Category Archives: Anna Escalada York

Let’s Give Thanks Card

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By Anna Escalada York

To me, Thanksgiving is mostly about food but also an excuse to say thank you to those people who are a part of my personal and professional life. So I decided to make a thank you card to let people know that I am grateful for them. I decided to use some paper scraps because I always have too many and to enhance them with sprays or ink to transform them. At first, I was planning on making one card with a lot of leaves, but changed my mind after die cutting the leaves, so ended up making two.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Pull out some scraps of paper from your stash and a variety of sprays and ink. Spray the scraps with the sprays. My scraps were colored with Cantaloupe, Angel Pink, Dandelion, Lilac Posies, and Tangelo Fireworks! Craft Sprays as well as Peanut Brittle Memento Ink. After the spray dried, die cut the scraps of paper with leaf dies. Reserve some of the sprayed paper for later.

Step 2:
Press Walnut Ink colored Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution as well as Elderberry Memento ink onto acetate packaging. Add water to the different parts of the acetate and splatter the die cut leaves with the Elderberry Memento ink. Then watercolor smoosh the leaves with both the Elderberry Memento ink and the Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution. After the leaves dried, rub the edges of the leaves with the London Fog Memento ink pad. Allow everything to dry again.

Step 3:
Trim a piece of kraft cardstock with a paper trimmer to about 5 x 3.75 inches. Then spray Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray directly into an embossing folder. Place the kraft cardstock panel into the embossing folder and then run the whole thing through a die cutting machine.

Allow the panel to dry.

Step 4:
Use Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink to add some color to the panel by brushing the panel lightly across the embossed paper. The raised part of the embossed panel will pick up the dark brown ink, while the other areas will be untouched. Then press the edges with the same Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink panel to add color to the border.

Step 5:
I die cut a scrap piece of rose gold glitter cardstock with a stitched circle die as well as the shadow die of a two-layer sentiment die. In addition, I die cut another piece of the lilac (purple) sprayed cardstock from step 1 with the top layer of the two-layer sentiment die. I also die cut two pieces of scrap cardstock with the same sentiment die. The layers of the sentiment die were glued together to give dimension and then they were glued on the rose gold shadow die cut.

Then the card was assembled. I glued three of the leaves onto the glitter cardstock die cut circle and then glued the whole thing onto the embossed panel. Next, the sentiment was glued onto the panel. Sequins were glued onto the panel. Finally, the whole thing was glued onto a kraft cardbase.

A second card was made with the leftover die cut leaves in the same manner. The only changes were that I used a light orange vellum and some more of the sprayed scrap paper from step 1 to create the die cut circular background and the sentiment.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Dark Brown Shimmer
• Fireworks! Shimmer Craft Spray
– Angel Pink, Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Lilac Posies (retired color) and Tangelo
• Memento Ink – Elderberry, London Fog and Peanut Brittle
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Walnut Ink

Other Products

• Alex Syberia Designs – die set – Large Thanks
• HAI Supply – embellishments – Cola Crystalline gems
• Simon Says Stamp – Embossing folder Modern Loop
• Sizzix – die set – Leaf Fragments by Tim Holtz
• Circular die
• A2-sized kraft card base Clear Embossing Powder Kraft cardstock
• Glitter cardstock
• Light orange sparkly vellum
• Patterned paper scraps and magazine pages
• Die cutting machine
• Paper trimmer Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make a Repurposed Tea Tin Box

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By Anna Escalada York

I’ve had a small metal tea box that I’ve wanted to repurpose into a mixed media piece for a while, so I took some time on a rainy day to make it happen.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour active time, 6+ hours (drying between layers)

Directions:

Step 1:

After applying two coats of gesso around all four sides of a tea tin, spray the top of the tin with Cherry Blossom Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution and allow it to drip down the sides of the tin. Set aside to dry.

