Vintage Victorian by Janet

Ai just released a whole new set of exciting new stamps called the Countryside 2 Collection. The new sets of foregrounds and buildings work great with each other just like the first set does. This series has  fall, holiday, and winter scenes that offer more options beyond spring and summer found in the first set.

For my card, I've combined the Victorian house in the 6250 - Victorian Shop Set and 6255 - FG Sunflower Border Set. I'm just not quite ready for sunflowers yet so I colored them like Gerber daisies instead. It shows the versatility you can get out of the sets to make them slightly different than was intended.

To make my card, I first stamped the flower border near the bottom of a white rectangle made of Copic marker friendly paper. Then I stamped the Victorian house as the background. I colored the house and flowers and then stamped the included Hello! sentiment at the bottom right corner. It was a lot of fun to color these images because I could let my imagination run wild with my colors and shading.

I matted and placed the finished image on a large diagonal card base using complimentary papers from the 5930 - Encouragement Cover Paper Pack. The size of these papers allow for use on larger cards like mine today. The finished card measures 5 1/4" x 6 3/4."   

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

Party Animal! by Janet

I'm celebrating a birthday with my card today. We are also a little more than half way through the current Ai Challenge - Furry Friends. We hope you upload your cards featuring one of your favorite animals. With so many to choose from, this one should be no problem at all! Just link your card up to the Furry Friends Challenge post and see if you win. It's a lot of fun to participate in!

My card features a cute giraffe. I've always loved giraffes and this one is all set to celebrate with a banner, party hat, and balloons. He is definitely stealing the show on this card! He is found in the 5400 - Baby Critters Set. This set includes dies so it's a cinch to cut the animals and party accessories out if you prefer that over staging them on as a one layer scene. I like cutting the animals out because you can make them pop on foam tape which gives the card a lot of dimension and interest.

I stamped the giraffe and colored him with Copic markers. I chose to color the pennants and balloons in blue and red. His hat follows the same theme. The set has star ornaments but I turned them around and made them part of the balloon bouquet instead. I used the 6048 Scalloped Rectangle Die on a leaf design from 6025 Floral Shop PP. I also used the 5724 Nested Rectangle Set to cut out the green, gold, and pink mats for the card. Finally I stamped a sentiment from the set on a piece of white cardstock. This guy is certainly ready to give it his all to party with the guest of honor!

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

Furry Friends Challenge #435 Week #2

 Hello and welcome to week #2 of our challenge,

Furry Friends

We want to see your handmade creations using animals.

Pretty much anything goes as long as you have an animal and something from Art Impressions on your project. (Stamps, paper or dies)

Our Featured Artist for this challenge was Dori and she created the most darling
Triple Tunnel card.

 

Diane made a festive fall fox easel card.

6255 – FG Sunflower Border
5191 – Feast Mode
5901 – Mini Rectangle Frame Dies (Front)

     

Tasha has some sweet dancing bears.

Neema has a tower of pretty pumpkins.

4873 – WC Cats Set
5595 – Harvest Pumpkin Set

Sharon has a darling shadowbox for you.

 

I also created a shadowbox and mine doubles as a gift card holder.

   

Janet has a beautiful, bright birthday card.

5400 - Baby Critters Set
6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies
5724 - Nested Rectangle Dies
6205 - Floral Shop PP

Don't you just love all of these fun, furry friends?

Our Design Team always does such an amazing job!

Now, onto the details of our challenge.

Please make a new project featuring animals using
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see your creations.

Here are the rules...

✻ 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.

✻Top Spot Winner and Lucky Random Winner each receive a free 

stamp set from Art Impressions

 ✻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

Whimsical Storybook Ornament

Hello Ai friends! Art Impressions has many products that can be made and given as gifts. The Storybook series is a perfect example as a box with a diorama scene inside that really is magical. My box was made with the 6223 - Whimsical Storybook set. It's a sweet fantasy scene of a gnome, his home, and his fairy friend. You can use additional dies in the 6121-Storybook template to add a hanger tab or add a tag. It's great to have options!

Making this ornament box is simpler than it may look. I started by cutting out the box pattern from the 6121 - Storybook Template. I used a sheet from the 6052 - Mother's Day Cover Paper Pack. The larger page size fits the larger sized box die. The fold lines that form the box are imprinted into the paper making it really easy to fold and prepare it for sealing. For the interior of the box, I cut three more oval frames. I made them by cutting just the bottom part of the box die with the oval opening three times. Then I trimmed the excess paper away so they would easily fit inside the box. 

