All Creatures Great and Small with Guest Designer Diane Zechman

Hello everyone!

I'm so excited that our very first Guest Designer challenge is now
complete and we have our first winner!

Gennette stepped up and was our first Guest Designer since we didn't
have a winner yet. She made us two beautiful cards.

Our entrants followed our color challenge and we selected
Ginger McNally!

She used the recent 5868 - Daffodil & Tulip Set along with the 2016 Bunny Freebie that was a recent Throwback.  If you're wondering what a Throwback is, it's a set or sets that have been retired but has been re-released for a 3 day period.  There is no other company I know of that re-releases sets that they have retired. Art Impressions values their fans and loves giving new fans a second chance at stamps they may have missed out on. 

Congratulations Ginger!

 

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice and she will give me your email address so that we can 

begin brainstorming for our March challenge when you will be our Guest Designer!

Now for our Lucky Random Winner who will receive the super sweet EXX5582 Exclusive Bear Freebie.

Congratulations Tasie!

You've won this stamp!

 Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com with your email and address so that 
I can get this little cutie in the mail for you. 

Now that we have our winners from our first Guest Designer challenge, let's see what our second Guest Designer, Diane Zechman has created!

Her challenge was All Creatures Great and Small.

She needed to use an animal on her card.

Let's see what she made!

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Hello friends! I was previously on the Art Impressions Design Team and although I have taken some time now to care for my grandkids, I am still in love with Bonnie's stamps. They are timeless, classic, and oh so FUN! When I was asked to Guest Design for February and told that the Theme is All Creatures Great and Small (Animals), I immediately thought of the Llama Set from the Funny Farm Series which I purchased a while back but hadn't used yet. It's an awesome set!

Products used: Ai 5458- Llama Set, 5463- Slimline Dies, 5135- Hexagon Double Stitched Dies, and 5133- Flag Double Stitched Dies.

This cute llama needed some bright and fun papers, and I colored the images with Copic markers to match. I cut some strips of the patterned papers, each about 2" wide, then taped them together on the backside. This long piece was then die cut with one of the slimline dies to create the background. Then I offset 3 of the flags and the stitched hexagon die cuts were placed on a diagonal for a bit of whimsy. The second photo has a close-up showing the pot of flowers and cacti popped up with foam tape.

For the inside of the card, I added another one of the sentiments in the set and stamped the 2 llamas with orange ink.

I hope you join this month’s challenge and I am looking forward to seeing all of your creatures, great and small!

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Hey everyone!

It's Reneé.

I want to thank Diane for her beautiful card and for being part of our Guest Designer challenge for February. She is missed on our Daily Design Team.

I hope you like this month's challenge and will join us!
The winner will be announced in the first few days of the following month.  The challenges end on the last day and a new one begins on the first but I may not always have time to announce the winner on the first, when the new challenge premieres. I appreciate your patience.

A few of our DT Members also are enjoying playing along with this challenge.

Check out their beautiful and adorable creations!

Jami

                

Sharon

Lynn

Tricia

Tasha

I also have a little bonus prize!

For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.
These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally
and not Art Impressions.

This month I have the Exclusive Frog Freebie EX5584 from 2022.
You will be automatically entered to win when you upload your project to the challenge.

Good luck everyone!

I can't wait to see what you create.

Here is the fine print:

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation.
✻You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. 

✻You MUST use Art Impressions stamps or dies! You may use other companies products but the main focus should be on Ai items.

✻If you win, you will receive one free stamp set of your choice. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) and you will mail your project to Art Impressions at your expense. (cheapest method possible is fine) International winners may submit photos through email. We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻We love to comment on your entries, but keep in mind if you use a private group or a platform that you need to sign up for, we probably won't be able to.

✻ 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 if you can, by clicking and commenting on your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by the deadline to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Hello 2022 Lets Get in Shape with Challenge 318

 Hello Ai fans!

We're back and we hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season!

This will be our first challenge of 2022 and we hope you like it.

Getting in shape isn't just a New Years resolution for people.  Cards look great in shapes too!

For this challenge we want to see your shaped cards or 3-D projects/crafts.  No square or rectangular cards.

We have a guest designer sharing her inspiration to get your creative minds spinning.

Diane Zechman, formerly of our DT has created an adorable mitten card using the Art Impressions

4935 – Sparkle & Cheer Set.

It's never too early to start your Christmas cards.  Now Diane already has one put away for this Christmas.  How cute is this card??  We love how his mitten matches the mitten he's mounted to.

Thank you for sharing Diane!

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!

* Please include first name and last initial on your submission.

✻ 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 if you can by clicking and commenting your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by the deadline to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping! 

New year,  new challenge rewards!

There will be two winners chosen for each challenge.

One winner will be voted upon.
One winner will be chosen randomly.

Each winner will receive one free stamp set of their choice.

At the end of the two week challenge, winners will be selected that Wednesday evening. The winners will be announced on the new challenge blog post the following day.

