Category Archives: challenges

be merry

Hello friends!

There’s a new Ai Challenge today… “Rudolf Red and Evergreen” (use red & green!) and we are showcasing some NEW Ai and Hampton Arts Christmas Sets which are exclusive to the Michael’s craft stores!

I made 2 similar cards using the Ai Reindeer set (SCO715).

Ai HA Michael's 1 diane zechman

I also used one of the oval dies from the Scallop Easel Dies (4700) to create the cutout in the card front.

Ai HA Michael's 2 diane zechman

Ai HA Michael's 3 diane zechman

Here’s some closer views of the Ai images…colored with Copics.

Ai HA Michael's 5 diane zechman

Ai HA Michael's 4 diane zechman

Be sure to check out your local Michael’s store!  Here’s a pic I took of the two NEW Ai/Hampton Arts sets at mine…

Ai HA Michael's

Now it’s your turn to make a card or project using red & green and join us in the “Rudolf Red & Evergreen” Challenge!

Happy stamping!

Diane Signature Medium size

stamps- Art Impressions Michael’s exclusive- Ai Reindeer set (SCO715) ; paper- white, SU! Real Red, Basic Grey Figgy Pudding; ink- Versafine Black, Memento Tuxedo Black; accessories- Copics, Art Impressions Scallop Easel Dies (4700), paper trimmer. Bow-Easy, ribbon, tracing wheel, adhesive pearls.

Christmas Cheer

Hello friends and happy Thursday!

The current Ai Challenge is “Be Merry” and we are showcasing the NEW 2015 Christmas images!  I used the cute little penguin from the Christmas Cheer set (4666).  They’re all adorable…it’s hard to pick a favorite!

Christmas Cheer 1 diane zechman

I veered from the traditional red & green colors of Christmas and went for a bright one!  I really like this color combo!  The penguin embossed background adds a fun touch too.

Christmas Cheer 1 close diane zechman

Now it’s your turn to make a card or project and join us in the “Be Merry” Challenge!

Happy stamping!

Diane Signature Medium size

stamps- Art Impressions Christmas Cheer set (4666); paper- white, green, black, aqua, MME- Colorful Christmas; ink- Versafine Black, Memento Tuxedo Black; accessories- Copics, Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Christmas Set embossing folders, ribbon, The Paper Studio Enamel Dots.

 

a helping hand

Hello friends!  It’s time for another Challenge Chicks Challenge!

We’re a small group of friends who post a new challenge on the second Sunday of each month…no stress, no deadlines…just for fun.  And we’d love to have you join us!  This month it is Kelly’s turn and her challenge is “Wrap it Up…Make a tag that coordinates with your gift wrap“.

Here’s my tag… the words were typed on the computer.

helping hand 2 diane zechman

My tag is a super simple one and my “gift wrap” is actually the oven mitt itself!  I work in an elementary school and this was a gift for someone who helped in our classroom.  All the kids wrote their names on the oven mitt with a Sharpie and then the mitt became the “wrapping” as it was filled with some treats.  🙂

helping hand diane zechman copy

Please join us and create a tag that coordinates with your wrapping… then share it on our Facebook page!  Also, you can upload it to the Splitcoast gallery…and use the keyword CHXNOV15.  Now be sure to click on the links below to check out what the other Chicks created!  Here’s who’s playing this month:

challenge chicks logo small

 

stamps- Art Impressions Blooming Birdhouse (4603), tag- MFT Stitched Traditional Tags dies.

warmest wishes easel card

Hello friends!

The current Ai Challenge is “Use Water-Based Inks” and we are showcasing the NEW Watercolor images and the NEW Easel Card Dies!  How exciting!  I am sharing how I made my card today with the Ai Wooden Door (4702) stamp set and the Ai Scallop Easel Card Die (4700).  I also used a sentiment from the Christmas Scene TryFold (4687) stamp set.

Ai wooden door diane zechman

I started by die-cutting two of the Scallop Easel Card die with vanilla cardstock for my card base, and set those aside.

I wanted to make a scalloped mat for my card, so here is how you can easily do that.  Using the widest (open) scalloped section of the die, I cut a patterned paper layer for the front.  Start with a piece of patterned paper that is 3 1/2″ x 5″.  Center the 3 1/2″ width in the die (leaving equal space on both sides).  Use low-tack tape to hold in place and diecut.

Ai wooden door 2 diane zechman

Now trim the height of the patterned paper to 4 3/4″ tall.  Adhere this layer to one of the vanilla diecut card bases.

Next diecut an oval window with the smallest oval die.

Ai wooden door 3 diane zechman

Set aside and use both oval dies to cut a frame with red cardstock. Also cut a sentiment label from a scrap of vanilla cardstock.

