I'm finally back! I want to shout out a huge THANK YOU to Simone and Sara for covering for me while I was out sick!! Their work is so beautiful and amazing, and I very much appreciate them!! So today, I have a card I made for the current Blog Challenge #400, Milestone Birthdays!!! It blows me away that we reached Challenge #400 and I also love that the challenge reflects this huge accomplishment!! I chose to use #5406 Mr Set and have him hold balloons reflecting a 50th Birthday. The best part is the die to cut him out, cut the slot for me to be able to put the balloon strings in his hand! It was perfect! I started out by stamping his image onto a Copic friendly cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The colors I used to color him are listed below.
So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!
I have a couple of bunny-themed projects today, incorporating several of the newest releases. First up is the 6008 - Bunny Hugs Set.
I started by stamping the bunny, basket and carrot on some smooth watercolour paper, using Versamark Onyx Black ink. *This was different for me, as I usually stamp with Tombows, but I thought I'd give the black outline a try. I also wanted to create a background scene, so stamped the wagon from 5597 - Harvest Wheelbarrow Set, then added flowers and foliage from 5825 - Geranium Set and 5919 - Long Stem Floral Set with a little masking.
I painted everything using Tombow markers picked up off of my palette, using layers of colour to achieve the darker shades. I created a wash of #126 to create the grass, and a wash of #526 for the sky. After painting the flowers, there was still a lot of white space between the leaves, so I painted in some yellow flowers and darker foliage, then used a black fineline marker to outline my daisy-like shapes. I also used the marker on the grass to add a few lines of definition. I die cut the Bunny Hugs pieces using the coordinating dies, and adhered them to my scene with varying thicknesses of 3D foam adhesives. The sentiment is from 5867 - Mini Easter Sentiment Set stamped with Versamark Onyx Black. I used the 5061 - Square Double Stitched Dies, and the 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies to cut out the scene and sentiment, narrowly matting both with periwinkle cardstock.
My card is 5 1/2" square, and I used the new 6033 - Inspirational Easter PP for the background papers, with the scalloped edge die from the 5543 - Journal Template Die Set on one of them. I popped up the image after tying a white organdy ribbon into a bow underneath it. A few irridescent jewels finished things off.
My second project is the sweet new 6014 - MB Easter Bunnies Matchbook set! I adore making the Matchbooks as they're so wonderfully tiny!
I stamped the five images and sentiment onto some smooth watercolour paper, and painted everything in an Easter colour theme using Tombow markers picked up off of my palette, then cut them out with the coordinating dies. To create the base, I cut the 5317 - MB Template die from the new 6011 - Basic Teal PP, and cut out the tiny windows on either side. The Ai papers are so perfect for Matchbooks, as they are two sided, coordinating prints. I cut the small rug die from the 6010 - Basic Pink PP and glued it onto the floor, then glued all of the pieces in position as shown.
The 5318 - MB Envelope Die was also cut from the 6010 papers to make a cute little matching envelope.
**Bonus Third Project!** I'm adding this one at the last minute... I had several extra pieces from the 6008 - Bunny Hugs Set that I had already cut out and painted up...
I had the idea to use the new 5910 - Large Letter Die Set, so I cut it out of some pretty paper from the 5939 - Fairy Garden PP. After cutting out the letters, I cut them out again from plain white cardstock, which I glued underneath, before gluing the patterned paper letters back in place. It provides just a subtle texture to the letters, and keeps the focus on the bunny.
The colours that I'd painted on the egg clashed a little with my project, so I just went over the stripes with Copic markers to slightly change from pink & yellow, to be purple and green. You could easily make this a personalized card by spelling out a family member's name, or just use the word Easter - so many possibilities!
The Ai Laugh Line sets have fun characters that are perfect for putting in scenes created by papers and inks. Today I've made a fun indoor scene using the 5422 - Rock On Laugh Lines stamp set.
To create the interior background for this gleeful lady, I used a flowered paper from the 5939 - Fairy Garden Paper Pack. I made a window using the frame in the 5408 - ShadowBox Window Die. For the view through the window, I used a small scrap piece of swirly blue and white paper from my stash. Then I created a window valance out of a dark purple polka dot patterned paper also in the same paper pack. I stamped the sentiment from the Rock On set on the valance and attached it over the window with foam tape.
I got to work on the lady by first stamping her and the chair image. Then I made a mask to cover the bottom of the chair so I could stamp and color the wood floor. Once I got everything colored, I fussy cut her and the floor out as one piece. I added a strip of white cardstock to the floor to create a baseboard. Then I glued the lady, chair, floor and baseboard section below the window and "wallpaper." To finish it, I trimmed the excess floor and baseboard that extended over the piece that represent the wall of the room and then glued this piece on an A2 sized black card base.
This card meets the criteria for the current challenge, Milestone Birthdays. We are celebrating our 400th challenge on our blog. Isn't that amazing! To make it special, there will be 5 stamp sets given away for this challenge. I encourage you to submit your own birthday cards to our challenge post for a chance to win and celebrate this milestone with Ai and the Design Team! Just click on the link to enter your creation. We love seeing what you make!
