Along Came a Spider! #10 October Monthly Guest Designer Challenge with Marianne Hansen

Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to our Monthly Guest Designer Challenge.

This month it's Along Came a Spider!

Our October Guest Designer is Marianne Hansen and she has a beautiful card to inspire you. Before we see what she created, let's see who won our September, We Don't Use Enough Purple Challenge.

We chose Simone Carr for her gorgeous fall card!

Congratulations Simone!

You will be the Art Impressions November Guest Designer.

Simone,  please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com

so that we can discuss your challenge theme and to claim a free stamp set of your choice.

Now for the Lucky Random Winner of a freebie stamp from me.

#7 April J.

Please contact me at Renee@artimpressions.com with your address to see what freebies I have and claim your free stamp.

Now for our October Guest Designer.

Let's see what Marianne has to share.

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 My Ai Friends,

I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen as October’s Guest Designer.

October is extra special to me because exactly two years ago, I stumbled upon a Bonnie Krebs Video Tutorial .  Since then, life has never been the same.

I have been a crafter since my first box of crayons, kiddie scissors and yellow Elmer’s glue.

I have been making cards since 2004 and since then have been published 6 times, won several Design Contests and last year, over a course of a 12 month voting process,  a design of mine was voted “2023 Card Of The Year” by Creative Scrapbooker Magazine.

Since discovering “Watercolour the Art Impressions Way” I never imagined in my wildest dreams the journey this would take me on.  Not only have I found my passion, but the friendships I have made through this wonderful site has brought great inspiration, creativity and joy into my life.

After 35 years in the Legal Field with one of the largest Law Firms in our city, I am now retired and have the blessing of being full time care giver for our 86 year old mom who lives with me.  Ai and the friends I have made here is the salve that nourishes my soul.

I love making wreath cards.  The versatility is endless.  Seasons, Holidays, Birthdays, Birds, Nature, and any other theme can be made into a wreath card.

For my “Along Came A Spider” card I made an Autumn themed wreath with fall foliage, pumpkins, a squirrel and a Spider dangling down from a branch.  

For depth and texture, I painted the pumpkins and squirrel separately,  and then popped them up with foam dots.  …….(ok…I did that because I messed up on the pumpkins…so had to improvise…..).  C’mon…we’ve all been there……right??

I hope you like it and that it inspires you to think of a wreath card for your next special design.

I lightly drew a 3” circle using a steel die as a guide, then after painting was done, erased the pencil marks.  I mounted the painting on co ordinating orange cards stock.  I ran brown card stock through die cutting machine with a deeply embossed Woodland Tree Embossing folder.  Finally mounted it on a card and it is ready for giving.  Don’t forget to sign your painting!!

Sets Used.

5946   Fall Bench Set

4964   Branches Set

4052   Flower Set 1

5828   Poinsettia Set

4963   Fall Foliage Set

4867   Foliage Set 2

5126   Foliage Set 4

5059  Harvest Set

And of course some “Kendra Dots” that are in Bible Journal Set 5418

Markers Used.

993,  933,  925,  946,  969,  947,  636,  

Brown Twin Tone 

Dr. P.H. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

For as long as I have duplicate stamps I will choose a random winner.

These will be for U.S. residents only since these will be mailed by me personally

and not Art Impressions.

If you are selected as the freebie winner I will send you a photo of what I have

and you can choose from that.

Here is the fine print...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation.
✻You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards!

✻ Limit two submissions per person. 

✻You MUST use Art Impressions stamps or dies! You may use other companies products but the main focus should be on Ai items.

✻If you win, you will receive one free stamp set of your choice. In return you will create a brief write up explaining how you made your item and email it to me. (Reneé) 
We will share your creation on Art Impressions social media.
✻If you would like to participate in the challenge but not be
considered to be a guest designer please place an X after your name.

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission.

✻We love to comment on your entries, but keep in mind if you use a private group or a platform that you need to sign up for, we probably won't be able to.

✻ 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 if you can, by clicking and commenting on your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by the deadline to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy crafting!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Happy Thanksgiving!

Can you believe it is the last Saturday before Thanksgiving?! We hope you'll take a moment from all the busyness and preparation and pause in thankfulness. We are thankful to be here with you today sharing projects and celebrating crafting! Our lovely ladies from the Watercolor Guest Design Team are here to show you special projects, so let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

 

Hello Watercolor Friends,

I made another Thanksgiving card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the church and tree stamps from the 5058 - WC Church Set. The leaves on the trees is a stamp from the 4604 - Chest of Flowers Set and the grass is from the 4051 - Foliage Set 1. I got the idea to do the stained glass windows from Jann Gray who does Bible journaling videos on YouTube for Art Impressions. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Art Impressions Products: 5058 - WC Church Set, 4604 - Chest of Flowers, 4051 - Foliage Set 1, 5062- Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies, 4773 - Acrylic Blocks, WC Brush NO. 4, Watercolor Palette

Marvy LePlume II Markers: 45 Sepia, 43 Brilliant Uellow, 27 Olive Brown, 34 Pale Green, 86 African Violet, 89 Persimmon, 60 Salvia Blue

Other Supplies: Canson Watercolor Paper

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

Decorate your Thanksgiving Day table with my Wine Cork Place Card project for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend.

