NEW VIDEO! Nighttime Silhouette Watercolor by Kendra Krebs

Hello Ai Fans!

We are excited to have guest artist Kendra Krebs back this week for a NEW Watercolor Wednesday! Kendra always brings a new perspective and today she shows us how to create a whimsical forest scene, creating a dark foreground and lighter background, and uses a Molotow marker to create dots of light. Kendra simply used a couple tree sets and a few foliage sets to design this scene with three markers! At the end, Kendra asks what your favorite part of the video was, so hop over to YouTube to leave her a comment!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U0IpJL06UeY

Joy Found by Niccole Kulig

Hello Ai fans!!

"Joy is found in the friendships we make along life's way."

It is Niccole again stopping by to share a card I made using the Joy Found Window. Like I said last week ... I just love these window stamps.  I am a sucker for a good quote, and these saying are some of the best. 

As you can see I started with some pattern paper and a ribbon.  My card is an A2 top folding card. The pattern paper is trimmed down 1/4". I glued my ribbon on before adhering it to my card so I could fold the edges over and glue them behind for a clean finish

For this bow I used two pieces of ribbon to give the bow some depth and make it a little bigger.  I think it turned out well. I see in the picture that the one side is hiding a little bit but trust me it is there.

I added my Copic colored panel onto two different colors of green to make it pop more.  I adhered it to my card using foam tape.  I finished it off with some Wink of Stella over the sky, the water, and the flowers.

One more look at the finished card.  If you are on the fence about these Window to the World stamps ... go get some, they are fabulous.  And with the sentiment going around the picture you don't need to add another one if you don't want to. 

Copic Used:

B000, B00, B32, B34

E25, E27

N4, N6

R24, R27

W00, W1, W3

Y32

YG23, YG25, YG61, YG63, YG67

Thank you so much for stopping by ... we will see you again soon!

Until next time ... Hugs & inky fingers!

Panda Bear-ista! by Crystal

Hi Ai fans! 

I loved Pandas as kid and well I still do they are just so darn cute. So this week I have a card to share using the new Pand-tastic stamp set. 

I started by stamping the panda bear onto the center of a die cut Double Stitched circle. Then I stamped the image again onto some pattern paper. I colored in the panda bear which is super fast. 

I fussy cut the mug out and adhered it over the first image I stamped. I also inked the edge of the die-cut circle with distress ink. to stamp the sentiment "BEAR-ista!" I used a piece of acetate to curve it to follow the shape of the circle then stamped it. I die cut to different size of the Rectangle Double stiched dies to place the circle on. I also used the Flag Double Stitched dies to tuck under the circle. 

 I die cut to different size of the Rectangle Double stiched dies to place the circle on. I also used the Flag Double Stitched dies to tuck under the circle. 

Spectrum Noir Markers:

Blender, CC1, IG9, IG6, IG4 

Happy Stamping! 

Have a Wild West Birthday! by Crystal

Hi Ai fans! 

I'm a huge fan of the girlfriend stamp sets. This week I made two cards using the Cowgirls stamp set. I think this might be my favorite girlfriend set right now. 

I stamped the image for both cards onto smooth cardstock using Memento black ink. 

After I had them all colored in I fussy cut them out for both cards. 

I think the sentiment with this set is so cute "HAVE A BOOT SCOOTIN' TWO STEPPIN' TOE TAPPIN' WILD WEST BIRTHDAY" I die cut a square out of pattern paper using the Double stitched square dies. I stamped the image with black Versafine ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

For both cards I just layered some fun pattern paper and adhered the friends on the die of the sentiments. I adhered the whole panel for both cards to a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base. I kept both cards very simple but I think with the fun pattern paper and the large sentiment you don't need to add much for a fun card. 

Spectrum Noir colors:

GT1, GT3, GT2, EB1, EB2, EB3, TN1, TN2, TN4, IG2, IG4, IG5, FS6, FS7, FS8, DR1, DR3, DR4, TB2, TB3, TB4, HB1, HB2, HB3

Happy Stamping!

Heard It's Been Ruff | By Jessica Shier

Hello Ai Fans!

Today I'm sharing this card I made using the Doggie Kisses set but focusing more on using those smaller stamps. I've been trying to write down color combinations that interest me and this one uisng; Coral, Blue, Mustard, Lavender and Gray really captured my attention, so I knew I had to make something using those specific hues.

I started off with cutting the oval in the center using the Double Stitch Oval dies. The one I used is one of the smaller sizes that comes in the set, but I wanted something that would just barely show the dog. Luckily clear stamps make it very easy to see how things will look before you stamp and die cut!

To stamp the bandage, I used several Gina K Inks in the colors mentioned above, exact colors listed below. I do stamp in clusters and in threes at first then fill in from there. Through out the process I just kept in mind that I also wanted larger white areas so that I could add a few more elements.

In those larger areas is where I stamped the lavender paw print and the sentiments for the front. It was fun just stamping instead of stamping to color. It's like making your own pattern paper. I did go over the bandages with a W1 and W0 Copic marker just to give them some depth. Totally optional step though. 

Now for the inside I was able to line up the dog where I wanted him to show through on the front of this card. After that I simply closed the lid of my stamp platform and used a piece of 80lb Neenah Solar White cardstock to stamp on to. Then I colored a simple scene with Copic markers. I thought the sentiment mentioning the dog cone was hilarious, so I used that on the inside with the coordinating image. Then adhered that to the inside.  

I've always liked making window cards and I love the way it looks with the pattern stamping using the smaller stamp images on the front. It's also a great way to experiment with some color combinations. I usually search by season or sometimes you just see a color combination that inspires you.

