Monochromatic Challenge #395 Week #1

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our most recent challenge.

This one is called Monochromatic.

I'm the featured artist this time, but before we see my cards, let's see who won our first challenge of 2025, Craft Time is Golden.

For our Top Spot we chose #1 Mary S. for her beautiful Love Birds.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!! ***Leah is out of the office until further notice***

but someone is covering for her. Please be patient if there is a slight delay.

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Our Lucky Random Winner was #3 Kathy R.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!! ***Leah is out of the office until further notice***

but someone is covering for her. Please be patient if there is a slight delay.

Also, be sure to grab our badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Congratulations to you both! Enjoy your new stamps.

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Hello everyone and welcome to my first feature of 2025.

I made three monochromatic cards on the slightly smaller side.

Two of them are gift card holders.

My first one is a cute little floral card perfect for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, get well or just to say hello and I'm thinking of you.

My next two are both gift card holders created using the mini frame dies.

Perfect for a man or a woman. They're both "just" masculine and feminine enough.

These are great for winter birthdays, co-workers, kids, adults...whoever you need to give a little something to. You could also just add a personal note inside. Sometimes, that all the gift that someone needs.

I hope you'll all join our Monochromatic challenge. You may just be our next winner.

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)

✻ Limit two submissions per person. You will receive extra votes if you use Art Impressions stamps!

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻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

Were Here Girlfriends Card by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

I just love it when new Girlfriends stamps come out ! I used the We're Here stamp set and mounted it on the Scallop Easel Die.  That way the card recipient can keep it on display.

I started by stamping the images onto Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth paper with Memento Espresso Truffle Ink and colored them with my Copic markers.  The colors used are listed at the end of this post. The image was then cut out using the oval double stitched dies. The background is cut from Vicki Boutin paper.  I stamped the greeting with Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink and cut it into a rectangle and mounter it to a banner die cut from the easel die set. 

Copic Colors Used:

Skin - E000, E00, E11, E04, RV10
Hair - E70, E31, E74, C00, C1, C3

Green - YG61, YG63, YG67

Rose - R81, R83, R85

Orange - Y21, YR15, YR24

Pants - 0, C00, C1, C3, W00, W1, W3
Door - E41, E42, E43
Door Background - YG61, B21
Background - 0, BV0000, BV00

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Tulips and a Tired Little Easter Bunny

Hello Ai fans!

I am so excited to be here and sharing with you my very first card for the Ai design team.  I have a beautiful Easter card to share with you from the set 5004 - Sweet Easter. 

I thought this image was so soft and pretty that I wanted to keep the colors softer. I wanted to frame the flowers and bunny, being he is the focal point.  I thought the oval in the 4700 - Scallop Easel Die would work perfect.  I also wanted to give some dimension to the card so if you look close you can see I glued the bottom pot down and the half way up I added foam tape.  For the flowers though I doubled up the foam tape to really make them pop. It is really hard to see in the picture but I added some Wink of Stella to the tulips and the little fuzzy bunny to make them shine. As you get to know me you will find out … I LOVE Wink of Stella.

I left the inside blank so you could write a nice note to the person receiving it. 

 This sentiment also comes with the stamp set 5004 - Sweet Easter.

Thank you so much for welcoming me and checking out my first post for the Ai design team.  I look forward to making crafty friends with all of you!

Copics used:  

C1, C3

E51, E33, E55, E57

G40, G43, G94

R20, R21, R22, R24

NEW VIDEO - Floral Birdhouse PopCard Quick Tips

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome to another new feature video showing off our new PopCards! Kate shows you how to assemble and add extra pieces to our Floral Birdhouse PopCard. You can easily create an opening in the front of your card so your recipient can get a peek before opening the card. Check out Kate's tips and all her supplies below!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BCaZbSRa9AM

Challenge 171: Use Water-Based Inks Week 2!

Hello Ai Fans!

Karen with Flower Cart (sku 4703)

It's another THURSDAY! Time to check up on our challenge. This week it's all about water-based inks to celebrate our 3 NEW Watercolor Mini sets! Here's a recap of our beautiful new stamps, and see them in action with our design team below!

Our friends at Scrapbook Expo have shared a sneak peak, check it out:

Have you heard about our new easel card dies? It's a lovely way to frame your stamp art!

And here is a tutorial for how to make your own easel cards.

Are you ready to see what the designers have been up to? They've made some lovely cards using various watercolor techniques--be sure to click the designer's name to check out their blog for more details and how-to.

