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!

Happy Thanksgiving Tri-fold Card by Crystal

Hi Ai fans!

One more week till Thanksgiving so I thought I would play with this Thanksgiving Circlet stamp set.

What is your one favorite food for thanksgiving?
Mine is pumpkin pie and stuffing. I gave up gluten right after Christmas last year so this is my first Thanksgiving with not being able to eat the stuffing. No way will I skip the pie I will just eat the filling and skip the crust. 

I made this circlet card different then I normally do I usually trim a piece of 8 1/2" X 11" card stock down and score to form a tri-fold card base. This time I glued two 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" card bases together to make a tri-fold card base. I used the largest double stitched rectangle die to die cut pattern paper out to adhere to the card base. I die cut the stamped images out with a double stitched circle then layered it onto the pattern paper and die cut the openings out.

As a last little detail I add a piece of twine to the side on the front wrapping it around twice and tying a bow on the front. 

The sentiment inside " May your home be filled with love and your heart with thanksgiving" 

Spectrum Noir Markers:

EB1, EB2, EB3, HB1, HB2, HB3, DG1, DG2, DG3, GB1, GB3, GB5, LG1, LG3, LG5, JG1, JG2, JG3, DR1, DR3, DR4, OR1, OR2, OR3, Blender  

Happy Stamping! 

Happy Thanksgiving! (Blog closed-Challenge OPEN)

 Hello Ai fans!

Our blog will be closed this week, to give our designers time to prepare for
Thanksgiving and to enjoy time with their families. 

We will reopen on November 27th.

Our current
Flurries Forecasted
challenge will remain open and you can enter
at any time while we're on break.

You can find loads of Thanksgiving inspiration HERE
if you still need to make a card, place cards or maybe a treat bag, box or hostess gift.

Planning ahead for next year?

Find all of your Thanksgiving and Fall needs on the Art Impressions website.

From all of us here at Art Impressions, we hope you have a safe and wonderful
Thanksgiving Day.

See you back here next week.

Thankful for You Slimline Card -by Crystal

Hi Ai fans! We are one week away from Thanksgiving! Who is ready? I have not made to many Thanksgiving cards this year I think I skipped over Thanksgiving and started making Christmas cards, but this week I took a little break to make a Thanksgiving card to share with you all. I played with my favorite Ai Thanksgiving set-Feast Mode. 

I added strips of pattern paper to a piece of scrap paper in bright colors. I then die cut it out with the second largest slimline die. I used the double stitched circle die to cut circles out for all of the characters I wanted to add to the card but instead of removing the circles I kept them in place.  

I added the characters from the stamp set with foam tape and adhered them to the middle of all of the circles. I stamped the sentiment onto a double stitched rectangle and adhered it between the third and last circle on the card. 

I matted the panel onto shimmer cardstock die cut out with the largest slimline die. I then adhered the whole panel to a 3 1/2" X 8" card base. 

Happy Stamping!

 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Art Impressions Team! PLUS Challenge 271 Anything Goes Winners Announced!

Happy Thanksgiving, Ai Fans! Before we dive into the fun, we have a few announcements for you! 

The office will be closed on November 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving, so leave a message and we will return your call or email beginning Monday, December 2.

The blog will be closed until Thursday, December 5, to give our designers a rest and chance to enjoy extra family time and turkey leftovers!

In the meantime, if you are craving card inspiration, hop over to guest designer Tracy MacDonald's blog for some great project and leave a little comment love! Tracy designed this beautiful Thanksgiving Circlet card above, and you can find all the details here.

Our design team is here today to share a bundle of baby card inspiration for you, too! Featuring our latest sets, let's take a look at what these talented ladies have crafted up today!

Carol with Baby Boy Set

Crystal with Baby Girl Set

Jessica with Baby Boy Set

Jil with Baby Girl Set

Niccole with Baby Boy Set

Renee with Baby Girl Set and Baby Boy Set

Sharon with Baby Boy Set

Last week we mentioned we are wrapping up our current challenge early today! This week's challenge was "Anything Goes," so we are excited to announce the winners of this open-ended challenge!

Top Spot goes to...

Ca sem!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ca Sem (@casem1982) on Nov 26, 2019 at 2:18am PST

Congrats, Ca Sem! Your wintery watercolor birthday card is oh-so-sweet and your little hand-drawn bow details on the pine boughs are a cute detail! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable Mentions go to...

Reetta!

Nancy!

Congrats, you two! Reetta, your Santa Sleigh card is striking against your handmade sky background! And Nancy, your penguin card with our retired but beloved penguins is super cute! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and select a stamp set of your choice for a prize!

Stay tuned next week when we return with inspiration and a new challenge!

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Thankful Fall Cards

Happy November, Ai Watercolor Fans! Today the team is here for the first weekend of the month with rustic fall projects, perfect for sending Thanksgiving greetings! Let's take a look! 

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Watercolor Friends,

I love November! I'm a Thanksgiving baby so it's always been a fun month for me. Thanksgiving is my husband Tad's favorite holiday, and we always enjoy cooking together for our family. I made this Thanksgiving card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the chair from the 4876 - Wooden Chair Mini Set, the pumpkin and the grass from the 5059 - WC Harvest Set, the bird from the 4966 - WC Bird Bath Set and a pot from the 4869 - WC Small Container Set. The flowers are from the 4963 - WC Fall Set. Let someone know you are thankful for them and wish them a happy Thanksgiving!

