Warm Winter Wishes! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a card inspired by the current Stitches & Scallops Challenge. For this project, I used the super cute 5802 – Joyful Snowman Set and 6047 – Scalloped Square Dies to create a cheerful winter scene. It’s never too early to get a head start on holiday cards!

I stamped the snowman with black ink and colored him with Copic markers. To give his winter accessories extra personality, I used a black liner pen to draw a knitted pattern; little custom touches like this are some of my favorite ways to add detail. I even added a tiny heart to his pocket for an extra sweet look. After that, I cut him out with the coordinating die and popped him up with foam tape for dimension.

For the background, I created a snowy hill and paired it with Art Impressions snowflake pattern paper for the sky. To match the challenge theme, I added scalloped frames in two sizes; one with a slightly different scalloped edge, which adds great visual interest.

The card base features layers of blue, white, and gray cardstock, along with a piece of blue plaid pattern paper that ties in perfectly with the colors on the snowman. To finish it off, I used a white gel pen to add extra snowflakes directly onto the snowman for that frosty, wintery feel.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’ll join us in the challenge!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday!

Tasha here sharing a Christmas card featuring the 5802 - Joyful Snowman Set. This set has the cutest little snowmen stamps and several greetings for holiday cards and projects. I think this snowman would also look great on gift tags.

To begin, I stamped the snowman and used the included dies to cut the image out. For the coloring, I used  teal, purple, and blue Copic Markers and added a light pink for his cheeks. I also used a white gel pen to create a design on the hat and scarf, I love coloring clothing!

To make the background, I added a pattern paper for the sky and cut a hill out of white paper to look like snow. I also attached several small white enamel dots to go with the snowy sky. 

After I completed the background, I attached a metallic teal frame and stamped a sentiment with teal ink. I think this sentiment goes perfectly with the joyful snowman and I like how it looks with the silver glitter frame.

Lastly, I added layers of plaid paper, dark teal card stock, and silver glitter paper. All of these colors look so pretty together and in person the glitter is so sparkly. Teal and silver colors always look awesome on winter cards and it's one of my favorite color combinations.

I hope you enjoyed today's card and are having a wonderful day!

Tasha's Top 10 of 2023!

 Happy Friday Ai Friends!

As we approach the end of 2023, it's the perfect time to reflect on the creative journey I've had throughout the past months. From birthdays to holidays, each project holds a special place in my heart. Join me as I revisit my top 10 favorite creations of 2023!

10. Here's to Birthdays!

Celebrating birthdays with the joyous glow in the background and the delightful lady stamp from the Be Happy Laugh Lines Set.

Stamp Sets: 5279 - Be Happy Laugh Lines Set, 5255 - Birthday Cake Set

9. Get Your Green On!

A St. Patrick's Day favorite with a cool guy in his green outfit and cute hat using the Sham-rock Set and Mr. Set.

Stamp Sets: 5006 - Sham-rock Set, 5406 - Mr. Set

8. Here's Tool You!

A girly tool shop takes the spotlight in the eighth spot. The pink aesthetics and pretty plaid paper background make this Tool Shed MB set a delightful addition to my Top 10.

Stamp Set: 5729 - Tool Shed MB

7. Trick or Treat Triple Cube Card!
Bringing interactive fun to the seventh spot with a triple-cube card featuring cute trick-or-treaters. The Halloween vibes and the playful pattern paper make this a standout project.
Stamp Set: 5506 - Peek-a-Boo Set

6. Pack Your Bags Card!

Inspired by vacation memories with my husband, the sixth spot goes to the Pack Your Bags Card. The tropical vibes and the joy of coloring the happy traveler's clothing make it a memorable addition to the list.

Stamp Set: 4932 - Pack Your Bags Set

5. Merry & Bright!

Embracing the holiday spirit, the fifth spot is dedicated to the Merry & Bright project. The sweet mouse, combined with modern farmhouse elements like buffalo check pattern paper and a snowflake background, secures its place in the Top 5.

