Category Archives: Steph Ackerman

See How to Make a “Thinking of You” Fairy Card

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by Steph Ackerman

Fairies are sweet little mythical creatures from stories we read as a child and they are the inspiration for today’s cardmaking tutorial. They were always colorful, happy and enjoying life and make the perfect subject for a greeting card that reads “Hello” or “Thinking of You!” I recently got these stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations and just had to use them. I knew that Fireworks Shimmery Craft Sprays would be perfect for creating magical color backgrounds. I absolutely loved creating these cards!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Spritz Fireworks Spray in Grape Jelly and Bamboo Leaves on the Craft Mat. Repeatedly dab a white cardstock panel in the inks until the panel is covered. Spritz Ink Potion #9 on the craft mat. Pick up the remaining ink with the second panel of white cardstock. This is a great blending technique because the contrasting colors will mix while still in the liquid form.


Step 2

Spritz Fireworks Spray in Angel Pink and Bamboo Leaves on the craft mat. Repeatedly dab a white cardstock panel in the inks until the panel is covered. Spritz Ink Potion #9 on the craft mat. Pick up the remaining ink with the second panel of white cardstock.


Step 3

Stamp two separate fairy images with Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black or VersaFine Clair in Nocturne. Emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Die cut image.


Step 4

Use a selection of Memento Markers to color both fairies.


Step 5

Ink the Fireworks Grape Jelly panel with matching VersaMagic in Purple Hydrangea Ink. Die cut white and purple ovals in graduating sizes. Ink the edges of the white oval with VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea Ink. Die cut image and adhere with On Point Glue.


Step 6

Cut yellow cardstock to fit the card. Ink edges of panels with VersaMagic in Sahara Sand. Adhere the Fireworks in Angel Pink panel to the yellow cardstock. Die cut a second sheet of yellow cardstock. Cut the Fireworks in Angel Pink panel to fit. Adhere to the card. Adhere the die cut image to the pink panel. Add dimension to the dandelions with Wedding Dress irRESISTible.


Step 7

Stamp the phrase “Thinking of You” in Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black or VersaFine Clair and emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Die cut and ink around the edge with VersaMagic Sahara Sand. Mat with a larger die and add to card with foam adhesives.


Step 8

Add the Fireworks Grape Jelly panel to a purple card and wrap with ribbon. Add image to card with foam adhesives. Stamp sentiment in Memento Luxe Tuxedo Black and emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Die cut and mat with the larger purple die.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – white, yellow, purple
  • Spellbinders dies
  • Joy Clair sentiment stamps
  • Heartfelt Creations Fairies stamps and dies
  • May Arts Ribbon

Create a Collage Style Mother’s Day Card

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by Steph Ackerman

Create a Collage Style Mother's Day Card

I love background stamps and find the collage style stamps provide amazing opportunities to create with. I have also found that collage style stamps can be tricky to color. For this Mother’s Day card, I used the VersaMagic DewDrops to color in detailed ways on the stamp. The inkpad’s top wedge makes it a perfect tool for this technique.

Skill: Intermediate
Time:  1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Ink the entire stamp with VersaMagic in Thatched Straw. Ink over the roses with VersaMagic in Purple Hydrangea and Aegean Blue. Ink over the leaf sprays with VersaMagic in Spanish Olive.


Step 2

Place the inked stamp on white cardstock and press evenly.


Step 3

Pour Imagine Embossing Powder in Clear over the entire image and heat set.


Step 4

Cut the panel to size and ink the edges with VersaMagic in Niagara Mist.


Step 5

Stamp sentiment on white cardstock using VersaMagic in Midnight Black and emboss with Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Clear.


Step 6

Mat stamped panel with green cardstock. Adhere to a purple card with foam adhesives. Die cut the sentiment using a circle die. Die cut a larger circle from purple cardstock. Place the sentiment on the card, cutting off the right edge.


Step 7

Repeat steps 1 – 5, cutting the panel into a tag shape. Mat with green cardstock cutting it into a tag shape.


Step 8

Die cut sentiment using a circle die. Die cut a larger circle from purple cardstock. Place the sentiment on the tag, cutting off the right edge. Punch a hole in the tag and add ribbon.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – white, green, purple
  • JustRIte Stampers – Background Stamp
  • Joy Clair – “Happy Mother’s Day” sentiment stamp
  • Spellbinders – Circle dies
  • May Arts ribbon

Make a Cute Rainboots Theme “Happy Spring” Card

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by Steph Ackerman

Make a Cute Rainboots Theme "Happy Spring" Card with VersaMagic DewDrop inks.

VersaMagic inks have a longer drying time so they are perfect to use with stencils where you can use multiple colors, and even blend them if desired. I love to use stencils, but I really don’t like to waste the ink that is left on them. Rather than clean the stencil, I like to lightly spritz the inked side of the stencil, flip it over, and place it on the second piece of cardstock creating a watercolored panel. See how I created two cards with the same stencil!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour + dry time


VersaMagic in Aegean Blue, Niagara Mist, Purple Hydrangea, Perfect Plumeria, and Thatched Straw.
Step 1

Tape a stencil to white cardstock. Ink with VersaMagic in Aegean Blue, Niagara Mist, Purple Hydrangea, Perfect Plumeria, and Thatched Straw. Remove the stencil.


