Enjoy the Ride Challenge #429 Week #1

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our new challenge.

Enjoy the Ride!

We want to see all of your projects featuring something you can ride on or in.

Cars, trucks, trains, planes, wagons, scooters, motorcycles, wheelbarrows,
hot air balloons, tractors, boats, skateboards, campers...did I miss anything?? lol!

We always like to provide you with some inspiration.
This time, Dori is our Featured Artist and you're going to LOVE her fun fold card.
She came up with one that wasn't on my list, a golf cart. It's SO CUTE!!

After checking out her card, be sure to scroll down to see if you won our Yellow challenge.

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Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Welcome to the new “Enjoy the Ride” Blog Challenge! There are so many fun stamp sets that feature things you can ride on or ride in, and I couldn’t resist reaching for the Par‑Tee Golfers #4902 for my project. I created a playful Z‑fold style card, which this golfer looks like he’s having way more fun driving the cart than actually golfing. My style of golf. LOL!

Here’s the finished card opened up so you can enjoy the full scene.

Here's a picture of the card when shut:

Many of you have probably made many Z fold cards, but for those that have not, here is how you make one.  Cut your cardstock to 8 1/2" by 5".  Along the 8 1/2" edge, score at 4 1/8 and 6 1/4.  

If you want to add the Z fold strip along the bottom (you can also put this strip higher up on the card, if you prefer), cut a strip of cardstock at 8 1/2" x 1 1/8" (or wider, if preferred).  Score along the 8 1/2" edge at 4 1/8" x 6 1/4".  Flip the main card base so that the score panels are opposite each other.  See picture below.  The scored panel of the card base is in the front and the scored panel of the strip is toward the back.

I made a yellow and green mat for each panel.  Cut the yellow mats to be 1/8" less than the white base for each panel.  Cut the green mats to be 1/8" less than the yellow mats so that there is a nice mat layer for each.  Using the Golf PP #6101, I cut the two matching pattern papers down to fit on the green mat (approx. 3 3/4 wide by 4 3/4 tall), cutting the bottom portion of the pattern paper off first (you will need for the strip).  

Adhere the long edge of the strip to the front scored panel of the base.  Adhere the right edge of the strip to the back right edge of the base.  Do NOT place glue along the whole strip as two portions do not get adhered down.  See the picture above.

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  This stamp set does not contain dies but these images are fairly simple to fussy cut.  For the inside cuts of the cart, I used a craft knife.  

I adhered the gal golfer directly onto the pattern paper with the golf club head adhered to the top of the strip.  I popped up the flag with foam tape.  I also popped up the golf cart, placing foam tape to the wheel base and only the left half of the cart.  The right half of the cart will not be adhered down.  The sentiment is also popped up, but again, only the left half.

Use the back side of the card for your personal sentiment.

Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you have fun making a card/project for the "Enjoy the Ride" challenge.  Can't wait to see what you create!

Have a great day and keep crafting!

Copics used:  N1, N2, N3, N4

E00, E01, E11, E50, E51, E53, E55, E57

R20, R22   B01, B12, B14

G40, G43    Y21, Y32, Y35, Y38

Thank you Dori!
Your card is absolutely adorable.

Now let's see who won our last challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected: Cynthia O.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Our Lucky Random Winner was #9
Andrea W.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to both of you. We loved everything we saw. Don't be discouraged
if you didn't win this time. There's always the new challenge or hop on over to our 
Monthly Challenge. That one has no theme so anything goes, as long as you use something
from Art Impressions to create it.

 ✻ 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

Tulip Frog Frame and Box by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

The frogs are a croaking in our backyard, which means summer is here!  We have just the cute little ones, so I can handle them.  It's the big ones that are yucky!  😝  In celebration of summer, I went frog crazy and made a cute little frame as well as gift boxes that housed a cute little porcelain frog.

  Both fun little projects!

Let's start with the mini frame:

    I cut the scallop frame using the #5902 - Mini Scallop Frame die with a piece of pattern paper from the #6205 - Floral Shop PP.  I die cut an oval frame to cover the opening.  The poppies are from the new countryside series set #6187 - FG Poppy Border and the frog in the tulip is from the #5283 - Frog set.  I stamped these images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then fussy cut these images and popped up inside the frame.  I stamped the sentiment and die cut with the small scallop die from the #5543 - Journal Template die set.  Lastly, I added a bow and an easel piece for the back of the frame. 

For the box:

    This is made from a 6 x 6 piece of paper.  Final dimensions are 2 1/4"W by 2"D x 2 1/8"H.  

    Place your 6 x 6 piece of pattern paper diagonally onto your scoreboard at the 6" mark.  Score at 5" and 7".  Turn your paper 1/4 turn and score at 4 7/8" and 7 1/8".  Burnish all of the score lines.  Cut along score lines on both sides of two ends to make tabs.  See picture below.  Score at the top of each pointed end where the triangle meets the square.  Fold up the edges and place glue on the tabs and line up nicely to form the box.  

