Watercolor Weekend with Ruthan and Simone!

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to Watercolor Weekend.

This weekend we have something a little different for you.

Jami needed to take some personal time off so we are sharing two cards from some special guest designers.

First up, we have Ruthan Plant who has been an Art Impressions fan for several years and co-founded the Facebook fan group The Art Impressions Way along with Kathy Acres.

Ruthan created this darling Christmas card.

I think we all can agree. There are few things cuter than a puppy in a Santa hat.

She painted the inside of her card as well, which is such a professional touch.

Ruthan was kind enough to show exactly which images from the sets she used helped create her adorable card.

 

 

Our next special Guest Designer is Simone Carr.

Simone has been very busy for us behind the scenes lately.  She will be our featured Monthly Guest Designer for November because she won our September, We Don't Use Enough Purple Challenge. Stay tuned to see what her challenge will be. Her card today gives you a little hint.

She will also be our November Watercolor Weekend artist for Jami next month as well. 

You're going to be so excited when you see all of the special cards she has created and I hear there may be more to come! Yippee!

Her little Christmas critter card is just TOO CUTE!

I just love the sparkle, the paper, the frame and the beautifully painted animals.

May I just ask...What on earth did we do before Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof white paint???

Thank you to both Ruthan and Simone for their beautiful inspiration for this Watercolor Weekend.

We hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Be sure to check out all of the newest releases at Art Impressions.

We have a fabulous new line of Christmas and Fall, paper, stamps and dies as well as several new online classes to choose from. Keep in mind that all of the sets in the bundles (which save you money if you want them all) can be purchased individually.

c5965 – Winter Woodland Bundle

5973 – Fall Series 2 Paper Pack

c5975 – 5pc Christmas Train Bundle

c5976 – Christmas Train Journal – Online Class with Bonnie

Online Woodland Christmas Portfolio Class with Kim

Final Fan Groups Features

Hello Ai fans!

 Today is bittersweet.
Today is our last Fan Groups share for September but that means that Jil from the Design Team will be back next week!!  Hooray!

This group of artists who filled in while Jil was on leave have provided SO much inspiration!

Although this is the final week you'll see their creations on the Art Impressions blog you can join one of (or both) Ai fan groups on FB to continue to see all sorts of cards, projects, get tips, ask questions, etc. 

Art Impressions Stamp Group

The Art Impressions Way


For our final Fan Groups Share we're kicking things off with Toni Woods.

Her scene is a little bit Kendra...the wreath and dots! and a little bit Bonnie...The church and the colors.  (minus the yellow...lol!) She used 5058 Church Set, 5067 Gates of Righteousness,  4051  Foliage Set 1,  5126  Foliage Set 4, 4867 Foliage Set 2, 5074 Foliage  Bible Flower Set, 5129  He Leads Me    
                 

Sharon Caudle was a long time, extremely valued Design Team member.  We are so grateful that she agreed to come back, even if for a short time.   What other excuses can we come up with to keep her comping back?  lol!  She used 5399 – Gull-Friends Set on her adorable card. 

Ruthan Plant is one of the co-founders of The Art Impressions Way on FB.  She's usually famous for her watercolor nature scenes but this time she created a stunning holiday scene.  We love her creative spirit...her pinecones are artichokes!!  Can you believe it?!

5424  WC Veggies Set, 5418 WC Bible Foliage Set 2, 5126  WC Foliage Set 4, 4963. WC Fall Set

Roberta Bostrom created a beautiful river scene.
Even if you don't like to fish you MUST feel the peacefulness this amazing scene makes you feel!

She used silhouettes, small rocks, stone creek, tree set and foliage set 4.

             A while back Kendra challenged Ruthan and everyone to create a Terrarium.  Michelle Hoskins took that challenge head on!!  She created this amazing little scene with glass that is just above and beyond! 

She used Southwest set #4763. 

