Make a Fun Puffed Hearts Card with Radiant Neon Amplify

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By Alison Heikkila –

Hello! My latest tutorial for Imagine uses one of the most unique products they make…Radiant Neon Amplify. This stuff is so fun! It’s kind of a runny paint, that when you apply heat to it, it puffs up. I love using Amplify with stencils. Let me show you how.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: Approx. 20 Minutes, plus drying time

Directions:

Puffed Hearts 2

 

Step 1:

Tape a piece of cardstock to your work surface. Lay your stencil on top and tape it down. You may want to use something like Pixie Spray to hold the stencil even more, depending on how detailed it is.



Step 2:

Squirt the Radiant Neon Amplify all over the stencil. I went pretty sparingly at first because I didn’t want to waste the product, but I did need to add more than what’s pictured above.

 

Puffed Hearts 3

Step 3:

Using a paste spreader or palette knife, spread the Amplify across the surface of the stencil. Don’t press too hard, because you may lift up the Amplify. The thicker you apply the Amplify, the bigger the puffs will be, so keep that in mind.

 

Puffed Hearts 4

Step 4:

Fill in any gaps you may have with more Amplify. Don’t over mix the colors…you want a marbleized look. It should look sort of like mine above.


Step 5:

Carefully remove your stencil from the cardstock and immediately wash it and any other tools you may have used. You don’t want the Amplify to dry on anything except your cardstock.

 

Puffed Hearts 5

Step 6:

Heat the wet Amplify with a Heat Tool. You will see the shine disappear and it will start to puff up. Again, the thicker areas will have bigger puffs.

 

Puffed Hearts 6

Step 7:

Trim the panel down to 3 1/4″ x 4 3/4.”

 

Puffed Hearts 7

Step 8:

Cut a piece of Smooth Bristol Cardstock to 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2.” Tape down to work surface.

Step 9:

Tape down your second stencil. I also used Pixie Spray for this one, because the rays can move easily.

Step 10:

Apply Memento Ink in Rose Bud using a blending brush. Remove the stencil.

 

Puffed Hearts 8
Step 11:

Apply Memento Ink in Grape Jelly to your work surface and spritz a little water on to the ink. Using a brush, flick the color on to your stenciled panel.

 

Puffed Hearts 10

Step 12:

Add a sentiment to the puffed panel with VersaFine Clair Ink in Monarch.


Step 13:

Adhere all layers to your card base.

 

Puffed Hearts 11 Full

I love the texture you get from the Radiant Neon Amplify. It’s so unique and fun! I hope you’ll give them a try. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• Radiant Neon Amplify: Electric Purple & Electric Pink
• Memento Ink: Rose Bud & Grape Jelly 
• VersaFine Clair Ink: Monarch 

Other:

• A Colorful Life Designs: Love Strands Stencil & Bitty Rays Stencil
• Mama Elephant: Creativity is Contagious Stamps
• Palette Knife and/or Paste Spreader
• Smooth Bristol Cardstock
• Blending Brushes
• White Card Base
• Heat Tool
• Paint Brush

Create a Dramatic Anniversary Card with Multi Layers of Metallic Shimmer

2022-Jan-Neva-Anniversary_blog

By Neva Cole –

Today’s tutorial will demonstrate how to create multi layers of texture for a dramatic Anniversary Card.  StazOn, Delicata, and Mboss will add amazing levels of metallic shimmer.

