NEW VIDEO! Mountain Cottage Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Your favorite day of the week is here - Watercolor Wednesday! We are continuing the showcase of our new releases, featuring our WC Mountain Set! Bonnie creates a mountainside cottage, nestled in a pine tree forest, and wildflowers in the foreground. You will love these new mountains to set the scene for any of your watercolor landscapes!

Hop over to this video and share some love with our stamp designer and co-owner, Bonnie Krebs! Which of our five new stamp sets is your favorite? We are excited to see what you create with our summer release!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

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

Tropical Watercolor House Two Ways by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

My father's birthday was last week and I wanted to make him a personal card so I turned to the watercolor series of stamps.  I make a card depicting a house he built here in Florida.  It's not exact, but he knew exactly what it was when I gave it to him.  While I was at it, I made a second card with a few different colors with a similar layout.  The watercolor series of stamps are so versatile!

Use the Square Double Stitched dies to cut out a frame from the watercolor paper.  Color the house from the Mini Cottages set with Chocolate and Deep Blue markers and stamp it off to the right side of the inner square of watercolor paper.  Stamp the house onto Post-It Tape and cut it out before applying the mask over the image.  Apply Dark Jade and Chocolate markers to the palm tree and stamp the it over the house. I used my stamp positioner for both of those images.  Remove the mask and use the #1 brush to pull the color from the stamped lines.  Add extra color to the house with the Deep Blue, Avocado and Chocolate markers. Add Grass and Palm leaves with Dark Jade and Avocado and pull the color out with your #4 brush.  Add some tiny flowers with the Rhodamine Red marker.  Add in the sky with True Blue.

The background uses the Palm Fronds from the Palm Tree set and the tiny flowers from the Mini Flowers set.  Randomly apply the palm fronds using the Dark Jade and Avocado markers.  Fill in the blank areas with clusters of the flowers using the Rhodamine Red and Chartreuse markers.  Use the #4 brush to pull out the color.  Add the scene flat to the upper portion of the background and add the white frame around it with foam tape.  Add a sentiment from the WC Sentiment Set 2 that is cut from the Flag Double Stitch Dies below the framed image.

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

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

NEW VIDEO! Bridge & Cottage Scene Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

With only three stamps used in last week's project, it's time to stretch your skills this Watercolor Wednesday! This week, Bonnie creates a square composition using our WC Mini Cottages and WC Bridge Sets. Bonnie simply stamps the two main images, creates rolling hills and water with her WC Palette, and then adds foliage and flowers around the edges and cottage!

Did you try out this beautiful scene? We always want to see what you are creating, so use the hashtag #AiWatercolor on Instagram or post on Facebook Page to share your photos with us!

Have a beautiful Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QWzaPVCg4is

NEW VIDEO! On The Farm Watercolor by Kendra Krebs

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome to another fabulous Watercolor Wednesday video by our August guest designer, Kendra Krebs! This week, Kendra creates a beautiful farm scene, with rustic cottage along a distant road, with a sweet cat sleeping in the foreground. We hope you enjoy this week's video! Make sure to give it a "thumbs up" on YouTube and leave Kendra a comment on the video!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

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

NEW VIDEO - Hillside Cottages Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome to a new Watercolor Wednesday! This week, Bonnie created a beautiful hillside scene filled with colorful cottages, set near a peaceful stream. She made this entire image using only five stamps! Check out the video below for the full tutorial and supplies!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Oqex2RCSXO4

NEW VIDEO - Cottage on a Hill Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Today we have a new Watercolor Wednesday! This week, Bonnie creates a cottage on a hill, with a river bend winding through the woods. We love how this simple sketch can really change the look of the landscape! She uses one of our WC Mini Cottages for the main image and adds trees, bushes, tiny flowers, and a roving fence.

We hope you will share your projects with us! You can post them over on our Facebook or use the hashtag #AiWatercolor on Instagram!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6nypdDsMzHA

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Welcome 2018!