Copic Markers Used:

Card Front - W1, W0

Inside - W6, W3, W1

C5, C1, E74, E77

E31, E3, RV91

Thanks so much for stopping by today and Happy Stamping!

Sit... Stay... Heal... | Doggy Kisses By Jessica Shier

Hello Ai Fans!

This week I'm still creating with dog themed cards. I loved playing with the Doggy Kisses set and was inspired to create this homey scene with the little sick dog holding his teddy bear. 

I started with stamping the sick dog on a piece of Neenah Solar White 80lb cardstock. Then I sketched out the couch with Copics and colored everything in. I've been loving this orange and aqua color combination lately so I made the couch a yellow orange color and the pillow case and slippers aqua. I repeat these colors and add in a bit of the red and more gray through out too. 

Creating scenes like this one is so easy. After coloring the couch and dog I used a T-square to draw in the baseboards then colored the floor is cool grays. I used two of the smaller Hexagon Double Stitched dies to create some picture frames. I used the cut outs to stamp two more dogs to act as the photos. Those two had the best faces for this!  I colored those then adhered them in to their designated spots after attaching the main panel to a Neenah Solar White 110lb card base. I also colored around the outer edge of the hexagon cut out with several copics to colore the frame. For the final touches, I used the small paw print to frame the Dachshund image and stamped the sentiment with black ink. 

Copic Markers Used:

W9, W6, W3, W1, W0

C5, C3, C1

E81, E3, E34, E31

YR27, YR23, YR04

Y38, Y35, Y23, Y21, Y15, Y13

R83, R39, R27, R14

BG13, BG11, BG10

BV04, BV01

Ok guys that is it from me! Thank you so much for joining me today. Happy Stamping

Happy Tails Slider Card | By Jessica Shier

Hello Ai Fans!

I've been really enjoying the Art Impressions Stacker sets and knew I wanted to play with the dog stacker. Honestly anything with a Dachshund and I want to color it, but this is truly a fun dog pile! I also made the paw print with dies, so easy!

I started with die cutting the slider mechanism, per the instructions on the back. A good dry adhesive is what I used. Some quick measuring and I cut the slider pull with a watercolor paw print pattern paper. Then attached a small piece of black ribbon in a loop using the Tiny Attacher and ink blended the slider frame with a distress ink. Gradually blending out to the white cardstock.

The last two details took some trial and error. I used a small blending brush to flick a Distress Oxide reinker  and water mixer on to the white back panel. So messy! A random brown box does well to keep most of the spray contained, plus reusable!

So those tiny little dots took some time to dry even after heat setting. While I waited I started on the paw print. For this I was able to use 2 dies, the smallest from the Double Stitched Oval die set and the tiny oval from the Double Stitch Tag die set. It's a little oblong and if I had a nice heart shape I could have used that as the large pad, that would be super cute. This is when I also chose to stamp my sentiment. This one says "Happy tails to you my pal" . Using a clear sitcky ink and white embossing powder.

The fun part was coloring the dogs, using Copics, my plan was to have 3 different shades of dogs . Once again I was inspired by the packaging art! But, I didn't see the little guy at the top! So he's the only one in grays. lol. Which I thought worked and made a second one just like the first! The copics I used are listed below. 

Copics Used.

Beige - E81, E43, W3

Tan - E31, E35, W3

Dark Brown - E77, E74, E59

Gray - W6, W3

Tongue - R14

Thank you for stopping by today! Happy Stamping!

Hop Till You Drop | By Jessica Shier

Hello Ai Fans!

The challenge #254 has started for the release of the new Girlfriends clear stamps sets. Perfect time to break out this Art Impression Hop Hop set! I thought these ladies looked like they were up to some spring picnic shenanigans with all their fun hopping objects. 

I stamped the ladies with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on Arches watercolors paper. Using my Koi watercolor set I water colored these ladies and the background, adding in a bit of a finish line in white to seem like they are racing to win! 

Once my piece was dried I trimmed it down to attach to a A2 card base. I added a black and white stripe of pattern paper on the left and some lovely jewels that match the colors of the hopping ladies clothes. 

For the sentiment I die cut the smallest Double Stitched Oval die on white cardstock. Then stamped the sentiment from the Hop Hop Set with Distress Oxide ink. Placing on the top left of the card, then trimming off the top that overhangs.

That is it from me guys! Thank you so much for joining me today. Happy Stamping! ❤

Here's The Skinny ... by Niccole Kulig

Hi Ai Fans!

Today I am stopping by to share a couple cards I made from the Skinny Yet stamp set from Art Impressions.

I started by placing both cuts of pattern paper to my card base.  I tied it together with a black strip of paper.  I stamped my images and colored them with Copic markers; which I list at the end of this post. I cut out my large image with my Scan N Cut.  

My sentiment is also from the Skinny Yet stamp set.  I cut both my sentiment and the white card stock with the Hexagon Double Stitch Die set.

I added pattern paper to my large hexagon and glued it to my card base. I glued the base of my skinny lady to my card and popped the top half with foam tape. I colored my smaller hexagon shape with a Copic marker as well, added my sentiment to the bottom left corner of the card with foam tape.

I finished the card off with Nuvo Drops in the color Carnation Pink. I feel like it completes the card, don't you?

Once again here they both are together again.  I cannot decide if I like the yellow or turquoise better, you?

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending some time with me!

Copics used:
BG10, BG11, BG13
E00, E23, E51
R20, R21, R22, R35
W00, W1, W3, W5
Y08, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17

Until next time ... Hugs & inky fingers!