Friends Gnome Matter What by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

My card today fits the new blog challenge - Floral Frenzy and features two new stamp sets - #6220 - Sing to the Lord and #6221 - Frameworks Set 3 along with the cute little gnomes from the #5785 - Gnomes set.  I personally think you can put gnomes on anything and it just creates cuteness overload!  Wouldn't you agree?

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with copic markers listed below.  I used the corresponding dies to cut the gnomes.  The florals are one stamp from the stamp set.  I colored the full stamp image and then cut it into thirds using a small circle die.  I stamped the frameworks image onto a 4" square piece of white cardstock.  I adhered a colored floral image into each of the frameworks.

To make the "Book Cradle" card style:  There are several tutorials showing how to make this fun fold but I watched the one from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts and made a slight change to it.

Start with a base white cardstock measuring 4 x 8.  Score on the long side at 1/2, 4 and 7 1/2.  Fold and burnish each score as a mountain fold.

For the cradle base: Cut a 4 x 5 inch white cardstock piece.  Score at 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 on the long side.  Burnish at 2 1/2" as valley fold.  Glue the second fold (as mountain) up to the 2 1/2" leaving the first 1/2" as a tab.  Do the same on the other side.  You should be left with 1/2" single width of cardstock, then 1" double width on next two folds and then lastly, a 1/2" single width tab.  

Make the support stand that fits at the bottom of the base:  Cut a 4 x 2 1/2" piece of cardstock.  Score along short side at 1/2, 1 1/4 and 2.  Shape into a W.  Glue the 1/2" tabs of this stand to the inside bottom of the base piece.  See below (bottom of card).  

Adhere the card base 1/2" tabs to the cradle base 1/2" tabs.   The card should fold flat and pop up when standing.  Finish decorating with mat layers and pop up the gnomes with foam tape.  Add the sentiment to the bottom using the banner from the #5588 - Journal Oval Frames.

Once you make one of these cards, you will find out how fun and easy it is to make plus so cute when on display.  I'm hooked so you may see more of these in my future posts.  😁

Make sure to join our blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  It's easy, just check out the tab above.  

Have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  W0, W1, W3

E00, E02, E21, E23, E25

B0000, B000, B01

G40, G43, G46

Y13, Y15, Y17

RV10, RV32, RV34

The People In Your Neighborhood Challenge #422

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to the new challenge here on the Art Impressions Challenge Blog.

We want to see your crafty projects using stamps with PEOPLE.
Enter your handmade project using something from Art Impressions and featuring people!

You just might win a free stamp set.

Our amazing Featured Artist this week is Sharon.

After you look through her lovely photos and tutorial, be sure to

scroll down to see who won our 'It's in the Mail' challenge.

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

 Hello AI Fans! 

If you know me, you know how much I LOVE all the amazing people characters that Bonnie creates for us! So I'm super excited to have a feature for our new challenge "The People in Your Neighborhood". I wanted to show you a fun fold card today, so lets get busy. I have a ton of pictures and measurements for you, so grab your favorite drink! I started by grabbing #5798 Gardening Girlfriends Set and stamping her onto a Copic friendly paper. To be honest, I was originally planning on putting flowers into those baskets she's carrying. But as you can see, my plans changed. LOL! I really can't even remember why I thought about putting the Gnomes into the baskets. I was stamping and coloring with Dori, so she very well might have had something to do with it. LOL! But I tried fitting them in there and they fit perfectly! All I could picture was her going out to her garden to gather vegetables, and found Gnomes instead. I couldn't stop giggling while I was creating it! After adding the Gnomes into the baskets, I just HAD to add the curious pup that wants a Gnome for him/herself. The Copic colors I used to color them are listed at the bottom of this post. First, here's a picture of the completed card. 

So anyway, on to how to create this card. I started with a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" by 7 1/2". With the longer side on the top of your score board, score at 3 1/4" and 6 1/2". Create a Z fold by folding the 3 1/4" flap away from you creating the card base, then fold the 1" piece towards you so it looks like the picture below this next one. 

