Category Archives: 2024 AIRS TEAM

Comparing VersaFine Clair Inks – Brown & Earthy Shades 

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By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today’s project is inspired by the Pantone color of this year – Mocha Mousse. It is such a warm, rich shade that is perfect for a coffee card! I decided to compare the different brown and earthy tones in the VersaFine Clair ink line as well. There are many options to choose from, and each is special on its own.

Step 1:
Today I will be using an acrylic stamp set from iCrafter. It is called Latte Coffee and has several sets of coffee cup images. Since the image outlines are superfine, I chose VersaFine Clair inks to stamp with to ensure crisp, clean images. I typically stamp the outline images with Nocturne (the black color of this ink line). However, when I was experimenting with the colors, I found that Fallen Leaves is a great alternative. The dark brown color adds more warmth than black and complements the other earthy tones well. I love VersaFine Clair inks and use them very regularly, but Fallen Leaves was probably the one I reach for the least. I think I will start using it to stamp outline images from now on!

Step 2:
I used Sand Dune to stamp the first latte art image. This is one of the newer VersaFine Clair colors. I am really happy that they added a lighter earth shade to this collection.

Step 3:
For the second latte art stamp, I used Pinecone. This is also a rich, dark brown color. It is just a bit lighter than Fallen Leaves.

Step 4:
I used Acorn for the bottom coffee image with the swirl. It is a great middle-tone that completes the brown color gradient.

Step 5:
Today’s card is simple and beginner-friendly with easy layered stamping. However, you could also add a little flair by embossing the front panel of the card base. Embossing folders are easy to use and add such a great wow factor to your project. The one I am using today is called Brick & Mortar. I think it reminds me of the walls of a cute coffee shop!

Step 6:
Finally, I stamped this super cute sentiment with Sand Dune, and that completes today’s coffee card!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • iCrafter – Stamps – Latte Coffee
  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Brick & Mortar
  • Foam Tape

 DIY Wall Decor with a Sassy Twist

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By Anna Escalada-York

As a mom of a teen and tween, I wanted to make a snarky piece of home decor that would make them smile. So I decided to make a pretty piece of art that I was going to put up in our dining room. 

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 3 hours 

Directions: 

Step 1: 
Paint a thin layer of white gesso onto a 5” by 7” medium density fiberboard (MDF) panel. 

Step 2: 
Glue a ripped piece of text-based patterned paper onto the left side of the panel, making sure that the paper doesn’t go off the side of the fiberboard panel. Then paint over the whole panel again with more white gesso. 

Step 3: 
Stamp a long, floral image onto white watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and then heat emboss it with clear embossing powder. Then color the main branch and ribs of the leaves with Northern Pine Memento Dual Marker and the flowers with Lady Bug Memento Dual Marker. 

Step 4: 
Die cut the long, floral image. Spray Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto a piece of scrap acetate packaging and watercolor paint the leaves and edges of the floral image green, making sure to blend the darker marker color with the lighter spray. Set aside to dry. 

Step 5: 
Add texture to the fireboard panel. Use some of the remaining Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray mixed with more white gesso to create a light green paint. Paint the center part of the fireboard panel with the light green paint. Then watercolor smoosh more of the Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray (without any gesso) onto the panel to add texture. After the spray and paint have dried, press Celestial Copper Delicata Ink through a circular stencil overlapping the patterned paper. Then press the Celestial Copper Delicata Ink pad around the edges of the panel. 

Step 6: 
Stamp a large butterfly on another piece of watercolor paper using Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Then spray Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto more scrap acetate packaging and watercolor spray the butterfly. Spray the whole thing with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray, which forces the Lilac Posies spray to diffuse outside of the butterfly’s outline. After the spray dried, die cut the butterfly with the corresponding die. Finally, paint the butterfly a second time with more of the Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray to deepen the color. Set aside to dry. 

Step 7: 
Return to the background panel. Attach two types of washi tape to the left side of the panel–small pieces of black and white dotted washi tape and a white piece of washi tape that comes die cut in a lacy geometric pattern. 

Then stamp a sentiment on the lower right part of the panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair in and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. 

