Ai Challenge: Card Resolutions

It's that time of year when we start setting goals... and while I don't do too many personal resolutions, I always making "Crafting Resolutions".  Things I want to try, or try to get better at, or maybe just to craft more often.  This year my resolution is to learn Brush Lettering!  I see amazing things done by a lot of stamp artists, and have started a Pinterest board with Lettering tips & styles.  I literally started YESTERDAY, watching a few youtube videos, and reading a few blog posts to get going... and after about three pages of practice lettering.  Here is my first effort:

I knew that this was the card that I wanted to make for this week's Art Impressions challenge (which is Card Resolutions!) so I focused on the word love in particular, and managed to get this one that I was fairly happy with!  I used a pink Tombow marker, then went over the bottom portion with a slightly darker pink Copic marker to "attempt" a bit of an ombre effect.  I also went over the dark pink areas with a pink Wink of Stella marker so that there is a bit of shimmer that doesn't show in the photo. I stamped Art Impressions Boy Cupid Set (Sku #4219) and coloured him with Copics before fussy cutting and popping him up on pop dots.  The die cut heart is popped up as well.  So stay tuned to see if I stick with my resolution and keep up with some lettering this year.  We would love to have you link up your card resolution to our challenge over on the Ai blog.  Happy crafting!

Wooden Gate Watercolour

 I'm starting my 2017 Art Impressions posts with some watercolours!  For the last couple of years, my New Year's Crafting resolution has been to watercolour more - and I've actually stuck to it!  I own quite a few of the Ai Watercolour sets, and really love pulling them out and painting all afternoon...  Here are a couple of creations that I made using one of the Watercolor Minis: Wooden Gate (Sku # 4762):

 I used an assortment of Tombow & Marvy markers by colouring directly onto my stamps, and then softened the lines with a damp paintbrush.  I used my Gansai Tambei watercolour palette to add a bit of a wash to the sky & background.  Here's a lavender version:

 I added in a couple of stamps from the W/C Foliage Set 1 (Sku #4051) and the small flowers from W/C Flower Set (Sku #4052) to finish my picture off.  You can find all of the Ai watercolor sets here.  Happy painting!

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Happy New Year!

A little belated, I know!  I never intended to take a three week blog break!  I've actually been creating like crazy for CHA (so nothing that I can post yet!) so between getting those projects shipped off, hosting a couple of times over the holidays, and holding down the fort at work, it meant that things were a little quiet around my blog.  I wanted to share a couple of Watercolour Minis that are older Ai sets that I was working on.  Here is Old Barn Mini Set (Sku #4807):

 And Blooming Birdhouse (Sku #4603)

Both are using a combo of Tombo & Marvy markers.

Art Impressions Top Ten of 2016

 It's my favourite post... as I literally review every Ai card that I made throughout the year.  I love the trip down memory lane, so here is what I've chosen as my Top Ten of 2016:

Using In The Air Set (Sku #4753):

Using Birthday Fairy Set (Sku #4730):

Using Mini Squirrel Spinner Set (Sku #4735):

Using Lifetime Set (Sku #4728):

Using Duck Stackers (Sku #4738):

Using Old Bat Set (Sku #4784):

Using Punkin Pie Set (Sku #4520):

Using Terrier Stackers:

Using Quivery Mini Shaker (Sku #4793):

Using Dairy Christmas (Sku #4789):

Wishing you all a lovely holiday season, no matter what you celebrate - and all the best for a crafty 2017!  Thank you for visiting us here on the blog throughout the year, and for leaving such sweet comments - we really appreciate you!

Inspired By All The Little Things #37

I am the hostess this week at Inspired By All The Little Things - with my wonderful guest designer, Natalie Murdock!  Here is our inspiration photo:

 I knew that I had the perfect set from my days selling Close To My Heart - it's called Around The Block, and the houses have a bit of a gingerbread feel to them.  I white embossed the house onto watercolour paper, then tried to paint it to look like a gingerbread cookie.  I used my masking fluid to add some falling snow before I painted:

I hope you'll play along with us this week!  The design team have some gorgeous creations to share with you.  This will be our last challenge until the new year.

Coffee Lover's Card #3

And my final effort for the Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!  Another Verve digi sentiment, and cup from Verve's Holiday Treats:

Patterned papers are Comfort & Joy, My Mind's Eye; Verve Holiday Cheer digi set & Holiday Treats stamp set; Cardstock is White Daisy & Garden Green, Close To My Heart; Let It Snowflake die, MFT; Spellbinders Oval die.

Coffee Lover's Card #2

It's the last night of the Winter Coffee Lover's Blog Hop, so I managed to sneak in a couple more cards.  Here is my second one for the hop, using Verve's latest digi set:

 I'm not sure that my photo editing was bang on tonight, it's a fairly subdued card, the reds turned out a lot brighter in the photo!  I used the cup image from Verve's Holiday Treats to go along with the sentiment.

Patterned papers are Comfort & Joy by My Mind's Eye; Stitched Oval STAX die, and Let It Snowflake die MFT; Spellbinders label die; Cardstock is Ruby, White Daisy & Olive by Close To My Heart.