Tonight We Fly! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Who is a fan of all things spooky like I am?
I start work back at school today so for me, summer is officially over and fall is here.

I was inspired by a black lacy butterfly adorned with jewels in the Michael's Halloween Dept. and came up with this card.
  


I used lots of sets from Art Impressions to create my card and you can find everything linked below.

The matte for the butterfly was made using the double stitched hexagons. The butterfly is from the Gift Card Pocket Dies.

I used other things that "fly" on my card too. The raven, bats, web and spider are from the Halloween Front and Back Fence set. Although spiders don't technically fly, if you Google "flying spiders," you'll see plenty of them. Eek and GAG!

Tonight We Fly is from the Halloween Sentiments Set and it's stamped on a banner from the Portfolio Dies Set.

One last thing...paint.

I used the Winsor & Newton Gold paint to paint some cardstock that I then cut a matte for using the butterfly to trace. I wanted his wings to really pop so I added the gold under them. I also used Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White to paint the silk strand that the spider is dangling from.

Happy Graduation! by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

I'm sure lots of you attended some sort of graduation or moving up ceremony or party this season.

For me, it was my youngest niece's high school graduation.

I made her a portfolio type card in her school colors.

On the front I used a die from the 5952 – Portfolio Template Die Set that I stamped IT'S YOUR DAY! onto which is from the 5735 – Birthday Sentiment Set. The border was made using the new 5972 – BJ Decorative Margin Dies. The cute bow is from 5811 – Gift Card Pocket Dies. I secured it shut with a 5967 – Hook & Loop Fasteners.

Next, we open it up to find HAPPY and 2025 cut from 5911 – Large Number Die Set and 5910 – Large Letter Die Set. They were all cut from a piece of paper from 6072 – Father’s Day Paper Pack. The little pocket that we put her check in and the stars are all from Portfolio set as well. The stars are covered in Wink of Stella.

Now onto the back of the card where I personalized it.

I used another birthday sentiment and a few more dies from the Portfolio to matte and frame it. I wrote my note to her underneath that.

Happy Graduation beautiful Brynn!

SPRITZ, SPLATTER AND PAINT! Challenge #407

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to the latest Bi-Weekly Challenge.

This one is Spritz, Splatter AND PAINT!

The reason behind this fun new challenge?

There is amazing new gold paint available at Art Impressions!

Winsor Newton Ink 14ml – Gold Paint

You can splatter this on your projects, add highlights, paint paper, stamp with it...yes, you heard me...It is SO gorgeous and versatile.

To enter our challenge it doesn't have to be gold. You can use the ever popular Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White, some spritzes you may have on hand or any other paint that you like to craft with.

Today I've created a card where I painted Canson XL WC Paper Pad – 9×12 and then die cut a frame from 5588 – Journal Oval Frames Die Set. Then, when I was almost finished, I took a paint brush and spattered little dots all over.

Read my post to hear all about it.

I die cut my frame and then painted it gold with a large brush. I used watercolor paper so that there would be less warping and then I cut a second piece to glue it to so that it would lay flatter and be thicker so that I could pop it up on dimensional foam tape.

My layered flower is from the new 6042 – Corner Bookmark Dies.

That beautiful gold border peeking out from under the frame was a happy accident. I used the 5972 – BJ Decorative Margin Dies on my recent PEACE Christmas card and this was the leftover remnant. I liked the way the "throw away" part looked so I embossed it and also painted that gold.

  

I die cut my two Hellos from 5408 – ShadowBox Window Die and 5718 – Mini Journal Template and the bees are from 5805 – Mini Journal Box Dies. See those tiny little pink hearts near the hello? Read on to see where those came from.

After I die cut the butterfly from 5811 – Gift Card Pocket Dies I was cleaning up the scraps. I noticed that two of the little pieces looked like hearts so I saved those.

After my card was completely assembled, I took my Royal Round Detail Brush #1, dipped into the paint and used my finger to TAP on the brush, spattering beautiful gold dots all over.

Look at all that golden goodness!! I feel like this is one of those things that you never missed because you didn't have it, but then once you have it, you wonder what on Earth you did without it!??? LOL!
I used the end of my paintbrush to curl the petals and leaves after I used brown ink to "age" the edges a bit.

Before we get to the current challenge let's see who won our last challenge, LEON Day!

For our Top Spot we selected Cindy P.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Be sure to grab our badge to display on your social media too!

Our Lucky Random Winner was Mary Bernard

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Be sure to grab our badge to display on your social media too!

Now onto our challenge!

I hope I've inspired you to try out some paint on your projects! It doesn't have to be gold. You can use the ever popular Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White, some spritzes you may have on hand or any other paint that you like to craft with.

Be sure to enter your creation for the chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions. 

We award one Top Spot and one Lucky Random Winner and each will win a free stamp set from Art Impressions.

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation. 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

Snowflake JOY card for LEON Day by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

We're celebrating LEON Day at Art Impressions.

That's NOEL spelled backwards since it's halfway to Christmas!

Can you believe it? Tomorrow, June 25th we'll be halfway there.
Have you started making cards? Do you have gifts bought already?

Today I have an elegant Christmas card to share with you.

I think this is one of my favorite cards I've ever made. I love the simple but elegant color palette and the little bits of sparkle and bling. While some people like spiritual Christmas cards or snowmen, Santas or penguins, I LOVE SNOWFLAKES!

I layered up cream, kraft, white, gold and red snowflakes to create lots of dimension on my card.

My husband normally doesn't say much about my cards. It's just not his "thing" but when he saw this one he actually said something like "You MADE that? Wow?"

