Santa Puppets by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I just absolutely LOVE the entire Art Impressions Puppet Series!

 I made my two puppet cards for the current Stitches & Scallops challenge.

My stitched rectangle and little zig zag stitches make my card qualify for the challenge.

My little sack is actually the Santa head.

It doubles nicely as a perfect little bag for all the toys.

I wanted to make my first Santa a more "fun" Santa and this one is a more traditional St. Nick.
I used two little Diamond Dots for his eyes.

You still have about a day and a half left to enter the challenge. If you can't make that deadline, be sure to check in on the blog after noon EST for the new challenge.

Snowman Puppets by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Our latest challenge at Art Impressions is Stitches or Scallops.
We're challenging you to use your stitched or scalloped dies, stamps, hand-drawn stitches, embellishments or sewing machine to create something with stitching or scallops on it.

Today, I have two different snowman cards for you.

My first card is an arched, aqua card.

I used a stitched banner die, little stitches on the arch
and some hand-drawn stitches on his little scarf.

I used Liquid Applique on his hat to puff up the "fur." It looked pretty yellow, maybe because mine is so old, so I painted it with Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White Paint.

For my second card I used stitched slimline dies, a stitched banner, little stitches on the sides and a scalloped border. I love these little puppet dies.

Isn't this little guy the cutest? Look at that bright smile.
I used the hat band from the Santa Puppet to create a
hat band for this hat and a belt on the aqua card.

Snowflake JOY card for LEON Day by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

We're celebrating LEON Day at Art Impressions.

That's NOEL spelled backwards since it's halfway to Christmas!

Can you believe it? Tomorrow, June 25th we'll be halfway there.
Have you started making cards? Do you have gifts bought already?

Today I have an elegant Christmas card to share with you.

I think this is one of my favorite cards I've ever made. I love the simple but elegant color palette and the little bits of sparkle and bling. While some people like spiritual Christmas cards or snowmen, Santas or penguins, I LOVE SNOWFLAKES!

I layered up cream, kraft, white, gold and red snowflakes to create lots of dimension on my card.

My husband normally doesn't say much about my cards. It's just not his "thing" but when he saw this one he actually said something like "You MADE that? Wow?"

Though I VERY much love all of the Art Impressions stamps sets, I also love when I can make a dies only card.

I was inspired by this card that I found online.

CASE That Card Winter Birthday by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing my card for the CASE That Card challenge here on the Art Impressions Challenge Blog. I've chosen to imitate a card from Penny Black.

I fell in love with this card the second I saw it and I knew that I wanted to try something like it. Art Impressions to the rescue! I will link all of the Ai products I used at the bottom of the page.

This was my Mother-in-law's late January birthday card. She used to live in the north like me but hasn't been able to get back here for several years. Last time she was here she loved watching the birds at our feeders. I know she doesn't miss the cold but she misses seeing the pretty snow.

In addition to the Tombow markers listed below I also used the following colors from Marvy.

1 Black

12 Grey

32 Laurel Green

38 Oyster Grey

Snow Friend by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today my card was inspired by the current blog challenge "Monochromatic".   I've never really done this before, but I found it quite fun!  All you have to do is create a card using one color (or different shades of one color).  I decided to use the 5041 - Snow Friend set.  I've always loved this snowman but since Christmas has passed, I wanted him to reflect the winter season.

I stamped the image with memento black ink onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then fussy cut him out and cut off the string of Christmas lights that he is holding.  Some of the strings still showed, so I colored over the string pieces with a white paint pen and they are no longer visible.  TaDa!  😀

I ink blended a white cardstock panel with Ranger Distress Oxide inks (colors Prize Ribbon and Salty Ocean).  I spattered a little water onto the panel and dabbed it off with a paper towel.  Then I flicked some Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof white paint, mixed with some water, with a small paint brush onto the panel to create a snowy effect.  I cut the panel with the largest 5063 - Rectangle A2 Double Stitch die and I used the 5064 - Double Stitch circle to cut a partial circle out of the top right side.  I created two snow mounds with white cardstock from a panel cut with the rectangle A2 double stitch die.  Lastly, I die cut several snowflakes from the 5353 - Large Snowflake die and the 5782 - Snowflake Frame sets.

 I covered the snowflakes with stickles and created an icy ground to skate on.

That's my card for today!  Hope you enjoy and keep creating!

Make sure to enter the challenge - see tab above for details and a chance to win a free stamp set.

Copics used:  C1, C3, E21, E23,

B0000, B00, B12, B14, B16, B21, B23

R20, YR12, YR14

Warmest Wishes from Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I'm starting out by sharing a winter card today.
Christmas may be over but we still have LOTS of winter ahead where I live and I know some people like to create Christmas cards all year round. It's never too early to start adding to your Christmas stash for December 2025!

My first card used

5419 – Bible Icons Set 1
5952 – Portfolio Template Die Set

5727 – Nested Oval Dies

5472 – Christmas Wreath

5063 – Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies

5963 – Winter Woodland Paper Pack

Canson XL WC Paper Pad – 9×12

All of the colors that I used are at the end of my InLinkz at the bottom of the page.

