Showing posts with label Guest Designer Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guest Designer Challenge. Show all posts

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Christmas Wishes #12 December Monthly Guest Designer Challenge with Dot Freel

  Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our Monthly Challenge.

This month's theme is Christmas Wishes!

We want to see all of your handmade holiday projects.
Cards, journals, ornaments, gift boxes and bags, GC Holders...
You name it!

We're thrilled to have Dot Freel as our final Monthly Guest Designer.
This is our last monthly challenge but be sure to check out our Bi-Weekly challenges for lots of fun and the chance to win free stamps!

Before we see what Dot created, let's see who won our Frame It challenge!

We selected #5 Francesca for her adorable framed snowman.



Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com
to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

Congratulations!

Our Lucky Random Winner of a free stamp from me is #2 Amy M.

Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now, onto Dot's gorgeous Christmas scene.
Her painted snow is incredible!



Hello,

I get to be a Guest Designer for my favorite stamp company Art Impressions! I am busy making Christmas cards. Last year I didn't send out cards for the first time ever so I'm happily getting them made and ready to send out this year. I used the church from the 5058 - Church Set and the bridge scene from the 5577 - Stone Bridge Simple Scene. The trees are from the 5372 - Mini Foliage Set. The snowflakes are from the 5353 Lg Snowflake Dies and I doubled them up then used a brad for the centers. The snow is made using the Dr. Ph. Martin's bleed proof white paint. Give this one a try and add some Wink of Stella glitter to make it even prettier! The 5063 - A2 rectangle dies and 5962 - Classic Christmas paper from Art Impressions finishes it off beautifully. 



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!
✻ 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. 
✻We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
 ✻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 crafting!



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Friday, November 1, 2024

Frame It! #11 November Monthly Guest Designer Challenge with Simone Carr

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our Monthly Guest Designer Challenge.

This month's theme is Frame It!

We want you to use frames.
These can be actual picture frames, frame dies, polaroid picture frames, 3D paper frames like the easel frames, you name it.

Any kind of frame you like.

I will not be choosing a Guest Designer for January.
Due to lack of entries we are discontinuing this challenge.
The winner will still receive a free stamp set but there will be no guest designer. December will be our last one with Dot.

Though Simone's cards are all holiday/winter themed, yours do NOT have to be as long as you frame something.

Our November Guest Designer is Simone Carr and she has several beautiful cards to inspire you. Before we see what she created, let's see who won our October, Along Came a Spider Challenge.

We chose Dot Freel for her spooky haunted house card!


Congratulations Dot!

You will be the Art Impressions December Guest Designer.


Dot,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com
so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.

Now for the Lucky Random Winner of a freebie stamp from me, provided you have a U.S. address.

#5 Gabriella B.



Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.


Now for our November Guest Designer.
Let's see what Simone has to share.
Her task was to frame something. This was the first card she sent me and I was THRILLED.


Hello Everyone,
I'm thrilled to be back as the guest designer for November! For this project, I’ve used the 5350 Animal Nativity Set, a stamp set I haven’t had a chance to use until now, and I’m excited to share how I brought it to life.
I started by stamping all the images with Memento Toffee Crunch ink on Canson Watercolor Paper. Then, I colored each image using the Tombow Watercolor Markers in the following shades: N25, O26, N35, N55, O55, N65, 177, 526, 703, 856, 942, 947, and 977. After die-cutting the images, I moved on to the background.
For the background, I ink blended Distress Oxide in Squeezed Lemonade to create a soft glow, surrounded by Chipped Sapphire to evoke a nighttime sky, all on Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock. To add a magical touch, I splattered Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White for a starry effect.
For the frame, I used wood grain cardstock, inked the edges with Memento Toffee Crunch, and then layered it with foam adhesive between two frames for extra dimension. The frames were adhered to the ink-blended background, and I arranged the nativity animals with a mix of foam adhesive squares and glue to create depth. Finally, I added a little extra shine by applying Nuvo Crystal Glaze on the star for dimension and sparkle.

