Saturday, October 17, 2026

Last Blooms by Gennette Houghton


Hello, and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend!  The last threads of summer are just about over and fall is settling in.  We are still having some warm days but have seen our first frost here.


There have been so many pretty sets that have been released lately!!  For my first card I used 6218 BJ Long Stem Set, and 5921 Glass Container Set.  I stamped the container first in Distress Ink Vintage Photo and cleaned off part of the top rim after stamping off twice.  I then used a stamp positioner to put in the florals, also in Vintage Photo, cleaning off just the very bottom of the stem after stamping off once, so I could overhang the leaves over the container.  I started with the flowers by putting in a base layer with 020, darkening the areas that would be shadowed before putting in 837 in the center and coming up part way.  For the leaves and stems I started with a base layer in 126, and then using 177 to contour and shade.  I used 076 on the container making sure I left a highlight in the middle, and then created some texture by adding in some darker sections.  I started with 526 for the background, dropping in shadows on the underside of all of the flowers and leaves, I then added in some 133.  969 was used at the base with a touch of 565 right under the container.  Cutting out my image with a die from 6114 Box Village Template and matted my image on a solid cardstock that matches the paper I chose from 5835 Mini Paper Pack.  The die I used on the solid cardstock is from 5768 Decorative Journal Page 1.


Fall is my favorite season, I just wish the best of it wasn’t so short lived.  There is nothing like the crisp air and watching all of the trees change color.  For this card I used 5935 Fairytale Houses and 5594 Harvest Scarecrow (sunflowers).  The house, fence, and sunflowers were all stamped in Distress Ink Pumice Stone after stamping off once.  Starting with a sheet of watercolor paper, I stamped in the house first and covered it with a mask.  I then added the fence and sunflowers, using a stamp positioner.  I then used the 6th from the largest die from 5724 Nested Rectangle Dies to trace a guide, and also for cutting out my image once done. For the main body of the house I used N57, I then went over this, in areas, with some 249 for a patina look.  947 was used to create a rusty look.  For the wood trim and roof I used 969.  905 was used on the door and dormer.  I used a mix of 565 and 969 for the windows and chimney, adding in the details with the same mix.  I added in some 565 for the more shaded areas for shadows.  565 was also used to shade the fence, leaving the bulk of it white.  For the sunflowers, I started with the petals.  055 was used as the base, contouring with 025, and for the darkest areas a little bit of 026.  For the leaves and stems I used 126 first and then shaded with 177.  For the centers I started with 947, darkening a section with 969, and then added a touch of N15 for the deeper shadows.  I also added a couple of white dots with Bleed Proof White.  For the sky I used 403 watered down, and 177 for the ground with a bit of 969 for the path to the door.  I then took the tall grass from KH5951 Foxes Set in 177 and stamped several times on both sides in front of the fence.  I then used the grass from 5826 WC Large Tree Set 2 in 4 places stamping several times each in 177 with just a touch of 969 at the base.  I then added in some white flowers with Bleed Proof White.  My card base was matted with paper from 5838 Fall Paper Pack, and matted my image with matching solid cardstock using a die from my stash.  Thank you for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed my cards!  Until next time!  Create….Share….Inspire!!



 

Fall Farm Blessings by Janet


 Hello Ai fans. I'm so happy to be back posting once again after a long absence. I really missed creating and I couldn't be more pleased to be back with today's project!

My card features the 6254 - FG Thankful Border Art set. It allows me to create the fall foreground which includes a cheerful scarecrow, fence, pumpkins, basket of flowers, leaves and apples. The background is a perfectly sized barn from the 6249 - Country Chapel Set. Usually I use Tuxedo Black Memento ink for stamping but for this I chose Memento Rich Cocoa for these fall images. It's a little softer and blends nicely with the fall tones used for coloring. I used stamps from 5074 - Bible Flower Set to fill the basket and Copic markers were used for coloring the rest of the images. You could use either of these sets on their own but they are made to work with each other and you can see why. The proportions are great together and make the fall scene easy to create. Art Impressions makes it easy for a hobbyist like myself to create artistic cards that look complex. I love that.

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!

Friday, October 16, 2026

Happy Halloween Gnomie! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a Halloween card inspired by the current Ai Challenge. I LOVE creating Fall/Halloween projects and look forward every year to mixing my sets to create fun new creations. For this project I used the 5728-Mushroom Cubbies set to make a Halloween scene.

The images were stamped with black ink and colored with Copic markers. To add to the Fall feel, I added orange, purple, and black to the sky and ground and used added some little bats. Love the pop of orange in the clouds!

Lastly, I added a simple "Happy Halloween" greeting and layers of black and orange cardstock and web pattern paper. I hope you are inspired to join in the current challenge and create a fun Halloween project!







Thursday, October 15, 2026

Bats in the Belfry Challenge #438 Week #2

 

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to week #2 of our

Bats in the Belfry

Challenge.


We're looking for all of your Halloween creations!
Show us your cards, treat bags and boxes, Halloween decor...
Whatever makes your Halloween loving heart happy.
Bonus if it has bats on it!

Our Featured Artist was Tasha and she created a
 tutorial for her little Matchbook scene which can be found HERE.

Dori created a card shape that I've never seen before.
Check it out HERE.


Check out "YOU MY BOO!" from Sharon.


