Bundle of Joy

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I don't know about all of you, but it seems this is the year for babies.  I figured I better get ready so I decided to make a few baby cards using the #5495 Matchbook Nursery set.  I like to stretch my supplies and create new ways to use stamp sets so I used this stamp set and created two A2 cards.

                        

I stamped the images from the #5495 MB Nursery set onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers (see color list below).  I die cut each with the coordinating dies from the same set.  Since the stamps are made to be used in a matchbook, they die cut with the tabs, so I just trimmed the tabs off.  I die cut with plain cardstock as well and glued to the back of the colored image for dimension.  In the stamp set, the elephant sits on top of a dresser, so I colored him and fussy cut him out.  I then made a slit in the rocking chair and tucked him into the slit so that he looks like he is partially under the pillow.  I used #5591 Journal Rectangle Frames to frame the scene and put a piece of tulle behind the window to add dimension.  I also used #5063 Rectangle A2 Double Stitch die for the full panel and #5132 Tag Stitched dies for the sentiment. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you have a great day!

Copics used:  C00, C01, C03

E21, E23, E25

Y02, Y04, Y08, Y32, Y35

YR12, YR16, B41, B45

RV32, RV34

R81, R83, R85

Gnome Magnet Treat Box

 Happy Friday AI Friends!

Today I have a fun little treat (pun totally intended - LOL) that goes with the "Just For You" challenge.  Who doesn't LOVE Gnomes?  I decided to make a little gnome magnet to go with this treat box.  He's tucked away in a little pocket but can be removed to reside on the fridge, a teacher's chalkboard or in your scrapbook room on a magnetic surface.  

He's so darn cute!  

  

I used the Art Impressions #5832 Gnome paper pack for the treat box as well as the pocket that the gnome sits in.  The Gnome is from the #5785 Gnome set which has the matching dies.  I stamped the front only of this little gnome onto copic friendly paper and colored him with copic markers (see color list below).  After coloring the gnome, I covered him with a piece of clear packing tape to protect the coloring and make him sturdy.  I then die cut him with the coordinating dies and also cut a corresponding piece of adhesive magnet to attach to his back side.  I colored and die cut a few other images from #5728 Mushroom Cubbies and #5221 Sending Love Cubbies to decorate the pocket, which is from the #5718 Mini Journal Template set.  

Treat box:  Dimensions 5 x 1 1/4 x 1.  Use one piece of 6x6 paper.  Score (pattern facing up) at 1, 2 3/4, 3 3/4 and 5 1/2.  Turn clockwise (pattern facing to the right) and score at 1, 4 1/2 and 5 1/2.  Score each of the lines with your bone folder.  With pattern facing up, cut off the bottom right corner piece (s/b 1/2" x 1"). Then across that same row, snip each score point up to the nearest fold to create the bottom of the box when folded in.  Put glue on the pattern side right edge 1/2" piece (above the cut off corner).  Fold into a box shape and seal the glued edge inside.  Lastly fold in the slit pieces (small pieces first) then glue inside of one large piece and seal to create the bottom.

Fill the box with candies and give to a teacher, friend or just for you.   

Hope this brings you a smile!  Thanks for stopping by!

Copics used:  C00, C01, C02

E00, E02, E11, E53, E55, E57

 B91, B93, B95

R22, R24, R27 

YR21, YR23, YR24

YG03, YG17, YG63

Fun Gulls

 Happy Thursday Friends

I have a fun card today that fits with the Art Impressions May Guest Designer challenge - "Anchors Away".  See the tab at the top of the Art Impressions Blog for details.  I hope you will join in and play.  It's very easy, fun and you could win a free stamp set plus be a guest designer for a month.  

First I started with the background by ink blending distress oxide twisted citron and broken china onto a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I misted with water to create the water spots and then partial die cut with a wave background die.  I used a piece of kraft cardstock for the beach and die cut with a hillside die.  I spotted with copic markers to mimic sand and the background is complete. 

Next, I stamped several images from the #5399 Gull-Friends set onto cryogen white cardstock  and colored with copic markers (see below for colors).  I die cut the images out with the corresponding dies that come in the set.  The tree stump is the log, turned sideways, from the #5055 WC Sitting Places set.  I stamped, colored and fussy cut two of the logs.  Trimmed a bit off the top of one of them and placed it at a slight diagonal just behind the other one.  I used foam tape to give it dimension and tied them together with twine.   The anchor and the flying seagulls are from the #5325 Sail Mini dies.  The sentiment is from the #5399 Gull-Friends set stamped onto a 1" circle die cut from the #5064 Double Stitched Circle dies.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join in on the challenges going on this week.

Have a great day!