Materials & Tools:
Tombow Watercolor Markers: N25, 026, N35, N55, 055, N65, 177, 526, 703, 856, 942, 947, 977
Canson Watercolor Paper
Strathmore Bristol Smooth
Distress Oxide: Squeezed Lemonade and Chipped Sapphire
Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White
Memento Toffee Crunch Ink
Penny Black 51-825 Double Frames
Spellbinders Indigo Cardstock
Nuvo Crystal Glaze
Glitter Pen
Double-Sided Adhesive Tape and Foam Squares

Card Measurements:
Sidefold card: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Background card: 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"

I’m looking forward to seeing what you all create and can’t wait to share more inspiration with you throughout the month!
Best regards,
Simone Carr
Simone loved this challenge so much, that she created three more amazing cards for it!
I'm blown away by the beauty of each one.



We're so lucky to have so much inspiration for this challenge.


Happy Holidays everyone!



For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.
These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally
and not Art Impressions.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have
and you can choose from that.
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!
✻ 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. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.
 ✻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 crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Along Came a Spider! #10 October Monthly Guest Designer Challenge with Marianne Hansen

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our Monthly Guest Designer Challenge.

This month it's Along Came a Spider!

Our October Guest Designer is Marianne Hansen and she has a beautiful card to inspire you. Before we see what she created, let's see who won our September, We Don't Use Enough Purple Challenge.

We chose Simone Carr for her gorgeous fall card!


Congratulations Simone!

You will be the Art Impressions November Guest Designer.


Simone,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com
so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.

Now for the Lucky Random Winner of a freebie stamp from me.

#7 April J.



Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now for our October Guest Designer.
Let's see what Marianne has to share.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 My Ai Friends,
I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen as October’s Guest Designer.
October is extra special to me because exactly two years ago, I stumbled upon a Bonnie Krebs Video Tutorial .  Since then, life has never been the same.

I have been a crafter since my first box of crayons, kiddie scissors and yellow Elmer’s glue.
I have been making cards since 2004 and since then have been published 6 times, won several Design Contests and last year, over a course of a 12 month voting process,  a design of mine was voted “2023 Card Of The Year” by Creative Scrapbooker Magazine.

Since discovering “Watercolour the Art Impressions Way” I never imagined in my wildest dreams the journey this would take me on.  Not only have I found my passion, but the friendships I have made through this wonderful site has brought great inspiration, creativity and joy into my life.

After 35 years in the Legal Field with one of the largest Law Firms in our city, I am now retired and have the blessing of being full time care giver for our 86 year old mom who lives with me.  Ai and the friends I have made here is the salve that nourishes my soul.

I love making wreath cards.  The versatility is endless.  Seasons, Holidays, Birthdays, Birds, Nature, and any other theme can be made into a wreath card.

For my “Along Came A Spider” card I made an Autumn themed wreath with fall foliage, pumpkins, a squirrel and a Spider dangling down from a branch.  


For depth and texture, I painted the pumpkins and squirrel separately,  and then popped them up with foam dots.  …….(ok…I did that because I messed up on the pumpkins…so had to improvise…..).  C’mon…we’ve all been there……right??
I hope you like it and that it inspires you to think of a wreath card for your next special design.

I lightly drew a 3” circle using a steel die as a guide, then after painting was done, erased the pencil marks.  I mounted the painting on co ordinating orange cards stock.  I ran brown card stock through die cutting machine with a deeply embossed Woodland Tree Embossing folder.  Finally mounted it on a card and it is ready for giving.  Don’t forget to sign your painting!!


Sets Used.
5946   Fall Bench Set
4964   Branches Set
4052   Flower Set 1
5828   Poinsettia Set
4963   Fall Foliage Set
4867   Foliage Set 2
5126   Foliage Set 4
5059  Harvest Set
And of course some “Kendra Dots” that are in Bible Journal Set 5418

Markers Used.
993,  933,  925,  946,  969,  947,  636,  
Brown Twin Tone 
Dr. P.H. Martin’s Bleed Proof White



For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.
These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally
and not Art Impressions.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have
and you can choose from that.
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!
✻ 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. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.
 ✻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 crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sunday, September 1, 2024

We Don't Use Enough Purple! Guest Designer Challenge #9 with Barb Edmondson

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to the September Guest Designer Challenge!

We don't use enough PURPLE!

This challenge came about in a funny way. I can't remember if it was a DT member card or a fan card, but a couple months ago, someone created a pretty purple card, and I commented that "we" don't use enough purple. Karen Day replied to me with basically...ha ha...maybe that should be a future challenge. And, here it is!