  Using the scraps that you cut off to make the tabs and the die from the #5718 - Mini Journal Template (see pic below), I die cut decorative edges for each pointed end.   I had to cut one side and then the other and piece them together onto the box (one on outside and one on inside).  This will add strength for the ribbon closure.   Lastly, I cut a 1/4" hole for the ribbon.  Fill the box with your treat or gift and tie up with your ribbon.

Thanks for joining me today!  Hope you have fun making these gift boxes and frames.

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  R24, R27, R81, R83, R85

B000,    G40, G43, G46

Y32, Y35, Y38

NEW Floral Shop Paper - Simple Layered Card by Lynn Dionne

Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!

Watch video tutorial here!

Today we will be using the spectacular new paper packs in the Art Impressions collection of papers. They are the Floral Shop 6"x6" Paper Pack and the Floral Shop Cover Paper Pack which is approximately 6"x9".

With these new papers we will be creating a simple layered card that will have lots of interest and texture in a very easy way!

For the focal image today, we will be using the new Ai Dear Friends Stamp Set. This little set includes so many cute items to create a fun scene. It includes the tea set that we will be using today, and a bench, cake platter, house, vases, and "Dear Friend" sentiment.

We will stamp the tea set and color the set using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Sage Green, Hyacinth Blue, Aqua Blue, and Beige.

Next, let's cut this out with our detail scissors and add some fun details using our gel pens in white and blue.

With a white card base, we will add a layer of floral paper using the Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies. We will also die cut some pretty Ric Rack from the Ai Journal Template Die Set, and finally we will die cut a beautiful frame using that same set.

Before, we do the final assembly, let's stamp the "Thinking of You" sentiment, using the Ai Cottage Charm Stamp Set. 

Let's quickly assemble all of the pieces onto the card, popping up the frame for some added dimension.

For a finishing touch, let's add a little white clay heart to the teapot and a few white gems for a bit of sparkle!

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

Ai Floral Shop PP (6205)

Ai Floral Shop Cover PP (6206)

Ai Dear Friends (6180)

Ai Cottage Charm (6179)

Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies (5063)

Ai Journal Template Die Set (5543)

Focus on Faith: Covered Bridge by Sara Furr

 Blessings my dear friends, and welcome to my first "Focus on Faith" for the month of June.

Not too far from me are 2 covered bridges situated in some beautiful scenery in "God's Country". The beauty of them always brings me peace and the nostalgia of times long ago, so I wanted to recreate one of those local spots. 

I used this wonderful stamp set called "He Leads Me", along with a couple foliage stamp sets to create my watercolor scene. I really had fun practicing my watercolor. I have created a mini picture tutorial for you to follow my steps......

I started with an A2 panel of watercolor cardstock and taped it to my board with post-it tape about 1/4" all the way around. I then stamped in my covered bridge with a layer of blue and brown marker. Then the fence and trees with just brown. I just stamped the tree from the set 3x up the left side to create a "Big" tree.

I then pulled color from the lines to create depth and shadow. To soften the tree limbs so they weren't so heavy i added some water to soften and then blotted up the ink before stamping in the green foliage.

I then stamped in the small grass from the Foliage set around the fence posts and trailing the fence leading to the bridge. I stamped the little bushes from the WC Mini Foliage in a bit darker green up along the bank in front of the bridge, and I stamped the bushy tree limb from the same set in a brighter green for the trees' leaves, stamping several generations for each of the stamps, and then blended them out with a damp brush. I added in more shades of green to extend my grassy areas. I also added in some darker shadows on the roadway for the fence posts with more brown. I then added some pretty blue for the creek water under the bridge and then watered it down a bit more to blend in my sky. I let that all dry and then went back in to add some pretty flowers with a purplish blue color using the "lavender" stamp from the Mini Flower set, again stamping several generations onto the edges of the roadway. 

I also added the tiny leaf branch from that set to add some foliage around my fence posts out front and I used it to create some big bushes on either side of the bridge.

I blended those out just a bit with a damp brush and let it dry before stamping in the tiny purple dots, also from the same set.

I then stamped the flower bunches repeatedly over in the right hand corner to give some interest in that corner, and draw your eye around the whole scene. I added  some more blue into my sky for more depth, and lastly I stamped my sentiment with Black Archival ink.

And finally, the reveal! I carefully removed the post-it tape from the edges and admired the beauty of the scene!😊

I honestly wasn't fond of the brown on the "Big tree" on the left side, so after distressing the edges of my cardstock with scissors I added it to a soft purple mat and added a pretty bow to strategically "hide" my tree trunk! Hehe😁 It worked perfectly and it added a lovely touch of softness. Besides, it wouldn't be a "Sara" card without a pretty bow on it, right?! Haha

Behind the purple layer is an embossed layer of black that has little flowers on it, but its hard to see the detail in the photo. But trust me, you can see it in real life really well!

