August 2025 Monthly Challenge with Sara Furr

Hello Ai fans and welcome to the August Monthly Challenge.
Our Guest Designer for August is Sara Furr and she has two GORGEOUS cards for you.

After enjoying Sara's cards and learning her Faux Watercolor Technique, be sure to scroll down to see who our July winners were.

Here's Sara....

 Greetings from the Farm, crafty AI fans! I am Sara Furr, The Crafty Farm Chick, and I am so happy to be back here on the blog with you today. 

My first card is a Shabby Chic religious creation. These are the supplies that I used:

#6025- Fear Not stamp set

#4051- Foliage set 1

#6082- Bible Journal series 1 paper pack

#5543- Journal Template Die set 

#5768- Decorative Journal Page 1 Die set 

Memento tuxedo black ink pad

Versafine Onyx Black ink pad

Dye ink markers

Alcohol ink markers

Tumbled glass distress ink

Blending brush

Seam binding ribbon and Lace

Foam tape

Adhesive

Glue dots

Scissors- to Distress the edges of my cardstock and dsp
Post it tape- for masking sheep

I colored my image using my "hybrid faux watercolor technique". Several people have asked me to do a tutorial for this technique and so I am including it here today. 

To start, I stamped my sheep image from the "Fear Not" stamp set in Memento tuxedo black ink so that I can color the image with alcohol markers.

  I colored the face and legs of my sheep with a black alcohol marker and added little swirls in a light gray ink to mimic the curly wool on the sheep. I also added a touch of pink inside of his ear. 

 Next, I stamped the tufts of grass, from the "Foliage Set", in 2 different shades of green dye based ink markers under his feet. 

Then, I stamped the flowers and foliage with dye ink markers in the right hand corner.

 I created a mask for my sheep's wool and stamped the floral vine image behind his back with Momento ink. 

**Here is a tip** if you are unsure about how an image will look before you stamp it, just use a piece of window sheet over your image and stamp it so that you can see how it will look before you actually stamp it! *this is what is shown here*

 I then removed the window sheet and leaving just the floral vine stamp in place, I did the actual stamping behind the sheep with Momento Black ink. (I washed and removed the sentiment)

 I then colored the floral vine with alcohol markers, but I added in the definition in the flowers with the fine point of a dark blue dye ink marker. 

 I then went in with a light green alcohol ink marker and blended out my grasses and where my sheep is standing. It is this blending of the dye ink by the alcohol ink marker that creates a sort of "faux watercolor" look! 

 Now, to create my sky I added the metal die back to my die cut and ink blended Tumbled Glass Distress ink around the inside perimeter of the die. The die acts like a mask! 

Now, remove the die and voila! A perfectly masked and blended sky! ( you're welcome! )

 I stamped the sentiment in Black Versafine Ink and then assembled the front of my card.

I followed the same process to stamp and color the image on the inside.

For my second card I followed the same technique process on the Decorative Journal Page 1 die, except this time I blended my sky first with a blender brush and the Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  Then I did all my other stamping and blending.

These are all the supplies I used:

#5543- Journal Template Die set 

#5768- Decorative Journal Page 1 Die set 

#5063- A2 Double Stitched Rectangle dies

#6082- Bible Journal series 1 paper pack 

#4964- WC Branches set

#5009- WC Mini Flower set

#5007- WC FOLIAGE set 3

#4966- WC Bird Bath set

#4873- WC Cats set

Momento Tuxedo Black ink 

Alcohol ink markers 

Dye ink markers 

Window sheet

Liquid glue that dries clear

Foam tape 

Scissors- to Distress the edges of my dsp and to cut out my kitty

Blender brush 

Tumbled Glass Distress Ink 

Stamp positioning tool

Stylus and Foam mat- used to curve my cat

I stamped and colored my kitty and cut her out. I colored her gray to look like my kitty, "Mouse". She is this beautiful lavender gray color, so I did a mix of light grays a very light purple ( all Alcohol ink markers). Once she was cut out I flipped her over and put her onto a foam mat and rubbed over the center of the image with a stylus to round the body so she looks domed. Then, I added two thin pieces of foam tape and set her aside.

