Category Archives: Anna Escalada York

Let’s Make a Special Card for a Teacher

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By Anna Escalada York

– As a parent and a teacher, I always want to have cards on hand for fellow teachers. For this design, I decided to challenge myself to use a small selection of products and show how you can create something special without needing a lot of supplies. 

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 1 hour (including dry time) 

Directions: 

Step 1: 
Stamp the background stamp on a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. 

Step 2: 
Use Fabrico Dual Tip Markers and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to add color and detail to the smaller stamps. 

1. Color the various internal apple-shaped stamps directly with a Poppy Red Fabrico Dual Tip Marker. Stamp each image inside the corresponding apple outline, then heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Repeat until all of the apples are filled with red. 

2. Use an Emerald Fabrico Dual Tip Marker to color the leaves directly on the stamped images. Heat emboss the leaves with clear embossing powder. 

3. For the apples with the thick outline and open center, stamp the apple seed image with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to add the seeds. Heat emboss the seeds with clear embossing powder. 

Step 3: 
Watercolor smoosh the panel with Emerald Fabrico Dual Tip Marker mixed with water on acetate. After the panel dried, watercolor smoosh a second time with Poppy Red Fabrico Dual Tip Marker mixed with water. Use a paper towel to dab off any areas where the colors become muddy or too dark. Allow the panel to dry a second time. 

After the panel dried, die cut the panel with a mid-sized die from an A2-sized nesting die set. Then die cut a piece of black watercolor paper or black cardstock with the next-largest die from the same A2-sized nesting die set. 

Step 4: 
Stamp the sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink on watercolor paper. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Trim with a paper trimmer. Then press the edges of the sentiment strip into the Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss the edges. 

Step 5: 
Assemble the card. Glue the stamped panel onto the black matte layer. Adhere the sentiment to the card with foam tape. Glue sequins to the panel from two different sequin mixes to best match the colors of the card. Finally glue the whole panel onto an A2-sized white card base to finish the card. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 

• Fabrico Dual Marker – Emerald 
• Fabrico Dual Marker – Poppy Red 
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne 

Other 

• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape 
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Kyoto sequin mix 
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Yukon sequin mix 
• Taylored Expressions – stamps – I Pick You Cling and Clear Combo 
• Waffle Flower – die set – A2 Layers 
• Clear Embossing Powder 
• Heat tool 
• Glue 
• Watercolor paper 
• Black watercolor paper 
• Water 
• Paper towel 

Create a Star Wars Inspired Mixed Media Card

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By Anna Escalada York –

I always love when I can share my love for pop culture in the cards that I make. This card gave me the perfect opportunity to create a colorful galaxy background using the new VersaFine Clair ink colors, along with shimmer sprays and layered stamping for a fun mixed media look.
Skill: Intermediate 

Time: 1.5 hours 
Directions: 

Step 1: 
Die cut a watercolor panel with a mid-sized die from an A2-sized die set. Stamp the smaller android image in the lower-center part of the watercolor panel with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. 

Stamp the image a second time on masking paper and fussy cut out the image. Then place the fussy cut masking paper over the android image. 

Step 2: 
Stamp the taller android image to the left of the first droid with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. (Since the first android was masked, it will appear like the second droid is behind him since his right hand will not be seen in the final image.) Stamp the same image a second time with more masking paper and fussy cut the masking paper. Then place the masking paper over this android so that both of them are protected for the next few steps. 

Step 3: 
Stamp a circuit image stamp twice on the watercolor panel with Dahlia Purple VersaFine Clair Ink by stamping once in the lower left corner and then rotating the watercolor panel 180 degrees and stamping the image a second time. Heat emboss both stamped corners with more clear embossing powder 

Step 4: 
Spray Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray generously through a scattered star stencil. Use the spray to add more clear embossing powder to the panel. The embossed stars will resist color that will be applied to the panel in the next few steps. 

Step 5: 
Spray the watercolor panel with London Fog Fireworks! Craft Spray. If desired, blot off some of the spray with a paper towel if it is too dark. Allow to dry. 

