Spread Kindness Challenge #437 Week #1

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our new challenge, Spread Kindness.

We want to see your cards that will bring joy to either a friend or a stranger.

Anyone who needs a little joy in their life.

This week I'm the Featured Artist and I created a pretty foliage and bee themed card that would be perfect for any friend you want to let know that you're thinking about them.

After you peek at my card, be sure to scroll down and take a look at who won our On the Border Challenge.

Bees are one of my favorite things to create with and my friends know that. Even if they aren't their favorite thing, they love receiving cards from me that are bee themed because they know that if I use them on a card for them, it's because I love them. 

Please see below for links to all of the Art Impressions products that I've used on my card.

I hope you enjoyed my "kindness" card.

Now let's see who won our On the Border Challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected:

Felicia S.

She created a beautiful circular border around her fall wreath.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

 Our Lucky Random Winner was:

Lynn C.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to our winners!

Enjoy your new stamps.

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

Long Stemmed Daisies by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Is everyone enjoying these long stemmed flowers as much as me?

Daisies are one of my favorite flowers.

I initially began by stamping this image just once. When I placed it on my card, it just didn't feel like it filled it up enough. My card is pretty large. I stamped it two more times and fussy cut out all of the flowers. I then stuck sprigs here and there until it seemed like a full bouquet.

I stamped one of the sentiments on a nested oval for the front of the card, framed it with a scalloped oval and then popped it up on dimensional foam tape.

On the inside, I stamped another sentiment from the set and also stamped the daisies again. The bottom border was made with some of Art Impressions designer paper and the largest die in the scalloped rectangle set.

Blessings in Poppies by Janet

Hello Ai fans. If you come here enough, you will know that I favor bright and bold colors. Today is a perfect example of it. Color makes me happy and somehow pastels and light shades alone rarely work for me. It's true from wardrobe, my home, and my artistic card making. Today's card once again showcases a dark fuchsia that's tamed down by some quiet yellow, cream and kraft cardstock choices.

To create my project, I started by stamping an oval frame from the 6221 - Frameworks Set 3. Then I stamped in the poppy flowers using one of the floral images in 6218 - BJ Long Stems. I colored the poppies and the frame in reddish orange colors with Copic markers. I also colored a light blue background into the blank space in the frame. I stamped another round frame from the same set and stamped a sentiment from the 6216 - Mercy Set. I colored the background in blue here as well. Once complete, I fussy cut the frames and set them aside.

The next step was to use two dies from the 6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies. The inner mat was cut out of a nice pale yellow and cream striped paper design found in the 6205 - Floral Shop Paper Pack. The exterior scalloped frame was cut from from Stardream Metallic cardstock in Jupiter. I stacked these two mats on top of a kraft A2 card base. Then I mounted the two frames on the card. To add a delicate touch and additional texture, I included a cream chiffon bow enhanced with a cream ribbon rose. 

While this card has a strong burst of color, it doesn't take away from the flower image and sentiment. In fact, it enhances the colors in the poppy and ties the entire card together. I hope you agree that the neutral cardstock colors play nicely with the dark fuchsia cardstock and reddish orange hues.

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

 

Diaper Bag Baby Card by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I have a little experiment to share with you.
I was wanting to make a baby card for the Boy oh Boy! challenge
and I got the idea to use the tool bag as a diaper bag.

I'm pleased with how it turned out.

The die that cuts out the bag also cuts slits to place the tools in. The tools

are smaller than the baby items I included, so I cut some of the slits open

a little larger with a craft knife. It worked perectly.

I used the new silver paint to add accents to the bag and to paint

the pin so it would look more real.

So far, this card is for no one in particular. The only baby on the way

in my life is the next door neighbors daughter and she's having a girl.

I know it'll come in handy at some point though.

Enjoy your day!

Flower Foundations by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello, and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend! It’s hard to believe that I have officially been on the Design Team for 2 years now, and it has been amazing so far!  I can’t wait to see what comes next! 

I am in love with the Flower Foundations, these are soooo beautiful! Even though they were created for the Holiday Lane Series, they are great as standalones for cards. 

