A Retirement card featuring Art Impressions Pack Your Bags

 Hello AI Fans!

I've got a retirement card to show you today that features the fun stamp set #4932 Pack Your Bags. I stamped this overloaded retiree with a Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto some Copic friendly paper and then colored him up using the markers I listed below. I then cut him out using #5724 Nested Rectangle Die Set. Then sentiment came from #5187 Happy Trails Set.

I love the paper in 6072 Father's Day PP so much! The colors and designs of this paper are truly gorgeous! I used two different pieces for this card. The backpack print as the main piece, and then I used the second piece to cut out a scalloped mat behind the main image, just to add a little extra touch. 

So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today and I hope I was able to inspire you to create! Don't forget to grab your paper and glue and join in our current challenge! You still have a couple of days! Until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 11, 34, 70, 71, and 74

G40 and 43

R20, 21, and 22

BG70, 72, 75, and 90

T1, 2, and 3

B00

Company is here! featuring Art Impressions Gardener Gail

 Hello AI Fans!

Our new Bi-weekly challenge "When one door closes" is going strong and if you haven't looked at all the DT and GDT creations, I really urge you to do so! They always blow me away with their talent!! We were even blessed to have Debbie Hedges join us as a Guest Designer this month!!  So please do yourself a favor and scroll through the blog to look at all the amazing works of art!

 So.... I'm going to make a big confession here. I have had this screen door die for probably almost 15 years and I have NEVER used it. When I saw the theme of this challenge I decided it was finally time. I grabbed 6076 Gardener Gail and went to work. I used quite a few sets from Art Impressions to create this, and they're all linked below.  I wanted the door to actually open on the front of the card, so I found some miniature hinges on Amazon and the tiny brads from Art Impressions are the PERFECT size for them! Don't you think? I used a larger brad for the inside and outside doorknob.  I simply spread the tines all the way out and glued them in place. The screen in the door actually came with the die and is sandwiched between several layers of the die cuts. The die was made by Cheery Lynn Designs if you want to try and find one. I doubt it is still manufactured after all these years, but I would be surprised if there isn't some kind of substitute die you could use. 

 I wanted it to look like the inside of the house of the front and to be able to see Gail through the screen door. I took just a strip of the paper from 6072 Father's Day PP to use as the floor.  I just needed a small strip, so I actually just cut it out of the back cover of the paper. That way I didn't have to cut into a full sheet for a small strip! Don't overlook using both the front and back cover pieces in the paper packs! I then added a small strip of white cardstock to look like the baseboard. 

I used the fishtail banner from 5809 Decorative Journal Page 2 to cut out the sentiment and pop it up on the top of the door.  I had to make sure to watch where I glued it so the door would still open. Here's a picture with the door open.  

And finally the inside of the card when it's fully opened. 

I used plants from 5490 Front Porch Farm House to place next to the door. For behind Gail, I cut a couple fences using 5807 Journal Fence Dies and pieced them together. The branch came from 5346 Birdhouse Cubbies Set and the bee and birdhouse from 5925 Honey Bee Set. I tied the birdhouse to the branch with a piece of twine and just let it dangle freely. I thought that was just a fun touch. So that's it for me today! Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit and until next time - stay crafty!!

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 04, 11, 33, 35, 37, 51, 53, 55, 95, 97, and 99

W0, 2, 3, 4, and 5

G40, 43, and 46

C1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

YG00, 13, 17, and 67

Y15, 17, 18, 32, 35, and 38

R02, 12, 81, 83, and 85

B00, 91, 93, and 95

My first fall call this year featuring Art Impressions

 Hello AI Fans!

I know we are still into full blown summer, but the season is definitely starting to change. The leaves on the trees have already started to change and September is right around the corner! So I've created my first fall card of the season. I started out by stamping the adorable scarecrow from #5594 Harvest Scarecrow set onto a Copic friendly cardstock. After coloring him up, I cut him out using #6046 Scalloped Oval Dies and then matted that with one of the larger dies in brown. I wanted to see him from the front, but I wanted to place him on the inside of the card. So using #5770 Farm FB Set, I cut a hole through all three layers on the top of my card and then added the fence frame on both the front and then again on the inside. 

All of the pieces that are on the front of the card came from #5598 Harvest Set and #5592 Harvest Journal Die Set. The gorgeous paper is from #5973 Fall S2 PP. 

I also used one of those hay bales to prop up the scarecrow.

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

Copic markers used:

E13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 31, 33, 35, 40, 42, 43, 47, 51, 53, 55, and 97

YR01, 02, 12, 14, 23, and 31

R12, 32, 35, and 37

YG61, 91, 93, and 97

C1, 2, and 3

Y32

Vacation Vibes featuring Art Impressions Cruisin' Carol

 Hello AI Fans!

