July 2025 Monthly Challenge with Simone Carr

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to the July 2025 Monthly Challenge!

This month our Guest Designer is Simone Carr.

Please welcome her back and enjoy all of her wonderful creations!

 Hello Crafty Friends,

Today I’m sharing a peaceful coastal scene featuring a pelican perched on a rock. I had a lot of fun building this tranquil moment using a combination of watercolor stamping, masking, and scene layering.

On a piece of watercolor paper, I marked off a square measuring 2 ½" x 3 ¼" and placed Post-it tape around the edges to create a clean, framed look. I stamped the pelican from the KH5820 – My Favorite Bird Set using Tombow 565 and 969, stamping it off once for a softer outline, then onto the paper. Using my stamp positioner, I stamped the rock below the pelican using the same colors.

With the main images in place, I began painting the scene. I mixed Tombow 526 and 177 to create a serene water tone and brushed it in around the base of the rock. I taped off the horizon with Post-it tape and used 026 to paint a soft glow in the background, deepening the color to the left and right sides for balance. For the sky, I brushed in 565 and softened the edges with 526, fading it gently around the pelican.

Next, I added grass using the small grass from Foliage Set 1 (4051) stamped in 098. After shifting the tape slightly upward, I stamped in the cattails from Pond Set (5424) for added detail. In the foreground, I included more grasses using Tombow 177 and 969.

To finish, I watercolored the pelican with light shading in N55 and 969, keeping most of his body white, and added 026 on the beak. The rock was painted by pulling color from the lines, and I added definition with a brown TwinTone marker.

For a final touch, I wrapped some natural string with beads around the bottom of the card to give it a little coastal texture and interest.

Materials Used:

Stamps:

    KH5820 – My Favorite Bird Set

    Foliage Set 1 (4051) – Small Grass

    Rocks Set (5414)

    Pond Set (5424)

Inks & Markers:

    Tombow Markers: 177, 026, 098, N55, 526, 969, 565

    Brown TwinTone

Other:

    Canson Watercolor Paper

    Stamp Positioner

    Post-it Tape

    Natural String and Beads (for embellishment)

I had so much fun creating this playful get-well card using the Doggy Kisses Set (AI CS 38) that I ended up making two bonus cards as well, experimenting with different colors and layouts—perfect for sending a little extra comfort and cheer.

I stamped the image using Archival Ink in Shadow Grey onto Bristol Smooth Cardstock to keep the outlines soft and watercolor-friendly. To color the pup, I started with Tombow 947 for a light wash in the shadow areas, added 992 on the face and belly, and used 977 on the head and legs. I returned with 947 to deepen the shadows for more dimension. The teddy bear was colored with 899 and 992, while 703 added blush to the cheeks, ear, and tissue box. I used 407 for the slippers and 403 for the cup.

The tissue box and cup were fussy cut for added detail. I paired the scene with patterned paper from the Basic Teal Paper Pack (6011) and used an Envelope Edger Die to finish the layout with a clean, curved edge.

Materials Used:

Stamps:

    Doggy Kisses Set (AI CS 38)

    Catastrophe Set (4933)

    Portfolio (5952)

Paper:

    Bristol Smooth Cardstock

    Basic Teal PP (6011)

    Basic Pink PP ( 6010)

    Basic Green PP (6009)
    Basic Yellow PP (6012)

Inks & Markers:

    Archival Ink – Shadow Grey

    Memento Ink Pad

    Tombow Markers: 947, 899, 977, 992, 407, 403, N45, 195, 703, 177, 312, N55, N65, 026, 565

Other:

    Envelope Edger Die

    Fussy Cut Elements (Tissue Box, Cup)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope this cheerful card brings a little smile and inspires you to create something heartwarming of your own.

Until next time, happy crafting!

—Simone

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Stay Paws-itive! By Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing a get well card that I made for one of my coworkers.  She recently had foot surgery so this adorable guy was just perfect for her!

I used 4933 – Catastrophy Set

My friend is an animal lover so I knew she'd love this stamp!

I also used 5064 – Circle Double Stitched Dies.

Copics used:

Y00, Y32, R0000, R83, N4, E21, E99

Now Available at Hobby Lobby! Share the Love With #AiAtHobbyLobby!

