Love Birds and Friendly Blue Birds by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I have two cards for you today that were inspired by the "Birds of a Feather" challenge (see the Bi-Weekly Challenge tab above for more details).  Both cards feature the #5367 - Birdcage Dies, the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack, the #5817 Potting Garden Shed plus several others.

  Let's take a look at the first card.

        Friendly Blue Birds:

I first stamped several of the birds using Memento Black ink on cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers.  I die cut each of the birds out with the coordinating dies that come with the stamp set.  Using a few of the sheets from the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack, I die cut the birdcage and also hand cut a backing for the birdcage.  I made the frame by cutting individual leaves (including the leaf from the #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame) from white cardstock and layering behind the arch frame.   The pattern paper behind the arch frame and the gingham paper are from the Easter S2 paper pack.  The sentiment is from the new stamp set #5817 Potting Garden Shed.  The arch frame and other leaf dies were from my stash. 

       Love Birds:

The patterned paper background and the birdcage die cut is from the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack.  I just love the Art Impressions paper packs.  Double sided, strong and soooo pretty.   What's not to love? 

I began by stamping the tree branch from #5034 Tree Twist Ties, leaves and birds from #5100 Woodland Tree Cubbies with Memento Black ink onto cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers (see list below).   The tree branch was stamped at the top of a 4" x 5" piece of cryogen.  I very lightly inked clouds into the sky around the tree branch to minimize the white space.  I stamped several of the leaves onto the branch and several I stamped, colored and die cut to place around the other leaves to add dimension.  I stamped and colored a poppy from the #5273 Poppy Border stamp and fussy cut it to place at the bottom of the frame along with two of the leaf springs from the #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame.  Lastly I stamped the words "Love" and "Friend" from the #5817 Potting Garden Shed stamp set and die cut with the #5132 Tag Stitched Die.  I attached the word tags to the birdcage with a safety pin.

I hope you enjoy my cards today and decide to play along in the current blog challenge "Birds of a Feather" for a chance to win a free stamp set. 

Have a wonderful day!

Copic Markers Used:

YG03, YG17, YG67

Y13, Y15, Y17, B00, B02, B14

E30, E33, E35, E59 & E97

 

20% Off Twist Ties and Flutters and Shades of Pink Challenge #274 Week 2!!!

Hello Ai Fans! 

We hope you enjoyed our first new release for 2020 last week! In addition to this being the second week of our "Shades of Pink" Challenge, this week we are offering a discount worth dancing for! 

Today, January 23rd, all Twist Ties and Flutters are 20% off with your online purchase! 

Use Coupon Code TWISTNSHOUT at checkout, and your discount will be applied to your cart. Stock up on these fun interactive sets! We've included some samples of past designs below to refresh your memories on these lovely sets.

Jil used our Tree Twist Ties below...

Or, take some inspiration from how Sharon used our Dog Flutter Set!

Now, without further ado, our design team is back this week to get you in a colorful mood with inspiration in Shades of Pink! You can find all of the details and supplies used by clicking the designer's name below.

Carol using Sending Love Cubbies

Crystal using our Lovable Animals Set 

Reneé using our Sending Love Cubbies

Jil with our Lovable Animals Set 

Jessica using our Sending Love Cubbies

Sharon with our Lovable Animals Set 

Niccole using our Sending Love Cubbies

 We can't wait to see your ideas come to life that include any hue of this popular color! Bright pink and floral? Hearts and pastel mauve? Pull out your rose-colored glasses and have fun with it! If you're looking for some inspiration, please check out our Valentine's category on artimpressions.com or our Valentine's Day Pinterest Page.

We want to see how you create cards with pink as a main element of your card! Though you can use any stamps you have, we'd love to see any Valentines from Ai if you have any in your collection! Hurry, challenge closes January 29th at 5PM PT!

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 the deadline to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Happy Stamping!

Rooted in Love by Carol Hintermeier

Happy Monday Ai fans!

I really had fun creating this card!  I used some patterned paper for a cute background for this card using the Tree Twist Ties set.

These Twist Tie cards are really easy to make.  The directions you need are on the back of the packaging.  I used the Art Impressions Twist Tie card that comes pre-scored and measured.  There are measurements for creating your own on the package though.  Here are a few photos of my process for this card.

   
   

   

From the top photo, (click on the photo to enlarge) I cut my pattern paper layers for each side of the card front and adhered them using some reposition able tape runner.  Using the stamp as a guide, I positioned the die and adhered it with removable tape.  As you can see, the die didn't cut through all three layers.  That's okay though as it left enough of an impression for me to correctly position the die on the white card and run it through my machine again.

I then stamped the tree trunks onto some scrap card stock, positioned the die over them, and die cut them.   I fussy cut any part of the trunks that was not cut by the die.  Everything was colored with my Copic markers (listed below).  After the trunks were colored I adhered them on top of the pattern paper layers.

I die cut several of the leaf shapes, then stamped the leaves and colored them.  The birds and birdhouse were stamped first, then die cut.

For the inside, I cut a piece of card stock to 4" x 5-¼" and used a cloud stencil and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide to ink up a cloud scene that peeks through when the card is closed.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing a bit of my process to create this card.  It really is quite easy to do once you get started.  Thank you so much for stopping by!   Happy crafting!

