Love Birds and Friendly Blue Birds by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I have two cards for you today that were inspired by the "Birds of a Feather" challenge (see the Bi-Weekly Challenge tab above for more details).  Both cards feature the #5367 - Birdcage Dies, the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack, the #5817 Potting Garden Shed plus several others.

  Let's take a look at the first card.

        Friendly Blue Birds:

I first stamped several of the birds using Memento Black ink on cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers.  I die cut each of the birds out with the coordinating dies that come with the stamp set.  Using a few of the sheets from the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack, I die cut the birdcage and also hand cut a backing for the birdcage.  I made the frame by cutting individual leaves (including the leaf from the #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame) from white cardstock and layering behind the arch frame.   The pattern paper behind the arch frame and the gingham paper are from the Easter S2 paper pack.  The sentiment is from the new stamp set #5817 Potting Garden Shed.  The arch frame and other leaf dies were from my stash. 

       Love Birds:

The patterned paper background and the birdcage die cut is from the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack.  I just love the Art Impressions paper packs.  Double sided, strong and soooo pretty.   What's not to love? 

I began by stamping the tree branch from #5034 Tree Twist Ties, leaves and birds from #5100 Woodland Tree Cubbies with Memento Black ink onto cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers (see list below).   The tree branch was stamped at the top of a 4" x 5" piece of cryogen.  I very lightly inked clouds into the sky around the tree branch to minimize the white space.  I stamped several of the leaves onto the branch and several I stamped, colored and die cut to place around the other leaves to add dimension.  I stamped and colored a poppy from the #5273 Poppy Border stamp and fussy cut it to place at the bottom of the frame along with two of the leaf springs from the #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame.  Lastly I stamped the words "Love" and "Friend" from the #5817 Potting Garden Shed stamp set and die cut with the #5132 Tag Stitched Die.  I attached the word tags to the birdcage with a safety pin.

I hope you enjoy my cards today and decide to play along in the current blog challenge "Birds of a Feather" for a chance to win a free stamp set. 

Have a wonderful day!

Copic Markers Used:

YG03, YG17, YG67

Y13, Y15, Y17, B00, B02, B14

E30, E33, E35, E59 & E97

 

Happy BAAAday to Ewe! by Sharon Caudle

Hello AI Fans!!

I've got a tag for you today that I made for the Tag You're It Challenge going on right now on the blog! I love making tags, and they elevate a package or gift bag to the absolute next level, don't you think? If you know me, you know how much I love whimsical, bright, fun projects, so that's usually the way I lean when I create. For this tag, I used 5132 Tag Stitched Dies (I cut three of them and glued them together so the tag would be nice and sturdy), 5398 Sheep Set, 5346 Birdhouse Cubbies (for the bird flying to the right), 5100 Woodland Tree Cubbies (for the bird flying to the left), and 4967 WC Fence Dies. The images are stamped onto Cryogen paper and then colored with Copic markers (the markers I used are listed below).  I inked the background with distress inks, added a sun with a few clouds and called her done! 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit! Until next time - hope you stay crafty!

Copics used:

E51, E53, E97

BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18

BV00, BV02

Y13, Y17

C1, C2, C3

Woodland Treehouse - April Showers by Nina

 Hello Ai fans, Nina here with a new cute tag addition to my tag journal that has been going on for a while now :) Today I am using one of Ai cutest Cubbies, Woodland Tree Cubbie Set and the Stitched Tag die set.

This project was part of Ai challenge April Showers where we add rain or clouds, so I decided to create a cute treehouse among the clouds for these cute critters.

I started with stamping the treehouse and the birds on white paper using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and my Mini Misti. I stamped the leaves clusters multiple times to decorate my tree with them. I them colored them with Copic Markers.

Copic Shades:

House:  RV37 RV34 RV32

Windows: BG32 BG34

Doors: YR00 YR01 R11 (dark shadow areas line of YR02)

Tree: E25 E29 E27 E25

Leaves: YG17 YG25 YG23

I then cut all the images and backed them with foam tape to give them dimension.

To create the tag background, I die cut the tag using the biggest tag in Stitched tag die set and ink blended two blue shades from Distress inks; Tumbled Glass & Speckled Egg. and splashed some more diluted ink to give some visual texture.

I cut the tag again from white paper and cut it at multipe levels with a cloud border to create the clouds around the treehouse.

I then glued some of the clouds directly on the tag then attached my tree house on top and then I used double layers foam tape behind the rest of the clouds and placed them on top of my treehouse for extra dimension.

Started them gluing the birds and the leaves. then attached my tag to the metal ring of my Tag Journal.

Tasha's Top 10 Cards of 2022!

 Happy Friday Ai Fans!

Tasha here sharing my Top 10 cards of 2022! I cannot believe how fast this year has went, but enjoyed taking some time to look back at this year's projects.

#10: Howdy Girlfriends Card - Pretty in Pink Challenge - August - 5108-Cowgirls Set 

#9: Black Tie Affair Card - March - Ai 5113 -Pan-tastic Set

#8: Have a Meow-val-ous Birthday Card - October - 5369-Feline Set 

#7: It's a Love Thing Cards - February - 4752-Love Thing Set

#6: Christmas in July Card - July - #5042 - Christmas Bee Set

#5: You're Wonderful Card - April - Ai 2022 Freebie stamps

#4: Merry & Bright Card - November - 5564 – Mousey Christmas Set 

#3: Latte Love Card - January - 4889-Latte Love Set

 #2: Peek-a-Boo Pop-Up Card - October - 5506 - Peek-a-Boo Set 

#1: Woodn't It Be Nice Challenge Card - September -  5100 - Woodland Tree Cubbies Set 

Thank you for checking out my Top 10 Favorite Cards of 2022. I loved sharing my projects with all of you and look forward to sharing more in 2023!

