Friends Forever with the new Gardening Girlfriends by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Hope you're having an excellent start to the week and are enjoying some spring weather! It's been pretty chilly here in Reno, but spring is definitely in the air! The trees are finally starting to bud and the grass is starting to turn green again!! Today I have a card that features one of the newly released sets from Art Impressions #5798 Gardening Girlfriends. I am soooo happy that we've got new Girlfriends! And for those of you that love to watercolor, you're going to be madly in love! Bonnie made these Girlfriend images with empty pots that are just made for watercoloring! And if you don't watercolor, there are lots of sets with flowers that will be perfect to add to this set! I would usually choose the latter because I use Copics for my coloring. But this time, I actually colored the image with my Copics, but then I created a mask for the main image and then pulled out one of my watercolor sets and Tombows to create the flowers in the pots. *gasp* HAHA  Don't fall over from shock! I didn't use any water as that would not go well with the cryogen white paper I use with my Copic markers. But I think it turned out ok. Let me know what you think...I could definitely use some practice! LOL! 

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

Copics used:

E000, 00, 04, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 97, and 99

BG13, 15, 18, 70, 72, and 75

Y26, 32, 35, and 38

B00, 91, and 93

T1, 2, and 3

YR12, 14, 21, and 23

YG13 and 17

C1

R20

Easter Twist Card by Jil Lebel

Hello Ai fans!

I used the Easter Twist Set to make two different Easter cards.  I enjoyed adding in my Watercolor stamps to make one of the eggs patterned.  They were both fun to make, but even more fun to play with once they're finished.

I started by stamping the images onto Strathmore Cold Pressed paper with Antique Linen Distress Ink and colored them with  Tombow Dual Brush markers .  The colors used are listed at the end of this post. I added in the full strength marker where I wanted it darker and used a damp brush to spread the color into the lighter areas.  I also used some marker scribbled onto my Watercolor Palette to add color.  I drew the faces on with a extra fine black Sharpie pen.

To make the floral egg I masked off the bottom of the bunny and the edges of the egg with a Molotow masking pen. Once it was dry I stamped the heart flowers from the WC Mini Flower Set in small clusters with the Tombow 636 Imperial Purple markers and used my damp brush to soften the color.  I then added the tiny leaves from the WC Foliage Set 2 with the 228 Gray Green marker and softened the color with my damp brush. Once everything was dry, I used a white eraser to remove the masking fluid.  I then colored the bunny the same was that I did for the other card. 

I stamped the Happy Easter greeting onto a piece of white card stock with the Bright Blue Tombow marker. I used the Twist Frame Die to cut an opening into the card base that was covered with paper from the BoBunny Early Bird 6" x 6" paper pad. 

Tombow Dual Brush Markers Used:
Bunny - 403 Bright Blue
Tail - 817 Mauve
Egg - 723 Pink

Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day!

Ai Watercolor - St. Patrick's Day Wreath

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome back, Watercolor Wednesday fans!

Watch guest artist, Kendra Krebs, create the CUTEST St. Patrick's Day themed wreath using both watercolor and non watercolor stamps! We love watching Kendra because she always shares the best tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8ougDrfUtV0

Watercolor Weekend Round-up - Spring is in the air

Hello, Ai Fans! Happy Watercolor Weekend!

Our fantastic design team is at it again with these cards inspired by the current season--Valentine's Day and the transition into spring. Their delicate creations will make you yearn for spring to come, and send a little love your way as well.

Be sure to follow these lovely ladies on social media by clicking the link in pink next to their names!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello,

It's time to make some Valentine's so I made this one for the Watercolor Weekend on the Art Impression's twice-monthly blog post. I started with the sign and the walkway from the 5131 - Stone Path Set because I thought of putting "Lover's Layne" on the sign for the one I made for my husband whose middle name is Layne but when it was done, it was still missing something so then I decided to use the cute elves from the 5125 - WC Elves Set. I made this card by inking only part of the path in the 969 than in 565, leaving off a few stones from each end. I pulled the color out of the lines and then I stamped the sign inked in 969. I added some brown from the palette then when it was dry, I used my black Copic fine pen for the letters. Next, I stamped the elves inked in 969 using my stamp positioner. I used 158 on the palette to watercolor the green around the rocks and under the elves. I then watercolored the elves in 850, 847, 565, 177, 977 and 969. I stamped the grass from the Foliage Set  - 4051 in 177 and then I stamped the dot flowers in 847 from the 5009 - Mini Flower Set. I dabbed at the flowers with a wet brush. I stamped the blue flower inked in 177 and 528 from that same set. I watercolored the sky with that same blue 528. The sentiment is from the In the Air set - 4753 and I cut it out with the tag die from the 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies Set. I used a Sakura Glitter Gelly Roll pen to add glitter to the flowers. I cut out my scene and sparkly paper with the 5062 - Rounded Rectangle A2 Die Set.

