Circles of Creativity with a Shaker and a Baby Shower card by Neema

                         

Hello Ai Friends

I can't believe August is already here; July went by so fast! It was a busy month for me because I participated in World Watercolor Month, creating a daily video featuring stamps from Art Impressions. You can watch the entire series on my YouTube channel, Crafts and Designs by Neema: https://youtube.com/@craftsanddesignsbyneema?si=Pjt4hG9TRIHgFmBf

This week, I took a break from videos to paint a few pictures and create the two cards I am sharing with you today.

                               

Card 1: Easy Shaker Card
I love shaker cards because they are fun, elegant, and perfect for any celebration. For this card, I used a flower from the newest release, 6218 BJ Long Stem Set. However, you can easily customize this project by using a different focal point, shape, color scheme, or shaker bits.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1.  Cut an A2-size card base (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") and another layer of the same size from patterned paper.
2.  Cut a front panel from watercolor paper to 3 3/4" x 5".
3.  Select a circle die for your shaker opening and lightly trace the circle with a pencil.

4.  Flex the long-stem flower stamp to create a curved shape that fits along one side of the circle, then stamp the image. I used Archival ink, Shadow gray.

                       


5.  Color the stamped image. I used Tombow markers, but you can use any medium.

6.  Use a partial die-cutting technique to cut the circle up to the point where the stamped image begins by positioning the upper cutting plate only over the area you want to cut. Fussy cut the flower side on the inner circle.

                     


7.  Cover the back of the opening with acetate, then frame it with foam tape.

8.  Place your shaker bits on the card and adhere the front panel to the card base.

                     


9.  Decorate the card by adding a few golden dots and a bow to the flower stem. Finish by adding a strip sentiment.

                    

Card 2: Simple and Sweet Baby Shower Card
Note: For this card, I used the Artistro Watercolor Paint Set.

                                                   

Step-by-Step Guide:

1.  Cut an A2-size card base (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") and another layer of the same size from watercolor paper.
2.  Create the background by layering dark blue paint (Midnight Blue, Cobalt, and Azure) on the watercolor paper, letting each layer dry before applying the next. Once completely dry, add splatters using Windsor & Newton silver ink.
3.  On a separate piece of watercolor paper, stamp a little lamb toward the center, leaving enough space for the moon.
4.  Use a 3" circle die to draw around the stamp, then draw a crescent moon using a smaller circle die as a template. Paint the moon using different shades of yellow (I used Artistro colors: Pineapple, Yellow Tulip, and Apricot). Once dry, use the 3" die to cut around it, and fussy cut the crescent moon and the lamb. Paint the border of the moon with the Windsor & Newton gold ink (do not paint around the lamb).

5.  Paint a piece of paper with Windsor & Newton gold ink, cut out a star, and tie it to the moon using embroidery floss.
6.  Assemble the card by gluing the moon down. To create dimension, add a cardstock layer under the moon, leave the star hanging freely, and add your sentiment.

I hope you enjoy my cards and get inspired to make your own. Don't forget to visit my YouTube channel and check out the videos for the July World Watercolor Series. In the meantime, here are some pictures of the 31 little paintings.

                                                          

Happy crafting,

Neema

Chicks Bookmark card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

We definitely are getting to enjoy the Spring air here and just in time for Easter.  Yay!  However, I'm hearing that it's suppose to change next week.  Let's hope the weathermen are wrong.  Fingers crossed!  

Maybe my card for today will inspire the nice Spring weather to continue.  🤞

I created a comical corner bookmark that slides over the card.  When removed it reveals the "Spring is in the Air" sentiment from the #5867 - Mini Easter Sentiment set.  This bookmark is sure to give someone a chuckle every time they open their book.  I just love him and the funny saying!  I hope I don't offend anyone with that sentiment, but it just fit this image perfectly.  😁

The polka dots on the egg was a Sharon inspiration.  Thank you Sharon for the cute idea!

I used the #5401 - Easter Chicks stamp set for the images and the #6042 - Corner Bookmark die set for the detachable bookmark.  I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers listed below.  The images were then cut using the coordinating dies within the set.

