Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time to Par-tee by Janet
Friday, April 26, 2024
Nailed It! Card by Tasha!
Happy Friday Ai Friends!
Tasha here sharing a new masculine card created with the fun 5406 - Mr. Set. This stamp set includes several hats and accessory items to customize your card or project, but this handyman outfit is so cute for a birthday card or Father's Day card.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Birds of a Feather Challenge #377 Week #1
Hello Ai fans!
We hope you all enjoyed our It's Raining Cats & Dogs challenge.
With that challenge ending, it means it's time to debut a new challenge.
For the next two weeks our challenge is called
Birds of a Feather.
We want to see your crafty projects using birds.
Your projects can include bird stamps, dies, papers etc.
Before we share our Featured Artist Lynn's lovely project, let's see
who won our last challenge.
We had so many wonderful cards entered and it was tough to
choose a winner.
For our Top Spot, we selected
#3 Zilla S.
We loved her creative milk jug with the very contented
cat napping beside it.
Our Lucky Random Winner was:
#13 Gennette H.
Watch video tutorial here!!!
Today's feature card was inspired by the current Ai Blog Challenge called "Birds of a Feather" which is to incorporate a bird or birds on your card or project!
I thought it would be fun to create a scene where the Ai Floral Truck Set (5511) would look like a little pop-up floral shop. So, let's begin by stamping the images from this set, as well as a few birds from the Ai Birds and Bugs Set (5561), and a pretty topiary from the Ai Front Porch Garden Set (5486). All of the coloring today will be done using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Yellow, Bright Yellow, Lt Pink, Peach Pink, Lilac, Lt Violet, Deep Red Grape, Deep Vermillion, Deep Red, Lt Gray, Gray, Cool Gray 6, Beige, Mid Brown, Haze Blue, Lt Blue, Cobalt Blue, Persian Green, Blue Gray, Dk Agate, Lt Green, Green.
To ground the scene, we will be stamping a pretty brick walk. Once the brick walk is stamped and colored, we can add a pretty sky by ink blending some orange and yellow inks!
Next, we can assemble the card, popping up some of the items for added interest and dimension. Don't forget to add those adorable little birds and bees! To layer up the card we will use some pretty polka dot paper from the Ai Easter S2 Paper Pack (5892).
We can also add some baker's twine and tie a bow at the top of the card! And as you probably already know, I have been trying to complete my cards by adding a sentiment and an interesting element to the inside of the card. For this card, I added a sentiment from the Ai Mrs. Set (5405) which says, "Wishing you every Bloomin' Thing!" and another cute flowerpot as well as a little bee!
Please check out the entire Front Porch Series for lots of little elements that can be incorporated into your scene cards and also the Rides Series which includes this floral truck as well as a Birthday Buggy, Christmas Truck, Spooky Wagon and some sweet add-ons!
Thank you so much for joining me today! Have a fun and crafty day!!!
Ai Front Porch Garden Set (5486)
Ai Easter S2 Paper Pack (5892)
Post-it Labeling and Cover-up Tape
Wink of Stella Glitter Pen - Clear
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Thank you Lynn for this amazing tutorial and gorgeous card.
I'm sure everyone will be inspired by your art.
Enter your crafty project below. The challenge isn't limited to cards.
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enterVillage Puzzle Maze by Dori Mendiola
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Sending a Little Laughter - Get Well Card - by Lynn Dionne
Happy Wednesday Ai Fans!!!
Watch video tutorial here!!!
Let's create a fun and funny get-well card using the Ai Get Well (SC0681) Stamp Set. This set has some great sentiments and images which will bring a smile to the face of someone who may be feeling a bit under the weather.
First, we can stamp the lady with the gigantic needle and the little pill bottles and color these using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in the following colors: Blender, Flesh Colour, Sugared Almond Pink, Peach Pink, Haze Blue, Lt Blue, Cobalt Blue, Turquoise Green, Lt Gray, Gray. Then we can cut these images out using your detail scissors.
For the front of the card, we will use some pretty polka dot paper from the Ai Mini Birthday Paper Pack (5873) and we will use some pink 100lb cardstock to frame the nurse.
Let's grab the Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies (5063) to die cut these papers, using the largest die. Now we can die cut the ovals from the front of each of these panels using the Ai Oval Double Stitched Dies (5065). I thought it would be fun to place these off the cardstock a little bit for a unique and whimsical look. I'll show you how to create that pink frame in today's video!
Before we assemble the card, let's create a standard A2 size card and add a bit of stenciling using a brick stencil and some light blue ink. This will help to set the scene a bit better.
Let's glue the two front panels together and then add some 3D foam tape and pop this up on our card. Now we can add our two sentiments for the front and inside of the card by die cutting a pretty stitched banner using the Ai Flag Double Stitched Dies (5133).
Let's add a bit of ink around the sentiment banners and attach these to the card. Now we can add the pill bottles with some small foam squares.
For a finishing touch, let's add some baker's twine and tie a knot. For added interest, we can fray the ends of the twine and trim away any excess!
Thank you so much for joining me today! Have a fun and crafty day!!!
Ai Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies (5063)
Ai Oval Double Stitched Dies (5065)
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Schoolhouse Matchbook Scene by Reneé Matarese
Hello everyone and happy Tuesday!
My package FINALLY arrived.
For some reason, it took a liking to N.J. and stayed there
far longer than it should have.
I was anxiously awaiting it to see if the new little Freebie
Structures would fit in the 5317 – MB Template Dies.
It turns out that they are scaled perfectly for them!
I'm so excited.
In case you're not aware, the freebies are available when you
spend $30 or more. You are able to select your choice of
the current freebies.