My next project was something put together to do with one of the 5th grade classes that I work with.

I thought a little snowglobe ornament would be fun for them. They tend to be a very "lively" class but they really focused on this and did a great job. One girl added a deer silhouette with hoof prints, several kids added smoke and some made the chimney brick or added Aurora Borealis to the background. They were so creative.

I used colored pencils for my sample since I knew that's what they'd be coloring with.

5977 – Mini Christmas Village Set

5808 – 5pk Snow Globe Shaker Dome
5726 – Nested Circle Dies

5718 – Mini Journal Template

My third project is my second attempt at making a Matchbook resembling the 5950 - Christmas Town MBE which quickly sold out. Don't despair. You can create something similar using current Art Impressions products. I think it might have been Caly Person who said she initially mistook the easel die that holds the MB up, for a snowbank. I decided to use it that way with the snowman.

5846 – Mini Christmas Set
5963 – Winter Woodland Paper Pack

5453 – Snowy Window Set

5527 – WC Cape Cod Village

5522 – WC Country Village

5977 – Mini Christmas Village Set

5317 – MB Template Dies

You can see my MB with the official Christmas Village set HERE.

You can find my other "knock off" version HERE.

My final project is two bookmarks.

I have two coworkers who are avid readers. I had a bunch of scraps laying around from other projects and decided to whip these up. They would have come together really quickly except that I decided to add text which took time to cut and glue.

5223 – Bookmark Dies

5353 – Large Snowflake Dies

5562 – Journal Letter Die Set

I hope your 2025 is off to a crafty start!

See you next Tuesday with my Craft Time is Golden card.

Christmas Wishes #12 December Monthly Guest Designer Challenge with Dot Freel

  Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our Monthly Challenge.

This month's theme is Christmas Wishes!

We want to see all of your handmade holiday projects.

Cards, journals, ornaments, gift boxes and bags, GC Holders...

You name it!

We're thrilled to have Dot Freel as our final Monthly Guest Designer.

This is our last monthly challenge but be sure to check out our Bi-Weekly challenges for lots of fun and the chance to win free stamps!

Before we see what Dot created, let's see who won our Frame It challenge!

We selected #5 Francesca for her adorable framed snowman.

She used 5802 – Joyful Snowman Set.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Congratulations!

Our Lucky Random Winner of a free stamp from me is #2 Amy M.

Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now, onto Dot's gorgeous Christmas scene.

Her painted snow is incredible!

Hello,

I get to be a Guest Designer for my favorite stamp company Art Impressions! I am busy making Christmas cards. Last year I didn't send out cards for the first time ever so I'm happily getting them made and ready to send out this year. I used the church from the 5058 - Church Set and the bridge scene from the 5577 - Stone Bridge Simple Scene. The trees are from the 5372 - Mini Foliage Set. The snowflakes are from the 5353 Lg Snowflake Dies and I doubled them up then used a brad for the centers. The snow is made using the Dr. Ph. Martin's bleed proof white paint. Give this one a try and add some Wink of Stella glitter to make it even prettier! The 5063 - A2 rectangle dies and 5962 - Classic Christmas paper from Art Impressions finishes it off beautifully. 

Here is the fine print...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation.
✻You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. 

✻You MUST use Art Impressions stamps or dies! You may use other companies products but the main focus should be on Ai items.

✻If you win, you will receive one free stamp set of your choice. 
✻We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
 ✻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 crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Très Chic Challenge #389 Week #1

 Hello Ai fans!

We have a new challenge here on the Art Impressions challenge blog and it's called Très Chic!

It's a photo inspiration challenge so the sky is the limit. Maybe you're inspired by the wood tones, the buffalo checks, the pumpkins, the stone, lace, tassels or pearls... the farmhouse colors...you name it. As long as your card or project is inspired by something from these photos, it qualifies.

I'm the featured designer for this challenge but before we see what I've created, let's see who won our Farm Fresh challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected #11 Zilla.

She used the bucket from 4869, the crate from 4871, apples from 5059, bushes from 5372, milk can from 5594, pumpkins from 5595, hay bales from 5598 and chickens from 5961 (retired).

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Our Lucky Random Winner was #5 Gabriella B.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Congratulations!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now for my cards.

I created three different cards using one of my very favorite sets.

5353 – Large Snowflake Dies

 I was heavily inspired by the gingham/buffalo checks, the lace and gems, the black and white and the little pop of orange.

The cards with words on them used 5072 – Block Letters Die Set.

I used a combination of gold and black paper for my snowflakes and embellished them with some gems to add a pop of color.

I embossed the word SNOW with some snowflakes to make them pop.

I love when you can use a character or die that isn't a letter, to represent a letter. I used an orange gem because I was inspired by the orange pumpkins.

My final card is a slimline card and I used 5463 – Slimline Dies Set

This card and the SNOW card used Canson XL WC Paper Pad – 9×12.

I really love taking inspiration from photos and hope you all do as well.

I can't wait to see what you create!

✻ 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