Kathy Acres is just one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet.   She is one of the founding members of the Art Impressions Way on FB.  She is one of the few people that both watercolors and loves the regular Ai stamps!  Today she's sharing her cute snow people scene.   She used the Sparkle & Cheer Set #4935 and the Christmas Wonder Set #4936

Irm Fondse-Beerens is famous for her butterflies!

She used multiple containers to create this sweet scene.  She used...
4702 - Wooden Door (Wreath), 4701 - Claypot,  5416 - Vintage Car set,  5373 - LG Tree set,  5009 - Mini Flower,  5418 - Bible Foliage set 2.  5126 - Foliage 4,  4966 - Bird Bath set,  5055 - Sitting Places set,  4051 - Foliage 1,  5258 - Flower 4,  4965 - Branches,  4960 - Fir Tree set,  5136 - Sentiment set 2

Fiona Garner has joined us for the last week and has two sweet cards!  For her first card she use 5349 – Koalas Set from the Funny Farm Series.

For Fiona's second card she used the ever popular 5399 – Gull-Friends Set. 

Diane Mason has a different style than a lot of watercolor artists.  She paints very bold colors. We look forward to seeing more and more of her work in the fan groups!
5426 - WC Veggies, 5069 - WC Harvest Set, 4868 - WC Flower Set 2, 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2

5418 - Bible Foliage Set 2, 4964 - WC Branches Set, 4701 - Clay Pot     

                  

Debbie Hedges has been an Ai fan for just about forever!  She created such an adorable lake scene with beautiful shades of greens, blues and purples!  She used
5118 - WC Beach Girls Set,  5258 - WC Flower Set 4,  5009 - WC Mini Flower Set,  4875 - WC Garden Wagon Mini Set,  5414 - WC Small Rocks Set,  5415 - WC Rocks Set,  4051 - WC Foliage Set 1,  4867 - WC Foliage Set 2,  5126 - WC Foliage Set 4,  5372 - WC Mini Foliage Set,  4603 - WC Blooming Birdhouse,  5062 - Rounded Rectangle Double-Stitched Dies

De Furey created a lovely bird bath scene.  We love the subtle background she created to highlight her pretty garden.
Scrapbook.com exclusive Hydrangeas, 4052 – WC Flower Set 1, 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, 4872 – WC Birds Set, 4966 – WC Bird Bath Set, 5018 – WC Cobblestone Set

How many of you miss Diane Zechman  being on the Art Impressions DT as much as we do? She's such a talented artist.  For our final fan share she used MB Template, MB Birthday set, MB Kitchen Set, MB Wall Accessories, MB Cat Accessories, 5038- Ghoul Friend Set.

On behalf of everyone at Art Impressions I'd like to thank all of these amazing artists who shared their talents with us each Tuesday this September.  Their work has been an inspiration and we are thankful they chose to participate. 

Happy Stamping everyone!

Fan Group Features Part 3

Hello Ai fans! 

Is it just me or is September flying by?
I can't believe this is our 3rd fan group feature already!
These amazing artists have been filling in while Jil from our Design Team is away.

Kicking off week three is Irm Fondse-Beerens! 

She used 5376 Basic scene, 5371 Barn set, 4607 Flowering mailbox, 5388 Rugged tree, 5010 Tree set 1, 5426 Veggies, 5416 Vintage car set, 4052 Flower 1, 4051 Foliage 1, 5007 Foliage 3, 5372 Mini Foliage, 5414 Small rocks set and 4964 Branches.  Irm created a farm scene that reminds us of where we live.  So pretty!

Oh De Furey!! 
Cardinals are not the state bird of 7 states for no reason!  Your bird is so beautiful as is your entire scene. Your rustic wooden barrel is so realistic!  De used 5414 small rocks, 5261 Bird, 4871 rustic containers

5418 “Kendra" dots, Grasses 4875, 5007, 5059 and tiny grass, Tombows #177, 969, 528 and 856

Our fan group shares aren't limited to just fans.  Some are former Design Team members.  We all miss Diane Zechman's weekly inspiration terribly!  She used 5193- Woodland Holiday Set and 5134- Banner Double Stitched Dies on her sweet, rustic Christmas cards! We LOVE owls!!

