Category Archives: Helen Gullett

Batik Cards Using is Heat-Embossing Resist Technique

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! One of my favorite cardmaking techniques is heat-embossing resist. Today, I want to share with you how to make these Batik cards using this technique. It is a technique you can use to create fun and colorful backgrounds with heat embossing and ink blending.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1
Cut out a piece of 8.5 inch x 11 inch white cardstock into 4 panels of 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch.

Using a blending brush, add some of the VersaFine Clair Avocado ink to one of the white cardstock panels.

Dry the ink on the cardstock with a craft heat gun.

Step 2
Add some of the anti-static powder all over the inked panel.

Stamp the images with VersaMark ink and add some of the clear embossing powder. Heat the embossing powder with a craft heat gun.

Using a blending brush, add some of the VersaFine Clair Grass Green ink on the panel.

Carefully dry the ink on it, not to make the embossed images melt too much. Let it cool down before touching it. Gently wipe off the extra ink with paper towel.

Step 3
Add again the anti-static powder on the panel.

Stamp the next images with VersaMark ink and add some of the clear embossing powder. Heat the embossing powder with a craft heat gun.

Step 4
After heating up the embossing powder, crumble the cardstock. Depending on the cardstock you use, you can spray the back of the cardstock lightly with water and then crumble it.

Flat it back on the craft mat and use the bone folder to smooth it down. You won’t get perfectly smooth cardstock back but the crumble lines are the one that will give the texture that we need for the batik look.

Step 5
The next step is adding more color to the panel!

Use the blending brush, add some of the VersaFine Clair Spruce ink on the panel.

You will start to see the pattern. Add more ink if needed to get more contrast between 3 colors.

Use a paper towel to wipe off the extra ink off the embossed images.

Step 6
On a piece of white cardstock, stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.

Dry the inked sentiment with a craft heat gun.

Step 7
Use a paper trimmer to trim the sentiment into a label size and punch a hole on one of the side.

Use a paper distress tool or a knife to distress all the edges of the background panel.

Step 8
Add the background panel on the card base using On Point Glue.

Wrap around some of the burlap twine on the card, before tie it up, add the sentiment label on the card. Put the tail of the burlap twine through the label hole. Glue the sentiment on the card with some white foam and Tear It! Tape.

Tie up the burlap twine into a bow.

This Batik cardmaking technique works well with solid images because of the heat embossing resist effect. You can pick any 2-3 colors of inks you can use that compliment each other.

Here’s the different look of the Batik card I made using the same heat embossing technique but simpler. So, instead of multiple times heat-embossing the images and blending the inks, this one is only once. Here’s the simpler steps:

First, heat emboss the image directly to the white cardstock panel.

Second, crumble the cardstock, flat it out back using a bone folder.

Third, using blending brush add the ink on the cardstock starting with the light color, medium color, then dark color.

I hope you will give this Batik technique a try and play around with different colors. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today.

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Nature Silhouettes 3 Clear Stamp Set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Simple Sentiments Clear Stamp Set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Burlap Twines
  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock 80 lb
  • White fun foam
  • Blending brushes
  • Stamping tool
  • Acrylic stamping blocks
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Hole Punch
  • Distresser Tool
  • Bone Folder
  • Bottle Sprayer / Mister Bottle
  • Paper Towel

CAS Valentine’s Day Card

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! Valentine’s Day is around the corner and today, I have a love themed CAS card idea to share with you all. It is a fun and quick card to make to spread love with others through handmade cards.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1
Cut out a piece of Canson watercolor paper into 4.5 inch x 6 inch that you want to use as your background panel. I use 9×12 Canson watercolor paper and trim it into 2 panels.

Dab randomly the Memento inks (Love Letter & Rose Bud) on the background stamp.

Spray lightly with the Ink Potion No. 9.

Step 2
Add the watercolor panel to the inked stamp and firmly press it down to the stamp. Try to center it to the stamp.

Carefully move around your finger all over the watercolor panel to get the ink transferred well.

Lift up the paper off the stamp and you will get the first watercolor print background. There are still some inks left on the stamp, pray again with the Ink Potion No.9 to get the second print out of it.

