Worth their Weight by Bri Firth

Hello Ai Fans - Bri here! Today I am sharing a simple card design featuring the 4049 - The Weigh In Set. This project theme is perfect for Ai's current challenge, "Tickle Our Funny Bone", as it features a comical group of girlfriends trying to get in shape for summer. This stamp set is part of Ai's Girlfriends collection. For more details on how I created this card keep reading below.

First I stamped the image on a plain white A2 sized card front. I used my Copic markers to color up the girls and the rest of the scene. The colors I used are listed at the end of this blog post. To finish the card I stamped the sentiment in pigment black ink. It's such a funny quote!

Check back next week for more Ai inspiration made by me!

Copic Markers used:

Skin - E04, E11, E21, E00, E000, E0000
Lips - RV32, RV34
Red hair - E99, E97, E95, E93
Brown hair - E49, E47, E57, E55, E53
Black hair - T9, T7, T5, T3, T1
Blonde hair - E55, E53, E51, E50
Pink - RV09, RV06, RV02, RV00
Green - YG09, YG07, YG05, YG03, YG01
Blue - BG09, BG07, BG05, BG02, BG01
Purple - BV08, BV04, BV02, BV00
Orange - YR07, YR04, YR00
Yellow - Y08, Y04, Y00
Gray - C5, C3, C1

Pamper Your-Shelf! by Karen Day

 Hello Ai fans!

I am a long-time Try-fold fan, and the mini ones are especially fun to do.  I work in a library, so made this for a coworker!  Here is 4853 - Pamper Your-Shelf MTF:

The Try-folds come with wonderfully clear directions - so I followed the cutting & stamping guides to stamp each of the 3 images on my cream cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and coloured them all with my Copic markers.  I wanted the shelves to look like wood, so I used streaks of colour in various shades of brown.

There are two small dies in the set that are easy to fit over the stamped images, and they create the little windows that allow you to see through the flaps to the cute little mouse image on the inside of the card.

Since Copic markers can either bleed or show through to the back side of your cardstock, I cut out pieces of patterned paper to fit the inside of each flap, using the die to cut through that layer as well.  It makes for a prettier card, and gives a clean, finished look to your project.  There are two sentiments in the set, so I matted one for the inside of my card.

I adhered a piece of ribbon to the back side of the try-folded cream panel before attaching it to my single background sheet, so that when the card is folded up, I can tie a neat bow to hold it together.  The finished card size is just under 5" square.  You can find all the Mini Try-Folds on the Ai website here!

Winter Wonderland Scene by Bri Firth

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Today I am sharing my creation featuring the new Chubby Snowmen stamp set. This set has the most adorable snowmen and woodland critters. This stamp set even comes with coordinating dies! Keeping reading below for more details on how I made this winter wonderland creation. This card is also featured on my personal blog, check it out here! 

This holiday card was so easy to put together! First I stamped the Birch Forest background with Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide ink onto white cardstock. I trimmed the forest background image and matted it onto white cardstock with foam tape for dimension. I used a stitched hillside border die to create the snowy bank. I colored the snowman and the rabbit with my Copic Sketch markers and attached the images to the card base. I used warm grays to color the rabbit and the snowman, and I used cool grays on the snowman's attire. I used the R30's series for the scarf, candy cane, and the sash on the hat. I used Y21, YR23, and YR24 (I think?) on the bunny's bow. I also used my Copic markers to create the images' shadows in the snow. To finish the card I used an oval die to cut out the sentiment and matted it onto a larger red oval die cut and adhered it to the card design. This card is absolutely perfect for the holidays!

Check back next week for more Ai inspiration made by me!

Fly High with Bri Firth

 Hi everyone! Today I am sharing my creation for Art Impressions Quick and Simple challenge. For more information on this challenge check out the announcement here. For my submission I used the His & Hers Flying High stamp set to create a card with a simple sky background and a simple interior design.  This card is also featured on my personal blog, check it out here! 

I used Broken Glass and Tumbled Glass Distress oxides to ink blend the simple sky background onto the stitched rectangle die cut. I stamped the clouds in Broken Glass oxide ink and shaded the edges. I fussy cut the clouds and placed them on the card filling the blank space around the airplane and the banner. I colored the plane and the couple with alcohol markers and attached the image to the card using foam tape for dimension. I used a fine tip black pen to draw the rope connecting the banner to the plane. I matted the sky background and adhered it to the card base.

