Friday, February 14, 2025

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Happy Valentine's Day Art Impressions Friends!

Tasha here, sharing a new Valentine's Day card created with the fun 5181-Happy Mailbox Cubbies stamp set. I absolutely adore the Art Impressions cubbies sets, and this one is perfect for spreading Valentine's cheer!

To make this card, I started by stamping the mailbox and all the tiny letters with black ink. I then cut everything out using the included dies, which made assembling the pieces a breeze. One of my favorite parts of this set is the variety of envelopes and packages you can mix and match to create a personalized design.

Next, I created the background by gluing die-cut grass onto a cloud-patterned paper. I used the 5062 - Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitched dies to cut the center panel; I love the stitched detail!


To finish the design, I layered metallic pink and teal cardstock, white cardstock, and Art Impressions heart-patterned paper. The combination of textures and colors adds dimension and a festive Valentine's Day vibe!

I hope you enjoyed today's card creation and feel inspired to craft your own Valentine's Day projects. 






Thursday, February 13, 2025

Drink Up! Challenge #397 Week #1

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our newest challenge.


We want to see your projects using drinks on them.
You can use coffee, tea, water, beer, wine, cocoa, lemonade, drink gift card holders...you name it! As long as it's a drink related project it counts.

Our Featured Designer for this challenge is Janet, but before we see her fun card, let's see who won our Highlights challenge.

For our Top Spot we chose Debbie Hedges.
She used the adorable 5576 – Little Trucks Set.



Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!
B
e sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Our Lucky Random Winner was #7 Lynn C.





Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!
B
e sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Both winners made such amazing cards. Congratulations!


Now, let's see what our Featured Artist Janet has created. 
We just KNOW you're going to love her trendy and fun drink themed card.

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 It's my pleasure and honor to be the featured Design Team member for the current challenge, Drink Up. I had a lot of fun making this card and I hope it gives you some inspiration for your own. To participate in the challenge, your card only needs to include an image with something to drink on it. It can include coffee, cocoa, wine, beer, water, cups, glasses, etc. Use any drink theme and post it for a chance to win a free stamp set. 


My card features the 5928 - Stay Hydrated Set. It includes a lady with her super-sized tumbler. It also  features drink tumblers that you can customize with all kinds of included stamped patterns. I decided to keep the front of my card simple by using only the tumblers and a sentiment. My original plan was to use the included tumbler stamp patterns that comes in the set but as happens sometimes, I was unexpectedly inspired to instead use the wonderful colors and patterns in the new Basics Journal Series Paper Pads. These come in four awesome color palettes: 6009 - Basic Green, 6010 - Basic Pink, 6011 - Basic Teal, and 6012 - Basic Yellow. Each pad features many patterns and shades of the PP's dominant color. When I got them in the mail, I immediately knew I would use it to make a colorful background for my card by using these papers which are full of great patterns for my tumblers!

Before I go further, let's take a look at what I did for the inside of the card. Here I used the sassy lady and a sentiment. I wanted her to "speak" so I hand drew a speech bubble for the sentiment. It goes well with the graphic cartoon nature of the stamp. I stamped and colored the lady on alcohol ink friendly paper and cut her out with the set's die before I glued her in place above the ground I created with warm gray markers. By the way, I totally want an orchid colored computer bag. Yes, please!

I began my card by cutting a piece of watercolor paper to use as the background. I sprayed the paper so it was very saturated and then I applied blue metallic watercolor and floated it over the paper in the water. This creates a marbled look with a hint of sheen. I used my heat gun to dry the watercolor paper. Spraying the paper makes it curl up but drying it with the heat gun flattens it again so that it's ready to be used.

Next, I picked papers from the four packs and stamped the tumblers out.


 Then I used the included die with the set to cut them all out. Aren't these a lot of fun?

After that, I arranged them in a staggered pattern on the dried watercolor paper and then trimmed the paper down so that I could mat it on an A2 card.

When I use soft colors, I like to mat with black. Black enhances the colors and offers a strong contrast. I centered the tumbler background on black and then adhered the layered panel to a white A2 card base. 

 
As you can see, I included a sentiment which was cut out using a die from the 5133 - Flag Double Stitched Dies set. I stamped it with VersaMark embossing ink and embossed with black powder. This is a great way to add a sentiment but still allow the terrific tumblers to not be covered up or interrupted. I added a pearl and two enamel hearts in complementary colors to help the sentiment stand out a little. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I put this card together using the 5928 - Stay Hydrated Set. It's super cute and the tumblers really are a nice feature that can be used in many different ways. 

I know you can find all kinds of inspiration for the Drink Up Challenge. I can't wait to see what you create!

 

Janet YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest 



Thank you Janet for this adorable inspiration for our Drink Up challenge!
Your card is AMAZING both inside, and out!

