Make a Lavender Birthday Card

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I have a beginner friendly birthday card to share with you. Most of my creations involve die cutting or dry embossing using a die cutting machine. So today, I decided to go back to the basics and create a card that focuses on stamping.

Step 1:
I will be using VersaFine Clair ink pads to stamp all of the images today. For the outline, I used Nocturne. This is my favorite black ink pad because the stamped images are always crisp and dark.

Step 2:
Then I stamped the lavender overlay image with VersaFine Clair Lilac Bloom. The stamp set I am using today is called Lots of Lavender from Stampin’ Up. It’s a simple layering stamp set that is very forgiving for beginners; the overlay stamps have loose, watercolor-like shapes so you don’t have to line up to the outline image exactly.

Step 3:
I decided to add a different purple tone to the lavender layer. I inked up the same stamp using VersaFine Clair Very Peri, only this time, I inked up only the edges of the stamp. This way, you can create an image that has duo-tone effects. I think these two purple shades complement each other so perfectly.

Step 4:
I used the same duo-tone technique and stamped the leaves and stems with VersaFine Clair Verdant first, then with VersaFine Clair Avocado. For the bow, I stamped with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune.

Step 5:
Finally, I stamped the “happy birthday” sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, added a few enamel dots, and the card is complete!

Supplies Used:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Lots of Lavender
  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Happiness Abounds (for the sentiment stamp)
  • Doodlebug Sprinkles Enamel Dots

 Create an Easy Candy Treat Box 

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I am sharing a candy box idea that is fitting for all occasions. However, the candy box die I am using today is versatile and you could dress up the box for Halloween treats, too!

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp the small butterfly base image from Stampin’ Up’s Watercolor Wings set with VersaMagic Red Magic ink pad.

Step 2:
For the second layer of the butterfly stamp, I used VersaFine Clair Glamorous ink pad. I think these two shades of red complement each other very well.

Step 3:
Die cut the butterfly with the coordinating Butterflies Thinlits dies.

Step 4:
Stamp the third layer with VersaMark ink pad and heat emboss with gold embossing powder.

Step 5:
Die cut two pieces of patterned paper using Lawn Fawn’s Candy Box die. Then adhere the sides of the boxes together with Tear-It Tape, while leaving the ends open. After filling the box with treats (chocolates like Ferrero Rocher and Lindt are perfect!), tie the ends of the candy box with pieces of twine.

Step 6:
Stamp a sentiment with VersaMagic Red Magic ink and this simple treat box is complete! Imagine

Craft Supplies:

Imagine

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Watercolor Wings
  • Lawn Fawn – Die – Candy Box
  • Winnie & Walter – Stamps – Sentimental: Endearments
  • Gold Embossing Powder
  • Twine

Watercolor a Festive Christmas Door with VersaMagic

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1.5 hours

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here and I am so excited to share today’s project with you. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year and I love making Christmas cards. I decided to build a doorway scene today using Stampin’ Up’s At Home with You stamps and dies. After die cutting, the door actually opens, making this a special and interactive Christmas card.

Step 1:
The stamp set I am using today is At Home with You from Stampin’ Up. It features a door and various elements that are great for building specific scenes for different occasions such as Christamas, Thanksgiving, or birthdays. I stamped several images with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. It’s a pigment-based ink that is waterproof and great for being the outlines of watercolored images.

Step 2:
After die cutting the stamped images with coordinating dies, it’s time to watercolor. I decided to use VersaMagic Red Magic, Red Brick, and Delicata Ruby Red for the door. I pressed some ink onto an acrylic block and watercolored with a waterbrush.

Step 3:
For the door frame, I watercolored with VersaMagic Gingerbread and Jumbo Java.

Step 4:
Then I added VersaMagic Mango Madness to the window and the candle. Don’t forget to color the door knob, too! I used VersaMagic Niagara Mist with a hint of Aspen Mist. The candle shade is colored with the same colors as the door knob.

Step 5:
Finally, for the plants and wreaths, I watercolored with VersaMagic Hint of Pesto, Delicata Emerald Green and Ruby Red. Delicata ink pads are shimmery and add the perfect touch of Christmas spirit to these images. I wish you could see the shimmer in person!

Lastly, I colored the planter with VersaMagic Wheat ink pad.

Step 6:
Since we are building a front door scene, I embossed the background cardstock with Stampin’ Up’s Brick & Mortar embossing folder. I love the realistic brick textures of this embossing folder; it’s one of my all-time favorites.

Step 7:
Then I added a piece of 4’’ x 1 ½’’ wood patterned paper as the foreground. I also added yellow patterned paper to the inside of the door; this door die actually cuts around the door frame so that the door can open! Isn’t it a fun, little mechanism?

Step 8:
You can then add a Christmas greeting that will be revealed when you open the door. I decided to keep it simple and stamped a “Merry Christmas” sentiment with VersaMagic Nocturne ink pad.