Skill:  Beginner

Time:  1 Hour

Directions:

Step 1
Trim white piece of sturdy cardstock to 4 1/8” x 5 3/8”.  I used the backing of a paper pack, that had one shiny white side.  First, I pressure embossed with Sizzix 3-D Textured Impressions Doodle Triangles.  A makeup sponge was used to spread StazOn Metallic inks from re-inkers in Platinum, Silver and Gold randomly around the surface of the card front.  StazOn dries on the sponge and makes it a one-time use tool. StazOn Jet Black ink is gently tapped over the raised portions of the card panel.  Set aside to dry or heat with a heat gun.
Step 2
Using a stamp from my stash (manufacturer unknown) small hearts were stamped randomly in VersaMark ink and heat embossed in Mboss in Valentine.
Step 3
Memento Luxe in Tuxedo Black is used to stamp Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background sentiments followed by heat embossing with black embossing powder.  The matching die is used to die cut the entire set and five sentiments are selected for the front of the card.
Step 4
Each sentiment strip is inked with Delicata in Silvery Shimmer, Golden Glitz or Ruby Red with an Ink Dauber.  Since the sentiment is embossed, the ink will not change the color.
Step 5
The sentiment strips are backed with white cardstock with the matching backer die.  The edges are inked with Memento Tuxedo Black and an ink blusher to add definition.
Step 6
A Scribble Heart die by Impression Obsession is die cut from white cardstock.  The die is then inked with Versa Mark ink and heat embossed with Mboss in Valentine.
Step 7
A white card base is trimmed to 5 ½” x 8 ½”.  The edges are inked with Memento Tuxedo Black and an ink blusher.
Step 8
The card base is adhered to textured front with TearIt! Tape.  The Heart is adhered with On Point Glue.  The sentiment strips are adhered with dimension foam tape.  A striking masculine anniversary card goal achieved!

Art Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Sizzix 3-D Textured Impressions Doodle Triangles
  • Make up sponge
  • Background heart stamp (manufacturer unknown)
  • Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background Sentiments, Die, and Backer Die
  • Impression Obsession Scribble Heart die
  • Dimensional foam adhesive
  • Black and White cardstock
Neva Cole http://snippetscrafter.blogspot.com/ n.cole@windward-performance.com

Learn How to Make an Astrological Card

Astrological-Chart-Card-1200

By Alison Heikkila –

Hello! It’s time for my newest post for Imagine, as an official part of the 2022 Design Team. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, many of us are wiped out, or even burnt out from making cards and gifts all season. Because of that, I decided to come up with a fast card that doesn’t take a ton of effort, but looks like it did because of the layering.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 15 to 20 Minutes

Directions:

Astrological Chart Card 2

Step 1:

Adhere your 3″ x 5″ Gel Press to an acrylic block. While you can adhere it to your work surface, but if it’s attached to a block, you can control where it goes on your printing plate.

 

Astrological Chart Card 3

Step 2:

Apply Versa Fine Clair Ink in Twilight to the Gel Press Plate. I applied it in rows, but you can do it however you like.

Step 3:

Squeeze on a bit of Silvery Shimmer Delicata reinker. You don’t need too much.

 

Astrological Chart Card 4

Step 4:

Using a brayer, roll the colors together. Try not to overmix them.

 

Astrological Chart Card 5

Step 5:

While the inks are still wet, flip the Gel Press Plate on to the printing plate. Since it’s on an acrylic block, you can place the Gel Plate wherever you want easily. Press the Gel Press into the printing plate firmly.

Step 6:

Flip the Gel Press back over, and lay a piece of copy paper on top. This will create your print. Press the paper firmly and evenly all over the plate to get a good transfer.

 

Astrological Chart Card 6

Step 7:

Carefully peel back the paper to reveal your print. You can place the paper back down before you peel up the entire thing if you feel that you need to transfer the ink more.

 

Astrological Chart Card 7

Step 8:

After I made 3 more prints, I chose the one I wanted to use on my card. I went with my first print, which is the upper right. I tore the edges around the print instead of trimming it smoothly.

 

Astrological Chart Card 8

Step 9:

Using an edger die, trim a piece of navy colored cardstock to create a mat around your print.

Step 10:

Using Silvery Shimmer Delicata Ink, ink up the edges of the die cut mat.

