Friendship Blooms by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai friends!  Today I have a sweet card for that special friend using the beautiful Poppy Border set.  This is in the Bible Journaling line, but as you can see, it's perfect for so many occasions!  This card is for you all!  I have some news to share so keep reading until the end!

I die cut some Neenah Solar White 80# card stock with the next to largest Rectangle Double Stitched die.  Then I began as usual, stamping in Copic safe ink and coloring with my markers listed below.  I've been working on coloring with different color families and hey, these are my poppies and I colored them in yellow and a coral shade.  Isn't that the best thing about beautiful floral stamps like this?!!  I decided to try something new--instead of adding a typical shadow around the image, I used the yellow markers and added tiny dots.  What do you think?  

I chose a sentiment from the WC Sentiment Set-4903 and stamped it in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I layered it onto a coordinating colored card stock from my stash and popped it up on foam tape to my card base.  I added a few Dandelion Yellow Nuvo Crystal Drops for a bit of bling.

So, if you've read this far, thank you!  I have felt so very honored and blessed to be on this amazing design team for Art Impressions and the ladies on this team are just the absolute BEST!  I made my first Ai post on June 4, 2018 and have felt so welcomed and supported by my teammates for these two years.  I've decided to step down from the team for now, as I've just felt the need to have more free time to work on other things--one of those being improving my watercoloring--including the Ai way!  I'm SO thankful for YOU, and your kindness!  I'll still be around on Instagram and my blog, and I hope to see you there.  Sending many crafty hugs to you all!

Copic markers:

R24, R14, R22, R20, R30,

Y15, Y11, Y00,

G07, YG67, YG23, YG03, YG01

Get Your Happy On! by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai friends!  Do you ever just let loose and "get your happy on"?  Young, or older, we should all have these moments where we just rejoice in happiness!  This Be Happy Laugh Lines set with the adorable gal totally shows us how to shake it!

I stamped her in Copic safe ink and colored her with the markers listed below.  I used a white gel pen and a .005 black Micron pen to add some details to her dress and apron.  When I finished coloring, I die cut the panel with the next-to-largest Rounded Rectangle die.  Then I stamped the two sentiments near the top in Versafine Onyx Black ink.

For the blue layer, I traced around the Rounded Rectangle die I use previously, and trimmed it with my trimmer and fussy cut it around the corners.  I adhered my image to the layer and added some thin foam tape on back.  I added black card stock to a top-folding A2 card base and layered some patterned paper on top. 

For the bottom sentiment, I heat embossed it in white on some black card stock and trimmed it to a banner shape.  I pulled out my dusty mini stapler, stapled it to a coordinating blue banner and popped it up with some foam squares.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Now, go get your happy on!  Have a fabulous, crafty week!

Copic markers:

B06, B04, B02, C9, C7, C5, C3, C1, C00,

E11, E21, E51, E50, R20, RV04, RV02, RV10

Wishing You A Bright Sunny Day! by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai friends!  Today I have another mini trifold card using the beautiful new Tropical Circlet MTF.  I love being at the beach and this sure makes me want to be there NOW!  Haha!

I used Neenah Desert Storm card stock for my card base.  I followed the directions on the back of the package for the size and where to score the card.  I added patterned paper layers (from my stash) to the card front and the middle layer.

Next I inked up the stamps in Copic safe ink and stamped them onto a piece of Neenah 80# card stock.  I was sure to space them out enough to have room to die cut them with a Circle Double Stitched die after I finished coloring them.  I also used a circle die to cut layers for them from Neenah Desert Storm card stock.  After I colored them, used a circle die to cut them out, and adhered them to the Desert Storm circles, I used the included dies to cut the openings in each one.  I also used the same dies to cut the openings in the top and middle card layers.

These tri-fold cards are just so fun as you open the card up!  

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful and fun crafting week!