To create my window, I first cut three layers of the window from the Journal Template die set. I adhered two layers together with a thin layer of liquid glue, then I cut a piece of window sheet the same size as the window frame and adhered that to the back of the window, and then added the third layer of the window frame to the back so that the window sheet was sandwiched between the layers, creating an actual look of a window pane. I then adhered the window over my stamped panel and added my popped up kitty on the ledge looking at her snack up in the tree! 

 I then adhered the whole decorative window panel to a double stitched A2 rectangle die cut out of white card stock, and then adhered that to my beautiful designer paper from the Bible Journal paper pack with foam tape. I distressed the edges of my designer paper with a scissors, and added adhesive to the back, and then added it to my card base. I didn't add any sentiment because I thought it was perfect the way it was

I hope you liked my cards and that you got inspired to create something pretty, with a little bit of shabby chic! If you have any questions about my "hybrid faux watercolor technique" please don't hesitate to ask!

Blessings to you all and thank you so much for stopping by!

Now let's see who the two Lucky Random Winners were for our July Monthly Challenge.

The winner of the free stamp set from Art Impressions was Rachel Bankes.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!!

The winner of a freebie from me was Kathy R.
Please email me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your full name and address and I'll send you a photo of the freebies I have available for you to choose from.

Welcome to the August 2025 Monthly Challenge! There is no theme but you MUST use something from Art Impressions on your project. (Stamps, dies and or paper) First name and last initial is appreciated on your entry. You are allowed 2 entries. Both winners are chosen randomly. The first winner receives a free stamp set from Art Impressions and a random winner with a U.S. address will win a freebie from me. (Renee)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Sweet and Spooky!

Hello, Ai Fans! We're back with a range of projects from sweet to spooky with our Watercolor Guest Design Team! Whether you are gearing up for Halloween, looking forward to winter, or dreaming about spring, we have inspiration for you! Let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I am still busy playing with my favorite new stamp set - 5197 - WC Winter Kids. I am now using Strathmore Bristol smooth paper for all of my dye ink watercoloring because I just love how smooth the color blends on it. I stamped the snowman and kid after inking it up with brown 969, then blue 565. I stamped it off first on scratch paper (my usual way) so that the lines would not be so dark. I did the same thing with the light post and then I pulled the color out of the lines the same way Bonnie Krebs, Owner/Creator of Ai, always does on her YouTube videos. If you haven't subscribed yet, you should, I still learn from her every time. I used 565 off the palette to watercolor the snow, boots and sky. I colored the snowman's hat, the branch arm and the little girl's hair using brown 969. I used the Arteza TwiMarker in sage green to watercolor the hat band, the hat, the gloves, the pants and the scarf on the little girl. I inked up a branch from the 4960 - WC Fir Trees Set in green 249 and stamped it up and down the light pole then pulled the color out of the lines. I added the berries using the fine tip of the 55 iris purple pen. I dabbed in some of the sage green from the palette. I used the iris purple to watercolor the scarf, coat and hat band. I colored the nose with 88 terra cotta. I used the fine tip of a Copic Multi-liner pen to darken the eyes and buttons on the snowman. I used the fine tip of the Tombow TwinTone brown pen to draw hair on the girl. I cut it out using the large square die from the 5061 die set. I used watered down white Gouache to flick dots for the snow.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

I'm using all sorts of product from the Ai Bible Journaling collection today!

