Ai Easter Cards

 I'm on the Art Impressions blog today for their Watercolour Weekend post!

I have a couple of bunny-themed projects today, incorporating several of the newest releases.  First up is the 6008 - Bunny Hugs Set.

I started by stamping the bunny, basket and carrot on some smooth watercolour paper, using Versamark Onyx Black ink.  *This was different for me, as I usually stamp with Tombows, but I thought I'd give the black outline a try.  I also wanted to create a background scene, so stamped the wagon from 5597 - Harvest Wheelbarrow Set, then added flowers and foliage from 5825 - Geranium Set and 5919 - Long Stem Floral Set with a little masking.

I painted everything using Tombow markers picked up off of my palette, using layers of colour to achieve the darker shades.  I created a wash of #126 to create the grass, and a wash of #526 for the sky.  After painting the flowers, there was still a lot of white space between the leaves, so I painted in some yellow flowers and darker foliage, then used a black fineline marker to outline my daisy-like shapes.  I also used the marker on the grass to add a few lines of definition. I die cut the Bunny Hugs pieces using the coordinating dies, and adhered them to my scene with varying thicknesses of 3D foam adhesives.  The sentiment is from 5867 - Mini Easter Sentiment Set stamped with Versamark Onyx Black.  I used the 5061 - Square Double Stitched Dies, and the 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies to cut out the scene and sentiment, narrowly matting both with periwinkle cardstock.

My card is 5 1/2" square, and I used the new 6033 - Inspirational Easter PP for the background papers, with the scalloped edge die from the 5543 - Journal Template Die Set on one of them.  I popped up the image after tying a white organdy ribbon into a bow underneath it.  A few irridescent jewels finished things off.

My second project is the sweet new 6014 - MB Easter Bunnies Matchbook set!  I adore making the Matchbooks as they're so wonderfully tiny!

I stamped the five images and sentiment onto some smooth watercolour paper, and painted everything in an Easter colour theme using Tombow markers picked up off of my palette, then cut them out with the coordinating dies.  To create the base, I cut the 5317 - MB Template die from the new 6011 - Basic Teal PP, and cut out the tiny windows on either side.  The Ai papers are so perfect for Matchbooks, as they are two sided, coordinating prints.  I cut the small rug die from the 6010 - Basic Pink PP and glued it onto the floor, then glued all of the pieces in position as shown.  

The 5318 - MB Envelope Die was also cut from the 6010 papers to make a cute little matching envelope.

**Bonus Third Project!**  I'm adding this one at the last minute... I had several extra pieces from the 6008 - Bunny Hugs Set that I had already cut out and painted up...

I had the idea to use the new 5910 - Large Letter Die Set, so I cut it out of some pretty paper from the 5939 - Fairy Garden PP.  After cutting out the letters, I cut them out again from plain white cardstock, which I glued underneath, before gluing the patterned paper letters back in place.  It provides just a subtle texture to the letters, and keeps the focus on the bunny.

The colours that I'd painted on the egg clashed a little with my project, so I just went over the stripes with Copic markers to slightly change from pink & yellow, to be purple and green.  You could easily make this a personalized card by spelling out a family member's name, or just use the word Easter - so many possibilities!

Simon Says Stamp Exclusive from Art Impressions!

The Art Impressions Design Team are all sharing projects of the Ai Exclusive set for Simon Says Stamp - available exclusively on the SSS website.  I know there are a bunch of Matchbook fans out there, so you're going to love this one!  Here is 5950 - Christmas Town MBE:

If you aren't familiar with the Matchbooks (you can find them on the Ai site here!), they are tiny - less than 2" square.  And even though they have quite a 3D appearance, they fold flat, and can be put into the tiny matching envelope - scroll down to see mine.

I've used the brand new 5962 - Classic Christmas PP papers, and coloured up my scene in coordinating Copic marker colours.  A few Stickles were added to the trees and lamppost.