Step 6: 
Remove the masking paper. Color the androids and the area around them to help them look grounded. Use the following markers to color the scene: 

● The smaller android (on the right): Teal Zeal and Danube Blue Memento Dual Markers as well as Tropical Lagoon and Poppy Red Fabrico Dual Markers 

● The taller android (on the left): Cantaloupe and Dandelion Memento Dual Markers, Lemon Yellow Fabrico Dual Marker 

Watercolor the area around the androids with Rich Cocoa Memento Dual Marker mixed with water on acetate to create the ground around the two androids, and Ultramarine Fabrico Dual Marker mixed with water on acetate to color the sky/walls behind he androids. Allow to dry. 

Step 7: 
To add shimmer to the androids, watercolor both of them with Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. 

Step 8: 
Press the edges of the watercolor panel directly into the Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink Pad. Then use a sponge dauber to blend additional Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink around the edges. 

Step 9: 
Stamp the sentiment on a separate piece of watercolor paper with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Then trim the sentiment with a paper trimmer. 

Step 10: 
Die cut a matte layer of black watercolor paper (or black cardstock) with the next-largest die from the nesting die set used in step 1. Glue both panels together. Attach the sentiment on the lower right corner of the top watercolor panel with foam tape. Glue star-shaped and bronze sequins on the lower left and upper right corners of the card. To finish the card, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized card base. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 
• Fabrico Dual Markers
– Lemon Yellow 
– Poppy Red 
– Tropical Lagoon 
– Ultramarine 

• Fireworks! Craft Spray – London Fog

• Memento Dual Marker:
– Cantaloupe 
– Dandelion 
– Danube Blue 
– Rich Cocoa 
– Teal Zeal 

• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray
– Frost 
– Rose Gold 

• VersaFine Clair Ink
– Dahlia Purple 
– Nocturne 

Other 

• AALL & Create – stencil -Lotza Starz 
• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape 
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix -Highland 
• Kindred Stamps – stamp set – Galactic Sidekicks 
• Visible Image – stamp set – Total Chaos 
• Waffle Flower – die set – A2 Layers 
• Clear Embossing Powder 
• Heat tool 
• Glue 
• Small paintbrush 
• Watercolor paper 
• Black watercolor paper 
• Water 
• Paper towel 


Create a Special Father’s Day Card

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By Anna Escalada York

– My dad passed away a few years ago, so I didn’t feel like making a traditional Father’s Day card. Instead, I wanted to make a card that reflected his life as a farmer. He grew citrus in central Arizona for over twenty years and citrus trees always remind me of him.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper with a mid-sized die cut in a nesting A2-sized die set. Then spray the inside of a citrus-themed embossing folder with Eucalyptus colored Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution. Wipe off the Eucalyptus colored Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution off of the lower tangerines and the flowers and tangerine on the upper right corner of the embossing folder. Then place the watercolor paper panel inside the embossing folder before running it through a die cutting machine. Remove the panel from the embossing folder and set aside to dry.

Step 2:
Use a combination of Memento Markers and Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray to color in the flowers, tangerines, branches and leaves on the card panel. Starting with the flower petals, I colored the flowers’ outlines with Rose Bud Memento Marker and then watercolored the petals with Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. The centers of the flowers were colored with Cantaloupe Memento Marker before watercoloring them with Dandelion Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. The leaves were watercolored with Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray.

The branches were watercolored with Rich Cocoa Memento Marker and the tangerines were watercolored with Tangelo Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. After everything dried, a light watercolor layer of Dandelion Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray was painted over the flower petals. Splatter some of the remaining Dandelion, Cottage Ivy, and Tangelo Fireworks!

Shimmer Craft Spray over the panel. Set the panel aside to dry again.

Step 3:
Press edges of the card panel into Celstial Copper Delicata Ink pad and heat emboss the edges with Champagne Mboss Embossing Powder (retired-substitute)

Step 4:
Die cut a piece of brown cardstock with the next-largest die from nesting die set from step 1. Paint the branches with glitter glue. Allow to dry and then glue the two panels together and then glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white card base.

Step 5:
Stamp the sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Use a sentiment strip die (from the same set as the sentiment itself) to die cut the sentiment.