I began by cutting out my Canson XL watercolor paper with two sizes of the 5062 - Double Stitched Rounded Rectangle dies. I coloured the gate image from 5067 - Gates of Righteousness Set first in Tombow #565 Deep Blue, then #969 Chocolate overtop. I stamped it off on scrap paper, and then onto my panel. Since I knew that my card design would have the overlapping sentiment panel, the gate is positioned a little to the right of center. I added the clay pot image on the left side, slightly below the gate so that it would appear in front of it. With my damp #4 paintbrush, I softened the lines and pulled out the colour into the shadowed areas, as I wanted the gate to be white. I did the same stamping method with the medium scroll image from the 5202 Scroll Set on the smaller rectangle. I used a pencil to faintly sketch in the overlapping hillsides, having them meet right in the middle of the gate, as I wanted a sunrise to be centered there, and sketched in the narrow path also. Using the vine image from 5073 - Bible Foliage Set, and #158 Dark Olive, I stamped the vine so that it wrapped up and around the gate, and spilled over the top, sometimes colouring only part of the image if I wanted a smaller sprig of greenery. I filled in a few areas with the small leaf image from 5074 - Bible Flower Set, and used this to add foliage to the clay pot. The spiky trio of blooms from the same set was coloured with #946 Gold Ochre and stamped in the pot and around the vine to created the floral clusters. I used the Mini Foxglove stamp from Flower Set 4052 coloured in #565 to stamp the longer stems in the clay pot. I picked up #947 Burnt Sienna from my palette, and painted it onto the pot, adding several layers to the edges to deepen the colour. Using the shrubbery image from the Bible Foliage set, I coloured it in #249 Hunter Green, and stamped it on either side of the gate - wanting to create a bit of a hedge. I touched all of the flowers and foliage with my damp brush, then picked up #158 from my palette and painted in the hillsides and grassy foreground. I used it with the small grass image from the Bible Foliage set to add tufts of grass in and around the cobblestones. The path was painted with #992 Sand. I used #565 to add shadows between the slats of the gate, and as texture on the stones. With my scene pretty much complete, I used my fine point Twintone marker in 42 Navy to add definition and shadows to the stones, bushes and gate. I also used the finer point of my #946 to add darker yellow shades to the flowers. I used the #946 to paint the sun and it's glow, and added a wash of #565 to the sky.

My scroll was looking a little grey and gloomy next to my image, so I added in touches of the #946 Gold Ochre, which really brightened the scroll, and I added a little of the 565 and 158 around it to mimic the grass & sky - I quite like the effect. Both images were given an 1/8" soft grey matt, and glued onto a subtly patterned background paper. The sentiment is adhered with pop dots, and positioned about 3/8" above the top edge of the 5 1/2" square card.

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Hey watercolor fans, welcome to another watercolor weekend over on the Art Impressions Blog. This weekend I decided to get into the Halloween spirit by creating a spooky window. It was so much fun using the water to create some really cool textures.

Card Details

First, I inked up the window with 969 and 569. I stamped it off and then stamped it on the watercolor paper. This window seemed to be perfect for this project as it looked like it was kind of hanging off its hinges. I added more water than I usually do to the hanging part. After it dried, I added some additional color with my Twintouch Brown and Blue to get some additional texture. I pulled the color out of the lines around the window and panes.

In order to place the cat inside of the window, I masked it off using post-it tape, inked it up with black and using my positioner, stamped it in the window opening. I added some additional black to my palette and slowly built the color up to a deep black.

Next, I inked up the brick texture with 969 and some 569, stamped it off and then stamped it to the left and right of the spooky window. I added water between the stones. Once that dried, I added some additional cracks in the background for some additional spookiness (LOL).

I wanted to create a lighted window so I added some 025 in between each pane from my palette. I left a small amount of white space and free handed a ghost into the window. I used my fine point to add some cracks to the window panes.

I inked up one of the branches with black and stamped it to the left of the window, for yes - additional spookiness. To finish it up I drew in some spider webs around the window. Finally, I signed and dated my work!

Card Assembly

I cut my painting out with a stitched square die. Using Connect Glue, I added it a mat, using the next size up stitched square die, from Gina K Designs Black Onyx card stock. Next, I inked up a Spider Web Cover-A-Card stamp from Impression Obsession inked with Gina K Whisper ink and stamped it on the background of my white card base.

I cut the spooky BOO out of the Black Onyx card stock with my Art Impressions alphabet dies. I cut it 4 times and glued them on top of each other to give them a little more depth. I added a spider web on the "O" with a white gel pen.