We want to see you use purple paper, inks, flowers, paint, markers...whatever you like!

The paper should be easy.  Just by coincidence, the last few paper packs that Joel has created have been full of beautiful purple papers. Not to mention Bonnie's new Encouragement Journal which is packed with purple. Don't you love happy coincidences??



Our Guest Designer for September is Barb Edmondson and you're going to love her card.

Before we get to that, let's see who won our HOUSES challenge in August.


Marianne Hansen!!

She used 5916 – Woodland Castle Set along with some foliage and flowers to create her beautiful card.
Another coincidence...it's purple...lol.


Congratulations Marianne!

You will be the Art Impressions October Guest Designer.


Marianne,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com
so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.

Now for the Lucky Random Winner of a freebie stamp from me.
Another coincidence...#1 came up last month as the winner as well! 
Also, Lee used purple...WOW!
I promise, I'm not making this up!





Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now for our September Guest Designer.
Let's see what Barb has to share.

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

I was given the opportunity to choose a stamp set. I gave it some thought because I needed to find something that I could use a lot of purple on. This Birdhouse Cubbies set 5346 seemed like it would do well for this and be a lot of fun. I knew would enjoy coloring these images with pencils.

In order for the birds to show up on the dark purple house, I decided to color them yellow,  adding a bit of light green on their bellies.  Since the vine should be green, I stayed with the green theme and colored the doors green. I colored the flowers purple because of the theme - use enough purple.  How much is “enough purple”?  

The die cuts nice holes for windows and doors but I didn’t want the white card to show. I wanted it to look like wood inside. I used a little piece of kraft colored cardstock and attached it behind using little adhesive foam pieces. I added birds by stamping and cutting more. Some of them are attached using foam, too. Do you see the one inside the attic space peeking out?

Then there was the issue of choosing how to make the background.  I looked through my patterned papers collection I found some beautiful ones that has rows of what looks like water colors, varying in shades and colors. When I saw the one with green, blue, purple, I thought of - green grass, blue and purple sky and decided it went perfectly with this scene. I felt like it needed something to make it look like sky, so I got out a cloud stencil, ink, and a brush and lightly brushed ink around the top of the stencil in different places. Now I think I’ve given the impression of clouds.

This project was a challenge but truly I enjoyed playing with this set. I can see exploring more choices of bird colors and arrangements, house colors, background types, etc. Oh, what fun!

I think I first heard of Art Impressions while shopping at Hobby Lobby a few years ago and saw a small selection of Bonnie Krebs funny stamps sets. I bought “Enjoy the Ride” and made an anniversary card for son and his wife because they ride bikes as a family.   Then one day I saw the Frog set there for birthdays and thought it was so funny! I made a few for birthdays.  Then I was always looking for more AI sets, and bought some.  Now, I’m interested in the watercolor techniques Bonnie and team teach and am trying that after purchasing many of those types of stamps. Oh, and I love the Bible journaling, and mini journals!  I watch a lot of their wonderful videos! I’m hooked on Art Impressions!

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

What a BEAUTIFUL card Barb!

Thank you so much for providing such wonderful inspiration for our challenge.

Now, if you're feeling like it, check out some of the pretty purple paper Art Impressions has to offer as well as Bonnie's Encouragement Journal.  You can find her tutorials for these paintings on the Art Impressions YouTube channel. Look below the photo for the links to parts 1 &2.

Sets for the Encouragement Journal can be purchased separately, or as a bundle to save you money.
Simply click the photos below to be taken to the products.


Encouragement Journal Tutorials




For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.
These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally
and not Art Impressions.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have
and you can choose from that.

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!
✻ 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. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.
 ✻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 crafting!


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Houses! Guest Designer Challenge #8 with Julie Worthing

Hello everyone and welcome to the August Guest Designer Challenge!

HOUSES!

We want to see your projects with houses on them.

Everything from real houses, haunted houses, fairy and gnome houses...even bee hives.
Hey, the bees live there...lol! 
If it's a house, then it works.

This month we have Julie Worthing as our Guest Designer
and she created a stunning scene to inspire you.