Copic markers:

B26, B23, B21, C00, C1, C3,

Y19, Y18, Y13, Y11, Y00,

E35, E33, E55, E53, E51,

RV25, RV23, RV21

Leaves:

BG49, G18, G02

G28, G19, G07, G03

YG25, YG01

YG17, YG13, YG01

Birthday Wishes & No-line Coloring by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday friends!  Today I have a card featuring the beautiful and fun Cake Twist Set!  I also challenged myself to do "no-line" coloring!

I created my A2 card and added some patterned paper that I die cut with a die from the Rectangle Double Stitched die set.  Then I die cut the Twist Frame Die on the card front.  I stamped the cake images onto Neenah Solar White 80# card stock in some light colored ink.  While you can still see the stamped images, the lines disappear and blend into your colors.  My Copic colors are listed below.  When I finished coloring, I die cut the cakes with the dies included with the stamp set.  I also added some Ripened Pumpkin Nuvo Crystal Drops to the flower centers and clear sparkle to the cake icing.

It's so cool how the two cake images are mirror images!  All you need to do next is to adhere them back to back.  It's very easy to now slip it into the die cut frame.

I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it into a banner shape along with a yellow banner-shaped layer.  I adhered the banners and popped it up with some foam tape.  Add in a few yellow enamel dots, and I'm done!

I like how this turned out--what do you think?  Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Have a fabulous and crafty week!

Copic markers:

C00, C1, C3, E29, E27, E25,

YG67, YG17, YG25, YG23, YG03, YG01,

Y19, Y17, Y15, Y13, Y11, YR07, YR04

Just A Note! by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai fans!  Today I have a sweet card to just say, "Hi!" to that someone special that may need some happy mail!  I've used the beautiful Exclusive Hydrangeas set by Art Impressions that's available at Scrapbook.com.  My hydrangeas are pink with green in the middle because, in my part of Texas, we have alkaline soils and water, not acidic that makes them a blue shade.  Keep reading to see a photo that I took a few days ago of my hydrangea in my backyard.  I love hydrangeas and my photo was my inspiration!

I stamped the hydrangeas in my favorite Copic safe ink--Inkon3 Blackout Detail ink onto some Neenah Solar White 80# card stock.  I've listed my marker colors below.  (Make a note of how few markers I used--LOL!)  When I finished my coloring, I used a Rectangle Double Stitched die to cut it out.  I added some Apple Green Nuvo Crystal Drops to the flower centers and set it aside to dry.

Here is my backyard photo!  It's an older bloom, therefore, not as much green in it as what I colored.

So, onto finishing my card!  I started with an A2 card base and added a black card stock and pink gingham layer and adhered it to the card base.  I added another black layer to the die cut hydrangeas panel.  I stamped one of the several sentiment from this set at the bottom of this panel in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I added foam tape and adhered it to the card.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Now you know about my love for hydrangeas and also, this beautiful stamp set!  Happy crafting!

Copic markers I used:

G85, YG63, G43, RV21, RV10, RV00

Floral Thank You Card by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai friends!  Today I have a sweet thank you card using the new Floral Invites set.  This beautiful set is perfect for invitations, but as you can see from my card, the images can be used for many different occasions!

I began by creating a top-folding A2 card base from 110# Neenah Solar White card stock.  I used the #110 card stock to reduce the warping from my heat embossing.  Next I used an anti-static bag on the card front, stamped the frames with Versamark, sprinkled on silver embossing powder and heat embossed it.

Then I stamped the floral image onto 80# Neenah in Copic safe ink (marker colors are listed below.)  When I finished the coloring, I fussy cut it out and added some foam tape to the back and adhered it on the card front.

I cut a strip of purple striped patterned paper to 4-¼" x 1-½" and adhered it to the card.  I added strips of silver mirror card to either side of the striped paper.  I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx black ink and die cut it with the second smallest Hexagon Double Stitched Die.  Next add some foam tape to the back and adhere it to the front.

Finally, for a bit of embellishment I added some Nuvo Pale Periwinkle Jewel Drops to the berries and here and there around the frame.