Copics markers used: 

C00, C1, C3, 

E53, E55, E57, E59

R20, R22, 

Y13, Y15, Y17, 

B12, B14, B16

YR12, YR04, YR07, YR21, YR24

YG21, YG23, YG25

Love Birds and Friendly Blue Birds

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I have two cards for you today that were inspired by the "Birds of a Feather" challenge (see the Bi-Weekly Challenge tab at Art Impressions blog for more details).  Both cards feature the #5367 - Birdcage Dies, the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack, the #5817 Potting Garden Shed plus several others.

  Let's take a look at the first card.

        Friendly Blue Birds:

I first stamped several of the birds using Memento Black ink on cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers.  I die cut each of the birds out with the coordinating dies that come with the stamp set.  Using a few of the sheets from the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack, I die cut the birdcage and also hand cut a backing for the birdcage.  I made the frame by cutting individual leaves (including the leaf from the #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame) from white cardstock and layering behind the arch frame.   The pattern paper behind the arch frame and the gingham paper are from the Easter S2 paper pack.  The sentiment is from the new stamp set #5817 Potting Garden Shed.  The arch frame and other leaf dies were from my stash. 

       Love Birds:

The patterned paper background and the birdcage die cut is from the #5892 Easter S2 paper pack.  I just love the Art Impressions paper packs.  Double sided, strong and soooo pretty.   What's not to love? 

I began by stamping the tree branch from #5034 Tree Twist Ties, leaves and birds from #5100 Woodland Tree Cubbies with Memento Black ink onto cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers (see list below).   The tree branch was stamped at the top of a 4" x 5" piece of cryogen.  I very lightly inked clouds into the sky around the tree branch to minimize the white space.  I stamped several of the leaves onto the branch and several I stamped, colored and die cut to place around the other leaves to add dimension.  I stamped and colored a poppy from the #5273 Poppy Border stamp and fussy cut it to place at the bottom of the frame along with two of the leaf springs from the #5591 Journal Rectangle Frame.  Lastly I stamped the words "Love" and "Friend" from the #5817 Potting Garden Shed stamp set and die cut with the #5132 Tag Stitched Die.  I attached the word tags to the birdcage with a safety pin.

I hope you enjoy my cards today and decide to play along in the current blog challenge "Birds of a Feather" for a chance to win a free stamp set. 

Have a wonderful day!

Copic Markers Used:

YG03, YG17, YG67

Y13, Y15, Y17, B00, B02, B14

E30, E33, E35, E59 & E97

 

Village Puzzle Maze

Happy Thursday AI Friends!

When I saw these a-MAZE-ing Village stamps and coordinating sets, my mind went way back to my childhood.  They reminded me of the fun little maze puzzle games I use to play with when I was a kid.

(I think I just dated myself.  LOL!)  

Hope some of you remember those puzzle games, but if not, hope you get inspired to create one of these for your kids/grandkids (or even yourself).  

I began by stamping many images from the #5889 - Village Vehicles and #5890 - Village Accessories sets, as well as the Exclusive (freebies) buildings (#5877-#5882) with Memento black ink onto cryogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers (listed below).  The Exclusive buildings are available for free each time you make a purchase of $30 or more from Art Impressions.  These are soooo darn cute!!  

After coloring each of the images, I fussy cut each one.  Took me about 20 minutes to cut them all out, so very easy and no time at all.  I lightly ran (from behind) the coordinating color marker along the sides to give a nice finished edge and added glossy accents to the windows of all images.  I die cut 3 black craft foam and one white cardstock with a maze die that I had in my stash.  Hint:  when cutting the craft foam, only run it through your cutting machine once as it tends to stretch if you run it back and forth and will distort the maze.  Adhere a piece of acetate between the white cardstock and one of the black foam pieces and then glue the other two black foam pieces to stack upon each other.  The layer should be white cardstock, acetate and three black craft foam.  Before glueing all of this base to the black cardstock on the back, make sure to slip a small ball (or BB) into the maze.  At this point, you can decorate the top of the puzzle with the colored images however you wish.

Here is a video with the ball moving within the maze just by turning and tipping the puzzle.

Here is a video using a magnetic wand to move the BB around the puzzle.  I just glued a magnet to the end of a dowel.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope this brings back great memories for you!

Have a great day!! 

Copic markers used:

N1, N3, N4, N7

E21, E23, E25, E27, E55, E57

B0000, B01, B02, B05

R22, R24, R27

G40, G43, G36

YR16, YR61, YR65, YR68

Y13, Y15, Y19

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Swinging Pup

Happy Thursday!

Welcome to my first Design Team post.  

I had fun making an interactive card to fit with the current challenge "Raining Cats and Dogs".  

It's pretty simple and fun to make.

I began by stamping the dog images from AI sets #SC0649 - His and Hers Flying High and #SC0651 - His and Hers Campers onto cyrogen white cardstock and colored with copic markers (colors are listed below).   I then fussy cut both of the pups out.  This step is optional:  I stamped (but didn't color) a second one of each on heavy cardstock.  I fussy cut those out as well just inside the black lines and glued them behind the colored ones.  I like the stability and dimension.  