Before we see what she created, let's see who won our POCKETS challenge
in July and will be out Guest Designer in September.


We selected Barb E.


Congratulations Barb!


You will be the Art Impressions September Guest Designer.


Barb,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com
so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.


The lucky winner of my Freebie is...

Diane Z.




Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now for our August Guest Designer.
Let's see what Julie has to share.

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

 Hello to all of my AI family.

My name is Julie and I was honored to be chosen to be this months Guest Designer. I have been into the card crafting scene since 2006. But I first learned of Art Impression in 2016 at a craft show. I really didn’t start my obsession until 2021 and now can’t seem to get enough of it. I try to paint regularly but life does get in the way sometimes. I am always amazed at how you can use a few stamps and create a masterpiece to keep or give away. My hobbies are playing the piano, singing, painting with Art Impressions and making cards, framed pictures, journals and more. I so appreciate everyone's talent, especially the Queen Bee and her entire family who go above and beyond with sharing their talent, instructions, and products.

This months challenge is Houses. As you know there are so many possibilities with all of the structure stamps that AI have to chose from. Any house will do whether it be traditional or whimsical.

I chose one of the Cape Cod houses for my example. It is from set 5524 - WC Cape Cod Houses.


Here is how I did it:

First I stamped the house after applying our usual colors to the stamp - 565 and then 969. I stamped the imaged off twice and then to my Canson 140lb cold press watercolor paper.

Next I pulled the color out for the shading of the house.


Then I stamped the image on post it tape, cut out and applied to the house. Then I stamped the tree (From set 5373 - WC Lg Tree Set) onto the right of the house. Next I drew in a horizon line and removed the masking.

 

Next I colored the house roofs, porch, and window ledges with 947, then added a little 969 for variation. I used my brown twin tone to add lines to the roof, porch and ledges.

I mixed a little 969 and 856 together to paint the chimneys and then used a pencil to create bricks.

I used the Blue Twin Tone to draw in the windows.

I painted the door with 856 - red, and then used the brown Twin Tone to add the handle and hinges.

Then I painted the tree with 947 and highlighted with 969. Then stamped the leaves using the leave cluster from the tree set (5373 - WC Lg Tree Set) with Tombow 177. After dabbing the leaves I repeated adding more leaves in 249 to create contrast.

Next I added the sky with Tombow 565.

I then added small grasses form the Foliage Set 4051 along the front and side of the house and added some vines from set 5126 - WC Foliage Set, leaving room for flowers.

Next, I stamped in the red flowers using Tombow 856 and the small cluster of flowers from set - WC Flower Set 2, to the left and right of the house.

Then I added additional flowers using Tombow 676 on the flower cluster form set - WC Flower Set 4052.

I dabbed and blended the grass, vines and flowers, pulling some of the color out beyond all.

I added the shrub along the horizon line with Tombow 177 with the shrub stamp from set - 5372 - WC Mini Foliage Set and the added water by dabbing and dragging some color out in front of the shrubs.

Then I added a little of 947 and 969 to create a path from the steps. I also used a little of N45 on the base of the house to look like a stone foundation.

Next, I added some shading as Bonnie has taught us and Twin Tones to enhance where needed.

Then I added white paint to the composition flowers, grasses and vines.


I hope you give this a try and I can’t wait to see what you create!!!

Julie



Stamps used: 

5524 - WC Cape Cod Houses 
5373 - WC Lg Tree Set - Tree and Leaves
4868 - WC Flower Set 2 (small heart bunch flowers)
5372 - WC Mini Foliage (shrubs)
4052 - WC Flower Set - 4052 (cluster of flowers)
5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 (vines)
4051 - WC Foliage Set (small grass)

Twintones used:

 Brown
 Blue
 Red

Tombows used:

 249, 856, 676, 565, 969, 177, 947, N45



Wow Julie!
What a fabulous card.
Thank you so much for setting the inspiration for our Houses challenge.

I also have a little bonus prize!

For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.
These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally
and not Art Impressions.

This month I have 24 different freebies to choose from.
I've been offering them one at a time with a photo here but almost everyone
has had the one I've offered when they've won and selected a different one.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have
and you can choose from that.


Good luck to everyone in August!

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!
✻ 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. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.
 ✻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 crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter