Hi Friend by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!!

I have a card for you today that goes along with the current challenge Blossoms & Blooms. If you haven't checked out Dori's amazing creation for her feature for this challenge, please do yourself a favor and click HERE to see it. It's jaw dropping gorgeous and so creative!

I don't know if you've noticed I've really been using a lot of Girlfriends images for the past several challenges! And here I am again, LOL! This time, I used 5798 Gardening Girlfriends Set. I stamped the image onto a Copic friendly paper, and then again on a piece of masking paper. After carefully placing the mask over my Girlfriends, I inked up 56361 WC Gazebo Set, and stamped it offsetting it a little behind the ladies. I love this technique cause it never fails to amaze me how it looks when I remove the mask. After I colored up the image, I chose a couple flower bunches from the Front Door Line of stamps and colored them. After fussy cutting them out, I placed them on the image so it looked like they were in the pots the Girlfriends are holding. I also placed an extra pot in the lower corner of the image. 

So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today and until next time - stay crafty!! 

Copics used:

E000, 00, 04, 11, 19, 33, 35, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 97, and 99

R02, 81, 83, and 85

G24, 28, 43, and 46

V20, 22, and 25

BG45 and 49

Y26, 32, 35, and 38

B00

W2, 4, and 6

C1 and 2

Barnyard Fun by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

My card today was inspired by the current challenge "Farm Fresh".  I had a great time designing this interactive card with all of the little cubbie farm animals from the set #5180 - Barnyard Animal Cubbies and the truck from the #5596 - Harvest Farm Truck.

I began by stamping the images on copic friendly paper and coloring them with my copic markers listed below.  I also die cut several hay stacks from the #5838 - Fall PP and inked them with Distress Oxide Vintage Photo to give them texture.  Where did I get the die for the hay stacks, you ask?  I improvised and die cut the porch plant from the #5490 - Front Porch Farm House.  It had rough edges and without using the stamp, I thought it could pass for hay stacks.  Now that I told you, maybe it doesn't look quite like a hay stack?  😂  

To create the mechanism for the doors:  For an A2 size card, cut base cardstock at 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" (score at 4 1/4".  Cut two pieces of colored cardstock - 1 1/4" x 5".  Score down the middle lengthwise, turn and score at 1 1/4".  Fold one corner over to score line and then fold other corner over to score line.  Should create four scored triangles in that 1 1/4" square.  With right side facing you, cut 1 1/2 triangle off (as seen on left), then do the same on other piece but opposite side of piece.  As seen on the right side, fold long piece of triangles over the front.  Glue the tab (indicated on right by black marker).  Place point in fold and line up right side with white cardstock.  Fold down the top to adhere.  Then glue the bottom of the right half down to the base of the card (see Pic. 2).  

Pic. 1                                                                            Pic. 2

   

Fold back each side of the mechanism (Pic. 3).  Cut two pieces of colored cardstock for doors - 3 1/2" by 2 1/8".  Adhere in place (Pic. 4).

Pic. 3                                                                            Pic. 4

Hint:  youtube "Dual Pop Up Card" for video tutorial.  

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Keep creating!

Copics used:  E21, E23, E50, E51, E53

R20, R24

Y15, Y17, Y35

C00, C0, C1, C3

B000, B91, B93, B95

YR16

    

Happy Retirement! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

One of my friends is retiring at the end of this school year and I wanted to make her a fun card.  She loves to travel and has done so throughout her career.  I can only imagine where she'll go once she all the time in the world to do so.

For my card I used SO MANY Art Impressions sets.

You can find links to all of them at the end of my post.

My card was made for the current Inside Out challenge.

I wanted to incorporate all forms of travel because her 3 children are scattered throughout the world.  Sometimes she hops a plane,  sometimes it's a road trip.  I'm not sure if she's cruised yet but isn't that what retirement is for?

My images were all colored using Copic markers.  Some were cut with coordinating dies and some were but with my Brother Scan and Cut.  It's a lifesaver for older sets that don't have dies.

Some of those images are tiny so I whipped out my TwinTones for the fine details.

Home Sweet Home by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing a pretty front porch card.

I've used 5512 – Front Porch Door Set along with the add on set
called 5490 – Front Porch Farm House Set.



I needed a house warming card and this set was just perfect for that.
Although this time I chose not to,  you can stamp a sentiment or image on the inside
because the door opens.  How fun!

My card was also created with the current challenge here on the blog.
Handmade crafts with windows on them.  It doesn't have to be a card.

Happy Crafting!

Front Porch Thanksgiving and Thank You cards by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

There was a new release a few days ago on the Art Impressions website.

NEW PORCH ACCESSORIES!

HOORAY!

I made this card BEFORE that happened though so I made a Thanksgiving porch with what I had to work with.

We have two dogs and our Boomer has a "special" relationship with the squirrels.  He especially HATES them and believes it's his mission in life to chase them all our of our yard.  This is my nod to him.

I also made a Thank You front porch and guess what?  This one was selected for publication!

I'm so excited!

These porch sets have endless possibilities.  I love each and every one of them!

Unfortunately they misspelled my last name but I can live with that.

I'm thankful for my family, friends and my job with Art Impressions.  

What are you thankful for today?

I apologize.  The 5039 – Grateful Hearts Set that I used for the sentiment, hat and wheat spray is discontinued now at Ai.  You can still find it on other retail sites so if you want this set, get it now before it's gone forever.  All other products I used are linked below.


Copics used on Thanksgiving Porch:

G24, G43, Y0, Y11, YR27, YR61 BG000, BG15, BG57, W1, W6, E31, E33, E40, E79

Thank You Porch:

Y04, G29, G3, G6, BG000, BG53, RV02, RV21, RV25, YR14, YR61, W1, W2, W6, E35

Farm House Front Porch by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing the GORGEOUS new 5512 – Front Porch Door Set.  This set is so pretty on it's own but the best part is,  there are many accessory sets to go with it!

In addition to the porch set I used the 5490 – Front Porch Farm House Set.

Um...how gorgeous is this porch?  I'm so envious!
I felt like the farmhouse themed just screamed...gingham paper.

Since it's a porch with lights I made some cut outs in the card base so that I could light it up with a battery operated votive candle.  How pretty this would be sitting on a counter or mantle at night.

It's so fun that the door opens.  You can add a sentiment or whatever you want to inside!

I tried to give the lights a brass finish and I gave the milk jug a little rust.

Here at Art Impressions, the lights are always on. 
We hope you always feel welcome here.

Copics used:

E11, E23, E87, E99, Y23, N0, N2, N4, N6,
G000, G21, G22, G24, G82