From Poppies to the Beach By Simone Carr

 

Hello Fellow Crafters!

For my first card, I decided to go for an aged, vintage-inspired look. I have several scripted stamps that I haven’t used much, so I thought it was the perfect time to pull them out and give them a try.

I began by stamping the scripted background stamp onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper using Memento Toffee Crunch ink. Immediately after stamping, I applied clear embossing powder, tapped off the excess, and heat set it to create a subtle embossed texture.

Next, I die cut the panel and placed it into my stamping platform. I positioned the poppy stamp where I wanted it on the background and stamped it using Distress Ink Antique Linen.

Once stamped, I colored in the image. After the coloring was complete and fully dry, I used a smaller die to cut out the center section of the flowers, creating a framed focal point.

To add dimension, I placed foam tape behind the cut-out piece so it would stand off the background. Before adhering everything to the card base, I inked the edges with Memento Toffee Crunch ink to enhance the aged, vintage feel.

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies

• 6163 – Poppy Margin Set
• 6155 – Ornate Margin Dies

Inks & Mediums

• Distress Ink – Antique Linen
• Memento Toffee Crunch
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Pitt Artist Pen – Black
• Antique Frame (accessory)
• Foam Tape

Paper

• Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper

Tombow Markers

• 856
• 117

For my second card, I created a small beach scene using the M3178 Island Window set.

I began by stamping the image onto Canson Watercolor Paper using Distress Ink Antique Linen. Once the image was stamped, I colored the scene and trimmed it closely around the image.

To build the frame, I used white cardstock and cut a square using the 3rd largest Double Stitched Square Die. I then centered the 8th largest Nested Square Die inside it to create a layered frame.

I placed the frame into my stamping platform and aligned my sentiment so it would stamp neatly around the frame. I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black.

To finish the frame, I painted the inner edge with Winsor & Newton Gold paint for a soft metallic accent and allowed it to dry completely.

Once dry, I added foam tape to the back of the framed panel and adhered it over my beach scene for dimension and depth. The finished piece is ready to be added to a card base.

Thanks so much for spending time here—I hope these cards inspire you to create something beautiful today!

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies

• M3178 – Island Window
• 5061 – Square Double Stitched Dies (3rd & 2nd Largest)
• 5725 – Nested Square Dies (8th Largest)
• 5329 – Beach Mini Dies

Paper

• 6033 – Inspirational Easter Patterned Paper
• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums

• Distress Ink – Antique Linen
• Versafine Onyx Black
• Winsor & Newton Gold Paint
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
• TwinTone Marker – Brown
• Foam Tape

Tombow Markers

• 117 – Palms, Bush, Flower
• 245 – Bush
• 815 – Flowers, Chairs
• 977 + 912 – Sand
• 526 + 117 – Water
• 526 – Sky
• 969 – Palm
• 025, 985, 933 – Sun
• 569 – Shadow

Pretty Peonies by Janet

I love peonies. They are so pretty but unfortunately so fleeting. They bloom for such a short time, usually no more than about 2 weeks. Yet peonies have captured our imaginations. That's pretty amazing for a flower that comes and goes so quickly. Good thing we can make the magic and beauty of peonies last a long time in images like the 6164 Peony Margin Set from Art Impressions!

I made my card by stamping the ornate and beautiful margin stamps on a single piece of alcohol friendly cardstock. I left enough room in the middle so that I could put the golden words of loved and grace in the center. These beautiful scripted words come from the 6155 - Ornate Margin Dies set. 

I colored the peonies in dark pinks and reds. I filled in the delicate scrollwork around the peony images with a gold Signo Pigment Ink Gel Pen from the Ai Store. Then I used the most pale pink marker in my collection to create the light pink background on the panel. I used a very pale blue marker to apply the background surrounding the peonies. 

Although lovely, I thought a splash of gold over the panel was a nice final touch. To do that, I added water to Winsor Newton Gold Ink and flicked it on the panel with a brush. After drying, I cut out the words from gold metallic cardstock and applied them in the middle. I used the same gold cardstock as a mat as well and then applied the two pieces on my dark pink card base. Finally, I used a white Signo Pigment Ink Gel to add highlights to the peonies. I used it liberally and it makes the flowers seem to glisten. 

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

Happy Crafting!

Bunny in Flower bendy card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I recently purchased the Bunny set #4886K – Easter Blessings, and I’ve already made so many cards with it. It’s not just for Easter either! I’ve used it for birthdays, spring cards, thinking‑of‑you cards, and more. The images in this set are adorable and so versatile.

I love making fun‑fold cards, and this design works perfectly on a bendy card. It’s simple to put together, lays flat for mailing and the recipient enjoys how it stands on display.

I began by stamping this cute little image onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut with one of the dies from the #6045 Scallop Nested Circle die set and then matted on pink cardstock cut with the #5726 Nested Circle die.  

To make card base - Cut a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" piece of heavy cardstock.  Score and fold in half (valley fold) at 2 3/4".

Also cut a piece of white cardstock using the #6155 Margin die.  I cut the straight edge to make the margin die approx. 1 1/4" wide (high) and then cut a bit off of each side evenly to make it 6" in length with the heart being in the middle.  I trimmed a piece of pink cardstock and glued behind the heart cutouts.  I then scored at 1/4" along each side of this 6" panel.  Fold the 1/4" tabs under and glue to the front side of the card base.  

