On the Border Challenge #436 Week #1

 Hello Ai fans and welcome to our new challenge.

On the Border

We want to see your creations featuring something on the border.
Deck out those borders with stamps, dies, embellishments...whatever you like!

Our Featured Artist for this challenge is Neema and she has a stunning floral Storytile

 card to inspire you.

After looking through her photos and reading her tutorial, be sure to scroll down
to see who won our Furry Friends challenge.

Take it away Neema!

Hello crafting friends,

Welcome to this week's challenge! Today's theme is "On the Border", and there are so many creative ways to enhance them—whether you use stamps, scissors, dies, paint, or any other technique to make them stand out.

For my project, I created a bookbinding card and used a border stamp from the "Sing to the Lord" set (#6220) to decorate the spine. Here is how I put it together:

Making the Card

1.  Cut the card base to 11" × 5.5" and fold it in half along the longer side.
2.  Score at 1.25" from the center fold on one side to create the spine.
3.  For the cover, use the "Story Tiles" template set (#6158). Cut the frame twice and stack the pieces to create dimension.
4.  For the inside of the tiles, use the "Garden Friends" set (#6177). Stamp the images onto watercolor paper using Tombow markers 696 and 565, and use the markers to color them in.

Making the Spine

1.  Cut a strip of watercolor paper to 1.25" x 5.5".
2.  Use a border stamp from the "Sing to the Lord" set (#6220) to stamp the image. Since the stamp is shorter than the paper, repeat the pattern to fill the entire strip.
3.  Color the stamped image, then glue the strip to the card base.
4.  To finish, wrap twine around the card twice, tie it into a bow, and add small pearls to the ends.

I hope you will join us and participate in this week's challenge!

Happy crafting,

Neema

This was Neema's first time as Featured Designer and she hit a home run!

So beautiful.

Now let's see who won our Furry Friends challenge.

For our Top Spot we selected #17

Becca Yahrling

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Our Lucky Random Winner was #7

Julie W.

Please contact Leah at Feedback@artimpressions.com

to claim your free stamp set.

Congratulations to our winners!

Enjoy your new stamps.

Now, onto the details of our new challenge.

Please use something to make your border extra special.

It doesn't matter what as long as it's not just a plain old border.

Here are the rules...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation using either stamps, dies and or designer paper from Art Impressions. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)

✻ Limit two submissions per person.

✻Top Spot Winner and Lucky Random Winner each receive a free 

stamp set from Art Impressions

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission. You may include your entire last name, but it's not necessary.

✻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

Dance Like No One is Watching! By Andrea Pierron

 Good morning, Ai friends!! Andrea here, and I am so excited to be a part of this team and to get to know you all! I have been a fan of Art Impressions products for over 20 years! They have been one of my favorite stamping companies since I started card making. I absolutely love how unique their products are and I love seeing all of the gorgeous products you all create with Ai stamps. So today, I am sharing a card that I made using these two adorable seniors! I have wanted to put something together with these two for quite a while. 

First, I stamped the 2 seniors onto my card stock using Momento ink. I made a mask by stamping the images again on regular printer paper (to lay over the original images) and I cut the masks out. I then carefully lined up the masks on top of the original stamped images and stamped a background stamp from Purple Onion Designs over the images. Then, I removed the masks and voila! You have the couple dancing inside a cute little room! I wanted to have some pattern on their clothing, so I chose the paper I liked for it and stamped the images a 3rd time on the patterned paper and cut out the man's pants and woman's apron. Then, I then got to work on all of my coloring. Once finished, I added some cute little flowers to the windows and stamped a sentiment and added it to my card front. I glued on the apron piece and the pants. The card front panel was then glued to the card base. That is it and I hope you like it! 

