Monochromatic Challenge #395 Week #1

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our most recent challenge.

This one is called Monochromatic.

I'm the featured artist this time, but before we see my cards, let's see who won our first challenge of 2025, Craft Time is Golden.

For our Top Spot we chose #1 Mary S. for her beautiful Love Birds.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!! ***Leah is out of the office until further notice***

but someone is covering for her. Please be patient if there is a slight delay.

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

Our Lucky Random Winner was #3 Kathy R.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!! ***Leah is out of the office until further notice***

but someone is covering for her. Please be patient if there is a slight delay.

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

Congratulations to you both! Enjoy your new stamps.

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Hello everyone and welcome to my first feature of 2025.

I made three monochromatic cards on the slightly smaller side.

Two of them are gift card holders.

My first one is a cute little floral card perfect for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, get well or just to say hello and I'm thinking of you.

My next two are both gift card holders created using the mini frame dies.

Perfect for a man or a woman. They're both "just" masculine and feminine enough.

These are great for winter birthdays, co-workers, kids, adults...whoever you need to give a little something to. You could also just add a personal note inside. Sometimes, that all the gift that someone needs.

I hope you'll all join our Monochromatic challenge. You may just be our next winner.

✻ 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. 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

Fright Night Money Holder

 Hello Art Impressions fans! It's Saturday and it's my turn to present a fun Ai project. It's finally fall and as someone who loves Halloween, I'm really in my element right now. Today I have a Halloween Money/Gift Card project for you. This could be given as is or attached to a goodie bag or other seasonal gift. I think it would be fun to slip this into someone's candy bag without them knowing. Imagine their delight when they would find this in their candy at the end of the night? I'm really thinking about doing this for a kid who visits our house and really went all out on their costume.

The holder was made with 5811 - Gift Card Pocket Set. In addition to the holder, I also used the bow dies included in the set to create the black glitter bow on my project. The ghost, pumpkin, and bats are from 5190 - Fright Night Set. I used the 5726 - Nested Circle Dies to make a moon. Then I stamped and heat embossed the bats on it. I cut the top part of the gift card twice so I could line the inside since my paper was not 2-sided. This is much dressier than blank white paper. I mounted the ghost on foam tape and overlapped the moon. I also added the jack-o-lantern on the corner. The final touches were the black glitter enamel dots and the purple pearl jewels on the bow. 

I really think this turned out well and I can't wait to give it to some lucky trick-or-treater this year! I think I'll also include an anonymous note to wish them a good holiday and explain that I chose to give them a gift for their great costume.

Thanks so much for joining me to see what I created for you today. Please visit the Ai store for the sets I used and all the things you need for your card, journal, and tag making projects. Have a great weekend!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest

Shaker Birthday Gift Card Holder by Janet Axtman

For today's project and video, I have the newest set for the popular Gift Card Holder line. It's called Birthday Cake. The die set makes a super cake with yummy looking frosting and includes several cute accessories such as a mini cupcake, cute little cherry, birthday candle and lots of confetti pieces. 

After making a gift card using all the pieces in the die (check Thursday's post for a peek at it). I decided to try making them into shakers. To my delight, it worked beautifully. I used the included cake dies to cut borders into the two bottom layers. This allowed me to create windows for the shakers. 

Don't forget that this set is made to coordinate with the Envelope Gift Card Holder. It is a great set all by itself because it comes with several tags and shapes. I used the flag tag for the sentiment. Big Birthday Wishes comes from the Baby Animals Set. It fit perfectly and goes with the big cake theme!

I have a video for you that shows how I made the shaker gift card holders. Check it out below.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great weekend!

Happy Creating!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest

New Release : Birthday Gift Card Holder and Laughlines + New Challenge Birthday Cards

Hello, Ai Fans!

Kick up your heels, it's time for a laugh...or new LAUGHLINES!

In addition to a new member of our GCH (Gift Card Holder) family, we have two new Laughlines that are sure to tickle your funny bone!

Birthday Cake GCH

This gift card holder Birthday Cake Set includes dies for candles, cake tiers, cupcake parts, frosting and confetti. Like all of our Gift Card Holder sets, these dies are intended for use with our Envelope GCH set, sold separately.