Step 2:

Spray all four sides of the tin with Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 3:

While the tin was drying, die cut four leaf clusters out of watercolor paper. Then randomly add Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray to the centers of each leaf with the stick of the spray nozzle and color the outsides of the leaves with Elderberry Memento Dual Marker.

Step 4:

Spray each of the 4 leaf clusters with Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 5:

Partially stamp each of the four sides of the tin with Night Sky VersaMagic ink on a background stamp. (I used an old woodblock typewriter stamp.) Then press the ink pad along the top edge of the tin and the raised rib as well. Heat emboss the top rim of ink with clear embossing powder.

Step 6:

Ink blend Lilac VersaColor ink through a stencil on all four sides of the tin using a sponge dauber. (Not pictured was splattering more of the Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray onto each of the four sides as well.) Then allow everything to dry.

Step 7:

Glue two of the leaf cluster dies (one on top of the other) along the right edge of two of the sides of the tin.

Not pictured was the step after this where I decided to use my sponge daubers to ink blend some more of the Night Sky VersaMagic ink along some of the edges of the leaves while they were glued down, nor using my Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top to add some gold to the leaves as well.

Splatter the tin with more Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray. Allow it to dry. Then glue dark blue gems around the leaf clusters to finish the box on the two slides with leaves.

Art Supplies

Imagine

Fireworks! – Lulu Lavender and Paris Dusk
Memento Dual Marker – Elderberry
Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top – Gold
VersaColor ink – Lilac
VersaMagic ink – Night Sky
Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Cherry Blossom
Sponge Daubers

Other

AALL & Create – stencil – Lotza Starz 6″x6″ stencil
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
Scrappy Tails Crafts – embellishment mix
Simon Says Stamp – die cut – Autumn Leaf Branch
Old typewriter woodblock stamp in my stash
Clear Embossing Powder
Watercolor paper
Foam paint brush (for the gesso)
Die cutting machine
Glue

Let’s Make a Coffee-Themed Card

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By Anna Escalada York

– As a high school teacher, having cards with a snarky-edge ready to go for a coworker having a wild day is a must, and coffee-themed cards are great to have in your stash because they are always appreciated. So as I get ready to go back to school, I can tuck this away for someone who may need a smile.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2.0 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Rub a Love Letter Memento ink pad onto a piece of watercolor paper. (The paper was a little rough, so additional color will be added later.)

Step 2:
After die cutting the colored watercolor paper, use a Poppy Red Fabrico marker to fix any areas that weren’t colored with the ink pad.Then spray the die cuts with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray.

(Later, a third die cut was made to better fit the card. This was made in the same way.)

Step 3:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper with the second-largest die from an A2-sized background die set. Then spray Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray into a coffee-themed embossing folder and emboss the watercolor panel. Allow the spray to dry.

Step 4:
Ink blend the edges of the embossed watercolor background panel with Champagne Delicata ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 5:
Before gluing the die cuts, I pressed the center coffee cup into the Ruby Red Delicata ink pad to change the color of that cup just a little. Glue all three die cuts down and trim the edges with scissors.

Step 6:
Ink blend a piece of patterned paper with more of the Ruby Red Delicata ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 7:
Die cut the ink blended patterned paper with the largest die from the A2-sized background die set. Then press both Ruby Red and Bark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink onto acetate packaging and spraying with water and splatter both panels with the red and brown watercolor. Ater the splatter dries, glue the two panels together.

Step 8:
Stamp the sentiment with Glamorous VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 9:
Die the inside of the coffee cups (the coffee) out of watercolor paper with the same coffee cup die three times and then spray them all with Potter’s Clay Fireworks! Craft Spray.

Step 10:
Ink blend the edges of all three coffee dies with Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink with an ink dauber. Then glue the three small brown die cuts into the three coffee cups on the cardbase.

Step 11:
Press the edges of the sentiment into the Ruby Red Delicata ink pad and then heat emboss the edges with clear embossing powder. Then assemble the card by attaching the sentiment onto the lower right corner of the upper card panel with foam tape and glue sequins onto the card.

Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata ink – Champagne
• Delicata ink – Dark Brown Shimmer
• Delicata ink – Ruby Red
• Fabrico Dual Marker – Poppy Red
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Potter’s Clay
• Memento Ink – Love Letter
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• VersaFine Clair ink – Glamorous
• Sponge Daubers

Other
• Altenew – foam tape
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Manhattan
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
• Riley and Company – die set – Coffee Heartbeat
• Sizzix – embossing folder – Coffee by Tim Holtz
• A2-sized white card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Patterned paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make a Welcome Card for a Teacher

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By Anna Escalada York

As a veteran teacher in a local high school, I was excited to make a welcome card for the new culinary teacher at my high school. I decided that since I was making the card specifically for them, I would personalize it– using maroon (or as close as I could with the colors in my stash) and gray as the color scheme of the card as our school colors and use a cute new to me charcuterie-themed stamp set.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.0 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp the large charcuterie stamp onto a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 2:
After die cutting the colored watercolor paper with the second-largest die from an A2-sized background die set, press the Midnight Black VersaMagic ink pad onto a piece of acetate packaging and then sprayed the ink with Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Then press the acetate onto the watercolor panel. After everything dried, ink blend the edges of the panel with more of the Midnight Black VersaMagic ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 3:
Press the Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink pad onto the edges of a watercolor panel.

Step 4:
Die cut the panel with the largest die from the A2-sized background die set. Then press the Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink pad onto another piece of acetate packaging and spray the acetate with more of the Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and then watercolor smooshed the Rhubarb Stalk-colored panel. Allow to dry.

Step 5:
Press more Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink pad onto acetate packaging and spray the acetate with more of the Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and then watercolor smoosh the stamped gray and white charcuterie board stamped panel to add a hint of color to the card. Allow to dry.

Step 6:
Press Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink pad onto a small scrap of watercolor paper. Make sure the paper is fully colored. After the ink has dried, die cut the watercolor paper with the sentiment die. While die cutting, die cut two additional scraps of cardstock to create a-three layered die cut for dimension.

Step 7:
Assemble the card. Glue the two panels together. Then glue the three layers of the sentiment together and glue to the center of the card. Attach clear enamel dots onto the card (while they are hard to see on the photo, there are three on the lower left corner of the gray panel, and two on the upper right panel). Then glue everything onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Memento Ink – Rhubarb Stalk
Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Frost
VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
VersaMagic Ink – Midnight Black
Sponge Dauber

Other
Altenew – enamel dots –
Crystal Clear Enamel Dots
Colorado Craft Company – stamp set –
Charcuterie Board
Pink and Main – die set –
Notched Corners
Welcome sentiment die
Clear Embossing Powder
Watercolor paper
Die cutting machine
Glue

Let’s Make a Holiday Card!

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By Anna Escalada York

It’s July, so bring on the holiday cards! I personally love non-traditional colored holiday cards and so created one in pink, blue and purple.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.0 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a large snowflake stamp on watercolor paper with Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 2:
Watercolor smoosh the watercolor panel with alternating layers of Lilac Pansies Fireworks! Craft Spray and Champagne Delicata Ink mixed with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray on scrap acetate.

Step 3:
Ink blend a combination of Champagne Delicata Ink and

Step 4:
Stamp the sentiment on a small scrap of watercolor paper with more of the Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Trim the sentiment down to the desired size with scissors. Then press the edges of the sentiment strip into the remaining mix of colors from step 2’s watercolor smooshing to color the edges.

Steps 5 and 6:

Press the Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top onto another piece of scrap acetate to create a liquid gold medium. Watercolor the gold liquid inside the snowflake to make it shiny. Watercolor smoosh the remaining gold watercolor onto the card panel.