Good luck!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fan Group Features Part 3

Hello Ai fans! 

Is it just me or is September flying by?
I can't believe this is our 3rd fan group feature already!
These amazing artists have been filling in while Jil from our Design Team is away.

Kicking off week three is Irm Fondse-Beerens! 

She used 5376 Basic scene, 5371 Barn set, 4607 Flowering mailbox, 5388 Rugged tree, 5010 Tree set 1, 5426 Veggies, 5416 Vintage car set, 4052 Flower 1, 4051 Foliage 1, 5007 Foliage 3, 5372 Mini Foliage, 5414 Small rocks set and 4964 Branches.  Irm created a farm scene that reminds us of where we live.  So pretty!

Oh De Furey!! 
Cardinals are not the state bird of 7 states for no reason!  Your bird is so beautiful as is your entire scene. Your rustic wooden barrel is so realistic!  De used 5414 small rocks, 5261 Bird, 4871 rustic containers

5418 “Kendra" dots, Grasses 4875, 5007, 5059 and tiny grass, Tombows #177, 969, 528 and 856

Our fan group shares aren't limited to just fans.  Some are former Design Team members.  We all miss Diane Zechman's weekly inspiration terribly!  She used 5193- Woodland Holiday Set and 5134- Banner Double Stitched Dies on her sweet, rustic Christmas cards! We LOVE owls!!

Debbie Hedges...what can we say?  You've all heard "simple and elegant"...that describes her style.  She is an amazing artist that creates many sweet and simple scenes for the most perfect cards!
She used 5194 - WC Shoe Set, 5059 - WC Harvest Set, 4868 - WC Flower Set 2, 4604 - WC Chest of Flowers, 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4, 5418 - Bible Foliage Set 2, 4051 - WC Foliage Set, 5414 - WC Small Rocks Set, 5064 - Circle Double Stitched Dies

Diane Mason!  This woman can PAINT!!  
I dream of having this spooky pumpkin topiary on my front porch!

Art Impressions Stamps used for Decorative Pumpkin Topiary:  4870 - WC Ornate Container Set, 5426 - WC Veggies, 5069 - WC Harvest Set, 4964 - WC Branches Set, 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2, 5018 - WC Cobblestone Set, 5065 - Oval Double Stitched Dies

Kathy Acres created the sweetest  (Yes, pun intended...) Gingerbread Cubbies #5178 card!!  The Cubbies are a very cute, interactive more recent line at Art Impressions.  Kathy has shown us how much fun this set can be!  They are so easy to assemble because they come with matching dies so you don't have to fussy cut!

Michelle Hoskins is so good at using Art Impressions stamps and then adding her own personal touch to create fabulous scenes.  In this one there are two tiny, hiding gnomes.  I found them.  Can you?  She used 5102- Succulents set, 4763- Southwest, 5009- Mini flower set, 

4051- Foliage set,  5015- Hobbit Door set, 4961- WC Mini Cottages set, 5265- WC Wrought Iron set

Our personal favorite cards are fall themed cards and Roberta Bostrom has shown why!  Her fall wreath is just perfect with those colors and pumpkins and gourds!  We think she's channeling her inner Karen Day with the plaid paper background!   Beautiful!  She used 5426 – WC Veggies, 5418 – Bible Foliage Set 2,  branches, foliage sets 2 and 3.

Ruthan Plant has taken me back to my childhood.  I grew up on the road where the very first hot air balloon pilot in my area lived.  When the kids would hear the burner firing we'd come running.  He would "hop" us across his horse pasture before taking up his paying customers.  Ruthan's scene is just stunning with her balloon meandering down the river bed.  This is so peaceful!  She used  #5378 WC Stone Creek Scene, #5372 WC Mini Foliage Set, and #5120 WC Palm Tree Set

Sharon's cards are just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!  Always!  This time she used 4382 Giant Cake Set with a sentiment from 5280 Practically Perfect Set.  Her cards are fun and bright and would put a smile on anyone's face.  She's a former DT member and always has amazing inspiration for you!

We can't believe that next Tuesday is the last of our fan group shares.  There has been so much

lovely inspiration through all of these amazing cards.  We'll miss these ladies but look forward to having JIL back!!  Don't forget to check out our bi-weekly challenges too!  You could win 3 stamp sets of your choice!

Happy Stamping!

 

Fan Group Features Part 2

 Hello Ai fans!

It's Tuesday #2 for our Fan Group Features!

These fabulous artists are fans of Art Impressions
and let me tell you...WE'RE fans of them!

These fabulous ladies have agreed to step in and share their
artwork each Tuesday in September to fill in while our DT
member Jil is away.

