Shadowbox Gift Card Holder by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I'm sharing my creation for the Furry Friends challenge today.

I used the 6121 – Storybook Template because I love the look of the shadowbox.

Tucked in a little bear from 6017 – Baby Panda Set and accessorized with several other sets which are all linked below.

On the back, I added a pocket to tuck in a gift card.
The gift card pocket wasn't meant to go with this set so the card does

stick out over the top a bit, but that didn't bother me.

I think it's a cute way to present a gift card to an expectant parent.

Furry Friends Challenge #435 Week #1

Hello and welcome to our new challenge,

Furry Friends

We want to see your handmade creations using animals.

Pretty much anything goes as long as you have an animal and something from Art Impressions on your project. (Stamps, paper or dies)

Our Featured Artist for this challenge is Dori and she created the most darling
Triple Tunnel card.

After looking through her photos and reading her tutorial, be sure to scroll down
to see who won our Boy oh Boy! challenge.

Take it away Dori!

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 Hello AI Friends!

Welcome to our new challenge #435 called "Furry Friends".  I chose the #5400 - Baby Critters set to feature for this challenge.  I used every one of the images since they are all SO cute.  I couldn't pick so why not use them all!  I also decided to make it a triple tunnel card so the animals could sit on display in each panel.

First, I stamped all of the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  Using the corresponding dies, I die cut each of the colored images out. 

With plain cardstock, I also die cut a second one of each image.  I like to layer the plain die cut behind the colored one for stability and extra dimension.

Now that the images are colored, it's time to create the tunnel card.

Using heavy cardstock, I cut one panel at 5" x 10" and scored in half along long side (5" mark).  I also cut another panel at 5" x 5 1/2" and scored at the 5" mark along the longer side leaving a 1/2" tab.  I layered a piece of pattern paper (cut at 4 7/8" square) over the top of the smaller panel leaving the 1/2" blank (see Pic 1).  I cut the same size of a second piece of pattern paper and adhered to the right of the fold on the double panel (see Pic 2).

Any shape die will work but I took a partial circle die (from my stash) and placed it in the center of the smaller panel (Pic 1) and ran it through my die cut machine.  I then lined this page up with the second panel and die cut the partial circle out of that panel. 

             Pic 1

               Pic 2

Now we can adhere the two panels together by gluing the 1/2" tab inside the double panel to create the triple panel card.

To finish up this card, I placed another piece of pattern paper to the inside of the back panel and also created frames around the partial circle openings.  I then adhered the animals on the panels making sure that they don't overlap each other when looking thru the windows.

And here is the final card again.

I hope you enjoy my card and it gives you inspiration to join in on the challenge.  Any animal will work for the challenge so grab a stamp set and play along for a chance to win a free stamp set.  Look forward to seeing your creations!  

Have a Happy Day!

Copics used:  N0, N1, N3, N5

E21, E23, E50, E51, E53, E55, E57

Y13, Y15, Y17, Y21

G40, G43, G46

R20, R22, R24, R27

B0000, B00, B12, B14

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Don't you just LOVE that sweet card?
She packed so many fun animals on there using the tunnel technique.

Now, let's see who won our previous challenge.

To our winners, Leah is on vacation until August 31st so there may be a delay in her

answering your email and filling your order. Please be patient with her when she returns

to the office.

For our Top Spot we selected #4
Marcia H.
She did a fabulous job painting the Cozy Bear making this the 

perfect thank you card for a boy or man.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Our Lucky Random Winner was #17
Heather M.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to our winners!

Enjoy your new stamps.

Now, onto the details of our new challenge.

Please make a new project featuring animals using
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see your creations.

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.

✻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

For a special friend by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Today I have a card to show you that works perfectly for our current challenge #430 Artful Architecture. I wanted to create a window scene, but I also wanted to be able to sign the inside of the card without seeing it through the window. The solution? #5806 Slim Journal Template Die Set! I just used one inside page and it was exactly what I was looking for! I cut the window out of the front panel of the card using the window die from #5543 Journal Template Die Set. The window curtain was cut using a die from my stash that I got from Amazon, and it was a little too short for the window size. It was a perfect spot to put my sentiment banner! I just love that banner die from #5809 Decorative Journal Page 2. I use it ALL the time! TIP! If you have a curved die you want to use for your sentiment set and you have a Misti or similar stamp platform, here's a tip for you. Tape the actual die to the outside top of your stamp platform, then open up the platform. Take your stamp and stick it to the inside of your stamp platform, curving it to match your die. Voila! You can then stamp and die cut your sentiment and it will match the curve of your die exactly!  Forgot to mention the papers I used are from #6205 Floral Shop PP. They're so gorgeous! I just realized I didn't put a single bow on this card! What is wrong with me??!!  LOL!!! 