Next I stamped and colored the images in the Whimsical Set with markers. I used the set's dies to easily cut out all the images. The cart of strawberries, stump, and the mailbox have rounded tabs that allow each to be glued along the opening of the oval frames. I positioned one on each of the three frames I had cut. Next I layered each one on top of each other with foam tape. This created a set of three frames stacked on top of each other. 

There are three images that do not have any tabs to glue on the frame. I positioned the house on the back layer of the box with the frames sitting on top so I could decide where to position the house before gluing it in place. I glued the fairy as if she was sitting on the cart. Now I could adhere the stacked set of frames into the box with foam tape. Once positioned, I was able to fold and adhere the tabs that form the box shape. This creates a multi-level 3D scene that is enchanting and whimsical.

The last of the images is the cute little gnome. I positioned him on the front of the box. I added an enamel heart and a heart pearl to the opposite corner of the opening. Then I cut the hanger tab out with the dies and glued it to the box. I glued a cream ribbon on it and then a wood button on top. 

This little set makes such a sweet box and a wonderful gift. It can be hung from the ribbon but it also sits nicely on a shelf without any support. It's so cute, it's going to be hard to give it away! 

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

Blessings in Poppies by Janet

Hello Ai fans. If you come here enough, you will know that I favor bright and bold colors. Today is a perfect example of it. Color makes me happy and somehow pastels and light shades alone rarely work for me. It's true from wardrobe, my home, and my artistic card making. Today's card once again showcases a dark fuchsia that's tamed down by some quiet yellow, cream and kraft cardstock choices.

To create my project, I started by stamping an oval frame from the 6221 - Frameworks Set 3. Then I stamped in the poppy flowers using one of the floral images in 6218 - BJ Long Stems. I colored the poppies and the frame in reddish orange colors with Copic markers. I also colored a light blue background into the blank space in the frame. I stamped another round frame from the same set and stamped a sentiment from the 6216 - Mercy Set. I colored the background in blue here as well. Once complete, I fussy cut the frames and set them aside.

The next step was to use two dies from the 6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies. The inner mat was cut out of a nice pale yellow and cream striped paper design found in the 6205 - Floral Shop Paper Pack. The exterior scalloped frame was cut from from Stardream Metallic cardstock in Jupiter. I stacked these two mats on top of a kraft A2 card base. Then I mounted the two frames on the card. To add a delicate touch and additional texture, I included a cream chiffon bow enhanced with a cream ribbon rose. 

While this card has a strong burst of color, it doesn't take away from the flower image and sentiment. In fact, it enhances the colors in the poppy and ties the entire card together. I hope you agree that the neutral cardstock colors play nicely with the dark fuchsia cardstock and reddish orange hues.

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

 

Boy oh Boy! Challenge #434 Week #2

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to week #2 or our challenge,

Boy oh Boy!

Let's see your masculine creations.

Remember, they don't have to be cards. You can create anything you like as long as you use something from Art Impressions. We'd love to see your gift card holders, gift tags, boxes and bags, bookmarks, place cards, cake picks, party decorations, designer paper, framed art and more. Anything with a masculine flair.

Last week Sharon was our Featured Artist and she made such a fun guy card!
Click her photo to see her tutorial.

Now let's see what the rest of the Design Team created.

I made a diaper bag.

Simone's little guy is hanging with his best friend.

5057 Boat Set (retired)

5054 Little Boy Set

4959 dogs

4964 Branches set

Gennette painted a beautiful fox.

6222 Frameworks Set 4
KH5951 Foxes Set
5413 WC Weathered Stumps Set
5476 Foliage Set 5
5126 Foliage Set 4
6072 Father's Day Paper Pack

Dori created a darling slimline card.

Neema created a farm scene.

6066 Classic truck foundation

5059 WC Harvest set

5373 WC Lg tree set

4964 Branches set

5372 WC Mini Foliage

4051 Foliage Set

Tasha has a Halloween card for you.

Janet created a fun fold card.

6064 - WC Bear Set

6072 - Father's Day PP

5725 - Nested Square Dies

Such fabulous work from everyone.
I'm sure one of these has inspired you to enter something into the challenge.
You could be the next winner of a free stamp set.