Happy Holidays!

Woodn't It Be Nice Challenge #335

Hello Ai fans!

It's challenge time!

This week we want to see what you can create with "wood."

You can use wood patterned paper, embossing folders or anything made from wood like doors, carts, trees, houses etc.  Or if you're REALLY creative...real wood!



Tasha is our featured artist this week but before we get to her adorable card let's see who won our Dynamic Duo challenge.

For our Top Spot we chose Andrea B.

She used 4701 - Clay Pot, 4052 - Flower Set, 4868 - Watercolor Flower Set 2, 4607 - Flowering Mailbox on her beautiful wreath card.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!

Also, be sure to grab your badge to display on your blog, Facebook or Instagram!

Now for our Lucky Random Winner of our Dynamic Duo challenge...

L. McGee
She used several watercolor sets along with 5456 – Spooky Wagon Set

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim a free stamp set of your choice!

Now that we've wrapped up our last challenge let's take a look at the fun card that Tasha made.  You're going to LOVE the coloring on her tree trunk!  Show us what you've created Tasha!

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For my project I used the fun 5100 - Woodland Tree Cubbies Set and 5192 - Feast Mode Set. I wanted to create a Fall scene and love how the tree looks with the colorful leaves!

The Tree and little critters were all stamped with black hybrid ink and colored with Copic Markers. I also used the included coordinating dies to cut all the images out. I think it's so much fun to add the little critters behind the doors and peeking out of the open windows!

For the background, I used two shades of Distress Oxide Ink and a simple cloud stencil to create the sky. I wanted the sky to be bright, but did not want to use blue; I think these shades totally work with the Fall theme!

The ground was created with a grass stencil and olive green paper. I also added several leaves (included in the set) to look as if they fell off the tree. Each leaf was colored using the same markers, but I colored each one differently to make them unique.

For the sentiment, I used the "Thankful for you" greeting from the 5192 - Feast Mode Set. I stamped it with a deep teal ink and added a layer of teal paper. This went perfectly with the Fall colors used throughout the card and I love the handwritten lettering!

Lastly, I added orange polka-dot pattern paper behind the doors and windows and attached the little critters. I used foam tape to adhere the tree to the card and used liquid adhesive to add the extra leaves. I also attached silver glitter paper, teal cardstock, and a pretty wood pattern paper to complete the design.

Thank you for checking out my project for today and I hope you will participate in the "Woodn't It Be Nice Challenge"!

Fabulous card, and that BACKGROUND!!
We hope that Tasha has inspired you to try your hand at our Woodn't it be Nice challenge because...

who WOODn't want to win free stamps...lol!

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✻ 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!

 ✻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 stamping!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Front Porch Thanksgiving and Thank You cards by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

There was a new release a few days ago on the Art Impressions website.

NEW PORCH ACCESSORIES!

HOORAY!

I made this card BEFORE that happened though so I made a Thanksgiving porch with what I had to work with.

We have two dogs and our Boomer has a "special" relationship with the squirrels.  He especially HATES them and believes it's his mission in life to chase them all our of our yard.  This is my nod to him.

I also made a Thank You front porch and guess what?  This one was selected for publication!

I'm so excited!

These porch sets have endless possibilities.  I love each and every one of them!

Unfortunately they misspelled my last name but I can live with that.

I'm thankful for my family, friends and my job with Art Impressions.  

What are you thankful for today?

I apologize.  The 5039 – Grateful Hearts Set that I used for the sentiment, hat and wheat spray is discontinued now at Ai.  You can still find it on other retail sites so if you want this set, get it now before it's gone forever.  All other products I used are linked below.


Copics used on Thanksgiving Porch:

G24, G43, Y0, Y11, YR27, YR61 BG000, BG15, BG57, W1, W6, E31, E33, E40, E79

Thank You Porch:

Y04, G29, G3, G6, BG000, BG53, RV02, RV21, RV25, YR14, YR61, W1, W2, W6, E35

Winter Critters card by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing a card that used several different sets from Art Impressions. 

5346 – Birdhouse Cubbies Set
5179 – Autumn Owl Cubbies
5100 – Woodland Tree Cubbies
4874 – WC Bunnies Set
5016 – WC Mini Critter Set
5353 – Large Snowflake Dies
5351 – Chubby Snowmen Set

My house is set back in the woods and I love all the nature I get to see.  This is a typical day in my yard if you add a random flock of turkeys and the occasional bear!

I made two versions...the one above with glitter glue for the snow and the one below where I used white glitter paper and a very old Sizzix snow/sand die.

Aren't the delicate snowflakes beautiful? 
I love the new large snowflake die set.

The fun thing about nature's critters and winter is you can always tell who's been to visit overnight when you find their tracks in the snow the next day.

My son used to see a barn owl flying outside his window for years.

And the squirrels and chipmunks??  Well, they consider it their life's mission to drive my dogs crazy!

I hope you love all of these sweet little animals as much as I do!

Copics used:

C0, C4, N1, YR16, E30, E33, E74,

RV00, RV34, RV52