April 2026 Monthly Challenge: Springtime Bunny by Debbie Hedges

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to our April Monthly Guest Designer Challenge!
This time Debbie has the sweetest little bunny for you.
After you read through her post and admire her card, be sure to
scroll down to see who our March winners were.

Happy April everyone! It’s almost Easter and I am enjoying spring flowers in bloom!

or my April project, I wanted a simple scene with a bunny in a meadow with some rocks and flowers surrounding him. I used the left facing bunny #5870 Peeking Bunny and stamped him on the right side in Pumice Stone Distress Ink. Then I inked a few of the rocks from #5378 WC Stone Creek Scene in Pumice Stone Distress Ink and stamped them to the left of the bunny.

Using #75 sky blue, I added sky, adding color so there were light and dark areas and also some white space to show clouds. I usually add sky first so I don’t have to work around the flowers later. I then painted the bunny in #84 taupe. I used #67 bubblegum pink for his ears and once he was dry, used my black Micron to darken his eyes. I colored the rocks next, leaving a highlight on the top and using a variety of grey and brown tones (#40 brownish grey, #21 dark grey, #45 sepia, #15 olive green, and #84 taupe).

Next, I made a mask of the bunny and stamped grass on both sides of him in #15 olive green, using the teeny tiny grass (#4051) and the grass from #5826 WC Large Tree Set 2. I also added some grass along the bottom right of my project. I pulled the color out of the lines and then used a single flower from #6055 Water of Life Set to stamp the flowers on the right in #79 grape.

For the flowers on the left, I started by inking the small vine stamp from #5126 Foliage Set 4 and stamped it several times for light and dark to create the base of the plant (I made a mask of the rocks to protect them for this step). I used #15 olive green for the foliage. The long stem is also from set #6055 and I inked it in #93 aubergine and used my stamp positioner to stamp it 3 times and then touched each bloom with my brush to soften the color. The tall grass is from #4875 Garden Wagon Mini set. I inked it in #15 olive green and inked the ends in #8 violet. Using my positioner, I stamped it twice. I then used the fine tip and added a few more flower bud dots in violet. I added the hint of a tree by inking leaves from #5126 and stamping them twice in the left corner of my project.

To finish up, I used #15 olive green to anchor the rocks and bunny by adding some “ground” as grass along the base of the rocks, bunny and grass. With Dr Ph Martin’s Bleed Proof White, I added dots to the bunny tail so it would look fluffy – but left the shading at the base. I also added a few dots along the ground and in the grass I added at the bottom right. I also used the fine point of my taupe marker to darken areas on the bunny and rocks for shading.

I still use Marvy Le Plume markers for my projects.  Most of these can be converted to Tombow colors, but choose colors that work for you. These just happen to be some of my go-to colors for any project I work on. (Here is the link for the Tombow conversion chart: https://www.artimpressions.com/shop/art-impressions-most-loved-color-conversion-chart/)

I hope you’ll give this project a try and please be sure to post your version so we can all enjoy it! Also, don’t forget to enter the Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set! Happy stamping!

Now let's see who won our March Challenge!

Our Lucky Random Winner was: #3

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

The winner of a freebie from me is #18

Please email me at Renee@artimpressions.com
with your full name and address and I'll send you a photo of the freebies I have available for you to choose from.

Now for our new monthly challenge, here are the rules.

 ✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation using either stamps, dies and or designer paper from Art Impressions. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)

✻ Limit two submissions per person.

One random winner will receive a free stamp set from Art Impressions and one random winner will receive a freebie stamp from me.

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission. You may include your entire last name, but it's not necessary.

✻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 stamping!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Barn with Sheep and Easter Chick Cards

 

Good morning! I love my turn for Watercolor Weekend. 

_____________________

My first card features an old barn with sheep grazing in the pasture below. I began by stamping the barn using Tombow markers 565 and 969, stamping off twice. Next, I determined the placement of the fences and where the sheep would graze. I stamped the sheep with the Archival Shadow Grey ink pad to preserve the details in the stamps. I added color and texture with the flowers and rocks included in the Fear Not stamp set. Lastly, I hand-drew the mountains in the background. For the final touch, I used Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White to add some small flowers and highlights.

Tombow markers used: 856, 969, 565, 177, 269, 977, 992, N45, N55, N65, 761, 817, 515, and 126.

____________________

I know that Easter was last weekend, but I had this card prepared in advance and still wanted to share it with all of you. 

