Happy Monday Ai Friends! My card today features the oh, so fun Never Too Old Laugh Lines set. There are so many fun and silly sentiments that will surely make the recipient smile!
I stamped this gal in Copic safe ink onto a piece of 3-¾" x 5" white cardstock and then colored her with the Copic markers listed below. I also stamped her onto some masking paper and fussy cut it out. Here are the steps I took to create the background followed by a few photos (click to enlarge):
After covering the lady with the masking paper, I put down a grass border mask and then put a brick stencil over that.
Using a blending brush, I added a light gray ink through the brick stencil. I added a darker shade of gray through the brick stencil in random areas.
I removed the stencil and mask and put on a mask above the grass. I used two shades of Distress Ink (see supply list below) to create the grass. The third photo is with all masks removed.
I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black ink and used a die from the Tag Stitched Die set to cut it out. To get the rectangle shape instead of a tag shape, after I cut it the first time, I flipped the paper around so the triangle shape was below the bottom of the tag cut line. I used a few foam squares to pop it up.
I decided that she needed flowers and presents for her birthday, so I used two of the Holiday Mansion accessory sets along with the included dies to add these. The presents are from the HM Birthday Set and the flowers from the HM Garden Set. These are also popped up with foam squares.
Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a crafty week!
Today I'm sharing another coffee themed inspired card. I couldn't resist coloring up the Girlfriend blend set! Don't forget to enter in your own coffee cards in the current challenge.
Using a stamp platform, I stamped the Girlfriend Blend image on Neenah 80lb Solar White card stock with Gina K. Amalgam ink. I really had coffee on my mind for this one. Which is why I kept my coloring to mainly neutral tones. I used BV00 to add shading to the caffeinated ladies light skin tones. Blending that out with E51 and E00. I shaded in a table for them to lean on and sketched in the blue sky, B41 & B00.
Once the coloring was done I used the largest Hexagon Double Stitch die to die cut the Girlfriend Blend image. Since I was die cutting I went ahead and die cut a green card stock with the Stitched Rectangle Double Stitch die and also the ovals, or petals/leaves. Twice with a shimmer green card stock and four times with a Chartreuse felt. The oval die is from the Tag Double Stitch die.
I added a strip of Simon Says Stamp Dark Chocolate card stock to the bottom of the image. For the sentiment, "Never underestimate the power of being properly caffeinated." I heat embossed with white embossing powder on Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate card stock.
Copic Markers Used:
W9, W6, W3, W1, W0
C5, C3, E81, E77, E74
E59, E51, E43, E35, E34,
E31, E18, E17, E15, E07
E00, RV55, RV11, R81,
R83, R27, R17, R14, R12
B41, B00, BV00
Thank you so much for joining me today! Happy Stamping!!
Today I have a fun summery card that's just perfect to send to a friend for any occasion!
I used the Girlfriends Stayin' Afloat set and a sentiment from the WC Sentiment Set 2. I stamped the image onto watercolor paper with Versafine Onyx Black in and heat embossed it with clear powder. I used watercolor markers (listed below) to color everything. Sometimes I added the marker direct to the paper and pulled the color out with a damp brush. Other times I scribbled the marker onto my glass mat and dipped my brush into it. For the white dots on the pink float I used some white gouache. I like it because it's totally opaque. I put a tiny dab onto my mat and mixed in just a bit of water. To get the nice round dots I dipped the end of a rounded stylus into the gouache and touched it to the paper.
After I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx black ink, I heat embossed it twice with clear embossing powder (the first photo really shows the shine and dimension). Then I cut it out with the small tag die from the Tag Stitched Dies set. I used the same die to cut tags from the pink and striped papers. I adhered all three tags together and used some twine from my stash to add a bow.
The pink cardstock is adhered to the card base and the image with the striped edge is popped up on foam tape. I used some thin 3D foam squares for the tag.
This card really has me ready for warm weather, sunshine and fun! Have a wonderful and crafty week!
Happy Monday! My card today features these fun loving gals from the Wine Tasters Set. They really look like they are having a lot of fun talking and laughing!