To decorate the interior of the card I stamped the other sentiments included in this stamp set with Broken Glass oxide ink in a zig-zag pattern. I stamped the cloud image in various locations to fill the empty space. I wanted the sentiments to look like they were floating in the sky.

Check back next week for more Ai inspiration made by me!

Fairy Flutter 29 Again?! | By Jessica Shier

 Hello Ai Fans!

It's Jessica! Today I have a funny interactive card to share with you. Have seen the Flutter sets? I've been looking at them for some time and... well... I have to say I was a little intimidated by them. Moving parts! lol. This little snarky fairy came together so quickly though. 

I'll have the list of Copic markers I used down below. I stamped the fairy on Neenah 80lb Solar white card stock with Gina K. Designs Amalgam ink in Jet Black. Then colored her in. This set comes with the dies for the fairy and wings. And also the brads (you get extras, so you can make a few!). I followed the directions on the back of the stamp packaging to assemble the fairy and to make her flutter. 

The clouds I hand drew. I had limited supplies again so I really had to stretch what I brought with me. I used a C7 Copic marker to sketch out the clouds then fussy cut them out and added a few more colors of gray. I also used Copic markers on the background. Fading for a dark blue to a light blue. This was fun to do! I did the same combo of blues for the pull flutter piece. 

I used one of the clouds to hold the sentiment that comes in this set. Lol, I just love it and I gave this card to my sister for her birthday! So it was even more hilarious to me, especially when she is the older sister. 

Here is an action shot of the fairy fluttering!

Thank you so much for joining me today! Happy stamping.

Tropical Circlet with Bri Firth

Hi everyone! Today I am sharing my creation for the Tropical Treat Challenge. For more information on this challenge check out the announcement here. For my project I made a tryfold card with Tropical Circlet MTF stamp set. This card is also featured on my personal blog, check it out here! 

Art Impressions makes a lot of fun and interactive stamp sets, but currently I really like the Circlet Mini Tryfolds. These tryfold cards have such a unique layering effect and they are super easy to make with the pre-made tryfold cardstock and envelope packs. 

To make this I card I first stamped the front leaf wreath and die cut the hole within the center of the leaves. I also traced the front opening onto the middle panel with a pencil so I could line up the center image with the front image. To decorate the front panel I die cut a circle mask to protect the stamped image. Then, I ink blended a sunset ombre background. I adhered a tropical leaf printed vellum over top the background and added some floral and sequin embellishment.

Second, I stamped the beach image within the pencil marked outline on the middle panel. I repeated the steps above to stamp the ocean image on the back panel. To decorate the inner panels I used some retired tropical themed scrapbook paper. I die-cut the panels once again so you could see the images through the various layers of cardstock. For some extra fun I used a white gel pen to add some birds flying over the ocean. 

I finished the card by coloring all the stamped scenes with my Copic Sketch alcohol markers. I love all the vibrant colors showcased throughout this card! The middle panel and back panel are showcased below.

Check back next week for more Ai inspiration made by me!

Cake and Confetti Slimline Card by Bri Firth

 Hi everyone! Today I am sharing this bright and colorful card I made with the Birthday Circlet MTF stamp set. These images work wonderfully when stacked on top of each other (like a tryfold) or when stamped side-by-side. This card is also featured on the my personal blog, check it out here!

First, I stamped the three tryfold circle images on the cardstock with the front image on the left, middle image on the right, and back image in the center. Then I masked the circle images to ink blend the background. 

Before coloring the party images I browsing birthday color schemes on Pinterest. I was looking for bright but somewhat neutral colors. I decided on the the color scheme below. I colored the stamped images with my Copic Sketch alcohol markers. 

Next, to decorate the background I used the confetti stencil and mint colored ink to ink blend the cardstock. I finished the project by matting the card front with coral solid cardstock. 

Check back next week for more Ai inspiration made by me!

Birthday Fishes | By Jessica Shier

 Hello Ai Fans!

It's Jessica today on the blog. As some of you may know I love the critter stamps from Art Impressions. The dogs and cats are some of my favorites and the Real Great Guy stamp set as the most adorable dog floating in the water! So I thought I would combine him with some of the other smaller stamp sets and create an alcohol ink background to go along with him. I also wanted to keep the color scheme to a minimal again. I love mixing teal and orange together, such a great color combination for fall and more masculine cards.