For the pattern papers, I used the #6036 - Easter Bunny PP and the #5892 - Easter S2 PP.  The Art Impressions paper packs coordinate well together.   I cut several circles using the #5064 - Double stitched circle dies and also the #5726 - Nested Circle dies.

I started with a base card panel made with heavy cardstock and cut to an A2 size - 5 1/2 x 4 1/4.  I then created a smaller card (size 4 3/4 x 3 3/8) that will be adhered to the front.  I layered the mats and pattern paper panels to the base and also to the front of the card.  I then layered the circle panels and adhered the images to the top layers.  I popped up the bottom chick but not the one on the bookmark.  I didn't want to add any more bulk to the bookmark.  I placed the bookmark onto the card corner and adhered the egg chick panel to the bookmark.  I then adhered the other chick panel to the card base.  The last circle panel was adhered to the card base, lining it up directly under the circle of the bookmark.

I attached the card to the base, lining up to the bottom edge so that the card will stand up on its own.

That's it for me today!  Thanks for joining me and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Keep creating!

Copics used:  Y13, Y15, Y17    R20

YR61, YR65, YR68

G20, G21, G24

R81, R83, R85

Happy Wedding Day Tara! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

My niece is getting married soon and she'll be married at a castle.

My first thought was to use 5225 – Castle Cubbies, which is a favorite of mine, but then I remembered 5916 – Woodland Castle Set, and although I think I've used it several times, I don't think I've used the castles.

I'm very happy with how it turned out. She is very into flowers and I tried to incorporate all of the colors in her bouquet.

This card took a complete turn as I was creating it. I initially set out to use the 5902 – Mini Scalloped Frame Dies as intended, with a window and maybe something to pull out. For some reason I switched gears and decided to cut off the little flap and just use it as a mini card. The

May all your wishes -Come True- 

sentiment is from the discontinued Art Impressions/Hobby Lobby exclusive 5438HL Fairy Cubbies Set.

I didn't use a wedding sentiment on it but I don't think it needs it. I think these verses are perfect and I can handwrite a wedding wish when I fill out the card.

I apologize that I don't have marker colors for this. This was my 3rd attempt and I had such a pile of markers that I don't know which ones I used for this final copy.

Don't forget to enter the current We 💚 Dads! Challenge 

for your chance to win a free stamp set.

May 2025 Monthly Challenge with Guest Designer Sara Furr

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to our May Monthly Challenge.

These monthly challenges will have no theme. It's just fun to create something using Art Impressions products and then possibly win some free stamps!

May is Sara Furr's turn to be our Guest Designer.

Before we see Sara's incredibly adorable cards, let's see who won our April Monthly Challenge.

#6 came up first so Lisa J. wins a free stamp set from Art Impressions.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

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

The second number selected was #9, so Rachel B. wins a freebie stamp from me. 

Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address.

I'll let you know what freebies I have available for you to choose from.

Congratulations to both artists and I hope you enjoy your new stamps!

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

In case you're new here, you may be wondering...

How do you win free stamps?

Add your creation (it doesn't have to be a card) using Art Impressions products below, for your chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions or a freebie from me. (US addresses only for my freebie...The free stamp set from Ai is open world wide) See the inlinkz below to enter.

Now, let's see what Sara has created to inspire you this month.

Happy day to you my dear Art Impressions fans, I am so happy to be back here on the Art Impressions blog! Today, I have 2 for 1 birthday cards for you featuring the #5400 - Baby Critters stamp and die set. I don't know about you, but I love to get a good bang for my buck by cutting out die cuts hidden behind layers of other die cuts or cardstock. 