Now it's your turn to create something for our challenge. You may be the next person to win a free stamp set!

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✻ 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

Pull Up Valentine by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Valentine's Day is tomorrow.  Are you ready?  If not, I have a fun little pull up valentine for you with a cute little hidden sentiment using the #5902 Mini Scallop Frame die as well as many other sets listed below.  If you have already finished your valentine's, imagine this for other occasions using balloons, stars, etc. instead of hearts.  

To begin, I took the bear image from the #5521 WC Animal Planters set and stamped onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink.  I also stamped him to create a reverse image so that I could make his back leg and his left arm since the stamp set has a flower pot hiding both.  To do this, I stamped him onto a smooth silicone mat and then took my paper and pressed it onto the stamped image on the mat.  This will create a reverse image.  Using a misti is helpful incase you need stamp again to darken the image.  I colored both images with my copic markers, listed below.  I then used a wash rag and dabbed some alcohol onto it and lightly pressed it against the body parts of the bear to make him look fuzzy.  I fussy cut all the pieces (bear, back leg and left arm) and pieced him together using some foam tape between his legs.  I also placed a heart box of candy (from the #5493 Front Porch Valentine) in his arms.  I just love this cute little bear!  
I cut the #5902 Mini Scallop Frame using the brown hearts paper from the #5832 Gnome Paper Pack.  I cut a heart shape for the window and placed acetate on the inside of the window.  I also stamped the "You're So Sweet" and added a couple little die cut hearts to the inside.  I then placed a thin line of foam tape to the inside bottom scallop edge so the streamer wouldn't fall through.  I glued up the side of the frame and it is ready to decorate.  Don't forget to attach the easel to the back so your frame/card will stand up on display.

To make the pull up heart streamer, I die cut 16 red hearts (front and back) and strung them onto a white thread leaving about 2 inches above the first heart.  I die cut the letters for the sentiment "Love You" from the #5562 - Journal Letter die set and attached each letter to a heart leaving a blank heart between words.  Perfect size letters to make a cute little sentiment.  I cut two fishtail banner pieces in red cardstock.  I then cut a square 2 5/8 inch piece of red gingham paper and glued it to the bottom half of the back side of one of the fishtail banner pieces.  Snip off any paper showing in between the fishtail.  Take the streamer and glue the top thread to the middle of the banner above the gingham paper.   Take the other fishtail banner and glue the top halves of the banners together leaving the bottom half open so it can rest over the top of the frame.  I added the heart banner and bows to the front banner for some cuteness.

  Gather the heart streamer together over the gingham paper and insert into the top slit of the frame.  Some of the letters will show through the window but the message will be a mystery until the recipient pulls from the frame.

I hope you enjoyed my card today and your imagination is running wild with other variations.
Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E21, E23, E25
R20, R22, R24, R27

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Creating a Box Card - Magical Songbirds by Lynn Dionne

 Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!!!

Watch video tutorial here!!!

Today we will be using the brand-new Ai Song Birds and Feeders Set (5980). This set is just perfect for today's box card with its lovely birds and bird feeders. We will combine this set with the absolutely adorable Ai Gnomes Set (5785) and some little mushrooms from both the Ai Fairytale Houses Set (5935) and the Ai Whimsical Mushroom Set (5788). It is so much fun mixing and matching all of your stamp sets to create a unique and special card!

We can now add some white highlights and polka dots (on the mushrooms) to make everything pop a bit more!

Let's stamp all of the images and color them using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Sugared Almond Pink, Lt Beige, Beige, Mid Brown, Yellow, Orange, Ice Blue, Sea Green, Smoky Teal, May Green, Green, Lt Gray, Purple.

Next, let's create the cute little box card design. I will give you all of the measurements in today's video. It is very easy to cut, score and fold this box card design. I have sized it to fit into a standard A2 size envelope when folded flat, but you could also use a square envelope if you prefer. Just keep in mind that the postage may be a bit more for the square envelope.

We will now cut all of our patterned paper layers for the box card using the Ai Mini Birthday Paper Pack (5873). Let's add a few sentiments to the card using both the Ai Birthday Sentiments Set (5735) and the Ai Fairytale Houses Set (5935).

Finally, we can assemble this fun little scene onto the box card! This card will sit up nicely on your table when it's opened up. I hope you got inspired to give this design a try!

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


Ai Fairytale Houses Set (5935)

Ai Whimsical Mushroom Set (5788)

Ai Birthday Sentiments Set (5735)

Ai My Trust Set (5937)

Ai Mini Birthday Paper Pack (5873)

Ai Watercolor Travel Box (4924)


Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Keep your head up by ReneƩ Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to my second Highlights Challenge card post.

This time I have a sweet fox card.