We are excited to announce NINE new stamps hitting Hobby Lobby shelves, including beloved animal, character, and Bible Journaling sets! If you love wood block stamps, be sure to pick up our Hedgehog and Panda blocks, Hobby Lobby exclusives! These images are also available in our Hedgehog and Pand-tastic clear stamp sets, packed with festive critters and sentiments! Send cuddly "get well soon" wishes using our Catastrophy clear set, filled with kitties and healing wishes. Party it up with our Never Too Old Laugh Lines lady, and share a love note with Perfect Duet. In addition, we have to exclusive Bible Journaling cling sets, He Leads Me and On The Sparrow, which include the flower and foliage elements to complete the project shown. 

Grab your favorite Ai Stamps at your local store and share a photo with us on Facebook and Instagram with #AiAtHobbyLobby! We have gathered inspirational projects here on the blog, so click the "Inspiration Here" for the projects you want to view up close!

Hedgehog Wood Block Inspiration Here

Hedgehog Set Inspiration Here

   
Panda Wood Block Inspiration Here

 
Pand-tastic Set Inspiration Here

Catastrophy Set Inspiration Here

  
Never Too Old Laugh Lines Set Inspiration Here

Perfect Duet Set Inspiration Here

He Leads Me Set Inspiration Here

On the Sparrow Set Inspiration Here

   

Happy Stamping!

Sickness Business by Dana Warren

Hello AI fans!!

Catastrophy is one of my favorite sets!! Because of the super cute cats, of course!! And it's a great set to send to fellow cat lovers who need a pick me up!!

I started this card with a panel of white cardstock and Crafter's Work Shop Mini Pointy Circles stencil. I used Distress Ink Picked Raspberry in the middle and blended it with Black Soot at the edges.

Next, I stamped the cat and mouse image and used my Spectrum Noir Illustrator markers to color it up. I used AP1, AP3, BG4, BG6, EB7, FS7, FS9, IG2, IG6, Blender, True Black. Then I fussy cut the image out with scissors.

I added the stenciled panel to a white card base then added a strip of white cardstock across it. With foam tape, I added the image and sentiment that I stamped on a circle. Last I added a few gold sequins.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!!

Ouch by Dana Warren

Hello AI fans!!

I love the smirk on the crutches kitty in the Catastrophy set! It's a perfect card for a cat lover who on the mend!! And an easy card to make too!!

I started with a grey card base and used Sweet Stamps Banister Stencil. I used Versamark ink to ink up the top half or so of the stencil. Next, I added a strip of gold polka washi tape where I stop inking the stencil.

Then I stamped the crutch kitty and used my Spectrum Noir markers to color him. I used IG3, IG4 to make the stripes and then CR4 for the ears and cheeks. 

I fussy cut him out and added him to the card with foam dots. Then I stamped the Ouch sentiment, cut it out and added it to with foam dots. 

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!!

Cat-astrophy by Dana Warren

Hello AI fans!!

If you have a friend who needs a get well card and happens to be a cat lover, then the Catastrophy stamp set is for you!! 

I started by stamping the super cute kitten with the flower and balloon and then I used my Spectrum Noir Illustrator Markers to color the image. I used AP1, AP3, CR11, DG2, DG4, EB1, EB2, EB4, GB4, Blender. Then I used a circle dies to cut out the image.

Next, I picked out two pattern papers from two different companies. First from Crate Paper Kiss Kiss pad the pretty shades of pink pattern and from My Minds Eye Fancy That pad the gold and cream stripes. First I added the Crate Paper to the bottom of a card base. Then I cut the stripe pattern on a diagonal and added it to the card with foam tape.

Then I stamped the sentiment and trimmed it. I added the circle to the card and then above it the sentiment. From my stash, I added 3 wood stars.

Thanks for stopping by!! Happy Stamping!

Speedy Recovery by Dana Warren

Hello AI fans!! 

The Catastrophy Set is perfect if you are a cat lover or know one!! Several images and lots of funny sentiments are perfect for cat lovers!!

I started by stamping the cat with the collar and then using my Spectrum Noir Markers to color it. I used: BO3, BO4, GB3, IG2, Blender. Then I used a stitched rectangle to cut out the image.

I picked out some pink and gold pattern paper, one pattern was pink with gold dots and I used a stitched rectangle to cut it out and adhered it to a grey card base. From a pink triangle pattern, I cut just a little bit bigger than the stamped rectangle.

I found from my stash some gold washi tape and I added three stripes of it on the polka dot paper lengthwise. Then I added the image and other pattern paper on top with foam tape.

I stamped the Wishing Your Furry Friend a Speedy Recovery sentiment and notched one end. I added the sentiment with foam tape. 

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!!