Step 8: 
Using a small musical note stamp, partially stamp the panel multiple times with Spuce VersaFine Clair ink. 

Step 9: 
Stamp the smaller butterfly twice with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss them with clear embossing powder. Then color them in with Lulu Lavender and Tangelo Memento Dual Markers (orange butterfly) and with Tangelo and Grape Jelly Memento Dual Markers (purple butterfly). Then spray both butterflies with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Once the spray had dried, die cut the butterflies with their corresponding die. 

(In the final piece, only the orange butterfly colored with Tangelo and Lulu Lavender Memento Dual Markers was used.) 

Step 10: 
Stamp part of the mountain outline stamp on the lower right part of the panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then stamp part of the sun stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink. 

Step 11: 
Spray around the sun with Cantaloupe Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. Use a paintbrush or your finger to move dots of the Cantaloupe spray to make the spray less uniform and more organic. 

Step 12: 
Glue the flowers and small butterfly onto the panel. Attach the larger butterfly to the panel with foam tape. If desired, the outer tips of the top wings can be given additional dimension with two layers of foam tape, forcing them to curve. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 
Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper 
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cantaloupe 
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cottage Ivy 
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Lilac Posies 
Memento Dual Marker – Lady Bug 
Memento Dual Marker – Northern Pine 
Sheer Shimmer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle 
VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne 
VersaFine Clair ink – Summertime 
VersaFine Clair ink – Spruce 

Other 
Altenew – die set – All Things Orange 
Altenew – stamp set – All Things Orange 
Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape 
Altenew – washi tape – Many Dots 
Art Alternatives – MDF Panel (5” x 7”) 
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer 
Ink Road Stamps – stamp set – Roadies 8 (sentiment stamp) 
Visible Image – die set – Antisocial Butterfly 
Visible Image – stamp set – Antisocial Butterfly 
Circular stencil 
Die cut washi tape 
Watercolor paper 
Vellum 
Pencil 
Paintbrush 
Die cutting machine 
Paint brush 
Scissors 
Glue 
Text-based patterned paper 
Clear embossing powder 

Create Ink Swatches for New VersaFine Clair Inks 

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By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner 
Time: 30 minutes 

Hi everyone, it’s Jessica here. I am loving the new VersaFine Clair inks and I hope you are enjoying the creations from the Imagine team! Today I decided to create new ink swatches so I can have a quick on-hand reference for the colors. 

Step 1:
Print the labels onto your go-to white cardstock. For me, that is Neenah Solar White Cover in 80lbs. I used Word to create the labels template and it takes a bit of trial and error to align everything perfectly. I found that checking the “show grid lines” box was helpful during the process. 

Step 2:
Trim the labels to 2 x 2’’ squares. I used a standard 8.5 x 11’’ cardstock to print so each page equals to 20 labels at the end. 

Step 3:
Then stamp each label with the corresponding ink pad. I used a stamp positioning tool but it is completely optional. As for the stamp used for ink swatching, I would recommend an image that is solid so that there is enough area to truly showcase the ink color. I like to pick something that also has some fine lines; some inks have great coverage but are not the best at showing fine details. I recently bought a coffee-themed stamp set called Latte Love from Stampin’ Up!, and this coffee swirl stamp is perfect. 

Below are all the new VersaFine Clair colors. As you can see, they are great inks that offer great ink coverage and retain super-fine details of the stamps. I double stamped most of them as I 

typically double stamp my images when I am creating. I tried to minimize the amount of editing on these images so the colors are kept as true as possible. Hopefully they can provide a visual for you as well if you are interested in these inks. 

I hope today’s tutorial inspires you to create new ink swatches! They are handy tools and the ink swatching process is so cathartic. I can’t wait to create more projects with these inks! 

Imagine Supplies: 

● VersaFine Clair -Baby Pink, Hawthorn Rose, Lilac Bloom, Arctic, Bali Blue, Very Peri, Grass Green, Avocado, Spruce, Sand Dune, Portobello, Strawberry 
● StazOn Cleaner 
● Craft Mat 

Other Supplies: 

● Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Latte Love 
● Paper Trimmer 
● Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

 Let’s Make a Multimedia Thank You Card 

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By Anna Escalada York

I used to be intimidated by the idea of multimedia cards, but all they are cards that have different types of products. This card features stamping, watercoloring with sprays and Amplify! Ink, and embossing.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper.