Step 9:
The At Home with You stamp set also comes with a door mat image. I stamped it several times on burlap paper with VersaMagic Nocturne ink pad.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps & Dies – At Home with You
  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Brick & Mortar
  • Waterbrush
  • Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Create a Mini Halloween Bat Treat Box 

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

– Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Halloween is right around the corner and today I have a really quick & easy treat box idea for you. If you are interested in making mini treat boxes and dressing them up for Halloween, Christmas, or Easter, just keep reading!

Step 1:
Die cut a piece of Mint Macaron cardstock with Design a Treatbox die from Stampin’ Up. Fold along the score lines to create a mini treat box.

Step 2:
Die cut a piece of black cardstock with the bat wing die from the same set. Then spritzed it with a generous layer of Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Frost. The shimmer spray really adds a whimsical touch to the bat wings! You can compare it with the die cut in the back without the Sheer Shimmer Spray. Doesn’t it look so different?

Step 3:
Then I added a smiley face to the tab of the treat box with irRESISTible Pico Embellisher. The fine-tip nozzle was so easy to use to create fine details.

Step 4:
Die cut the box labels with mint patterned paper and white cardstock. The “trick or treat” sentiment is from Mama Elephant’s Meowlloween Extras set. I stamped it with Brilliance Starlite Black ink pad.

Step 5:
Since this is a mini treat box (holds 2 Hershey kisses), no tape or glue is required for the box assembly. Simply fold along the crease lines and hold it together with the flaps’ openings. This no-glue project is ideal for mass production and you could create many party favors in a short time!

Once the box is assembled, adhere the label dies to the front and slide the bat wings die between the top tabs. You could also create Christmas or Easter treat boxes with the other dies in this set.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Design a Treatbox
  • Stampin’ Up! – Tool – Mini Cut & Emboss Machine
  • Mama Elephant – Stamps – Meowlloween Extras

Blend Delicata Inks to Make a Beautiful Fall Florals Wedding Card

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Fall is right around the corner and I have a fall floral card to share with you today. I decided to do some layered ink blending using shimmery Delicata ink pads. They are pigment-based and mostly used for stamping. However, they ink blend beautifully, too! Be sure to check out the shimmery effects of these ink pads at the end of this post.

Step 1:
Stamp the large floral image from Stampin’ Up’s Layers of Beauty set with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune ink pad. This color is becoming my favorite for stamping outlines. The soft, neutral tone creates an entirely different feel compared to black image outlines.

Step 2:
This particular stamp set coordinates with the Layers of Beauty decorative masks. I started with stencil 1 and ink blended with Delicata Golden Glitz. You could use the full size ink pad or the Quartet ink pad, which includes Golden Glitz, Silvery Shimmer, Celestial Copper, and Bronze Burst.

Step 3:
For stencil 2 and 3, I ink blended Bronze Burst and Celestial Copper. These two shades are similar, with Celestial Copper having a redder hue. I thought they contrasted too strongly against the golden base layer, so I ink blended Bronze Burst lightly to the base layer as well.

Step 4:
For the leaves, I ink blended VersaMagic Sage for stencil 4 and Hint of Pesto for stencil 5. Once the ink blending is completed, I die cut the floral image and mounted the back with foam tape.

Step 5:
I prepared a card base using Neenah Desert Storm cardstock. Then I embossed a 4’’ x 5 ¼’’ panel with Stampin’ Up’s Distressed Tile embossing folder. To create some background depth, I ink blended the corners of the embossed panel with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune ink pad.

Step 6:
Finally, I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune ink pad and added matte white enamel dots from The Rabbit Hole Designs.

Here’s the finished card! I tried to capture the shimmery effects of the Delicata ink pads but the photo does not do it justice. It’s mesmerizing and so pretty in real life, I hope you will give ink blending with Delicata ink pads a try!

Craft Supplies:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps, Die, Mask bundle – Layers of Beauty
  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Distressed Tile
  • Neenah – Paper – Desert Storm
  • Foam Tape

Stamp with Memento Luxe Create Custom Backgrounds 

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 min

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I have a simple coffee card to share with you. I like to include die-cutting and embossing in a lot of my projects, but I thought today I would focus on the basics – stamping with just ink and paper.

Step 1:
Stamp the coffee stamps using Brilliance Coffee Bean and VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze ink pads. The stamp set I am using today is from Stampin Up’s Latte Love set, but you can use whatever coffee stamps you may have.

Step 2:
To create a simple, patterned background, try stamping the same image at various angles using Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink pad. For a more subtle, tone-on-tone look, you could use VersaMark ink pad instead. These two ink pads are my favorite for stamping background patterns.

Step 3:
For the sentiment, I decided to use VersaFine Clair Pinecone since the VersaFine Clair ink pads are great at capturing fine details in sentiment stamps. I also fussy cut around the stamped image.

Step 4:
I added a bow using some twine I saved from previous gift packaging, and adhered both the sentiment and the latte images with foam tape. And that completes today’s coffee card! Thanks so much for stopping by, and I’ll see you in my next tutorial!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Latte Love
  • Stampin’ Up! – Paper – Chocolate Chip cardstock
  • Foam Tape