Ai wooden door 4 diane zechman

I stamped the door, tree, and logs with Versafine Black ink and water-colored the images with Twinkling H2Os and a water-brush.  Then I inked the wreath with a green marker and stamped it last.  I lightly touched the wreath with the water-brush.

Ai wooden door 5 diane zechman

When dry, adhere the water-colored image behind the oval diecut window.  Then adhere the second vanilla card base behind the image, lining up both card bases and the scallop edges.

NOTE:  Kate has a wonderful video HERE showing how to put the Easel Cards together.  Please check it out!

Ai wooden door 6 diane zechman

Following Kate’s instructions in the video, fold both sides back.  Then cut the small tab on both sides half-way to the scored line, starting from each end.  Fold the easel sides on the scored lines and fold down the tabs.  I glued the sides down but it isn’t necessary.  It will look like this from the back:

Ai wooden door 7 diane zechman

Adhere the diecut oval frame around the window.  Stamp the sentiment, and finish your card as desired.  I placed some punched branches under the sentiment and popped it with foam dimensionals.

Ai wooden door diane zechman

Now it’s your turn to make a card or project and join us in the “Use Water-Based Inks” Challenge!

Happy stamping!

Diane Signature Medium sizestamps- Art Impressions Ai Wooden Door (4702) and Christmas Scene TryFold (4687); paper- vanilla, SU! Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Provo Craft- Snowflakes on Red; ink- Versafine Black, Always Artichoke marker; accessories- Art Impressions Scallop Easel Card die (4700), Twinkling H2Os, water brush, Martha Stewart branch punch, adhesive pearls, foam dots.

in the doghouse

Hello friends!  Today we are having an Ai DT Reunion Blog Hop and we are also featuring the NEW Ai Spinners Release!  FUN!!

You should be arriving here from Deloris Thiede‘s blog.  If not, you can go to the Ai Blog to get started!

The Ai Spinners are lots of fun to create with!  They are intended to be used on a piece of string in a 3.5″ opening, so you can wind it up, mail it, and your recipient can see it spin when they open it!  BUT…you will see that there are many ways to get creative with these images!

For my project, I used the Ai Dog Spinner (4675). At the time, I didn’t have the matching Dog Spinner Dies (4694) but I am happy to have them now!  I decided to make a doghouse shaped card.  (I love shaped cards!)

CHA 7a diane zechman

Isn’t that sentiment perfect for the dog chasing his tail?  Here’s a look at the inside (and back side of the dog)…

CHA 7b diane zechman

And a closer view…

CHA 7c diane zechman

Be sure to check out all 7 of the NEW Art Impressions Spinners!

Spinner Graphic

Kate has a quick video here introducing them all.  (The Santa, Angel, and lady wearing the Robe cards are mine!)
[youtube]https://youtu.be/PIEkBN3Gta0[/youtube]

Here’s the list of blogs to follow in our DT Reunion Hop!

Ai Reunion

Art Impressions Blog

Cheri Burry
Crystal Lopez
Dana Warren
Deloris Thiede
Diane Zechman
Isha Gupta
Jessica Griffin
Karen Day
Kerry Kung
Kirsi Kamppikoski
Maria McGuire
Marie-Pierre Capistran
Mary Witter
Piali Biswas
Reneé Matarese
Sharon Caudle
Soili-Maria Seppala
Tammie Koehnen
Tracy Gray
Tracy MacDonald
Trena Brannon
Zora Bergstrom

 

 

Aaaaand….what is a HOP without PRIZES??  🙂  Ai is giving away 7 prizes, 1 of each of the new stamp & die sets!  Just click on the Rafflecopter below to enter!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now…head on over to see what Isha Gupta has created!!

stamps- Art Impressions Dog Spinner (4675); paper- white, SU! Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, and Gumball Green, DCWV The Pets Stack; accessories- Copics, Crafts-Too Bone & Paw Print embossing folder, Scor-Tape, Sweet ‘n Sassy Grass and Banner dies, The Paper Studio (Spare Parts) Dog Bone Brads, CC Designs Skull and Bones dies.

 

 

jingle all the way!

Hello friends!

It’s week two of the current Ai Challenge, “Shake It Off!”.  We are featuring the NEW Shakers collection and I’ve used the Jingle Set (4681) on my card today!

Funny story:  I wanted to add some real jingle bells to my card, but the placement just wasn’t looking right to me.  I added one to his “booty”, thinking it would jingle as it wobbles.  But he kept staring at me as if he was saying, “Does this bell make my butt look big?” LOL. So I changed it to a tiny bell on the sentiment tag.  ;^)

Ai Jingle Set diane zechman

I found this cute reindeer paper in my stash and thought it was perfect to use on my card.  For some reason I was thinking “wrapping paper” so I made it look like a gift box and added my sentiment on the tag.

