Category Archives: Iris Rodriguez

Create a Copper and Teal Father’s Day Steampunk Card

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by Iris Rodriguez

Create a Copper and Teal Father's Day Steampunk Card

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, but I thought I’d get a head start on a steampunk/industrial Father’s Day card. Depending on the mom – it could be for either! These projects are always fun because you get to make things look grungy and metallic with inks, embossing powders and embellishments. By altering corrugated cardboard with different craft inks, you can transform scraps into a cool background. See how I made it!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Select a piece of corrugated cardboard.


Step 2

Spray Ink Potion No. 9 onto the corrugated cardboard. This helps the ink spread evenly and reduces harsh spray splotches. Spray Walnut Ink on the corrugated cardboard randomly. The ink will seep into the crevices. This imitates a timeworn metal look. To remove ink from the crevices use a dry brush to lift up the ink, then dry onto a paper towel. Dry paper.


Step 3

Rip the top and bottom edges.


Step 4

Ink the corrugated cardboard with Champagne Delicata and Turquoise Gem VersaMagic inks on the raised surface. The Turquoise Gem ink imitates a patina look while the Champagne ink imitates bits of metal shining through. Dry paper.


Step 5

Ink the edges with the Rich Cocoa Memento Luxe ink. Dry paper


Step 6

Ink gears with VersaMark ink, add Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Gold and heat set. Repeat this step using the Celestial Copper and Silver embossing powders.


Step 7

To vary the look of the gears, create a patina and copper gear. Ink the gear with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic ink.


Step 8

Add Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Copper on random areas.


Step 9

Add Imagine’s Embossing powder in Clear to the rest of gear and heat set


Step 10

Ink the card’s edges with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Ink. Dry paper. Ink small areas randomly with the Celestial Copper Delicata ink.


Step 11

Adhere corrugated cardboard front to the card.


Step 12

Adhere nailheads, studs, and gears. Stamp a “Happy Father’s Day” sentiment and cut out into a rectangle shape. Add small metal studs on the four corners of the sentiment card and mount to the front of the card. Essentially the card is finished at this point but you can continue to add little details to make it your own! Happy grungy cardmaking!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Creative Embellishments – Chipboard Gears (1, 1.25. 1.5 inches); ‘Loose Parts’ set
  • Nailhead and stud metal embellishments
  • Happy Father’s Day sentiment stamp

Make a Card with VersaMagic Mango Madness

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by Iris Rodriguez

Make a Card with VersaMagic Mango Madness. cardmaking tutorial. Spring time blooming flowers theme.

This month’s color at Imagine is Mango. Do you like mangoes? They are delicious. I like plain mangoes, mango juice, even mango in my summer salads. After creating today’s project, I can add to my list of mango appreciation VersaMagic Ink in Mango Madness. As I started using this beautiful color, I soon realized I could not stop at just coloring my tree; I also colored white paper flowers and a butterfly with this ink as well. You could say I had a Madness for this Mango Ink.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Spray the paper with water. Spray with Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray in Summer Sky. Dry paper.


Step 2

Ink the paper with VersaMagic in Aegean Blue, Thatched Straw and Memento Luxe in Wedding Dress using the Sponge Dauber, Inkblusher, and Smudgee.


Step 3

Using a Sponge Dauber ink through the flowering tree stencil with the VersaMagic in Mango Madness. Emboss using Clear Embossing Powder. Place the stencil over the image again and ink through the stencil with the VersaMagic in Mango Madness. Emboss the image with the Sparkle Embossing Powder.


Step 4

Ink a scrap piece of watercolor paper on one side ink with VersaMagic in Thatched Straw and the other half ink the VersaMagic in Mango Madness. Emboss both colors using the Clear Embossing Powder. Punch out the butterfly with each ink color.


Step 5

Layer one butterfly over the other, adhere together with On Point Glue. Stamp the word “hello” on a piece of paper, cut a tag shape around the sentiment. Punch a hole in the center. Tie a piece of embroidery thread on the butterfly and tag.


Step 6

Ink VersaMagic in Thatched Straw on the Craft Mat, spray water and dip paper flowers in it, ensuring to completely color the flowers. Dry the flowers.


