jingle notepad by Diane Zechman

Hello Ai friends and happy Thursday!

Today I am sharing another fun project I recently made for a stamping event with friends.  The theme was "Jingle All The Way".  Here I made a covered notepad with a magnetic closure using the super fun gal from Ai's Reindeer Games Set (4351).  The sentiment is from the Jingle Set (4681).

Just about everyone could use a cute notepad for all those holiday lists, right?  I would be lost without them!

I used a reindeer embossing folder for part of the background.  I also added some sparkle to her belt with a glitter pen and some Crystal lacquer on her glasses but they didn't photograph well.

Check out those jingle bell earrings!  I found some bell brads in my stash that were perfectly sized!  They really jingle!

The notepad is a Jr. Legal size pad which was cut in half vertically.  I had these cut quite a few years ago but you can ask for them to be cut at your local office supply store.  I never added a magnetic closure before, though.  I love the magnetic closure!

NOTE- I started with a 6 1/2 x 8 1/8 inch piece of cardstock and scored the 6 1/2" side @ 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 5 1/4, and 5 1/2.

The layers on the front are 2 3/8 x 8 and 2 1/4 x 7 7/8.

While I was typing this, Frank Sinatra was popping in my mind... "I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells, OH!...."  Don't you love Christmas music while crafting?

Have a great day and… happy stamping!

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Sharon's top five from 2015

Hello AI Fans!!

 

I hope you're enjoying the season with lots of love and fun with your family and friends! It's time to try and choose my top five favorite Art Impressions cards from this year. This is truly hard to do, as I love ALL the Art Impressions stamps!!  But I had to pick five, so this is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy this little stroll down the memory lane of 2015!


At The Movies (#4237)  and Uptown Girls Set (#4129)

 

 

Doctor Bill, Bud, and Reindeer Games Set

 

 

Eat Itself Set  Curtain Window (#4234),  Happy Birthday (E3578)

 

 

 

One of the brand new releases - The AHH Set

 

 

And a new passion I've found...watercoloring the Art Impressions Way

 

Art Impressions WaterColor Series 4 Set

 

 

 

From my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy, and healthy New Year! Thank you for your wonderful support, kindness, and friendship, and I'm looking forward to an even better 2016!! See you next year!!

 

Happy Thanksgiving! PLUS Challenge 173 Winners

Happy Thanksgiving, Ai Fans!

Here's a fun throw-back to Sharon's Gobble card! You can find her original post here.

From all of us at Art Impressions, we are so thankful for YOU! Gathering near and far celebrating and crafting together is such a special thing. Thank you for sharing your time with us, whether it's through reading the blog, sharing some comment love or showing us your challenge creations. Let's spread some cheer and encouragement as a crafting community this holiday season!

We're wrapping up our special 1-week challenge celebrating our new Michaels releases, let's take a look at our festive winners!

Top Spot is awarded to...

Charne!

Congrats, Charne! What an inventive gift tag! We love how you creatively transformed Gordon Golfer into a hard-working Santa! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable mentions go to...

Agniszka!

 Tami!

Way to go, you two! Agnieszka, we love your red and green card with a vintage vibe with Reindeer Games. Really pretty coloring, too! Tami, way to be creative using the Christmas Scene TF for a lovely shaker card. Be sure to email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and the stamp set of your choice!

This week we're doing things a little differently for the holidays. Our designers are taking a well-deserved break and won't be posting for 7 days to eat, drink, and be merry this Thanksgiving. The next challenge runs December 3-16, so check back next week for more details. If you want to get a head start on the challenge, the title is "Ready for Resolutions"--and we'll be releasing some NEW stamps to match!

One last thing! We are having an online sale at artimpressions.com! Be the first to hear about our sale details by signing up for our email newsletter here!

We hope you enjoy your holidays, and see you next week!

Reindeer Games

Hello AI fans!!