Happy Saturday, Ai friends! The design team is back this new year with fresh and fun ideas! For those of you looking forward to spring, you will love Dot's floral arrangement! If you are still enjoying winter, Tricia K.'s inventive snowman and Tricia O.'s snowy neighborhood on a hill will inspire new ways to use your favorite supplies! Check out these ideas below, and be sure to visit their personal social accounts for more fabulous ideas!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Watercolor Friends,

I'm excited for 2018 and so glad that I've had some time to watercolor now that the holidays are over. I made this card using the 4959 - WC Dogs Set, 4871 - WC Rustic Container Set. I used flowers from 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 and the 4761 - Watering Can and the grass and leaves from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1. The pink paper looked too plain so I was going to sew a stitched border but when I was looking at the decorative stitches on my sewing machine, I found this dog stitch and thought, how cute would that be? Happy New Year and happy crafting!

Art Impressions Product: 4959 WC Dogs Set, 4871 Rustic Container Set, 4868 WC Flower Set 2, 4761 Watering Can Set, 4051 WC Foliage Set 1, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, 4774 Stamp Positioner

Marvy LePlume II Markers: 86 African Violet, 72 Pine Green, 45 Sepia, 8 Violet, 29 Prussian Blue, 55 Iris Purple

Other Supplies: Canson WC Paper, No. 4 Brush

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

My project for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend is a “40¢ Snowman”.

Gather 40¢ - one quarter, one nickel and one dime - trace the coins onto a 4x6 piece of Canson watercolor paper. Using a Molotow masking pen, place dots all over the paper for snow, let dry. Stamp the snowman’s arms using the smallest branch from the 4963-WC Fall Set in 45 Sepia with the Stamp Positioner. Stamp the snowman’s hat using a pot from the 4869-WC Small Container Set in 1 Black also with the Stamp Positioner. The Stamp Positioner is very helpful for placing items exactly where you want them. Pull the color from the lines. Scribble 86 African Violet onto your Watercolor Palette and brush onto the background going up to the pencil lines of the snowman and around the arms and hat. Remove the masking snow dots and the pencil lines with an eraser. Add the eyes and buttons with 45 Sepia and the nose with 88 Terra Cotta. Complete the snowy scene by brushing a Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter Brush Pen onto the background.

Art Impressions Products: Acrylic Block 5 Pack,Stamp Positioner, Watercolor Palette, Watercolor Brush No. 6, Canson XL WC Paper Pad, Molotow Grafx Art Masking Liquid Pump, Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter Brush Pen

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 1 Black, 45 Sepia, 86 African Violet, 88 Terra Cotta

Other Supplies: Quarter, Nickel, Dime

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

First I stamped the WC Mini Cottage in the front in Sepia. I cut a mask out of post-it notes, covered it to protect it while I stamped the next cottage in Sepia as well. I placed this cottage do the left and overlapping the first cottage slightly. I cut another mask and covered this cottage. I then stamped the third cottage to the left and slightly higher than the second cottage, and overlapped it slightly. I followed the same procedure for the last cottage. I used a stamp positioner to place each cottage where I wanted them.

I pulled the color out of the lines and added color from the palette to each cottage. I added a small amount of texture to the front of the first cottage using Sepia. I added snow with African Violet. 

I replaced the masks over each of the cottage. I used the large fir top from the WC Fir Tree Set to stamp the trees behind the cottages in Bottle Green and Pine Green. I added Black and Sepia to the left side of the cottages to create the idea of a snowy street. Using Blue I added the sky.

I cut the water colored piece to 3.75 x 5 and adhered it to a Gina K Designs – Christmas Pine Cardstock that measured 4 x 5.25.