Debbie Hedges...what can we say?  You've all heard "simple and elegant"...that describes her style.  She is an amazing artist that creates many sweet and simple scenes for the most perfect cards!
She used 5194 - WC Shoe Set, 5059 - WC Harvest Set, 4868 - WC Flower Set 2, 4604 - WC Chest of Flowers, 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4, 5418 - Bible Foliage Set 2, 4051 - WC Foliage Set, 5414 - WC Small Rocks Set, 5064 - Circle Double Stitched Dies

Diane Mason!  This woman can PAINT!!  
I dream of having this spooky pumpkin topiary on my front porch!

Art Impressions Stamps used for Decorative Pumpkin Topiary:  4870 - WC Ornate Container Set, 5426 - WC Veggies, 5069 - WC Harvest Set, 4964 - WC Branches Set, 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2, 5018 - WC Cobblestone Set, 5065 - Oval Double Stitched Dies

Kathy Acres created the sweetest  (Yes, pun intended...) Gingerbread Cubbies #5178 card!!  The Cubbies are a very cute, interactive more recent line at Art Impressions.  Kathy has shown us how much fun this set can be!  They are so easy to assemble because they come with matching dies so you don't have to fussy cut!

Michelle Hoskins is so good at using Art Impressions stamps and then adding her own personal touch to create fabulous scenes.  In this one there are two tiny, hiding gnomes.  I found them.  Can you?  She used 5102- Succulents set, 4763- Southwest, 5009- Mini flower set, 

4051- Foliage set,  5015- Hobbit Door set, 4961- WC Mini Cottages set, 5265- WC Wrought Iron set

Our personal favorite cards are fall themed cards and Roberta Bostrom has shown why!  Her fall wreath is just perfect with those colors and pumpkins and gourds!  We think she's channeling her inner Karen Day with the plaid paper background!   Beautiful!  She used 5426 – WC Veggies, 5418 – Bible Foliage Set 2,  branches, foliage sets 2 and 3.

Ruthan Plant has taken me back to my childhood.  I grew up on the road where the very first hot air balloon pilot in my area lived.  When the kids would hear the burner firing we'd come running.  He would "hop" us across his horse pasture before taking up his paying customers.  Ruthan's scene is just stunning with her balloon meandering down the river bed.  This is so peaceful!  She used  #5378 WC Stone Creek Scene, #5372 WC Mini Foliage Set, and #5120 WC Palm Tree Set

Sharon's cards are just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!  Always!  This time she used 4382 Giant Cake Set with a sentiment from 5280 Practically Perfect Set.  Her cards are fun and bright and would put a smile on anyone's face.  She's a former DT member and always has amazing inspiration for you!

We can't believe that next Tuesday is the last of our fan group shares.  There has been so much

lovely inspiration through all of these amazing cards.  We'll miss these ladies but look forward to having JIL back!!  Don't forget to check out our bi-weekly challenges too!  You could win 3 stamp sets of your choice!

Happy Stamping!

 

Fan Group Features Part 2

 Hello Ai fans!

It's Tuesday #2 for our Fan Group Features!

These fabulous artists are fans of Art Impressions
and let me tell you...WE'RE fans of them!

These fabulous ladies have agreed to step in and share their
artwork each Tuesday in September to fill in while our DT
member Jil is away.

Toni Woods is a friend of Ruthan Plant and they have been into circles lately.
She created a beautiful farm scene (love those flowers!) using: 4962 Rustic Cabins, 4964 Branch Set, 5059 Harvest Set, 5371 Barn Set, 5416 Vintage Car Set, 5372 Mini Foliage, 5009 Mini Flower Set, 5120 Palm Tree Set
Tombow Colors used: 969, 80, 16, 13, 23, 27, 28, 8, 64, 6, 61, and 1. 

