Challenge 189 Sweet Summertime WEEK 2!

Hello, Ai Fans!

Are you having a fabulous summer? This week's challenge theme is "Sweet Summertime"! Today, our designers are here to share their darling summer cards with creative ways to beat the heat! Click the designer's name to view their card on their personal blog, and view the stamps used at artimpressions.com! Don't forget to leave some comment love!

Cheri with Blanche and Goofy Things

Dana with Stayin' Afloat Set

Diane with Jump In and Mature

Karen with BBQ Couple and Still Sizzlin'!

Kerry with Jump In

Renee with Owl & Monkey Mini Set & Beach TF Set

Sharon with Selma & Gladys Set

Wow, DT! We love your bright colors, cheerful swimmers, beach bums and BBQ eaters! Looks like summer to us!

Want a chance to win some Art Impressions stamps? Join our challenge and create a summer-themed card! We love seeing what you create!

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 Wednesday, July 20th at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Baby Monkey Front & Backs by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing a card that fits in with our current Front & Back challenge over at Art Impressions.  I used the absolutely adorable Owl & Monkey Mini Set (Sku#4405).  The best part about the mini front and back line at Ai is that they have a coordinating mini die set! Owl & Monkey Mini Dies (Sku#4538) You heard me!  No more need for fussy cutting!

My friend needed a baby card for a woman who doesn't care for pink and who is doing the baby's nursery in baby monkeys and koalas.  I instantly thought of this sweet little monkey.

Look at how perfectly the dies cut around the image!

It was SUCH a time saver.

Copics used:

E37, E57, E50, E81, RV02

InLinkz.com

Owl & Monkey Mini Set by Karen Day

Hello Ai fans!

I'm in love.  Yep, I'm completely smitten with the Ai Mini Front & Back dies....  You've seen us using the stamps here on the blog since they debuted last spring, but it wasn't until recently, that I got my hands on the matching DIES.  And oh my goodness, these are the cutest little things - they cut like a dream, and are hands down the easiest dies that I've ever used.  (I'm going to gush about the dies a little longer, so bear with me and scroll down to see my cards!).  Here is how the Owl & Monkey Mini Dies (Sku#4538) come in the package:

You get both the front and back dies that match with the Owl & Monkey Mini Set (Sku#4405)

After stamping and colouring your images, just center the die over the image and secure with a piece of washi tape or other removable adhesive, and run it through your die cut machine.  See how easy it is to position them??

And here's the result... the cutest little owls & monkeys you'll ever see.

With a lot of dies, I find that there's a bit of guesswork involved as far as positioning goes - but not with these ones - it couldn't be easier to get it perfect every time.  Okay, time for some artwork!  My photos are a bit on the light side - this actually looks more like a navy night sky with a yellow moon behind him:

 And now for the little monkey:

All eight of the Mini Front & Back sets have matching dies - and all are available through the Art Impressions website here!  You'll want to start your collection asap (if you haven't already!).  Happy stamping everyone!

Copics used: Monkey - E57, E55, E53, E51, E50

Owls - E57, E55, E53, E51, B95, B93, B91, YR18, YR16, YR15, YR12, V09, V04, V01

Top three of 2014 by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai Fans!

This New Years we were asked to choose our top three favorite cards that we've made this year.  Not an easy task with so many amazing Ai images!

Here are my top three choices (and an honorable mention...please forgive me Kate...I just couldn't choose between these 4)

Each card has a link to my original post so you can see my supply list, copic colors and link to the stamps in the Art Impressions store if you'd like.

Girlfriends Wine Tasters

Jungle Monkeys

Bear Hugs

And...my honorable mention...

Val Guy

Monkey gift card holder by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing a gift card holder with you.

I had a clear case from one of my kids iPods lying around so I decided to repurpose it.

I used the adorable  Owl & Monkey Mini Set (Sku#4405)

from the mini Front & Backs line.

I decorated the inside as well as the front.  You can see the backside of the monkey here.

 The Congratulations verse is from Hats Off Set (Sku#4289).

I think this fun set makes such a cute gift and it's perfect for a girl or a boy!

My "little monkey" phrase was computer generated.

InLinkz.com