Though I VERY much love all of the Art Impressions stamps sets, I also love when I can make a dies only card.

I was inspired by this card that I found online.

April 2025 Monthly Challenge with Guest Designer Simone Carr

Hello Ai fans and welcome to our April Monthly Challenge.

These monthly challenges will have no theme. It's just fun to create something using Art Impressions products and then possibly win some free stamps!

April is Simone Carr's turn to be our Guest Designer.

How do you win free stamps? Add your creation (it doesn't have to be a card) using Art Impressions products below for your chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions or a freebie from me. (US addresses only for my freebie...The free stamp set from Ai is open world wide)
Let's see what Simone has created to inspire you this month.

Hello Crafty Friends,

I chose to create two cards with the Happy Easter Set (4754) because I absolutely loved the cute egg-shaped heads of the Easter bunnies.

For my first card, I started by stamping the images onto masking paper and fussy cutting them out. Using an egg-shaped die, I drew a pencil outline to guide where to place the bunnies. I stamped the smaller bunny first with Memento Toffee Crunch and placed the masking paper over it. Then, I stamped the second bunny next to the first one and masked it as well. Finally, I stamped the standing bunny behind the two smaller bunnies.

After all the bunnies were stamped, I removed the masking paper and began coloring the images. I used Tombow markers to color in the bunnies and added details to the grass and foliage around them. Once the coloring was complete, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 3 ¾” x 5”, centered it on my die, and ran it through the die cutting machine. I then embossed the frame with a lovely texture and used two dies to cut out a frame that fit the opening. I added some double-sided foam behind the frame to give it a bit of dimension before adhering it to the watercolor paper. To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment on white cardstock, die cut it out, and added a sweet bow to complete the design.

Materials Used:

Stamps:

• Happy Easter Set (4754)
  Foliage Set 1 (4051)
  Foliage Set 3 (5007)
  Bible Flower Set (5074)
  Gift Card Pocket Set (5811)
  Easter Chicks Set (5401)

Dies:

• Egg-shaped Die (for drawing the outline)
  Die for Frame
  Bow Die

Paper:

• White Cardstock
  Easter PP (5742)
  Canson Watercolor Paper
  Mirri Paper

Inks & Markers:

• Memento Toffee Crunch
  Bleed Proof White
  Tombow Markers: 177, 526, 977, 992, N55, 925, 195, 452, 703, 985

Other:

• Masking Paper
  Embossing Folder
  Double-sided Foam Tape

---

For my second card, I created a design using the Postage Die on Strathmore Bristol Smooth Cardstock. I started by cutting out the postage shape and placed it in my Stamp Positioner to ensure proper alignment for the stamping. I used Post-it tape to mask off certain areas of the stamp to prevent overstamping. Once the areas were masked, I stamped the images using Memento Toffee Crunch and then colored them in with Tombow markers using a #4 brush for a soft watercolor effect.

The result was a whimsical Easter scene framed by the postage die, which really helped to highlight the stamped images. I finished the card by adding some patterned paper from the Basic Yellow PP (6012) to add an extra pop of color behind the frame.

Materials Used:

Stamps:

• Happy Easter Set (4754)
  Foliage Set 1 (4051)
  Foliage Set 3 (5007)
  Bible Flower Set 2 (5418)

Dies:

• Postage Die

Paper:

• Strathmore Bristol Smooth Cardstock
  Basic Yellow PP (6012)

Inks & Markers:

• Memento Toffee Crunch
  Versafine Clair Nocturne
  Bleed Proof White
  Twintone Brown and Black
  Tombow Markers: 025, 055, 993, 905, 933, 195, 856, 703, 526, 401, 177, N55, 947

Other:

• Stamp Positioner
  Post-it Tape

---

I hope these cards bring some Easter joy to your crafting! It was such a pleasure to create them, and I can't wait to see what you come up with for your own Easter projects.

Happy Crafting,
Simone

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 and it can be any theme you like.

✻ 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. 
This will be a random drawing so all levels of ability are encouraged to enter!
 ✻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!

✻ Good luck and happy crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

"Case" a design - Split Window card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

The current challenge this week on the Art Impressions blog is "Case That Card".  What a fun idea!  I decided to recreate a split window card by Jennifer McGuire.  See below for her card and a link to her video/blog post. 

I started making Thank You cards and then decided to make a few more variations of this style.  I did find one suggestion to make them easier and create layers on the inside.  Before you adhere the sentiment panel down (circle), I recommend placing your layers (mats) on the inside first.  Then place the sentiment panel down over the mats.  Easier to cut a rectangle panel then to cut a partial circle into it and get it even.  You could even place a full panel down on the inside and then adhere the left side down.  This will create a sturdier and more finished card.

Here are a couple other versions.  I used stickles on the butterflies.  I like the look on kraft paper.  Makes it look bronze.

Below are Jennifer McGuire's cards that inspired me.  Here is the link to her video - Split Window cards

I hope you enjoyed my cased cards today.  I also hope you play along with the challenge.  See tab above for details and a chance to win a free stamp set.

Have a great day and Happy Creating!

Golden Butterfly by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

I think that every crafty person on the planet would agree that Craft Time is Golden!
My craft room is my happy place.

I always feel the need for a little extra bling around New Years.

I had fun with this one. Even though it's kind of over the top with bling and gold I still feel like it's pretty simple. I hope you like it. All Art Impressions products that I used are linked below. Be sure to enter the challenge for your chance to win a free stamp set. We choose a Top Spot and a Lucky Random Winner.