Stamp Set: 5564 - Mousey Christmas Set

4. Spring Chicken MB Card!

In the fourth spot, the Spring Chicken MB Card steals the show. The chicken-themed fun, complemented by a starry background and adorable chicks, makes it a delightful creation. I just love the MB sets!

Stamp Set: 5731 - Chicken MB

3. Have a Blessed Day!

Taking a deviation from cards, the third spot is reserved for the Americana-themed Tag. Red, white, and blue colors are great for Summer, and the sleeping doggie adds an extra touch of cuteness.

Stamp Sets: 5512 - Front Porch Door, 5494 - Front Porch Patriotic Set, 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies

2. Merry Christmas Card!

A tough decision for the second spot, but the Merry Christmas Card steals the show with sparkle, pastel colors, and an adorable snowman. This card makes me so happy!

Stamp Set: 5802 - Joyful Snowman Set

1. Seasons Greetings!

After much contemplation, the number one spot goes to the Seasons Greetings project. The charming snowflake frame around the sweet mouse creates a picturesque winter scene that I absolutely adore.

Stamp Sets: 5782 - Snowflake Frame Die, 5564 - Mousey Christmas Set

Thank you for checking out my Top 10 projects of 2023. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with endless creativity and joy!

One more Christmas card and a shaker tag by Sharon

 Hello AI Fans!

I've been busy this weekend trying to wrap up shopping and getting the last of my Christmas cards addressed and in the mail!  I also made my homemade caramels which is done only once per year at Christmas. YUMM!!! Some have toasted pecans and some have chocolate and a little bit of flaked salt. Good thing I only do that once per year! LOL!!  So today I have one last Christmas card to show you, as well as a shaker tag I made. I love making tags and that will be what I concentrate on from now until Christmas. 

For this tag, I used the fabulous 5802 Joyful Snowman Set. Bonnie draws the cutest snowmen ever!!! I just created a frame with some dies and then used the 3M double sided tape to create enough depth for a shaker.  A piece of acetate between them and voila! I just stamped a to and from on the back. The hanger is from a die in 5718 Mini Journal Template Set. 

My card was made using 5564 Mousey Christmas Set. These mice are so dang cute!!! He looks like he's in heaven gulping down that hot cocoa!! The sentiment is from the same set. 

So that's it for me today! I will see you back here next Monday with my top 10 for the year 2023! Until then - have a wonderful week and hope you have some time to get crafty!! 

Watercolor Weekend - Diane and Jami Edition

Hello and welcome, Watercolor Weekend Fans!

With the AI blog taking a break later this month, we're doubling up on your Watercolor Weekend inspiration this week, featuring posts from both Diane and Jami.

Diane will kick things off with an elegant Poinsettia Card

and a sparkling Snowflake Snowman Gift Tag:

This year has been fantastic for new watercolor stamps to add to our collections. When I first saw the poinsettia set, I was thrilled about the possibilities it offers —wreaths, pots, swags, and more! It's a fantastic addition to our floral options. Christmas wouldn't be the same without decorating with a vibrant poinsettia plant!

I focused on the simplicity of this card, making the potted poinsettia the main focal point. Starting with the flower pot from 4870 – WC Ornate Container Set inked in N52 (excluding the bottom saucer), I stamped the medium-sized poinsettia from 5828 – Poinsettia Set three times, masking each flower, and inked the petals with 347 and 993 for the centers. The large leaves filling the pot are from 5795 – Berries, inked in 249, with masking as needed. The berries from 5828 were inked with 347 for the berries and 249 for the stems. The leafy vines, also from the same set, were inked in 177.

For the pot, I used N52 with a touch of 969 to darken the sides for contour, while shadows were created with a mix of 565 and N52. The shadow below the pot is a blend of 528 and 565. I highlighted areas with a small dot of Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, particularly at the berry centers and wherever a highlight was needed. I used a gray or red TwinTone for any details that may have been blended out. To deepen the shadows on the poinsettia, I mixed a touch of 969 with 347 and did the same for the leaves, adding a bit of 969 to 249 for depth.

