February 2026 Monthly Challenge with Simone

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our February Monthly Challenge.
We have a gorgeous LOVE themed card from Guest Designer Simone to inspire you.

As always, this challenge has no theme so anything you want to create is fine as long as you use something from Art Impressions on it. You might be the next winner of a free stamp set from Art Impressions. Winner is chosen randomly so all skill levels have a fair chance of winning. One lucky winner will also receive a freebie from me.

After admiring Simone's beautiful work, be sure to scroll down to see the winners of our last challenge.

Then, be sure to read our very special announcement.

Hello Friends,

February is the perfect time to celebrate love, warmth, and a little creative joy, and I’m excited to share today’s card with you. I began on Canson Watercolor Paper by tracing the 4th largest heart-shaped die, then lightly penciling in the bow and stem to guide my layout.

I stamped both the sitting gnome and the standing gnome using Archival Ink Shadow Grey. The sitting gnome was first stamped onto masking paper and fussy cut, then placed over the stamped image. Using a stamp positioner, I inked the flower pot with Tombow 565 + 969 directly onto the acrylic plate, then stamping it off twice for a softer look. Once I had the placement just right, I removed the acrylic plate and stamped the pot onto the paper.

After removing the mask from the sitting gnome, I began coloring. I colored the bow first, then covered it with masking tape before stamping foliage inside the heart. With a #4 brush and a touch of water, I gently dabbed the foliage to soften the look. Once the mask was removed from the bow, I stamped a few additional foliage pieces so they slightly overlapped the bow for added depth.

After painting the pot and gnomes, I placed the mask back over the sitting gnome to stamp flowers and grass inside the pot. I also stamped grass around the pot and near the standing gnome to ground the scene. To finish, I used Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White to paint delicate white flowers within the heart and grass, and added tiny white hearts to the bow for a sweet final touch.

I hope you give this project a try and have fun creating your own cozy, love-filled scene.

Materials Used

Stamps

Gnomes Set (5785)

Flower Set 2 (4868)

Foliage Set 1 (4051)

Foliage Set 3 (5007)

Bible Foliage Set – Small Grass (5073)

Ornate Container (4870)

Dies

Nested Heart Die – 4th Largest (5721)

Paper

Canson Watercolor Paper

Valentine’s Patterned Paper (5741)

Inks & Coloring Mediums

Archival Ink – Shadow Grey (for stamping gnomes)

Tombow Markers:

933 – Gnome shirt, flowers

856 – Bow, pot, flower centers

245 – Gnome hat

555 – Gnome pants

942, 912 – Gnome nose and hands

027 – Pot

947 – Gnome shoes, shirt

N55 – Gnome beard

177 – Grass, heart

526 – Sky

969 + 565 – Stamped pot

Other

Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

Lovely Simone. Thank you so much for your inspiration.

Now, let's see who won our January 2026 challenge.

The winner of a free stamp set from Art Impressions is:
#10 Ellen M and the winner of the free stamp set from me is #8 Julie W.

Ellen, 

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Julie,

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.

Congratulations to both of our January winners. We LOVED all of the entries and we hope you'll continue to enter. We can't wait to see your beautiful art each month.

Now for our special announcement.

Though we've loved having Simone as a special Guest Designer, it's time for her to move on.

Don't be too sad though...

She's moving on to become a full time Watercolor Design Team member!!

You'll now get to see her on a more regular basis!
She'll have her own Watercolor Weekend posts as well as participating in one of our Bi-Weekly challenges each month. Are you as excited as we are??

We're very excited for all of the new changes coming soon and of course, all of the new releases!

See the rules below and then be sure to come back and enter your crafty creation. You might just win a free stamp set!

 ✻ 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.

 ✻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

Happy Fall Watercolor Card by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

The new Bible Journaling line of stamps are beautiful, but it just isn't something that I do.  That doesn't mean that I don't want several of the items from the new release.  I just had to have the Block Letter Die Set. I knew that I could use it in a variety of ways in my card making.  Once I saw how it was used on the packaging with masking paper, I had to try it myself.  The first way I had to try it was to make a Fall card because Saturday was the first day of Fall. Happy Fall!

The word Fall was cut out of masking paper using the Block Letter Die Set. It was attached to a piece of Canson XL Watercolor paper.  The area around the word was filled in using the Watercolor the Art Impressions way and the listed Ai stamp sets as well as the listed Marvy LePlume II markers. Once that was done, the masked letters were lifted off.  A shadow was added tot he letters with the Rosewood marker.