This was such a fun spooky project and I am so happy that you stopped by today. I hope you will join me and my fellow design team members this weekend. Post your projects on Instagram with #AIWatercolor so we can see your creations.

Have a crafty day!!!

Thanks, team! Such a great variety of projects here! It's amazing what you can create with Ai Watercolor Stamps, and how each stamper develops her own style! Do you watercolor the Art Impressions way? Be sure to let us know, and tag us @artimpressions and #aiwatercolor on Instagram so we can see your cards! Also, you can enter our card challenges for a chance to win Ai stamps!

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Happy June!

Hello, Ai Fans! Happy June! It's the first of the month, and also the first Saturday - time for a lovely roundup of projects! Today our team is here to feature bicycles and sunny scenes in their creations! Let's take a look.

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

I'm pretty certain my love for anything patriotic started in 1976 in my hometown of Canon City, Colorado when our town celebrated the bicentennial year in a big way! I just put out my red, white and blue decorations in my house and that influenced this idea for my card for the Art Impression's Watercolor Weekend. I stamped the bike from the 5124 - WC Bicycle Set three times using both brown 969 and 86 African violet and a mask made of post-it paper. Next, I pulled the colors out of the lines on each bike then watercolored the red and blue bikes from the palette using NO. 89 persimmon and NO. 50 ultramarine. I stamped flowers from the 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set to fill the baskets using the same colors as the bikes. The foliage for the baskets and on the ground was from the 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 and from the 4051 -WC Foliage Set 1 stamped in three greens - NO. 15 olive green and 177. I used NO. 1 black to watercolor the bike tires. I used African violet to watercolor the shadows under the bikes. I used a fine tip Copic marker to draw the flag and colored in the red and blue from the palette. The sky was watercolored using NO. 50 ultramarine. I cut out the picture and a background blue piece using the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies and adhered it to my card base. I cut out a frame from red paper. I stamped the sentiment from the 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2 and then cut it out with a die from the 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies Set. I used a flag die from 5133 - Stitched Flag Set to cut out the red and blue tags that I adhered to the back of the sentiment using a glue dot. I made the bow for the tag and then used foam to adhere it to to the front of my card. I used a Wink of Stella pen to add some glitter to all of the flowers. The last thing I did was sign and date it.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

It's my first time painting the new-for-2019 #5124 WC Bicycle Set and I've paired it with the #4873 WC Cats Set. I began by colouring the bicycle with my #N65 Cool Grey Tombow Marker, and stamping it onto my watercolour paper. I pulled out the colour with a damp #4 brush, leaving more colour where the shadows fall. I was careful not to colour a portion of the rear tire, leaving a space to stamp my cat with the help of my stamp positioner (also in #N65.) Using the trailing vines from the #5126 WC Foliage Set 4 and my #158 Dark Olive marker, I stamped them several times in the bike's basket without reinking. With the floral cluster from the #4052 Flower Set, I stamped multiples with #565 Deep Blue in the basket and around the wheels. From the #5009 WC Mini Flower Set, I used the cluster of tiny flowers, and stamped them into the 2nd basket, using #158 & #565. Also from the Mini Flower Set, I used the dot cluster in #991 Light Ochre, filling in the basket and around the tires. I used the tiny foliage stamp with #158 to fill in some greenery, and then used #856 Chinese Red/#158 to add the tall flowers to the basket. With a damp brush, I dabbed the flowers & greenery, not wanting to lose the definition of the images. Using the two longer grasses from Foliage Set 4, and the small grass from the #4051 Foliage Set, I added grasses around the tires & cat, and then pulled out the colour with my paintbrush to add a green wash on the ground. Taking #565 from my palette, I painted in the sky and added shadows to the bike, ground and cat. I wanted just a touch of colour on the bicycle, so I picked up #515 Light Blue off of my palette and added it to the metal parts. I used #850 Flesh to add colour directly to the cat's ears. I die cut my image with a Wonky stitched square die, matted it with dark blue cardstock and adhered it to my base with pop dots. The final card is 5 3/4" square.