Thanks so very much for stopping by today!  I hope you are staying safe, well, and of course--crafty!!

Copic markers:

G02, G07, G29, V000, V12, V15, V17,

YG03, YG25, YG67

Coffee Gift Card Holder for the Guys! by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai friends!  Today I have a gift card holder for our guys!  I've used the Coffee Gift Card Holder set to create my card.  Raise your hand if you are like me and struggle with those masculine cards!! Haha!  When I ask my husband his favorite color, he responds with brown!!  LOL! So, I created this card with that male perspective in mind!

Here are the steps to make this card:

• Create a top-folding A2 card base from Neenah Solar White card stock.
• Die cut patterned paper using the largest Rectangle Double Stitched die and adhere to the card base.
• I stamped a coffee bean background with a stamp from my stash with Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide ink.
• Die cut the stamped background with the second largest Rectangle Double Stitched die.  Adhere at an angle on the card front.
• Die cut the Coffee Gift Card Holder cup, insert, and lid from Neenah card stock.  Ink the edges of the cup and top of lid with Ground Espresso Distress Oxide.
• Die cut the coffee cup sleeve from coordinating patterned paper.  Adhere to the cup.
• Stamp the sentiment onto the cup with Ground Espresso.  I used my MISTI and stamped it a few times to make it darker.
• Next, die cut the included scalloped circle die from white card stock and ink the edges with Ground Espresso.  I used a Circle Double Stitched die to cut the patterned paper center and adhered the two together.
• Add a foam square to the circle and pop it onto the coffee cup sleeve and glue the cup to the card front.

I don't have a gift card to display, but I did stamp the other sentiment group from this set on the insert.  Then just check the boxes that fit your occasion!  How fun for the recipient when he removes the gift card!

To finish, I embellished the card with some twine, a button, and enamel dots from my stash.  This I call "guy bling!"  Haha!

So, what is your guy's favorite color?  Is it brown too?  I hope I've inspired you with this masculine card today--Father's Day is next month!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful, crafty week!

Cruisin' By to Say Hi by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai friends!  Today I have a card featuring the fun Enjoy The Ride set.  This stamp reminds me of the warm spring and summer days and enjoying the outdoors.  This is wonderful for sending to someone "just because" or several other occasions!

This card was really quick and easy to make!  I die cut the tag from Neenah Solar White 80# card stock with the tag from the Tag Stitched Dies set.  Next I stamped the bicycle onto it with Copic safe ink and colored it with my markers.  The colors I used are listed below.  When I finished the coloring, I stamped the sentiment (it's one of seven included in the set) in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  

I created my card base with a top-folding A2 card base.  I adhered a floral patterned paper that I trimmed to 4" x 5-¼".

I hand cut a patterned paper layer to go behind the tag.  I did that by using a pencil to trace around the actual die on the patterned paper.  I trimmed the straight edges with my paper trimmer and fussy cut the rounded corners.  I adhered this to my colored image.  I added foam tape to the back of the tag.  Before adhering the tag to the card base, I tied on some ribbon from my stash.

I love how this turned out and I hope I've given you some inspiration for your cards today!  Have a wonderful, safe, and crafty week!

Copic markers:

B0000, B000, B00, B41, B24, B32, B37, B45,

C00, C1, C3, N4, N6, N8, R05, R08, R21,

Y02, Y18, YG01, YG03, YG17, YR27, YR31

Best Friends Forever! by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai friends!  Today I have a fun card that would be perfect for sending to all of our friends that we miss so much!  I've used the new and so fun We're Here Set for this card.



I began by stamping the image onto white card stock that I die cut with a Rectangle Double Stitched die.  I also stamped it onto some masking paper and fussy cut it out.  I used the Copic markers listed below to color the image.  I found a "Home" stamp in my stash and stamped it onto the door sign.