Sit Back Laughlines 

This clear stamp set features a man and his best friend--his recliner! Like our other laughlines, this set comes with an image of a fella in a reclining chair, as well as 13 sentiments including the following : "You know you're getting old when happy hour is just a nap", "Happy Birthday! It's all downhill from here!", "You're only as old as you remember", "I thought getting old would take a lot longer", "Finally ready to settle down", "Gettin' old ain't for sissies", "Ancient Antique Vintage Classic", "My advise at this age...Never trust a fart", "Growing Old Disgracefully", "My body needs a refresh button", "Me and my recliner go way back", "Happy Birthday Kick Your Feet Up", "Recliner King"

Rock On Laughlines

This clear stamp set features a blue-haired party animal in her rocking chair, having a blast! Sentiments include : "Young at heart Old in other Places", "All my passwords are protected by amnesia", "I'm not aging, I'm appreciating", "Being old doesn't seem so old, now that I'm old", "You make getting old Look Good", "Instagran", "Wonder if I'll ever be old enough to know better", "Age is just a number", "My favorite age is now", "Happy birthday rock on!", "We rock", "Let's feel young again".

Welcome to our Challenge Feature for this Week!

Janet has a fun and creative celebration project for our new card-making challenge!

 

Hello Ai Fans!

It's time for a new Ai release and Challenge!  Today I'm going to share two cards created with the fun new Laughlines Sets! These sets include either a lady or gentleman enjoying their favorite chairs. These come with a lady or gentleman and loads of punny sentiments to go with them.

The first set is called Rock On. I chose to use the sentiment, "Happy Birthday Rock On!" There are so many to choose from, it's almost hard to pick one. I made this card interactive. When the tab is pulled, the rocker actually rocks! It's a cool way to use this set.

As usual, I've made a video showing how this card is made. Check it out below.

I made another card with the new Laughlines set called, "Sit Back." This one features a gentleman enjoying his favorite recliner. I colored the recliner to resemble my Grandfather's brown and gold plaid one that my Grandfather loved. It was really fun to travel down memory lane when I made this one.

After coloring and fussy cutting the image, I cut the card pieces out of the same stamp pad. I love combining patterns and colors and using papers from one pad assures that the colors and tones work well together. I used the Ai Circle Double Stitched for the circles that provide a landing place for the man in his recliner. I also stamped the Recliner King sentiment from the Sit Back set.

After placing the background paper and circle mats on the card, I cut out the sentiment and a scalloped mat for it.

I wrapped strands of gray floss at the top of the card panel and attached the sentiment in the middle. Then I glued this panel on to a gray A2 card base. 

If these two new releases were not enough, there is a new Gift Card Holder set celebrating birthdays this week. Here are two examples of what I made with this fun new Birthday Cake Gift Card Holder! The center gift card uses all the dies. You can see all the options available to decorate the cake. The other two were made by manipulating the dies to create shaker versions of the cake. I love how dimensional and colorful these turned out. Check back on Saturday when I'll show you how I made the shaker cakes for even more ways to use this set. Just remember that this set is designed to be used with the Envelope Gift Card Holder Die Set, sold separately.

Thanks for stopping by today and taking a look at the new Laughline Sets and Birthday Cake Gift Card die set. Be sure to check out the Birthday Card Challenge!

Happy Creating!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest

Inspired? Check out the challenge rules below, and enter your creation!

Before we get to this next challenge, we want to congratulate the winner of our 

UNDER THE SEA CHALLENGE!

Congratulations to Linda Dampier-Dicks who made this dreamy undersea scene using the Sea Critter Freebies and our Reel Great Guys Set!

Congratulations!

Email claire@artimpressions.com with your choice of 3 stamp sets for your prize.

For this challenge, let's celebrate! We want to see your best birthday card, for yourself, your bestie, your significant other--whoever is special to YOU!

If you're looking for some starter ideas, check out our Laughlines, Basics, Gift Card Holders, or Twisters on our Pinterest Page. 

[blurb] Though you can use any stamps you have, we'd love to see any Art Impressions products in your collection!

Hurry, challenge closes Wednesday, June 6th at 12PM PT!

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 the deadline to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Updated lists of supplies for ALL of our live videos are posted HERE!

Want to know when to watch next? Check out our Live Video calendar below.

Java Gift Card Holder | By Jessica Shier

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I have a gift card holder to share. I love this coffee die set and I feel like this one would be used all year! So easy to customize the colors and stick someone's favorite coffee place (or tea) gift card inside the envelope for a fun little surprise. 