The painting was die-cut using 5061 – Square Double Stitched Dies and matted with cardstock. The two patterned paper panels are from 5812 – Christmas S2 Paper Pack.

For the interior, I stamped a sentiment from 5802 – Joyful Snowman Set and added a small snowflake remaining from my previous card just above the sentiment. The "Merry Christmas" die-cut on the card front came from my collection of Christmas dies.

Next up is the Snowflake Snowman Gift Tag:

For my next project, I wanted to create a fun gift tag. I decided to use the new 5779 – FB Snowman and give it the appearance of a Polaroid picture, as if you're sending a snapshot of your new frosty friend to the gift recipient!

For the "Polaroid," I used the frame from 5591 – Journal Rectangle Frames Die Set, die-cutting it from Canson XL watercolor paper. After trimming away the decorative scallop and removing the center, I focused on the snowman. I inked it in 565, adding 969 to the non-snowy parts (like clothing, hat, and face) and stamped it off. The sky was painted with 528, and deepened at the edges with a mix of 528 and 565. I used 565 to shade the snowman's body, face, and scarf, while 933 added color to the carrot nose and a watery mix of 856 was used for the cheeks. The clothing and details were painted in 528 and 312, while the top hat was painted with N25 and 528 for the band. I added snowflakes using Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White and shimmery dots with Gansai Tambi White Gold paint. The frame was shaded lightly on the left side and bottom edges with N52 for depth. I stamped the sentiment from 5566 – Christmas Sentiments in 528.

As for the tag, I die-cut the largest tag from 5132 – Tag Stitched Dies twice: once in shimmery blue cardstock and once in white. The blue tag was decorated with snowflakes die-cut from shiny silver cardstock using 5353 – Large Snowflake Dies, ensuring some extended beyond the edges. Trimming off the excess snowflakes, I filled any gaps with the trimmed pieces. The snowman Polaroid was mounted on the blue tag at an angle with foam squares. Inside, I added "To/From" cut from silver cardstock using 5562 – Journal Letter Die Set and extra snowflakes were added to the bottom right. I scored a fold line across the top for easy access inside. I attached the white tag to the top of the blue one with glue, I added ribbon and a small snowflake with a tiny glue dot.

I'm very happy with how this tag turned out—it matches my vision perfectly! I think it would look fantastic on a package wrapped in white or silver. I hope the recipient loves it as much as I do!

Next, we're showcasing Jami's stunning Vintage Christmas Card

alongside delightful Snowman and Santa Ornaments. Take it away, Jami!

This Christmas card is one that I absolutely enjoyed creating. I love all things vintage and Christmas is no exception. I love the colors of Christmas in the 1950’s. The pink, teal, red and green with some glitter added is my favorite. For this card I started with stamping the Snowman Scenic Foundations #5818 with the 565 blue and 969 brown Tombow markers. I stamped off twice. I used the following markers to paint the image: Blue 565, Brown 969, Red 856, Bluish Green 312, Pink 761, Pink 817, Green 158, Green 296, Gray N65, Gray N45, and Gray 25. After I had done all of my painting I added some rainbow sparkle glitter to Nuvo Crystal Drops in clear to paint glitter onto the top of the door, the window shutters, the windows on the top floor and the lamp posts. This was an easy way to add the glitter without it falling off and to give a light shimmer. When I added Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White for the snow to the card while it was still wet I sprinkled some more glitter onto the snow.

