A Fish Tale: Featuring an Open Bay Window Card by Janet

I had an absolutely fantastic time making this fish-tale of a card for the "When One Door Closes" challenge on the Art Impressions blog. The sides of this card collapse inward, so you have no idea this incredible 3D scene is going to pop out when you open it up. It's super cool!

To make this card, I followed a pattern published on YouTube by AveeReneeCardDesigns, who calls it a "Open Bay Window" design. Her card featured a hot air balloon, but it instantly made me think of aquariums and underwater scenes. Isn't it funny how our minds work so differently? For her, it represented the open sky, and for me, the depths of the water.

Once I had constructed the card base, I got to work decorating it. I used the 5397 - Submarine Cubbies set for most of the elements on this card, and supplemented it with some shells and cheerful crabs from the 5329 - Beach Mini Dies. I also used a banner die from the 5543 - Journal Template Die Set for the sentiment at the top. Most of the elements "float" on 3, 1/4" acetate wide strips which are almost invisible to the naked eye. It makes the submarine and marine life look like they are in the depths of the ocean. While the picture makes it appear like the submarine is attached to the sides of this card, it isn't. It's just hanging in mid-air thanks to the acetate strips. Most importantly, this construction allows the card to close without interfering with any of the elements.

This card looks complicated, but I promise you, it's not hard at all. The design is so versatile and can be used for anything that floats—in air, water, or outer space! My mind is already churning with so many new ideas for this one.

Thanks for joining me here today. Be sure to enter our current challenge, "When One Door Opens." Just show off a door of any type or size on your card for a chance to win a free stamp set!

As always, don't forget to find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store! You'll always find something that calls to you. 

Happy Crafting!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest 

Golden Mermaid by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

My card today was inspired by the current blog challenge "Spritz, Splatter and Paint!"  A perfect way to showcase the new Winsor Newton Ink 14ml - Gold Paint sold now on the Art Impressions website.  Although the challenge does not stipulate that you have to use gold, you can use any spritz, splatter or any color paint.  I chose to use the new product, since it was new to me too.

This gold paint is awesome and adds such glimmer and shimmer to your project.  I played with it a little bit to see how I wanted to use it.  I loved the look with stencils and a makeup sponge, smooshed onto the paper and spritzed or splattered.  For my card, I chose to paint with it, stamp it and also used it in a mister (mix with a touch of water in a mister).  

I stamped the #5903 - Treasured Armful Mermaid images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then die cut each of the images using the coordinating dies that come with the stamp set.  I'm using a background that I made awhile back but thought it would be perfect for this card.   Using the backside of photo paper, I believe I used Ranger alcohol inks - Mermaid and Glacier - but any blues will work.  I also used a bubble frame die that I had in my stash.    

I painted the treasure chest with the Winsor Newton gold paint as well as the middle of the flower in her hair.  When you zoom in, you can really see the result.  I painted some gold onto the sentiment stamp and stamped it onto white cardstock.   But, I liked the use of the gold paint in a mister the best.  This produced the best shimmer and still left the color underneath showing through.  See the sand in the picture above and the mermaid tail and hair in the picture below.  One or two mists will do the trick, but it's hard to stop.  I actually sprayed too much the first time but was able to wipe some of it off.  Wait until it slightly dries first, then wipe a paper towel lightly over it.    

After all the images were colored, painted and sprayed, I assembled the card.  This little mermaid actually swings back and forth as if swimming.  

Punch a hole in the background behind where her head will be, large enough for a foam pop dot.  Glue a penny, button or paper disc to one side of the pop dot.  Place the pop dot through the hole from the backside and adhere the mermaid (approx. forehead) to the pop dot poking through.  She should rock nicely at this point.  Place a thicker layer of foam tape on the backside of the background avoiding the penny, button, or disc.  Adhere onto your card base.  Test to make sure that she moves freely.  Pop up the frame so it is slightly higher than the inner square.  This will help stop her movement so she doesn't flip all the way around.

I hope you join in our blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set.  We love to see what you create!

Have a wonderful day and keep crafting!