Here’s a side view…with his booty on an action wobble!  One comes free with the stamp and die set!  They are SO fun!

Ai Jingle Set side diane zechman

Now it’s your turn to create a card and join us in the “Shake It Off!” Challenge!

Happy stamping!

Diane Signature Medium size

stamps- Art Impressions Jingle Set (4681); paper- white, black, SU! Real Red, Doodlebug Home for the Holidays; ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Baked Brown Sugar; accessories- Copics, Circle Nestabilities, jingle bell, baker’s twine, Action Wobble, MFT Stitched Traditional Tags, Black Diamond Stickles.

warm wishes

Popping in with a quick, CAS card I whipped up with the Sweet ‘n Sassy Sweet Perks Club set, Winnie’s Warm Wishes.  This was made for the SCS Ways To Use It Challenge… Punc-tu-a-tion.

WT550 warm wishes diane zechman

WT550 warm wishes close diane zechman

Have a great day!

stamps- Sweet ‘n Sassy’s Winnie’s Warm Wishes; paper- white, American Crafts- Hip Hip Hooray; ink- Memento Tuxedo Black; accessories- Copics, Cuttlebug Red Tag Sale Alphabet.

eerie cheery window

Hello friends!

It’s week two of the current Ai Challenge, “Cut Your Cards”.  We are featuring the NEW Tryfolds and Windows to the World collections and I’ve used the Eerie Cheery Window Set (4690) on my card today!

CHA 2a diane zechman

I used a pumpkin shape diecut for the base of my card, leaving the top (fold) of the base card uncut by keeping the fold below the top of the die when cutting.  Then I cut another full pumpkin to layer over top.

CHA 2b diane zechman

One of the Window Dies (4619) was used to cut through the front so you can see the cute image peeking through.  Here’s the card opened…

CHA 2c diane zechman

And a close up…

CHA 2d diane zechman

Now it’s your turn to create a card and join us in the “Cut Your Card” Challenge!

Happy stamping!

Diane Signature Medium size

stamps- Art Impressions- Eerie Cheery Window Set (4690); paper- white, black, SU! Pumpkin Pie and Garden Green; ink- Memento Tuxedo Black; accessories- Copics, Ai Window Dies (4619), Spellbinders Pumpkins Nestabilities, Marianne Creatables Ribbon Flowers dies, Sweet ‘n Sassy Leaf Silhouettes dies, Clear Wink of Stella, Cuttlebug Creepy die.

 

watercolor cocoa

Hello friends!  It’s time for another Challenge Chicks Challenge!

We’re a small group of friends who post a new challenge on the second Sunday of each month…no stress, no deadlines…just for fun.  And we’d love to have you join us!  This month it is Jeanne’s turn and her challenge is “Splat” – use watercolor/ink splatters!

I got out my Snowman Soup stamp set (It now has matching dies!) and wanted to create a “hot cocoa” background…boy was that a challenge!  lol.  This is my 5th try… haha.  My card was also created for yesterday’s SCS Inspiration Challenge.  I used image 7 for my inspiration.

watercolor snowman soup diane zechman

My snowy guy was colored with Copics and popped up.  I masked off the word “you” in my sentiment and replaced it with a big diecut word.  Then I stamped a few extra marshmallows to float in my chocolately background.

watercolor snowman soup close diane zechman

Please join us and create a card with watercolor/ink splatters… then share it on our Facebook page!  Also, you can upload it to the Splitcoast gallery…and use the keyword CHXSEP15.  Now be sure to click on the links below to check out what the other Chicks created!  Here’s who’s playing this month:

challenge chicks logo small

stamps- Sweet ‘n Sassy- Snowman Soup; paper- Cougar white, watercolor; ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Black, Distress- Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain; accessories- Copics, SU! Hello You Thinlits dies, foam dots, Stickles.

prim anniversary blessings

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Tomorrow is our daughter and son-in-law’s first anniversary.  I wanted to make a card and I turned to today’s SCS Inspiration Challenge for some inspiration!  The photos to choose from are beautiful cakes and I picked this one to create my card.

prim blessings anniversary diane zechman

I was planning to go with the blue colors of the cake but I decided to use a pool color instead since that was the color of the wedding.

I used my Prim Blessings stamp set and the NEW matching dies

prim blessings anniversary close diane zechman

…and I used the SNSS Anniversary Innies for the words.  Here’s the inside.

prim blessings anniversary inside diane zechman

Have a great evening!

stamps- Sweet ‘n Sassy- Prim Blessings and Anniversary Innies; paper- white, SU! Pool Party; ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Black, SU! Coastal Cabana; accessories- Copics, Sweet ‘n Sassy Prim Blessings dies, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU! ribbon, Scor-Tape, foam dots.