 

For my second watercolor project this time I made an ornament using the Joyful Snowman Set #5802. I love these cute little snowmen! When I stamped the snowman I started with the usual markers and stamped him off only once this time so that the lines would be more prominent since I wanted the details to show from a far. I used the same colored markers painting the snowman as I did with the card above. He was pretty easy to make. Using the AI Circle Dies I cut out a circle that would fit the ornament and used the negative as a template for my watercolor paper. To give the earmuffs a fluffy look I used the grass from WC Mini Foliage. After painting I then did the shadowing and details. Here’s a tip, if you need to darken your red for shading try adding a tiny bit of green or gray. For me it makes it so much easier than trying to keep adding red. The blue 565 turns the shadows purple for me so I thought I would try something new. Lastly, I added some Uni-ball Signo Silver pen to the top of the ornaments and added Wink of Stella clear glitter to the ornament bulb. Dr. Ph. Martin’s was used to add some details and some snow. Next I die cut the circle with the snowman. At this point you will need to mark your hole for the ribbon to go through. I held the ornament and painting up to a light, marked where the hole would be and then punched it out using a 1/8th inch hole punch. Using Art Glitter glue and I glued the painting to the ornament lining up the hole for the ribbon. Now to make this artwork waterproof I covered the painting with Dorland’s Wax Medium. I love this stuff and use it on all of my watercolor projects. Finally I stamped the sentiment using a red ink pad on watercolor paper using the Mini Christmas Sentiment Set #5847. I die cut it out with a small circle and glued that to the back. The ribbon was 1/4 inch Offray red. I added the jingle bells to both ornaments because they were adorable and I loved hearing the ornaments jingle! 

And just because the stamped snowman ornament was too cute I had to make one more! This was done using the same techniques as above. I used stamp set FB Santa #5775. These front and back Santa’s have so many options!  

 

 

Diane's Poinsettia Card:  

Diane's Snowflake Snowman Gift Tag:

Jami's Vintage Christmas Card:

Jami's Snowman and Santa Ornaments:

Joyful Holiday Cheer by Janet

 

Happy Saturday Ai Fans! I'm so happy to share with you a cute little card that was so easy to make using just a few Ai products. Most of this card was formed using the 5809 - Decorative Journal Page 2 template. I cut the red frame using the stitched rectangle die and the decorative frame from this set at the same time. I cut it again on silver cardstock so that I could piece it inside the red frame to make a base for the cute snowman. I also cut the banner in this set and stamped it with a sentiment from the 5566 - Christmas Sentiments Set. Before stamping, I curved the ends of the sentiment up to match the curve of the banner on my glass block. 

Speaking of snowmen, this adorable image is from the 5802- Joyful Snowman Set. There are three chubby snowman doing various holiday activities. The one I chose for my card shows a snowman who has gotten a little carried away with his lighting work and is wearing more lights than he hung! 

To finish this card, I adhered the red frame on a green 4 Bar card base. I glued the silver inset to the opening of the red frame. I adhered the sentiment with a single layer of foam tape and used two layers of foam tape on the snowman image. I really love the overall look of this sweet card. I hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you'll stop by the store to see all the things you need for your card, journal, and tag making projects. 

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest  

Cards featuring Snowman Puppet Set from Art Impressions by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!! 

Have you gotten 5803 Snowman Puppet Set yet? Oh my gosh, this set is so much fun! I had two of my granddaughters over this weekend and had an ornament making day with them and this fun set! I simply die cut a bunch of different pieces from various Christmas paper from my stash, and let them go to town. I couldn't believe the creativity they had! The were using scarves as pony tails, they were adding bows to everything! On one, they even used a scarf on the head that made it look like a durag tied on the side! It was awesome! And hopefully, they have some wonderful memories with Grandma!  I've got a few cards I put together using the same set. Oh my gosh, these are so fun to make and they are so dang cute!!! They are PERFECT for using up all those scraps of paper you have hanging around!  I made two round cards and two square ones. The word JOY is from 5802 Joyful Snowman Set and the snowflakes are from 5353 Large Snowflake Die Set stamped into a circle cut with #5726 Nested Circle Die Set. 

I used 5812 Christmas S2 Paper Pack for this one.

The sentiment comes from 5802 Joyful Snowman Set

I used the sentiment ribbon from 5543 Journal Template Die Set for the sentiment, and just cut off the sides of it. I didn't want to pop it up and the curve fit the round card really well. 

So that's it for me today! I hope you've enjoyed your visit and until next time - I hope you have some time to be crafty!!

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