On the Border Challenge #436 Week #2

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to week #2 of our
On the Border challenge.

We want to see your cards with a special border.

It can be stamps, dies, embellishments...whatever you can think

of that makes your border special.

Neema was our Featured Artist last week and
created this book style card with a floral border.

I used some border dies on my cozy little cottage.

Dori added a border die on each side of her fun lady.

Simone has a pretty, stitched border around her beautiful flowers.

5981 My Joy set
6203 Wisdom set 1
5949 Encouragement set

5591 – Journal Rectangle Frames Die Set

5063 Double Stitched Rectangle die

Gennette has a cloud and grass border framing her gorgeous flowers.

5826 WC Large Tree Set 2
5008 WC Flower Set 3
4868 WC Flower Set 2
5126 WC Foliage Set 4
6177 Garden Friends (sentiment)

Sharon has a frilly border to add interest to her floral card.

6221 Frameworks Set 3
6218 BJ Long Stem
5972 BJ Decorative Margin Dies

Janet created a stunning floral border.

Tasha adorable Dracula card used 5506, 5462, 5849.

Thank you so much to our Design Team for all of the different ideas and 

beautiful inspiration.

Please use something to make your border extra special.

It doesn't matter what as long as it's not just a plain old border.

We will select two winners.

A Top Spot Winner and a Lucky Random Winner will each be able to 

select a free, current stamp set of their choice from the Art Impressions Website.

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

The Magic Starts at the Santa's Workshop - Light it up.

Here is my First Card!

The Magic Starts at Santa's Workshop

 Hello Crafty Friend,

I am excited to share two cards I created for you this week using stamps from the latest release. And one of the cards lights up. I used Canson XL watercolor paper and painted the images with Tombow markers.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for the first card, which features Santa's Workshop (stamp #6250), Poinsettias (stamp #6253), and the Christmas Blessing set (stamp #6252), along with light fixtures from Pear Blossom Press:

1.  Stamp Santa's workshop in the middle of the paper.
2.  Color the stamped image using Tombow markers.

3.  Stamp the poinsettias above Santa's workshop, and the gate and trees below it. Lightly sketch a pebble path from the workshop to the gate using a pencil.
4.  Color the elements with Tombow watercolor markers and paint the sky light blue.

5.  Carefully cut out the windows and light fixtures using an X-Acto knife.

6.  Apply Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White to create a snow effect.

7.  Poke small holes in the Christmas trees for the lights.
8.  Cut a piece of vellum and color it with a yellow alcohol marker.
9.  Glue the vellum to the back of the painting, ensuring all cut-out areas are covered. Use a gel pen to draw the window's frames.

10. Cut a piece of cardstock to match the size of the card panel.
11. Tape the Pear Blossom Press Twinkle Lights to the cardstock, positioning one light for Santa's workshop and one for each tree, with the push button centered at the bottom, (I moved it down after I took the picture)
12. Apply foam tape around the workshop and tree areas.

13. Test the lights to ensure proper positioning, then adhere the cardstock cut on step # 10.
14. Cut a card base measuring 5.5 x 5.5 inches.
15. Cut a piece from the Christmas Journal cardstock collection slightly smaller than the card base, glue it to the base, and center the painted panel on top.

The best way to appreciate this card is through a video. Use the link below to watch a short YouTube video of this card, and while you are on that page, check out other videos that I have made using Art Impressions Stamps on my channel, Crafts and Designs by Neema. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/8PW6EYsNqco?feature=share

My second Card!!!!

For the second card, I created a Thanksgiving design using the barn from set #6249 and the Thankful and Blessed set #6254.

I hope you enjoy these projects! You can find the links to all the supplies below. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Stay crafty, and I will see you in the next project!

Neema

On the Border Challenge #436 Week #1

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to our new challenge.

On the Border

We want to see your creations featuring something on the border.
Deck out those borders with stamps, dies, embellishments...whatever you like!

Our Featured Artist for this challenge is Neema and she has a stunning floral Storytile

 card to inspire you.

After looking through her photos and reading her tutorial, be sure to scroll down
to see who won our Furry Friends challenge.

Take it away Neema!

