Clean and Simple Challenge #365

Hey everyone!!

Welcome back.

We hope you all had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving with friends and family.

We hope you're rested and ready to play along with our final challenge of 2023.

Since you may be busy this time of year, we're keeping it simple.

Clean and Simple.

No, fussy, time consuming cards here.

Whip up something quick so that you have time for everything else going on right now.

Before we show you Sharon's card we have a special announcement. Tricia from our Watercolor Design Team has taken on a very important endeavor. Please be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this post after viewing Sharon's card.

Sharon is our Featured Designer and you're going to be so inspired by her simple yet sweet card.

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 Hello AI Fans!

So are you crazy busy this time of year and just discovered you needed just one more Christmas Card?  Well, clean and simple to the rescue.  Some people might think that clean and simple means a single layer or lots and lots of white space on your card.  I don't think there are any hard and fast rules to qualify a card to fall under clean and simple.  I think as long as you can make the card without having to spend hours on it or making a big fuss, it qualifies as clean and simple.  I couldn't believe how quickly I put this card together! All I did was grab some scraps from some other projects along with a frame and sentiment. It took me no time at all to throw this card together. So although it uses three different paper with layers, to me it is SO clean and simple!! To be honest, when I have a feature for a challenge, it's usually a full day of crafting and assembling.  This card took me about 30 minutes total, from start to end. So here's how I went about making it. 

First I decided which scraps I wanted to use and got my sentiment along with a frame for the sentiment. I think that took me longer than putting together the card. 

I cut the scraps down to 1.25" x 4.5" for the red mat and did the pattern paper at .25" smaller. The other piece I cut at 1.25" x 3.75" and cut the pattern paper at .25" smaller. I cut out the frame and stamped the sentiment.

I sat the frame over the top of my sentiment and just lightly traced around it, then trimmed just inside the pencil marks so the sentiment would fit inside the frame perfectly, then glued the frame onto the sentiment. 

I lined everything up to make sure I was going to like the way it looked, then proceeded to pick out my ribbon and make a bow. 

Once again, I lined it up to make sure I was going to like it, then glued it all together.  I added some 3M tape to the back of the sentiment so it would stand up from the rest of the card. 

That was it, about 30 minutes total. And I was super happy with the result. 

So that's it for me today. I hope you call take the time to join in with the challenge for the chance to win a stamp set of your choice! Thanks for stopping by for a visit and until next time - hope you have time to get crafty! 

Thank you so much Sharon.

We hope this gives you plenty of time to prepare for the holidays.

We love your card and all of your helpful tips!

Now onto our special announcement. 

Tricia wants to help out senior citizens who may be alone this time a year and even moving forward into the new year.  She is asking for your help.

You can find more information on her blog.

Tobinartstudio.com

We're so proud to have her on our DT and hope you will help Tricia and this group of people that are often forgotten about.  Your simple gift of a card could truly brighten someone's day.  HUGE BONUS!! There will be multiple Art Impressions giveaways!  Be sure to visit her blog for all of the details.  Now, go make a card for our challenge. And maybe, just maybe, send it to Tricia and win something.  Even if you don't win a prize, it's a win if you are giving and make someone else happy today.

✻ 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 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

Circle of Happiness by Niccole Kulig

Hello Ai fans!

I am stopping by today to share with you a card that I had a lot of fun making.  Sometimes you do not need a lot of supplies to make a cute card.  Below I am sharing a card that you can make if you are a pro or a beginner.  It is very versatile.

I used the Art Impressions die set called Circle Double Stitched Dies.  I used a variety of glitter cardstock.  I put two dies together to make the circle outline and not a solid circle. I glued them to my card and finished it with the sentiment Oh Happy Day from the WC Sentiment 2 stamp set.

Here is a  better view of the "Oh Happy Day" stamp from the WC Sentiments Set 2 from Ai.

Here is a close up of the Circle Double Stitched dies.  Aren't they fun?? I do not have any Copics to list today. Like I stated earlier ... It is fun to make a card sometimes with minimal supplies.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  We will talk to you again soon.

Until next time ... Hugs & inky fingers!

Challenge 209 White Space is Nice Space WEEK 2

Hello, Ai Fans!

Whoo-hoo, it's week 2 of our White Space is Nice Space challenge! We are celebrating the release of our TWO new Girlfriends inspired clear sets, available now at Michaels! Not only can you find them at your local Michaels store, but they are on michaels.com now too!

Last week Karen shared a super sweet Big Birthday Wishes card, so be sure to check it out for her thoughts and tips! This week, our DT is here to share their creations with these adorable sets! Be sure to click the designer's name for more details on their blog, and click on the set they used for a closer look at michaels.com! 

Cheri with Road Trip

Dana with Big Birthday Wishes

Diane with Big Birthday Wishes

Karen with Big Birthday Wishes

Kerry with Road Trip

Renee with Road Trip 

Sharon with Big Birthday Wishes 

Awesome cards, designers! The white space in your card really helps your images POP!

It's your turn! We want to see your clean and simple cards for our "White Space is Nice Space" challenge! It's the perfect time to show off your coloring with your favorite stamps! Top spot earns a mystery prize pack, and two honorable mentions will receive a stamp set of their choice!