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Hi Ai Fans, welcome back to another Watercolor Weekend! This weekend I decided to create this card using only 2 stamps sets, the Palm Tree Set and the WC Sentiments set. It reminded me of my recent vacation to Aruba. I call this card “Palm tree kindness”.

Project Details

Step 1: I inked up the large palm tree with 969 – Chocolate and stamped it to the left side of the card. I re-positioned it to be curved to the opposite way, re-inked it with the 969 and stamped it on the right side. 

Step 2: Then, I inked the small palm tree up with the 969 and stamped it to the left of the large palm tree on the left. I re-inked it and stamped it a little higher between the two palm trees. Taking my damp paintbrush and pulled color from the right side of each of the palm trees. I made sure to pull a little bit of color out of the bottom of the trees.

Step 3: Next I inked up the large palm tree leaves (left facing) with 177 -Dark Jade and stamped it several times to the top left of the large palm trees. I then inked up the large palm tree leaves (right facing) with 177 and stamped it to the right side of the large palm trees. I added water to the palms.

Step 4: Using the smallest palm leaves, I inked each side up and stamped it on either side of the smaller palm trees. I added a small amount of water to them.

Step 5: Using my palette, I added 873 – Coral and 969 around the trees making sure to leave white space for the sand.

Step 6: Again, using my palette, I added some 476 – Cyan to the bottom third of the card for the water. I started with it really watered down and then continued to build the color up slowly, using brush strokes to make wavy lines leaving white space (for white caps) and bringing the color to the sand.

Step 7: I added 528 – Navy Blue to my palette and watered it down. I jumped it around to create a sky. I slowly built the color up.

Card Details

I cut the piece down to 5.25 x 4. I placed it in my MISTI and inked the sentiment with Gina K Designs Amalgam Black Ink. I stamped it in the top right corner.

To create the frame, I traced around a large rectangle die and another smaller die to give me a guideline. I drew in some sporadic lines using 969 making sure to go outside of the guidelines. I used water to pull the color out of the lines to resemble wood. Once it was dry, I ran it through my machine using the large die. I then placed the smaller die down and ran it through my die cut machine. This created a frame that I glued in place with liquid adhesive.

I added the piece to a white 5.5 x 4.25 note card using a liquid adhesive.

This is a really easy card to create with very minimal supplies. I hope you will give it a try. Make sure to tag us on Instagram with #AIWatercolor and (@artimpressions, @dotjiris & @tobin0971). We would love to see what you create.

I hope you take some time for yourself and watercolor. Thank you for stopping by, I really am blessed by all the social media love and the incredibly supportive crafting community!

Thank you for the beautiful projects, team! These bicycles are just gorgeous with overflowing flowers and we love the ocean scene, too!

We hope we inspired you to break out your watercolor stamps this weekend!

Happy Stamping!

NEW VIDEO! Watercolor Shadow Tutorial by Kendra Krebs

Hello Ai Fans!

We are excited for a new guest artist Watercolor Wednesday! This week, we have a special tutorial from Kendra Krebs you are sure to love! She answers one of the most asked questions in our watercolor technique, "Where do I put the shadows?" With the help of the clock, she will show you how to shift the images from morning to evening.

Hop over to this video and leave Kendra a little hello! This is her first guest artist video since January and we are so thankful for her unique perspective!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EdvlNXPC4L0

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Happy New Year!

Hello, Ai Watercolor fans! Welcome to the first Watercolor Weekend of 2019! The team is back with fresh ideas for the new year, let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Happy 2019!

I always feel hopeful and excited to start a brand new year. I am ready to get back to more crafting, now that the busyness of the holidays is over, also. I made this card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the 5014 - WC Window Set that I stamped in sepia first, then in the African violet. I did stamp it off on paper first. I pulled the color out of the lines then added some of the African violet to the palette to darken the windows. Next I stamped the little pot from the 4869 - WC Small Container Set. I added brown and sepia to the palette to color in the pot. I added the leaves by stamping the ivy from the 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2 in olive green and the flowers from the 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set in scarlet and then added water to them. I stamped the birds in sepia from the 4966 - WC Bird Bath Set and the stamp positioner to add the birds to the window, then added more sepia, steel blue, and a little bit of the brown to their beaks from the palette. I used the fine tip of the sepia to darken the eyes and the legs.

