Category Archives: 2024 AIRS TEAM

Quick and Easy Father’s Day Card with Memento Ink Blending

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By Jessica Lin –

Skill: Beginner 
Time: 30 minutes 

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Father’s Day is right around the corner. Do you have a card design in mind? I tend to struggle with masculine cards, so I decided to keep it simple this year with a geometric patterned background. Let’s take a look! 

Step 1:
Let’s start by trimming a piece of Classic Crest Solar White to 3 1/2” x 4 3/4”. This is my go-to cardstock – not only is it great for stamping, it is perfect for ink blending also. I am blending Memento Summer Sky ink with Altenew’s Styled Background stencil set. 

Step 2:
Next, turn the stencil 90 degrees, and ink blend with Memento Paris Dusk ink. I picked the light and dark blue color scheme today because it is gender-neutral, and they pair well with the DCS Blue Calico and Indigo Blue cardstock that I’ll be using later. 

Step 3:
Rotate the stencil once again, and ink blend with Memento New Sprout ink. You can see how smoothly the ink blends on the Classic Crest Solar White cardstock. There are no streaks or splotchy areas. 

Step 4:
For the last color, ink blend Memento Bamboo Leaves after you turn the stencil 90 degrees. 

Step 5:
This is what the final geometric pattern looks like after all of the ink blending. Since the Classic Crest Solar White cardstock has a really smooth surface, the end result looks like the patterns were airbrushed onto the paper. 

Step 6:
Now we are ready to add the sentiment of the card. I wanted the sentiment to match the patterned background, so I picked DCS Blue Calico and Indigo Blue cardstock. I die cut alphabet letters from these cardstock with Stampin’ Up’s Mini Alphabet die. One thing to keep in mind is that the DCS cardstock have a textured side with linear grains. Be sure to die cut letters of the same word by placing the dies in the same orientation to achieve a more cohesive result. 

Step 7:
Finally, trim a piece of DCS Blue Calico to 3 3/4” x 5” and adhere the ink blended panel on top. Then mount the layers onto an A2 sized card base with DCS Indigo Blue cardstock. Lastly, apply On-Point Glue to the back of the letter die cuts and adhere them to the card front to complete the card. 

Craft Supplies

Imagine Supplies: 

● Memento – Summer Sky, Paris Dusk, New Sprout, Bamboo Leaves 
● On-Point Glue 
● StazOn Cleaner 
● Tear-It!Tape 
● Craft Mat 

Other Supplies: 

● Altenew – Layering Stencil – Styled Backgrounds 
● Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Mini Alphabet 
● Ink Blending Brushes 
● CutCardStock – Cardstock – Classic Crest Solar White 


CutCardStock – Cardstock – Blue Calico, Indigo Blue 

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

Creative Inking Birthday Card Using a 3D Embossing Folder

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By Ceal Pritchett

– Hello everyone!
It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing how to create this bold look using a creative inking technique with a 3D embossing folder. 

Skill: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 30 mins

Directions:

Gather your supplies. You will need a 3D embossing folder, several colors of inks, either a sponge dauber or blending brush and a sentiment of choice.

Step 1:
Using a white A2 panel, run it through the die cutting machine using a #d embossing folder.
Tip: if you spritz it with water, it will be crisp.

Step 2:
On the debossed side of the panel, use a blending brush or sponge dauber ink blend green for the leaves. 

Step 3:
Using a blending brush or sponge dauber ink blend pink or color of choice in the flowers.
This looks like a hot mess right now but the next step will really define the image.

Step 4:
Using the ink pad and the direct to paper technique, run the ink pad over the debossed area that you colored and watch the image come to life and be defined. 

Craft Supplies:

 Imagine Products

• VersaFine Clair: Shady Lane, Baby Pink, Charming Pink and Medieval Blue 
• On Point Glue
• Sponge Daubers

Other Products:
• Translucent Foliage 3D embossing folder- Altenew

Clean and Simple Mother’s Day Card

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By Ceal Pritchett

– Hello crafty friends!

