Furry Friends

 Hello AI Friends!

Welcome to our new challenge #435 called "Furry Friends".  I chose the #5400 - Baby Critters set to feature for this challenge.  I used every one of the images since they are all SO cute.  I couldn't pick so why not use them all!  I also decided to make it a triple tunnel card so the animals could sit on display in each panel.

First, I stamped all of the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  Using the corresponding dies, I die cut each of the colored images out. 

With plain cardstock, I also die cut a second one of each image.  I like to layer the plain die cut behind the colored one for stability and extra dimension.

Now that the images are colored, it's time to create the tunnel card.

Using heavy cardstock, I cut one panel at 5" x 10" and scored in half along long side (5" mark).  I also cut another panel at 5" x 5 1/2" and scored at the 5" mark along the longer side leaving a 1/2" tab.  I layered a piece of pattern paper (cut at 4 7/8" square) over the top of the smaller panel leaving the 1/2" blank (see Pic 1).  I cut the same size of a second piece of pattern paper and adhered to the right of the fold on the double panel (see Pic 2).

Any shape die will work but I took a partial circle die (from my stash) and placed it in the center of the smaller panel (Pic 1) and ran it through my die cut machine.  I then lined this page up with the second panel and die cut the partial circle out of that panel. 

             Pic 1

               Pic 2

Now we can adhere the two panels together by gluing the 1/2" tab inside the double panel to create the triple panel card.

To finish up this card, I placed another piece of pattern paper to the inside of the back panel and also created frames around the partial circle openings.  I then adhered the animals on the panels making sure that they don't overlap each other when looking thru the windows.

And here is the final card again.

I hope you enjoy my card and it gives you inspiration to join in on the challenge.  Any animal will work for the challenge so grab a stamp set and play along for a chance to win a free stamp set.  Look forward to seeing your creations!  

Have a Happy Day!

Copics used:  N0, N1, N3, N5

E21, E23, E50, E51, E53, E55, E57

Y13, Y15, Y17, Y21

G40, G43, G46

R20, R22, R24, R27

B0000, B00, B12, B14

4th of July Granny

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

In celebration of our freedom and this wonderful country we call home, I had to create one more card for this fabulous U.S. holiday. Thank you to all the brave service men and women who have fought for our country.  Your courage and sacrifice mean everything.  

Happy Independence Day to All!

This Granny is excited to be celebrating!  She's a rockin in her chair!

I placed her on a round card base, so she literally rocks.  LOL!

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers, listed below.  The accessories were die cut with the corresponding dies from the #5494 - Front Porch Patriotic set but the Granny was fussy cut.  I also paper pieced her outfit using the #6090 - Patriotic PP.  This paper pack is SO full of beautiful papers in the Red, White and Blue.  

I placed the flag into her hand and curled her fingers around the pole so that she looked like she was waving it.  Just make sure to color the backside of her hand.  😀  I popped her up onto a white circle,

 cut with the #5064 - Double Stitched Circle dies.  I also popped up several of the accessories.

I die cut the numbers out of red cardstock using the #5911 - Large Numbers dies.  The sentiment is from the same set as the Granny (#5422 - Rock on Laugh Lines).

That's it for me today!  Hope you all have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

Keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E01, E11

E31, E33, E35, E51, E53

R20, R24, R27, R29

N0, N1, N2    B34    Y15, Y17

Bunny Birthday card

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

The color yellow is the theme for the current blog challenge, and honestly, it’s hard not to smile when working with such a bright, happy shade.  I decided to turn that sunshine into a birthday greeting, by using the #4886K - Easter Blessings stamp set.  Even though it’s themed for Easter, it’s wonderfully versatile and perfect for spreading a little extra joy.

                                          

I started by stamping the image onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I used the #5061- Square Double Stitched die to frame the image and matted it onto a yellow piece of cardstock.  The pattern paper background is from the #6205 - Floral Shop PP.  This paper pack has the most beautiful colors and patterns.  I used the #5132 - Tag Stitched die and partial cut the sentiment.  To finish the card, I tied a yellow ribbon around the matted frame and adhered it to the A2 card base.