Copics used:

E13, E15, E23, E47, E57, Y08, B14, B32, R29, R35, R39, YG25, YG67

Challenge 245 Washi Tape WEEK 2! PLUS, Check Out Our Gift Guide!

Hello, Ai Fans! We're back with week two of our Washi Tape Challenge and a reprise of our new Twist Tie release! These clear stamp and die sets feature loving images that twist and tuck together, from Cats and Otters to Oldies and even beautiful Trees! Each set includes a sweet sentiment to spread the love!

Last week Dana gave a sweet photo tutorial for her creation, so be sure to check it out here! Today, the rest of the designers are ready to share their Twist Tie cards! Click the designer's name to visit their personal blog, which has more information about their card.

Carol with Cat Twist Ties

Cheri with Tree Twist Ties

Crystal with Otter Twist Ties

Dana with Oldies Twist Ties

Jil with Tree Twist Ties

Renee with Otter Twist Ties

Sharon with Oldies Twist Ties

Thanks, team! These projects are so cute, and give lots of great ideas on how to use our Twist Ties!

There is still time for you to join our challenge! We want to see what kind of creations you like to make with washi tape! Washi tape comes in so many colors, patterns, and sizes and has so many uses. So, what are you waiting for? Show us 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 21 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

The joy of winter holidays are just around the corner! We want to inspire your Christmas shopping (and wishlist!) with our first-ever Holiday Gift Guide! These guides are here to show you a selection of our most popular stamps, from characters to animals to our famous watercolor collection! You can click the banners below to view our top picks from each category. Once you visit artimpressions.com, you can also find these guides on the left sidebar for easy access!

Happy Stamping!

Need a HUG? FOUR New Twist Tie Sets Now Available! PLUS Challenge 245 Washi Tape

Send a hug to a faraway friend with our new Twist Ties! These clear stamp and die sets feature loving images that twist and tuck together, from Cats and Otters to Oldies and even beautiful Trees! Each set includes a sweet sentiment to spread the love! Be sure to see how these sets intertwine in our video from the Mixed Media Event! Keep an eye out for a new Quick Tips video tutorial next week! You can find these new sets at artimpressions.com today!

 

Let's take a look at our feature from Dana today!

Hello AI fans!! Dana, here with a little tutorial featuring the new Oldies Twist Ties!! The challenge is to use Washi Tape and I did a little paper piecing while I was at it!! :)

I started by stamping the two images, once on white cardstock and then a few more times on different pattern papers.

Then I used my Spectrum Noir Markers to color the hair, skin and shoes of each lady. I used: EB5, EB6, FS3, FS6, FS9, GB2, GB3, GB4, RB1, RB3, RB4, TN2, YG1, YG2, YG3.

Next, I fussy cut around the parts that I wanted to paper piece. Then I used a black pen to color the white edges of each pattern paper piece. 

Then I just used liquid adhesive to adhere all the pieces down. The liquid adhesive allows me to move the different pieces around until they cover and fit properly. I use some clear blocks as a weight as the glue dries. 

I would recommend getting the Twist Ties Card & Envelope pack, it really saves time with the card base already at the right size. Since the challenge is to use washi tape, I made my backgrounds with a couple different rolls.

I added the tape horizontal on the left flap and vertically on the right flap. After doing one side I trimmed off the extra, then moved to the other side. But I did actually keep the ends, I thought I might use them on the inside of the card. 

Next, I did a quick stamp of each image on the washi tape, you can't see it in the photo because of the washi tape patterns. This allowed me to place the dies just right and hold them in place with more washi tape!! After die cutting each side, I used a damp towel to remove the ink, the washi tape is smooth and ink wouldn't really dry good on it, plus I would be covering it up anyway with my images. 

I added super strong double sided tape and liquid adhesive to the backs of my images. You definitely want something strong so it will stick to the washi tape good. I added clear blocks on top as it dried. 

For the inside of my card I added a light wood pattern paper and then stamped the sentiment, near the bottom. I die cut some music notes that come with the set and added them around the sentiment. Then with the left over washi pieces I added them along the top and bottom, trimming off the excess. I did not save those, lol!!

Last, all that is left is to hook the arm tab into the other lady. Since I have lots of layers, I used a sharp craft knife to cut through extra layers. 

Are you still with me?? LOL!! I hope this inspires you to get out and use up some of that washi tape I know you have laying around!! Happy Stamping!

Thanks, Dana! Such a cute project!

Time to kick off our new challenge! We want to see what kind of creations you like to make with washi tape! Washi tape comes in so many colors, patterns, and sizes and has so many uses. So, what are you waiting for? Show us 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 21 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Before we go, let's recognize the winners of last week's Lots of Layers Challenge!

Top spot goes to...

J. Atterbury!

Congrats! Your layered card featuring our Latte Love gals is bursting with color pattern, and dimension. Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable mentions go to...

Helen!

 Reetta!

Congrats, you two! Helen, we found your use of our Birthday Circlet really clever in this clean-and-simple yet fun birthday card! And Reetta, the way you stamped and cut Oscar multiple times and popped him up for a 3-D effect is really cool! (Visit her post to see what we mean.) Be sure to email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and select a stamp set of your choice for a prize!

Thanks for joining our challenge, we hope to see you again soon for our Washi Tape Challenge!

Happy Stamping!