Category Archives: 2024 AIRS TEAM

Watercolored Lunar New Year’s Card

Posted on by

By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends… Helen is here today. Today, I would like to share an idea to make a Lunar New Year card. Lunar New Year marks the new month for the new year in oriental calendar and it is also the beginning of Spring. Today we are going to do some watercoloring with Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Sprays and layer stamping technique.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

First, cut out a piece of watercolor paper (I used 140 lb watercolor paper) into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch.

Spray the Fireworks! Summer Sky and Bahama Blue on the craft mat, and lightly spray with water to create the watercolor ink blends on the craft mat.

Smoosh the watercolor paper to the ink and repeat it until the watercolor inks cover the paper. You can dry the ink in between smooshing for extra texture and more layers of colors. Dry the whole panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 2

Put the watercolored background panel on the stamping tool.

Stamp the fish images on it with the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad. Repeat it if needed.

Dry the stamped images well with a craft heat gun and put it back on the stamping tool.

Step 3

Stamp the bottom layer of the lily pad leaf with the VersaFine Clair Grass Green ink pad.

Move the position of the stamp to a different spot and stamp again.

Repeat it until you like the pond scene on the card.

Dry the stamped images well with a craft heat gun and put it back on the stamping tool.

Step 4

Next is to stamp the second layer of the lily pad leaf. Position the stamp on top of the first stamped image and then stamp it with the VersaFine Clair Green Oasis ink pad.

Repeat it until you stamp on all the first layer stamped images.

Dry the stamped images well with a craft heat gun and put it back on the stamping tool.

Step 5

Next is to stamp the third layer of the lily pad leaf which means it is the top layer of the layer stamps. Usually it would be the darkest color of the color combo.

Position the stamp on top of the previous stamped image and then stamp it with the VersaFine Clair Rain Forest ink pad.

Repeat it until you stamp on all the stamped images.

Dry the stamped images well with a craft heat gun.

Step 6

This is the fun part: watercoloring with the Fireworks! Shimmer Craft Spray.

Spray a little bit of each color of the Lady Bug, Dandelion, and Tangelo directly on the craft mat. I only sprayed it once and no water was added.

Pick up the ink color and start watercoloring the koi fishes. Each color will blend well.

For a lighter pigment color, you spray a little bit of water and mix it together.

Step 7

DO NOT WIPE OFF the left over of the Fireworks! Shimmer Craft Sprays on the mat.

Spray more water on it and smoosh a piece of watercolor paper on it to get another watercolored background panel.

Dry it well with a craft heat gun and set side so you can use for your next project.

Step 8

Stamp the water ripple stamps all over the panel with a stamping block using the VersaMagic Cloud White Dew Drop ink.

This will give the water ripple effect that those koi fishes swimming under the water.

One more time dry the whole panel with a craft heat gun to make sure all the inks are set well on the watercolor paper.

Step 9

Cut a piece of heavyweight heat-resistant vellum paper into 1 inch x 4.75 inch.

Put it on the stamping tool and secure it with the magnets.

Stamp the sentiment in the middle of the vellum paper with Brilliance Galaxy Gold Dew Drop ink.

Carefully remove it from the stamping tool and dry the ink with a craft heat gun.

Step 10

Add the sentiment vellum strip on the background panel and fold the extra flap to the behind of the panel and secure it with some of the On Point Glue.

Add the whole finished panel to the card base with On Point Glue. Hold it down for a couple minutes until the glue dries well.

The card is done.

This watercolored Lunar New Year card is flat enough to send it in regular mail for sure. I hope you will give this tutorial a try to create your own flat card yet has some layers effect on it.

Thank you so much for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Koi Pond stamp set (Ink On 3)
  • Bunting stamp set (Avery Elle)
  • Watercolor paper (heavyweight, about 140 lbs / 300 gr)
  • Vellum paper (heavyweight and heat-resistant)
  • White Cardstocks
  • Stamping Tool
  • Acrylic stamping block
  • Waterbrush
  • Bonefolder
  • Paper trimmer
  • Craft heat gun

Make a Postal Style Birthday Card

Posted on by

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!

It’s Ceal, back to share with you. Today I am sharing a birthday card using some postage stencils which are all the rage lately.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies. For this project you will need several colors of inks, postage stencils and a postage die.

Step 1:
Using VersaFine Clair Charming Pink, ink the first layering stencil.

Step 2:
Using VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze, ink up the second layering stencil.