I stamped the cat in sepia from the 4873 - WC Cats Set then made a mask for it and using the stamp positioner, I stamped the bench in sepia and African violet from the 5055 - WC Sitting Places Set. I pulled the colors out of the lines on the cat and bench then used sepia from the palette to color spots on the cat. I inked up the small grass in olive green from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 and stamped the grass on the legs of the bench. I used pine green to ink the bottom of the flowers from the 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 and I inked the tops of the flowers in the steel blue and stamped them on either side of the bench. I used water to soften the flowers and the grasses then I used African violet from the palette to make the shadow under the bench. Next I used a tiny amount of sepia on the palette and a lot of water to color in the background. I used the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut out the picture, and a background piece of paper and then mounted it all to the card base.

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

My card for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend is a pretty little winter scene. 

Begin by inking up a home from the WC Cottages Set in 86 African Violet. Stamp a few pine trees from WC Tree Set 1 in 72 Pine Green around the home. Watercolor the Art Impressions way by pulling the color from the lines with a paint brush and water. Scribble a little 45 Sepia onto your palette and brush onto the roof. Add a bit of 28 English Red and 82 Mustard to your palette and brush onto the door and windows. Next brush 86 African Violet onto your palette to build up the sky and snowy ground. Add detail to the base of the trees and in the top window using the fine tip of 45 Sepia. And darken up the door knob with the fine tip of 86 African Violet. Use an A2 card base, tag, cardstock, jute and Xyron Mega Runner to finish off the card.

Art Impressions Products: WC Cottages Set, WC Tree Set 1, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, Watercolor Brush No. 4, Watercolor Palette, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 28 English Red, 45 Sepia, 72 Pine Green, 82 Mustard, 86 African Violet

Other Products: Post-It Notes, Xyron Mega Runner, A2 card base, tag, cardstock and jute

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Step 1: I inked only the hat from the WC Snowman Set with Tombow N25. Using the stamp positioner, I placed the hat cocked to the left. I created a mask with the Post-It Adhesive Roll. I covered the hat with the mask. 

Step 2: I inked up each of the San Serif Letters (H, N, Y) using Tombow 569. I wiped off some of the ink. I stamped them next to each other. I created masks for each letter. Next, I inked up some of the stones from the WC Wall Texture Set using the Tombox N25 & 569 markers. I stamped it off and then stamped it to the left of the “H”. I repeated this process several more times stamping between the letters and to the right of the “Y”.

Step 3: Pull the color from the hat (on the sides working into the middle). I added some additional color from my palette. Next, pull the color from the left side of the letters only. Add water to the stones behind the letters. 

Step 4: I inked up the sm leave cluster from the WC Foliage Set 3 with Tombow 249 and stamped it around the letter “H”. I then inked the vine and added it to the “N” & “Y”. Pull the color out of the lines.

Step 5: I added the small leaves from the WC Foliage Set 2 inked with Tombow 565 to the “H”. Next, I inked up the small dots from the WC Mini Flower Set with Tombow 676 and added flowers to the “N”. Add the inked the same flowers with Tombow 725 and added flowers to the “Y”. I added water to the flowers.

Step 6: Using my palette, I added some darker shadows to the letters. Using a fine black pen, I added the 2019 to the hat and Happy-New-Year below the letters. I die cut the watercolor piece out with the Stitched Oval die. I added some Distress Ink in Espresso to the edges of the piece and added some water. 

Thank you so much for checking out the watercolor projects on our first Watercolor Weekend project of 2019. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and here’s to the new year! 

Tombow Markers colors I used: 569, 249, N25, 725, 565, 676

Thanks, designers! These cards are so lovely! Love all the different approaches you can take with simple stamps, markers and a brush! Do you like what you see? Leave a comment below, we always love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Stamping!