Friendship Birds from Art Impressions

 Hello Ai fans!

Today I'm sharing two bird cards with you.
They're very similar but I did one in the portrait layout
and one in landscape. I also changed up the sentiments
and border color.

I used both the new 5937 – My Trust Set and 5936 – My Hope Set.

The sentiments are both from 5734 – Friend Sentiment Set.

The dies and paper are all linked below.

There are so many beautiful images in these two

stamp sets. I love them both!

Copics used:

RV13, RV14, RV52B02, B91,
E13, W1, YR23, Y13, V09

So Thankful

 Hey everyone!

Are you enjoying the Birds of a Feather challenge as much as I am?

I love all of the beautiful cards I've seen entered so far.

Where I live we have a bird called the Great Blue Heron. The only bird with 
a larger wing span where I live is the Bald Eagle. The heron is large, beautiful
and majestic. I have loved them since I was a little girl.

I was inspired by Kim's new KH5820 – My Favorite Birds Set. I am NOT a watercolor artist,

but for this card I wanted to give it a try. I used a #4 brush and a combination of WC pencils, Marvy markers, Tombow markers and Twin Tone markers.

I used two Ai die sets and the 5734 – Friend Sentiment Set. I'll link them all below.

WC Pencils:

Staedtler
50, 80

Derwent
6 Deep Cadmium, 30 Kingfisher Blue, 40 Turquoise Green

Twin Tone Markers:

Green, Gray

Marvy Markers:
45 Sepia, 99 Periwinkle

Tombow Markers:

N65, 158, 312, 528

It's Raining Cats and Dogs Challenge at Art Impressions

 Hello Ai fans!

Welcome to the newest challenge on the Art Impressions blog.

This time It's Raining Cats and Dogs!!

No rain necessary. We get enough of that where I live.

Just use Cats and/or Dogs on your project. 

Who doesn't love animals?

For my feature, I have a dog "spinner" type card.

These are super simple to make and I have a little picture tutorial for you.
I began by cutting an opening with the largest plain oval from the 5588 Journal Oval frames. It easily cut through the card base, colored cardstock and designer paper.

Next, I cut the scalloped frame from the same set
and pierced a hole to put my safety pin through.

I used the smaller oval from that set to cut a matte for the adorable 5780 FB Sitting Dog.
You'll see his backside in just a bit.

I added a sentiment from 5734 Friend Sentiment set that I stamped on a 

die from 5543 Journal Template Die set. On the bottom, I added a bow from 

5811 Gift Card Pocket Dies.

As promised, here's his cute little backside.

I used some of the oval "scraps" from the other pieces I cut to create a frame for the 

inside of the card and added another sentiment.

I also used a streamer from 5592 Harvest Journal Die set simply

because I think it's so cute!

I hope you'll join our It's Raining Cats and Dogs challenge!

Copics used:

N1, T5, RV91

Hydrangea Chickadee from Art Impressions

Hello and happy Friday!

This is something I've been wanting to try for a while now.

I stamped some images and then shaded them with a simple #2 pencil to create depth.

My card was created for the Art Impressions You're a Gem challenge.

This GORGEOUS new bow is a new release from Art Impressions.

All Ai products are linked below except for the sweet chickadee because he's a retired freebie.

Cabin on a lake from Art Impressions

 Hello Ai fans!

For 20 years my family and I rented cottages on the lake where my husband grew up.  I've spent many hours (and miles and miles) walking around that lake and putting my toes in the water at the end of the dock.  Sadly, everyone we used to rent from sold their cottages and new owners didn't want to rent.  There are other lakes, but they don't have the same meaning as this one did. It's the end of an era.

My card took me back to the summer before COVID which was the last time we rented. (Just a coincidence)

I use the 5726 – Nested Circle Dies to cut a figure 8 shape out of the front panel and then I cut two circles and pieced them together to make a frame for the window.  The sentiments are from 5734 – Friend Sentiment Set.

For the images, I combined three different sets.  I wanted to feel like I was sitting on the dock, watching the sailboats go by and looking at the beautiful cottages across the lake.

4981 – Cabin Circlet MTF
5093 – Dock Circlet MTF
5448 – Sailboat Window Set

You might be thinking,  but Reneé, the Dock Circlet had a cabin in it.  Why did you use the one from the Cabin Circlet?  It's because that one looks much more like the one we used to rent and some others on that lake.

Random fact...it was 5:26 when I glanced at the clock while coloring the sailboat.  Thus, the addition of 526 on the sail.  The ropes/twine were added to give some texture and a bit of a nautical look.

Markers used:

TT Peach Pink

Copics:

N1, T3, E35, E3, E55, YG63, YG67,
 B14, B41, B93, YG00

Friends Forever from Art Impressions

 Hello Ai fans!

I have a card today that I made for the Emboss Like a BOSS! challenge
here on the Art Impressions blog.

On the front of my card I used:
5425 – WC Peeking Animals
5721 – Nested Heart Dies

5724 – Nested Rectangle Dies

5734 – Friend Sentiment Set

5742 – Easter Journal Paper Pack

On the inside I used several of the same sets as well as
a couple of dies from 5543 – Journal Template Die Set.

I love decorating the inside of my cards and do so almost every time.

My embossing powder worked far better on the inside than it
did on the front of my card. I'm not sure if it was because it was a
chunkier sentiment?  I'm also really out of practice.

I have so many powder colors and really need to start using
them more.  It's such a pretty effect on cards.  I'll always be partial to
the embossing folders but both make wonderful

additions to your cards and crafty projects!

Be sure to enter your project for a chance to win a free stamp set!

Emboss like a BOSS!

Copics used:

T3, C4, W2, E02

You brighten my day from Art Impressions

 Happy Father's Day Ai fans!

I don't have a Father's Day card for you this time.

I've been swamped lately and needed to create some thank you cards for end of year school gifts.

I kept them small and simple because time means EVERYTHING right now!

Some of the journal dies were just perfect for this compact little card.
I think it measured about 1 1/2" x 2 1/2."

One friend gave me this adorable hexagon bee plaque.

It proudly lives on my mantle now.

I also received some bee socks and a Dunkin' GC.

My friend Holly who owns Clay All Day made me these as a special gift.

She has a Facebook page if you're interested.  She does ship and has  "3 for" deal I believe.

All of these wonderful people brightened my day!

I used Y18 to color the bees.