Gardener Gail has come to visit by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Our new Bi-weekly challenge "When one door closes" is going strong and if you haven't looked at all the DT and GDT creations, I really urge you to do so! They always blow me away with their talent!! We were even blessed to have Debbie Hedges join us as a Guest Designer this month!!  So please do yourself a favor and scroll through the blog to look at all the amazing works of art!

 So.... I'm going to make a big confession here. I have had this screen door die for probably almost 15 years and I have NEVER used it. When I saw the theme of this challenge I decided it was finally time. I grabbed 6076 Gardener Gail and went to work. I used quite a few sets from Art Impressions to create this, and they're all linked below.  I wanted the door to actually open on the front of the card, so I found some miniature hinges on Amazon and the tiny brads from Art Impressions are the PERFECT size for them! Don't you think? I used a larger brad for the inside and outside doorknob.  I simply spread the tines all the way out and glued them in place. The screen in the door actually came with the die and is sandwiched between several layers of the die cuts. The die was made by Cheery Lynn Designs if you want to try and find one. I doubt it is still manufactured after all these years, but I would be surprised if there isn't some kind of substitute die you could use. 

 I wanted it to look like the inside of the house of the front and to be able to see Gail through the screen door. I took just a strip of the paper from 6072 Father's Day PP to use as the floor.  I just needed a small strip, so I actually just cut it out of the back cover of the paper. That way I didn't have to cut into a full sheet for a small strip! Don't overlook using both the front and back cover pieces in the paper packs! I then added a small strip of white cardstock to look like the baseboard. 

I used the fishtail banner from 5809 Decorative Journal Page 2 to cut out the sentiment and pop it up on the top of the door.  I had to make sure to watch where I glued it so the door would still open. Here's a picture with the door open.  

And finally the inside of the card when it's fully opened. 

I used plants from 5490 Front Porch Farm House to place next to the door. For behind Gail, I cut a couple fences using 5807 Journal Fence Dies and pieced them together. The branch came from 5346 Birdhouse Cubbies Set and the bee and birdhouse from 5925 Honey Bee Set. I tied the birdhouse to the branch with a piece of twine and just let it dangle freely. I thought that was just a fun touch. So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 04, 11, 33, 35, 37, 51, 53, 55, 95, 97, and 99

W0, 2, 3, 4, and 5

G40, 43, and 46

C1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

YG00, 13, 17, and 67

Y15, 17, 18, 32, 35, and 38

R02, 12, 81, 83, and 85

B00, 91, 93, and 95

We Don't Use Enough Purple! Guest Designer Challenge #9 with Barb Edmondson

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to the September Guest Designer Challenge!

We don't use enough PURPLE!

This challenge came about in a funny way. I can't remember if it was a DT member card or a fan card, but a couple months ago, someone created a pretty purple card, and I commented that "we" don't use enough purple. Karen Day replied to me with basically...ha ha...maybe that should be a future challenge. And, here it is!

We want to see you use purple paper, inks, flowers, paint, markers...whatever you like!

The paper should be easy.  Just by coincidence, the last few paper packs that Joel has created have been full of beautiful purple papers. Not to mention Bonnie's new Encouragement Journal which is packed with purple. Don't you love happy coincidences??

Our Guest Designer for September is Barb Edmondson and you're going to love her card.

Before we get to that, let's see who won our HOUSES challenge in August.

Marianne Hansen!!

She used 5916 – Woodland Castle Set along with some foliage and flowers to create her beautiful card.

Another coincidence...it's purple...lol.

Congratulations Marianne!

You will be the Art Impressions October Guest Designer.

Marianne,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com

so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.

Now for the Lucky Random Winner of a freebie stamp from me.

Another coincidence...#1 came up last month as the winner as well! 

Also, Lee used purple...WOW!
I promise, I'm not making this up!

Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now for our September Guest Designer.

Let's see what Barb has to share.

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I was given the opportunity to choose a stamp set. I gave it some thought because I needed to find something that I could use a lot of purple on. This Birdhouse Cubbies set 5346 seemed like it would do well for this and be a lot of fun. I knew would enjoy coloring these images with pencils.

In order for the birds to show up on the dark purple house, I decided to color them yellow,  adding a bit of light green on their bellies.  Since the vine should be green, I stayed with the green theme and colored the doors green. I colored the flowers purple because of the theme - use enough purple.  How much is “enough purple”?  

The die cuts nice holes for windows and doors but I didn’t want the white card to show. I wanted it to look like wood inside. I used a little piece of kraft colored cardstock and attached it behind using little adhesive foam pieces. I added birds by stamping and cutting more. Some of them are attached using foam, too. Do you see the one inside the attic space peeking out?

Then there was the issue of choosing how to make the background.  I looked through my patterned papers collection I found some beautiful ones that has rows of what looks like water colors, varying in shades and colors. When I saw the one with green, blue, purple, I thought of - green grass, blue and purple sky and decided it went perfectly with this scene. I felt like it needed something to make it look like sky, so I got out a cloud stencil, ink, and a brush and lightly brushed ink around the top of the stencil in different places. Now I think I’ve given the impression of clouds.

This project was a challenge but truly I enjoyed playing with this set. I can see exploring more choices of bird colors and arrangements, house colors, background types, etc. Oh, what fun!