For this card I used 6193 Petals and Blooms.  I started by stamping in Distress Ink Pumice Stone on my watercolor paper after stamping off once.  The main frame of the stand was painted with 228, the rest I used 947.  I really love how this combo turned out! The drawer handles were done in 026, which I feel is the closest to a gold color in the Tombow line.  For the pots on the counter, going left to right, I created a mask by stamping on some post-it tape and masked the pots after I had them colored.  I shaded the first pot with 565, and then added lines in with 817. Using the large foliage from 4051 Foliage Set 1, in 126 first using one of the short ends, and then added just a touch of 177.  4868 Flower Set 2 was used to add in the flowers by just inking the flowers with 025 and then separately with 905 in just spots for more of a contrast.  The 2^nd pot I used 905, 5009 Mini Flower Set in the smaller version that I used on the first pot in 177 and 526.  I shaded the 3^rd pot with 565 first and then added the detail in with 817. 5126 Foliage Set 4, small vine in 249. The last pot I used 636, and used a stamp positioner to place in the cat from 5324 MB Cat Accessories. I then masked off the cat and used 5126 Foliage Set 4, small vine in 126, and a line of 177 up the middle of the area that I colored with 126.  I stamped this multiple times going up and over the top of the stand, I also inked the stamp in just 177 and stamped a couple for a darker variation.  Going left to right on the bottom shelf, I also created a mask for these as well. I used 027 on the first pot and then added dots with the same color, I then took the large foliage again, and using one of the short sides and did the same thing I did for the pot above, but left the flowers out.  Next, the top pot, I shaded with 565, and the top rim I used 676.  The bottom pot I also shaded with 565, and used 905 on the bottom section.  I used the small vine in the combo of 126 and 177, I then decided I actually wanted it darker so I stamped in some more with just 177.  For the last pot I used 817 and added a darker line just below the top. I inked the daisy bunch from 4052 Flower Set 1 first in 703, and then only inked 1 flower and the dots beside it with 725 and stamped that in just a few times.  After removing the mask I added the small vine in 249.  I then went in with a damp brush and softened all of the flowers and foliage, making sure I cleaned off my brush between colors.  I added some shading with 565 around and under the stand.  I placed my piece in my stamp platform to add in the Petals & Blooms with 947.  Bleed Proof White was used throughout the scene for the white flowers. I then cut out my image with the 3^rd from largest 6048 Scalloped Rectangle Dies, I also used the next one up to cut my mat for my image.  5838 Fall Paper Pack was used to mat my card base to finish off my card.   

For my 2^nd card I used the 6194 Flower Shop. I stamped it on my watercolor paper with Distress Ink Pumice Stone after stamping off once.  I started with 312 for the walls and I also added some brick detail with the same color.  A light wash of 312 was also used on the sign and door, adding a bit of 565 to shade the top of the door.  I used a pencil and ruler to put in the grid panes on the window.  565 and 969 mixed to shade in the steps with an additional amount of 565 for a little more shading.  969 was used for all of the wood trim throughout the scene.  For the glass on the lantern I used 526 and shaded a bit with 565.  I also used 526 on the window, adding in a bit of 177, 025, 725, and shaded with 565. I finished off the lantern with N15, making sure I left a highlight in the middle.  For the door knob I used 026, and shaded just the bottom portion with a little bit of 947.  I masked around the top of the canopy with post-it tape and used the daisy bunch from 4052 Flower Set 1 with 817, stamping multiple times to get a variation, I blended these out with a damp brush and spreading the color out a bit.  I shaded the top and sides with 565.  I also added 817 to every other sections of the overhang, and shaded the ones left white with a bit of 565.  For the sprig on the door I used 5008 Flower Set 3, and a stamp positioner, inking just one of the flowers with 676 and a touch of 636, stamping several times with the aid of the positioner to get the flowers where I wanted them. I then took the foliage from 5009 Mini Flower Set in 177, and using the positioner again stamped it twice.  Using my brush and 177 I added two little ribbons hanging down.  For the hanging pot, I shaded with 565 first and then added details in with 817.  Using the vine from 5126 Foliage set 4, I inked it first in 126 and added a line up through the stamp with 177, stamping multiple times before re-inking the stamp.  For the top of the building I started with 5126 Foliage Set 4, using the leafy branch with the same combo of 126 and 177.  Stamping it a couple of times overhanging both sides.  I then masked off the sign and used the vine from 4051 Foliage Set 1, again using the same combo.  For the pot on the far right I used 947 and used 4051 Foliage Set 1, using the large foliage I inked first with 126 on one of the short sides, and then went back in inking just a very small section with 177 to add a bit of depth.  For the pot next to it, I used 565 to shade the pot first and then added in details with 905.  I then masked off the pot to stamp in the same flowers I used on the door, in the same colors, I then removed the mask and used the small vine from 5126 Foliage Set 4 in 249.  For the pot on the far left, I shaded with 565 on the top rim and used 676 on the bottom also using this color for the details.  I masked off the edge of the open sign with post-it tape and used the small vine from 5126 in the 126, 177 combo.  I then put my project in my stamping platform to add in the Flower Shop in 312, and the Now Open in 177.  A helpful tip if you need it, I use a piece of acetate to cover my project and stamp on this first before committing to the placement.  It allows for you to see how it looks before stamping on your project and lets you adjust if need be.  I then used Bleed Proof White to add in all of the white flowers.  I decided I wanted to add some color to this so I used 676, 026, 725, 526, and 565, using a different color for each set of flowers.  I cut out my image with a circle die from my stash, and matted this with purple cardstock cut out with the largest die of the 6045 Scalloped Circle Dies.  I matted my card base with paper from 6082 Bible Journaling S1 Paper Pack, completing my card.  Thank you for joining me today, I hope you enjoyed my projects.  Until next time! Create....Share....Inspire!