Step 3:
Using VersaFine Clair Verdant, ink the strawberry, the candles and the streamers.

Step 4:
Using VersaFine Clair Lilac, ink the candle and over the present.

Step 5:
Using VersaFine Clair Sand Dune, ink the cake portion.

Step 6:
Using VersaFine Clair Charming Pink, ink over the cake frosting again with a heavy hand, the cupcake up top I inked with what ink was left on the brush.

Step 7:
Using VersaFine Clair Cheerful, ink over the candle flames and streamers.

Step 8:
Stamp sentiment and postage with VersaFine Clair Nocturne.

Supplies:

Imagine Products
• VersaFine Clair
– Nocturne, Charming Pink, Cheerful, Verdant, Warm Breeze, Lilac and Sand Dune

Other Products
• Postage Die – Waffle Flower
• Birthday Postage Stencil- Waffle Flower
• Birthday Postage Stamp Set – Waffle Flower

Create Monochromic Butterfly Card with Bright Blues

Posted on by

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

Let’s Make Winter Decor

Posted on by

By Anna Escalada York

It was time to reuse a small piece of wood to create a small piece of winter decor to add a little fun to a bookshelf. The stars feature wintery colors (blues and white) surrounded by some winter greenery, a snowflake and sparkly elements.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours (active time) + dry time

Directions


Step 1:
Cover the wood block with a layer of Gesso. Allow to dry. Then stamp the block repeatedly with Golden Glitz Delicata Ink on a small woodblock star stamp.

Step 2:
Ink blend a piece of die cut watercolor paper with Blue Belle VersaFine Clair Ink using an ink dauber.

Step 3:
Press the dauber of a Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top stick along the edges of the blue die cut star. After drying, press the edge of the Golden Glitz Delicata Ink pad along the edges to enhance the gold border of the star.

Step 4:
Glue a book page onto a scrap of cardstock. After the glue has dried, die cut the glued page with a smaller star. Then press a Champagne Delicata ink pad directly onto the die cut book page to obscure some of the words on the page and add sparkle.

Not pictured: Die cut a piece of sparkly vellum. This die-cut star should be in between the other two in size.

Step 5:
Ink blend the sides of the star with Paradise VersaFine Clair Ink with a sponge dauber.

Step 6:
Press a stencil into a Night Sky VersaMagic Chalk Ink pad. Then spray the stencil with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Press the inky side of the stencil onto the wood block. Keep the stencil in place by placing something heavy (such as a large wood stamp or book) on top of both and allow the ink to dry. Then remove the stencil.

Step 7:
Spray Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution (in Walnut Ink color) onto a small piece of watercolor paper. After it dried, die cut with a branch die cut.

Step 8:
Color the greenery. Press a Rain Forest VersaFine Clair Ink pad onto a piece of water color paper. After the ink dries, die cut two pieces of evergreen needles.

Not pictured: Spray New Sprout Fireworks! Craft Spray onto another piece of watercolor paper. After the spray dried, die cut the watercolor paper with a mistletoe die.

Step 9:
Add a sentiment on the lower right corner of the block with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 10:
(My camera lost the picture of this step. I wanted you to at least see the gold snowflake on the finished project.)

Press Golden Glitz Delicata Ink onto another piece of watercolor paper. Then heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the paper with a small snowflake die. (The whole snowflake was tucked behind the star in the next step.

Step 11:
Assemble the project. Glue the die cut snowflake in the lower left corner of the block and the greenery (branch, mistletoe and pine needles) in the upper right corner. Add glue along the edges of both the large, dark blue and small book page stars and add glitter. Allow to dry. Then add glue along the upper right and lower left corner of the block and add more glitter. Allow the glue to dry.

Layer the three layers of star die cuts. Glue the medium onto the large dark blue star. Then attach the small book page layer onto the vellum layer with foam tape. After the glue dries, attach the layered star onto the block with more foam tape. Glue star embellishments in the upper left and lower right corners of the block to finish the project.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Champagne and Golden Glitz
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – New Sprout
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• Sheer Shimmer Stick Dauber – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne, Blue Belle, Paradise, Rain Forest and Night Sky
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Walnut Ink color
• Sponge Dauber

Other

• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape Golden –
• Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Nested Stars Wafer Dies
• Simon Says Stamp – embellishment mix – North Star
• The Crafter’s Workshop – stencil – Stained Glass (TCW 462S)
• Unity Stamp Company – stamp set – …shake your flakes (December Unity Sentiment Kit 2022)
• Woodblock star stamp in my stash
• Small branch die
• Evergreen needles die
• Mistletoe die
• Small snowflake die
• Clear Embossing Powder