My first card features several layers of die cuts and pattern papers. To start with my focal point, I stamped my baby elephant image on watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx black ink and watercolored him with Stampin Write markers in Smoky Slate, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Blushing Bride. I cut him out with the coordinating dies and applied foam tape to the back. I cut out the white frame from #5768- Decorative Journal Page 1 die set and put a light wash of blue and gray down for shadows behind my elephant and a bit of yellow down for the light of the candle, and then I popped my baby elephant up on top. I applied foam tape behind that frame as well. I cut the Teal decorative frame die, also from the same die set and layered that behind the white frame. I cut a "Rounded Rectangle" #5062 panel from the Teal leaf print pattern paper from #5892- Easter S2 PP making sure to save the leftover scrap piece for my second card. I also cut a strip of the rainbow pattern paper and the large panel of light blue striped pattern paper, all from the same pack, and layered them behind the focal image as well. I distressed the edges of the blue striped panel and the next layer of gray cardstock with the edge of my scissors to rough up the edges. I stamped the sentiment "age is irrelephant" on white cardstock and cut it out 3x with a banner die from #5543- Journal Template Die set layering them together to make a strong sentiment strip that I applied foam tape just to the left side of so it matched the height of my focal panel.

 I cut out 12 layers of the button die from that set and layered 4 together to create each of 3 buttons. (These were all cut from the layer of gray cardstock hidden behind the blue stripped pattern paper! Waste not, want not, right?! Hehe) I added pink embroidery floss for stitching on 2 of the buttons and glued them down on the upper left side to balance out my composition. I saved the 3rd button for my second card. I created a double loop bow of gray polka dot grosgrain ribbon and adhered that to the bottom left corner for a touch of elegance. 

I stamped my sentiments on the inside using Stampin' Up! Pool Party and Bermuda Bay inks. 

My second card is a shaker card filled with iridescent silver stars that catch the light beautifully. My card base is another 6x6 white textured cardstock with the edges inked with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. Then,  a layer of gray textured cardstock, and then the layer of pattern paper that I saved from my first card with the rounded rectangle cut out of it. I inked and distressed the edges of all those panels and then I added a piece of acetate to the die cut window and added foam tape around the edges of the die cut to create the shaker frame. I added my stars to the center of the gray panel and then popped my shaker window on top pressing down firmly so everything was sealed and no stars could escape. 

I stamped out my baby hippo, also from the Baby Critters stamp set, onto watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black ink and water colored him with the same Stampin' Write markers I used on the baby elephant, but I added in Sweet Sorbet for the red cherry and the streamers on the party hat. I stamped out the balloon on white cardstock and again on the red polka dot pattern paper also from the same Easter paper pack. I paper pieced the polka dot balloon to the string and applied a foam square behind it. I cut the white decorative frame and the teal decorative frame again using the Decorative Journal Page 1 dies and applied Pumice Stone Distress ink to the edges. I adhered the teal frame to the top of the shaker window and then popped up the white frame on top of that. I again applied a light wash of gray for the shadow on the white frame, and popped up my baby hippo on top with his little cuppy-cake and party balloon. I stamped the sentiment on one of the tags from the Journal Template die set with Bermuda Bay ink, inked the edges, and tucked that behind my focal image to the bottom right. 

Remember that 3rd button? I inked the edges of it, and glued that down just under the cupcake.

 As a final touch, I added a tattered white polka dot satin ribbon to add some softness.

I again added sentiments on the inside stamped in Pool Party and Bermuda Bay inks.

And that finishes my 2 for 1 cards. I love creating coordinating cards with hidden die cut pieces! Next time you go to create a card, see how many "hidden" pieces you can cut to create a second coordinating card!

 This stamp set is so versatile! One would look at it and think it is only for babies or kids, but I think that I have shown here that you can create cute adult cards too! I hope you had fun and are inspired to create some "2 for 1" cards. 

  Many Creative Blessings to you All!!

           Love,  

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick

**Please look for me on Facebook and Instagram if you like my cards. I share crafty inspiration almost every single day.**

Thank you so much Sara for such fun inspiration and for the wonderful paper saving tips!
Who doesn't want to stretch their dollar? Plus, it reduces the weight of the card for mailing, saving you even more money. These two cards are so beautiful! Remember, there is no theme, so your projects don't need to match Sara's. We can't wait to see what you make. Good luck to you all!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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