Have you stopped by Michaels and picked up the new Christmas stamp?? Well, if you haven't you better get on it!! These are seriously cute and funny stamps! 

Today's card features the Reindeer set, i stamped the fun reindeer lady on some white card stock. I colored her up with my Spectrum Noir markers, then used a stitched rectangle to cut around her.

Next i stamped the reindeer games sentiment beside her. To dress up the rectangle i added a small brown paper clip and a cool wood chip.

I found some green pattern paper and added it to a white card base. To add a little more red, i added some red ribbon to the bottom of the rectangle and notched the end. The colored panel was added to the card with foam tape.

Make sure you check out our challenge, it ends later today!! Click here to check it out and see more inspiration using these new stamps only available at Michaels!!

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Challenge 173: Rudolph Red & Evergreen PLUS New Ai at Michaels!

Hello, Ai Fans!

Welcome back to Challenge Thursdays! We have some exciting new stamps to announce as well as a new challenge! But first, let's recognize last weeks winners of the Be Merry Challenge!

Top Spot is awarded to...

Ashlee Bellinger!

Congrats, Ashlee! What a beautiful card, we love how you colored the Snowman Shaker to really make him shine merry and bright! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable mentions go to...

Elina Hutton!

Cynthia!

Congrats to you both! Elina, we just had to smile seeing the Reindeer Games gal with Santa Cliff! And Cynthia, we couldn't resist Penguin Pete in your shaker card! Be sure to email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and the stamp set of your choice!

We're switching it up a little this time with a one week challenge and some brand new Ai clear sets now available at Michaels! Celebrating with us is Hampton Art, so head over to their blog, too, for more crafting ideas!

See them in action with a great tutorial by Kerry!

Hello Ai friends, Kerry here.  I'm super excited to share two sets of cards featuring the new Michaels Ai stamp sets from Hampton Art.  They are now available at your Michaels.

For the first set of cards, I used the Ai Penguins set (SC0716).  I absolutely adore these little penguins and the snowman, so cute!  I just want to give him a big hug.

I decided to color the images with colored pencils and die cut with a stitched oral die.

Here is a closer look of both cards.

For my second set of cards.  I used the Ai Reindeer set (SC0715).  

I also colored the images with colored pencils, but I wanted a non-white background.  So, I used Pan Pastel to add some colors behind the images (hint: Pan Pastel can be erase with a eraser before it's sealed), to seal the Pan Pastel, I used the pearl white spray mist, plus it also added a little bit of shimmer. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Can't wait to see your Red and Evergreens creations!

Colored Pencils used:

Ai Penguins card set:  Derwent Colorsoft red, black, dove grey, persian grey, light green, green, pale blue, orange, and deep cadmium

Ai Reindeer card set:  Lyra Polycolor, pale geranium lake, light carmine, canary yellow, gold ochre, ochre, apple green, moss green, raw, brown ochre, raw umber.  For skin tones:  Prismacolor beige and  peach, Faber Castell Polychromes flesh. 

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Thanks, Kerry! These Christmas cards are sure to bring a smile to the recipient! Since this is a one week challenge, the rest of the designers are here to show what they've made with the new sets! For more details on the projects, click the designers name, and be sure to leave them some comment love!

Cheri with SC0715 CLR STMP Ai Reindeer (only available at Michaels stores)

Dana with SC0716 CLR STMP Ai Penguins (only available at Michaels stores)

Diane with SC0715 CLR STMP Ai Reindeer (only available at Michaels stores)

Karen with SC0716 CLR STMP Ai Penguins (only available at Michaels stores)

Renee with SC0715 CLR STMP Ai Reindeer (only available at Michaels stores)

Sharon with SC0716 CLR STMP Ai Penguins (only available at Michaels stores)

Ready to join in the Reindeer games? For this challenge, we want to see holiday cards that you can make with red and green! Using these new sets at Michaels is a bonus, but not required! And don't forget, it's a one-week challenge.

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, November 25 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

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