A piece of gold paper was added behind the watercolor piece.  It was added to a piece of dark brown paper with foam tape.  The brown paper was added to a pumpkin spice card with foam tape.  It was hard, but I kept the card very simple so the main image stood out.

Marvy LePlume II Markers Used:
Red 2, Brown 6, Olive Green 15,
Dark Brown 18, English Red 28, Rosewood 30,
Butterscotch 83, Tropical 101

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Blue Skies!

Hello, Ai Watecolor fans! Today we're celebrating blue skies with two beautiful projects! Take a look and be inspired by what our designers have in store for you!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Watercolor Friends,

I always dream of being near a sandy beach and the ocean during the summer time. I wonder if others feel that way, too? So I made a scene by an ocean using a cabin from the 4962 - WC Rustic Cabins Set. I just sort of penciled in the rocky wall, trail and shore line then watercolored them using my palette. I used the Molotow 2.0mm masking liquid to leave some white space where my flowers would be. After it dried, I used the foliage from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set to add the leaves, wiped off the masking liquid then painted in the little flowers. I used part of the fence from the 5011 - WC Truck Mini Set. I used the kite from the 4606 - Cottage by the Beach Set to add that whimsical touch it needed.

Art Impressions Products: 4962 - WC Rustic Cabins Set, 4606 - Cottage by the Beach, 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, 5011 - WC Truck Mini Set, 4774 - Stamp positioner, 4773 - Acrylic Blocks, WC Brush No. 4, Watercolor Palette

Marvy LePlume II Markers: 45 sepia, 15 olive green, 86 African violet, 101 tropical, 17 steel blue, 44 lt. brown, 30 rosewood, 46 crimson lake, 43 brilliant yellow

Other Supplies: Molotow 2.0mm masking liquid, Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

My project for today’s Watercolor Weekend incorporates a Watercolor Resist technique to create a Silhouette Scene. It’s a quick, easy, fun and totally different way to use your Art Impressions Watercolor Stamps. 

Stamp the pail, bird, flowers and grass onto the watercolor paper in embossing ink. Add embossing powder and set with a heat gun. Scribble a little Olive Green and Salvia Blue onto your palette. Brush Olive Green in for the ground and Salvia Blue for the sky. Add several layers of color for depth and dimension. Be sure to take the color all the way up to, over and around the stamped/embossed image (I kept the pail completely white by not adding any color inside those lines). Use a paper towel to buff off the stamped/embossed lines once the color has dried.

Art Impressions Products: WC Containers Set,WC Bird Bath Set, WC Flower Set 2, WC Foliage Set 1, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, Watercolor Palette,Watercolor Brush No. 4, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 15 Olive Green, 60 Salvia Blue

Other Products: VersaMark Embossing Stamp Pad, Ranger Super Fine Detail White Embossing Powder

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

After a recent visit to Foxwoods in CT, with my Mother In Law, I was inspired by some of the beautiful flower arrangements they had. 

I drew the large square vase with a ruler and my 45 Sepia marker. I softened the lines and added some additional 45 Sepia from my Watercolor Palette. I covered the bottom of the vase and stamped the cobblestone from the 5018 – WC Cobblestone Set below it inked in 45 Sepia. Next I added a couple of leaves from the 4867 – WC Foliage Set 2 on each side inked in 72 Pine Green. I inked up the top of the larger vine from the 5007 – WC Foliage Set 3 in 15 Olive Green and stamped it in front of the vase. To create the sticks at the top, I inked up one of the trees from the birch trees in the 4808 – Covered Bridge Mini Set in 45 Sepia. I repeated that process with another birch tree. I inked up one of the branches from the in 45 Sepia. To add a bit of color, I used the daisy bunch from the 4052 – WC Flower Set 1 inked up with 20 Magenta. I added them sporadically around the vase. I added some additional greens with 15 Olive Green using one of the vines from 5007 – WC Foliage Set 3. To add a background I used my Watercolor Palette and 3 Blue.

I hope you will join me and the other guest designers for Watercolor Weekend! We can’t wait to see your projects. Tag us and use the #AIWatercolor so we can see what you have come up with. Have a great weekend!!!

