Let's Talk Soon! by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai Fans!

Today I have a card using the adorable Texting BFFs set.  This is just perfect to send to a friend to let them know you're thinking about them!

I stamped the image and the sentiments in Copic safe ink.  I colored the ladies with the Copics listed below.  I then used a Rectangle Double Stitched die to cut it out.  

I layered the die cut image onto some gray cardstock, a piece of patterned paper and then onto the A2 top-folding card base.

I fussy cut the sentiments out and popped them up with foam squares.

This card was so fun and quick to make and I hope it's given you some inspiration to give this cute set a try!  Happy crafting!

Copic markers:
B93, B95, B97, C1, C2, C3, E11, E21, E30, E34, E53, E55, E57,
N0, N2, N5, N7, N9, R14, R20, R21, R22, W0, W1,
YR21, YR23, YR32, YG63, YG67

Hello Sunshine! by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai Fans!

Today my card features the fun Produce Stand MTF (mini TryFold) set.  It is definitely summer here in Texas with the temperatures over 100º!!  Who is ready for fall?!!  I've only used this set once before--it was last summer!--so I thought I'd pull it out and make this cute notecard to send to a friend.  This is an easy set to use that doesn't need a lot of instructions, so I have a lot of photos.

As with all of Art Impressions' TryFold card sets, the instructions for the card size, scoring, and where to place the stamps are on the back of the packaging.  Makes it so easy!  I stamped everything using my new favorite Copic-safe ink: Ink on 3 Blackout Detail ink.  This ink stamps the lines a nice and crisp black and is quick to dry.  I haven't had any smudging at all with my markers!  

I colored the images with my Copic markers (listed below--I was shocked at how many I used! LOL!).  I used a black Micron 005 pen to draw some lines on the front of the produce stand.  And also, to create a frame on the final image, in the photo below.

If you use alcohol markers, you know that they will bleed through to the back of your cardstock.  To hide that, I used some gingham paper on the two inside panels.

To finish up, I stamped the greeting included with the stamp set on the inside panel using Versafine Onyx black ink.  (I need to do a comparison of that and the Ink on 3!)  I used a sentiment from the Art Impressions Sentiment Set 2 and stamped it on the card front.  I thought it fit perfectly with the one on the inside.  

Thank you, as always, for stopping by and taking a look.  Have a wonderful, and crafty, week!

Copic markers:

B21, B23, BG0000, BG000, C0, C1, C3, C5, 

E31, E33, E37, E53, E55, E57, E70, E71, E74, E77,

N0, N2, N4, N6, N8, 

R14, R17, R21, R22, R24, R27, R35, R37, R39, 

Y02, Y13, Y15, Y17, Y19, YG0000, YGG01, YG11, YG13,

YG17, YG21, YG23, YG25, YG61,

YG61, YG53, YG67, YR01, YR02, YR07, YR65, YR27

Never Too Old! by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai Friends!  My card today features the oh, so fun Never Too Old Laugh Lines set.  There are so many fun and silly sentiments that will surely make the recipient smile!



I stamped this gal in Copic safe ink onto a piece of 3-¾" x 5" white cardstock and then colored her with the Copic markers listed below.  I also stamped her onto some masking paper and fussy cut it out.  Here are the steps I took to create the background followed by a few photos (click to enlarge):

• After covering the lady with the masking paper, I put down a grass border mask and then put a brick stencil over that.
• Using a blending brush, I added a light gray ink through the brick stencil.  I added a darker shade of gray through the brick stencil in random areas.
• I removed the stencil and mask and put on a mask above the grass.  I used two shades of Distress Ink (see supply list below) to create the grass.  The third photo is with all masks removed.

 

I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black ink and used a die from the Tag Stitched Die set to cut it out.  To get the rectangle shape instead of a tag shape, after I cut it the first time, I flipped the paper around so the triangle shape was below the bottom of the tag cut line.   I used a few foam squares to pop it up.

I decided that she needed flowers and presents for her birthday, so I used two of the Holiday Mansion accessory sets along with the included dies to add these.  The presents are from the HM Birthday Set and the flowers from the HM Garden Set.  These are also popped up with foam squares.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Have a crafty week!

Copic markers:

BG13, BG15, BG32, BV20, C00, C1,  E23, E50, E51, R53, E93,

N0, N2, N4, RV14, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y19, YG23, YG25 

2019 Mega Sponsor Fall Blog Hop Begins Today! [WINNER ANNOUNCED]

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Hello Ai (and stamping) fans!

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Since it's Monday, we have a fun project from our design team member, Carol Hintermeier!

Happy Monday Ai Fans!!

Today I'm sharing a card using the beautiful Gazebo TryFold set.  The images in this set are so pretty and just as timeless as when the set was first released!

This is so easy to create!  All the directions you need are on the back of the packaging.  The images were stamped onto Bristol Smooth cardstock with Versafine Onyx Black ink since I was planning on using my Zig watercolor markers. (If you aren't watercoloring, the pre-folded cards from the TryFold Cardstock & Envelope pack make this even easier!)  I've listed all my Zig colors below.  Since there aren't a lot of instructions for me to give you, I have LOTS of photos!! 

I decided to use the beautiful Butterfly Clasp die on this to hold it closed for mailing. 