Step 7

Ink VersaMagic in Mango Madness on the flowers. Glue the flowers, butterfly, and tag onto the tree background using On Point Glue. For the yellow background paper, cut a piece of paper a little bigger than the main card, and ink the out edges with VersaMagic in Thatched Straw. Assemble the card by mounting the flowering tree stencil card panel to the yellow background card base.

I hope you are mad about this month’s color the way I was and give this project a try.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Watercolor paper – 12 x 9 inches Cold Press, 300 GSM – 140 lbs
  • Deco Arts – Flowered Tree stencil
  • Paper flowers
  • Martha Stewart – Butterfly paper punch
  • Paper hole punch – 1/16 inch

Look at this Sweet “Sending You Smiles” Greeting Card

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by Iris Rodriguez

Look at this Sweet "Sending You Smiles" Greeting Card

Smile! Why? Each time you smile, you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. So why not keep the party going and share the love by sending someone a smiley greeting card today. This fun card is made using a smiley face stamp, an alphabet set, a handmade envelope and colored with Tsukineko’s VersaFine Clair in Warm Breeze and VersaMagic ink in Mango Madness.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Stamp a large background image onto card stock paper. Dry paper.


Step 2

Find a template from the internet that is small enough to fit on the front of the card panel. Some stamp maker companies such as Waffle Flower have die sets you can purchase. Another way to achieve this is to study or deconstruct an envelope and recreate one you like with cardstock.


Step 3

Fold the envelope and ink the opening with VersaFine CLAIR in Warm Breeze with a large ink dauber.


Step 4

Flip the envelope to the opposite side and ink the outer flaps with the VersaFine Clair in Warm Breeze.


Step 5

Scribble words on the outside of the envelope with the irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Gold.


Step 6

Ink a sheet of cardstock with Mango Madness VersaMagic ink and let dry. Stamp the happy faces with the VersaFine Clair in Nocturne and let dry. Add a dime-sized amount of Creative Medium in Shimmer with the palette knife. Creative Medium will add dimension and shimmer to the smiley faces.


Step 7

Apply the Creative Medium with the Multi-Purpose Squeegee over the faces. This tool has a flat, even and large surface that will cover faces completely and will not leave scrape lines. Let the medium dry and fussy cut the faces.


Step 8

Create a curved banner and stamp the sentiment “Sending You Smiles,” cut out and ink the edges of the banner. Assemble card by gluing the smiley faces into the envelope, attach the envelope and sentiment to the front of the card. Ink a piece of cardstock paper with VersaFine Clair in Warm Breeze. Ensure that the paper is slightly larger than the card and only ink the outer edges. Using the Tear It Tape to adhere the card the background paper. And remember — Smiles are contagious! Pass it on.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock paper
  • Smiley Face Stamp
  • Hero Arts – Large Background Stamp
  • Alphabet Stamps

April Color of the Month is Mango!

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Mango is April's Color of the Month 2018

Mango is not only a delicious fruit, it is also a beautiful color! Every month we challenge our Artists in Residence with a couple of different ideas or themes to push them to think outside the box, to try a technique they haven’t tried before and to give flow and continuity to the projects. This month our color is Mango which we consider a soft yellow-orange. We chose it to get us in the mood for summer! This color reminds us of fruit, flowers, the warming sun, and fun-in-the-sun activities. Another challenge we offered to our artists is to use VersaMagic ink. This chalk-like finish makes this ink a delight to work with on almost any crafting project.

Here is a sneak peak for the month of April

Elina Stromberg created this lovely “Hello” greeting card using Memento dye inks in Cantaloupe.

Iris Rodriguez created this “Hello” greeting card with a flowering tree using VersaMagic Mango Madness, Thatched Straw, and Aegean Blue

Roni Johnson created this “Keep on Swimmin” encouragement card using VersaMagic in Mango Madness with some shading using Memento Dual Tip Markers.

Keep an eye on our posts this month to see these and many more tutorials in this fabulous color!

