Hamster Wheel Cubbies Waterfall Card by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

Some interactive cards look like they're complicated to make but they can be rather simple if you just know how they're assembled. I made this waterfall card with a long strip of paper and a few folds.  Of course I used the cute hamsters from the Hamster Wheel Cubbies and a greeting from the Christmas Wreath Set.  Maybe you'll try this on one of your cards.

The images were stamped onto Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth paper with Gina K Designs Black Amalgam Ink and colored with Copic markers.  The colors used are listed at the end of this post.

I created the waterfall feature with one strip of paper.  It measured 2" by 7 1/2".  I also had a thin strip of paper to wrap around the entire piece as a band to hold it to my card.  I then scored the card at 2", 2 1/2", 3" and 3 1/2".  I made sure that all of the score lines bent back and forth well and then I folded the paper behind itself at the last score line. I then attached the belly band to the top flap and wrapped it around both pieces leaving it.

I started by attaching the last scene to the bottom piece over the belly band.  I then added the next scene to the 1/2" spine with double sided adhesive.  I added the next two scenes to the other two spines until all four scenes were attached in the correct order. 

I cut a piece of decorative paper to 5" x 1 3/4" and cut the end of it with the banner die.  I attached it to the bottom piece of the waterfall feature so it could be pulled out. I then attached the entire waterfall feature to the card with the belly band.  Don't add adhesive to anything else or everything will stick together.  I learned how to make this card on you tube.  You may find it easier to look there for full directions on how to make it.

Copic Colors Used:
Main Hamster - W1, E30, E31, R00
Second Hamster - W1, W3
Floor - W00, W1
Wall - R00, R01
Tree- YG05, YG17, YG67, G29
Present Red- R05, YG17, R37
Present Green - YG61, YG63, YG67
Sky Panel Three- B0000, B00, V000, 0
Ground Panel Three and Four - B0000, B00
Moon - C1, C3, C5, 0
Sky Panel Four - B99
Shadows - C5, C7

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Meowy Christmas by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

We're getting down to the wire for Christmas cards.  I've been trying to come up with some faster cards that I can make up in batches.  I sat down and made a few of these the other night.  I combined the Christmas Wreath Set with the Mini Cat Spinner Set.  Both stamp sets came with matching dies. The only thing I had to do was color them while watching a movie and die cut them before I added them to the card.  I found the perfect paper 6x6 paper pad at Michael's a few weeks ago called Christmas Pets and it had both dog and cat images in it.  It even had the perfect sayings for me to cut out and add to my cards.  

The images were stamped onto Spetrum Noir Ultra Smooth paper with My Favorite Things Extreme Black Ink and colored with Copic markers.  The colors used are listed at the end of this post. The cat and wreath were cut out using their matching dies. Several layers of the patterned paper were cut and edged with a Pilot Medium Tip Gold Marker.  The center panel, cat and wreath were attached with foam tape.  The sentiment and the bow were added with another layer of foam tape.  The bow and berries were covered with a layer of the Spectrum Noir Crystal Glitter Marker. 

Copic Colors Used:

Cat - Coo, C1, C3, C5, RV10
Wreath - YG61, YG63, YG67
Bow/Balls - R81, R83, R85

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Christmas in July by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

I was looking at my calendar and I realized that it was almost the end of July and I haven't made any Christmas cards yet! I like to get a head start on the holidays so I had to remedy that fast!  I used the Christmas Wreath Set 4791 along with the Christmas Wonder Set 4936 to make a peek-a-boo card.

I started by stamping the wreath and four of the holly images from the Christmas Wreath Set 4791 onto Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth paper. I colored them with Copic markers. I cut the wreath with the dies that are included in the set. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the holly leaves. I also stamped, colored and fussy cut the animals from  the Christmas Wonder Set 4936.  All colors are listed at the end of the post.

 I attached the layer to the front of my card and used the inner wreath die cut to cut a hole through the center of the card.   I then foam mounted the wreath to the front of the card. I attached another layer of patterned paper to the inside of the card as well as a piece of white paper with the greeting along the top.  I positioned and attached the caroling animals so they could be seen through the front of the card.

Copic colors used :
Wreath - YG61, YG63, YG67
Berries - R81, R83, R85
Dog - E31, E33, E35, R20
Cat - W1, W3, W3,  Y23, Y26, YR24, R20
Hats - R35, R39, R89
Striped Scarf- C3, C1, C00, R35, R39, R89
Yellow Scarf - Y13, Y15, Y17
Green Scarf - YG61, YG63, YG67

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Here Comes Santa Claws! by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

I've been hard at work making Christmas cards for a few weeks now.  I always make simpler cards for some people that I know don't understand how much time goes into making a card.  I designed this card with those people in mind.  I used the Christmas Wreath Set 4791 and colored it with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers.  I chose this set for my cards this year because it comes with matching dies.  I was able to make tons of cards all at one time. I added a sentiment and was finished with it.  They came out very beautiful!

But of course, I couldn't leave it there!  I got out my Tropical Christmas Set 4788 and stamped out the flip flop images. I also changed up the sentiment & added it to a flag that I made with a few folds and extra cuts.  I glued on some gems and I made several of these for people that I figured would appreciate them more. I just couldn't stop there for today's post!