This is the view when the left panel is opened.

The right side is open, revealing the final image and sweet sentiment.

Here's a final look at the card after removing it from the envelope.

I hope this has inspired you to give the TryFold cards a try!  There are many Tryfolds and mini TryFolds for every occasion.  Thank you for stopping by!  Have a fun, crafty week!

Watercolor markers:

Zigs: Pale Green, Light Green, May Green, Pink, Scarlet, Yellow,

Bright Yellow, Shadow Mauve, Violet, Pale Violet, Lilac, Fog Gray,

Gray, Light Gray, Mid Brown, Blender

 Tombow #565 & #977; Marvy Olive Green

Thanks for stopping by the hop! Make sure to follow our blog by clicking one of the blog readers in our right column and comment below to be entered to win a $25 gift certificate!

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Pink and Main

Happy Stamping!

Wheelie Good Birthday by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai Fans!

For my card today I've used the adorable Hamster Wheel Cubbies set.  These Cubbies sets are so fun and easy to use!  All the dies you need are included that will cut out the stamped images as well as the door, windows, and slits to tuck the critters into.



All of the images were stamped with Copic safe ink onto Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock.  After I colored them with the Copics listed below, I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.

It's really fun playing with the little hamsters deciding which little opening to put them in!  Once I had them attached to the hamster house, I added foam tape to the back for dimension.  I attached it to the layered panel, which was adhered to an A2 top-fold card base.  I die cut the stamped sentiment with a Rectangle A2 Double Stitched die.  I added a few enamel dots near the sentiment.

Have you tried any of the Cubbies sets yet?  They are all so fun and I hope you've enjoyed seeing this one today!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  Have a fun, crafty week!

Copic markers:
B34, B97, E11, E13, E15, E21, E23, E41, E51, E53, E57, E70, E74,
N2, R14, R20, R22, YG13, YG17, YG67, W1, 100, Blender

Greatest Gift Framed Window, by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai Friends!

I hope you had a great weekend and your Monday is off to a good start!  I love the Art Impressions Window stamps, and my project today features the Greatest Gift Window set.  It's been around for quite a while, but it's new to me and I think this stamp design is certainly timeless!  The sentiment reads: "The greatest gift we can receive in life is a true friend."  Isn't that the truth?!!

I stamped the image with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I wanted to use my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and, for me, the Strathmore paper works wonderfully!  I also added some clear sparkle to parts of the image for some sparkle!  

After I colored the image with my Zigs (colors listed below) I die cut it out with a Square Double Stitched die.  I wanted a thin matte layer for my image so I cut a piece of green cardstock to go behind it.

Next I used some two-sided patterned paper and die cut it with the 3D Frame Die.  This is really easy to assemble and I added glue to the tabs to secure it all.  I then cut a piece of white cardstock to fit the back of the frame for more stability.  I also die cut an extra stand from 110# white cardstock to glue to the patterned paper stand to make it stronger.



Here is a close up showing that fun sparkle!



For a bit of dimension, I put some thin foam tape behind the matted image and added it to the center of the frame.



I think this would be perfect to tuck in with a gift for that special friend!  I hope you will give these Window stamps a try!  So fun and easy!  Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful, crafty week!

Zig Clean Color Brush markers:

May Green, Light Green, Pale Green, Yellow, Bright Yellow,

Turquoise Green, Geranium, Shadow Mauve, 

Brown, Dark Brown, Mid Brown, Beige,

Black, Gray, Light Gray, Gray Brown, Blender

Watercolor Succulents by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai fans!

My card today features a watercolored card using the beautiful Succulents Set.  I just used four of the stamps for my card, but there are several more stamps in this awesome set!

I used Canson Watercolor paper and my MISTI to stamp a few of the succulents from the set into a background pattern.  These were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed in white.  A couple weekends ago I was so happy to be at an event and took a class where I learned to used Ken Oliver's Color Bursts to watercolor.  I used four colors to watercolor the succulents.  I did the background first though, so I could see the images better.  I used a Tombow marker in Willow Green for that.  In order to see the large succulent's petals better, I did a light wash of green over the entire plant (2nd photo below).  Here are a couple of my "in progress" photos.

   

I've listed the colors I used below, but really, after doing a web search for succulents, you can use just about any nature-y color you want!  I tapped out a bit of the powder onto my Watercolor Palette and added just a drop or two of water.  This is key as you don't want to over dilute the color.  These are highly pigmented and I would pick up a dab of color with my brush and dilute it as needed off to the side.  Once everything was dry, I used a stitched square die to cut the panel out and used double-sided tape to adhere it to a 5-3/4" x 5-3/4" card base.  I used 110# Neenah Solar White for the card base since the watercolor panel is heavier too.

I stamped the sentiment from the WC Sentiments Set with Versafine Onyx Black and die cut it with a die from Flag Double Stitched Dies.  I used some foam squares to pop it up and scattered a few clear dewdrops from my stash across the card.

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

Ken Oliver Color Burst colors:  Sap Green, Fuchsia, Prussian Blue

My Favorite Things/Ken Oliver Color Burst colors:  Jellybean Green, Tropical Teal

Tombow watercolor marker:  #173-Willow Green