Trio of Halloween Journals by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

It's almost spooky season and so I'm beginning a little project now because I know it'll take me a while.  I'm making some Halloween journals for my kids.  I'm beginning with the cover but then I'll be skipping around a bit.  When they're finished,  I'll show you them in order from front to back.
There will be 3 journals in all, one for Art Impressions and one for each of my kids. Each one will be very similar and yet completely unique.

For Dominick and Makena's, I personalized them by adding their names with the 5562 – Journal Letter Die Set.  I also added the name Jackson's to the sign post because that's a famous pumpkin farm just down the road from us that they've gone to since they were babies.

My kids are grown now, but they've loved Halloween since they were little.  My plan is to put a GC and a little cash in here for them.  They're also each getting a Halloween Tea Towel and probably a favorite candy. Though you can't tell in the pictures, the stars are cut out of glittery white paper.

I colored in the negative space in between the skeleton's bones to make him pop more.
I hope you're inspired to give the Ai Journals a try.  They're so fun and can be personalized for any theme or person that you wish.  The possibilities are endless.

5543 – Journal Template Die Set (for journal)

5408 – ShadowBox Window Die (window frame)
M5051 – Haunted House Window (under window frame)
5456 – Spooky Wagon Set (pumpkin, ghost and BOO sign)
5457 – Christmas Truck Set (blank sign "Jackson's" and star die)
5562 – Journal Letter Die Set (for names)
5487 – Front Porch Halloween Set (skeleton)
Sakura Pigma Micron 05 – Pigment Fineliners – 0.45mm (to write Jackson's and fill in space between skeleton bones)
Memento Ink Pad (to stamp all images)
4773 – Acrylic Block 5 Pack (Variety) (to stamp smaller images, larger images were stamped on my Stamp Perfect)

Copics used:

100, Y02, Y19, Y23, YR16, E35, T2, YG06,
YG91, YG93, B12, B95, BV00, BV11, BV13

Midnight Snack Tag by Nina

 Hello Ai fans, Nina here and today I am sharing a new cute Ai tag for my Tag Journal of Art Impressions. Today I am making a picnic scene for last week's challenge "Midnight Snack" so I needed a picnic cooler bag and I improvised and turned the Crafter Bag from the set ___ to a picnic cooler bag. I am also using the Tag Stitched Dies Set.

I cut my Tag from White paper multiple times and attached them together to make them sturdy. I then used Broken China and Mermaid Lagoon Distress inks to create a background for my scene.

I stamped my images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink that is Copic friendly and colored them with Copics.

For my snack & critter images, I used these sets:

Produce Stand MTF (Racoon)

Craft Bag Die Set (Bag)

Front Porch Harvest Set (Apple Bushel)

MB Coffee Shop (Cupcake, Cake & Cookies)

Road Trip Set (Hot Drink Cup)

I colored the cat from "Spooky Wagon Set" but I ended up not using it.

I colored all the images with these Copic shades:

Reds: R21 R27 R29 R32 R59

Orange: YR27

Yellow: Y02 Y06 Y08

Yellow Greens: YG01 YG23 YG25

Pinks: RV14

Blues: B05

Browns: E15 E17 E25 E99

Greys: C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 N4 N6

I then cut my images, backed them with foam tape. I die cut a grass border from green cardstock and glued it directly on my tag.

I inserted my snack image in the slits of the cooler bag and attached it on the grass border and attached the racoon next to it.

I also die cut the word PICNIC from alphabet dies and colored with the same Copic shades..

I added some enamel dots and hearts to decorate my scene.

I then opened the metal ring of my tag album and added my new tag to it.

Cat Lovers Hop 2022!

 Hello Ai fans and hello to all the CAT lovers out there!

We always look forward to this week.
Once again, Art Impressions is participating in the Cat Lovers Hop.

#2022CatLoversHop

Ai has provided a prize for the hop.

5369 – Feline Set

You MUST sign in to be eligible for the prizes!

You can sign in, read all of the rules and hear about all of the prizes here.

We had several of our Design Team members participate
in the hop with some adorable cards!

All Art Impressions products are linked below.

Tasha has a birthday card.

Mercy made 3!  Two Halloween and one Halloween birthday card.

Reneé made a birthday card.

There are so many prizes to be won!

Be sure to join in on the hop to see how to be eligible to win.

We hope you have a PURR-FECT day and enjoy the hop!

New! Front Porch Halloween set by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Who loves Halloween??

I do! I do!

 I was so excited when I saw the new 5487 – Front Porch Halloween Set which is part of the Front Porch Series.