Materials Used

Stamps

• 5279 Be Happy Laugh Lines
• 5278 Dance It Out Set
• 4868 Watercolor Flower Set 2

Paper

• Distinguished Gents by Unity Stamps
• 6205 Floral Shop by Art Impressions
• Neenah Classic Crest card stock for stamping on

Markers & Inks

• Momento Ink Pad
• Black thin Liner Pen
• Copic Markers Used: E93, E00, E13, E21, E000, Y35, N3, N2, N5, G40, B0000, B00, G43, G46, E49, E47, E57, E41, B32, B37, B34, 110, E42, E43

Gnome Storybook by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Wednesday AI Friends!

Have you seen the latest storybook stamp and die sets?  Bonnie knocked it out of the park with the #6223 - Whimsical Storybook set with the little gnome and fairy!  Who doesn't love gnomes and fairies? 

There is a perfect little storybook box die that fits this set but I chose to use the #5902 - Mini Scallop Frame set and pop up the layers using foam tape instead of frame layers.   I thought I would show you how versatile these sets are and how you can use them with other products you may have in your collection.

With Khaki colored cardstock, I cut the mini scallop frame with the oval window die placed in the middle.  I then placed the scallop edge of the die on the straight edge of the frame piece and did a partial die cut so that the straight edge had a scallop cut as well.  I cut a piece of pattern paper with the same process and adhered to the front of the frame.  I also cut a small piece of pattern paper to fit the inside of the frame as the background.  

I stamped the images of the storybook stamp set onto copic friendly paper using Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut each with the coordinating dies that are included with the stamp set.  I added stickles to the fairy wings.

You can trim off part of the curved tabs from the images but leave some for gluing into the frame.  I adhered the house flat to the background and then popped up the other pieces to create dimension within the frame.  

I added the sentiment from the #5935 - Fairytale Houses set to the label die, included with the frame set, and adhered it to the front of the frame with some twine.  To finish off, I added the easel to the back of the frame so that this little cutie can be placed on display.

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you have a wonderful week and you find time to create with this cute set!

Copics used:  R20, R22, R24

E00, E01, E11, E21, E23, E50, E51, E53, E55

N0, N1, N2, N3    B0000, B000, B00, B01

   Y15      YG61    G12     BG93

Story Tile Wedding Card by Reneé Matarese

 Hello Ai fans!

A friend of ours is getting married on Saturday and I'm
sharing the wedding card that I made for them.

Their invitation was movie themed so I decided to play off of that.

I love the Story Tile template because it creates little windows and 
each one features something a little bit different.

I also used the template on the inside but I cut some of the borders out
to create two large windows. I also embossed the designer paper on the left
for a little something extra.

If my mouth doesn't say it....by Sharon Caudle

 Hello AI Fans!

Ok, all the fans of Art Impressions clever and funny stamps and sentiments please raise your hands!! (I raised both of mine) LOL!  Art Impressions people stamps have always been my favorite and probably always will be! And I love how you can pair up just about any sentiment with just about any stamp. That's what I've got to show you today. I took #4383 Wine Tasters Set from the Girlfriends line and paired it with a sentiment from #5517 Sassy Laugh Lines, and I love how it turned out. I stamped image onto a Copic friendly cardstock and then colored them with my Copic makers. I did this ages ago and can't find my list of colors I used, so my apologies I can't list them for you today. I die cut them out using #5061 Square double stitched dies and paired it paper from #5939 Fairy Garden PP. 

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

Garden Scenes & Storybook Dreams by Simone Carr

 

Hello Fellow Crafters!

Welcome to another Watercolor Weekend! I’m excited to share this week’s card with you. I was especially excited to use the new Flower and Foliage Sets with this image. I love when one stamp can create an entire scene, and this image has so many fun little details to bring to life with watercolor.

On Canson Watercolor Paper, I stamped the image using 565 + 969, stamping off twice for a softer impression. With a damp #4 brush, I pulled out the stamped color first. Before I added color to the pots, I started with the larger elements of the scene and worked my way through each of the smaller details. The Tombow colors I used for each element are listed below.

After I had my pots colored. I started to stamp in the flowers and foliage. With a damp #4 brush, I dabbed the flowers and foliage to soften the look.

Once I finished the flowers and foliage, I added the final details to complete the scene. I really enjoyed bringing all the little elements of this image to life.