Step 3
Repeat step 2 but instead of moving your hand all over the paper, you can try to just partially press the paper to get partially watercolor background print just like on the right panel in the picture.

Step 4
This layered stamping technique is easier done with a position stamping tool if you have it. If you do not have it, clear acrylic stamping blocks work, too. Cut out a white cardstock into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch.

Stamp the outline flower images with a Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad.

Stamp the solid background flower images with a Rose Bud ink pad, then stamp the shadow flower images with a Rhubarb Stalk ink pad.

Stamp the leaves images with a Bamboo Leaves ink pad.

Step 5
Stamp the sentiment with a Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad at the extra space of the cardstock panel.

Step 6
Cut out all the flower pieces with the matching dies. Optional, if you don’t have the matching dies to your stamp set, you can fussy cut it with scissors.

Cut out the sentiment with one of the Label framelits dies.

Step 7
Rip the top and bottom of the watercolor background panel to give some texture to the background panel.

Optional: You can use the whole watercolor background panel as your background.

Wrap around some of the Burlap twine around the background panel and tie up a bow.

Add it to the card base with some of the Tear It! Tape.

Step 8
Add some of the Tear It Tape! to both sides of the white fun foam and cut it into a 3D foam tape strip. Add some of them to the flowers and sentiment label.

Add each of the flowers and sentiment to the card.

Step 9
Add some of the white pearl gems with some of the On Point Glue to embellish the card.

Hope this CAS card project gives you an idea to make some Valentine’s Day. Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Have a fabulous day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Layered Rose Stamp & Die Set (Dare 2B Artzy)
  • Label framelits die set (Dare 2B Artzy, retired)
  • Hearts Background Stamp (A Jillian Vance Design, retired)
  • Burlap Twines
  • Pearl gems
  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock 80 lb
  • Canson  Watercolor paper 140 lb
  • White fun foam
  • MISTI stamping tool
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Paper trimmer
  • Die cutting Machine

Love-Themed Art Journaling Page

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! Can you feel the love fill the air? With love in our hearts and minds today, we are going to have fun creating this Love Wins art journaling page together.
Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 45-60 minutes

Direction:

Step 1
Cut out the Canson watercolor leftover or strips into squares and rectangles.
Add the pieces to the journal page with On Point Glue. Let them dry well for a few minutes.
This will create the tile background to give extra texture to the journal page.
(Optional: you can skip this if you want to have smoother background to your page)

Step 2
Add some of the texture paste around the corners and edges of the journal page using a stencil and palette knife.
Remove the stencil and wash it right away with warm water.
Let the texture paste to dry. You can use a craft heater to speed up the drying time, but be very careful to not heat it up too much, move around your craft heat all over the page. Let the page cool down.

Step 3
This is a fun step!
Start spraying your page with the Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray, one color at the time. You do not need to wait for each color to dry to spray the next one. It is fun to watch how each color blends together.
Use a craft heater to dry the background.
Optional: you can repeat spraying until you get the color blending you like to have.

Step 4
Add some of the Wedding Dress Memento Luxe ink to the page using your finger on the texture paste heart on the background. This will bring out the hearts and muted the bright colors a little bit.
Dry the background with a craft heat gun.

Step 5
Building up the background texture on the journal page by randomly stamping each texture stamp one by one using the Memento Luxe ink pads (Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Espresso Truffle) and VersaFine Clair Charming Pink ink pad.
Dry the ink after stamping each image on the journal page.

Step 6
Using sponge dauber, add some of the Memento Luxe Rick Cocoa ink around the corner of the page to create the shadow border.
Dry the ink with a craft heat gun.

Step 7
On a piece of white cardstock, stamp the letters for the title or sentiment using VersaFine Clair Charming Pink inkpad. Dry the stamped letters with a craft heat gun.
Cut out each letter with scissors.
Add some of the VersaFine Clair Charming Pink ink around the edges of the letters using a sponge dauber to give some shadows effect to the letters.

Step 8
Add each letter to the journal page with On Point Glue.