  Cut two panels of designer paper to fit each half of the card base (2 5/8" x 4 1/8").  Glue one of these to each side of the card base, in between the margin die panel and the card base, covering the tabs of the margin die panel.

For the bendy portion of the card - Cut a piece of pink cardstock at 5" x 4".  Score and mountain fold each at 1/4" and 2" from both sides of the 5" length.  Place liquid glue on each of the 1/4" tabs only and glue to the designer paper (under the margin die panel) centering this onto the base card.  I cut designer paper panels to fit each of the bendy folds leaving a slight border.  

Lastly, adhere the circle image panel to the middle fold of the bendy panel only, otherwise the card will not bend.

Add hearts, ribbon and the word "loved" (from the margin die set) for accents and dimension.

I hope you enjoyed my card today!  Thanks for joining me!

Have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53,     B000

R20, R22, R81, R83, R85

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.

 

Focus on Faith Ornate Gatefold Card by Sara Furr

Blessings Crafty Friends, and welcome to my Focus on Faith.
I can't believe it is April already!
Christ is Risen, and Spring is finally here!
Hallelujah!

Today, I have a pretty gatefold card for you using the brand new "Ornate Margin Dies"

and the new "Peony Margin Set" along with some older Art Impressions products.

I started out by creating my Gatefold card base. I cut a white base 10x7in. and then scored at 2.5in from each end (Landscape) to create the 2 side flaps that fold in. I then 2 pieces out of white cardstock that were 2 1/4x6 3/4in., and on those 2 I stamped the Peony Margin stamps in Gold metallic Encore ink, after treating my cardstock with an antistatic powder to prevent getting embossing powder where I didn't want it. I then applied my gold embossing powder, tapped off the excess, and heat set it with my heat tool. Once cooled, I distressed the edges of both panels and adhered them to the 2 flaps of the Gatefold card base with tape runner.

Next, I created my center panel with a bottom layer of gold mirror cardstock, then a layer of white, and then a layer of the gorgeous purple floral dsp from the Bible Journaling S1 paper pack. Before I adhered them I took the gold mirror cardstock and from the center of it I die cut my 3 words "Faith", "Hope", and "Grace". No sense in wasting more expensive cardstock when I can use the real-estate hidden behind other layers of cardstock, right? Waste not, want not!

I then distressed the edges of the white and dsp layers with the edge of a scissors to give them that frayed edge look to give them some lovely texture. I then adhered them together with tape runner, then down to the center of the Gatefold card base.

I then created a focal point layer that will be popped up in the center. Starting with another layer of gold, then white, and then a purple and teal cross and finally the gold "grace" die cut that I cut from the gold Base. I adhered those all down with a thin layer of liquid glue to the white panel and then distressed the edges, and adhered that panel to the gold, and then popped up that whole focal piece with foam tape in the center of the pretty dsp panel.

I then created a Bellyband for my card to keep it shut and make the front look pretty. I cut two of the "Ornate Margin dies", (the one without the heart) and glued them together just slightly overlapping, and then cut them down to be 5in. I used the left over strip of my pretty floral dsp that was absolutely perfect to fit in the center. I cut that down to 5in also and distressed the edges and adhered it in the center of the 2 Ornate Dies to hide the seam! Clever right? Haha. I then made a bellyband that wrapped around my card and joins in the back behind the die cut focal piece. I cut 2 more Crosses and adhered them down with liquid glue and then added the gold die cut word "faith". 

As a bonus project, I created a book mark out of the Decorative Journal Page 1 die set cut from white cardstock. I added another purple cross with a bookmark tassel at the top, and then I added the last gold die cut word "hope".

I hope you will try a Gatefold card if you never have. They are super easy, and fun to make. They stand up nice and look beautiful on display!

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed my project and are inspired to create a Faith filled project of your own!

With love and crafty blessings,

Sara Furr- The Crafty Farm Chick 

Art Impressions supplies:

6155- Ornate Margin Dies

6164- Peony Margin Set

5909- Crosses Die Set

6082- Bible Journaling S1 paper pack 

5768- Decorative Journal Page 1 Die Set

Other supplies:

Misti Stamping Tool

Die cut machine

Antistatic powder

Gold embossing powder

Heat tool

Gold Mirror cardstock

White cardstock

Purple cardstock

Teal fine glitter cardstock

Scissors

Bookmark tassel

Liquid adhesive 

Tape runner

Poppy Power by Janet

I'm loving the new Bible Journaling sets. The dies and stamps are truly beautiful but they're not just for bible journaling as this card shows. The margin sets are the perfect size for 5 x 7 cards so I started by creating a creamy card base. For this one, I wanted deep and rich colors so I chose to color the stamped image with pencils and add accents with white pen. I used Copics to add a very pale light blue background and light pink to the top and bottom of the image. Once I finished coloring, I trimmed it into a rectangle and rounded the corners. Next I cut out orange margin pieces with the swirl stitching and I cut the words hope and faith from gold metallic cardstock. I added clear jewel bling strategically to the orange margin pieces to add a touch of shine and elegance.  

To create a dramatic backdrop for these rich images, I added a panel of reddish orange glimmer cardstock. I adhered the margin pieces and added another strip of the glimmer cardstock in the middle creating a ribbon effect. The poppies were centered on the strip and I added the gold script words to the top and bottom. 

This card is rich and dramatic and I'm very happy with how it turned out. The flower images in the margin sets are so beautifully done. I enjoyed working with the poppy set and I encourage everyone to give it a try.

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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