Make a Mother’s Day Card with Ink Layering

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Are you planning on making a Mother’s Day card this year? I want to share a simple sketch that you can use with any layering stencils you may have.

Let’s begin crafting!

Step 1:
I am using Altenew’s Styled Background layering stencil set for today’s card. Let’s start by trimming a piece of Classic Crest Solar White to 3 ½’’ x 4 ¾’’. After that, we can start ink blending stencil 1 with Memento Lulu Lavender ink.

Step 2:
Next, ink blend Memento Summer Sky ink with stencil 2. I really like the idea of separating the floral images into two layers; it gives us so much creative freedom and the color combination is endless!

Step 3:
Stencil 3 is the base layer for leaves. I used Memento New Sprout ink. It may be difficult to spot in this photo, but I created a color gradient by blending more ink in some areas and having a lighter hand for others.

Step 4:
Now that the base images are ink blended, we can start with the layering. Stencil 4 includes leaf stems, and I used Memento Bamboo Leaves ink. This stencil also contains floral centers. Since the stems and floral centers are quite close to each other, I had to mask some areas while ink blending. If you have smaller blending brushes, you could skip the masking step.

Step 5:
I used Memento Paris Dusk ink to ink blend the floral centers.

Step 6:
This is what the background panel looks like after ink blending all 4 layers. I love the look of soft, pastel colors and am so pleased with the final result.

Step 7:
After ink blending, we are ready to add the sentiment of the card. I chose Stampin’ Up’s Mini Alphabet die to spell out “Happy Mother’s Day”, but you could use any sentiment die you may have. I decided to die cut with CutCardStock DCS Hydrangea Purple and Plum Purple for some added contrast. These cardstock have a smooth side and a textured side; I opted for the textured side today.

Step 8:
Next, trim a piece of CutCardStock DCS Hydrangea Purple to 3 ¾’’ x 5’’ and mount the ink blended panel on top. Then adhere it to a CutCardStock DCS Plum Purple card base. Finally, apply On-Point Glue to the back of the letter die cuts and adhere them to the card panel to complete the card!

Craft Supplies:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Altenew – Layering Stencil – Styled Backgrounds
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Mini Alphabet
  • Ink Blending Brushes
  • CutCardStock – Cardstock – Classic Crest Solar White
  • CutCardStock – Cardstock – Hydrangea Purple, Plum Purple

Create a Floral All-Occasions Card with VersaColor

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. I am so happy to be on Imagine Crafts’ design team again for 2026. If you have seen some of my creations before, you would notice that I love bold, bright colors. Today, I am sharing a floral card that features this vibrant orange from the VersaColor ink line.

Step 1:
I started out by preparing an A2 card base with Calypso Coral cardstock. Then I trimmed a piece of Dry Brushed Metallic paper to 3’’ x 4.5’’ as a background accent.

Step 2:
The stamp set I am using today is Flourishing Phrases from Stampin’ Up. I stamped the flower image with VersaColor Orange ink pad on a piece of 3.5’’ x 4’’ cardstock. For the leaves, I used VersaColor Bamboo ink pad.

Step 3:
I stamped another flower image on a scrap piece of cardstock and fussy cut it along the edge.

Step 4:
Then I die cut a circle with cross-stitch details and stamped the sentiment with VersaColor Bamboo ink.

Step 5:
The coordinating die set includes various floral designs that work well both by themselves and with the stamp images. I decided to die cut the largest design and cut it into 3 pieces to decorate around the sentiment. Finally, I adhered all of the elements onto the cardbase, added some rhinestones, and the card is complete!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Flourishing Phrases
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Flourish Thinlits
  • Stampin’ Up! – Patterned Paper – Dry Brushed Metallic
  • Stampin’ Up! – Cardstock – Calypso Coral

Make a Sweet Birthday Card with VersaMagic Pastel Ink Pads

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I am sharing a birthday card using one of my favorite ink pads – VersaMagic. They have great pastel colors that are just perfect for sorbet and ice cream images.

Step 1:
The first color I chose is VersaMagic Pixie Dust – it reminds me of the classic strawberry ice cream. I used it to stamp the ice cream scoop image from Stampin’ Up’s Sweet Ice Cream set.

Step 2:
Then I used VersaMagic Sea Breeze to stamp my second scoop of ice cream. You will notice that the ice cream image is not entirely solid. I really like the “watercolor” look it gives off.

Step 3:
For my last scoop of ice cream, I used VersaMagic Thatched Straw. A soft yellow like this is hard to find in the ink pad world. I have yet to find a similar hue as soft as this color.

Step 4:
Once the stamped images are left to dry for 5-10 minutes, I punched them out with the coordinating Ice Cream Cone Builder punch.

Step 5:
For the ice cream cones, I used VersaMagic Gingerbread and Sahara Sand. The darker one on top is stamped with Gingerbread, and the two lighter ones on the bottom are stamped with Sahara Sand.

Step 6:
I decided to heat emboss the sentiment on vellum to match the soft, pastel palette of the card. I stamped the “Happy Birthday” stamp with VersaMark Dazzle Champagne and heat embossed with white Mboss powder.

Step 7:
To complete the card, I adhered all of the elements onto a card panel that I embossed with Stampin’ Up Painted Texture embossing folder. I hope you enjoyed today’s tutorial and have a sweet day!