Toni Woods is a friend of Ruthan Plant and they have been into circles lately.
She created a beautiful farm scene (love those flowers!) using: 4962 Rustic Cabins, 4964 Branch Set, 5059 Harvest Set, 5371 Barn Set, 5416 Vintage Car Set, 5372 Mini Foliage, 5009 Mini Flower Set, 5120 Palm Tree Set
Tombow Colors used: 969, 80, 16, 13, 23, 27, 28, 8, 64, 6, 61, and 1. 

Sharon Caudle is a former Design Team member and we miss her terribly!
She was famous for her bright colors and bows.  Sharon used 4383 Wine Tasters Set.

Ruthan loves to create elaborate nature scenes.  Her gorgeous pond scene is so sweet!  She used #5418 Bible Foliage Set 2, #5424 WC Pond Set, #5054 WC Little Boys Set, #4964 WC Branches Set, #5372 WC Mini Foliage Set,  Her pier and fishing pole are hand drawn and she changed the little boys arms to hold fishing pole.  (that's another talent she has...altering stamps to fit her needs)




We're all about the fall scenes right now and Roberta Bostrom created an amazingly sweet scene using 5426 – WC Veggies, 4703 – Flower Cart, 4867 – WC Foliage Set 2 and the retired Furries.  Are you in the mood to visit a pumpkin farm now too?

Michelle Hoskins is known for her hand-drawn scenes mixed with Art Impressions stamps.  Her card is perfect for the current Shaken, Not Stirred (cards with drinks challenge)  Her marshmallow mug couldn't be more perfect.  She used 

4961 WC Mini cottages,  front of Gingerbread house

4867 WC Foliage set 2, pine branch for garland

5009 WC Mini flower set, small leafy branch in garland.

Kathy Acres co-runs The Art Impressions Way with Ruthan Plant.  Her cards are always a great inspiration!  She used Cake Set #539, Canson 140 lb watercolor paper and 

Tombow markers. Colors used...291, 451, 491, 723, 743, 991, N65

Jane Haurunen created the sweetest fall scene using 5191 – Feast Mode Set.  She cut the leaf off from the fox stamp so it could easily be used on it's own.  Her background was created using archival Goldenrod and Sunflower ink.

Irm Fondse-Beerens created an adorable Christmas card using a combination of watercolor and regular stamps.  Her little dots of snow create a wonderful dimension around Santa!  She used 5040 Sleigh bells set, 5373 LG Tree set, 5284 Small Alphabet set (used the i for the dash -)

5071 Serif Letters set, 4964 Branches set, 4051 Foliage set, 4052 Flower set, 

5418 Bible Foliage set, 4960 Fir Trees set

Debbie Hedges got creative and masked off a portion of her stamp to make a smaller project.  She's great at showing how versatile these stamps are.  Her card was created by 5435R - WC Foundations Potting Bench, 4876 - WC Wooden Chair, 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2, 4868 - WC Flower Set 2, 4875 - WC Garden Wagon, 5268 - WC Flower Set 4, 4604 - WC Chest of Flowers, 4603 - WC Blooming Birdhouse, 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4

De Furey created a beautiful birthday card.  Who doesn't love flowers on their birthday, especially when they're this pretty! She used Ornate containers 4870, 5373 large tree set, 5372 mini foliage, 5169 He Leads Me (Hobby Lobby), Oval Double Stitched Dies 5065, Tombows 565  969 177 837

Diane Mason is such a talented artist and often adds hand-drawn accents to make her pieces just perfect!  For her BOO card she used 5071 - WC Serif Letters Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4, 5426 - WC Veggies, Foliage Set 4051

Ghost, spider, web and pumpkin face are hand-drawn
Can you believe that "see through" ghost?

Former Design Team member Diane Zechman couldn't resist the recent 34th Anniversary sale and stocked up on new Matchbook sets.  She created the cutest little scene for some lucky persons birthday!  Her card was created using Matchbook Template, Envelope, Birthday Set, and Wall Accessories.  Thank you Diane!  We miss you!

Thank you so much ladies!  If you'd like to see even more inspiration for these and other fantastic artists then join one of the fan groups!  They aren't affiliated with Art Impressions but are a great source for card ideas and a great place to ask or answer questions and make new friends!

Art Impressions Stamp Group

The Art Impressions Way

Happy Stamping and don't forget to enter our card
challenges to win 3 free stamp sets of your choice!

Produce Stand MTF by Diane Zechman

Hello Ai friends! Wishing you a happy and safe Memorial Day!

Today I am sharing a card I made using one of the Ai Mini Try-folds sets. Here I used 4970- Produce Stand MTF. Are you having a picnic or get-together today with family and friends? Today's card is all about those yummy fruits we will surely be eating!

I love how you can peek through each layer of the tryfold cards and see the images inside. Here you get a little peek of a cute critter having a sweet summertime snack.  My card base is 4 1/4 x 11. Each end is scored @ 3 5/8".

The front awning, die cut, closed...

...and open...

The second image is a cute window with more fruit.

The inside sentiment and raccoon...

What a sweet set!

Have a great Monday and… happy stamping!