Tasha here sharing a card inspired by the current Milestone Birthday Challenge. I love making birthday cards, but there is something extra special about celebrating a milestone birthday. For my project I used the SC0680-Spare Me Stamp Setto create a masculine 60th Birthday card; I love this bowling theme!
I started by stamping the bowler with black hybrid ink and colored him with Copic Markers. To frame the image, I cute an oval and used yellow Distress Oxide ink around the edges to bring in more color and a golden glow.
For the number 60, I used the 5911-Large Number Die Set and cut the numbers out twice to raise it up a bit. I used regular card stock for the bottom layer and added the gold glitter paper to the top. I thought the gold coordinated well with the other colors used and added a nice pop of sparkle.
The sentiment was also included in this stamp set and is the perfect size to add under the bowler. I also added layers of card stock and gold glitter to give a more finished look.
Lastly, I attached layers of teal, white, and dark teal card stock and a piece of checker pattern paper. These colors give the card a retro look, and I love the teal, black and white color combination!
Thank you for checking out today's card and I hope you will join in the challenge!
Welcome to week #2 of our big Milestone Birthdays Challenge!
We're celebrating 400 challenges with a BIG giveaway.
5 lucky winners will walk away with a free stamp set.
I'm offering 3 retired Throwbacks and Art Impressions will be giving away 2 more current sets still on their website. Please leave a message in the comments section below when you enter your Milestone Birthday card. Let me know if you have a preference as to a specific stamp set and I'll do my best to accommodate the winners.
Last week our Featured Designer was Lynn and she created this wonderful masculine birthday card.
This week we're sharing the rest of our Design Team cards.
I created two GOAT (Greatest of All Time) cards for you. One is a 30th birthday and one is an 89th birthday. I know we generally think of milestones as even numbers, I figure anything past 80 is a milestone and worth celebrating. That one was for my Father-in-law.
I just LOVE everyone of these cards from the Design Team!
I hope they inspire you to join in the challenge. There are so many prizes to be given away this week. Maybe YOU'LL be the next winner!
Enter your birthday card below for the chance to win. If you have a preference as to which stamp set you'd like to win, please leave that information in the comments section below. Good luck and happy stamping!
✻ Please make a new card or handmade crafty creation. You can make any item you wish; this is not limited to cards! (unless specified)
✻ Limit two submissions per person.
✻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!
Today I have a humorous birthday card for the "Milestones" challenge using the #5279 Be Happy Laugh Lines set. If you haven't checked out these Laugh Lines sets yet, make sure you go to the website and check them out. Bonnie hit the mark on these. The sayings are perfect as well as the images!
I stamped the image on copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with copic markers listed below. I die cut the image panel with the largest #5062 Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitch Die. I then used a smaller circle die from the #5064 Double Stitched Circles die set to cut out the notch for the reveal wheel. Measure a circle die over each of the sentiments to make sure that you can read each within the circle. Once you find the circle die that fits the sentiments, make sure that where you cut the hole on the image panel is low enough for the wheel to fit without popping out on the sides. Place a brad in the center of the wheel and through the pattern paper border. Pop the image panel up with foam dots, avoiding the wheel area, and place down over the pattern paper panel. I then placed a circle frame over the reveal hole to finish it off.
I hope you enjoy my card today and that you will join in the fun with the current challenge - "Milestone Birthdays". Play along for a chance to win a free stamp set.
Today we will be creating a fun quilted background for our card! This background can be used on many of your cards, and these are really fun to make ahead and have ready for your future projects! Each of the quilted squares will be die-cut from the Ai Square Double Stitched Dies (5061). For paper we will be using the brand-new Ai Basic Yellow Paper Pack (6012). However, you could use any of the brand-new Paper Packs which include the Basic Yellow, Basic Pink, Basic Teal and Basic Green. You could easily mix and match these colors for a beautiful, quilted background as well.
After selecting some of the pretty papers in yellow plaids, dots, and stripes, and die-cutting them, we will add a bit of Versafine Clair Ink Pad in Sand Dune around the edges of each of the squares. This will soften the look of the squares and bring everything together.
Let's set those aside and stamp, color and die-cut our images from the Ai Peeking Bunny Set (5870). This little easter set is so cute because when you cut the wagon it will create a little slit so that you can tuck your bunny inside. The dies will also cut some slits under the paws of the little bunny so that the bunny can hold an egg, sentiment, or just peek over the top of the cart, as we will be doing today All of today's coloring was done using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Lt Pink, Pale Rose, Orange, Yellow, Ice Blue, Lt Blue, Pale Yellow, Lt Green, Lt Violet, Lt Gray, Beige, Mid Brown.
Now we can create a standard A2 size top folding card base out of some Kraft 100lb cardstock. Let's also die-cut this beautiful scallop rectangle panel using the Lawn Fawn Lacy Rectangle Stackables Dies and some white cardstock. We will also cut a Kraft panel for the front of this scallop rectangle, and I will give you all of the dimensions in today's video.