She fit nicely in this frame with the exception of her tail so I used some scissors to trim up either side of her tail so that I could slide the frame under it. This way, the frame cuts around her but doesn't cut her tail off.



Once she was die cut, I created a mask for her. I splattered gold paint around her to give it some shimmer.



I also tried my hand at making a wax seal to go on my card. It started out being three colors to match lil miss fox. Unfortunately, it took me about 7 tries to get one I was happy with, therefore it wound up being one solid color. I really liked this color with the fox so this one was a winner.



This was one I wasn't initially happy with but the organic look is growing on me.



While I had my supplies out, I decided to try another snowflake that I have. I liked this one on the first try and it's stashed away for another day.



I watched a video that said keeping your wax supplies iced during the process helps the wax release easier. It seemed to really work for me so I'll continue to do this in the future.



I added some sentiments and more foxes to the inside of my card. I liked the "keep your head up" verse because of the image on the front.


I thought it would be sweet to place a tiny snowflake on her nose. My snowflakes all have some Diamond Stickles on them to give them some snowy sparkle.


My card was made for the current Highlights challenge. You can enter your crafty project using a white gel pen or white paint for the chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions.




 



Monday, February 10, 2025

Hearts for you! by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Have you finished all your Valentine cards yet? How about making some tags for a treat bag or two? That's what I've got to show you today. I love making cute tags and I had a lot of fun with this one. It could be for Valentines Day, could be for Easter, it could be for any occasion! I just love how they dress up a package!! I used a lot of sets for this one, and they are all linked below if you are interested in looking at them. I started out by stamping all the images onto a Copic friendly paper and coloring them with Copic markers that are listed below. 



So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:
R01, 02, 11, 20, 22, 24 and 27
YG13 and 17
Y00, 32, 35, and 38
E51, 53, and 55
R81, 83, and 85
B00
C5 and 6


 


Sunday, February 9, 2025

Frosty Valentine by Gennette Houghton

 


Hello and welcome to Watercolor Weekend! I know most of you are probably already dreaming of spring. I know I am, but I decided to take a frosty twist to Valentine’s Day. 

For my first card I used the 5056 WC Fairy Doors Set, and stamped the tree on my watercolor paper using 969. Using a pencil with the die I plan to use, I extended some of the branches to meet the edge of where the frame will sit. After pulling the color out, I then added more 969 from my palette. I sketched in the hearts with a pencil, and added some definition with more 969 around the heart on the tree trunk to make it looked carved out around the edges.

I then added in 526 for the sky, being careful as I went around the tree branches. Keeping the hanging hearts white I deepened the color around them so that they would stand out more.  I used a black micron pen to add in the strings connecting the hearts to the tree branches. I then used 565 at the base of the tree and along the edges of the white hearts for dimension. Using Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, I added in some snow on the branches and around the base of the tree, adding a touch of 565 to give depth to the snow. 

I then cut out a white frame using a die from 5588 Journal Oval Frames Die Set, and popped it up using foam tape. Placing it over the tree and securing it down, I then used my scissors to cut away the excess paper from my painting, angling my scissors under the frame. I stamped out 2 of the little birds from 5100 Woodland Tree Cubbies in 969/565, and stamping them off. I colored the main part of the birds with 526, leaving their bellies white, and added some 565 for the shadows.  The beaks were colored with 025, and I used a black micron for the eyes, feet and the outline of the beaks. After die cutting them out with the included dies, I then attached the birds at the top of the frame, I then matted my card with paper from the 5892 Easter S2 PP, and attached the frame to the front of the card to finish it off. 

I am not ready to give up the snowmen yet, I love painting them! The couple from 5467 WC Snowmen Set, I felt were perfect for my next card.  In 969/565 and stamping off, I stamped in my sweet couple on watercolor paper. I also created a mask and stamped in the tree from 4807 Old Barn Mini Set in 969 after I put in the sky with 526. 

I pulled the color out of the tree first before working on the couple, adding a little extra to the areas that would be more shadowed.  On the eyes, mouth, and buttons I used a black micron, leaving a hint of white on the buttons for a highlight.  Before adding any other colors on the snowmen, I first went in with 565 to define and create shadows. For the carrot nose I used 025 and on the bottom portion 026. N15 was used on the top hat, and 856 was used for the rest of the outfits, with a touch of 969 on her coat button. I then used the Bleed Proof White to add in the heart on the hat band and his scarf. I also used the white to create heart shaped snow, outlining them with a little more of the 526 and blending it out a little bit just to give them a little bit more of a pop.  I then cut my image out with the 5064 Circle Double Stitched Dies, using the 2nd to largest one and matted my card with paper from 5741 Valentines Paper Pack.

Thank you for joining me today, and I hope you enjoyed my cards! Until next time. Create….Share….Inspire!