For the background, I put the mask over the image and taped off the die cut edges.  I used a rectangle masking stencil and a blender brush to add Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide ink.  I used a black pen to draw a line to separate the floor and wall and used some Post-It Tape to mask the floor.  Next I used a brick stencil to ink on more Squeezed Lemonade ink.  I blended a bit of Mustard Seed Distress Oxide around the edges.

After removing the masks, I layered the panel onto some blue card stock and some black/white patterned paper.  I adhered these layers to a top-folding A2 card base.  I stamped the sentiment onto some of the blue card stock and die cut it with the smallest Rectangle Double Stitched die.  I shifted the die cut piece in the die and ran it through my machine again to make it shorter.  I repeated this for the other end.  I popped the sentiment up with some foam tape.



Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful, crafty week!

Copic markers:

BG000, BG01, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18,

C00, C1, C3, E07, E08, E13, E15, E21, E23,

E25, E27, E31, E39, E50, E51,

N5, N7, N9, R20, R35, RV02, RV04,

T3, T5, T9, Y00, Y06, Y13, Y15, Y28,

YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24,

YG17, YG25, YG67

How to Make Paper Charms for a Watercolor Bookmark by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai fans!  I had so much fun creating this beautiful watercolored bookmark and making the little paper charms to add to it!

Here are the basic steps for creating the bookmark and the watercoloring (all watercoloring is done the "Ai way"!  See Art Impressions YouTube for specific techniques) :

• Die cut the bookmark from a piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth card stock.
• Ink the large birdhouse with 969-Chocolate and 565-Deep Blue and stamp it onto the die cut bookmark. Pull the color out with your brush adding shadows where needed.
• Scribble 493-Reflex Blue onto your palette and pick up some with your brush and add to the birdhouse roof.
• Stamp the greenery from Foliage Set-4051 with 177-Dark Jade and dab the color with a damp brush.
• Stamp the flowers on the vine with 665-Purple.
• Stamp the tiny grass from Foliage Set-4051 with 177-Dark Jade.
• Stamp the flowers at the base of the birdhouse.  Use the flower bunch from Flower Set 2 and ink the top half of the stamps with 177-Dark Jade and the flowers with 933-Orange.
• Pick up 493-Reflex Blue and add in some sky.
• Stamp the branch from WC Branches Set with 969-Chocolate.  Add leaves with the stamp from WC Foliage Set 2.  I inked it with 177-Dark Jade.
• Ink up the flying bird with 969 and 565.  Stamp onto the positioner block, position it over the birdhouse, then stamp the bird onto the piece.  Stamp the bird on the ground in the same colors.  Add more color to them with a bit of 493-Reflex Blue with 565-Deep Blue mixed from your pallette.

I used dies that are included with the Bookmark die set to create my little charms.

Die cut two each of each shape you want to use.  I used Copic markers to color the butterfly and the feather.  Note:  color the backside of one feather since it's not symmetrical.  Die cut three tiny hole reinforcers from the Tag Stitched Die set.  Color two to coordinate with the butterfly and feather.  My photos that follow show my assembly for the butterfly.  Adhere one reinforcer with liquid glue to the top center of the die cut.  Add more liquid glue to adhere the two pieces, colored sides facing out.  Let dry.  Assemble the cross and feather the same way.

     

Next I used a Ranger Emboss It Dabber to add clear embossing ink to one side.  Holding the charm with your reverse tweezers (don't want to get burned!) pour clear embossing powder over the ink and heat emboss.  While it's still hot, dip it back into the clear embossing powder two more times to get the smooth thick finish.  Repeat for the opposite side.  I embossed the cross the same way, but used some white sparkle embossing powder.  I had some small rings in my stash that I attached to the top of the charms.

I colored the white ribbon by scribbling 493-Reflex Blue onto my mat and spritzing water into the ink, then dipping the ribbon into it.  Keep dipping and spritzing water until you have the desired shade.  Let dry, and then tie it, and the charms, onto your bookmark.

I love the added touch the little charms give to this bookmark!  I sure hope I've inspired you to give this a try.  Have a wonderful, crafty week!