, I decided to do a fall scene. To begin my project, I inked the barn in Pumice Stone Distress Ink, stamped off once onto watercolor paper, and then stamped in the middle of my watercolor project to create the background scene. I then inked the largest pumpkin in Pumice Stone, stamped off once on watercolor paper, and stamped to the left in the foreground. I then stamped the same pumpkin on Post-it Note paper and cut out a mask to cover it. Then I inked the smaller pumpkin in Pumice Stone and stamped it on my acrylic plate for my stamp positioner. Using the stamp positioner, I then found the placement I liked and stamped the smaller pumpkin on my project. When you remove the mask, you have a 3-D effect where the smaller pumpkin is behind the larger pumpkin. Next, I penciled in the hills on each side of the barn. Using pine green #72, I then painted my horizon line for each hill over my pencil lines.

Now that my basic scene is set up, I painted the barn. It is mainly white, so I added shadows under the eaves and on the left side of the building with brownish grey #40 and African violet #86. I painted the door and the windows with African violet #86. Once that was dry, I went back and added darker shadows in the doors and windows. I then painted the roof in sepia #45, leaving light and dark areas.

Next, I added the sky using sky blue #75, leaving light and dark areas to mimic clouds. My next step was to add a pine green #72 wash to the hills I penciled in. I then used pine green #72 to add the foliage along my hill, stamping in repeat. I masked my horizon line with Post-It Tape before I stamped the foliage to keep it where I need it to be! Using olive green #15, I painted a horizon line next to the barn on each side and added a wash for a field. I left a bit of a path coming out the main door of the barn as well. I then used my positioner to add the fence line in sepia #45. If any of the fence doesn’t stamp well, you can use a Twin Tone to add lines back in or extra fence posts. I also masked off the right corner of the barn and used a small foliage stamp to add a bush.

To start my foreground, I then painted my pumpkins. I started with brilliant yellow #43, then pumpkin #87, then orange #7 to create light and dark areas of shading. I used olive brown #27 for the stem and added some detail back in with the fine tip when it was dry. Once the pumpkins were dry, I covered them with masks and stamped my horizon line with the teeny tiny grass in olive green #15. I pulled the color out and added a green wash below my grass line.

For the flowers, I used the new flower set. For the purple flowers, I only inked the foliage in olive green #15 – not the stems or the flowers and stamped it in a repeat 3 times, starting in the middle and then stamped once on each side. The repeat created light and dark foliage. I then used my brush to pull color out of the lines on the larger leaves. Once I had my foliage base, I used my stamp positioner for placement of the stems and flowers. I inked the flowers in violet #8 and stamped them once. Then cleaned off my stamp and only inked the two smaller flowers and stamped them to the left to create a larger “clump” of flowers. I really liked how this created more of a border. I then pulled the color out of each purple/violet bloom.

I then stamped the smaller flower clump in aubergine #93 with my positioner. I kept the pumpkins masked because I wanted the flowers to be “behind” the pumpkins and stamped them on each side. Using my brush, I pulled out the color of the blooms. That left a small gap in the middle of my border. I used a foliage stamp to add the foliage base and then used the dot flower in brilliant yellow #73 stamped in a repeat. I then touched the dots with my brush to pull out the color.

To finish up, I used my positioner to add the bird silhouettes in black N25 (Tombow). I then used the fine tip of my olive green #15 to add small tufts of grass along the fence line and barn. My last step was to add some white dots with Dr PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White for added flowers in the grass line of my foreground.

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/)


Happy Stamping! As always, I hope you will give this project a try! Don’t forget to enter the Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice!


Accessories:

Pumice Stone Distress Ink

#4774 Stamp Positioner

Canson Mixed Media Paper

Marvy Markers

Now let's see who won our September challenge.

Our Lucky Random Winner was #3, Terry C.

Please contact Leah at
Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim your free stamp set.



#7 Marcia H. and #6 Cathlyn A.
are the winners of a freebie from me.


Please email me with your full name and address at Renee@artimpressions.com
and I'll send you photos of the freebies I currently have available.

What will you guys create for October?
Maybe something fall themed like Debbie?
Maybe not...it's up to you.
We can't wait to see.

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.
✻Lucky Random Winner will 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

Hey Friend Crow Card

 

Good morning, everyone. Today I am sharing a card I made using to cute stamp sets from Art Impressions. The crow and the birdhouse come from The Harvest Together Set5507. The sunflower boarder set comes from 6255 FG Sunflower Border. The images were colored with Copic Markers. I added some light blue ink to the sky for a little color. I fussy cut the sunflowers out so that I could make a border.


I also used some fall pattern paper from Honey Bee Stamps. I hope you have a great day!

Materials Used

Stamps:
5507- Harvest Together Stamp Set 
6255- FG Sunflower Border

Copic Markers: T7,T6,T8,Y38,YG93,YG95, R29, YR18, YR16, YG97, YG99, E57, E79, E59

Inks and Pens: White Gelly Roll, Pink Fresh Sage, Pink Fresh Sky Blue

Papers: Honeybee Fall Is In The Air paper pack

           

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

STAMPtember 2026 Collaboration Exclusive - Pumpkin Queens

Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

I hope you all were able to snag your Art Impressions STAMPtember 2026 Exclusive set from Simon Says Stamp.  This is truly the best stamp set EVER!!!  If you love Bonnie's girlfriends, she has outdone it this time!  I swear I say that every time, but she keeps amazing me with each one!   This was a limited edition and, unfortunately, they are now sold out.  If you were not able to grab one of these, please check out the Art Impressions website for other girlfriend stamp sets.  My card creations below will work just as well with those other stamp sets.

I was so excited to create with this set that I ended up making two cards.  The first one with the Bold Fall colors.  My second one, I decided to challenge myself and use a softer palette but still the fall colors.  I tend to be a heavy colorer so this was a fun challenge for myself.  


Both images were stamped with Memento black ink onto copic friendly paper and colored with copic markers listed below.  The bottom card used the die to create a shaped flap card set on top of the base.  This is the only opening for the inside sentiment.  The back is set on an easel.


Make sure to check out the Art Impressions Blog that shows more inspiration from the talented design team.  Such great creations!

I hope you have as much fun coloring this image as I did.  

Have a great day and have fun creating!

Copics used: 
                                     Bold Fall card -  E00, E01, E11, E21, E23, E97, E99
E33, E35, E37, E50, E51, E53, E55, E57
B000, B93, B95, B97
R20, R22, R24
YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18, YR21, YR24, YR27
YG91, YG93       G94
N0, N1, N2

Pastel card - E00, E01, E11, E21, E23
E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E50, E51, E53, E55
YR00, YR01, YR12, YR20
R20, R22     N0, N1, N2
B0000, B91
YG91, YG93

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

STAMPtember® 2026 Pumpkin Queens are here!

Hello Ai fans and welcome to my
 STAMPtember® 2026 post!

I've been "patiently" waiting to be able to share this fun new
Art Impressions/Simon Says Stamp collaboration set with you.


The set is called SSE26A Pumpkin Queens and can be found here
as a stamps only set. See below for stamp/die set.


For my card, I chose to have the ladies at a pumpkin farm. They're enjoying the
crisp fall air with some pumpkin spice coffee and getting a selfie in the pumpkin patch.


This reminds me so much of my daughter and myself. We love the fall and all of the fun
activities that it comes with.


The set can also be found in a bundle with coordinating dies.


If you missed the post on the Art Impressions blog, be sure to visit to see everyone else's cards.
Remember, this is an exclusive, limited set. Once it sells out, it's gone forever. Get yours
while supplies last.