Step 2:
Spray Dandelion Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto the center part of an embossing folder and Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray around the edges. Place the die cut watercolor panel in the embossing folder. (The folder had some residual color from a previous project, but it will be covered up later.)

Step 3:
Rub a Sunflower Yellow Brilliance Ink pad over the edges of the embossed watercolor panel.

Step 4:
Stamp the main image onto another piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 5:
Use a variety of sprays and other media to color in the image.

  • The leaves were watercolored with Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray.
  • The green stems were colored with Emerald Fabrico Dual Marker.
  • The small branches were colored in with Rich Cocoa Memento Dual Marker.
  • The flowers were watercolored with Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray on the petals. After the petals dried, the center of the flower and the center part of the petals were water colored with Cantaloupe Shimmery Craft Spray. Finally, the outside parts of the petals were colored with Lulu Lavender Memento Dual Marker.
  • Electric Orange Radiant Neon Amplify! pigment ink and Cantaloupe Shimmery Craft Spray were mixed on a piece of scrap acetate and was watercolored onto the tangerines.

Step 6:
Die cut the image with the corresponding die.

Step 7:
Press Angel Pink Memento Dye Ink onto a scrap of watercolor paper. After the ink dries, spray Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto the same scrap of watercolor paper and allow it to dry.

Step 8:
Die cut the pink watercolor paper with a thanks sentiment die and a piece of vellum with the sentiment’s shadow die.

Step 9:
Glue the tangerine image onto the embossed watercolor background panel. Then glue the sentiment die cut to the vellum shadow sentiment die cut. Glue the sentiment onto the panel as well.

Step 10:
Glue the panel onto a 6” by 6” square cardbase. Glue sequins on the lower left and upper right parts of the panel to finish the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Amplify! Radiant Neon pigment ink – Electric Orange
• Brilliance Ink – Sunflower Yellow
• Fabrico Dual Marker – Emerald
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Angel Pink, Cottage Ivy, Cantaloupe and Dandelion
• Memento Dual Marker – Lulu Lavender and Rich Cocoa
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Frost
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne

Other

AALL & Create – die set – Nature’s Doily
Alex Syberia Designs – die set – Large Thanks die Altenew- die set – Tangerine Grove
Altenew- stamp set – Tangerine Grove
Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – València Sequin Mix Pink & Main – Embossing Folder – Sun Ray
Clear Embossing Powder 6” by 6” cardbase Watercolor paper
Vellum
Die cutting machine Scissors
Glue

Have an Unbelievable Big Foot Birthday Card

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By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!, It’s Ceal, here. Today I am going to show you how to create this “Unbelievable” Big Foot birthday card using some VersaFine Clair inks.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies, you will need a masculine stamp set and several colors of blue inks along with a green, brown and black. You will also need a white gel pen.

Step 1:
Using a sponge dauber or ink blending tool, blend green ink across the bottom of a white panel cut 4 x 5.25. Next starting with the lightest blue blend a circle in the middle of the panel working your way out, then use the medium blue and the darkest blue last around the outside of the panel.

Step 2:
Stamp the tree tops in green, the trunk in brown and the sentiment in black on the panel.

Step 3:
Stamp the bigfoot (sasquatch) in black. I stamped the sentiment when I stamped the trees, but you could actually stamp both the sentiment and bigfoot here since they are both in black.

VersaFine Clair Nocturne is the absolute best back. The bigfoot was only stamped once, and he covers the background perfectly.

Step 5:
Use a white gel pen to add some stars to the night sky and then adhere this panel on the card base.