In order to put the Matchbook set together, you will need the 5318 - MB Envelope Dies (shown here), and they come with these cute little envelope and tag dies, plus a few others.  The other set required is 5317 - MB Template Die, which is the 'house' base with that little scalloped edge.

My second card is the CAS version!  Who says the set is just to be used as a Matchbook?  I stamped and coloured just the main background of houses, and the small trees, and created an inked sky for them to sit against.  

You could trim the houses and glue them down flat, but I liked the 3D idea.  For mailing, the houses can just be flattened before you put them in a regular A2 sized envelope.

Check out the Ai blog to see what the rest of the design team has to share, and there will be more artwork on the SSS blog, too.

Golf Shop Matchbook

 Every once in a while, it's fun to create something tiny.  Art Impressions recently came out with four new Matchbook sets, so I've pulled out 5907 - Golf Shop MB and some older Doodlebug Under the Sea papers from my stash:

There are two basic die sets that you need: 5317 - MB Template Die, that creates the walls/windows of your scene, and 5318 - MB Envelope Die which creates the envelope that the Matchbook folds up into.

The envelope is so quick to create - you just run it through your die cutting machine, and that's it!  After folding the Matchbook up flat, it slips into the envelope, and you just insert the flap in the slot to keep it closed.  I love using coordinating patterned papers to make a bright and fun little package.

All of the Matchbook sets include pieces with flaps to glue onto the side walls, something for the back, and a little sentiment that stands up.  My favourite part of these are those adorable little windows (so well designed!)

Check out www.artimpressions.com to see ALL the different Matchbook sets they have to offer.

Christmas Matchbook

 I got this sweet little Christmas Matchbook stamp and die set especially to make a tiny little Christmas card for my two great nephews.  This is Art Impression's Santa's Workshop:

These are the cutest little pop up style of cards, they fold up flat to fit in the tiny envelope on the left.  On the other side of the envelope is an even tinier envelope that holds the tiny tag you see here.  The writing on the tag is about 1/16" high.  All fun and fiddly to put together.

Ai Matchbooks

 Have you tried the Art Impressions Matchbooks, yet?  Everything 'mini' is big right now, and these are quick and easy to assemble.  Here is 5320 - Kitchen Set:

It all starts with the 5318 - MB Envelope Dies set, with includes the main die for the envelope, and a bunch of small dies to decorate it with - I added a coordinating bow:

You open the flap to see a little folded card inside!

The 5317 - MB Template Die is the base of the card, and works best in double sided paper:

                              

Just open the flap, and the tiny card unfolds.

All of the pieces pop up to make a darling 3D card that is about 2" x 2 1/2".  The Kitchen set includes all the little pieces that you see here, plus their coordinating dies - you can cut and stamp them all at once, then quickly colour them like I did with Copic markers, and a little paper piecing for the tablecloth.  The kitten is from the 5324 MB Cat Accessories Set.  Each piece has a flap that folds back and glues onto the base.

A close up of those adorable windows!

There are all kinds of Matchbooks to choose from, you can find them on the Ai website here!

Ai Matchbooks

 I made a tiny creation yesterday, using one of the Matchbook sets from Art Impressions!  It's a tiny 3D card that folds up neatly into a little matching envelope.  And I do mean tiny - the finished project is 2" square:

I started with the 5317 - MB Template Die, which cuts out the base (the 'room') from double sided patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs.  

I stamped all of the images from the 5319 - Birthday Set onto white cardstock, cut them out with the matching dies (all of which include tabs that fold back to attach each piece to the base - including the score lines).  Each piece was coloured with Copic markers, and adhered with Scor-tape.  There's even a little rug on the floor that you can't quite see!

The base template includes 2 different styles of windows, with a die to cut out the panes, and another to cut out the tiny window frame that you see here.  Serious cuteness!  The windows are about 3/8"x1/2" in size.

With the genius way that the sets are designed, they fold neatly to fit into a 2" square

You could give this to someone just like this, or you can use the 5318 - MB Envelope Die.  

The final package is about 1/8" thick.  You can find all the different themed sets available on the Ai website here!