I think I first heard of Art Impressions while shopping at Hobby Lobby a few years ago and saw a small selection of Bonnie Krebs funny stamps sets. I bought “Enjoy the Ride” and made an anniversary card for son and his wife because they ride bikes as a family.   Then one day I saw the Frog set there for birthdays and thought it was so funny! I made a few for birthdays.  Then I was always looking for more AI sets, and bought some.  Now, I’m interested in the watercolor techniques Bonnie and team teach and am trying that after purchasing many of those types of stamps. Oh, and I love the Bible journaling, and mini journals!  I watch a lot of their wonderful videos! I’m hooked on Art Impressions!

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What a BEAUTIFUL card Barb!

Thank you so much for providing such wonderful inspiration for our challenge.

Now, if you're feeling like it, check out some of the pretty purple paper Art Impressions has to offer as well as Bonnie's Encouragement Journal.  You can find her tutorials for these paintings on the Art Impressions YouTube channel. Look below the photo for the links to parts 1 &2.

Sets for the Encouragement Journal can be purchased separately, or as a bundle to save you money.
Simply click the photos below to be taken to the products.

Encouragement Journal Tutorials

Part 1

Part 2

For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.
These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally
and not Art Impressions.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have
and you can choose from that.

Here is the fine print...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation.
✻You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. 

✻You MUST use Art Impressions stamps or dies! You may use other companies products but the main focus should be on Ai items.

✻If you win, you will receive one free stamp set of your choice. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻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 crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Hope your day is magical by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

I hope you're having a great start to your week. I have a card to show you today that fits right in with the Magical Creatures challenge that is going on right now. I used the new #5915 Woodland Fairies Set for those adorable fairies. There are so many adorable fairies in this set! I also used #5788 Whimsical Mushroom Set, #5346 Birdhouse Cubbies, and #5125 WC Elves Set for the big mushroom. I stamped them onto Copic friendly paper and then colored them with the markers which are listed below. 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today and until next time - stay crafty!

Copics used:

E000, 00, 07, 09, 11, 17, 21, 23, 40, 41, 42, 43, 71, 74, 97, and 99

Y00 and 02

YG61, 63, 67, 91, 93, and 95

B000, 00, 01, and 02

G00 and 12

R01, 11, 12, 22, 24, and 27

Home Tweet Home by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!!

I've got a card to show you today that fits perfectly with our blog challenge that's going on right now "Birds of a Feather". I used the Birdhouse Cubbies Set along with one of several sentiments that comes along with this set. It also includes the dies! I stamped the images onto cryogen white paper and colored them with Copic markers which are listed below. I thought the Easter S2 paper pack went with these birds perfectly. Art Impressions has such an amazing assortment of gorgeous papers! 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today, and until next time - stay crafty!

Copic markers used:

RV19, 32, and 34

B00, 01, and 02

BG13, 15, and 18

Y35 and 38

E33, 35, 37, and 97

YG11, 13, and 17

T1 and 5

Color Challenge #373 Week #1

 Hello AI Fans!

We have a fun new color challenge for you for the next two weeks!

We thought this color combination would be perfect for all your Spring cards.

We're thinking navy and pale blue, sunny yellow, a nice soft neutral and garden greens!

Perfect for flowers and grass and a sunny sky.  Also great for a basket full off Easter eggs or anything else that you're envisioning.  We have a couple of inspiration photos to help you get started.

Before we see what Sharon, our Featured Artist created let's see who won the Shake it Up! Challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected #11 Francesca V.
She used 5457 – Christmas Truck Set.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim a free stamp set of your choice!

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Our Lucky Random Winner was:

#4 Lisa J.
She used 5401 – Easter Chicks Set among others on her pretty Easter card.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim a free stamp set of your choice!

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Now let's check out the adorable card that Sharon created.

You're going to be in awe!

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I'm excited to kick off the new challenge for Art Impressions this week and it's a color challenge!! We are asking you to use the colors of navy, green, and yellow. This was a super fun challenge and I definitely took inspiration from the gorgeous photos supplied to us by AI!! Easter is right around the corner, so I made a fun card utilizing the Lawn Fawn Ta Da Diorama die set to feature several Art Impressions sets. This is so awesome because it folds completely flat for mailing, but when unfolded, it is a wonderfully dimensional diorama! Here is the finished card folded flat. 

And here it is when you pull out the flaps. 

I cut all the pieces out to assemble the card, stamped all my images and colored them to match the papers. 

These adorable images are from 5346 Birdhouse Cubbies Set, 5504 Happy Spring Set, and 5274 Easter Bunnies Set. There are links to each of them below. 

This is the card put together before adding all the adorable images. 

I used the Nested Heart Die Set and stamped a fun sentiment on it from the new 5867 Mini Easter Sentiment Set.  I then cut it in half and glued them to the front of the card. I had so much fun building the scene with all the cute bunnies and chick! And of course I had to add a cute little bird in the sky! 

And once again, the final product. I chose to mount the diorama onto a standard A2 card using a navy and green mat to pull out the challenge colors. The navy looks black in the pictures, but it's a true navy color. 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today! I can't wait to see what you create for the new color challenge! 

Copic markers used:

E21, 23, 40, 41, 42, 43, 50, 51, and 53

Y13, 17, 32, and 35

B00, 21, 23, 32, 34, and 37

YR00, 01, and 02

YG61 and 63

C1, 2, and 3

R12

Thank you Sharon for your beautiful diorama card.
It's a little work of art!

Now for the fine print.

We can't wait to see what you create!

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. You will receive extra votes if you use Art Impressions stamps!

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻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