Thank you for checking out my blog!  You can find more of my cards on my Instagram account here. 

Supplies used listed below:

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

Today I'm using the 5194 - WC Shoe Set, along with 5123 - WC Decorative Jar Set.  I coloured my shoe with my Tombow Dual Brush Marker #565 Deep Blue, and went over it with #N57 Warm Grey 5.  I stamped it on my Canson XL Watercolor paper, and then pulled out the colour with with a damp #4 paintbrush.  I concentrated the colour in the areas where the shadows are strongest - under the arch, the heel and under the rolled top edge. 

I've used two of the flower images from 4761 - Watering Can, starting off by colouring just the bloom of the hydrangea-like image with #533 Peacock Blue, and stamping it multiple times.  After cleaning, I stamped it several more times coloured with #991 Light Ochre.  Using the multi-bloom image, I coloured the flowers with #772 Blush, and the stem in #312 Holly Green.  With the tiny foliage stamp from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, I stamped it repeatedly in #312, filling in spaces, and allowing the greenery to spill out the sides.  After dabbing the flowers with my damp brush, I went in directly with the fine point of my #312 marker, darkening some areas, drawing in leaves on the tall flowers, and adding dots around the bouquet.  I did the same with the other markers, adding shading to all of the blooms.  

 After masking off the shoe & flowers, I used my #4774 stamp positioner to stamp the teapot slightly higher, so that it would appear to be tucked in behind the shoe, colouring it in #565 and #N57 again.  I pulled out the colour with my damp brush, concentrating the colour close to the shoe where it would be in shadow, and on the undersides of the teapot, keeping in mind that it is quite curved, so I wanted to leave some white area.  After scribbling some #565 onto my palette, I picked it up with a wet brush and painted in the suggestion of a background, and a few sideways strokes to indicate the surface they're sitting on.  I also added the blue to the shaded areas of the shoe and teapot to deepen the shadows.  I added just a touch of the blush colour to the background and teapot to look like reflections.  The Decorative Jar set includes 3 small images that you can use to embellish the containers, so I stamped a swirly one onto the teapot using #533.  To finish things off, I used the 5062 Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitched dies to cut out my scene, then matted it with a periwinkle blue cardstock and used 3D Pop dots to adhere it to my background.  I tied some pink organdy ribbon in a bow under the image and added a few tiny pearls.

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

Welcome back to the watercolor weekend.  I created this Winter Spring Shoe for this weekend because we have had the weirdest weather up here in New England.  Why not create a bouquet in an old shoe sitting in the snow? 

Project Details

I inked up one of the shoes from the WC Shoe stamp set with my brown.  I then inked several spots up with my black, parts that I wanted to keep really dark.  I stamped it in the middle of my Canson watercolor paper.  Using a smaller paintbrush, I added a small amount of water to the darkest areas pulling some into the other areas of the shoe.  From my watercolor palette, I added some additional brown to the shoe's darker areas and softened them into the highlighted area.

I created a mask for the top of the shoe to protect it from the stamping of the flowers and foliage.  I started with my foliage.  I inked up the small vines from the Foliage set 4 with green and stamped it several times around the top of the shoe and sparingly around the top of the arrangement leaving room for the flowers.  I added water to soften the leaves.

I used red to ink up the small flower from the Mini Flower set.  I stamped it several times around the shoe.  Next, I inked up the long bloom from Flower set 1 with purple.  I stamped it several times to create height at the top of the arrangement.  Finally, I inked the small dots from the Mini Flower set with blue and stamped it in between the leaves and blooms.  I added water to all the blooms to soften them.

To ground my shoe I decided to make it sit on a bed of snow.  I used a blue-purple to create the mounds of snow under the show.  It is a perfect color for the shadows I needed.  For a finishing touch, I added blue to my palette and using lots of water created a sky behind my flowers.  And last but not least I signed and dated my work.

This was such a quick relaxing project to make.  I am so happy you stopped by for some watercolor inspiration.  Be sure to stop by my blog to see how I created the rest of the card!  Check out my awesome team members to see all the inspiration we strive to bring you!