So, with all the layers, my card wound up measuring 5 1/2x6 3/4".

I hope you like my creation and are inspired to create some "God's Country" of your own!

I absolutely love living in the country where there is so much beauty and scope for the imagination! I always feel so much closer to God here!

I hope you have a great week my friends and I will see you again soon!

Blessings to you all, 

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick

Art Impressions products used:

5129- He Leads Me set

5372- WC Mini Foliage 

5009- WC Mini Flower set

4051- Foliage set

Other products:

Watercolor cardstock

Watercolor brush

Archival Black ink pad

Dye ink markers

Chiffon ribbon

Embossing folder

Die cutting machine

Scissors for distressing 

Paper cutter

Misti stamping tool

Stamping blocks

Adhesive

Foam adhesive 

Tony's Tiny Joke Book by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I had a request for a birthday card for a 9 year old boy.

One of the things I was told he likes was "9 year old boy humor."

I very much like lame dad jokes and instantly thought of making him his own little
journal full of jokes he can tell people.

I'll start by showing you the box I made to give it in and the cover and first two pages.
The box was created using 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies and 5940 – Journal Cover Paper Pack – Plaid.
The sentiment is from 5866 – Mini Birthday Sentiment Set.

The journal and frame dies are from 5718 – Mini Journal Template.
I only did a "half journal" because I'm limited in time. This means I only cut the journal template twice so it looks like a regular book and not a fold out journal. I still plan to hopefully fit 10 jokes into it.

Here are the first two pages, the inside of the cover and the front of page one.
I used the corner die to hold the flaps closed. The little octopus is from retired 5397-Submarine Cubbies Set and the sweet duck is from 5180 – Barnyard Animal Cubbies.

The journal and pages are made from 6058 – Baby Boy Paper Pack.

Stay tuned at a later date for more jokes from Tony's Tiny Joke Book!

LOL!!!

June 2026 Monthly Challenge with Guest Designer Debbie Hedges

Happy June everyone and welcome to our Monthly Challenge!

As always, this challenge has no theme, so anything you want to create is fine as long as you use something from Art Impressions on it. You might be the next winner of a free stamp set from Art Impressions. Winner is chosen randomly so all skill levels have a fair chance of winning. Two lucky winners will also receive a freebie from me.  (Renee)

Now let's see what Debbie created to inspire you.

Father’s Day is only a couple weeks away and then it will officially be summer! 

 For my June project, I created a tag with the adorable frog from the Spring Keepsake Set (#6106). I inked the little frog with Pumice Stone Distress ink, stamped off once on watercolor paper and then stamped him on Canson Mixed Media paper. I painted him mainly with lt. green (#11) and then olive green (#15) for the shading. Using the fine-tip, I added dots in olive green (#15) and then touched my brush to them to soften the color. Using a black Micron pen, I darkened his eyes, leaving a white spot for a highlight. I then cut out the frog on a scrap piece of paper and used that as a template to line up the die over my painted frog. Once I had it in position, I secured it with Post-it tape and ran it thru my Cuttlebug. My next step was to cut a stitched tag with Canson Mixed Media paper. I wanted the little frog to be sitting on a river bank, so I sketched a line for the water and then sketched another line for the bank. Using steel blue (#17) from my palette, I added water on the bottom portion of the tag, starting with a darker line where my pencil line was and then making sure I had light and dark areas. I then used sepia (#45) to do the same with my bank. I added my sky next, leaving light and dark areas with sky blue (#75). With my teeny tiny grass (#4051), I stamped grass in a repeat on the left side of the bank to almost the middle of the tag. I wanted wild grass along the bank in more than one height, so I used a tall cattail from Kim’s bird set (KH5820) and a tall grass from Foliage Set 4 (#5126). With the fine tip of my violet marker (#8), I added some dots to the tops of the grass stems for a few wildflowers. Then with Dr PH Martin’s white, I added daisies and some dots for wildflowers. I also added some white lines in my water to look like ripples. Once the daisies were dry, I added centers with the fine tip in brilliant yellow (#43). In the left upper corner of the tag, I stamped leaves to give the impression of a tree using Foliage Set 4 (#5126). I used an embossing folder to emboss the blue paper for the top of my tag. I then used the same tag die to cut the top of the tag and then a border die to cut the decorative edge. I used Art Glitter glue and glued the tag to my card base and then positioned the frog so he was just off the right edge of the tag, giving him a 3-D look. I glued him to the tag and also glued the heart button. 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 project so we can all enjoy it! I adore this little frog! Also, don’t forget to enter the Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set! Enjoy the beginning of summer and happy stamping! 

Now let's see who won our May Challenge!

Our Lucky Random Winner was: #4 Diane Z.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

The first winner of a freebie from me is #17 Licia B.

The second winner of a freebie from me is #9 Pat S.

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