Art Impressions Product: 4876 Wooden Chair Mini Set, 5059 WC Harvest Set, 4869 WC Small Container Set, 4963 WC Fall Set, 5063 Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies, 4773 Acrylic Blocks, 4774 - Stamp Positioner, WC Brush NO. 4, Watercolor Palette

Marvy LePlume II Markers: 45 Sepia, 49 Vermillion, 27 Olive Brown, 88 Terra Cotta, 17 Steel Blue, 93 Aubergine, 13 Ochre

Other Supplies: Canson Watercolor Raper

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

Can you believe it? It’s already November! I thought it only fitting that my Watercolor Weekend project be filled with brilliant fall colors.

Stamp the small tree from WC Tree Set 1 in 45 Sepia. Next stamp the small leaves from WC Mini Flower Set in 13 Ochre, 15 Olive Green, 28 English Red and 88 Terra Cotta. Watercolor the Art Impressions way by pulling the color from the lines with water and a paint brush. Scribble a little 45 Sepia and 60 Salvia Blue onto your palette brushing in for the ground and sky.

Art Impressions Products: WC Tree Set 1, WC Mini Flower Set, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, 3” Square Acrylic Block, Watercolor Brush No. 4, Watercolor Palette, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 13 Ochre, 15 Olive Green, 28 English Red, 45 Sepia, 60 Salvia Blue, 88 Terra Cotta

Other Products: Spellbinders Lacey Squares Die

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

I started out using my positioner and the square box from the 4871 Rustic Container Set. I used Sepia and stacked the boxes in different orientations. I didn’t ink the wood slats completely in the middle of the box just inked up the outside. This way I could position my items into each box. I inked each of the items in Sepia and again using my positioner stamped them into each box. I added some Olive Green, Brilliant Yellow and Orange to the pumpkins (after I pulled the color out of the lines) and English Red and Olive Green for the apples both from the 5059 WC Harvest Set. I added some of the apples to a small container using some Sepia and a little Steel Blue. Once the objects were dry, I added some details inside the boxes with Sepia and Steel Blue. I masked off the right edge of the boxes and using the small flower from the Mini Flower Set, I stamped leaves randomly using Brilliant Yellow, Olive Green, Orange and English Red. I added some water and softened some of the leaves. 

To finish up, I added some Brilliant Yellow and Violet to the background and some Sepia below the tree and boxes to ground them.

I really love to try to stretch my stamps and use them for unique compositions!

Art impressions Products: 5009 WC Mini Flower Set, 4871 Rustic Container Set, 5059 WC Harvest Set, Acrylic Block 5 Pack (Variety), 4774 Stamp Positioner, Watercolor Palette, 5063 Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies, Watercolor Tablet, Post-It Adhesive Roll, WC Brush NO. 4

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 45 Sepia, 28 English Red, 43 Brilliant Yellow, 15 Olive Green, 7 Orange, 17 Steel Blue, 8 Violet

Other Supplies: Classic Crest Cover Solar White 8-1/2x11 110lb, Scor-Pal Scor-Buddy Mini Scoring Board, 9 by 7.5-Inch, Gina K Designs Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- Edible Eggplant, Connect Glue- 2 oz, Gina K Designs Heavy Base Weight Card Stock – Sweet Mango

Thanks, team! These projects are bursting with beautiful oranges, yellows, and greens! We hope these projects inspire you to use your stamps for fall projects this month! If you do, be sure to tag us on social media with #aiwatercolor and #aistamps so we can see! Have a great weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Happy Thanksgiving! PLUS, Michaels Exclusives Now Available!

Happy Thanksgiving, Ai Fans!

The blog is closing for the next few days so our design team can enjoy a Thanksgiving break! Today we have a bit of inspiration to tide you over! You can now find FOUR new Art Impressions clear sets, produced by Hampton Art, at your local Michaels!

 Introducing TWO new Holiday PopCards, Santa PopCard and Reindeer PopCard! These new sets contain clear stamps and metal dies, and assemble the same way as our previous PopCards to make unique 3-D cards! Make spirits bright with our TWO Christmas Girlfriends clear sets, Ugly Sweater and Merriest! These four sets are EXCLUSIVE to Michaels, so find a store near you to grab them up!

Inspiration time! Check out what our designers created with these exclusive sets! Click the designer's name to view more details on their personal blog, and click the set they used to view it at Michaels.com to find store availability by your zip code!

Cheri with Merriest

Dana with Merriest

Diane with Ugly Sweater

Jil with Santa PopCard

Karen with Ugly Sweater

Renee with Reindeer PopCard and Window Die 

Sharon with Ugly Sweater

Thank you for your bright and shiny cards, designers! Enjoy a week break for Thanksgiving! We are thankful to you!

Before we go, let's celebrate the winners of our previous Tag It Challenge!

Top Spot goes to...

Funtography!

Congrats! We love your sweet bracket tag featuring our Santa Paws puppy! Such festive colors and details! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address to claim your prize pack!

Honorable Mentions go to..

Irene Rhodes!

Melissa O!

Congrats, you two! The reindeer theme is really working! Irene, your handmade "ugly sweater" tag with our Reindeer Mini Shaker is just such a cute idea! We can't resist! And Melissa, your bold Reindeer Games tag is just divine! Email annelise@artimpressions.com with your address and choose a stamp set of your choice for a prize!

We had really wonderful tags for our challenge! Our next challenge will not start until November 30th, but we will give you a clue: laughter!

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful that you spend time with us here on the blog! Stay tuned tomorrow for a blog post about our Black Friday special! If you aren't already signed up for our Retail Newsletter, you may want to hop over and subscribe so you don't miss out! It's a big one!

Happy Stamping!