Cheri with Wooden Door (sku 4702) and Scallop Easel Die (sku 4700)

 Dana with Clay Pot (sku 4701) and Square Easel Die (sku 4699)

 Diane with Wooden Door (sku 4702) and Scallop Easel Die (sku 4700)

Karen with Flower Cart (sku 4703) and Square Easel Die (sku 4699)

Kerry with Flower Cart (sku 4703) and Scallop Easel Die (sku 4700)

Renee with Flower Cart (sku 4703) and Square Easel Die (sku 4699)

Sharon with Wooden Door (sku 4702) and Scallop Easel Die (sku 4700)

Thanks for sharing designers! What a beautiful variety in your watercolor techniques! And the easel die really frame your artwork well! Ok, lets see what YOU can create for this challenge. We'd love to see some cards with water-based inks. Join in the fun!

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 4 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.
✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge 171: Use Water-Based Inks! PLUS, New Watercolor Minis + Easel Dies!

Hello Ai Fans!

Diane with Wooden Door

We're back with a new challenge and some beautiful new stamps and dies! First, let's wrap up the last challenge for "Let's Go for a Spin!"

Top Spot goes to...

Eva!

Congrats! Such a cute card to display a Frosting Spinner mouse! Eva, email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable mentions are...

CraftyPaws!

Tami!

Way to be creative, you two! CraftyPaws, what a fun way to use the Dog Mini Front & Back into a spinning card! And Tami, we're ready for some whirlwind trick or treating with More Hands More Candy! Don't forget to email annelise@artimpressions.com with you address and a set of your choice!

Okay, time for something NEW! Are you ready?

We have 3 new Watercolor Mini sets to add to the collection! Here's a peek from our friends at Scrapbook Expo!

We also have some fabulous new dies! Cardmaking is easy and oh so lovely with an easel frame die. Frame your stamping like the artwork it is!

Need some advice for making your own easel card? Here's a full length tutorial to get you started!

It's Thursday, and you know what that means... New challenge!

Diane is here to show how she used some of these new goodies!

Hello Ai friends!  Diane here with a tutorial today!

The new Ai Challenge is “Use Water-Based Inks” and we are showcasing the NEW Watercolor images and the NEW Easel Card Dies!  How exciting!  I am sharing how I made my card today with the Ai Wooden Door (4702) stamp set and the Ai Scallop Easel Card Die (4700).  I also used a sentiment from the Christmas Scene TryFold (4687) stamp set.

I started by die-cutting two of the Scallop Easel Card die with vanilla cardstock for my card base, and set those aside.

I wanted to make a scalloped mat for my card, so here is how you can easily do that.  Using the widest (open) scalloped section of the die, I cut a patterned paper layer for the front.  Start with a piece of patterned paper that is 3 1/2" x 5".  Center the 3 1/2" width in the die (leaving equal space on both sides).  Use low-tack tape to hold in place and diecut.





Now trim the height of the patterned paper to 4 3/4" tall.  Adhere this layer to one of the vanilla diecut card bases.

Next diecut an oval window with the smallest oval die.



Set aside and use both oval dies to cut a frame with red cardstock. Also cut a sentiment label from a scrap of vanilla cardstock.

I stamped the door, tree, and logs with Versafine Black ink and water-colored the images with Twinkling H2Os and a water-brush.  Then I inked the wreath with a green marker and stamped it last.  I lightly touched the wreath with the water-brush.



When dry, adhere the water-colored image behind the oval diecut window.  Then adhere the second vanilla card base behind the image, lining up both card bases and the scallop edges.

NOTE:  Kate has a wonderful video HERE showing how to put the Easel Cards together.  Please check it out!



Following Kate's instructions in the video, fold both sides back.  Then cut the small tab on both sides half-way to the scored line, starting from each end.  Fold the easel sides on the scored lines and fold down the tabs.  I glued the sides down but it isn't necessary.  It will look like this from the back:





Adhere the diecut oval frame around the window.  Stamp the sentiment, and finish your card as desired.  I placed some punched branches under the sentiment and popped it with foam dimensionals.

Now it’s your turn to make a card or project and join us in the "Use Water-Based Inks" Challenge!

Happy stamping!

Thanks, Diane! Beautiful watercoloring! Your Wooden Door painting is framed like a piece of art in the Scalloped Easel Die card! Alright, folks, join in the fun--we want to see what beautiful water-based crafts you can create. You can use a watercolor effect with brushes or other creative uses. Lets see what you got!

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 4 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.
✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up