I know I probably sound like a broken record, but oh my gosh...I can't believe August is more than half way through! To me it feels like summer has just begun but the kids are already back in school! Wow! My card I'm showing you today fits right in with the current challenge "Sports and Leisure". I'm featuring #6075 Cruisin' Carol.  I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo black ink onto a Copic friendly cardstock and then colored her with the markers listed below. Do you love staycations as much as I do? Carol is definitely on a staycation in her own backyard in this card! That's me...give me a cocktail and my awesome patio, and I'm in heaven just relaxing in my chair! This was so easy to make! I just inked a cloudy summer sky using a stencil and then added a strip of die cut grass. Unfortunately, my fence kind of blends into the sky, I should have used a different color of cardstock instead of white. 

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

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 04, 11, 33, 50, and 53

R01, 02, 35, 81, 83, and 85

B000 and 00

BG11, 13, 15, 45, and 49

YG13 and 17

Interactive Pickleball game featuring Pickleball Patty from Art Impressions

 Hello AI Fans!

I'm super excited to be able to introduce you to our brand new Challenge #410 - Sports and Leisure!! The recently released AI People are all perfect for this challenge!! And actually so are a LOT of other Art Impressions Stamp Sets. But I chose to use the beautiful #6074 Pickleball Patty along with her twin sister Peggy!! LOL! I created Peggy by stamping a reverse image of Patty. Before stamping, I removed the ink from the ball. After stamping, I just used one of my Copic multiliner pens to finish the lines of the paddle. I'll tell you a little tidbit about Patty and Peggy, they actually believe that Serena and Venus doesn't hold a candle to their own sportsmanship and talent! There's nothing better than a confident and kind woman!! 😁 I'll be very honest, this one took me a few (cough, cough)  hours of my brain power and gluing talent. There were quite a few "rip it off and start this one again" moments. But I must admit that I love how it turned out.  I knew the type of card I wanted to make, but wasn't quite sure how I was going to go about getting it. So that's a big reason for all the trial and error. The first thing I knew I wanted to do was make a center stairstep card. If you would like to know the dimensions of the cuts and folds, just ask. I'll be happy to supply them. 💛 Please just message me an email for a reply.  

I'll start you out with a picture of the finished card, and then I will break down the process for you. There is a pull tab that will pull Peggy (the one on the far left in the yellow cap) across the front of the card so it looks like (with a little imagination that is) that she is running up to the net in defense. At least that was my goal. LOL! 

In the image below, you can see the center stairstep card after I'd added some decorative paper and the net across the center opening. To make the net, I simply ordered some netting material from Amazon and then cut a strip about the width I was looking to make the net. I then cut two strips of paper 1/2" wide and 6" long and scored it down the center at 1/4". I simply folded over at the score and added a healthy amount of Art Glitter Glue, pressed the netting up into it keeping it fairly straight, and then put a heavy weight on it until it dried. I used a heavy weight cardstock for it as I wanted it to be nice and sturdy.  Once that  side is fully dried, do the exact same to the bottom of the net. The slide channel that is cut at the bottom of the card front is the part of the mechanism that will allow Peggy to run across the front of the card. It is hidden by the green grass panel that is popped up in order to give the mechanism the room to work. 

Peggy is attached to the pull tab by using a strong piece of acetate. 

Patty is getting ready to slam one over to Peggy! LOL! 

Peggy is sensing what Patty is about to do, so she's ready to move over to the other side of the court to be ready!  I added a tree and fence die cut to both sides of the stairstep card. 

And there she goes!! 

Now I did find that with all the weight that was added to this card, it did not want to stand up straight. So I came up with an easy fix for that.  I decided about how far I wanted the card to spread out and measured the distance. I figured I wanted a two inch spread about half way down the card. So I cut two pieces of heavy weight cardstock four inches long. I scored it at 1", 2" and 3". So fold it as mountain, valley, and mountain. Burnish your folds, then glue them inside the card where you want them. These pieces will fold flat with the rest of the card, but it also keeps the card from splatting flat on the table. 

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

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 04, 11, 17, 33, 97, and 99

BV000, 01, 02, and 04

RV32 and 34

Y26, 32, 35, and 38

G24

T1, 2, 4, and 6

R02 and 20

Swinging Through Retirement featuring Art Impressions Stamps and dies

 Hello AI Fans!!