Learn How to Upcycle Wine Bottles with Paper Mache

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by Iris Rodriguez

Spring is coming and in some places, it’s already starting to look like spring with the beginning of sunny weather. To celebrate the change of the season, I like altering bottles of every type such as wine, liquor, and Coke bottles. Each one has it’s own potential and beauty. Today’s project is an altered wine bottle, made to look like flowers are springing out (pun intended) with a real zipper and paper mache to cover the glass. This project takes time! Paper mache takes longer to dry so to start this project please carve out a couple days for its completion. As part of my color palette, I was inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultraviolet. For my version of Ultraviolet I used Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray Grape Jelly and Lulu Lavender. This altered bottle makes a beautiful home décor, centerpiece or just a nice gift.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 2.5 hours + 1 day drying time

Directions


Step 1

Select a bottle, remove labels and wash it inside and out. Dry completely.


Step 2

Measure the zipper on the bottle, determined where it should open and adjust slider accordingly.


Step 3

Glue cardstock paper on each side of the zipper, ensuring that the paper is on front facing side of the zipper. Add paper starting from the top of the zipper to where the slider is located. The paper helps to glue the zipper on the bottle and still allows for adjustments to the opening.


Step 4

Glue tissue paper around the area where the zipper will be placed. The tissue makes for a porous surface to color and to glue on the zipper. Let dry.


Step 5

Glue the zipper onto the bottle.


Step 6

Mix the Sculptamold or other paper mache product with water. Mix in small sprinkles of water at a time until the desired consistency is achieved, which should be similar to cottage cheese. Mix a small portion at a time. Be careful but quick because it sets fast.


Step 7

Apply the paper mache with a palette knife around the outside of the zipper. Work time is short—about 15 mins before it begins to set. Spray a little water to smooth the surface. (After it has set, you won’t be able to change it much.) Paper mache is very porous and takes the ink sprays very nicely. It is messy, however. It is water soluble, so clean up is fast and easy. Let the bottle dry for one day or more.


Step 8

Apply more paper mache or molding paste through stencils. The pattern will not come out crisp and clear because of the bumpy surface but that’s what makes it artsy! Let dry.


Step 9

Color the bottle with Fireworks Shimmery Craft Sprays.


Step 10

Color paper flowers with the Fireworks. If you want some dilution of color without dilution of Sparkle, add Sheer Shimmer in Sparkle. (Also, if you wanted to keep some white, make them match by just adding Sheer Shimmer.)


Step 11

Spray Fireworks onto the smooth side of the watercolor paper. Dry it completely. Stamp and emboss the butterflies with Tuxedo Black Memento Luxe and black embossing powder. Fussy cut the butterflies. For the antennas soak a piece of embroidery thread in glue. This will stiffen the thread. Cut little pieces for the antennas and glue to the back of the butterflies.


Step 12

To make a decorative bottle stopper use a dresser pull knob.


Step 13

Apply gesso to the dresser pull knob then color with the Grape Jelly Fireworks Craft Spray. Then seal the knob with the spray sealer.


Step 14

To adhere the knob to the bottle, use a natural cork and glue. The cork usually expands when it is popped out the bottle, so in essence, it’s hard to stick back in the bottle completely. However, you can shave down the cork with a serrated knife. This image shows the cork before and after.


Step 15

Screw in the dresser pull knob into the cork. Apply E-6000 adhesive. An alternative to using a cork, adhere the dresser pull knob with a two-part Epoxy clay.


Step 16

Place the corked knob in the bottle.


Step 17

Phew! Almost done. All that is left to do is to put it together. Glue the flowers in the area between the open zipper, tucking them under the edges. Glue butterflies around. Spray a little bit of sealer over the entire bottle.


Step 18

The pull knob’s neck area will need a ribbon to cover the seam and glued cork. Embellish the bottle with charms, rhinestones, chains.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Glass bottle
  • Zipper
  • Paper flowers
  • Embellishments – ribbon, rhinestones, charms
  • Butterfly stamp
  • Sculptamold or other paper mache product
  • Molding paste (optional)
  • Cardstock – white
  • Watercolor paper
  • Gel Glue
  • E-6000
  • Cork
  • Dresser pull knob
  • Stencils
  • Gesso
  • Krylon – Spray Sealer
  • Embroidery thread – black

See What Craft Supplies Our Artists Recommend for Weddings

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See What Craft Supplies Our Artists Recommend for Weddings

There are so many kinds of craft projects that would successfully create a DIY wedding. We see all sorts of fabulous ideas on Pinterest and highlights from crafter’s blogs that blow our minds. We decided to ask our Artists in Residence (and some members of the Imagine team) to recommend their favorite Tsukineko or Imagine products to use in wedding cardmaking and crafting. Here is what they had to say!