I've done a couple of other projects using these new Gift Card Holder dies. Mixing up the materials you use is a lot of fun. This time though I decided to use some Alcohol Markers to color the white cardstock the colors I wanted. For a bit of added interest I also used a embossing folder on the main cup shape. So fun! Using a Wink of Stella pen I added some shimmer around the coffee bean, which is always hard to see in photos.

The Envelope GCH works with all of the Gift Card Holder die sets. Thinner paper seems to be the easiest, since you aren't adding in a lot of bulk. I used a fun aqua pattern paper. 

Thank you so much for joining me today. Happy Stamping!

Santa Gift Card Holder by Jil Lebel

 

Hello Ai fans!

Christmas is rapidly approaching!  My family is all about getting gift cards.  I was so excited to see the new gift card holder release. I used the Santa Gift Card Holder die set along with the Envelope Gift Card Holder die. Remember to get the envelope die because it is separate from the decorative die sets.

I cut out the envelope die with red scrapbook paper.  I folded it on all of the score lines and attached the sides with glue.  I then cut out the face with pink paper.    One nose and two cheeks are cut from pink embossed Tonic paper.  I used black paper to cut two eyes and the mouth. I used white Tonic paper to cut out the beard, a pom pom, two eyebrows and a mustache The packaging tells you what each piece is supposed to go. I used glue to attach most of the pieces to the envelope. I did raise up the eyebrows and mustache with foam tape.

Be sure to watch Bonnie's video.  She shows you how to put together every Gift Card Holder in this collection.

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Quick Pumpkin Gift Card Holder

 Hello Ai fans!

These gift card holders are so fun and super easy to create. With Halloween so close Perfect for giving someone an extra delicious treat. 

There is no coloring on this pumpkin! I first die cut all of the pumpkin pieces from the set using Ranger Watercolor paper, also cutting the spider twice. For the color I used Distress Oxide inks in;

Spiced Marmalade

Peeled Paint

Dusty Concord

Black Soot

Applying the ink pads separately on to a glass media mat ( Art Impressions Watercolor Pallette works great also.) Then spraying clean water on to the ink. Just enough to soak into the paper and far enough apart that they don't blend. 

I then placed each die cut into the ink and left it alone for a little while. This is when you grab more coffee, a snack, or let the dogs outside. If you want the color darker just repeat. 

For the envelope I used a piece of pattern paper. Just a few pieces of adhesive and the envelope is glued together. Then I added all the Jack-o-Lantern pieces together and let dry. 

Thank you so much for joining me today. Happy Stamping. 

Snowman Gift Card Holder by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!!

So I'm sure you've seen the new Gift Card Holders that Art Impressions has released. These are the coolest gift card holders and so fun and super simple to make!!! It's all a matter of die cutting the pieces using the papers you want and then gluing them together!! And they are SUPER CUTE!!! Today I'm showing you the Snowman Gift Card Holder Set.  Ok, I took a few liberties.  I wanted his eyes and mouth to look like little pieces of coal, so I used my Pearl Pen to make those.  And then I used some vintage buttons on him too.  I just adore how he turned out! Who wouldn't love getting a gift card dressed up like this??!!!  So if you're planning on giving some gift cards this holiday season, this new release is for you!!

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

hugs!

Black Cat Gift Card Holder by Jil Lebel

 

Hello Ai fans!

I am loving the new release.  This grumpy black cat might just be one of my favorite things from this release.I used the Black Cat Gift Card Holder dies along with the Envelope die set to make a gift card holder. Remember to get the envelope die because it is separate from the decorative die sets.

I cut out the envelope die with black scrapbook paper.  I folded it on all of the score lines and attached the sides with glue.  I then cut out the pieces of the cat and two eyelids from black glitter paper.   I cut the cat from black glitter cardstock.  The hat pom pom is cut from silver glitter paper.  One nose and two ears are cut from pink embossed Tonic paper. Two of the large eyes and one mouth are cut from white shimmer paper.  I used green paper to cut two each of the scarf pieces.  The packaging tells you what each piece is supposed to be. I used glue to attach all of the pieces to the envelope.

Be sure to check out Bonnie's video showing you how to put together every design from the Gift Card Holder collection.

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!