Through Thick and Thin! by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai Fans!

My card today uses the Under My Umbrella set for this sweet girlfriends card.  Friends are so special and I think a card like this would be perfect to send to remind them you are there for them.

I started out by coloring the stamped image in with my Copic markers (listed below).  As I am in the building of my Copic collection and didn't have the colors I needed for shading, I used a couple Prismacolor pencils to add the shading on the pink and purple jackets.  I used one of the Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched dies to cut it out.

I then stamped it again on some masking paper and fussy cut the mask out.  After placing the mask on the colored image, I used a stencil to add the raindrops.  After I taped off the edges (to keep a thin white border) I placed the stencil on top and taped it down at the top to create a sort of hinge.  This is so I can lift it up to see if I'm happy with my stenciling or need to add more in areas.  I used this Ranger ink blending brush (linked below) to first add a light blue background using Tumbled Glass Oxide without the stencil.  I then put the stencil on and stenciled the same ink and some Blueprint Sketch Oxide for the raindrops.  I really like using these brushes, as for me, I'm able to achieve a much lighter effect than when I use the foam pads.

  

To finish it up, I added some clear sparkle to the umbrella and a few other spots.  I also used a silver gel pen to color the belt buckle and the buttons on the purple jacket.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my card and a bit of the process today!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful, crafty week!

Copics used:

E00, E000, E01, E04, E11, E23, E25, E31, E33, E35, E47, E51, E53, E55, E57, 

C3, C5, C7, W0, W3, R11, R20, RV00, RV02, RV10, RV13, RV14, RV25,

 BV01, BV02, BV04, BV13, B00, B02, B34, B52, B63

Prismacolor Pencils: Rose, Violet Blue

Friends are your umbrella by Sharon Caudle

Hello AI Fans!!

Of all the things I could wish for you, I think the best thing I could wish for you is to have at least one close friend in your life.  They truly are our umbrellas. I love this image and sentiment from the Girlfriends line at Art Impressions #4048 Under My Umbrella Set. I stamped them onto Cryogen White paper and colored them with Copic markers. I then cut the sentiment out with #5065 Oval Double Stitched Dies and then trimmed it off to tuck it into the corner.  I just used my craft knife to try and mimic the stitched design on the trimmed sides.  Didn't turn out super great, but it's ok. 

So that's it from me today.  Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!! 

Copics used:

E000, E00, E04, E07, E09, E11, E33, E35, E37, E70, E71, E74, E77

BG72, BG75

YG61, YG63

R20, R34, R37, R39

YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18, YR21, YR24, YR27

T1, T2

Friends shares Everything by Kerry

Hello Ai friends and happy Monday to you!

Time for some April showers, hopefully we will get lots of beautiful May flowers!

But before the beautiful flowers, here are our favorite Girlfriends who can share everything.

Our besties are from the adorable Under My Umbrella set.

To add a bit of dimension, I decided to do a bit of fussy cutting.  I stamped the Girlfriends stamps three times which created three layers.  Bottom layer, middle layer with the very left & right girlfriends with umbrella, and the top layer with just the umbrella.  Then I popped the layers with 3D foam tape. 

Copic markers used:

C00, C0, C1, C3, C4, C5, C7, E00, E15, E21, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E95, R12, R21, R32, R43, YR02, YR16, 110

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April Showers with the Girlfriends by Kerry

Hello Ai friends and happy happy Monday!

Spring is in the air!  It's time to bring on the April shower, which will bring the beautiful May flowers.  And what's better to have your Girlfriends sharing with you under a big umbrella, hehe!

Here is a fun card using the Under My Umbrella set (SKU#UM4048). 

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Under My Umbrella by Karen Day

Hello Ai fans!

I am wistfully dreaming of spring as we prepare for another snowstorm north of the border!  So I decided to colour up some spring showers using Under My Umbrella Set (Sku #UM4048):

 I coloured up my image by pulling out the colours from the background paper, and decided to give one of the gals a spiffy polka dot raincoat that I paper pieced.  Both the sentiment and the clouds are popped up.

 Copics used: Skin tones - E11, E00, E000, R20, E51, E50, E37, E34, E31

Blues - B05, B02, B01, B00, B000, B99, B97, B95, B93, B91

Greys - W7, W5, W3, W1, W00

Pinks - R89, R85, R83, R81

Browns - E57, E55, E53, E51

Greens - YG97, YG95, YG93, YG91

Yellows - Y15, Y11

Happy stamping!

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Challenge 166: Anything Goes!

Hello, Ai Fans!

Are you ready for a new challenge? It's one where "anything goes!" The sky is the limit!

Before we get started on this new challenge, lets wrap up the last one! Lets take a look at the winners from last week's "Create a Card Set" challenge!

Our Top Spot is awarded to...

Karen Amidon!

Congrats, Karen! We adore how you unified three different stamps into this beautiful card set! From sassy Celeste to girlfriend Wine Tasters to our Tuscan Trifold. Great job! Email annelise@artimpressions with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable mentions are...

Angela!

Elina!

Congrats to both of you! Angela, we love how His & Hers Camper are all ready for summer! And Elina, now you have us looking forward to fall with In The Tub, Under My Umbrella, Uptown Girls and Girlfriends Blend! Be sure to email annelise@artimpressions with you address and a set of your choice!

For our next challenge, we're want to see how creative you can get with "anything goes!" That means you can choose anything for your card. We want to see loads of creativity! Our card designer, Kerry, is here to show you what she's come up with.

Hello Ai friends!  Kerry here, since this challenge is Everything goes!

I thought it would be cool to try something a little different.  I always love those four colors pop arts.  So, I wanted to try with a few of my Ai stamps 

(Love Spinner, Goldie Golfer, & AC Moore still have teeth).

Here is how I create my Ai pop art card.  I used watercolor paper and cut them for four squares, their measurements are 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches.  I used distress stains to add the color.

(No distress stains?  no fear, you can also use the ink pads, too.  Just flip the ink pad upside down and slide it across the paper, you can create the same effects too.)

Then I stamped each image with Versamark stamp pad and heat set it with black embossing powder for a little bit of dimension.

I had so much fun making the first one and I can help it to make a few.  :)

Pop Art 1 with Love Spinner set

Pop Art 2 with AC Moore you still have teeth

Pop Art 3 with Goldie Golfer 

Hope you like them and can't wait to see your creations!

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Thanks, Kerry! Loving the pop-art aspect of your cards! Okay fans, now it's up to you! We want to see what you can make! Join the fun and add a photo to our InLinkz below!

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, August 26 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up