Step 9
This is an optional step.
I decided to muted down the Rick Cocoa border by adding some of the Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink with a blending brush.

Step 10
Add some shimmer sparkle to the page by spraying some of the Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritzer.
Dry the whole page once more time with a craft heat gun.
It’s done.

Let unconditional love fill each of your hearts every day so we can show love to others. At the end… Love wins!
Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day.

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Texture Tiles 1 stamp set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Grunge Elements 3 stamp set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Mini Marks 1 stamp set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Shake It Off Caps Alpha stamp set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Hearts Galore stencil (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Canson Watercolor Cardstock (leftover or paper strips)
  • White cardstock
  • White Gesso
  • Texture Paste
  • Flat brush
  • Tweezers
  • Blending brush
  • Stamping Blocks
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Craft heat gun
  • Paper trimmer
  • Die cutting Machine

“Sending Warm Greetings” Holiday Card

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! Winter is here and today we are going to make this winter theme card to send some warm greetings to friends and family. Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

Cut out a piece of the heavyweight white cardstock into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch.

Put it on the craft mat and make sure there is nothing around it since we are going to play with some craft sprays!

Start randomly spraying some of the Fireworks Shimmer Craft Sprays (Lulu Lavender, Grape Jelly, Bahama Blue, Paris Dusk) on the cardstock to create the background panel.

Set aside to dry or speed up the drying process with a craft heat gun.

Step 2

After removing the cardstock, do not wipe off the extra inks on the craft mat.

Grab a couple more cardstocks to create more background panels.

Spray extra water to get lighter colors effect on the cardstocks.

Set them aside to dry or speed up the drying process with a craft heat gun.

Step 3

Cut another piece of heavyweight white cardstock with the snowflake background die using the die-cutting machine.

I added extra shim when cutting it because I used an intricate background die.

Step 4

Add the sprayed background panel to the card base with some of the On Point Glue. Press firmly for a few seconds until the glue dries.

Add some of the On Point Glue to the back of the cut out snowflake background panel. The fine point is perfect for this intricate die cut panel. Add it to the card and press firmly for a few seconds until the glue dries.

Step 5

Stamp the snowman image and sentiment on a piece of heavyweight white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad.

Step 6

Color the snowman image with alcohol markers.

Cut out the snowman with a matching die (or fussy cut it with scissors).

Cut out the sentiment with a small banner die.

Step 7

Add both snowman and sentiment to the card with On Point Glue.

Add extra shimmer to the card with some of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. I used a fan brush to add the splatters to the card.

Use a craft heat gun dry the splatters on the card.

The card is done… I can say this picture cannot justify the shimmer and sparkle on this card. But I love how this card turned out to be! I hope you will give it a try.

Thanks for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine:

Others:

  • White As Snow stamp and die set (Divinity Designs)
  • Snowflake Sky die set (Divinity Designs)
  • Large Banners die set (Divinity Designs)
  • Altenew Artist Markers
  • Heavyweight White Cardstocks
  • MISTI stamping tool
  • Craft heat gun
  • Fan brush
  • Paper trimmer
  • Die cutting Machine

Design a CAS Christmas Poinsettia Card

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By Helen Gullet

Hello crafty friends! It’s the time of the year to start making some Holiday projects. As for me, I love making and sending handmade Christmas cards. Today, I wanna share how to make this CAS Christmas Poinsettia Card.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

Cut out a piece of any color cardstock into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch that you want to use as your background panel.

I used all the words on the stamp set I used so I taped the whole sheet on the stamping tool lid instead of taking it out one by one. You can use any word stamp set you have to create a similar background pattern.

Stamp the words on the cardstock using VersaMark Dazzle. Make sure to cover the whole panel.

Step 2

Add some darker shadow to the edges of the background panel using Memento Dew Drop ink pads and finger sponge dauber.

First, add the Lady Bug ink on the panel, then add the Rhubarb Stalk ink, and then add the Lady Bug ink again to blend them together.

Step 3

Stamp each layer of the poinsettia flower with the Delicata Golden Glitz ink.

Stamp the middle buds part of the poinsettia with the Brilliance Cosmic Copper ink. Dry the stamped images with a craft heat gun.