For the background, I stenciled clouds with Distress Oxide Broken China ink onto a piece of white cardstock and used the largest #5062 - Double Stitch Rounded A2 rectangle die.  I die cut three cloud panels and inked the cloud edge with the same ink.  I die cut each of the cloud panels with the rectangle die as well so that the edges would match up when layered all together.  

For the mechanism - I glued a 3/4 inch wide piece of acetate to the back of the parachute and punched a hole at the top where the pop dot will adhere through to create the swing effect.  I then trimmed up the acetate so that it won't show when the pup swings - see picture below.  I adhered one layer of the clouds directly onto the base cardstock and measured where I wanted the pup to fall.  Then I adhered a pop dot onto the base through the hole.   Place foam tape on the back side of the next cloud layer, leaving space for the swing mechanism.  Before adhering to the card, test the mechanism by holding the cloud layer over the pop dot and make sure your image swings freely.  Remove the pop dot release paper as well and the foam tape and place onto the card.  Lastly, add the last cloud layer over the top of the others. 

   

To finish my card, I added two layers of hillside with patterned paper to the bottom after cutting the bottom/side edges with the AI Double Stitched A2 Rounded rectangle die.  

 

Hope you enjoyed my initial post as an AI Design Team member as much as I enjoyed creating it.  

Have a great day!

Copics used:

E51, E53, E55, E57

B000, B02, B05, B06

Y32, Y35, Y38

R22 & R24

April Guest Designer - Say it with Sentiments

  I'm soooo excited!  I won the Guest Designer challenge at Art Impressions.  What a thrill!

  My theme assignment for April is “Say it with Sentiments”.  I have been wanting to make a reveal wheel card for the longest time, so I thought it would be perfect for this months challenge.  It’s very simple to make and no special dies are needed. 

To make the mechanism,  I cut one 1” circle,  three sawtooth edge circles (you can use a circle or scallop edge circle) approx. 4” in diameter – one from copy paper, one from colored cardstock and one from heavy weight cardstock.  If your colored cardstock is thick and sturdy, you can eliminate the third piece, otherwise, glue the heavy piece behind the colored cardstock for stability.  This is the wheel so you want it to be strong.  Take the ‘copy paper’ circle (template) and fold in half and then half again to make four quarters.  Make a small hole where the folds cross together (center point).  Place template over cardstock circle and make similar hole.  Take your template and cut your shape in all four quarters, near to the center.  I used a balloon, but you can use a star, circle, speech bubble, etc.,  whatever fits in each quarter and also fits your sentiments or image.  

 Place your colored cardstock in your stamped platform (using a sticky mat is helpful) and place the template over top.  Place your stamps within the die shapes and close the platform lid.  Remove the template and stamp your sentiments.  I used sentiments from the “Birthday Laugh Lines” and the “Be Happy Laugh Lines” stamp sets.  Take the 1” circle and make a small hole in the center (does not have to be exact).  Place a brad up through the small circle and then through the wheel circle.  Your mechanism is finished and ready.

  For the card, I stamped the man from the “Birthday Laugh Lines” on a 4.5” x 6”  piece of cryogen white cardstock using memento black ink and colored him with copic markers (see colors below).  I then die cut the balloon shape over the top of the stamped balloon image.  I lined up the reveal wheel behind the balloon hole only to determine where to place the largest rectangle die on the cryogen cardstock.  I taped the rectangle die in place, removed the wheel, and ran it through my die cut machine.  I then cut a partial circle on the side of the cryogen to match up with the turn part of the wheel.  Optional: Mat the image and cut corresponding partial circles to line up.  Make sure that the sentiments do not show through the partial circle when turning.   

Hold the wheel where you want it and turn the image (and wheel) over and place foam tape on the back side of the small circle and around the edges of the back side of the colored image piece, making sure not to place any foam tape on the wheel.  Remove all the tape coverings and carefully turn back over and place on your card background.  Test your wheel and you are now ready to put the finishing touches on your card.     

  I hope you enjoy my card and decide to play along with this challenge.  

 Products used:  Art Impressions #5115 - Birthday Laugh Lines 

                             Art Impressions #5279 - Be Happy Laugh Lines

                             Art Impressions double stitched circle dies #5064

                             Art Impressions double stitched largest A2 rectangle die #5063

                             Art Impressions Decorative Journal page die set - #5768

  Copics:  Skin – E13, E11, E01, E00

                  Cane and shoes – E37, E35, E33

                 Pants – B26, B24, B23, B21

                 Hat – B24, B21 & YR07, YR65

                 Shirt – YR07, YR65, YR61

                 Ground and hair – N3, N1 and N0