It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing how to make this Clean and simple Mother’s Day card using the Brilliance for shimmer and VersaMagic dew drops.

Skill: Beginner to intermediate
Time: 30 mins

Directions:

Gather your supplies. You will need a Mother’s Day stamp set or floral set as I have used here and a Mother’s Day sentiment. For inks I used a Brilliance Dew Drop and a VersaMagic Dew Drop

Step 1:
Ink your stamp with a black ink

Step 2:
Using the coordinating stencil and a blending brush or sponge dauber, ink blend a pearlescent pink on the flowers.

Step 3:
Using the coordinating stencil and a sponge dauber or blending brus, ink blend green chalk ink on the leaves.

Step 4:
Add embellishments of choice. I used some dew drops.

Supplies:

Imagine Products

Brilliance Dew Drop – Pearlescent Orchid
VersaMagic Dew Drop – Tea Leaves
On Point Glue

Other Products
Gentle Spring Stamp Set bundle – Concord & 9th
Mother Day Sentiment – Taylored Expressions
Misti Stamping Tool
Iridescent Dew Drops – Pinkfresh Studio

Create a Cute Mermaid Card with a Heat-Embossed Ocean Background

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By Jessica Lin

– Skill: Intermediate 
– Time: 2 hours 

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Do you like collecting certain stamp images? I am fond of mermaids and have a rather big collection. Today, I thought I would use this cute mermaid wooden stamp to create a card. 

Step 1:
When was the last time you used a wooden stamp? If I’m being honest, I bought this stamp around 10 years ago so it was nice to see that it still inked up nicely with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I stamped it on Classic Crest Solar White cardstock since I will be coloring with Copic markers today. 

Step 2:
This mermaid image is darling and easy to color. I started by drawing strands in her hair with E50 / E53 / E55. Then I colored her skin with E000 / E00 / E11. I also added blush with R20 / R24. For the seashells, I blended BV11 / V15 / V17. I used one of my favorite color combos on her tail: BG10 / BG13 / BG18. Lastly, I color her crown with Y00 / Y11 / Y06. 

Step 3:
Once I finished my coloring, I die cut the image with Spellbinders Nestabilities Floral Ovals die. 

Step 4:
I wanted to create a wavy background for today’s card. I picked out DCS Hydrangea Purple, Plum Purple, Seafoam Green, Blue Calico, and Indigo Blue to create an oceanic gradient that reminds me of an underwater palace. I hand-torn them to create wavy patterns; I just love the organic feel you get with the paper fiber edges. These cardstock pieces have texture on one side, and are smooth on the other. I like the variety of textures and ended up using both the smooth and textured sides. 

Step 5:
To add even more texture to the background, I heat embossed Plum Purple strips with Mboss Princess Party embossing powder, and Indigo Blue strips with Mboss Shimmery Night Sky embossing powder. I swiped VersaMagic ink directly onto the cardstock and the embossing looks great without having to heat emboss a second round. 

Step 6:
Then, stamp the sentiment with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple ink pad. 

Step 7:
Now it is time to put the background pieces together. I applied Tear-It Tape to the straight edge of each cardstock strip, and adhered them to the cardbase from the bottom to the top. Once you are done, cut any overhang pieces on the sides. Finally, adhere the mermaid die cut piece and the sentiment to the wavy background, and the card is complete! 

Imagine Supplies: 

● Memento – Tuxedo Black 
● VersaMark – Dazzle Champagne 
● Mboss – Princess Party, Shimmery Night Sky (Retired- use any embossing powder)
● Brilliance – Pearlescent Purple 
● StazOn Cleaner 
● Tear-It! Tape 
● Craft Mat 

Other Supplies: 
● CutCardStock – Cardstock – Classic Crest Solar White 
● CutCardStock – Cardstock – DCS Hydrangea Purple, Plum Purple, Seafoam Green, Blue Calico, Indigo Blue 
● Spellbinders – Dies – Nestabilities Floral Ovals 

Make a Mother’s Day Card with Ink Layering

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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