I sure hope you're enjoying your summer! The weather here has been remarkable and I have truly loved sitting outside and enjoying the breezes!! The card I've got for you today is for those golfers we have in our lives. I am very recently retired, so I am just getting to realize the joy that comes with it. I will say though, that the days just seem to fly by!! Nothing like when I was working and the work day seemed to be two days long! LOL!  I used one of the brand new AI People #6080 Birdie Betty!! I can't even begin to tell you how much I ADORE Bonnie's characters!! She amazes me with her talent! I am having soooo much fun coloring up these beauties!!  I stamped her onto a Copic friendly paper and then colored her up with the markers I've listed for you below. I then cut her out using #5727 Nested oval dies and then matted that with #6046 Scalloped Oval Dies.  The sentiment was stamped onto white cardstock cut out using #6045 Scalloped Circled Dies and then mounted onto a mat cut with the same set. I added the striped panel matted with a piece trimmed using the scalloped edge die from #5543 Journal Template Die Set. I almost forgot to let you know that I used #5955 Encouragement PP. Isn't this paper just gorgeous??!! 

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

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 02, 04, 11, 13, 53, 55, and 57

BV000, 00, 01, 02, and 04

BG13, 15, and 18

R20

Y26

V04

C1, 2, and 3

N2, 3, and 6

Lie about my age?? NEVER! :) featuring Art Impressions stamps and dies

 Hello AI Fans!!

Ok, who is really honest about how old they are? I must admit, I am. LOL! I've earned every one of my gray hairs in my 68 years on this earth and I'm proud to say it.  I love Bonnie's funny stamps and sentiments and used a great one for my card I'm showing you today. It also happens to fit right into the new challenge Stitches and Scallops! I started with #5114 Never Too Old set from Art Impressions Laugh Lines. After stamping her with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I colored her with Copic markers which I've listed for you below. At the end of this post, you will find a list of links to the products I used to create the card. It's kind of hard to see, but I swirled my Copic blending pen around on her dress to try and make it look like a brocade. I just thought she looks like she would wear a brocade dress. :) 

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

Copic markers used:

E000, 00, 11, 21, and 23

B00, 93, 95, 97, and 99

R02, 20, 81, 83, and 85

YG61 and 63

W3, 4, and 5

Art Impressions new Corner Bookmark Die Set

 Hello AI Fans!

If you haven't seen the new Corner Bookmark Die set from Art Impressions, I think you're in for a real treat!! These are so beautiful and look amazing when you slip it into your book to mark your page. Just grab a few pages in your book and slip it right over the corner.  They go together so easily and I think they make a big impression when you see them. They're beautiful either painted with your water colors or with Copic markers as these are. I just had fun and chose some cute images from the Mushroom Cubbies to use on this batch.  But I really love the one I made just using the flower dies that come with the Bookmark Set. I think a set of these would be a perfect gift for that book lover in your life!! 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today and until next time - stay crafty!!

Rusty Bucket of Flowers featuring Art Impressions

 Hello AI Fans!!

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend and a safe and happy 4th of July if you celebrate! So, who doesn't love old rusty buckets, daisies, and gnomes?! LOL! I created a cute summer scene for you today using several different sets from Art Impressions. I started out using the bucket from 5597 Harvest Wheelbarrow Set. When I stamped it onto my Copic friendly paper, I also stamped another one onto masking paper. After applying the mask, I stamped one set of the daisies from 5918 Floral Long Stem Bouquet Set and also created a mask for that stamp.  That allowed me to stamp another set of them on the other side of the bucket to fill it up. Have you seen the new Winsor & Newton Gold Paint that Art Impressions is carrying now? Gorgeous and so easy to use! I grabbed it and a butterfly from 5981 My Joy Set. I messed one of them up (sad face), but I still love the way they look! I also added the paint to the centers of the flowers, the leaves, and the belt and button on one of the gnomes! I love the glimmer it added to the card! 

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

Hello card featuring Art Impressions Dies

 Hello AI Fans!! 

Today I have a card to show you where I didn't touch a single Copic marker! A highly unusual circumstance for me LOL!! I created it using several die sets from Art Impressions and some of their beautiful paper. There are no stamped images, but there is lots of dimension. For the flowers, bee, and ladybug, I used #6041 Flower and Bug Dies. I just cut the flower out of two different complimentary papers for each individual flower and offset them. The fence is from using #5807 Journal Fence Dies. I cut three of them since two didn't quite fit all the way across my paper. So I cut the center plank out of the third die cut leaving the cross planks attached to it and glued it in between the other two fences, right in the center of the card. The "Hello" die cut is from #5408 Shadowbox Window Die. This die works perfectly with all the Windows to the World stamp sets! 

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