Step 6:
Press the edges of the sentiment strip into the Celestial Copper Delicata ink pad and heat emboss with more of the Champagne Mboss embossing powder (retired).

Step 7:
To finish the card, attach the sentiment strip onto the card panel with foam tape.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Pigment Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray colors:
– Cottage Ivy
– Dandelion
– Lilac Posies
– Tangelo
• Mboss Embossing Powder – Champagne (Retired)
• Memento Marker – Cantaloupe
• Memento Marker – Cantalo, Rich Cocoa and Rose Bud
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Eucalyptus

Other
• Altenew – Embossing Folder – Tangerine Grove
• Altenew – Foam Tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Hero Arts – Stamp and Die Set – Essential Messages Stamp & Cut XL
• Glitter Glue
• Simon Says Stamp – Die Set – Squovals
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Glue
• Watercolor Paper
• Brown Cardstock

Let’s Make a Graduation-Themed Gift Card

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By Anna Escalada York

– As a high school teacher, it is time to get ready for graduation! I have lots of seniors and want to say goodbye with a handmade card. This card design allows for a discreet gift card to be tucked into the front and features our school’s colors–maroon and silver.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours (including dry time)

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut a gift card holder out of watercolor paper and spray with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Allow the spray to dry and then spray a second time to intensify the color. Allow the spray to dry a second time.

Step 2:
Trim another piece of watercolor paper into three strips approximately 1” high by 5.5” long and die cut each of the dies with the top part of the same die cut from step 1. Use a sponge dauber to ink blend one of the strips with London Fog Memento Ink and set aside.

Step 3:
Ink blend the two remaining die-cut watercolor strips with Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink with a second sponge dauber.

Step 4:
Spray all three die cut strips with more of the Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray to add some sparkle. Set the strips aside do dry.

Step 5:
Spray the large die cut gift card holder with London Fog Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray and set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Stamp both the sentiment and a graduation cap stamp on watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. Heat emboss both with clear embossing powder and then die cut them with their corresponding dies. While die cutting the sentiment, use the same die to die cut a piece of of black glitter cardstock.

Step 7:
Glue the three die cut strips and the gift card holder onto a white card panel (or in my case a watercolor smooshed panel made for another project that used some leftover London Fog Memento Ink mixed with some water), making sure that the top of the gift holder doesn’t get glued onto the card (so it can still be used to hold a gift card).

Then color the edges of the panel with a VersaMarker in order to heat emboss the outside edges with silver embossing powder. Then color some small star stamps on the lower left corner of the card and toward the middle of the card with the same VersaMarker to add more silver embossing powder.

Step 8:
Not pictured: Color the rays and stars stamp in the upper center part of the gift card holder with more of the Clear Embossing Powder and then heat emboss it with more silver embossing powder.

Next, attach the stamp die cut over the rays with foam tape. Then offset glue the stamped sentiment die cut so that the black glitter cardstock can be seen peeking out on the right side. Glue the whole thing on the lower right corner of the greeting card.

Step 9:
Die cut small stars out of black glitter cardstock and glue them around the stamped rays and the graduation cap. To finish the card, glue the whole card panel onto a white A2-sized card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – London Fog
• Memento Ink – London Fog and Rhubarb Stalk
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
• VersaMarker – Clear
• Sponge Daubers

Other

• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Emily Moore Designs – die set – Horizontal Pocket Die
• Elle’s Studio – stamp and die set – Retired stamp set in my stash (used for the sentiment, stars and rays stamps)
• Sizzix – die cut – Christmas Cutouts (retired)
• Unity Stamp Co. – stamp and die set – Snarky Graduation Clear Embossing Powder
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Heat tool
• Glue
• Watercolor paper
• Black glitter cardstock

Create Your Own Fairy Tale Card

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By Anna Escalada York

I am a big fantasy nerd, and was so excited when we were given the option to share a fairy tale project with you this month.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a dragon and a small mountain range on watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss them with clear ink. Then die cut both images with their corresponding dies.