I don't really have anyone that loves to fish. My husband and I have talked about it, just to try something new but to real avid fishers. My mom did have a Dachshund that loved to go fishing. She would dive in to the water after them! 

The background is a mix of alcohol inks on vellum. I'll have the list of colors I used down below in the product list. To add some shine I did use the Silver and Snow Cap Mixatives and also the Alcohol Pearl in Tranquil. I like using the alcohol ink on vellum because it makes your piece a little more transparent then on regular Yupo paper. Something different and fun to try out. By adding a a teal card stock behind the vellum it intensifies the teal colors of the alcohol inks. Adding a gray card stock tones the colors down a bit and a white brightens them. 

I stamped the images on to Neenah 80lb cardstock and die cut them using different shaped dies. I used several of the squares from Art Impressions Square double stitch die set. For the fish jumping out of the bucket I used one of the smaller rectangle dies from the Rectangle double stitch die set. I also tend to die cut the my panels for cards a lot with the second to largest rectangle die. It's the perfect size to layer on a A2 card front. 

The sentiment I used two inks from Gina K. Designs and stamped it in sections. The lighter color at the top and a darker ink color towards the bottom. This gives a fun gradient design. I don't utilize this technique enough! I also die cut the sentiment with one of the tag dies.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Happy Stamping!

 

Happy Birthday to roo! | BY Jessica Shier

Hello Ai fans!

It's Jessica and happy Friday! We made it to the weekend. Today I have a card to share using the Kangaroo Mouthful set. These are super cute stamps and dies. Each on comes with plenty of accessories to create with. They are called mouthfuls because they come with the die that die cuts a line around the mouth, or in the case of the Kangaroo set, the pouch! This is where you can tuck in a few of the fun accessories images. 

Now I'm not ready for Summer to be over just yet...lol! But I was intrigued with playing with the color orange. Using a limited color palette can be fun and challenging. I'll have the marker colors I used listed down below. 

I started by stamping the cluster of balloons onto a piece of Neenah 80lb Solar White card stock. I used several dies on this card; the Circle Double Stitch die, Rectangle Double Stitch die and the Banner die set. I used all the orange colors on the accessory stamps and colored the Kangaroos in gray colors. The large Kangaroo doesn't have a coordinating die in this set but it is easy to fussy cut out. I chose to tuck the present into the kangaroo's pouch. 

Thank you so much for joining me today! Happy stamping.

1 Sketch 10 Cards with Stackers | By Jessica Shier

Hello Ai Fans!

It's Jessica today and I have a card sketch to share with you. If you didn't see the challenge for the next couple of weeks, make sure to head over and check out the information. Art Impressions is partnering with Scrapbook.com for Cards for Kindness! I created a simple card sketch, to create a lot of 10 cards to send in.

You can find the card sketch down below. I hope it inspires you to create your own lot of cards to send in! I started with stamping all of the Art Impressions Stackers ( the ones I have... so far) with Gina K. Designs Amalgam ink, on Neenah Solar White 80lb cardstock. There a quite a few designs in this category and the ones I'll be using are the; Turtle, Duck and Dog Stackers. 

For the most part I colored all the turtles the same, along with the dogs and ducks. Except for one stack of ducks. I thought it would be fun to have some gray colored ducks on a rainbow background. So that is the exclusion from the rest. I'll have the list of markers down below for the different combinations I used. To make this easier on me, I did repeat quite a few markers, while coloring all the critters. 

Here is the card sketch that I came up with. Please feel free to use and share.

For a few of the cards I mixed up some shapes using a few Art Impressions dies like the large banner and rounded rectangle.

I also used Tombow markers on a few. The diagonal watercolor line is easy to do with masking tape on watercolor paper.

A couple of my favorites are the rainbow card stock striped backgrounds with the gold watercolor paint splatter. I love a little planned splatter on backgrounds and I used anything from paint to sequins.

I do have to say it was fantastic practice coloring the same images multiple times. Plus playing with different color combinations and textures always puts a smile on my face. Like revisiting the basics. 

Thank you so much for joining me today. Happy Stamping!