Pretty simple card for today but so bright and cheery!  

 Keep creating and make sure to enter the blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.

Hope you have a nice day! 

Copics used:  N0, N1,   R20,   B000

 Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17

G40, G43, G46

Hunter's Surprise Card

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I had way too much fun making this card for the "Feeling Crafty" blog challenge.  I just love this image from the #5043 - Ole Buck set.  These guys are a "hoot", so adding a little bit of extra humor just fit.  Well, actually, their pup is the one that added the humor.  Check out the pull tab and see who's wearing the deer horns.  😄  I'm not really sure why I found this so funny, maybe it's because what hunter hasn't had their dog run off during a hunt.  This one just decided to disguise himself.  LOL!

Peek a Boo!                                                                                     

    This is a gate fold 5" x 7" card with a magnetic closure under the left panel and a pocket on the right panel.   I made the card base by cutting two 5" x 11" panels, one from white cardstock and one from craft cardstock.  I scored and burnished both at 7".   Flip the cardstock pieces so that the folds are on opposite sides facing up.  Adhere the long craft cardstock panel to the inside of the long white cardstock panel.  This will leave a gate fold craft piece on the left and the white on the right.  Trim the white side down to 3 1/2".  Cut a piece of 3 1/2 x 5" craft paper and a piece of 3 3/8 x 4 7/8" pattern paper.  Using the middle square of the #5061 - Square Double Stitch dies, cut a piece out of the center of the pattern paper panel.  Using the #5811 - Gift card pocket die, partial die cut the pocket (see pic below) using craft cardstock.  Adhere the pattern paper square to the front of the pocket.  

Adhere the pattern paper with the hole in it to the 3 1/2" x 5" craft panel.  Adhere this panel over the white fold edge of the card base.  Adhere the pocket over the square hole on the pattern paper panel.  

The images were stamped onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with copic markers listed below.  The main image was cut with the largest die of the square stitched dies and mounted onto a piece of pattern paper and then matted onto a piece of craft cardstock.  The hat with deer horns is from the #5406 - Mr. Set and the dog is from the #AICS38 - Doggy Kisses set.  I fussy cut the dog and brought his tail end closer to his front end.  I colored his bandage as a sweater and made the flowers look more like a weed since he is out in the hills.  The hat was cut with the corresponding die and fit perfectly on his head.  I placed the dog onto the pocket insert so that only the horns peeked out of the pocket.  I tied a pull tab with the target onto the horns.  I added a couple of the sentiments from the #5043 - Ole Buck set and called it done.

 Hope you decide to enter the blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  

Thanks for joining me today!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E11

E30, E31, E33, E35, E41, E43, E44, E47

E95, E97         R20

BG90, BG93, BG96

B91, B93, B95, B97

YG91, YG93, YG95

Ride the Wave Pup Card

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have two cards for you that both fit the Round and Round Challenge.  The first one is an interactive rocking card and the second is more to show you how many ways you can use your dies and stamps, just add some imagination.  

Let's start with the rocking pup:

I used the Pup floating in the inner tube from the #4900 - Reel Great Guys stamp set along with the beach toys from the #5509 - Beach Accessories stamp set.

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored them with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut the beach toys with the corresponding dies and fussy cut the pup in the inner tube.  I cut off the water beneath the tube since I was making my own water. 

I cut a 5 1/2" circle out of heavy weight cardstock and scored in half to make the base.  I then cut waves with dies I had in my stash.  I positioned the blue waves together and taped the back side.  I die cut these layers with the same round die, lining up the halfway mark of the circle die to the top wave.  I also placed a smaller circle over the waves for the middle circle panel.  I die cut a sand layer using the bottom edge of the circle die.  I glued the outer layers together onto the circle base card. 