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies
• 5435 – WC Foundations: Potting Bench
• 6270 – Foliage Set 6
• 6271 – Flower Set 7
• 5009 – Mini Flower Set (Dots)
• 4051 – Foliage Set 1 (Grass)

Paper
• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
• TwinTone Markers – Brown, Gray

Tombow Markers
• N52, 757, 158, 177, 565 – Bucket with Foliage
• 026, 177, 565 – Pot, Bottom Shelf
• 947, 158, 565 – Birdhouse
• 947, 946, 177, 026 – Pot
• 158, 026, 757 – Watering Can
• N89, 177, 817, 526 – Crate
• 991 – Hat
• N89, 565, 177, 757 – Pot Next to Hat
• 947, 946, 565, 177 – Double Pots
• 026, 757, 158, 526 – Last Pot

For an extra project this week, I decided to create a little storybook scene using the new Whimsical Storybook Set.

I stamped all of the images onto Canson Watercolor Paper using Distress Ink Lost Shadow. Once the images were stamped, I colored each piece using the Tombow markers listed below and then used the coordinating dies to cut them out.

I chose a heavier cardstock to build the main outer box as well as the three inner layers.

I used the square die that comes with the set to cut three squares. I then stacked the three squares together and used the included oval die to cut the center opening. I attached an image to each inner layer and then stacked the layers together using foam dots in the corners to create dimension.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s projects and found some inspiration for your next watercolor creation. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again next time!

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies
• 6121 – Storybook Template
• 6223 – Whimsical Storybook

Paper
• 5832 – Gnome PP
• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums
• Distress Ink – Lost Shadow
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
• TwinTone Marker – Brown
• 2mm Foam Dots

Tombow Markers
• 126, 757, 565, 947 – House
• 856, 947, N49, 606, N15, 757, 177 – Wheelbarrow
• 947, 969, 177, 856, 985 – Stump
• 757, 126, 947, 969, 942, 912 – Gnome

Visions in Pink by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend! The new 6116 Thinking of Home Set in the Storybook Series is such a lovely set, the possibilities for this is amazing.  

I decided to go with a mix of browns and pinks, and I absolutely love how this turned out!  I was going to get a picture of the images after I colored them before assembly, but I got sidetracked, and when I returned to it and cut the images out with the included dies and started putting it together, is when I figured out that I had not.  This set comes with 5 images, one as the back piece and then 4 layers. I decided that I actually wanted to cut out the house so that I could pop it up on foam tape, so I stamped in a guide of the house on the piece of watercolor paper so that I could put in some flowering trees beside it.  I did a wash of 772 for the sky and then used 4964 WC Branches Set in 899, adding dots of 772, 817, and Bleed Proof White for the flowers.  I stamped a second image of the house, so that after coloring I could cut it out and pop it up over the guide I stamped on the back piece.  For the roof and the trim on the door and window, I used 899, and over that in areas 879. For the walls I did a light wash of 969, and also added details to the walls and roof using 4867 Foliage Set 2, the little foliage, in 990 on the walls and 969 on the roof. Which of course I figured out after assembly that you can’t see it.  I used 969 on the chimney and shaded with 565.  For the door and window panes I used 772, the handle on the door I used 947 and shaded with 969.  For the front porch I used the same colors as the house, a light wash of 969 with 899 and 879 on the roof, shading with 565.  Using the same foliage as before, I also added some details on the front post using 990. I did mask these off with post-it tape just in case.  For the next layer with the cat in the chair, I went a little darker with the 969 on the chair and shaded with 565.  For the cat I started with 565 to shade areas since part of the cat would be white, and then added some N52 for a light gray and a touch of 772 for the inside of the ears.  The flowers were done with 817 focusing more color in the center. 126 and 177 on the leaves and 899 on the pot.  For the stone I used N49 with N57 between the stones and then added shadows and shading with 565.  Next is the bird house, for the post 969, base color on the house is 772, adding details with 817.  The roof was done with 879, the perch 969.  For the hole, 969 and 879 was used.  The last layer with the mailbox, I started with 969 on the post, N60 for the base layer on the mailbox with some N52 in areas and shaded with 565.  For the flag I used 817. The little bird, I used a black micron on the eyes, beak, and legs first. I then did a base color of 772, contouring with 817, and then added a touch of 969.  Each of the stamp sets come with their own dies to cut out the images, but you will need 6121 Storybook Template Dies to create the ornament.  The Template has all of the dies you need to cut out the components to assemble it together.  The square to cut out the back piece and layers, and an oval to cut out the openings to line up with the opening in the outer casing.  Each of the stamp images stamp out a section that lines up with the oval opening that you glue behind the paper layer that just leaves the image visible through the opening.   Once you cut out the outer casing, you glue your back piece in, personally I prefer to put the layers together before attaching them over the back piece, a little easier for me that way.  You will want to use foam tape between the layers, usually a square in each corner does the trick. I used a double layer of foam tape for added dimension between the layers. Since I popped up the cut out image of the house, I wish I had added one more layer of foam tape to the back of the porch layer.  Just make sure as you are assembling that your layers are actually going to fit, I leave the backing on the foam tape and stack it inside to make sure there is enough room, then you can adjust from there if you’d like before putting it together.  Once I have my layers together I then fold along the crease lines and then attach my layers into place and then glue the edges down.  I used 6182 Valentines Series 2 Cover paper pack for the casing and the hanger.  Once the sides were set, I then attached the hanger and added a bow and ribbon.  I hope you will enjoy this set as much as I do!