Sharon Caudle is a former Design Team member and we miss her terribly!
She was famous for her bright colors and bows.  Sharon used 4383 Wine Tasters Set.

Ruthan loves to create elaborate nature scenes.  Her gorgeous pond scene is so sweet!  She used #5418 Bible Foliage Set 2, #5424 WC Pond Set, #5054 WC Little Boys Set, #4964 WC Branches Set, #5372 WC Mini Foliage Set,  Her pier and fishing pole are hand drawn and she changed the little boys arms to hold fishing pole.  (that's another talent she has...altering stamps to fit her needs)




We're all about the fall scenes right now and Roberta Bostrom created an amazingly sweet scene using 5426 – WC Veggies, 4703 – Flower Cart, 4867 – WC Foliage Set 2 and the retired Furries.  Are you in the mood to visit a pumpkin farm now too?

Michelle Hoskins is known for her hand-drawn scenes mixed with Art Impressions stamps.  Her card is perfect for the current Shaken, Not Stirred (cards with drinks challenge)  Her marshmallow mug couldn't be more perfect.  She used 

4961 WC Mini cottages,  front of Gingerbread house

4867 WC Foliage set 2, pine branch for garland

5009 WC Mini flower set, small leafy branch in garland.

Kathy Acres co-runs The Art Impressions Way with Ruthan Plant.  Her cards are always a great inspiration!  She used Cake Set #539, Canson 140 lb watercolor paper and 

Tombow markers. Colors used...291, 451, 491, 723, 743, 991, N65

Jane Haurunen created the sweetest fall scene using 5191 – Feast Mode Set.  She cut the leaf off from the fox stamp so it could easily be used on it's own.  Her background was created using archival Goldenrod and Sunflower ink.

Irm Fondse-Beerens created an adorable Christmas card using a combination of watercolor and regular stamps.  Her little dots of snow create a wonderful dimension around Santa!  She used 5040 Sleigh bells set, 5373 LG Tree set, 5284 Small Alphabet set (used the i for the dash -)

5071 Serif Letters set, 4964 Branches set, 4051 Foliage set, 4052 Flower set, 

5418 Bible Foliage set, 4960 Fir Trees set

Debbie Hedges got creative and masked off a portion of her stamp to make a smaller project.  She's great at showing how versatile these stamps are.  Her card was created by 5435R - WC Foundations Potting Bench, 4876 - WC Wooden Chair, 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2, 4868 - WC Flower Set 2, 4875 - WC Garden Wagon, 5268 - WC Flower Set 4, 4604 - WC Chest of Flowers, 4603 - WC Blooming Birdhouse, 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4

De Furey created a beautiful birthday card.  Who doesn't love flowers on their birthday, especially when they're this pretty! She used Ornate containers 4870, 5373 large tree set, 5372 mini foliage, 5169 He Leads Me (Hobby Lobby), Oval Double Stitched Dies 5065, Tombows 565  969 177 837

Diane Mason is such a talented artist and often adds hand-drawn accents to make her pieces just perfect!  For her BOO card she used 5071 - WC Serif Letters Set, 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4, 5426 - WC Veggies, Foliage Set 4051

Ghost, spider, web and pumpkin face are hand-drawn
Can you believe that "see through" ghost?

Former Design Team member Diane Zechman couldn't resist the recent 34th Anniversary sale and stocked up on new Matchbook sets.  She created the cutest little scene for some lucky persons birthday!  Her card was created using Matchbook Template, Envelope, Birthday Set, and Wall Accessories.  Thank you Diane!  We miss you!

Thank you so much ladies!  If you'd like to see even more inspiration for these and other fantastic artists then join one of the fan groups!  They aren't affiliated with Art Impressions but are a great source for card ideas and a great place to ask or answer questions and make new friends!

Art Impressions Stamp Group

The Art Impressions Way

Happy Stamping and don't forget to enter our card
challenges to win 3 free stamp sets of your choice!