Category Archives: 2025 Design Team

Christmas in July Gift Card Holder 

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By Jessica Lin

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 45 minutes 

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. I want to share one of my favorite ways to create a gift card holder today. It’s super simple and quick to put together. I picked a Christmas theme but you could easily change it to a birthday or wedding gift card holder. 

Step 1:
Let’s start by creating the base of the gift card holder. Using Environment Desert Storm cardstock, cut it in half to create a standard A2 card base (4 ¼’’ x 5 ½’’), and score at 4 ½’’, 5 ½’’ and 6 ½’’. Fold along the crease to create a peak just like the one in the photo. 

Step 2:
Next, flip the card base around and apply Tear-It! Tape to the top edge of the scored line. Notice how the “peak” from earlier has turned into a “valley”. You want to avoid adding adhesive to the center of the “valley” since that will become the opening for the gift card holder. 

Step 3:
Once the middle portion of the card base is adhered together, you will have a new card base that is 4 ¼’’ x 5’’ with an inner flap. Now, we are ready to create the opening for the gift card. Place the largest frame die from Spellbinders Labels Seventeen set to die cut the gift card opening. The trick is to die cut as little cardstock as possible so that there is a large flap area to hold your gift card. 

Step 4:
Let’s decorate the front of the gift card holder next. I stamped this Christmas tree image on Classic Crest Solar White cardstock with VersaColor Evergreen ink pad and die cut the image with the coordinating die. 

Step 5:
Then, I stamped another Christmas tree design with VersaMagic Tea Leaves ink pad. Both of these stamps are from Stampin Up’s Peaceful Pines set. 

Step 6:
I decided to add an embossed panel to add some interest to the background. I trimmed a piece of Environment Desert Storm cardstock to 3 ¾’’ x 4 ½’’ and embossed it with Stampin’ Up’s Tin Tile embossing folder. The details really pop on this kraft colored cardstock, don’t you think? 

Step 7:
For the sentiment, I picked this scripty “Christmas” die from Ellen Hutson’s Merry & Bright set and die cut it with DCS Gold Glitter Heavyweight 12 x 12. This gold glitter cardstock is becoming a staple in my craft room – it’s easy to die cut with and does not shed any glitter (no glitter mess!). 

Step 8:
Finally, I stamped “Merry” with Encore! Gold ink pad to complete the sentiment. I picked this color since it matches the DCS Gold Glitter Heavyweight cardstock really well. 

Step 9:
This is what the gift card holder looks like with a gift card inserted. I really like this gift card holder since it’s super easy to assemble and there’s space to write a personal message as well. I hope you enjoyed today’s tutorial, and thanks for stopping by! 

Products Used

Imagine Supplies: 

● VersaMagic – Tea Leaves 
● VersaColor – Evergreen 
● Encore! – Gold 
● StazOn Cleaner 
● Tear-It! Tape 
● Craft Mat 

Other Supplies: 

● Spellbinders – Dies – Labels Seventeen 
● Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Peaceful Pines 
● Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Perfect Pines 
● Ellen Hutson’s – Dies – Merry & Bright 
● Winnie & Walter – Stamps – In a Word: Grand Merry 
● Stampin’ Up – Embossing Folder – Tin Tile 
● Neenah – Cardstock – Environment Desert Storm, Classic Crest Solar White 
● DCS – Cardstock – Gold Glitter Heavyweight 

Let’s Make Some Bright Summer Art Using the New VersaFine Clair Colors 

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By Anna Escalada York

–The new VersaFine Clair ink colors are so bright and fun. I decided to use a few of them to make a piece of art to put up in our home. 

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 2 hours 

Directions: 

Step 1: 
Press the bottom layer of a layering die cut of watercolor paper into the Spruce VersaFine Clair ink pad and set aside to dry. 

Step 2: 
Press the top layer of die cut watercolor into the Melon Soda VersaFine Clair ink pad. Then heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Glue both layers together and set aside. 

Step 3: 
Run the Lemonade VersaFine Clair ink pad across a watercolor panel horizontally multiple times to give the panel a woodgrain-ish look. Die cut the panel with a burlap-design die. 

Step 4: 
Paint a coat of gesso onto a cotton canvas panel with a large paintbrush and allow it to dry. 

Create layered background texture by stamping the panel with a striped background stamp with Adriatic Sea VersaFine Clair ink and heat embossing with clear embossing powder, then adding another coat of gesso. Repeat with a dot background stamp and a strip of collage paper adhered along the left side. Cover everything with another thin coat of gesso, allowing hints of the stripes, dots, embossing, and collage paper to remain visible. Spray New Sprout Fireworks! Shimmer Spray onto the panel and allow it to dry. Add a large strip of washi tape along the left side. 

Step 5: 
Stamp the sentiment on the lower right corner of the panel with Adriatic Sea VersaFine Clair. Heat emboss with more embossing powder. 