This card took a bit more time, but I love how it turned out. First, I cut out the "Easter" using masking paper and then figured out its placement. Next, I used various flowers to stamp around the masked letters, adding color and texture. After that, I cut out "Easter" again using paper from the 6033 – Inspirational Easter paper pack and attached it with dimensional tape. I turned the eggs in the flowerpot from the 6008 – Bunny Hugs set to the side to create a trail of eggs in the grass. I stamped and painted the chicks, flowers, butterfly, and bee nest. Finally, I cut a purple trim from paper 5849 – Halloween S2 – using the 5972 – BJ Decorative Margin dies. I used dimensional tape to attach the bee and butterfly. As always, I finished with Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White to complete the card.

____________________

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend, and I will be here again next month !

Pop It Up! Challenge #374 Week 2

  Welcome to week two of our POP IT UP! challenge
here on the Art Impressions blog!

This time, we want you to pop something up.

It can be as simple as using foam tape to pop up an image or sentiment or 
making a pop card. Anything like an easel card or a stair card etc. will work.

So many possibilities!

I was our featured artist last week and made 6 Gift Card Holders.

5872 – Bunny GCH Set
5892 – Easter S2 Paper Pack
5712 – Christmas Journal Paper Pack
5344 – Envelope GCH Set
5838 – Fall Journal Paper Pack
5562 – Journal Letter Die Set (for the center of the eyes I used the center of the letter O)
Bleed Proof White

Lynn used:

5872 – Bunny GCH Set
5344 – Envelope GCH Set
Nested Heart Dies (5721)
Find her video tutorial for her bunnies HERE.

Tasha used:

5733 – Easter Sentiments Set

5870 – Peeking Bunny Set

5892 – Easter S2 Paper Pack

Janet used:

5870 – Peeking Bunny Set

5793-Mini Journal Birthday Set

5103-Flip Card Die (sentiment)

5866-Mini Birthday Sentiment Set

5892 – Easter S2 Paper Pack

Front of card

Inside of card.

Sharon used:

5349 Koalas Set

5873 Mini Birthday PP

5723 Journal Cover and Bookmark Dies

5811 Gift Card Pocket Dies

Now let's see what YOU create!!

Enter your project for a chance to win a free stamp set. 

We award a Top Spot and a Lucky Random Winner.

✻ 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 will receive extra votes if you use Art Impressions stamps!

 ✻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 stamping!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Bonus Watercolor Weekend with Guest Designer Dot Freel!

 Hello Ai fans!

Happy Easter!!

As you know, every Sunday we have a Watercolor Weekend post from one of our fabulous Watercolor Design Team members. There are 4 designers because there are usually 4 Sundays in a month.
This month is special. Not only were there 5 Sundays, today is Easter Sunday!

We are so lucky to have former DT Member Dot Freel as our special "5th Sunday" Guest Designer.

She created a gorgeous Spring scene featuring a sweet bunny and a beautiful church because...it's Easter of course!

Let's hear all about Dot's card.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

It's been a while since I posted on my blog. I get to be a guest designer on the Art Impressions blog this weekend and was inspired by where I live now in beautiful Bella Vista, Arkansas. Spring is so gorgeous here with all the green and the white and purple trees blooming. There are also daffodils all over town. There are bridges and churches and lots of water here. I'm so happy I moved after living in the desert of Las Vegas, NV for 36 years. 

I started this by stamping the 5526 Footbridge Simple Scene. Next, I stamped the church on the hill from the 5058 WC Church set. I knew I needed color under the trees so the white would show up so I colored everything including the sky then stamped the smaller tree from the 5010 WC Tree set in the four places. I used the flowers from the 4052 Flower Set for the purple tree in Tombow 685. The yellow and pink flowers are the dots from that same flower set. The grass is from the 4051 Foliage set in front by the bunny from the 5737 Bunny and Chicks set. The foliage in the back is from the 5372 Mini Foliage Set. The white trees are made using the Dr. Ph Martin's bleed proof white. I hope you guys give this a try and tag me in it if you do, please. Happy Easter! 

Thank you so much Dot! We love your card.

Happy Easter everyone. Have a safe and wonderful day with your friends and family.

Pop It Up! Challenge #374 Week 1

 Welcome to our newest challenge here on the Art Impressions blog!

This time, we want you to

POP IT UP!

Use foam tape to pop up elements, create a pop card of some sort...whatever your heart desires, as long as something is popped up or out.

So...my challenge feature is actually the next one but I am filling in for this one too.

Why, you ask?

Up until now, we haven't found a replacement for our open DT position. Lucky for us, now we have!

We didn't have time to get her all set up this quickly but she'll be joining us in April and you're going to LOVE her!  She's a wonderful marker artist and makes the most adorable cards, many of them dimensional, interactive or shaped cards. For now, you'll have to wait, but just know that we cannot wait to share her work!

Let's see who won our last challenge before I share my projects with you.

Our Top Spot Winner was #5 Lisa L.

