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

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Hope it won't take too long! by Sharon Caudle

Hello AI Fans!!

Today I've got another card featuring AiCS38 Doggy Kisses Set. I just love this little guy and the sentiment is just perfect for him! Another super simple layered card that would hopefully make someone feel a little better when they open it! 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today and until next time - stay safe, stay healthy, and stay crafty!!

hugs!

Copics used:

E33, E35, E37
BG000, BG13, BG18
G43
C2, C3

Heard it's been ruff!! by Sharon Caudle

Hello AI Fans!! 

Hope you're having a wonderful start to your weekend! Over the next several weekends, I have some get well cards to show you.  They're always so nice to have on hand for when they are needed, don't you think? So onward to week one!! Featured on this card is #AiCS38 Doggy Kisses Set. I think this sets works for both dogs and dog lovers. I love lots of layers and lots of dimension (if you couldn't tell) LOL!  I made this super simple by just layering two coordinating papers and cardstock. 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today, and until next time - stay safe, stay healthy, and stay crafty!!

hugs!

Copics used:
E11, E15, E17, E50, E51
BG000, BG32, BG34, BG49
C2, C3

Feel Better Soon by Niccole

Hello Ai fans!!

I am stopping by today to share a card I made using the Doggy Kisses stamp set from Art Impressions.  

I started by Copic coloring my wiener dog image. I trimmed him in a rectangle and added a frame in chocolate paper.  

I used the same chocolate card stock for my card base and I added some patter paper I had in my stash that had paw prints.  I added my wiener dog image to the top at an angle to give it some depth.  

I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with my Oval Double Stitched Dies.  I added a frame to it with the came chocolate card stock.  I finished it off with some clear jewels. 

Here is one more look at the finished card.

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a little time with me.  Make sure you come back soon to the Ai blog and see what the team has been up to.  

Copics used:

C1, C3

E13, E15, E17

E29, E79

Y13, Y17

YG17

Until next time ... Hugs & inky fingers!

Teenie Weenie Hug | By Jessica Shier

Hello Ai Fans!
 This week for Art Impressions I'm using the Dog Twist Ties stamp set. I was really inspired by the sentiment "sending you a teenie weenie hug", So cute! I am a dachshund lover. I wanted a color combination of purple, green and teal, very calming colors. 

The fun thing about these Twist Tie style of stamps and dies is that they lock together. The directions on the back of the package are easy to follow and give you the measurements to create your own tryfold card base.  Art Impressions does carry tryfold bases but I found it simple to create my own. 

Following the directions on the back of the packaging I scored a 9 1/2'' x 5 1/2'' card base at the 2 3/4'' and 7'' marks. The flaps are where you will stamp the weiner dogs. Each one has a little L on the bottom corners that you don't ink up but align that with the corner of your panels. 

After stamping each dog on their panels, I used the coordinating dies and sent them through my die cutting machine. Now that I have everything cut and stamped I can start coloring. I colored one of the dogs black and tan like my little weiner dog, Sobe, and the other in browns.

Using a small acrylic block I stamped the paw print in two different colors all over the front of this card. The paw print is from a different Art Impressions stamps set, Doggy Kisses. I also used one of the sentiments from that set on the inside. First though, I used a Distress Oxide ink to ink blend the inside and stamped the sentiment from the Dog Twist Ties. 

The second sentiment on the inside is stamped on a small rectangle die cut. My way of covering up my very crooked first attempt at stamping that sentiment. lol. 

Copic Markers

W6, W4, W3, W1, W0

C5, C3

E57, E35, E34, E31

R14

Alright everyone, that is it from me today! 

Thank you so much for joining me. Happy Stamping!

OUCH! Feel Better by Niccole Kulig

Hello Ai fans!!

I am stopping by today to share a card using the Doggy Kisses and Wine Divas stamp set.

I did not intend to create a one layer card but sometimes the stamps decide for you what direction you are going with your card.  LOL Anyways ... I started by stamping my sentiments in the middle in black. I used the Ouch sentiment from Doggy Kisses stamp set and I used only part of the sentiment in Wine Divas for the feel better.  From there I randomly stamped the band-aid from the Doggy Kisses stamp set in rainbow colors.

I always find it hard to photograph Wink of Stella. Do you agree?  I added Wink of Stella to all the center of the band-aids for some texture to my one layer card.

I finished it off with Nuvo Drops in the same rainbow colors to give a lot more dimension to my one layer card.  I love how cheery this card ended up being.  A great pick me up card for someone hurt or injured.

Here is one more look at the complete card ...

Remember ... try and stretch you stamps out of the norm from what they were intended for, as there is no dog on this card as the stamp set would imply, just a general feel better card.

Like I said earlier sometime a one layer card is all you need to get your point across. Please stop back again soon and see what I have been up to.

Until next time ... Hugs & inky fingers!