You will then want to cut your mats. I created my mats using another layer of cardstock and then a layer of pattern paper. I did this because the cardstock I was using was quite thin. If you don't want to create another layer of cardstock, just cut your pattern paper to the cardstock sizes listed below and eliminate the 3rd size. You can go ahead and glue the pattern paper mats into place, but don't glue your sentiment panel into place yet.

colored cardstock - 3 pieces measuring 5 3/8" x 3 1/8"

                               1 piece measuring 7/8" x 5 3/8"

pattern paper:  2 pieces measuring 5 1/4" x 3"

                        1 piece measuring 3/4" x 5 1/4"

white cardstock: 1 piece measuring 5 1/4" x 3"

After getting my card base completed, I turned my attention to my colored image. I pulled out #5725 Nested Square Dies and #6047 Scalloped Square Dies and picked the ones that fit it best. I die cut the image with the Nested Square Dies, then used another piece of cardstock to cut out the coordinating mat for the image, then glued them together. 

I wanted to stamp a sentiment onto the image panel before putting it on the card. Both the front and inside sentiments are from #5935 Fairytale Houses Set. I thought finding Gnomes in your garden was pretty magical. 

Once that was done, I put foam tape only on the right side of the back of the image. You only want to adhere it to the 1" flap. 

Figure out where you want to place the image on the card and go ahead and adhere it into place. Also glue your sentiment panel into place. 

A view from the top...

I wanted to add something else to the front, so I pulled out #5972 BJ Decorative Margins Die Set and created a small strip for the top and bottom of the front panel and added a little bow. I was quite surprised and how quickly and effortlessly this card went together. 

So that's it for me today! I hope you play along with the challenge for a chance to win a free set from Art Impressions! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 11, 31, 33, 35, 41, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, 53, 55, 57, 95, 97, and 99

YG11, 13, 17, and 21

B00, 91, 93, and 95

R12

C1 and 2

Y32, 35, and 38

Now, let's see who won our It's in the Mail challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected:

Michelle Hoskins

She used a wide variety of Art Impressions stamps from the more whimsical series like the mushrooms and gnomes.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Be sure to grab your winner's badge to display on your social media.

Our Lucky Random Winner was:

#13 Andrea W.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Be sure to grab your winner's badge to display on your social media.

Congratulations to both of our winners!

Now for our new challenge!

 ✻ 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

Valentine Gnome and treat box by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Valentines Day AI Friends!

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a treat box within my "Sunshine" post dated Jan. 22, 2026.  I used the front and back gnomes from the #5785 - Gnomes set.  My daughter loves gnomes so I filled it with the scotchmallow from See's candy, also her favorite.  She fell in love with the little treat box and asked if I would make some for my granddaughter's preschool teachers as well as her co-workers.  Needless to say, I will do anything for my grandbabies.  😍  So, I made several (see below).  They are fun and easy to put together.  Check out my post from January. 

I decided to make a card to match the little treat box using the same stamp set.  It's a card within a card that adds a nice twist to the standard A2 card. 

To start, I stamped and colored the images with copic markers listed below.  I die cut the images with the corresponding dies that are included in the sets.

I created a standard A2 card using the #5741 - Valentine PP.   I also die cut 3 red panels using the stitched square dies #5061 and a square side-fold card from white cardstock, just slightly larger than one of the red panels to provide a border.  I positioned the smaller card to open from left to right and adhered the back side to the inside of the A2 card.  The right side of the smaller card will then close over the front of the A2 card.  I adhered a red panel to the front of the square card, one to the inside front and one to the front of the A2 card to be covered by the smaller card front.  I then decorated with the gnome images and the heart dies.  Placed a small white string bow on the front with a few scattered mini hearts to finalize the card.

Here are the 10 little treat boxes.  I used the #5721 - Nested Heart dies to cover the front and back of the treat box.  I just love the way these turned out. 

Hope you all have a wonderful day today and a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Copics used:  C0, C1, C2, C3

 E93

R20, R22, R24, R27

R81, R83, R85

G40, G43, G46

Y13, Y15, Y17

February 2026 Monthly Challenge with Simone

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our February Monthly Challenge.
We have a gorgeous LOVE themed card from Guest Designer Simone to inspire you.