Art Impressions Product: 4052 WC Flower Set 1, 4808 Covered Bridge Mini Set, 4867 WC Foliage Set 2, 4964 WC Branches Set, 5007 WC Foliage Set 3, 5018 WC Cobblestone Set, Acrylic Block 5 Pack (Variety), Canson XL WC Paper Pad, Watercolor Palette, WC Brush NO. 6

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 45 Sepia, 72 Pine Green, 15 Olive Green, 3 Blue, 20 Magenta

Other supplies: Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- Bubblegum Pink

Thanks, team! From crafting a large scene to spotlighting a main image with embossing and creating new shapes of containers, there is so much you can do with our watercolor stamps! We love hearing what you have to say, so be sure to comment to tell us what inspires you to create today! Happy Stamping!

WC Wishing Well by Sharon Caudle

Hello AI Fans!!

Today's card is one that I will be teaching in class on Monday at Scrapbook Paradise!  I used the beautiful 5012 WC Wishing Well Mini Set, along with the tiny grass from 4051 WC Foliage Set 1,  a branch from 4867 WC Foliage Set 2,  flower from 4868 WC Flower Set 2, And grass from 4875 Garden Wagon Mini Set.  If you haven't been keeping up with Bonnie and her tutorial videos, you really need to tune in every Wednesday! She has wicked talent and shares every little tidbit with us so we can make beautiful watercolor cards! 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit today and until next time - stay crafty!!

Marvy Markers used:
#45 Sepia, #29 Prussian Blue, #8 Violet, #15 Olive Green, #86 African Violet, #80 Victorian Rose

AI WC Rustic Container Tree Stump

Hello AI Fans!

Today's card features 4871 Rustic Container Set. I also used 4868 WC Flower Set 2 , 4867 WC Foliage Set 2 New, and 4051 Foliage Set 1. This was soooo quick and easy to color. It took me a grand total of about five minutes to color this! This is the demo I showed at our spring camp last month up at Lake Tahoe, so you might have seen a glimpse of it on my Facebook page. Everyone loved coloring it!  When I got home, I found some matching paper and turned it into a very quick card! 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today, and hope to see you back again soon! Until then - stay crafty!

LinkDeli.com

NEW Watercolor 2017 Stamp Sets! Plus, Challenge 203 Let's Watercolor!

Hello, Ai Fans!

Hooray! It's new release day! Today we are adding five stamps sets to our Watercolor line, now available at artimpressions.com! Our new Foliage Set 2 and Flower Set 2 were thoughtfully created to be perfect additions to your collection, including beautiful vines, flower bunches, and accent florals. Adding to our Watercolor Mini line, enjoy the Wooden Chair and Garden Wagon Mini Sets, featuring unique main images and fantastic long stem florals to mix and match. We have also created a special WC Sentiments Set with phrases to perfectly pair with your artwork. View our new releases up close and personal in our video from the Creativation trade show!

*By the way, we will be releasing even MORE watercolor on March 16th! Stay tuned!

 

Kerry is here to show how she's used her new Ai Watercolor! Take it away, Kerry!

Hello Ai friends!  Are you ready for some watercolor fun?

Today I'm sharing a few watercolor cards using the new Garden Wagon Mini Set, WC Foilage Set 2 NEW, WC Flower set 2, and Sentiments set.  I started out with making one card, but I had so much fun . I decided to make a whole set watercolor cards set, LOL!

I also used the grass and flowers stamps from WC Flower set 1, WC Foliage set 1, and WC Foilage Set 2.  And for the sentiments, I stamped them on a separate card stock and distress the edges to match the cards, and left them until time to use.  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful WATERCOLORING DAY!

Can't wait to see your creations!

Thanks, Kerry! Love your set of rustic watercolor cards and all the sweet variations you made!

Alright, folks, we're kicking off a new challenge, and we want to see you join in! This challenge is all about Watercolor! You can use your Ai Watercolor stamps, or use watercolor to color your image, background, or other aspect of your card!

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, March 15 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Last but not least, let's recognize the winners of the last challenge!

Top Spot goes to...

Queen Bea Scrapper!

We are WOWED by your 3-D card with our Beach Babes set! Those ladies look like they are having a fun time at the beach! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable Mentions go to....

Linda M!

Maria A!

Congrats, you two! We love your superb coloring and color-combos in these cards! You made the ladies from the AHH! Set and Beach Babes come to life! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and stamp set of your choice for prize!

Wonderful entries, everyone! We hope you'll join our new Let's Watercolor Challenge!

Happy Stamping!