Products Used:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Sweet Ice Cream
  • Stampin’ Up! – Punch – Ice Cream Cone Builder
  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Painted Texture

Stamp a Gender-Neutral Birthday Card with VersaFine Clair Inks

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. I am always looking for ways to create gender-neutral birthday cards, and I am so excited to share a beginner-friendly version today. This plant stamp set has some punny sentiments for Valentine’s Day, too. Some of the phrases are perfect for all-occasions, which makes this set so versatile to pair up with the potted plants images.

Step 1:
Stamp the succulent plant with VersaFine Clair Grass Green ink pad. For the pot, use VersaFine Clair Sand Dune. Stamp another succulent image on a post-it note and fussy cut the image for masking in step 2. Tip: Stamp on the sticky edge of the post-it note so that the fussy cut image will turn into a temporary sticker

Step 2:
Mask the stamped succulent image with the fussy cut sticky note. Then stamp the second plant pot with VersaFine Clair Verdant and Acorn. Masking the succulent plant creates the illusion that it sits in front of the second plant pot. I did not overlap the two plants very much, but you could stamp the two closer together to emphasize the spatial arrangement.

Step 3:
For the third cactus plant, stamp with VersaFine Clair Green Oasis and Pinecone. I love the different shades of greens and browns in the VersaFine Clair line; they complement each other so well.

Step 4:
Lastly, stamp the outline images with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad. The super cute pun sentiment was also stamped with the same ink.

Step 5:
Trim the stamped card panel to 3 ½’’ x 4 ¾’’. Adhere it to a 3 ¾’’ x 5’’ piece of green cardstock, then adhere both layers to a cardbase with foam tape.

Step 6:
For the final finishing touch, add a few enamel drops from Doodlebug Sprinkles Limeade.

Products Used:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • iCrafter – Stamps – Positively Plants
  • Stampin’ Up! – Cardstock – Pear Pizzazz
  • Neenah – Cardstock – Desert Storm
  • Foam Tape
  • Doodlebug – Enamel Dots – Sprinkles Limeade

Make a One-of-a-Kind Stop-Motion Animation Card

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 40 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Interactive cards are so fun to make! Today, I am trying out a new kind of interactive mechanism that resembles stop-motion animation. I haven’t seen this type of papercraft before, and was surprised by the result. If you like interactive cards, be sure to check this out!

Step 1:
On a piece of 3 ¼’’ x 4 ⅝’’ white cardstock, stamp the larger butterfly image with VersaColor Pink ink pad. Try to stamp it straight with the help of a stamp positioning tool or a T-ruler.

Step 2:
Then, lining up the head and tail of the butterfly, stamp the smaller butterfly image with VersaColor Orange ink pad. The stamped image looks a little odd right now, but don’t fret, this was how the You Move Me stamp set from Stampin’ Up was designed.

Step 3:
On a piece of 3 ¾’’ x 5’’ yellow cardstock, die cut the window die from the coordinating die set. This window is going to be the key of the interactive mechanism. I die cut it towards the top of the card panel since I will be adding sentiment strips on the bottom.

Step 4:
Adhere thin foam strips around the sides and bottom of the die cut panel. Don’t forget to leave the top open! TIP: lay the stamped panel on top of the die cut panel, and adhere the foam strips as close to the die cut panel as possible. This would leave less wiggle room for the stamped panel to move around, creating a smoother fluttering effect. After that, adhere the die cut panel to an A2 white cardbase.

Step 5:
Punch a hole on the top of the stamped panel and add a small piece of ribbon on top.

Step 6:
Stamp additional floral elements with VersaColor Pink, Orange, Canary, and Green ink pads. Die cut each image with coordinating dies.

Step 7:
Stamp the sentiment with VersaColor Pink and Green ink pads. Adhere them to the front of the die cut panel, and this fun, interactive card is complete!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – You Move Me
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Move Me
  • Stampin’ Up! – Tool – Cut & Emboss Machine
  • We R – Tool – Precision Press Stamp Positioning Tool
  • Adhesive Foam Strips
  • White and Yellow Cardstock

Create Monochromic Butterfly Card with Bright Blues

By Jessica Lin

Skill Level: Medium
Time: 45 min

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I will be creating a butterfly card with bright blue colors. If you are looking for monochromic card ideas, just keep reading!

Step 1:
Stamp a bokeh background using Stampin’ Up’s Beauty Abounds stamp set. The stamp uses a unique technology to create light and dark shades even though I am only stamping with VersaFine Clair Blue Belle ink. I also tried to use splatter stamps to create a different background and that worked well, too.

Step 2:
Die cut the bottom butterfly layer with white cardstock and the top layer with light blue cardstock. Then adhere the top layer to the bottom layer. Since this is an intricate design with fine lines, I adhered Stick It adhesive to the blue cardstock before die cutting. This way, the blue top layer becomes a peel and stick. Alternatively, you could use glue with fine-tip nozzles, like the On Point Glue.

Step 3:
Then I spritzed a generous layer of Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Sparkle to create a subtle metallic shine on the butterfly die cut.

Step 4:
Stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad. This stamp is from Stampin’ Up’s Rooted in Nature set. I decided to cut around each word to create the tape label look.

Step 5:
Apply On Point Glue to the butterfly die cut, avoiding the overhang areas, and adhere to the bokeh background. Then mount the bokeh background to the card base with foam tape. Finally, adhere the sentiment with Tear-It Tape and embellish with some rhinestones, and the card is complete!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Beauty Abounds
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Butterfly Beauty
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Rooted in Nature (for the sentiment)
  • Foam Tape
  • Clear Rhinestones