Supplies:

Imagine products:

• VersaFine Clair – Bali Blue, Blue Belle, Medieval Blue, Twilight, Pinecone, Spruce and Nocturne

Other products:

• Classic Crest Solar White card base – Neenah
• Unbelievably Bigfoot – This Calls for Confetti/Simon Says Stamp
• White gel pen – Gelly Roll

Let’s Make a Fairy Birthday Card

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By Kathi Rerek

I recently saw a video where the owner of Lavinia Stamps created a card using Brilliance Moonlight White and a silhouette stamp to create a magical scene. I decided to bring it to the next level by creating a scene using Brilliance and VersaMagic inks.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 1 hour 

Step 1:
Place a piece of repositionable label paper onto a craft mat. Use a craft knife and a curvy ruler to cut the piece of label paper. Both pieces will be used as masks.

Step 2:
Cut a piece of Black Mixed Media paper to 5.25” square. Adhere one of the two masks horizontally across the square.

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Hint of Pesto VersaMagic Ink below the mask. Remove the mask and retain. Heat set.

VersaMagic Inks are wonderful on dark backgrounds.

Step 3:
Adhere the second repositionable masks over the sponged green background. 

Use repositionable tape to secure the largest circle-in-a-square stencil from the Circle Mask and Stencil Set to the image panel.

Use a Sponge Dauber to generously apply Moonlight White Brilliance ink to the circular center of the stencil. 

Remove the stencil and heat set.

Step 4:
Keeping the repositonable mask in place, position the moon face stencil from the Moon Layering Mask Set.

Sponge Moonlight White Brilliance Ink over the stencil. Use a slight scrubbing motion to remove some of the ink from the moon craters.

Remove the stencil and the mask. Heat set.

Step 5:
Secure the image panel onto the stamping platform. Position the Fairy Dust fairy so that she’s sitting on the green area of the image panel. 

Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink the stamp and stamp until you have a good impression.

Remove the stamp. Heat set the image panel.

Step 6:
Use Fantastix to apply Pearlescent Orchid, Lavender, and Sky Blue Brilliance Inks to the fairy’s wings.
Heat set.
Trim image panel to 5” square.

Step 7: 
(Not Photographed)
Position the Birthday sentiment stamp facedown at the top left of the image panel. Position the Fairy Dust sentiment stamp facedown at the bottle right of the image panel. Ink both stamps with Frost Dazzle VersaMark ink. Sprinkle white detail embossing powder onto the sentiments then dump off the excess. Heat set.

Step 8:
Press two fingers onto the back of the polymer Stars stamp, ink the stamp with Moonlight White Brilliance Ink pad, and stamp. Randomly stamp the stars and the bursts around the moon.

Since the polymer stamp will stick to your fingers you will have more control of stamping. Your image might not be perfect, but that’s okay! 

Step 9:
Use chalk pencils to add grass and flower stems to the green area of the image panel.

Step 10:
Use Fantastix or pointy cosmetic swabs to apply dots of Mango Madness and Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic ink to some of the tufts of grass/flower stems. Heat set. 

Step 11
(not photograhed)
Apply tiny dots of On Point Glue over the “fairy dust” on the image. Shake some glitter onto the wet glue, Let sit then dump off the excess. Apologies for the lack of a photo.

Step 12:
Cut a piece of Raven cardstock to 5.5” x 11”, score at 5.5”, and fold to form a 5.5” square cad. 
Cut a piece of the blue glitter paper to 5.25” square. 

Use Tear-It Tape to adhere the glitter paper to the front of the card. The tape is perfect for this application as the back of the glitter paper is slick. Use Tear-It ! Tape to adhere the image panel to the blue glitter paper.

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Black Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore
  • Raven Black Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • Circle Stencil and Mask Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Fairy Dust Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Fairy Happy Birthday Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Fairy Dust Sentiment Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Mini Burst Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Mini Star Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Moon Layering Masks by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous
  • Blue Hawaii Ultra Fine Glitter by Art Institute
  • Grass Green and Green Bice Chalk Pencils by General’s
  • Pointy Tip Cosmetic Swabs
  • Repositionable Label Paper by Avery
  • Repositionable Scotch Tape by 3M
  • Curvy Metal Ruler by Fiskar’s
  • Craft Knife by Exacto
  • Tonic Stamping Platform
  • Heat Gun by EK Success