Art Impressions Products: WC Mini Cottages, WC Fir Trees Set, No 6 Paintbrush, Acrylic Blocks, Watercolor Paper, Watercolor Palette, 4774 Stamp Positioner

Marvy Markers: 45 Sepia, 86 African Violet, 72 Pine Green, 25 Bottle Green, 26 Prussian Blue, 3 Blue, 28 English Red, 1 Black

Other Supplies: Post-it notes, Scissors, Gina K Designs – Christmas Pine Cardstock

Let us know what you think of our project in the comments below! Do you have projects to share with us? Be sure to hasthtag ##AiWatercolor on your online projects, and you can also post pictures to our Facebook Page! Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Christmas Inspiration

Happy Saturday, Ai Fans! Our design team has been busy working on more wintery inspiration for you this holiday season! Please enjoy these fabulous, snowy projects from our Watercolor Guest Design Team! See something you like? Don't forget to "follow" them on social media to see more beautiful projects in your feed!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Watercolor Friends, I'm busy making and sending Christmas cards. I made this one using the new 4961 - WC Mini Cottages Set. I used the new 4964 - WC Branches Set to make the trees. For the pinery I used the new 4867 - Foliage Set 2 and the bushes are from 4604 - the Chest of Flowers set. I used some Zig Wink of Stella to add glitter to the snow which doesn't photograph well but it is so pretty in person! I hope you have tried it. I used a Uni-ball Signo pen to add the snow to the sky and the smoke to the chimneys. Our next Watercolor Weekend will be in January so happy holidays to you all!

Art Impressions Product: 4961 WC Mini Cottages, 4964 WC Branches, 4867 WC Foliage Set 2, 4604 Chest of Flowers, Acrylic Block 5 Pack

Marvy LePlume II Markers: 86 African Violet, 72 Pine Green, 15 Olive Green, 43 Brilliant Yellow, 45 Sepia, 17 Steel Blue, 6 Brown, English Red

Other Supplies: Wink of Stella, Uni-ball Signo, Canson WC Paper, No. 4 Paint Brush

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

I’d like to wish every a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season from Arizona! My project for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend represents a little piece of where I live.

I wanted a tall saguaro-type cactus to feature Christmas lights, so I modified the barrel cactus from 4763-Southwest. Start by inking up about two thirds of the right two lines of the barrel cactus from 4763-Southwest and stamp near the top of your watercolor paper. Clean off the stamp and ink up the left two lines of the barrel cactus from 4763-Southwest and stamp next to the previous impression using your stamp positioner. Now you have the top of a tall saguaro-type cactus. You will complete the cactus in a bit. Next stamp the clay pot from 4763-Southwest roughly 1 ½ inches below the top of the saguaro-type cactus. Place a post-it note to mask off the pot and stamp the prickly pear cactus then the agave cactus from 4763-Southwest. At this point you can draw in the lines of the saguaro-type cactus down into the pot. Pull the color from the lines using your brush and water. Scribble a little 8 Violet and 72 Pine Greenonto your palette and add to the prickly pear cactus. Draw in the lines for the Christmas lights in a zig-zag pattern down the saguaro-type cactus using the fine tip of 18 Dark Brown. Draw little circles for the Christmas bulbs with the fine tip of 2 Red. Add shadow detail and needles to the cacti with 15 Olive Green and 72 Pine Green. Scribble 45 Sepia on your palette to add shadow detail to the pot. And on the pot, add line detail with 45 Sepia and 86 African Violet. Brush in the clouds using 60 Salvia Blue. The final step is to add glossy accents to each red bulb.

Art Impressions Products: 4763-Southwest, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, 3” Acrylic Block, Palette, Watercolor Brush No. 6, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 2 Red, 8 Violet, 15 Olive Green, 18 Dark Brown, 45 Sepia, 60 Salvia Blue, 72 Pine Green, 86 African Violet

Other: Glossy Accents, Post-It Notes

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

I stamped the snowglobe with African Violet. I used the Molotow art masking fluid to the snowglobe to create snow. Once the masking fluid was dry, I then pulled the color out of the lines along the outside of the globe. I stamped the base in Sepia. I added additional Sepia from the color palette. 