Copics used:  E000, E01, E11, R20

E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, YR31

RV63, RV66; V05

YG09, BG05

You CAN add sparkle and bling to masculine projects! by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

You have just about a day left to enter our We 💚 Dads! challenge. Make a Father's Day project or something masculine. You might win a free stamp set! 

Today I've made a dies only card that shows you CAN use sparkle
and bling on a masculine card too!

I used Platinum Stickles and Diamond Dots in several different shades,

to add interest to my card. I also used gold paper on the #1 and the trophy,

and Wink of Stella on the sailboat.

I LOVE the new scalloped square dies to frame the nested squares and stitched squares.
They're so pretty!

The waves were created using a border die from 5543 – Journal Template Die Set.

I love this sort of rustic Americana color theme for guys. Especially since Father's Day usually falls near Flag Day which was my grampy's birthday. (Just so you know...Blogger wanted to autocorrect grampy's to grumpy's! lol!) My grampy was not grumpy!

 

Still Got It! A Fun Card for Dad by Janet

Hi everyone! Today, I'm thrilled to share a card I made for the current Ai Challenge: We Love Dads! This is your perfect opportunity to create and share your masculine cards celebrating those special fathers in your life.

My card features the awesome 5187-Happy Trails Set, and I had a blast putting a fun spin on it. I decided to feature the fella from the set relaxing in a beach chair. He might not be as young as he once was, but this card definitely reminds him that he’s still got it!

To achieve that perfect frame for our beach-goer, I used the fantastic new 6047-Scalloped Square Dies set. I started by applying both the red and patterned paper to my card front. Then, I carefully positioned one of the square scalloped dies and cut it through all three layers, creating a clean window.

Next, I cut a frame out of red cardstock using the first square die and one size larger from the nested set. This red frame really pops and highlights the "dad" image nestled inside.

To complete the front of the card, I added a palm tree from the 5187-Happy Trails Set and a sentiment. I added the word "Still" to the stamped sentiment, giving it a clever and personalized twist. It’s a subtle change, but it really adds to the overall message of the card.

For a final touch of embellishment, I added two shells from the 5329-Beach Mini Dies Set at the opposite corner of the window frame. I think these shells provide just the right amount of extra detail without overwhelming the card.

I had so much fun making this card, and I hope it inspires you to create something special for the dads in your life! Be sure to visit the Ai Store this weekend. They have everything you need – stamps, dies, papers, and accessories – to bring your creative ideas to life! And don't forget to check out the Ai Challenge: We Love Dads! and share your creations with us.

Happy crafting!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest  

Just a Mermaid and Her Treasures! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I've loved this little mermaid since the moment I saw her.

How precious is this card for a little girl's birthday?

Or a big girl...we can all love mermaids!

I know we often hear about octopuses collecting little trinkets and sparkly things but I kind of feel like mermaids probably do that too. I made sure to deck out her space with all sorts of shells and treasures.

Even though my card has a lot going on, I feel like she is still the star. The dies that come with this set cut a little opening in her arms to hold her beloved conch shell or treasure chest or anything else you might think she'd enjoy.

I recently did an Easter craft at school and took one of my chalk palettes. It reignited my interest in them. I used them to add some subtle color to my embossing folder and die cuts.

Do you repurpose items from around your house for your cards? For the fish netting here, I used a sleeve that 3 heads of garlic came in.

This last photo is just for fun. When my daughter saw my card she remarked that it looked like our tissue box.  LOL! Maybe Joel uses Kleenex too and was inspired by the box for his paper! 

P.S. Let me tell you! I DID NOT SPEND ALMOST $9.00 on this tiny bag of shells that I added to my card. Over 10 years ago, these were gifted to me by a co-worker. I can't believe they're still available and I can't believe how expensive they are. Thank goodness for Art Impressions VERY reasonably priced 5329 – Beach Mini Dies. I can color those however I like and make as many as I want.

I made a second, slightly different version because I remembered that I had the nautical wax melt stamper and wanted to add that. I like this version too.

Copics used:

G40, BG02, BG07, E34, RV42, RV52, R000, R85, Y04, Y15

Marvy LePlume:

R810 IVORY, R812 APRICOT, OR821 BEIGE