Hello crafting friends,

Welcome to this week's challenge! Today's theme is "On the Border", and there are so many creative ways to enhance them—whether you use stamps, scissors, dies, paint, or any other technique to make them stand out.

For my project, I created a bookbinding card and used a border stamp from the "Sing to the Lord" set (#6220) to decorate the spine. Here is how I put it together:

Making the Card

1.  Cut the card base to 11" × 5.5" and fold it in half along the longer side.
2.  Score at 1.25" from the center fold on one side to create the spine.
3.  For the cover, use the "Story Tiles" template set (#6158). Cut the frame twice and stack the pieces to create dimension.
4.  For the inside of the tiles, use the "Garden Friends" set (#6177). Stamp the images onto watercolor paper using Tombow markers 696 and 565, and use the markers to color them in.

Making the Spine

1.  Cut a strip of watercolor paper to 1.25" x 5.5".
2.  Use a border stamp from the "Sing to the Lord" set (#6220) to stamp the image. Since the stamp is shorter than the paper, repeat the pattern to fill the entire strip.
3.  Color the stamped image, then glue the strip to the card base.
4.  To finish, wrap twine around the card twice, tie it into a bow, and add small pearls to the ends.

I hope you will join us and participate in this week's challenge!

Happy crafting,

Neema

This was Neema's first time as Featured Designer and she hit a home run!

So beautiful.

Now let's see who won our Furry Friends challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected #17

Becca Yahrling

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Our Lucky Random Winner was #7

Julie W.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to our winners!

Enjoy your new stamps.

Now, onto the details of our new challenge.

Please use something to make your border extra special.

It doesn't matter what as long as it's not just a plain old border.

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

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

From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

Welcome to Watercolor Weekend; today is August 23, 2026

There’s something truly special about giving a classic stamp a new look. For this A2-size card, I combined the classic door stamp #5433 (WC Foundation Door) from 2021 with the recently released flower stamps #6270 and #6271 (Foliage Set 6 and  Flower Set 7) to recreate a charming scene filled with color and texture.

Painting the Door and Creating the Brick Wall

I began by stamping the door using Tombow markers #969 and #565. To color the door, I chose light shades of gray, purple, and blue to give it the appearance of weathered white wood. I then colored the flower pots and steps using very light shades of pink, purple, green, and blue.                   

                             

To create the background wall, I used a brick stencil paired with a dry-brush watercolor technique for a soft, artistic look. By applying a small amount of watercolor to a relatively dry brush and lightly sweeping it across the stencil, I achieved a beautiful, uneven texture that gives the wall an aged character.

                    


   
Adding the Flowers
Using Foliage Set 6 and Flower Set 7, I inked the stamps with markers and stamped the flowers directly into the pots. I also added foliage over the door and a wreath using stamp set 5830. Because the ink dilutes slightly with water, each flower features a unique blend of color, making it look as though a vibrant garden is growing right outside. To finish, I used PH Martin Bleed Proof White to add small white flowers. I painted the door hardware in gold and added a touch of grass to the bottom step using foliage set 1 (#4051).
                                                        

Putting the Card Together

Once completely dry, I trimmed the main panel to 4" x 5.25" and layered it over a 4.25" x 5.5" coordinated background from the Winter Woodland paper pack (#5964). Finally, I mounted the entire piece onto an A2 card base.

The watercolor effect from the Tombow markers brings everything together beautifully, creating a soft, hand-painted finish that looks completely custom.

A Quick Tip
When using Tombow markers with stamps, experiment with your water ratio. Less water preserves defined details, while more water creates softer, blended colors. Don't be afraid to let the colors mix and move naturally—those minor variations are what make each image look like a miniature watercolor painting.
 

Second Project: I will SEA you Soon

For my second card, I used stamps 5054 and 5509 along with Tombow markers to craft another watercolor-style scene. This image features a boy pausing during a playful day at the beach to watch a sailboat in the distance (featuring the exclusive sailboat stamp, WC0526).

I hope these projects inspire you to break out your classic favorite stamps and combine them with something new. Sometimes, the most unexpected combinations create the most beautiful cards!

Happy Crafting!

Neema