To create the middle circle and the mechanism for the pup to rock, I cut a white base panel with the circle die that is just larger than the one used to cut the middle of the waves.  I cut the cloud panel from the smaller circle die used to cut the inner waves.  I punched a dime size hole in the darkest wave and cut two larger circles (approx. 1") from scrap white cardstock, making sure they will be hidden under the pup.  Adhere one of these scrap circles to one side of a pop dot and feed the dot into the hole from the back side of the wave.  Adhere the other scrap circle to the top of the pop dot and then glue the pup onto that disc, hiding it under the pup.  Place foam tape onto the back side of the darker wave, making sure that you don't hinder the disc from moving.  Adhere this layer to the white/cloud panel, matching up the waves to the circle base.  Test it out and see if your pup rocks.  Place foam tape to the next layer, again making sure that it doesn't hinder the pup.  Adhere to the white/cloud panel, matching up to the outer waves.  The lighter blue waves are adhered directly onto the middle blue layer.  Adhere your wave bubbles to the base card and then adhere the white scene panel to the base.  Add your beach accessories, sun and sentiment.  Your card should rock and so should your pup.  See the video below.

Baseball card

This next card was made for my grandson's birthday.  He loves baseball.  

I used the #5054 - WC Little Boys stamp set and flipped him by stamping a mirror image.  I wanted him to be right handed.  😂  To create a mirror image, I stamped him onto a silicone embossing mat that came with my die cutting machine and then placed my white copic friendly paper over the top and pressed.  The image is just as clear as the original stamp.  

  I used the #5510 - Sports Accessories for the cap, bat and ball.  For the ball in his hand, I used a hole punch and a marker to draw the stitches.  

Okay, now for the crazy part, can you guess which die sets I used for the stitches on the larger baseball? 

I should have made this a contest to see if anyone could guess OR maybe I'm not as creative as I think I am.  😂😃  Probably the latter, but I wanted to show you that you can use your dies in soooo many different ways.

First of all, I used the 5064 - Double Stitch circle die for the baseball.  Then for the half circles, I used two of the #5726 - Nested Circle dies together to create the thin circle frame.  Lastly, I used the eyes/brows from the #5339 - Santa and the #5340 - Snowman GCH for the red stitches on the ball.

Now, would it have been easier to draw the ball, probably, but I can't draw.  😂

Well, there you have it!  Thanks for joining me today.  I hope you create something fun for the Round and Round challenge and enter for a chance to win a free stamp set.  We love to see your creations!

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  Pup - N0, N1,  B0000

                                                 E21, E23, E50, E51, E53  

                                                             B21, B24,   YG21, YG23, YG25  

                                                      Baseball - E00, E01, E11, E51, E53, E55

                                                                      T0, T2, T4   R22, R24,    Y23 

                                               B21, B23, B24 

Nurse's Prescription

Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have a fun card using the #4899 - Proud Nurse stamp set.  A friend of mine is a nurse and I knew she would appreciate this birthday card and the funny sentiment included in this stamp set.  She may use that line for some of her patients.  LOL!

I made this a fun fold card using a magnet for the closure.  I hid it under the paper layers so you only hear the snap when it closes.  What is it about that sound that makes it so fun to open and close the card?  😂

To make the card base, I cut a piece of 5 1/2" x 7 1/4" heavy cardstock.  I scored it along the 7 1/4" side at 3" and 6".  This will make it an A2 card size.  Fold and burnish each score line in opposite directions.  Create your mat panels for each of the sections.   I used the #5873 - Mini Birthday PP for the pattern paper panels.    

For the front panel, I stamped the image onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then die cut the panel using the #6048 - Scalloped Rectangle dies as well as the larger pink panel.  The blue panel in the middle is cut to fit between the two scallop rectangles.   I adhered the matted image panel to the folded right side only of the card.  The left side of the card will close under the image panel.

The sentiment on the left side of the card is from my stash.   I figured that went perfectly with the front sentiment, plus I got to include myself in on the wine splurge.  LOL!

Thanks for joining me today!  Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E01, E11, E21, E23

C00, C1, C3,  Y12

R20, R81, R83, R85

B000, B12, B14

Birthday Wishes

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

My card today was inspired by the current blog challenge called "It's in the Mail".   I took this challenge literally and combed through all of my stamp sets to locate the perfect mailbox to go with this lady from the #5114 - Never Too Old Laugh Lines.  I found the mailbox in the #5930 - Santa's Workshop stamp set.  