 

Astrological Chart Card 9

Step 11:

On a gray card base, ink the right side with VersaMark ink. Try to not make it even, so that it has a more organic feel.

Step 12:

Sprinkle Mboss in Shimmering Night Sky on to the wet ink. Shake off excess, and heat set with a heat tool.

 

Astrological Chart Card 10

Step 13:

Adhere your layers. I added a stamped and die cut sentiment, as well as some jewels. For the jewels, I used On Point Glue.

 

Astrological Chart Card 11 600

The finished card has lots of shine and cool texture. Using your inks and reinkers on a Gel Press Plate gives you the ability to mix colors from different lines and get beautiful, soft effects.

 

Astrological Chart Card 13 600

Again, using all of these layers may make it seem that this card took a lot of time, but it really didn’t because making the print is such a fast process. And you can choose to use a larger Gel Press Plate to cut down on some of the layers.

 

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• VersaFine Clair Ink in Twilight
• Delicata Ink Pad & Reinker in Silvery Shimmer
• VersaMark Ink Pad
• MBoss in Shimmering Night Sky
• On Point Glue
• Craft Mat

Other:

• Gel Press: 3″ x 5″ Plate
• Carabelle Studio: Zodiac Printing Plate
• Speedball: Brayer
• Stampendous: Deckle Die Set, Slim Acrylic Handle
• Pinkfresh Studios: Perfect Sentiments stamp & die set
• Doodles Paper Playground: Silver Starburst Rhinestones
• Gray card base, white copy paper, navy cardstock
• Heat Tool

Easy to Make Christmas Napkin Holders

2021-Dec_19-kyriakos-xmas-table-decoration-main-wide-wm

By Kyriakos Pachadiroglou –

Stamp on Vertigo sheets to make sparkling napkin rings using Mboss Valentine embossing powder. Repeat stamping on white card stock to make little tags to decorate your festive table.

 

Skill: Beginner

Time: 1 Hour

 

Directions:

2021-dec-kyriakos-xmas-table-decoration-step1

Step 1

Cut 2 ½ x 5 in pieces of the Vertigo sheets and stamp with VersaMark watermark ink.

Cover with Mboss Valentine embossing powder and heat set.

 

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Step 2

Use an ink blusher to color around the stamped image with the StazOn Studio Glaze gold.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-xmas-table-decoration-step3

Step 3

Stamp stars with the StazOn Black Cherry ink pad.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-xmas-table-decoration-step4

Step 4

Punch one hold at the middle left and right long side edges and place satin ribbon.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-xmas-table-decoration-step5
Step 5

Stamp the nutcracker stamp on white card stock with VersaMark watermark ink pad. Cover with Mboss Valentine embossing powder and heat set. Cut around. Repeat with the Mboss Sparkling Champagne Embossing Powder. 

 

Art Supplies:

Imagine

StazOn – Black Cherry

VersaMark – Original

StazOn Studio Glaze – Gold

Mboss – Valentine, Sparkling Champagne

Vertigo Sheet – Pebbles

Ink Blushers

Other

• Nutcracker Stamp

• Heat Tool

• Gold Satin Ribbon

• White Card Stock

• Hole Punch

 

Make a Faux Watercolor Poinsettia Gift Tag

Poinsettia Tag 1

By Alison Heikkila –

Hello! This is the time of year that people get really into making tags. Tags for gifts, tag books, etc. Today I’ve got a fun way to use Memento Inks to make them look like you’ve watercolored, but you didn’t need to work as hard. We will be using a layering stamp set to create the focal point of the tag. I used Poinsettia Parts from Stampendous.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 10 Minutes, plus drying time between layers

Directions:

Poinsettia Tag 2

Step 1:

Using an acrylic block or stamp positioner, adhere your most solid layer.

Poinsettia Tag 4

Step 2:

Ink up the stamp with at least 2 colors of Memento Ink. I used Sweet Plum and Lady Bug.