Step 6: 
Glue the yellow burlap design die cut on the middle of the panel, and then glue the botanical die cut onto the panel. Glue yellow sequins on the lower left and upper right corners of the panel to finish the piece. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 
Fireworks! Craft Spray – New Sprout 
VersaFine Clair Ink
– Adriatic Sea 
– Lemonade 
– Melon Soda 
– Spruce 

Other 
Altenew – die set – Polka Dot Leaves 
Altenew – washi tape – Many Dots washi tape (retired) 
Altenew – stamp – Woven Stripes (for texture in the background) 
Art Alternatives – Panel – 6” x 8” Economy Cotton Canvas Panel 
Dylusions – stamp set – Basic Background (for texture in the background) 
Honey Bee Stamps – die set – Burlap Background 
Idea-ology – collage paper – Archives 
Simon Says Stamp – sequins – Duckling Embellishment Mix 
Stampers Anonymous – stamp set – Flower Garden (retired) 
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer 
Clear Embossing Powder 
Heat tool 
Glue 
Watercolor paper 

 Let’s Make a Bright Floral Summer Card 

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By Anna Escalada York

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is filled with beautiful flowers and the bluest sky. I know I appreciate them so much more since most of the year is so soggy. To celebrate the season, I made a colorful card filled with flowers.

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 2 hours 

Directions: 

Step 1: 
Stamp the large floral image onto watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. 

Then die cut the flower with the corresponding die. Also die cut a piece of vellum with the same die cut. 

Step 2: 
Watercolor the floral image. The larger two flowers were watercolored with Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray, the center of the largest flower with Dandelion Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray, and the leaves with Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. The smallest flower was watercolored with a mix of Rose Bud Memento Dual Marker mixed with more Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. After everything dried, the smallest flower’s color was made darker by adding a second layer of the combination of Rose Bud Memento Dual Marker mixed with Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. 

To cover up a few small blemishes, lightly splatter Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray over the flowers. Set aside to dry. 

Step 3: 
Spray Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray through a stencil on a watercolor panel. 

After the spray dried, die cut the panel with a mid-sized die from an A2-sized nesting die set. While at the die cutting machine, die cut a piece of glossy white cardstock with the next largest die from the A2-sized nesting die set. 

Step 4: 
Ink blend Lilac Posies Memento Ink through selected parts of a second stencil. Then mix Gold irRESISTible Pico Embellisher with a little water to dilute it and use a small paintbrush to paint other parts of the stencil with the Gold irRESISTible onto the panel. Allow to dry. 

Then press the Lilac Posies Memento Ink pad along the edge of the panel to add color to the edges of the panel. 

Step 5: 
Press the Lilac Posies Memento Ink pad onto a small scrap of watercolor paper and allow to dry. Then die cut the colored scrap of watercolor paper with the sentiment die. 

Also die cut a piece of vellum with the shadow layer of the sentiment as well as a couple of scraps of cardstock with the sentiment die. 

Assemble the sentiment by gluing the three die cuts together. Then glue them onto the shadow layer of vellum and set the whole thing aside. 

Step 6: 
Assemble the card. Glue the vellum floral die cut onto the stenciled panel. Use foam tape to adhere the stamped floral image at an angle, allowing the vellum layer to peek out from underneath for extra dimension. Glue the sentiment on the lower left corner of the panel. Add purple and hot pink sequins around the floral image with more glue. Then attach the panel to the glossy cardstock matte layer. To finish the card, glue the whole card panel onto an A2-sized white cardbase. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray
– Angel Pink 
– Cottage Ivy 
– Dandelion 
– Lilac Posies 
• irRESISTible – Gold Pico Embellisher 
• Memento Dual Marker – Rose Bud 
• Memento Ink – Lilac Posies 
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne 

Other Products:

• Altenew – foam tape 
• Catherine Pooler Designs – sequin mix – Miami 
• Echo Park – stencil – My Valentine: XO 
• Emily Moore Designs – die set – “Hi, hey, hello” (small style) 
• The Crafter’s Workshop – stencil – Chunky Chevron 
• Unity Stamp Company – die set – Birthday Blooms 
• Unity Stamp Company – stamp set – Birthday Blooms 
• Waffle Flower – die set – A2 Layers 
• Clear Embossing Powder 
• Heat tool 
• Glue 
• Watercolor paper 
• Glossy white cardstock 
• Vellum 

Personalized Stamped Canvas Tote Bag

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By Helen Gullett –

Hello crafty friends! I am a big fan of tote bags. I love it for its multi-purposes and is big enough for carrying stuff. I always wanted to personalize my own tote bag. I am so glad that Imagine carries these amazing VersaCraft Ink Pads and Fabrico Markers for fabric projects. So, today we are going to personalize a tote bag together. Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

You are gonna need a blank canvas tote bag that can be found easily in any craft stores and online stores. The tote bag I used today is about 13 inch x 15 inch.

Lay it flat on the ironing mat and iron the tote bag to remove the wrinkles. I pre-washed the bag, but it is an optional step if you want to do it.

Put a piece of cardboard or cardstock inside the bag that is big enough to cover the area where you will stamp or paint or draw. Secure it with some  washi tapes or any low-tack tapes.

Step 2

Start stamping the tote bag with the largest image.