Many Thanks Friend! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions Friends!

Tasha here sharing a bright Spring card created with the new 6188-FG Daisy Border Stamp Set. Now that we are in the month of May, this stamp set is making me excited for the pretty flowers to start popping up. I have a variety of flowers, one flowering tree, and a lilac bush at my house and just love when everything is in full bloom. 

To make this card, I stamped the floral image and colored the flowers with Copic Markers. I was going to have white petals, but wanted more color and love the pop of blue.  To embellish, I used a white gel pen to add little accents and ink blended around the border with orange Distress Oxide ink. I also used foam tape to raise the center card up; I think the foam makes the inked edges really stand out nicely.

For the greeting, I stamped "Many Thanks" from the 6186-FG Tulip Border Set and matted it with gold glitter paper. To add more detail, I used the 6048-Scalloped Rectangle Dies; the two smallest dies created this layered look.

Lastly, I attached pretty yellow floral pattern paper, and orange, white, and pink cardstock. I wanted to coordinate with the colors used on the flowers and keep the colors light and bright to complete the design.

Thank you so much for checking out my card and I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Have a Magical Day! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday, Art Impressions friends!

Tasha here sharing a new shaker card inspired by the current “I See Right Through You” challenge. This one was really fun to put together with all the soft, magical touches.

I started by stamping one of the sweet fairies from the 5915 Woodland Fairy Set. I used the coordinating dies to cut her out before coloring. I colored everything with Copic markers, keeping the colors light and whimsical.

For the shaker, I used circle dies to cut out the center window, then used two different circle dies to create the frame. I love the sparkly paper for this part since it adds just the right amount of shine.

For the greeting, I stamped “Hope Your Day is Magical” onto white cardstock and added two butterflies from the 5728 Mushroom Cubbies Set. I lightly ink blended around the sentiment with yellow ink to add a soft glow.

Inside the shaker, I used a mix of pastel hearts, stars, and sequins. The mix works really well with the fairy theme and adds a fun, playful look.

To finish the card, I used scalloped rectangle dies to cut layers of pastel purple cardstock and floral patterned paper. I also added layers of white, blue, and pink cardstock to complete the design.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed the card and will join in the challenge!

Doggy Kisses Get Well Card and Spring Keepsake Card by Jami Steiger

 

Good morning! The sun is shining, and it is warmer here in Ohio than it has been in a long time. I am ready for spring and all the flowers to start blooming.

I definitely get a "spring" feeling from my next two cards. The first one is a get-well card. Since I first saw the AiCS38 Doggy Kisses stamp set on the Art Impressions website, I have been a huge fan. I've always had a deep affection for animals, and dogs in particular are very special to me. At one point, we had five dogs. It was enjoyable but crazy! 

I really wanted to use at least two of the dogs to create a joyful scene for my card. I started by stamping the dog lying down with his sweet bear. Then I hand-drew a doggie bed for him to rest in. Both dogs, the tissue box, and the teacup were all stamped using an Archival Black stamp pad. To paint the images, I used the following Tombow markers: 177, 817, 772, 515, 565, N65, N55, 879, 969, 837, 025, 977, 942, 947, and 526. To complete the scene, I painted a pink, floral wallpaper and a wooden baseboard. Then I die-cut the entire scene using the new 6048-Scalloped Rectangle dies and mounted it on light pink cardstock. I added a few sequins to add some depth to the card.

_____________________

For my second card, I used the new 6106-Spring Keepsake set. The scalloped rectangle dies were also used to die-cut this scene. The paper was from the 5742-Easter paper pack.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend! I will be seeing you all again in just a few weeks.

Set Sail with Cruisin' Carol by Janet

Some Ai sets really speak to me more than others. Such is the case with the Ai People release last year called 6075 - Cruisin' Carol Set. 

Carol is living her absolute best life on a tropical vacation! With her floral dress, straw hat, and a drink in hand, she is the definition of "vacation goals." One of my favorite features of this stamp is the built-in pattern on her dress—it makes adding a fun, vibrant design to her outfit completely effortless.. 

To begin, I created the pop-out card base. It folds flat but when displayed the middle section pops forward. I cut two of the same patterned pieces to fit the left and right side and used another piece for the middle panel. I used a cheerful yellow cardstock for the base and matted the scene portions on light blue cardstock. 

I stamped, colored, and cut Carol and her suitcase. Then I mounted these figures on the middle panel. Finally I stamped the sentiment in blue and matted it with yellow. The scallop shapes for the sentiment were cut using the 6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies. 

I created this card for the current "People In Your Neighborhood" challenge. There is still plenty of time to join the fun! I can’t wait to see which "people" stamps you choose to bring to life.

Thanks for joining me on the blog today. As always, find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store!

Happy Crafting!

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