Let's glue the scallop rectangle to the front of the card and add the kraft panel on top. Now for the fun part.... adding the stitched squares in a random pattern. Let's also stamp the "Hello Easter" from the Ai Easter Sentiments Set (5733), to the center square using that same Sand Dune Ink.
Now we can add the little cart with the bunny tail sticking out, and the peeking bunny over the top and some additional eggs along the bottom of the card panel using a combination of 3D Foam Adhesives and glue.
Using a white gel pen we can add some details to the eggs and some highlights and for some additional dimension we will also add some clear glaze to a few of the eggs.
Once all of these pieces have been assembled, let's add some pretty clay hearts in yellow and white!
If you like you can save one additional square for the sentiment on the inside of the card, just to tie everything together!
Thank you so much for joining me today! Have a fun and crafty day!!!
Hello Ai fans and welcome to our April Monthly Challenge.
These monthly challenges will have no theme. It's just fun to create something using Art Impressions products and then possibly win some free stamps!
April is Simone Carr's turn to be our Guest Designer.
How do you win free stamps? Add your creation (it doesn't have to be a card) using Art Impressions products below for your chance to win a free stamp set from Art Impressions or a freebie from me. (US addresses only for my freebie...The free stamp set from Ai is open world wide) Let's see what Simone has created to inspire you this month.
Hello Crafty Friends,
I chose to create two cards with the Happy Easter Set (4754) because I absolutely loved the cute egg-shaped heads of the Easter bunnies.
For my first card, I started by stamping the images onto masking paper and fussy cutting them out. Using an egg-shaped die, I drew a pencil outline to guide where to place the bunnies. I stamped the smaller bunny first with Memento Toffee Crunch and placed the masking paper over it. Then, I stamped the second bunny next to the first one and masked it as well. Finally, I stamped the standing bunny behind the two smaller bunnies.
After all the bunnies were stamped, I removed the masking paper and began coloring the images. I used Tombow markers to color in the bunnies and added details to the grass and foliage around them. Once the coloring was complete, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 3 ¾” x 5”, centered it on my die, and ran it through the die cutting machine. I then embossed the frame with a lovely texture and used two dies to cut out a frame that fit the opening. I added some double-sided foam behind the frame to give it a bit of dimension before adhering it to the watercolor paper. To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment on white cardstock, die cut it out, and added a sweet bow to complete the design.
Materials Used:
Stamps:
Happy Easter Set (4754) Foliage Set 1 (4051) Foliage Set 3 (5007) Bible Flower Set (5074) Gift Card Pocket Set (5811) Easter Chicks Set (5401)
Dies:
Egg-shaped Die (for drawing the outline) Die for Frame Bow Die
Paper:
White Cardstock Easter PP (5742) Canson Watercolor Paper Mirri Paper
Masking Paper Embossing Folder Double-sided Foam Tape
For my second card, I created a design using the Postage Die on Strathmore Bristol Smooth Cardstock. I started by cutting out the postage shape and placed it in my Stamp Positioner to ensure proper alignment for the stamping. I used Post-it tape to mask off certain areas of the stamp to prevent overstamping. Once the areas were masked, I stamped the images using Memento Toffee Crunch and then colored them in with Tombow markers using a #4 brush for a soft watercolor effect.
The result was a whimsical Easter scene framed by the postage die, which really helped to highlight the stamped images. I finished the card by adding some patterned paper from the Basic Yellow PP (6012) to add an extra pop of color behind the frame.
Materials Used:
Stamps:
Happy Easter Set (4754) Foliage Set 1 (4051) Foliage Set 3 (5007) Bible Flower Set 2 (5418)
Memento Toffee Crunch Versafine Clair Nocturne Bleed Proof White Twintone Brown and Black Tombow Markers: 025, 055, 993, 905, 933, 195, 856, 703, 526, 401, 177, N55, 947
Other:
Stamp Positioner Post-it Tape
I hope these cards bring some Easter joy to your crafting! It was such a pleasure to create them, and I can't wait to see what you come up with for your own Easter projects.
Happy Crafting, Simone
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 and it can be any theme you like.
✻ 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. This will be a random drawing so all levels of ability are encouraged to enter! ✻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!
One of my coworkers recently had a baby. We didn't initially have time to plan a shower for her because Baby D came REALLY early.
Fortunately, everything was okay. She's back to work now and we had time to plan a shower this time.
I wasn't sure what type of card I wanted to make for her until I saw her invitations.
The Pooh on my card was cut out of her invite and I proceeded from there.
I knew instantly that I wanted a red and yellow card to match Pooh. The Valentine paper worked perfect for this. Then I used a die set from another company to make the HUNNY pot. I spelled out HUNNY using the Journal Letter die set.
Of course if there's honey on your card then you MUST have BEES!! And how do bees make honey, from flowers of course.
I used Watercolor Paper from Art Impressions to create the pot and used Tombow markers to WC it.
I used cardstock and Tombow markers to color the bees and flower images. All colors and products are linked below.
I used Wink of Stella on the bees wings and then added some Glossy Accents to them and the honey pot.