Put the largest butterfly on a stamping blog and cover it with the VersaCraft Real Black ink. Stamp it on the tote bag and press it firmly for a few seconds.

I used the “rule of three” to position the butterflies, from here I can fill the empty spaces to build up the pattern.

Step 3

Next is stamping with the second largest image.

Put the stamp on a stamping blog and cover it with the VersaCraft Real Black ink around the big butterfly. Stamp it on the tote bag and press it firmly for a few seconds.

Step 4

Next is the smallest size of the stamp to fill up the rest of the empty space. You will start to see the full pattern on the bag.

Put the butterfly stamp on a stamping blog and cover it with the VersaCraft Real Black ink. Stamp it on the tote bag and press it firmly for a few seconds.

If you plan to have some sentiment or words like I did, make sure you have space for it.

Step 5

I picked the phrase “Spread your wings” to be on my canvas tote bag.

Stamp each letter from the alpha stamp set with VersaCraft Real Black ink pad.

Step 6

Trace the letters with Fabrico Real Black Marker for bolder print on the canvas tote bag.

Step 7

This final step is optional. You can use an iron to set the ink to the canvas tote bag. But without ironing, the ink will dry permanently in 24 hours (do not get it wet).

I would suggest spot-cleaning the bag, or hand-washing it if the bag gets dirty.

I hope you will give this technique a try and play around with different colors. This personalized tote bag can be made for your own use or as a gift for others.

Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today.

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

Create a Summer Vibes Card with VersaFine Clair

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By Ceal Pritchett –

Hello friends, it’s Ceal here. Today I am sharing a summer card with you.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes

Directions:
Gather your supplies. You will need a summer themed die set, layering stencils, three different shades of blue ink, a grip mat, a stamp positioning tool and a summer sentiment set.

Step 1:
Using a blending tool and the first layering stencil, ink blend blue ink over the stencil. I used VersaFine Clair Paradise.

Step 2:
Using a blending tool and the second layering stencil, ink blend a different shade of blue over the stencil. I used VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze.

Step 3:
Using a blending toll and the third layering stencil, ink blend the third color of blue over the stencil. I used VersaFine Clair Bali Blue.

Step 4:
Using the “water” die and the finished panel of water, cut out the water for the pool.

Step 5:
Using the “pool” die cut out the pool. Cut several but only use the pool outline.

Step 6:
Stack the pool outline around the water, where the water will be lower than the sides to make it more realistic

Step 7:
Cut out all the die cut pieces to place in the pool. For the girl I colored her with a Copic marker. The others are cut out of colored cardstock.

Step 8:
Stamp and cut out the sentiment.

Step 9:
Place all the elements in the pool and the sentiment on the side.

Supplies:

Imagine Products
VersaFine Clair Paradise
VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze
VersaFine Clair Bali Blue

Other Products
My Monthly Hero Pool Party Die set – Hero Arts
MMH Reflection Layering Stencil set – Hero Arts
Hello Summer Stamp & Cut – Hero Arts
Grip Mat – Altenew
Mini Misti – My Sweet Petunia

Let’s Make a Cool 4th of July Celebration Card

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By Anna Escalada York

– Summertime means wearing sunglasses here in the Pacific Northwest and getting ready to spend time out of doors! I wanted to celebrate the return of the warm sun and the 4th of July with this red, white and blue card that could be used anytime during the summer. 

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 1.5 hours 

Directions: 

Step 1: 
After die cutting the three pairs of sunglasses as well as their lenses (which are separate in the die set), color part of the lenses’ elements with Danube Blue Memento Dual Marker. 

Step 1.5: 
Remember that you need to color all of the parts of the lenses that you intended to color with the Danube Blue Memento Dual Marker. (Whoops!) 

Step 2: 
Press other parts of the die cut lenses into the Arctic VersaFine Clair ink pad. Heat emboss the larger die cuts with clear embossing powder if desired. (I chose not to heat emboss the letters since they were so small.) Then assemble all of the lenses using washi tape on the back of each lens to hold the pieces together. 

Step 3: 
Press the three die cut sunglass frames into the London Fog Memento ink pad. 

Step 4: 
After die cutting the striped background panel, color the stripes with Poppy Red Fabrico Dual Marker 

Step 5: 
Spray all of the components of the card–the sunglass frames, the lenses and the striped background panel–with Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and allow to dry. 

Step 6: 
Assemble the card. Adhere the striped panel to an A2 white card base, then inlay the red die-cut stripes. Then glue the three frames onto the panel and inlay the frames into the frames. Glue clear rhinestones on the lower left and upper right part of the card to finish the card. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 
Fabrico Dual Marker – Poppy Red 
Memento Dual Marker – Danube Blue 
Memento Ink – London Fog 
Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Frost 
VersaFine Clair Ink – Arctic 

Other 
Concord & 9th – die set – Spectacular Shades 
Crafty Meraki – rhinestones – Meraki Sparkle Magical Iris 
Honey Bee Stamps – die set – Watercolor Lines Coverplate 
Clear Embossing Powder 
Heat tool 
Glue