Stamp the small pumpkin from WC Harvest Set in 45 Sepia. Mask the pumpkin and stamp the foliage from the WC Foliage Set 2 in 27 Olive Brown. Watercolor the Art Impressions way by pulling the color from the lines with water and a paint brush. Scribble a combination of 45 Sepia and 83 Butterscotch onto your palette. Brush onto the pumpkin. Use the fine tip of 45 Sepia to add line detail around the edge. Trace the name onto your card in 45 Sepia using an LED Tracing Light Board. And finally, cut a slit on the top of the wine cork and slice a bit off the bottom to make the cork flat.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Art Impressions Products: WC Harvest Set, WC Foliage Set 2, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, Watercolor Brush No. 4, Watercolor Palette, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 27 Olive Brown, 45 Sepia, 83 Butterscotch

Other Products: Wine Corks, Post It Notes, Kunstler Script Font, LED Tracing Light Board

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

For my project for Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend, I chose to create a Grateful Wreath in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. I have created a quick video if you are interested in seeing how I created this card.

In order to create a symmetrical oval, I traced the inside of an oval die lightly onto my watercolor paper with a pencil. Keep this light so it doesn't show through your design.

Stamp one of the pumpkins at the bottom of the oval using the stamp positioner in Sepia. Cover the pumpkin with a mask and using the stamp positioner, stamp the other pumpkin next to the first. (In the video you will notice I did all of the stamping and then added the color and water.) Pull the color out of the lines, be sure to leave white space. This will create nice shadows. Using the watercolor palette, Add some Olive Green to the stems of the pumpkins and Brilliant Yellow to the highlighted areas. Layer Orange where the darkest areas would be. Again, be sure to leave white space in the highlighted areas. Use the fine tip of the Sepia pen to darken the stems and add shadows to the pumpkins.

To create some interest, I used a flower from the flower set as a leaf. I inked it up with Olive Brown and stamped it several times on each side of the pumpkins. I added some branches using the top of the branch inked with Sepia. I stamped it randomly on either side of oval leaving white space. Using the vine, I stamped it several times inked with Brilliant Yellow and Brown. I then added a branch with berries from the Mini Flower set inked with Sepia and Red. Dip your brush into the water and pinch it off. Work your way around the foliage using the side of your brush and dabbing (not painting) each of the leaves.

Add some blue to the middle of the oval where the sentiment will be stamped to add more interest.

I hope you enjoyed today's project, make sure you join my fellow design teams members on the Art Impressions Blog this weekend. We can't wait to see your projects! Tag us on instagram (#AIWatercolor, #WatercolorWeekend).

Have a crafty day and see you next time!

Art Impressions Products: 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1, 4052 – WC Flower Set 1, 4964 – WC Branches Set, 5009 – WC Mini Flower Set, 5059 – WC Harvest Set, Acrylic Block 5 Pack (Variety), 4774 – Stamp Positioner, Watercolor Palette, WC Brush NO. 4

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 45 Sepia, 15 Olive Green, 27 Olive Brown

2 Red, 43 Brilliant Yellow, 7 Orange, 6 Brown, 17 Steel Blue

Other Supplies: Canson XL WC Paper Pad, Wink of Stella Glitter Clear Brush Pen – Clear, Classic Crest Cover Solar White 8-1/2x11 110lb, Scor-Pal Scor-Buddy Mini Scoring Board, 9 by 7.5-Inch, Strathmore Ready Cut Watercolor Paper, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad – Vintage PhotoMISTI Laser Etched Stamp Tool Kit - Memory MISTI, Gina K Designs Amalgam Ink, Gina K Designs Wreath Builder Stamps

A heartfelt thank you, team! We always appreciate your bimonthly projects and look forward to seeing what you come up with next! Your Thanksgiving inspiration today is just perfect for this weekend's crafting time.

To all of our fans, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for spending time with us! Wishing you peace and cheer this week!

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Love In the Air

Hello, Ai Fans! Our winter break from Watercolor Wednesdays is almost over, and our Watercolor Guest Design Team is excited to show you some wonderful winter-y and love-y watercolor projects! From friendship cards to love notes, and even masculine tags, we got you covered this week!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Watercolor Friends,

I'm happy to share this card I made for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend roundup. I have puppies on the brain since my granddaughters both got puppies for Christmas. I plan to make similar cards for them for Valentine's day. I used the 4959 - WC Dogs Set, the 4873 - WC Cats set and 4965 - WC Bench set. I used the basket from the Exclusive for 2017 Garden Set. You can only get the exclusive sets by attending the classes at the shows. I wonder what the exclusive set for 2018 will be? Two of the flowers were from 4052 - WC Flower Set 1 and two more flowers were from 4868 - WC Flower Set 2. The grass and leaves are from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 and the set 4763 - Southwest. I used a Wink of Stella pen to add glitter to the flowers. The sentiment is from the In The Air Set - 4753.