 For the center page, I stamped and colored a house from #6185 Swiss Villa Set and the Daisy border came from #6188 FG Daisy Border. I die cut a piece of grass and stamped the sentiment from #5734 Friends Sentiments Set. 

And for the back page, I just matted it with more paper from #6205 Floral Shop PP and added another sentiment. to finish it off. 

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

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

Pretty Little Flower Shop by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I created this card for our current Mix & Match challenge.
Use at least two different stamp/die sets on your card.

I used 2 stamp sets, 5 die sets and 2 paper pads on my card.
Variety is the spice of life, right?

I used my Arteza Real Brush Pens which are sort of between a marker and watercoloring the Art Impressions way.  Since I don't watercolor often, I decided to use die cut flowers and flowers painted with Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White Paint. I like the way they turned out.

The 6194 – Flower Shop is part of the new Holiday Lane series.

Arteza Real Brush Pens:

Sapphire Blue

Spearmint Blue

Turquoise

Pea Green

Tawny

Ginger

Honey

Currant Red

Ice Blue

Smoke Gray

3D Tunnel card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I’m sharing a 3D tunnel card featuring two of the newest Countryside series stamp sets: #6186 – FG Tulip Border and #6185 – Swiss Villa.  This beautiful release includes four cottages and three floral borders, all designed to mix and match for creating layered scenic cards.  Each of these images also works wonderfully on its own, making it easy to craft a simple yet striking card with just a single image.  Be sure to check out the sample projects posted on the website under each set.

To create this tunnel card, cut two 2 1/4" x 5" pieces of heavy cardstock.  Score and burnish along short side at 1/2", 1", 1 1/2", and 2".  Fold to create a tube and adhere the 1/4" tab to the inside of the tube. See pic below.  

Cut two 1 1/2" x 8 1/4" pieces of heavy cardstock and score along the long side at 1", 4", 5" and 8".  Fold (all valley) and burnish.  Adhere the 1/4" tab to the inside of the 1" tab.  Glue the two tubes inside one of these tower panels, centering within the 1" sides.  See pic below.  Flatten the card back and forth to adhere the glue in place.  Take the other tower panel and glue the bottom of the two tubes to the inside of this panel.  Make sure to line up so that the card will lay flat, by folding the card back and forth.

Cut pattern paper pieces to fit each of the outer edges and the inside tubes.  Cut arches or ovals using nesting dies to create the tunnel effect.  I also cut a fence using the #5807 - Journal Fence set and layered that between the cottage and the floral border layer.  

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I fussy cut both the cottage and the flower border.  I adhered the floral border to the front oval die and the cottage to the back panel made up of the inside oval piece and cloud pattern paper.  I added the sentiment onto a banner die from the #5543 - Journal Template die set.  Lastly, I added some grass die cut pieces, a frog from the #5283 - Frog set, and the sun die from my stash.

This card will fit nicely into an A2 envelope when flat.

I hope you enjoyed my card today and I thank you for joining me.

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E51, E53, E55

Y13, Y15, Y17

B21, B24

G20, G21, G24

To the Best Mom! by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

I had fun with the "I See Right Through You" challenge.
For this card, I used an acetate panel combined with the new Margin Dies
to create a see through card front.

I added some tiny gems that look like they're floating which is a cool effect.

The flowers are trimmed out from the larger stamp.
I thought they went well with the beautiful paper.

I hope you're inspired to try the challenge. Your card doesn't have to be see through.

You just need to have something see through on your card, even a window or a clear vase.

 

Happy Spring Train by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

No...it's not spring yet, but it will be here soon! I hope that helps you feel a little better if you're suffering terrible winter weather right now. We are supposed to get a bunch of snow over the next day or two. UGH! I've been wanting to use #5929 Christmas Train Set for something other than Christmas for a long time, and I finally got my chance! With the release of the adorable new #6106 Bloom and Grow set, I wanted to create a train that could be used for either Spring or Easter. So this was the result of my thought. Since Bonnie didn't put any specific decorations on the train cars, you can decorate them any which way you wish! I love that!! I simply colored them in more spring like colors and then added a die cut star. The letters I used on a slimline banner die from my stash are from #5562 Journal Letter Die Set. 

Sorry, I didn't realize this was blurry until I no longer had the card. 

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:

E000, 00, 11, and 35

B41 and 45

YR02, 04, and 07

C1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

R00, 11, and 12

YG01, 03, and 05

Y13, 32, 35, and 38

BV00, 01, and 02