As always, this challenge has no theme so anything you want to create is fine as long as you use something from Art Impressions on it. You might be the next winner of a free stamp set from Art Impressions. Winner is chosen randomly so all skill levels have a fair chance of winning. One lucky winner will also receive a freebie from me.

After admiring Simone's beautiful work, be sure to scroll down to see the winners of our last challenge.

Then, be sure to read our very special announcement.

Hello Friends,

February is the perfect time to celebrate love, warmth, and a little creative joy, and I’m excited to share today’s card with you. I began on Canson Watercolor Paper by tracing the 4th largest heart-shaped die, then lightly penciling in the bow and stem to guide my layout.

I stamped both the sitting gnome and the standing gnome using Archival Ink Shadow Grey. The sitting gnome was first stamped onto masking paper and fussy cut, then placed over the stamped image. Using a stamp positioner, I inked the flower pot with Tombow 565 + 969 directly onto the acrylic plate, then stamping it off twice for a softer look. Once I had the placement just right, I removed the acrylic plate and stamped the pot onto the paper.

After removing the mask from the sitting gnome, I began coloring. I colored the bow first, then covered it with masking tape before stamping foliage inside the heart. With a #4 brush and a touch of water, I gently dabbed the foliage to soften the look. Once the mask was removed from the bow, I stamped a few additional foliage pieces so they slightly overlapped the bow for added depth.

After painting the pot and gnomes, I placed the mask back over the sitting gnome to stamp flowers and grass inside the pot. I also stamped grass around the pot and near the standing gnome to ground the scene. To finish, I used Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White to paint delicate white flowers within the heart and grass, and added tiny white hearts to the bow for a sweet final touch.

I hope you give this project a try and have fun creating your own cozy, love-filled scene.

Materials Used

Stamps

Gnomes Set (5785)

Flower Set 2 (4868)

Foliage Set 1 (4051)

Foliage Set 3 (5007)

Bible Foliage Set – Small Grass (5073)

Ornate Container (4870)

Dies

Nested Heart Die – 4th Largest (5721)

Paper

Canson Watercolor Paper

Valentine’s Patterned Paper (5741)

Inks & Coloring Mediums

Archival Ink – Shadow Grey (for stamping gnomes)

Tombow Markers:

933 – Gnome shirt, flowers

856 – Bow, pot, flower centers

245 – Gnome hat

555 – Gnome pants

942, 912 – Gnome nose and hands

027 – Pot

947 – Gnome shoes, shirt

N55 – Gnome beard

177 – Grass, heart

526 – Sky

969 + 565 – Stamped pot

Other

Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

Lovely Simone. Thank you so much for your inspiration.

Now, let's see who won our January 2026 challenge.

The winner of a free stamp set from Art Impressions is:
#10 Ellen M and the winner of the free stamp set from me is #8 Julie W.

Ellen, 

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Julie,

Please email me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your full name and address and I'll send you a photo of the freebies I have available for you to choose from.

Congratulations to both of our January winners. We LOVED all of the entries and we hope you'll continue to enter. We can't wait to see your beautiful art each month.

Now for our special announcement.

Though we've loved having Simone as a special Guest Designer, it's time for her to move on.

Don't be too sad though...

She's moving on to become a full time Watercolor Design Team member!!

You'll now get to see her on a more regular basis!
She'll have her own Watercolor Weekend posts as well as participating in one of our Bi-Weekly challenges each month. Are you as excited as we are??

We're very excited for all of the new changes coming soon and of course, all of the new releases!

See the rules below and then be sure to come back and enter your crafty creation. You might just win a free stamp set!

 ✻ 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.

 ✻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

Valentine Cards by Jami Steiger

Good morning, Art Impressions friends! My goodness, this winter weather has been crazy! We are expecting a lot of snow tomorrow, and it will be the perfect day to stay inside and craft. I personally love days like that! 