Now, onto the details of our challenge.

Please make a new project featuring any masculine themed
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see your creations.

Here are the rules...

✻ 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.

✻Top Spot Winner and Lucky Random Winner each receive a free 

stamp set from Art Impressions

 ✻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

Bird Bookmark - Versatile and So Giftable! by Janet

 I completely adore the new 6209 - Corner Bird Bookmark! This die set makes a two-sided bird with a pocket between them. It allows pages of your favorite book, journal, or bible to tuck inside the two layers of the bird. It is both practical and beautiful which I think makes it brilliant. 

You can really create some different looks depending on the papers and patterns you choose to use. Today mine is colorful and summery thanks to using the 6205 - Floral Shop Paper Pack. Doing this in all crisp white and putting a small sprig, mini wreath, or mini bow in it's beak would make a wonderful holiday dove. I am looking forward to making some like that to share in a future post. They would be gorgeous sitting on your Christmas dinner plate don't you think?

This die set is cleverly designed to both cut your papers and crease the fold lines at the same time so assembly is quite easy. If you're unsure though, the full color photo of a finished bird is on the package to take away any guesswork.

I love the simplicity and practicality of this bookmark! It's so unique too. These would make super handcrafted gifts tucked into a package with a great book, a journal, or tablet. So many possible ideas exist with this set. 

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

All Things Beautiful by Janet

Hello Ai fans and welcome to the weekend and the Ai blog! Today's project features several new sets now available at the store. It shows off images from several sets and how they can be combined to create pretty collages and scenes.

My card starts with an aqua A2 card base. I cut a slightly smaller rectangle out of the 6205 Floral Shop PP. Then I used a die from the 5727- Nested Oval Set to cut out a frame which nests all my card elements nicely. I used a punch to the shaped corners on the soft striped paper which I mounted with foam tape on the blue card base.

Next I stamped and colored the flower image from the 6220-Sing to the Lord set. I colored the flowers to resemble one of my garden favorites, blue hydrangeas. I stamped the bible verse from the 6218-BJ Long Stems set in a frame found in the 6222-Frameworks Set 4. Then I colored a bird from the 6216-Mercy Set. I fussy cut all the images and arranged them in the oval window. As filler, I added a few silk leaves and a matching bright blue and white polka dot bow. Finally a few blue glitter enamel dots were added as accents.   

This card is full of dimension, pretty colors, nature images and a reminder of God's role in making all things in the world including the earth's bountiful and beautiful natural birds and fauna.

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

Floral Frenzy Challenge #433 Week #2

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our challenge.

FLORAL FRENZY

Let's see your floral creations.

Remember, they don't have to be cards. You can create anything you like as long as you use something from Art Impressions. We'd love to see your gift card holders, gift tags, boxes and bags, bookmarks, place cards, cake picks, designer paper, framed art and more. Anything with flowers.

Last week Janet was our Featured Artist and she took the theme to heart,
creating the most amazing floral card.

Janet also created a second card with a bee theme.

Now for the rest of the Design Team cards.

Our Monthly Challenge inspiration artist is Debbie and she created a sweet

humming bird floral card.

Watercolor artist Gennette created this lovely floral Story Tile card.

Simone created two floral cards for her Watercolor Weekend post.

Our Focus on Faith artist, Sara, created this beautiful wall hanging.

I created a floral Story Tile card.

Neema created a lovely floral panel framed with a pretty border.

4603 Blooming Birdhouse (retired but HERE are lots of other options)

5892 Easter S2 PP

And, a second card from Neema. So pretty!

6216 - Mercy set

Simone also created two floral bookmarks.

5718 Mini Journal Template
6150 His love set
6055 Water of life Set
6230 Mini Decorative Bookmark Set

                

Tasha has a beautiful floral Story Tile card.

Dori has a dozing gnome and his friends, enjoying some flowers.

Sharon has some stunning daffodils for you.

Wow!! Talk about some amazing floral inspiration!

We can't wait to see what you create for the challenge.

Here are the details.

Please make a new project featuring any floral themed
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see what your beautiful creations.

Here are the rules...

✻ 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.

✻Top Spot Winner and Lucky Random Winner each receive a free 

stamp set from Art Impressions

 ✻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