*By the way, last week we were late in adding our Link-up - so sorry! It's up now, so please be sure to add your link by June 7th so we can see your project!*

✻ 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!

✻ 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 by clicking and commenting your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by Wednesday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Stamping!

Who loves a good deal?! For a limited time, receive a FREE 2017 Catalog with your $50 order! Our spiral-bound 2017 Catalog contains 70 pages packed with full color images of our most popular products, including card samples for inspiration! To receive your free catalog, simply add our New Catalog 2017 to your cart, ensure your cart is at least $50, and apply the coupon code FREECAT! Hurry, offer expires Wednesday, June 7th!

*Offer not valid on wholesale orders. To receive free catalog, 2017 Catalog must be in cart, cart with at least $50 must be reached, and coupon FREECAT must be entered.

NEW At Michaels! PLUS, Challenge 209 White Space is Nice Space

Hello, Ai Fans!

Hooray! We have added two new clear sets to our collection at Michaels! These sets were exclusively designed with your festivities and travels in mind! Our Big Birthday Wishes set is sweet to celebrate your girlfriends! "Girls just wanna have fun" with our Road Trip set, featuring fun sentiments that perfectly fit inside the street sign stamp! Grab a set today at your local Michaels store!

Joining us today, Karen shares a sweet tutorial to kick of our White Space is Nice Space and to celebrate our new sets at Michaels!

It's all about "CAS" here on the Ai Challenge this week... and personally, I find this the most difficult style of cardmaking!  I'm all about patterned paper & bright colours, so I have to work hard to achieve a balanced look where white space is involved.  I am using SC0794 today - one of the new acrylic sets available at Michaels stores through Hampton Art.  Here's what I came up with:

For me, balance is a big part of cardmaking.  I chose to make a large card - it's 6" square.  The image itself would've worked on a much smaller card, but because I chose to put a 3/8" frame of teal cardstock around it, I needed the larger amount of white space around the frame to balance it out.

 After colouring with Copics, I fussy cut the image and attached it with pop dots for a little added interest.  I glued "friends" down flat, but attached "best" with pop dots -again- for balance.  I could've stopped there, but with the sentiment taking up the top left corner, I opted to add a few enamel dots to the lower part of the card for (you guessed it) balance.

 In addition to the banners and main image, this set includes a cupcake and three sentiments, so I chose one of them for the inside of my card.  So get busy and start creating!  We would love to have you join us this week for "White Space is Nice Space"!

 Copics used: Skin tones - E11, E00, E000, R30, E53, E51, E50, E34, E31

Greys - C9, C7, C5, C3, C1

Blues - B95, B93, B91, B21, BV04, BV01, BV00

Pinks - RV14, RV13, RV11, RV10

Greens - BG18, BG15, BG13, BG11, YG05, YG03, YG01, YG00

Yellows - Y11, Y38, Y35, Y32, Y21

What a fantastic card, Karen! Your clean and simple design and beautiful colors really make your coloring pop!

It's your turn! We want to see your clean and simple cards for our "White Space is Nice Space" challenge! It's the perfect time to show off your coloring with your favorite stamps!

✻ 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!

✻ 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 by clicking and commenting your fellow crafters.

✻ Make sure to get your link up by Wednesday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

✻ Good luck and happy stamping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Let's not forget the winners of last week's Dots and Stripes challenge!

Top Spot goes to...

Kalla Walla!

Congrats! We love your bright colors of our Girlfriends in their polkadot and striped bathing suites! Too cute and fun for summer! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable Mentions go to...

EK Gorman!

 Margo Smith!

Congrats, you two! EK, your dotted embossed background really features our Out To Lunch Girlfriends and your pink color-blocking mimics some sweet stripes! Margo, we love your coloring with our Birthday Wishes Set and adore your coordinated paper! Be sure to email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and select the stamp set of your choice for a prize!

Thank you to all of our entrants, we hope you'll join in for our new challenge! 

By the way, we have two exciting new products available at our website!

Do you wonder what Bonnie's most used colors are in her Watercolor Wednesday videos? Look no further than Bonnie's Favorites Pen Set! This 12 pen Marvy Le Plume II set features our most-loved colors for Ai Watercoloring! Visit our website to view the list of colors included and to purchase this set for yourself. Remember, we also sell Marvy Le Plume II pens individually if you want to try new colors or replace old favorites!

Take your watercolor stamps on vacation with our WC Travel Box! Each box includes a slim palette and three acrylic blocks, so all you need is to add your favorite stamps, markers and brush for watercoloring on the go. If you have taken our 2017 Watercolor Workshop, you have used great little boxes in class! Click here to purchase one for yourself!

Happy Stamping!

Hoot! Hoot!

Hello Ai Fans!!

Its me Piali here!! 

Today I've Clean and Simple card to share with you.

It can be a great one for man...perfect for our Ai- MASCULINE challenge.

Looooove the "WHOOTS" !

Inside of the card is....

A lovely birthday card.

I dry embossed the cardstock with the branches embossing folder and then cut a small slit to insert the owl image in it partially..as it on the tree.

So play along with the new Ai challenge...enter your Masculine creations HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!!!