Step 2

Lightly spritz the inked side of the stencil. Place the stencil, inked side down, on the second panel of white cardstock and tape in place. Brayer over the stencil to release the ink.


Step 3

Remove the stencil and let both panels air dry.


Brilliance in Graphite Black, stamp two pairs of boots and two "Happy Spring" sentiments
Step 4

Using Brilliance in Graphite Black, stamp two pairs of boots and two “Happy Spring” sentiments. Emboss with Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Clear.


Fussy cut the boots and color with different colors of Memento Markers.
Step 5

Fussy cut the boots and color with different colors of Memento Markers.


Step 6

Mat one stenciled panel with yellow cardstock and one panel with blue cardstock. Adhere each panel to a kraft paper card base. Double mat the sentiments and add to the cards with foam adhesives. Adhere the boots to the cards with foam adhesives. Use On Point Glue to adhere the gems to the boots.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – White, Blue, Yellow
  • Cardbase – Kraft
  • MemoryBox – Stencil
  • Penny Black – April Showers Stamp
  • The Robin’s Nest – Gems
  • Brayer

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

See How to Make Great Wedding Crafts for a Beautiful DIY Wedding

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We are wrapping up a week of Wedding Craft inspiration and thought we would do a little recap. Please pin this page as a reference or share on facebook. We encourage you to pull from these design ideas and mix and match them to create what you need. For example, Kyriakos table decor almost matches Kassy’s banner perfect. With a little tweaking on each design, you could easily create a full array of decor for a wedding.

 

Create a Matching Wedding Set – the Invitation, Favor Box & Placecards by Roni Johnson.

As always, Roni outdid herself by creating three dynamic matching papercraft projects featuring a free download for a favor box. Using the Imagine’s Color of the Month (and Pantone’s color of the year) Ultraviolet as inspiration for the color scheme.

A Simple, Elegant and Inexpensive Wedding Table Setting by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Kyriakos has a knack for jewelry and table decor. He certainly shows off this knowledge in this post where he creates a pull tab card, napkin ring, cutlery placeholder and wine glass placeholder for a lovely DIY shabby chic style. One super fun element we love in this design is the doily stamp. Yes.. that is a stamp not as an actual paper doily.

How to Make Wedding Flowers from Coffee Filters by Jennifer Vanderbeek

We are so impressed with how these paper flowers turned out! Since Jennifer is one of our video artists, you will have the luxury of seeing for yourself how these are handcrafted. Take a minute to watch this YouTube video to see how she designed these bouquets.

Create An Elegant “Always & Forever” Wedding Sign by Steph Ackerman

We like the rich purple flowers that literally pop off this banner style sign. See how Steph used Creative Medium in Iridescent Purple to match flowers to “Always & Forever” text.

Use a Cute Lovebirds Theme in Wedding Decor by Elina Stromberg

We appreciate this lovebird design as a theme for a wedding. Elina goes through a couple different color schemes and design ideas to show off how to use one stamp in a variety of ways.

Learn How to Make a Shabby Chic Wedding Banner by Kassy Tousignant

And if you have not watched this video yet then please do! Kassy goes through all the steps of creating this Shabby Chic Mr. & Mrs. Banner.

Create An Elegant “Always & Forever” Wedding Sign

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by Steph Ackerman

Create An Elegant "Always & Forever" Wedding Sign using a Purple Theme

As Summer is on its way, it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming wedding season. For this project, I wanted to incorporate Creative Medium acrylic paste so I decided to do some experimenting. The iridescent material in pastes pops on the black chalkboard piece and creates a beautifully vibrant effect. To match all the colors, I also applied the pastes to cardstock to make flowers. Take a look at how I created a beautiful decorative sign using Creative Medium and VersaFine Clair.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Tape the stencil to the chalkboard, covering any parts of the stencil you don’t want to use with extra tape.


Step 2

Using a pallet knife, cover the stencil with Creative Medium Purple Iridescent.


Step 3

Remove the stencil and allow the Creative Medium to dry.


apply Creative Medium Iridescent Purple onto a strip of purple cardstock
Step 4

Use a pallet knife to apply Creative Medium Iridescent Purple onto a strip of purple cardstock. Use a pallet knife to apply Creative Medium Metallic Gold onto a strip of green cardstock. Allow both pieces to dry before moving on to next step.


Step 5

Stamp flowers with VersaFine Clair Fantasia Ink on the strip of purple cardstock. Stamp leaves with VersaFine Clair Green Oasis Ink on the strip of gold covered green cardstock.


Step 6

Using the coordinating dies, die cut the flowers and leaves. Assemble the flowers by shaping the petals with a stylus and piecing together with brads.


Step 7

Use On Point Glue to adhere the flowers and leaves to the panel.


Step 8

Tie purple ribbon to the panel. Use On Point Glue to adhere pearls about the panel. This piece would look great hanging on the back of the bride and grooms chairs, near a floral display or by the guest book. It would be easily customized to match the wedding colors of choice as well!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Chalkboard Panel
  • Heartfelt Creations – Classic Rose Stamp Set, Classic Rose Die Set
  • Cardstock – Purple, Green
  • Brads
  • Die cut machine
  • Pearls
  • Prima Marketing – Stencil
  • Shaping stylus
  • Ribbon