I loved the color combo so much on my first project that I decided to continue with that color theme.  This time I used the 6179 Cottage Charm with the 6158 Story Tile Template Die. I cut down my watercolor paper down to 4 ¼ by 5 ½ and then placed the die over the paper to trace out some guides with a pencil. Just don’t make the same mistake I did, I put the die with the cut side up, which meant that I had to turn my paper over and cut from the backside to get it to line up with my images.  (Still shaking my head!) So place your die, cut side down before you trace your outlines. I then decided where I wanted to stamp each image. I used Distress Ink in Pumice Stone and stamped each one off first, if you are worried about the position you can always use a stamp positioner. For the sentiment I used Versafine Clair in Nocturne, using a permanent ink allowed me to watercolor the background in without causing the sentiment to bleed.

Flower pots: I used 879, 947. 4868 Flower Set 2/flower bunch in 177, 772, 817. 4052 Flower Set 1/ daisy bunch in 772, 817.  5126 Foliage Set 4/small vine in 249. 177 for the ground and 526 for the sky.

Bird Bath: 565 and 969 mixed with a touch of 526.  Water: 565 with a touch of 526 and 817 for the reflection.  Bird: 772, 817, and a touch of 969. 5126 Foliage Set 4 for the leafy branch in 126 and a line drawn up through the image with 177.  5008 Flower Set 3 with 772 and 817 at the base of the petals and 177. 

Fence: Background 526.  5826 Large Tree Set 2/grass: 177 with a touch of 969 in 2 small spots at the base.  5476 Foliage Set 5/grass, just inking the tips in 817. Fence: 565 for shading and a couple of touches of 947 in light wash for interest. 

House: Roof, window and door trim. 899 and 879. Walls, light wash of 969.  Chimney and steps, 565 and 969 mixed, 565 for shading.  Door and window panes 772. Door knob 969. Shutters, 772 and 817 for the slats.  Ground 177 and 526 for the sky. 5372 Mini Foliage Set/bush line in 249, Bleed Proof White for the flowers.  4964 Branches in 899, dots of 772, 817, and Bleed Proof White for the flowers.

Sentiment: 772 for the background.   

Bike: 772, 817, 969, N15, 565 for shading, pencil for spokes.  5126 Foliage 4/leafy branch in 126 with 177 right up the center.  947 for the ground, and 526 for the sky.

Always remember that sets like these can be used in so many ways. You can use each stamp individually, or create your own scenes.  I for one am looking forward to playing with the possibilities.  Thank you so much for joining me today, until next time! Create….Share….Inspire!