Art Impressions Product: 4959 WC Dogs, 4873 WC Cats, 4965 WC Bench, 4052 WC Flower Set 1, 4868 WC Flower Set 2, 4051 WC Foliage Set 1, 4763 WC Southwest, 4774 Stamp Positioner, 4773 Acrylic Blocks

Marvy LePlume II Markers: 8 Violet 15 Olive Green, 45 Sepia, 29 Prussian Blue, 105 Lt Teal, 20 Magenta, 1 Black

Other Supplies: Wink of Stella, Uni-ball Signo, Ranger Watercolor Paper, No. 4 Brush

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

My project for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend, “Love Bird”, will help you get a jump on your Valentine’s cards.

Begin by stamping the bird onto a mirror stamp or even acetate. Position the stamped image, press down and transfer the stamped image onto the watercolor paper. Then stamp the bird using your Stamp Positioner next to mirror stamped bird. Next, stamp the daisy bunch from 4052 WC Flower Set 1 in 2 Red and 66 Dusty Pink in a heart shape and fill in with the leafy branch from 4867 WC Foliage Set 2 in 15 Olive Green. Pull the color from the lines on the foliage and flowers using your Watercolor Brush No. 4 and water. Onto the birds, use the Watercolor Brush No. 1 to pull the color. Darken any lines with the fine tip of 45 Sepia. Scribble a little 2 Red onto your Watercolor Paletteand brush onto the chest of the birds. Finish with a little bling for that extra sparkle!

Art Impressions Products: 4052 WC Flower Set 1, 4867 WC Foliage Set 2, 4872 WC Birds Set, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, Stamp Positioner, Watercolor Palette, Watercolor Brush No. 4, Watercolor Brush No. 1, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 2 Red, 15 Olive Green, 45 Sepia, 66 Dusty Pink

Other Supplies: Swarovski size 10ss jewels, Crystal Katana, Stamps of Life Mirror Stamp, Glossy Accents

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

I used my stamp positioner to place my Rustic Cottage to the middle of the tag. I inked it up using African Violet on the roof and Sepia on the rest of the cottage. In order to protect the cottage, I used a post-it note mask while I stamped the birch trees (inked with Sepia and a little African Violet) behind it. Once again, I used the stamp positioner to place it perfectly.

Once the stamping was complete, I removed the mask and using my paintbrush and water I pulled color from between the trees into the background and sky. I let some of the paint in the sky dry and then came back in with additional water for some hard edges.

I pulled color from the edges of the roof (that were inked with African Violet) to create the illusion of a snowy roof. Then, I pulled the Sepia from the cottage and added some additional Sepia and a mixture of Sepia and African Violet (creates a nice gray) from my palette and added it in lines to create a worn wood look.

Using my palette, I added some African Violet to create some snow underneath the trees and next to the cottage. I added some Prussian Blue to create a stream. You will notice I wasn't too worried about the right had side of the piece as I am going to die cut this out and that will be cut off.

On one of the tags, I used the small fir top to create some pine trees using Pine Green.

Check out my YouTube channel and Blog for more information on how to create these Watercolor Tag Money Holders.

Art Impressions Products: WC Rustic Cabins Set, Covered Bridge Mini Set, WC Fir Trees Set, Acrylic Blocks, Watercolor Paper, Watercolor Palette, Stamp Positioner

Marvy Markers: 45 Sepia, 86 African Violet, 72 Pine Green, 29 Prussian Blue, Mocha

Other Supplies: Post-it notes, Scissors, Tim Holtz Tag Die, Big Shot Machine, Altenew Garden Hydrangea Stamp Set, Scor-Buddy, Silver Brush, Black Velvet , Round, Size 8, Scor-Tape

Thanks, team! These are fantastic ideas! Have these ideas inspired you? Comment below! If you are craving more sweet inspiration from our team, be sure to check out their social media links!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

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

If we've inspired you, why not enter this week's "Feel The Love" Challenge while you are at it? Simply create a love-themed card and link it to our inLinkz at THIS post, and you'll be entered for a chance to WIN! You have until the end of January to enter!

Happy Stamping!

New Watercolor Wednesday! Watercolor Wreath with Kendra Krebs!

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome to another Watercolor Wednesday! Today, we are featuring a video by Kendra Krebs, who you might have seen at a stamp show near you! Kendra is a fabulous designer and watercolor artist and you will love this Watercolor Wreath technique! If you already have our Flower & Foliage sets, you can create this beautiful wreath.

We hope you enjoy this Tip of the Day by our friends at Scrapbook Expo! If you want to catch more of our Watercolor Wednesday videos, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

WC Foliage Set	WC Flower Set	Watercolor Tablet	Watercolor Brush NO. 4	Watercolor Palette	Acrylic Blocks
1" Square Acrylic Block	1.5" Square Acrylic Block	3" Square Acrylic Block	Olive Green	Violet	Magenta

InLinkz.com