I made two Valentine's Day watercolor cards this month. I began by using Tombow markers 565 and 969 to stamp the gnome with the flowerpot from set 5785—Gnomes onto watercolor paper. I made a mask for the pot using a Post-it note, and then I stamped the greenery and flowers from set 6150—His Love. After painting those, I added grass from set 4051—WC Foliage and additional flowers from His Love set to the ground. I used Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White to paint the heart on his red hat. I stamped a design from set 5123—WC Decorative Jar set—to add detail to the flowerpot.

I began by cutting a piece of white cardstock to A2 size for the background. I then used a red pigment stamp pad to stamp the little hearts from set 6150—His Love Set—row by row. I then covered the hearts with clear embossing powder and heated them with a heat gun. I kept doing this until the whole piece of paper was covered in glossy red hearts. I love how this turned out, and it was really simple to do. To add further detail, I die-cut a sentiment and added some tiny red hearts that were die-cuts as well.

Tombow markers that were used with both cards:  177, 228, 942, 817, 992, 856, 528, 401, 515, 837, 772, N65, 977, 565, 969

______________________

For my next card, I stamped the heart image from set 6150—His Love—onto watercolor paper using Tombow markers 565 and 969. I then watercolored the heart and cut the design down to a 3x3" piece of paper. For the background, I used an embossing folder to emboss hearts onto pale pink cardstock. The pink-dotted rectangle paper and the striped piece of paper came from 6036 - Easter Bunny PP. I used a dauber and a very light brown stamp pad to darken the edges of all the papers, giving them a vintage design. I added ribbon, a pink flower, and pink dots to finish the card.

I hope everyone stays safe and warm during this winter weather. I look forward to seeing you all here again in February.

You are My Sunshine by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Well, the current challenge "Pocket Full of Sunshine" just shouts warm and happy to me, so I got carried away!  I apologize, but, how can you not love the color of yellow and the feel of sunshine?  It just makes you smile, doesn't it?

I created several projects today, but I couldn't stop!  I just kind of kept on going.  😊

I started out with a card, then a pouch and finally a box.  As long as I had paper, I kept on playing.

Card:  Stamped the images from #5925 - Honey Bee stamp set onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with copic markers listed below.  I created a pocket by cutting a rectangle and scoring 1/2" around three edges.  Fold and burnish each edge.  Snip off a bit of each of the folded corners creating tabs to glue down to the base.  I added a scallop top from the #5952 - Portfolio Template die set for the top of the pocket.  I then created a bookmark using the #5723 - Journal Cover and Bookmark die set as well as the #6043 - Bible Bookmark and Word die set to insert into the pocket.  The sentiment die is from the #6114 - Holiday Lane Village Template.  The sun die is from my stash.  

Treat Pouch:  created from a 6 x 6" piece of cardstock.  Fold and burnish one corner diagonally to the other creating a triangle.  Fold and burnish the front corner down halfway towards you.  Lift that corner back up and fold the left bottom corner up and align with the halfway fold line.  Do the same for the right bottom corner.  Glue those in place.  Fold the top front corner back down towards you and tack into place.  The pouch is now ready to decorate and fill with treats.  

Box:   I saw this video on youtube for The Paper Pixie.  Julie Dimatteo is the host of this youtube and she is fantastic.  Her explanations are soooo well done.  This video is called the Sweet Jar Treat box.  

I thought this was the cutest thing so I had to try it out.  I created the box the same but used the Art Impressions #5785 - Gnomes stamp set as well as the #5925 - Honey Bee set.  It calls for two strips of plain card stock - one at 1 5/8" x 6 1/4" and the other is 1 5/8" x 5 15/16" (see says 5 5/16" but s/b 5 15/16").  The box holds one Ferrero Rocher candy and would be a sweet treat for a teacher, special friend or any other special person in your life.  

Well, that's it for me today.  I hope you decide to enter the challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  Your entry only needs to have a pocket, sunshine or the color yellow on it (see details above under Bi-Weekly Challenge).  We LOVE to see your creations!

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  N3, N4

R20, E21

G43, G46, B21, B23

Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17