Step 3:

Spritz the inked stamp with water. Let the colors start to run together, but don’t spritz the stamp so much that the colors become totally washed out.

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Step 4:

Carefully flip your stamp over on to a piece of watercolor paper. Gently press the stamp into the paper and leave it there for a few minutes. You can even add something heavy on top if you want more consistent pressure.

Poinsettia Tag 5

Step 5:

Repeat Step 4 with any additional parts of your image. I needed to add a leaf and another petal. I used Pear Tart and Cottage Ivy for the leaf. Let all of the “watercolor” layers dry thoroughly before moving on.

Poinsettia Tag 6

Step 6:

Stamp the top or detail layer with VersaFine Clair ink in Nocturne.

Poinsettia Tag 7

Step 7:

To add additional detail, you can apply some ink to your Craft Mat and spritz with water, then apply with a paintbrush. Here, I used Dandelion and Morocco to color in the center of the poinsettia. Fussy cut the stamped image.

Poinsettia Tag 8

Step 8:

Apply Rich Cocoa Memento Ink to a background stamp. I used an older Stampendous stamp with sheet music on it. I like to flip my stamp up and apply my substrate (in this case, a tag made with Kraft cardstock) on top of the stamp. I press the tag into the stamp with my fingers. This allows me to place the tag where I want, and I don’t need to fuss with a large, sometimes unwieldy large stamp. You may also do this step while allowing your poinsettia to dry.

Poinsettia Tag 9

Step 9:

Ink up a blending brush with more Rich Cocoa ink and gently buff the edges. You may smear some of your stamped image if it hasn’t dried completely, but I don’t mind that look. It helps to make the tag look old.

Poinsettia Tag 11

Step 10:

Add a sentiment strip to your tag, adhere the poinsettia, and tie on some ribbon.

Poinsettia Tag 10 600

Now you’ve got a completed tag that you can add to gifts, use it as a place card at the dinner table, or even to decorate a card base. Experiment with different color palettes to get a wide range of looks. And remember, these techniques don’t have to be used only at holiday time! Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

Memento Inks in Lady Bug, Sweet Plum, Dandelion, Morocco, Cottage Ivy, Pear Tart, and Rich Cocoa
VersaFine Clair Ink in Nocturne
Tear It! Tape
Craft Mat

Other:

Stampendous: Poinsettia Parts and sheet music Cling Stamp
Kraft Colored Tag
Ribbon
Blending Brush

Make Wooden Stamped Christmas Tree Ornaments

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By Kyriakos Pachadiroglou –

Make wooden sign board style ornaments for your Christmas tree, colored with white All-Purpose ink and stamped Christmas designs with StazOn ink. Simple and easy to make.

 

Skill: Beginner

Time: 1 Hour

Directions:

2021-dec-kyriakos-wooden-stamped-ornaments-step1

Step 1

Place 6 wooden sticks next to each other. Cut two wooden sticks a bit longer than the total width of the above six ones. Place Tear It! Tape on the two and attach on the rest and create a sign board.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-wooden-stamped-ornaments-step2

Step 2

Color the sign boards with white All-Purpose Ink and both sides.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-wooden-stamped-ornaments-step3

Step 3

Stamp your favorite Christmas stamps using the StazOn Black Cherry ink pad, which will dry quickly and won’t bleed on the wood.

 

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Step 4

Distress the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-wooden-stamped-ornaments-step5
Step 5

Add rhinestones using the On Point Glue.

 

2021-dec-kyriakos-wooden-stamped-ornaments-step6
Step 6

Wrap Baker’s twine on one side and some on the top to hand the ornament.

 

Art Supplies:

Imagine

• StazOn – Black Cherry

• Memento – Rich Cocoa

• All-Purpose Ink – White

• Sponge Daubers

• Tear It! Tape

• On Point Glue

 

Other

• Wooden sticks

• Christmas themed stamps

• Bakers twine

• Rhinestones