Cut each of the images with their matching dies, or you can fussy cut them if you don’t have the matching dies.

Step 4

On a piece of white cardstock, stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, and then add some of the Sparkle Mboss Embossing Powder, then heat set it with a craft heat gun.

Cut the sentiment with the matching die set, or you can fussy cut it with scissors if you don’t have a matching die.

Step 5

Distress all edges of the background panel with distresser tool or scissors. Add the background panel to the card base with some of the Tear It! Tape.

Add the poinsettia flowers and the sentiment to the card with some of the fun foam and Tear It! Tape for some dimension.

Step 6

For more extra sparkle to the Christmas card, add some splatters of the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray using a fan brush.

Use the craft heat gun to dry the splatters.

Hope this Christmas card gives you an idea to start your Holiday projects. Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Have a fabulous day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine:

  • Memento (Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug)

Others:

  • Poinsettia Wishes Stamp & Die Bundle (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock 80 lb
  • Neenah Cardstock Multi colors
  • Fan brush
  • MISTI stamping tool
  • Stamping Blocks
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Craft heat gun
  • Paper trimmer
  • Die cutting Machine

Make a Beautiful Winter Wedding Card

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends!

Today, I want to share with you this Winter theme wedding card that you can make to have it ready in your handmade card stash.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1
Cut out a piece of light gray cardstock into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch.
Run it through your embossing machine with the snowflake embossing folder.
Lightly rub the StazOn Pigment ink up on top of the embossed cardstock to add the white color on the snowflake.
Since it is pigment ink, the ink will take a longer time to dry so you can use a craft heat gun to dry the ink.
Cut it with one of the Double Stitched Rectangle Dies.

Step 2
Stamp the wedding cake image on a piece of watercolor cardstock with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink using a stamping tool. I stamped the image twice to get a bolder print on it.
Memento Dew Drop and Sheer Shimmer Sparkle to create sparkle watercolor paint. Dab the ink on the craft mat and add some of the sheer shimmer, mix together.
First paint the cake with the Peanut Brittle ink. Dry the watercolor paint with a craft heat gun after painting.
Next, color the flowers with the Love Letter ink. Dry the watercolor paint with a craft heat gun after painting.
Then, color the leaves with the Pistachio ink. Dry the watercolor paint with a craft heat gun after painting.

Step 3
Then color the berries and other branches with the Teal Zeal ink. Dry the watercolor paint with a craft heat gun after painting.
Last, color the base stand with the Gray Flannel ink.  Dry the watercolor paint with a craft heat gun after painting.
Fussy cut the wedding cake with micro-tip scissors.

Step 4
Cut out a piece of vellum paper with one of the double stitched oval dies and one of the double stitched pennant flag dies.
Stamp the sentiment on a piece of gray cardstock with StazOn Pigment Snowflake ink pad using the stamping tool.
Cut the sentiment with the smaller size of the double stitched pennant flat dies that match with the vellum.

Step 5
Add the embossed background to the card base with Tear It! Tape.
Add the wedding cake on the oval vellum with some of the On Point Glue, then add them to the card with some of the Tear It! Tape.
Stack the vellum pennant and sentiment pennant together using some of the Tear It! Tape and add them at the bottom of the cake with the same tape.
Embellish the card with some of the white gems using the On Point Glue.

I wish I could capture the sparkle glitter watercolor paint on the cake with my camera. But I love how this Winter theme wedding card turned out, and hopefully you will like it too!

Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Have a fabulous day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Long Lasting Love Stamp Set (Divinity Designs)
  • Double Stitched Rectangle Dies (Divinity Designs)
  • Double Stitched Oval Dies (Divinity Designs)
  • Double Stitched Pennant Flags Dies (Divinity Designs)
  • Snowflake Embossing Folder (Darice)
  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock
  • Neenah Grey Cardstock
  • Watercolor Cardstock
  • Bazzill Vellum Paper
  • White Gems
  • Small round water coloring brush
  • MISTI stamping tool
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Die cutting Machine and plates
  • Craft heat gun