Happy Crafting!

Thank you, ladies, for your continued inspiration! We absolutely love seeing everyone's personal style show through on each card!  

Happy Stamping!

NEW VIDEO! Valentine Hearts Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome back, Watercolor Wednesday fans!

Today we have our guest artist, Kendra Krebs, create three unique Valentine's Day themed cards!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z0KIR7uESL4

Watercolor Throwback - Pumpkin Cart Video

Hello Ai Fans!

With turkey and mashed potatoes calling our name this Thursday in the USA, we are bringing you a beloved Watercolor Throwback for Watercolor Wednesday!

We have LOVED this project for a full year, with colorful pumpkins and a great Thanksgiving image! May you be transported to a field full of a grateful harvest. Watch as Bonnie masks in the single pumpkins from our WC Harvest Set into our Flower Cart and adds vines around the pumpkins still in the patch!

We switched to Tombow Markers in January 2019, and although this video uses Marvy Markers, we have included all the links below for the updated colors! You can also download our Color Conversion Chart to see similar colors from both product lines!

Happiest of Thanksgivings from all of us at Art Impressions! We are grateful for the most wonderful customers over the last 32 years!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZhPxh0Zqlx4

NEW VIDEO! Christmas Hanging Sign by Kendra Krebs

Hello Ai Fans!

Watercolor Wednesday is upon us! You ready?!

Guest artist, Kendra Krebs is here again this week with a VERY cool idea using our WC Serif Letters Set! She created a hanging sign, perfect for a door or home decor, and featured the word Noel with a designed wreath for the letter O. Kendra added red and purple flowers from our WC Mini Flower, the pine branch from our WC Foliage Set 2 New, and the thin branch from our WC Foliage Set 4.

If you grabbed last week's Bundle Discount, this week's Christmas Hanging Sign Bundle is a great extension using two of the same foliage sets! Use the link to save 20% on the Serif Letters and Foliage Set 4 stamps until November 26, 2019, at 11:59pm PT! As a reminder, after the week is up, our video bundles will still be listed at a 10% discount!

We want to know where you would hang a sign this pretty? Leave a comment on the video over on YouTube!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xYTVXgG2KJw

NEW VIDEO! Christmas Floral Letters by Kendra Krebs + 20% OFF BUNDLE!

Hello Ai Fans!

It's that time again! Another week has come and gone and we get to enjoy a new Watercolor Wednesday!

Guest artist, Kendra Krebs is back with a beautiful new holiday card featuring our Block Letter Die Set, with Christmas foliage from our WC Mini Flower and WC Foliage Set 2 New sets. Plus, we have another Bundle Discount to save 20% on these three sets until November 19, 2019, at 11:59pm PT! Remember, once the week is up, our video bundles will still be listed at a 10% discount!

Need some holiday card ideas? This is now our 25th video in our Winter Watercolor playlist! Check out all the wonderful Christmastime ideas and create your own special cards for the season!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7e5mSkUW5Iw

NEW VIDEO! Fall Tire Swing Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Autumn is in full swing (see what we did there 😉)! Welcome to another week of Watercolor Wednesday and a continuation from last week featuring the WC Swing Set! Bonnie selectively inks the bench image to create a post for the windblown tire swing, included in the same set! We cannot get enough of the oranges, reds, and browns of the season, which are perfectly contrasted by a blue-sky breeze!

There are so many ideas to create with this WC Swing Set! What would you create? Leave a comment on our YouTube video to let us know!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/w019tPYE9lM

NEW VIDEO! Desert Sunset Watercolor by Kendra Krebs

Hello Ai Fans!

We have a creative and colorful new Watercolor Wednesday for you this week! Kendra Krebs is back to share our NEW WC Desert Set in this circular scene with a stunning skyline! Kendra uses many of the elements from this set, but also adds some blooms to the cacti from our WC Mini Flower Set!

Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel for all our latest videos, including our new release videos!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P9dG1pDJkdM

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

NEW VIDEO! Vintage Shoes Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Bonnie is BACK with a new Watercolor Wednesday! We are excited to kick off our latest release with this video! Bonnie designed two of our WC Shoe Set images, including an antique boot and adorable baby bootie! This set is so fun to fill with your flowers and foliages and design with colors for any recipient!

Make sure to check out artimpressions.com today to view all FIVE new Watercolor sets from our summer release!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VP9gLvGkT-E

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!