I went a little dark and spooky with this one.  My kids both LOVE Halloween and being "scared."  Well,  kids...they're 22 and 23 but they're very much kids at heart when it comes to having a good scare at Halloween.

The awesome thing about this set is that you can go a little creepy or you can keep it totally cute for those that don't love that.

This set comes with coordinating dies which is great!  For my trees, I stamped and colored one of them and then cut it out.  For the rest, I just used the die to cut different shades of black and gray trees.

The little sign with BOO on it is from the Spooky Wagon set from the Ai Rides Series.

The fun scene inside the door is from the MB Halloween set.

Do you see my bats? They were cut out with the dies from the set.  I then used a piece of acetate and a brad to make them "FLY" through the air.  I love an interactive card!

Copics used:

T1, T2, T3, C8, 100, Y08, Y11, Y26, YR12,
YR18, YR31, G14, E23, E29, E37, E81

Front Porch Thanksgiving and Thank You cards by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

There was a new release a few days ago on the Art Impressions website.

NEW PORCH ACCESSORIES!

HOORAY!

I made this card BEFORE that happened though so I made a Thanksgiving porch with what I had to work with.

We have two dogs and our Boomer has a "special" relationship with the squirrels.  He especially HATES them and believes it's his mission in life to chase them all our of our yard.  This is my nod to him.

I also made a Thank You front porch and guess what?  This one was selected for publication!

I'm so excited!

These porch sets have endless possibilities.  I love each and every one of them!

Unfortunately they misspelled my last name but I can live with that.

I'm thankful for my family, friends and my job with Art Impressions.  

What are you thankful for today?

I apologize.  The 5039 – Grateful Hearts Set that I used for the sentiment, hat and wheat spray is discontinued now at Ai.  You can still find it on other retail sites so if you want this set, get it now before it's gone forever.  All other products I used are linked below.


Copics used on Thanksgiving Porch:

G24, G43, Y0, Y11, YR27, YR61 BG000, BG15, BG57, W1, W6, E31, E33, E40, E79

Thank You Porch:

Y04, G29, G3, G6, BG000, BG53, RV02, RV21, RV25, YR14, YR61, W1, W2, W6, E35

Spooky Halloween Window by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing my card for the Perfect Plaid challenge on the Art Impressions blog.

I know it's July but I've been wanting to try one of the watercolor windows for a spooky Halloween card since I saw Bonnie's tutorial.  Mine is FAR different from hers and not nearly as pretty but I think it's fun.  This was her card that inspired mine.

I chose a different window than Bonnie used and I used some Wink of Stella on my windows.

Also, the window I used has one shutter.  I decided to stamp it a second time and place one on the other side.  I just cut it out, flipped it upside down and now my window has a matching pair of shutters!

I used several sets to create my card.

WOSC Wink of Stella Glitter Clear Brush Pen – Clear
Memento Ink Pad

5014 – WC Window Set

5456 – Spooky Wagon Set

5460 – Halloween Slimline Set

5462 – Web Dies Set

Copics used:

Y0000, Y11, YR000, YR12, YR31, V0000, G21, E31, 

E99, W1, W2, W4, T1, T4, N1, N2, N4

Ai Rides Place Cards by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing a place card holder that I made for Thanksgiving.

I used the new Ai Rides sets called 5457 – Christmas Truck Set and some pieces from 5456 – Spooky Wagon Set.

My step-dad Bud is a retired Ford dealership owner and loves old trucks.

I put him at the head of our Thanksgiving table and he loved this!  It's now on the windowsill in their kitchen.

I used the easel from the 5317 – MB Template Dies to stand it up on the plate.
One thing I'll do different next time is to cut some paper to cover the white on the backside.  If I had used the included dies to cut the truck in reverse I could have made the back pretty too.  Live and learn!

You can see how the fenders are popped up here.  Having dies for these pieces makes a world of difference!  Happy Holidays everyone and be sure to check out the latest challenge at Ai for your chance to win free stamps!

Spooky Wagon by Reneé Matarese

Hello Ai fans!

Have you seen the new Ai Rides??

These are just the cutest!

There are 3 new sets and I've used the 5456 – Spooky Wagon Set

My card goes along with the new challenge on the blog.

I also used the new 5462 – Web Dies Set.  These spider webs are SO much fun!
Green is my favorite color so that's how I chose to color the truck.  Have you ever seen Last Man Standing with Tim Allen?  He has a vintage green truck that was my inspiration.  I would love to own a truck like that someday.

Halloween is a big deal in our house so I was in love with this set and all of the other new Halloween 2021 sets!  Check them out here...  There's a new slimline set,  the web dies, a Matchbook and a new Window!  Something for everyone!