Step 2:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper with an A2-sized background die. Take the circular die cut element from the die cut watercolor paper and using an old sponge dauber–which has some parts of the sponge missing due to heavy use–to rub more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink across it. Then spray the die cut circle with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Set aside to dry.

Step 3:
Color the die cut dragon with Desert Sand and Lilac Posies Memento Dual Markers.

Step 4:
Add Gold irRESTible medium onto the 4 freckles on the dragon’s hip using the Pico Embellisher. Then mix some of the Gold irRESTible medium with water and splatter the black die cut circle.

With the remaining irRESTible medium mixed with water, paint the wings and belly of the dragon to add some shine. Set aside to dry.

Step 5:
Color the mountains with Rich Cocoa Memento Dual Marker. Then press a White Shimmer Delicata Ink pad onto some acetate packaging and spay with water. Use this shiny watercolor to paint the clouds and snowy tips of the mountains. (While you can’t see this in the picture, the Delicata ink added some subtle shine to the image.) Watercolor smoosh the remaining watercolor onto the circular die cut and allow everything to dry.

Step 6:
Returning to the die cut watercolor panel from step 2, stamp a sentiment on the lower right corner of the panel with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then press more of the White Shimmer Delicata ink mixed with water onto the panel to add some sparkle. Allow to dry.

Step 7:
Assemble the card. Glue both parts of the watercolor panel onto an A2-sized white card base. Glue the mountain range as well as gold stars and rhinestones onto the panel. Then attach the dragon with foam tape to give her some dimension to finish the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – White Shimmer
• irRESTible Medium – Gold
• Memento Dual Marker – Desert Sand
• Memento Dual Marker – Lilac Posies
• Memento Dual Marker – Rich Cocoa
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
• Sponge Dauber

Other
• Altenew – foam tape -Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Altenew – stamp set – Block Sentiments (retired)
• Mama Elephant – die set – Midnight Cover
• Mama Elephant – die set – Me and My Dragon
• Mama Elephant – stamp set – Me and My Dragon
• Scrappy Tails Crafts – embellishments – Starry Christmas Night mix
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat tool Glue
• Watercolor paper

Watercolored Daffodils Thank You Card

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By Anna Escalada York

After winter holidays, my family always needs thank you notes. I really love this wonderful daffodils stamp set and wanted to use it to make one of those cards.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp the main floral stamp on a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then die cut the image with a mid-sized background panel die

Step 2:
Spray Dandelion Fireworks! Craft Spray onto acetate packaging and watercolor smoosh the two flowers.

Step 3:
Color the corona (the central part of the flower) with the Tangerine Fabrico Dual Marker.

Step 4:
Press the Emerald Green Delicata ink pad onto acetate. Then spray Pear Tart Fireworks! Craft Spray onto the same acetate. Mix the ink and spray together. Press the acetate onto the daffodil’s stem and leaf. Then paint the leaf and stem with the remaining green mix. After the image has dried, spray the mix with water to dilute the green. Paint the sides with this lighter color green watercolor. (I ended up using my finger to spread the watercolor the way I wanted, but I don’t mind getting messy!) After this layer dried, press the Emerald Green Delicata ink pad onto the edge of the die cut. Heat emboss the inked edge with more clear embossing powder.

Step 5:
Die cut light green patterned paper with the next-largest die from the background panel die cut set. Brush the Emerald Green Delicata ink around the edges of the panel to mask the pattern and make the green more intense.

Step 6:
Stamp the sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine CLair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then trim the sentiment with a paper trimmer.

Step 7:
Trim a piece of the same light green patterned paper a little bit bigger than the sentiment strip with the paper trimmer. Press the edges into the Emerald Green Delicata ink pad and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 8:
Assemble the card. Glue the two panels together. Glue the sentiment strip onto the light green, slightly bigger strip. Then attach the sentiment strip to the card panel with foam tape. Glue green and yellow sequins around the sentiment and daffodils. To finish the card, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Emerald Green
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – Dandelion and Pear Tart
• Fabrico Dual Marker Tangerine
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne

Other
• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – North Pole
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Squovals
• Visible Images – stamp set – Golden Daffodils
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Glue
• Green patterned paper
• Watercolor paper
• A2-sized white card base