She used 5280 - Practically Perfect Girlfriends set and 

5722 - Birthday Journal set for the balloons and banners.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Our Lucky Random Winner was:
#7 Leslie T.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Congratulations to our winners!

Now, I'd like to share my Easter projects with you.

I used the brand new ADORABLE 5872 – Bunny GCH Set.

This is meant to be used with the 5344 – Envelope GCH Set
but if you saw my post on Tuesday, you can see
that it can be used on it's own or on a card.

I made 6 Gift Card Holders in 3 different designs.
My popped up elements are the bows, hands and hats.
I placed them on dimensional foam tape to give my GCHs a 3-D look.

My first was a sweet little girl bunny in delicate pinks and pastels.

My second was a little more "upscale" version done in gray and yellow,
with some glitter and velvet to glam it up.

The black, inner part of the eye was made using the little center hole in the letter O from the Journal Letter Die set.

For my third design, I wanted to include the boys. (You all know I love making masculine projects)

I used the inner ear die along with the eye to create a newsboy cap.

This is just the CUTEST set and I can't get enough of it!
Links to all of the Art Impressions dies and papers I used are below.

I hope you've all been enjoying all of the Easter inspiration the Design Teams have been sharing.

We love seeing what you've all created.

Now let's see what YOU create!!

Enter your project for a chance to win a free stamp set. 

We award a Top Spot and a Lucky Random Winner.

✻ 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 will receive extra votes if you use Art Impressions stamps!

 ✻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 stamping!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Beautiful Bonnie Bunny Place Card by Reneé Matarese

 Hello everyone and Happy Tuesday!

Today I'm sharing a pair of Easter Place Cards that I made using the new 5872 – Bunny GCH Set.

This set is meant to be a gift card holder add on in conjunction with the 5344 – Envelope GCH Set 
but I also instantly saw adorable place cards for Easter!

Bonnie and Phil's names are written on the little headband 

from the set that I just turned upside down.

Phil's "Page Boy" hat is just one of the inner ear dies turned on its side with
the eye die used for a button.

I used the star and the easel die from the the 5318 – MB Envelope Dies. The star is on the front, and the easel die is used to prop up the place card.

Watercolor Weekend March 24, 2024

Watercolor Weekend with Jami Steiger

Good morning Watercolor Weekend Friends!  

Spring time is my favorite time of the year.  The colors of spring are definitely the colors I love most, especially pink and teal.  For my first card I really enjoyed painting and adding in many details to make the 5432 WC Foundations Chairs look ready for spring with some darling animals from 5116 Basket of Blessings. This card looks simple but was honestly a little challenging because I had to mask off quite a few things in order to add the eggs, chick, bow and rabbit.  I love how it turned out.  To start  this card I stamped the chairs first being careful not to color the stamp where the chick and rabbit would be sitting.  Then I made masks for all of the pots and bowl using the Post-it cover-up tape.  There were some places on the chair stamp that I had to draw in with a pencil such as the back of the blue chair and the legs on the pink chair.  The beauty of these types of stamps is that not everything has to be perfect.  It just adds to the charm of the artwork.  After everything was painted, I added white details using Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White and added two tiny rhinestones to the center of the flowers on the rabbit and flower that the chick is holding.  I then used a decorative die for the top and bottom of the watercolor painting and matted it onto gorgeous yellow gingham from 5838 Fall Paper Pack.

These are the following stamp sets that I used to make this card:  5488 Front Porch Easter (bow and basket of eggs); 5116 Basket of Blessings (chick and rabbit); 5432 WC Foundations Chairs; 4051 Foliage Set; 5007 WC Foliage Set 3; 5126 WC Foliage Set 4; 5126 WC Flower Set 5; 5475 WC Flower Set 6.  

Tombow Markers: 025, 991. 515, 401, 969, 603, 992, 977, 990, 569, 772, N55, 158, 947 and 177 (I used the same markers for both cards.)

For my second card I used the 5870 Peeking Bunny set.  This stamp set has so many adorable images.  I started this card by stamping many peeking bunnies and bunny butts onto watercolor paper. I had about six of each stamped onto the paper and I painted them in different shades of brown, gray and even a pink one that you see here.  I used the matching dies and cut out all of the bunnies.  Again I stamped a bunch of eggs onto watercolor paper and then painted and die cut each one.  For my card base of blue I ran the paper through a die cutter with a die plate to give a delicate petal detail .  For the white and blue layer I used paper from the 5892 Easter Paper Pack that I then die cut a decorative edge.  I used a peek-a-boo trio die for the bunnies to be peeking from.  Next I added some final details, pom-pom for the bunny butt, a velum leaf die cut, and the adorable eggs.  I hope you enjoy each of these cards as much as I enjoyed creating them!  If you have any questions, please ask.