Party Animal! by Janet

I'm celebrating a birthday with my card today. We are also a little more than half way through the current Ai Challenge - Furry Friends. We hope you upload your cards featuring one of your favorite animals. With so many to choose from, this one should be no problem at all! Just link your card up to the Furry Friends Challenge post and see if you win. It's a lot of fun to participate in!

My card features a cute giraffe. I've always loved giraffes and this one is all set to celebrate with a banner, party hat, and balloons. He is definitely stealing the show on this card! He is found in the 5400 - Baby Critters Set. This set includes dies so it's a cinch to cut the animals and party accessories out if you prefer that over staging them on as a one layer scene. I like cutting the animals out because you can make them pop on foam tape which gives the card a lot of dimension and interest.

I stamped the giraffe and colored him with Copic markers. I chose to color the pennants and balloons in blue and red. His hat follows the same theme. The set has star ornaments but I turned them around and made them part of the balloon bouquet instead. I used the 6048 Scalloped Rectangle Die on a leaf design from 6025 Floral Shop PP. I also used the 5724 Nested Rectangle Set to cut out the green, gold, and pink mats for the card. Finally I stamped a sentiment from the set on a piece of white cardstock. This guy is certainly ready to give it his all to party with the guest of honor!

Thanks for stopping by and spending time with me and Art Impressions today. Please visit the Ai store to pick up your favorite stamps, dies, papers, accessories, and supplies, including all the supplies I used in this card. 

Happy Crafting!

Happy Fall! Card by Tasha

 Happy Friday Art Impressions friends!  

Tasha here sharing a Fall themed card featuring the fun 5507-Harvest Together Set and the new 6255-FG Sunflower Border Set. I love sunflowers, and when I saw the new sunflower border stamp, I immediately thought it would work perfectly with the lady scarecrow from the Harvest Together Set. I just love all the flowers!

To created this card, I started by stamping the front sunflowers. After, I used masking paper to mask the flowers and bottom of the card before stamping the scarecrow and birdhouse. I used Copic Markers for the coloring and tried to use Fall colors; the blues, yellows, and pop of purple look awesome together!

After the images were colored, I added clouds and a "Happy Fall Y'all" greeting. I also attached layers of metallic red, brown, white, and orange cardstock to coordinate with the colors used on the flowers. Lastly, I added a piece of plaid pattern paper in a light tan color and cut a scalloped frame to complete the design.

I hope you liked today's poject and are inspired to create a Fall themed project!

Have a wonderful day!

Furry Friends Challenge #435 Week #2

 Hello and welcome to week #2 of our challenge,

Furry Friends

We want to see your handmade creations using animals.

Pretty much anything goes as long as you have an animal and something from Art Impressions on your project. (Stamps, paper or dies)

Our Featured Artist for this challenge was Dori and she created the most darling
Triple Tunnel card.

 

Diane made a festive fall fox easel card.

6255 – FG Sunflower Border
5191 – Feast Mode
5901 – Mini Rectangle Frame Dies (Front)

     

Tasha has some sweet dancing bears.

Neema has a tower of pretty pumpkins.

4873 – WC Cats Set
5595 – Harvest Pumpkin Set

Sharon has a darling shadowbox for you.

 

I also created a shadowbox and mine doubles as a gift card holder.

   

Janet has a beautiful, bright birthday card.

5400 - Baby Critters Set
6048 - Scalloped Rectangle Dies
5724 - Nested Rectangle Dies
6205 - Floral Shop PP

Don't you just love all of these fun, furry friends?

Our Design Team always does such an amazing job!

Now, onto the details of our challenge.

Please make a new project featuring animals using
stamps, dies or paper from Art Impressions.
We can't wait to see your creations.

Here are the rules...

✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation using either stamps, dies and or designer paper from Art Impressions. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)

✻ Limit two submissions per person.

✻Top Spot Winner and Lucky Random Winner each receive a free 

stamp set from Art Impressions

 ✻Please include your first name and last initial on your submission. You may include your entire last name, but it's not necessary.

✻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