I needed to make a birthday card for my sister and I just think this lady is hilarious.  My sister didn't find her nearly as funny until I told her the lady was representing me mailing her card not her receiving it.  😂

Maybe I should add a wink wink here too.  LOL! 

Anyway, back to the card.  I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then cut each out with the corresponding dies.  

I decided to make it a fun fold easel card by cutting a 4 1/4" x 9 3/4" piece of cardstock.  I scored it along the long side at 1 1/4, flipped the cardstock over and scored it at 5 1/2" keeping the other score line to your left.  Fold and burnish the score lines in opposite directions.   

I cut orange cardstock pieces to fit each of the scored sections and also adhered a piece of pattern paper to fit nicely on each of the orange mats.

Die cut two ovals with the #5065 - Oval Double Stitch dies.  One in pattern paper and the other in textured white.  For the base oval, I used the #5727 - Nested Oval dies.  Glue those three ovals together and adhere the top edge only to the 1 1/4" folded edge.  When opened, the oval piece will stand up on the bottom layer.  I added the colored images to this panel using foam dots for dimension.

To finish, I stamped the sentiment from the #5735 - Birthday Sentiments and partial die cut using the #5062 Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitch die.  I added an oval piece of white cardstock to the inside of the card (behind the image panel) for my birthday message and a few purple embellishments to the corners.

Well, that's my card for today.  Thanks for joining me!  

Hope you have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E11, R20, R24

C00, C1, C3, C5

V12, V15, V17

BG10, BG23, BG53

G40, G43, G46

Y11, Y13, Y32, Y35, Y38

No. 1 Book and Gnome Bookmark

 Happy New Year AI Friends!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and are ready for the New Year!

 Can't wait to see all the fabulous creations from Bonnie and Kim.  I have no doubt that they will have lots of fun products for us again this year!

I'm starting off the New Year using #6114 - Box Village Template dies from the Holiday Lane series.  

I slightly changed the book cover to make it look like a number 1 for my granddaughter's first birthday.  Hope it's clear for you to see - made with the #5940 Journal Cover Paper Pack - Purple Plaid paper.  

I used #5873 - Mini Birthday Journal Paper pack for the inside of the book.  The inside contains pictures, pockets, notes and details from her first year and as much as I would love to show her off, my daughter asked that I didn't, so, unfortunately I don't have many pages to show.  However, my main purpose in showing this book was to emphasize how you can make slight changes to extend the die sets to fit your occasion.  Let your mind go!  Mine sometimes goes in odd directions but it's fun to see what can be created.  LOL!   

  Her birthday was S'mores themed so I created a S'mores with a square die from the #5725 Nested square dies set and the #5407 Birthday Cake GCH frosting die.  The graham cracker part was cut in rectangle shape and rounded the corners with a corner punch.  I inked the edges, stamped a cute little face on it and added a bow.  The sentiment tag is from the #6121 Storybook template.

Gnome Bookmark:  Another slight alteration of dies - here's a bookmark I made into a Gnome using the #5931 Santa Puppet die set.  The only real change that I made was that I added an additional beard layer by partial die cutting to make it slightly smaller so that it fit on top of the bottom one.  Then the nose fit nicely in between the top beard layer and the rim of his cap.  I omitted the brows, mustache and eyes.  Since he isn't a Santa, I also omitted the belt and fur parts of his outfit.  I die cut his outfit using the #5832 Gnome PP.  This paper choice made him look like he was wearing PJs so I added a cookie and coffee mug (from my stash) in his hands.  I placed him onto a bookmark made with the #5223 - Bookmark die.  He actually resembled me after Christmas.  I was a complete couch potato with my PJs on and my coffee mug in hand.  Life is good! 

Welcome to 2026 and another fun year with Art Impressions. 

Thanks for joining me today!  

Have a great day and keep creating!

Loungin' Linda Bday

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I know I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again.  These new AI ladies are a HOOT!