Product Recommendations

3 Votes for Delicata!

Steph Ackerman

I recommend Delicata in Celestial Copper and Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Clear. This metallic pigment ink creates a beautiful effect on vellum. For further detail add a touch of color with Memento Markers to coordinate with the colors of the bridal party. The full-size inkpad should be enough to create a large number of cards and this ink has an inker available. So if you are creating more than usual then purchase the inker with the large inkpad.

Nadine Carlier

Delicata in White Shimmer and Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Iridescent on black cardstock is a great combo. For a video tutorial, I created this gorgeous black and white themed wedding invitation card. If you need the extra shimmery wedding then spray some Sheer Shimmer Spritz Sparkle. Watch Nadine’s video.

Jowilna Nolte

I recommend using All-Purpose Ink Pale Mint Green and Delicata in White Shimmer on top, all on a pearly cardstock. One lovely stamping technique I recommend for making an invitation would be to use a layered stamp set like you would find in the Altenew collection.

Shop Delicata

 

3 Votes for Embossing Powders!

Jennifer Vanderbeek

Gold and silver embossing powder is the best way to bring a touch of elegance. If you don’t have time to DIY it all, a touch of gold or silver embossing on your paper goods can elevate purchased items with a bit of pizazz.

Melissa Andrew

I really love Imagine’s Embossing Powders on vellum. I love a beautiful soft look for weddings and a gorgeous embossing powder on or under vellum is simple yet stunning. The beautiful colors, gold or silver, are the perfect colors to represent long-lasting love. They seem to compliment any colors a bride would choose. VersaMark ink is a great ink for embossing because of it’s tacky qualities. 

Arjita Sepaha Singh 

For an Indian wedding, perspective red is the color! Red is considered auspicious and adding Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Gold will be like a match made in heaven.

Shop Embossing

2 Votes for Creative Medium!

Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

I recommend Creative Medium in any of the Iridescent colors as a great way to create backgrounds that are not visible at first sight, giving an elegant and festive style with a distinctive glamour.

Martha Lucia Gomez

I enjoy Creative Medium in Clear and created a floral design using a watercolor technique with Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray and Memento dye inks. See the full tutorial for this card. 

Shop Creative Medium

2 Votes for Sheer Shimmer Spritz!

Roni Johnson

For wedding projects, there’s nothing I like more than Sheer Shimmer Spray to add a touch of elegance, sparkle, and shine. It comes in 6 different colors, perfect to match any theme the bride and groom have chosen. Sheer Shimmer Spray can make plain white sparkle and they make colored backgrounds really pop! 

Marcie McCabe

My recommendation is Sheer Shimmer Spray in Sparkle and Fireworks Craft Spray in the colors of the wedding party. 

Shop Sheer Shimmer Spray

 

1 Vote for Fireworks Sprays

Iris Rodriguez

I recommend Fireworks Shimmery Craft Sprays for crafting in wedding decor. It can be hard to match the right colors for wedding decor. Since Fireworks is available in 24 colors and is a dye-based ink, you can choose one of the colors or blend colors to make the desired color. For example, to make a simple cork place card holder (in photo above), add a paper flower embellishment and color it with Fireworks! It’s elegant, inexpensive and personal. To make a zero waste wedding, make a wreath by attaching all remaining cork place card holders and flowers to a frame.

Shop Fireworks!

2 Votes for VersaFine Clair

Kassandra Tousignant

I recommend a delicate floral background stamp on paper with Sheer Shimmer Spray in Sparkle. In the photo above, I layered the paper with an acrylic sheet on top stamped with VersaFine Clair inked “It’s Your Special Day” sentiment. 

 Amanda Harryman

For those who don’t want to emboss, but want a touch of that elegant look, I would recommend Delicata in Golden Glitz or Silvery Shimmer depending on colors or preferences. I can also say that I would recommend VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, or other wedding colors, to use for the return address stamp on invitations since it will stamp the details clearly, and be smudge-proof quickly.

Shop VersaFine Clair