I made a pop up card with the rest of the images from the Tropical stamp set.  Because I live in Florida, I felt compelled to own this stamp set.  It's just so cute.  I used a retired pop up Sizzix die, but you could use any type of pop up base.  I colored all of these images with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and cut them out.  I followed the packaging for most of my coloring just to make things easier on myself.

Here are the star's of the card.  I love how they came out. I used very little water and blended the Zig's with each other. They are all stamped onto Strathmore Bristol paper with Jet Black Archival Ink.

Here are the colors of Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers that I used:
Face - Flesh Color 071, Beige 072, Light carmine 021
Green - Deep Green 044, Pale Green 045
Red - Wine Red 024, Red 020
Blue - Cobalt Blue 031, Shadow Mauve 302
Gray - Mid Gray 096, Light Gray

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Tuesday Threads with Karen

Hello Ai fans, and welcome to a new mini feature here on the Ai blog!

Did you know that Art Impressions has a line of quilting fabrics?  They shipped out this November through Henry Glass & Co. to a quilting store near you!  The collection is called "Shop Hop" - all your favourite Girlfriends images combined with a sewing/quilting theme are featured in 18 wonderful 100% cotton fabrics. (To see the entire collection, click here!)

Once a month on my regular Tuesday post, I'm going to feature "a little something" to show off this fun collection.

Now, these aren't exactly holiday fabrics, but 'Tis the Season, so I'm kicking off the new feature with a little gift giving idea and a matching card:

If you like to give a jar of something homemade to friends and neighbours, how about sewing a little elf shoe to put it in?  This is one of the subtle patterns in the collection, and it worked perfectly in this bright green paired with a black lining and bright pink ribbon.  I made a matching card using Ai's Christmas Wreath Set (Sku #4791) to give along with it.

 I'll give you a few quick instructions on how I made my shoe, and if you scroll down to the end of the post, I've included a pdf file with the pattern if you'd like to make your own.

I cut out two of the elf shoes in the green fabric, and two of the lining pieces from some plain black fabric.

I sewed around the shoe using 1/4" seams, leaving the top open, and clipped the seam allowances around the curves.  I did the same with the lining, leaving about a two inch opening, as this is how I'll turn it inside out.

  The toe of the shoe was lightly stuffed with batting that I carefully poked right in to the curled point, up to where I've indicated with the stick.  With right sides together, I attached the lining to the shoe by sewing the top edge together, and then turned it inside out through the opening that I left in the lining.

After a little light pressing, I added the ribbon and buckle to the shoe with some glue dots, and tied on a little tag.  In went my jar of jam, and voila!  My gift is ready for giving.
Click here to print out the elf shoe pattern: elf shoe

I'll be back in January with another fun sewing project!

Merry Christmas Wreath by Dana Warren

Hello AI Fans!!

Now that Thanksgiving is over it's really time to start thinking about Christmas!! My post today features the new Christmas Wreath Die and Stamp Set! The included die makes using this stamp a breeze!!

I started by stamping the wreath and bow on white card stock, then I used my Spectrum Noir markers to color them both. CG2, DG2, DG3, DR3, DR5. 

Next, I placed the outside and inside wreath dies over the image and used some washi tape to hold them in place. I did the same for the bow, running both through my die cutting machine.

From a pattern paper Christmas stack I picked out a vintage pattern and used some Distress Ink Old Paper to ink around the edges. I added the panel to a white card base and then added the wreath with foam tape.

I used Papertrey Ink Banner die with some Kraft card stock. White heat embossed the Merry Christmas sentiment and then added some of the Distress Ink to the banner. This made the Kraft card stock even darker! I added the banner and bow to the wreath and last a few sequins to the card.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Stamping!!

InLinkz.com

Week 2:Christmas Clear and Therm O Web Swap! Plus, Challenge 196 Prep For Christmas!

Hello, Ai Fans!

It's the second week of our product swap with our friends at Therm O Web, featuring our 5 NEW 2016 Christmas clear stamp sets! 

This past week, our designers have had so much fun using a variety of Therm O Web products, from adhesives to beautiful foiling products to add a special touch to your creations! Enter our raffle here for a chance to win a grand prize of Therm O Web products, and be sure to head over to the Therm O Web Blog for a chance to win a grand prize of our new Christmas sets!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last week, Renee gave a beautiful tutorial using the Southwest Christmas Set! Since this is week two, the full design team is here to share MORE fabulous Ai-ToW creations! Click on the designer's name to learn more about their card, including which Therm O Web products they used! You can grab these stamp sets for yourself at artimpressions.com!

Cheri featuring our Christmas Wreath Set

Dana featuring our Christmas Wreath Set

Diane featuring our Merriest Christmas Set

Karen featuring our Dairy Christmas Set

Kerry featuring our Christmas Wreath Set

Kerry featuring our Southwest Christmas Set

Renee featuring our Southwest Christmas Set and Dairy Christmas Set

 Sharon featuring our Christmas Wreath Set & Dreaming Shaker Set

Sharon featuring our Merriest Christmas Set

WOW, designers! Gorgeous Christmas cards! Love all the foiling fun, too!

Are you starting to think about this years Christmas cards? Join in our challenge! This challenge is all about prepping for Christmas and getting some cards done early this year! It's easy to join our challenge, just use the InLinkz to share your creation!

Here are the challenge rules …

✻ Please make a new card or creation. You can make any crafty 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!

✻ 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 by clicking and commenting your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by Wednesday, November 9th at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up