Make an Adorable Shaker Ornament Gift Tag

Posted on by

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello Crafty Friends,
It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing how to make this Gift Tag with a Shaker Ornament attached.  The recipient can also use the Shaker Ornament for a gift tag if they want.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Gather your supplies. For this project you will need a MISTI Lite or other stamping platform, a Grip or Sticky Mat, a shaker element die set (I used a snow globe) a tag die set, and a die cutting machine. I used several colors of VersaFine Clair ink in Rain Forest, Blue Belle and Warm Breeze

Step 1:
Cut out all your die cut pieces. I ended up also using some trees and a snowman from an old Hero Arts set. You will need 2 frames and two bases of the snow globe

Step 2:
Mask off the bottom portion of the snow globe for the snow.

Step 3:
Using Warm Breeze, ink the bottom portion above the mask.

Step 4:
Using Blue Belle, ink the top portion of the snow globe.

Step 5:
Cover the bottom portion of the snow globe and splatter the top portion with watered down white acrylic paint for the snow.

Step 6:
Ink the trees using Rain Forest ink and color the hat, arms, face, and button of the snowman with a marker.

Step 7:
Add all the elements, trees and snowman to the base.

Step 8:
Recycle and add some packaging to one of the globes to create the shaker.

Step 9:
Add some glitter or sequins to the front of the snow globe and add foam tape to the back of the snow globe frame.

Tip- always add liquid glue on the foam tape so it gives a minute to move it if needed. Glue the two together.

Step 10:
Cut out a tag and stamp a greeting on it. Add a string to the snow globe and then place another backer over it for a clean look.

Add the shaker snow globe to the gift tag.

Craft Supplies:

Imagine products:
• VersaFine Clair – Warm Breeze, Blue Belle and Rain Forest

Other Products:
• Tag Dies- Hero Arts
• Trees and snowman dies – Hero Arts
• Snow Globe Dies – Taylored Expressions

 Create a Winter Card with Minimal Supplies 

Posted on by

By Jessica Lin 

Skill: Beginner 
Time: 15 minutes 

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I have a beginner-friendly project to share with you. If you are just starting out and don’t have many ink pads, this tutorial is for you. I will be sharing some stamping techniques to help you create shades of color with just one ink pad. So let’s get started!

Step 1:
The ink pad I will be using today is VersaFine Clair Spruce. It is perfect for stamping the pine tree images from Stampin’ Up’s Winter Woods set. I stamped the image in the center on a piece of 3 ½’’ x 4 ¾’’ Soft Seafoam cardstock. 

Step 2:
Then I stamped a different pine tree image on the left and right at various heights. You might notice that some of the pine trees appear darker; that is because I stamped the image twice. By using a stamp positioning tool, you can restamp an image at the same spot. In this case, it creates a darker shade of color even though you are using the same color ink pad. On the very left, there is a pine tree that looks lighter in color. To achieve this effect, you can stamp lightly on a piece of scrap paper first. Then, using the leftover ink, stamp on the cardstock to create a lighter shade. 

Step 3:
I then sprinkled some diluted white acrylic paint for a snowing effect. Once the acrylic paint is dried, you can stamp the sentiment. I decided to use Stampin’ Up’s Merry Christmas to All stamp set and stamped it with Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink pad. 

Step 4:
For an even more dramatic snow effect, you could add white Neon Amplify to the bottom edge of the cardstock. I drew a wavy pattern that mimics the looks of piles of snow. You don’t have to wait for the puff paint to dry, you can heat set it with a heat gun immediately and the paint will puff up! 

Step 5:
Then I adhered the stamped panel to a piece of Shaded Spruce cardstock that measures 3 ¾’’ x 5’’. After that, mount the cardfront to an A2 Mint Macaron cardbase. For some finishing touches, I adhered some white and gold sequins with On-Point Glue, and this holiday card is complete! 

Imagine Supplies: 

● VersaFine Clair – Spruce 
● Brilliance – Galaxy Gold 
● Neon Amplify – White 
● On-Point Glue 
● StazOn Cleaner 
● Tear It! Tape 
● Craft Mat 

Other Supplies: 

● Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Winter Woods 
● Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Merry Christmas to All 
● Stampin’ Up! – Cardstock – Soft Seafoam, Shaded Spruce, Mint Macaron 
● Heat gun 
● Gold and white sequins