After everything dried, die cut the watercolor panel with the second-largest die from an A2-sized nesting die set and a piece of blue metallic cardstock with the largest die from the same

A2-sized die set. Glue both die cut layers together. Attach the sentiment with foam tape. Glue sequins around the snowflake. Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata ink – Champagne
• Fireworks! – Lilac Posies
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Baby Pink
• VersaFine Clair ink – Warm Breeze
• Sponge dauber

Other
• Altenew – foam tape
• Crafty Meraki – embellishments – Meraki Sparkle Prismatic Blue
• Idea-ology and Tim Holtz – 6 x 9 cardstock – blue (from the Metallic Colors collection)
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
• Scrapbook.com – stencil – String Lights
• A2-sized white card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make Some Summer Color Cards

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By Anna Escalada York

As I was making one card focusing on summer colors, I realized that I could easily make a second (bonus) card and wanted to share both with you.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a large floral image on watercolor paper with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 2:
After die cutting the floral image with the corresponding die, watercolor smoosh Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray, focusing on coloring the roses. Use a heat tool to dry the spray or set aside to dry.

Step 3:
Watercolor smoosh the floral image with Cantaloupe Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray, this time focusing on getting most of the color into the centers of the daisies. Use a heat tool to dry the spray or set aside to dry.

Step 4:
Use Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray to add another layer of watercolor smooshing to the image, this time focusing the color onto the daisies’ petals. Then paint in more of the Cantaloupe Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray into the centers of the daisies (to cover up some of the Lilac Posies spray in daisies’ centers).

Step 5:
Watercolor smoosh the floral arrangement again–this time with New Sprout Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray, focusing on adding color to the leaves and other greenery.

Step 6:
Cut a piece of watercolor paper about 3 inches by 5.5 inches. Add texture to the panel by die cutting the panel. (Since the panel was smaller than the die, it didn’t actually cut anything out it just pierced the panel.) Then spray the panel with Rose Gold and Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Allow to dry.

Step 7:
Add irRESISTible Gold medium through a heart stencil onto the right side of the watercolor panel.

Step 8:
Add irRESISTible Gold onto some of the thinner ribs on the larger stamped leaves and onto some of the berries. After it dried, cut the floral cluster in half with a paper trimmer. Then glue half of the floral cluster onto the lefts side of the panel.

Add more of the irRESISTible Gold medium onto the piece of acetate and spray with water to dilute it. Watercolor smoosh it onto the floral cluster and the background panel. Then glue half of the floral cluster onto the left side of the panel. Then paint the edges of the panel with more of the irRESISTible Gold medium.

Finally glue everything onto a minislimline card base.

Step 9:
Stamp two sentiments on a scrap of watercolor paper with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink and emboss them with clear embossing powder. They were die cut with corresponding dies.

Step 10:
Attach one of the sentiments onto the card with foam tape. To finish the card, glue white gem embellishments around the sentiment.

Step 11:
Then it was onto the bonus card made with the leftover part of the floral image. The same heart stencil was sprayed with Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Spray and then was pressed onto another panel of watercolor paper trimmed to 3 inches by 5.5 inches. After the spray dried, more of the gold IrRESISTABLE medium was painted onto a small music stamp, which was then stamped multiple times onto the panel.

Step 12:
The remaining half of the floral cluster stamp was glued onto this pahel. The sentiment was attached with more foam tape. The edges were ink blended with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 13:
Finish the second card by gluing the panel onto another mini slimline cardbase and gluing more white gem embellishments around the sentiment.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Angel Pink
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cantaloupe
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – New Sprout
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Lilac Posies
• Sheer Shimmer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Sheer Shimmer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Medieval Blue
• IrRESISTable gold medium
• Sponge Dauber

Other

• Altenew – die Set – Blossoms of Encouragement
• Altenew – Stamp Set – Blossoms of Encouragement
• Altenew – Foam Tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Crafty Meraki – Die Set- Dance With Me Mini Slimline
• Meraki Para-Dies Scrappy Tails – Embellishments
• Heart Stencil
• Music Stamp
• Watercolor Paper
• Paintbrush
• Die-Cutting Machine
• Scissors
• Glue
• Clear Embossing Powder