Neema's adorable batty scene used:
UM4122 WC containers


Gennette's Owl & Pussycat card features:


Simone is batty all the way down to her vampire!


Andrea's ghosts are 3 sheets to the wind and a little batty...lol.


I created my own version of a haunted mansion.



Neema has another batty card. This time with characters FLYING through the air!


We hope you enjoyed all of our batty and Halloween creations!
Now, we can't wait to see what you create.
Are you hosting a ghoulish dinner party that you need place cards for?
Perhaps you decorate your fireplace mantel or give out goodie bags.
If it's Halloween themed, then it works for us!
Show us what you've made and you might win a free stamp set.



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

Cutest Pumpkin In The Patch!

Hello, everyone! I had so much fun coloring this little guy. Fall just makes me happy. :) For the stamped image, I used Art Impressions stamp #5507 Harvest Together. The sentiment is also from this set. I colored the image with Copic markers and ink blended a bit of blue ink in the background. I used paper from an Art Impressions fall paper pack, #5973. I added some epoxy dots from Spellbinders and Altenew. It all came together pretty quickly and is a fun and simple card. 


 Materials Used

#5507 Harvest Together Art Impressions Stamp set
#5973 Art Impressions paper pack
Epoxy dot from Spellbinders and Altenew
Pink Fresh Ink in Sky Blue
Copic Markers: YG99, YG95, YG93, YG97, YR15, E23, E57, E25, E59, E79, R59, YR16, E53, E50, E51, E93, E08, YR18, R08, E21

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Halloween Teepee card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

Today I have a fun three sided Teepee card that spews Halloween all over it and works perfectly for the current Blog challenge "Bats in the Belfry".  This challenge is a fun one for me because I love creating Halloween projects with all of the cute stamp sets from Art Impressions.  I much prefer the cute Halloween images vs the scary ones.  I'm not a fan of scary!

                

            

             

         Top View

To create the base of this style of card, you need to cut two panels of black cardstock - one at 8 x 4" and one 4 x 4".  Score the larger one in the center at 4".  Then score diagonally from the top of the center line down to the bottom right corner.  Do the same on the left side.  Burnish each score line.  Score the 4" panel diagonally and burnish.  Take this smaller panel and place into the inside center fold of the larger piece matching up the smaller panel diagonal score line with the center score line of the larger panel.  Adhere one side down and then the other.   You should have the large panel with a small triangle jetting out at the bottom.  See picture below.

Cut a white cardstock panel at 3 3/4" square for the inside sentiment.  Cut in half diagonally and adhere to the inside as shown below.    

For the front of the card, cut pattern paper panels in the same way.  The smaller striped triangles are 
1 1/2" square and cut on the diagonal.  

         When opened:

Open the card up as shown above and fold in half to fit into an A2 size envelope.  However, make sure to keep any overhang of decorations close to the sides of each triangular panel so it doesn't extend past the width of 4 1/4".  I used a black velcro dot to keep the card together when opened.  

Decorate each panel with various images.  I used several from #5778 - FB Frog Costume, #5816 - Mini Halloween Twister, #6111 - Spooktacular set, #5506 - Peek-a-Boo set and various dies from the #5462 Web dies set and #5604 - Halloween Journal die set.

I hope my card inspires you to create some Halloween fun for the Blog challenge.  Please join us as we love to see all of your creations and you could win a free stamp set.  Yay!

Have a great day crafting!

Copics used:  E00, E01, E11, E21, E23, E25
R20, R22          T0, T2, T4
Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17
YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18
V12, V15          G20, G21, G24

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Bats in the Belfry: Haunted Mansion by ReneƩ Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!
Today I'm sharing a spooky little haunted house that I created for the
Bats in the Belfry
challenge.




I adapted the 6114 – Box Village Template Dies by taking the little roof line piece
and moving it up further on the box. This created a taller house. I then used one of
the shingle pieces to create an awning. The front door is from Halloween FB Fence Set
and I used a piece of screen to create a screen door that you can see through to the 
designer paper.



The stamps and dies used to embellish the box all around are from several different sets.
All sets are linked below. I think my favorite is the little skull tucked into the window box.








Monday, October 12, 2026

You My Boo by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Our current challenge right now is "Bats in the Belfry" and we are looking for anything related to Halloween! This is such a great time of year...the weather is usually cooling down and the kids are all so excited about picking out their costumes and going house to house for candy! I LOVE when the kids come all dressed up. And this may be controversial but I don't care how old you are. If you dressed up and walk up to my door, you're going to get candy for it! I believe we should let them be kids for as long as they want, and if they're just a kid at heart - well that's good enough for me. That's just the way I feel about it. No judgement from me if you feel differently. You do you, BOO. LOL! I snuck that one in there! HAHA So my card today is to celebrate Halloween. I started by taking little Frankenstein from 5506 Peek a Boo set and coloring him with Copic markers which are listed below. That fun sentiment came from #5352 Halloween Critters Set. I created a background for him and then die cut it using #5727 Nested Oval Dies and then matted that with some cardstock die cut using #6046 Scalloped Oval Dies. That fun little spider and the web are from #5462 Web Dies Set and I just added a couple tiny googly eyes to him. 





So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty! Hope to see your entry in the challenge! 


Copics used:
BV00, 02, and 04
YR02, 04, 07, 12, 14, and 18
YG03, 05, and 07
R20
C3, 5, and 7
Y13 and 15
E33 and 35