I stamped the snowy tree from the WC Tree Set inside the snowglobe with Pine Green. I pulled the color out of the lines. I added African Violet from the palette around the tree to create the snow shadows and over the masking fluid. 

Using the fir trees large fir top I stamped it a few times at the top in Pine Green. I added berries with the fine tip of the English Red marker. I also added a base underneath the globe with English Red from the palette.

Once the entire piece was dry, I removed the masking fluid and added some Wink of Stella to the white areas of the snow. I added some white gel pen to the tree for some additional snow.

I used the rectangle stitched die to cut the piece out and adhered it to a Pine Green card base.

Art Impressions Stamps: 4960 WC Fir Trees Set, 4269 WC Tree Set, Acrylic Block 5 Pack (Variety), Canson XL WC Paper Pad, 4774 – Stamp Positioner, Watercolor Palette, 4.0 MM Molotow Grafx Art Masking Liquid Pump Marker

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

Other Supplies: Silver Brush 3000S-4 Black Velvet, Simon Says Stamp STITCHED SQUARES Wafer Dies, Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- Christmas Pine, Holiday Frame- CLEAR

Great work, team! Makes us want to get watercoloring our own cards right now! These are beautiful ideas for this year's Christmas cards - and beautiful for New Years or other occasions, too! Did you know you can share your projects with us on our Facebook Page, and also on Instagram with #AiWatercolor? We would love to see your cards any day of the year! That's a wrap for our last Watercolor Weekend of 2017, we can't wait to see you again with fresh ideas for 2018! Happy Stamping!

NEW VIDEO - Mini Christmas Watercolor Tags! Last Watercolor Wednesday of 2017!

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome to our last Watercolor Wednesday of 2017! It has been a joy to practice and play with our watercolor stamps with you this year and hope you have enjoyed our videos!

This week, Bonnie creates four mini projects to make quick and easy Christmas tags, perfect for your gifts or to create a small image for a card! Bonnie creates a holly shrub in a decorative container, a Christmas tree adorned with bulbs, a birdhouse resting on pine branches, and a mini cottage covered in snow. These images are perfect to write in a to/from at the top, die cut and mount on some patterned cardstock. Add a tag to your gifts to family or friends, or maybe some special baked treats you made to share!

"Thank you so much for following me this past year. Thank you so much for being with me on Wednesdays. It honestly is my favorite day! I love doing these projects, I love teaching you new things, and I just think this is such a fun technique! Thank you again, have a wonderful holiday, a very Merry Christmas, and I will see you all next year!" - Bonnie Krebs

We hope you enjoyed our final Winter Watercolor video. Make sure to like and subscribe, and hit the little bell next to subscribe to be notified of our new videos in 2018!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Yat38PsUwas

NEW VIDEO! Winter Cottage in Wreath Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome, welcome to a new Holiday Watercolor Wednesday! This week, Bonnie challenges us with a beautiful winter cottage sent inside a Christmas wreath. Bonnie starts by drawing a 3" circle with a pencil on her watercolor paper and stamps the mini cottage in the center. Next, she adds some small shrubs near the cottage, creates a snowy roof, and adds brown to the siding. With a little free hand and the fine tip of her African Violet marker, she creates snow piles and a driveway up to the cottage. She adds a small tree in the front right and builds the wreath with sprigs, vines, and berries. Next, Bonnie adds Molotow to her sky backdrop and lets it dry, then creates a wash of color for the night sky, leaving a space for the smoke coming out of the chimney. For the final touches, she uses her white gel pen to add extra snow and Wink of Stella to add some shine to the snow.

Another great watercolor project to inspire your holiday crafting! If you like this video, we would love it if you gave it a thumbs up over on YouTube and we always appreciate when you hit that subscribe button! See you next week!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GsZYV-lM1Xs