I stamped the image onto Neenah Solar White paper with Copic safe ink. I colored everything with the Copic colors listed below. The wood floor is actually just a strip of wood pattern paper from the Spring Market pad that I cut off. Here's how I got the "seamless" look:
Using a ruler, I drew a pencil line where the floor would begin.
Next I used my paper trimmer to cut the straight lines, being sure to stop before I cut of the bottom of the stool legs. I also added some shading to the floor beneath the stools.
I finished up the cutting by fussy cutting the legs up to where I had originally drawn the pencil line. I also used a craft knife in a couple of the tight spots.
Once it was all cut out, take your strip of wood paper and butt it up against the white paper and position the cut out portion of the stool legs on top. I secured it temporarily with some removable tape and added dots of glue to the bottom of the stool legs to adhere them to the floor.
I used a Tag Stitch die to cut out the stamped sentiment. I wanted a shadow layer behind it, so I used a pencil and traced around the outside of the same tag die onto some white paper. After I fussy cut it, I used a coordinating Copic to add the color. (I did the same thing to get the coordinating layer behind the Rounded Rectangle die.)
Also, for the matching little brad (from my stash) well it started out as a silver brad. You can color embellishments with your Copics to match, which is what I did. Just be sure to give it plenty of time to dry so you don't smudge it. I tied a bow with twine from my stash and added it to the tag!
Thank you so very much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fun and crafty week!
Copic markers:
Yellow top: Y08, Y13, Y11, Y00
Blue pants: B99, B97, B34
Green top: YG09, YG07, YG06
Pink top: RV14, RV13, RV10
White pants: C3, C1, C0, C00, 0
Hair: lady #1: E42, E43, E44, E55; lady #2: YR23, YR24, E99;
I've been really enjoying the Art Impressions Stacker sets and knew I wanted to play with the dog stacker. Honestly anything with a Dachshund and I want to color it, but this is truly a fun dog pile! I also made the paw print with dies, so easy!
I started with die cutting the slider mechanism, per the instructions on the back. A good dry adhesive is what I used. Some quick measuring and I cut the slider pull with a watercolor paw print pattern paper. Then attached a small piece of black ribbon in a loop using the Tiny Attacher and ink blended the slider frame with a distress ink. Gradually blending out to the white cardstock.
The last two details took some trial and error. I used a small blending brush to flick a Distress Oxide reinker and water mixer on to the white back panel. So messy! A random brown box does well to keep most of the spray contained, plus reusable!
So those tiny little dots took some time to dry even after heat setting. While I waited I started on the paw print. For this I was able to use 2 dies, the smallest from the Double Stitched Oval die set and the tiny oval from the Double Stitch Tag die set. It's a little oblong and if I had a nice heart shape I could have used that as the large pad, that would be super cute. This is when I also chose to stamp my sentiment. This one says "Happy tails to you my pal" . Using a clear sitcky ink and white embossing powder.
The fun part was coloring the dogs, using Copics, my plan was to have 3 different shades of dogs . Once again I was inspired by the packaging art! But, I didn't see the little guy at the top! So he's the only one in grays. lol. Which I thought worked and made a second one just like the first! The copics I used are listed below.
Hello Ai Fans! This week I'm mixing up the Love Birds and Sweet Wishes sets, to make some anniversary cards. I love the beautiful floral wreath paired with the cute love birds. For this one I tried no line coloring with Copic markers. Colors I used are listed below.
I stamped the the wreath and birth images with a light gray ink, which gives me the no line color effect. Then colored them in with Copics. To add texture I used a 3D embossing folder for the wood pattern background. Then used Distress Ink in Pumice Stone to add color and really make the texture show. To add even more texture I add a circle of pattern cork paper. It was fun to mix up some patters.
I thought the wreath needed a cute little tag. Both of the Love Birds and Sweet Wishes have great sentiments so I added the one from Sweet Wishes to the little tag from the Tag Stitched Die set and attached it to the wreath with some glue after tying a baker's twine bow through the tag. The sentiment Happy Anniversary is embossed on black card stock with white embossing powder.
Today I'm sharing two interactive birthday cards with you.
My brother-in-law's birthday is in 2 weeks and he's a big sports fan.
His favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers so his card was done in black, white and yellow. My other card (the first one you'll see) was just done in colors I like.
This guy is just to cute and fun! I stamped him up multiple times and colored him differently for each one. After fussy cutting him out, I ran him through my cuttlebug with the die that cuts out his mouth. Then you can put one of the many choices from the set in his mouth! FUN! I had another colored with the bone, but didn't get the card finished, so I'll have to show him to you at another time.
The dog house is a Silhouette cut file. I used it alone on this card, and then turned it into a shaped card for the next one! It's so easy to do!! The clouds are from Paper Smooches.
So that's it for me today! Hope you're having an amazing weekend and until next time - stay crafty!!
Spring is on the way, and so are NEW releases! We are excited to announce FOUR gorgeous additions to our Circlet Mini TryFold line! Our Circlets are so popular, and it's easy to see why! Each set contains three circular stamp images designed to layer together, as well as two dies that cut the openings. Send homemade greetings with our Front Porch Circlet, featuring a sleeping kitty at the front door. Our Pasture and Dock Circlets are perfect for masculine or feminine cards, featuring horses in the field and boats on a peaceful lake. Last but not least, our Easter Circlet is perfect for sending blessings this spring. Take a look at our video from Creativation to see a variety of cards you can make with our Circlets! Grab all four sets at artimpressions.com!
Carol has a tutorial you won't want to miss! Let's take a look!
Hello Ai Fans!
For our Stripes and Circles challenge I'm using the beautiful new Front Porch Circlet MTF. I wanted to do something a bit different with this Circlet and decided to make a cute tag!
Since I wanted the images to be stamped crisp and clear, I used Strathmore Bristol Smooth card stock. To step it up even a bit more, I pulled out a couple of my long neglected Watercolor Sets and stamped a wreath around the first two circle images. I wasn't totally certain how this would work with the water color stamps, but I have to say it worked great! I stamped each image onto a piece of Bristol Smooth using Versafine Onyx Black in, which is waterproof.
After stamping each image, I stamped the wreath using the techniques that Bonnie teaches in her watercolor videos. To color the images I scribbled each marker color onto my pallet and used a barely damp paint brush to color each one. (The markers I used are listed at the end of this post.)
I then used the awesome new Tag Stitched Dies set to cut each one into a tag shape. The main thing I was careful with was to measure where I placed the tag die so that the images would still line up. Here's a photo showing what I mean.
Measure above and to the right of the die, as shown in first photo. Then for the others, I used those measurements to make pencil lines for the die placement. Everything lined up just right this way! I used the reinforcer die to cut the shape to go around the tag hole where the ribbon is.
Here is a view of the second layer:
And the third layer. (I actually have a yellow front door on our home!)
I love how this came together. It would be perfect to give as a card, or tied onto a package for a pretty gift tag. Of course, you can make this as a mini Tryfold following the directions on the back of the packaging. I hope you've enjoyed seeing my different take on this Circlet. I can't wait to see your creations linked up for the challenge! Happy crafting!
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush: Fog Gray, Dark Brown, Deep Brown
Wow, Carol, this project is so sweet! Love your watercolor wreath and that yellow door!
It's time for a new challenge! This week is all about Stripes and Circles! You can use one or both elements in your cards to qualify for our challenge! Remember, we pick a "Top Spot" winner for a prize pack and two Honorable Mentions for a stamp of their choice! Playing along gives you a chance to win, and shares your creativity with other Ai fans!
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, February 13 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.
Congrats, Carina! We think your Puppies Flutter card is too cute with all your little die cut hearts and customized sentiment! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!
Congrats, you two! We love the Welcome Little One card perfect to shower a new baby with love! And Debbie, your card with our retired Tina set is super cute with your ink blended sky sprinkled with hearts! Be sure to email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and select a stamp set of your choice for a prize!
We hope everyone can join us for our new challenge! It's going to be a fun one!
Something BIG is coming! Be sure to check your email on Sunday, February 3, for a big surprise you won't want to miss! This news is coming to our newsletter subscribers first, so be sure you and your stamping friends to sign up for our emails!