All of the papers on the inside are from 5873 – Mini Birthday Journal Paper Pack.
fit all of the 5889 – Village Vehicles and 5890 – Village Accessories.
Copics used:
Staedtler WC Pencils: 3, 80
Derwent Watercolour Pencils: Deep Cadmium 6, Geranium Lake 15,
Madder Carmine 19, Turquoise Green 40, Vandyke Brown 55
Monday, April 22, 2024
Friends are Flowers by Sharon Caudle
Hello AI Fans!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a great start to the new week! I have a card to show you today that features two new stamps from Art Impressions, #5798 Gardening Girlfriends and #5817 Potting Garden Shed Set. That adorable little sleeping pup is from #4959 WC Dogs Set. I stamped the images with Memento ink and colored them with Copic markers that are listed below. These beauties aren't just for water colors! I had so much fun creating this scene! It also fits into the Raining Cats and Dogs challenge as well as the Say it With Sentiments challenge, both of which are going on right now! Have you entered yet for your chance to win a free stamp set of your choice? Just click the appropriate tab up on the banner at the top of the page!
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Gardening Girlfriends Plant Sale Card and Village Mini Notebook by Diane Mason
Hello and welcome, Watercolor Weekend Fans!
Today I will be sharing a card and a fun mini notebook with you! The card is featuring the new Girlfriends Gardening Set – 5798. This new set has so many cute images and sentiments to create adorable cards and journals. The mini notebook features stamps from the new Freebies Village collection and the add-on sets. With a $30 or more purchase at artimpressions.com, you can select one Freebie stamp with your order. The three add-on sets include signage, accessories, and vehicles to enhance your scene. Let’s get started!
For stamping this image, I decided to try something new. Normally I would ink my stamp with 565 and 969, or I might use Versafine Onyx Black ink. I was concerned that some of the detailed lines of the stamp might get blended out using 565/969 and black ink seemed too harsh since I would be adding watercolor stamped images to the pots. I also wanted something that would look nice with the skin tones of the face, hands, and legs. So I inked my stamp with Ranger Archival Ink - Pebble Beach. This ink is waterproof, so it plays nice with watercolor. I would describe the ink color as light brown with a slight green undertone. To begin, I traced the inside of my rectangle die from 5724 – Nested Rectangle Dies with a pencil to define the boundaries of the painting. Using a MISTI stamp platform, I inked the Girlfriend stamp with Pebble Beach and stamped it onto Canson XL watercolor paper. I left room for the easel stamp from 5570 – Cottage & Easel Set (this gets stamped later). Since I didn’t use 565/969 to ink the stamps, I didn’t have any color to pull out of the lines for shading. So I mixed some 565 and 969 on my palette and used that to add shadows and dimension.
I used 912 to paint the Girlfriend’s face, hands/arm, and legs. For her cheeks, I mixed a little 856 with the 912. I painted her hair with 026 and shaded with 969. The lips, shirt, shoes, and hat band were all painted with 856. For her denim overalls, I used a No. 86 African Violet Marvy Le Plume II marker. I could have used 565, but sometimes I feel it looks too purple-ish. I used 947 for the clay pot. For the white tote bag/basket, I shaded the sides with 565 and painted in stripes with 403 and 177. Next, I brushed in the sky with a watery mix of 403, before adding any plants to the containers. For the flowers in the clay pot, I used the leaves and geraniums from 5825 – Geranium Set. I masked the hat so the plant would appear to be behind the hat. The leaves and stems were inked in 249 and the flower petals in 856. I added a touch of 173 to highlight the leaves. For the white striped container, I wanted the plants to look like bunches of herbs – basil, dill, and oregano. I masked the edge of the pot and the arm. For the basil leaves I used the leaves from 5795 – Berries set and inked them in 177. 173 was added for highlights. I then masked the basil leaves and stamped in some oregano using the squiggly tree leaves stamp from 5372 – WC Mini Foliage Set in 249. For the dill, I used the stem stamp from 5258 – WC Flower Set 4 inked in 249 and added tiny yellow dots (055) to the ends to resemble yellow seed heads. With the mask still in place on the basil leaves, I stamped the easel from 5570 with Pebble Beach ink. The wooden parts of the easel were painted with a combination of 977 and shaded with 969. I used 026 for the finial. I painted the sign with N45 to make it look like a chalkboard. I penciled in the writing and decorations and painted the details with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White and a #0 brush.
I brushed in a grassy area with a watery mix of 177. Once dry, I stamped in some tiny grass from 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1 and vines from 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 in 177. I stamped some branches in the top corners in 969/177 from 4964 – WC Branches Set and added leaves in 177 using the leafy vine from 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2. I then added red flowers to the branches, inking just two of the flower heads from 5258 in 856. To finish off the painting, I added dots of Bleed Proof White to the flower centers and the grassy area. I also added a shadow line under the hat brim to shade the Girlfriend’s face. I used a brown or gray TwinTone to darken any areas where the details needed to be refined.
The patterned papers for the card front are from 5832 – Gnome Paper Pack. The hello die-cut on the inside is from 5718 – Mini Journal Template set. I think she turned out pretty cute and I look forward to painting some of the other Girlfriends from this darling set. Now on to my next project…
Village Mini Notebook:
Thank you for joining me for another Watercolor Weekend! I hope you've enjoyed these creations. Until next time, Happy Painting!
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Spring Has Sprung in the Meadow by Janet
Thanks for stopping by today to see a different twist on the Windows To The World line. I hope it gives you some ideas of your own. Please visit the store to see all the things you need for your card, journal, and tag making projects. Have a GREAT Saturday!