I made this card for a friend of mine and, yes, she will always be older than me so I'm going to rub it in when I can.  😁  But, I can say with sadness, she doesn't look older! 😛

I stamped the images on copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.   I used the 6077 - Loungin' Linda stamp set along with the 5509 - Beach Accessories stamp set (handbag).

I also used the 5873 Mini Birthday PP and the 5132 - Tag Stitched dies.  The sentiment, balloons and scallop stitch edges are from my stash.

Hope you have a wonderful day!  Keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E01, E11

C0, C1, C3, C5, C7

R20, R22, R24

Y13, Y15, V20, V22, V25

BG10, B0000, B000, B12, B14

Hedgehog Tuck Flap Card

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

We have a new blog challenge currently going on called "Let Them Eat Cake".  Any card, project with cakes or cupcakes, etc.   I decided to make a cute little Hedgehog Tuck Flap card using the #5112 - Hedgehogs set with the cake from the #4980 - Birthday Circlet MTF and the presents from the #5491 - Front Porch Party set as accents. 

I stamped all of the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  The hedgehog was stamped onto a 3.5 inch square.  The other images are cut using the dies, so can be stamped onto any size paper.  

I die cut the cake and balloons with the corresponding die (#4980 Birthday Circlet) and then fussy cut the portion that wasn't cut out with the die.  The presents (#5491 - Front Porch Party) were cut with the dies included in that set.  I mounted each of those onto a white circle die cut and then layered onto a blue circle die cut.  I cut two corner bookmarks using the new #6042 - Corner Bookmark dies.  I assembled the bookmarks and adhered the circle die cuts onto each of the fronts of the bookmarks. 

For the card base and fold, I cut a top folding A2 card size 4.25 by 8.25 inches and scored at 5.5 inches.  This will leave a 2.75 inch flap for the front.  Using the #6011 - Basic Teal PP, cut two pieces (front -

2.5 x 4 inch and the inside - 5.25 x 4) to be layered onto blue cardstock.  Place the corner bookmarks over the bottom edges of the inside layer and adhere this layer to the inside of the card base.  This will glue the bookmarks to the inside of the card and leave the back of the card white.  Mount the hedgehog image onto blue cardstock.  Place glue onto the backside of the top half only and adhere to the front flap of the card base.  Add the sentiment from the Hedgehog set and die cut with the #6046 - Scallop Oval dies with a blue layer cut from the #5065 - Nested Oval dies.

Create an easel with the #5902 - Mini Scallop Frame die and glue to the back of the card base.  Tuck the hedgehog image piece inside the bookmark edges and you have a Tuck Flap card that stands on display, thanks to the easel.

Hope you join us in this "Let Them Eat Cake" challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  We LOVE to see your creations!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and keep creating!

Copics used:  E01, E02, E11, E21, E23, E25

R20, N0, N1, N2

B000, B00, B01, B02

Y13, Y15, Y17, Y21

YG21, YG23, YG25 

Group Selfie

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Doesn't this image just scream girlfriend fun?  Haven't we all tried reaching our arm out as far as possible to get the perfect group selfie only to see that half of our face is missing?  LOL!  

I used the #4130 Picture Perfect stamp set for a friend's birthday card.  I know she'll get a kick out of it cuz it will bring back fun times.

I stamped the image onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers, listed below.   I used the middle flag die from the #5133 Flag Double Stitched die set to cut the three colorful flags peering out the side of the image.  I mounted the image on a piece of black cardstock and backed with a larger white piece to imitate a polaroid picture.  I die cut the word "Smile" and the banner die from dies I had in my stash.

That's it for me today.  Hope you enjoyed my card and thanks for joining me.

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E01, E11

E30, E31, E33, E35, E50, E51, E53

N0, N1, N2, N4

B000, B41, B45

Y13, Y15, Y17, R20, R22

V12, V15

YR12, YR14, YR16, YR21, YR24

Birthday Humor Reveal Wheel

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have a humorous birthday card for my 70 year old friend using the #5279 Be Happy Laugh Lines set.  If you haven't checked out these Art Impressions 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.

Have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E11, B000

R20, R22, R24, R27

C1, C3, C5

G12, G16, G17