Category Archives: DIFFICULTY LEVEL

Make Plans for the Perfect Christmas Card

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by Elina Stromberg

Snowflakes are always a safe choice for Christmas cards Shapphire Blue.

Busy Christmas card season is soon here! I envy those efficient crafters who start making their Christmas cards early enough, so that they can create beautiful, diverse card designs for each receiver. I usually start too late, and in order to complete the task on time I must choose only one or two designs that are easy and quick to do even in larger quantities. However, simple does not mean that the cards need be boring, quite the contrary! A wow-factor must be included, and even if time may be running short, I still take time to carefully plan the card design.

Each year I make a few extra cards that I keep to myself. I want to keep record of the card designs I have used, as my cards must never be replicates of the previous years’ designs. Making a couple of test rounds before starting the actual card making project has proven to be a wise choice, too. Whenever I want to come up with a new and fresh design idea, I like to start with making several samples. For me that’s the only way to see what works and what doesn’t. This is especially true when including new media, new color combinations, new supplies or new techniques. A few pieces of scrap paper keep this endeavor an inexpensive choice for testing! I’ll switch to higher quality card bases when I’m ready to go into production.

This year my Christmas cards will most probably have a snowflake background; snowflakes are always a safe choice for Christmas cards. For my sample pieces, I sprayed two sheets of white mixed media cardstock with blue Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray. Those shimmering cold blue colors gave just the icy look and feel I needed! I mixed the colors with water, dried with my heat gun, and cut the sheets into smaller sample pieces. I even punched one sheet with a tag punch and a set of gift tags was made on the same go.

For sample #1, I applied Metallic Silver Creative Medium through a snowflake stencil. On sample #2, I stamped different small snowflakes with Sapphire Blue Delicata ink and for sample #3, I used the same snowflake stencil with the Sapphire Delicata ink and a Stipple Brush.

I continued testing on punched gift tags: #4 is heat embossed with white embossing powder, and #5 with silver.

For tags #6 and #7,  I used the previous techniques once again, as I wanted to see how they work on small backgrounds.

For tags #8 and #9,  I die-cut snowflakes from glitter paper and glued them down with On Point Glue. #8 is misted with Original GooseBumps Texture Spray, and #9 outlined with ‘Wedding Dress’ white irRESISTible texture spray.

Now the only tricky part is to choose which pattern or texture to use for my Christmas cards. As much I liked the stamped and die-cut images, I think I will go for the stenciled Metallic Silver Creative Medium. The shimmering silver just looks so cool on the shimmering, icy blue background!

From here building a card design that could be both time-friendly and very personalized will be easy and fun! Enjoy!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Mixed media paper
  • Water mister
  • 13Arts Studio – Snowflake stencil
  • Snowflake stamps
  • Scissors
  • Tag punch

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Make Super Easy DIY Christmas Gift Tags with Delicata

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Christmas is a crafter’s time to shine! Between cardmaking, gift wrapping, and other crafting awesomeness, creative folks have a lot to do and to plan for. Today we remind you to get a jump start on gift tags with two projects by Jennifer Vanderbeek and Roni Johnson. Enjoy!

Wrapping gifts for friends and loved ones can be a bit of a chore. To keep it simple, pick a couple solid colors of paper or tissue to use on all gifts

Stamped Gift Tags by Jennifer Vanderbeek

It’s never too early to get ready for gift-giving! Wrapping gifts for friends and loved ones can be a bit of a chore. To keep it simple, pick a couple solid colors of paper or tissue to use on all gifts and use ribbon and tags to add a personal touch. It’s quick and easy to make a batch of tags ahead of time, then you can pop the tag into the bag with the gift until it’s time to wrap them up!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock
  • Acrylic Blocks
  • 
Studio Calico – Wanderer stamp set
  • 
Simon Says Stamp – Swell Christmas, Merry and Bright stamp sets
  • Stampabilities – Everyday Expressions stamp set
  • Hot Off the Press – Snowflake Stencil
  • 
Repositionable tape
  • 
Fiskars – Hole punch, scissors

create a gradient metallic background using Delicata Inks and a sponge dauber

Metallic Holiday Gift Tags by Roni Johnson

In the past, our holiday celebration for our immediate family has been a small affair with my husband, myself and our 2 boys. Our family has grown by leaps and bounds so I need to rethink my holiday plans this year. I used to just buy 2 rolls of wrapping paper – one for each of the boys. If I continue with that plan I’d end up with a whole raft of wrapping papers and I’d have to try to match it to each individual’s personalities. This year I decided to do away with the stress and expense of the whole gift wrapping process by purchasing a roll of white butcher paper to wrap the gifts and make the tags the eye candy instead.

Gift tags blended with colorful Delicata inks in red, green, blue and rose gold overstamped with a musical sheet stamp in Delicata Gold.

Buy or cut tags from cream colored cardstock. Create a gradient metallic background using Delicata Inks and a sponge dauber. Stamp sheet music on the tag using Golden Glitz Delicata ink. Stamp holly or other seasonal design on each tag. Finally stamp the recipient’s name. You’ll be left with a beautiful set of metallic tags that shimmer and shine in all the right places and still have the personalized vibe. Sure to be a crowd pleaser on Christmas morning!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – cream
  • Just For Fun Rubber Stamps – Vintage Sheet Music
  • StampTangle – Holly Stamps
  • CTMH – The Works Alphabet Stamps
  • MFT – Tag Die

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Christmas Planning with a Fun Blackboard Menu

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by Neva Cole

Blackboard Menus are popular at many eating establishments, so I decided to make one of my own for Christmas parties that I hold in my home during the holiday season

Blackboard menus are popular at many eating establishments, so I decided to make one of my own for Christmas parties that I hold in my home during the holiday season. I host at least one party every year, and may even get in on the neighborhood progressive dinner this year! Creative Medium, a little glitter and two stencils quickly made this menu board very festive! The Creative Medium will hold fine particle embellishments like glitter or beads. The Iridescent Green Creative Medium shows up fabulously on the black background, and the Gold Creative Medium adds a touch of metallic elegance. The menu is written in colored Crayola chalk that was sharpened with a child’s large pencil sharpener.

This fun and easy project is a great way to enhance any party! Enjoy and thank you for stopping by!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Sierra Pacific Crafts – 12” x 12” Chalkboard Tile
  • Stencil Girl –Three Trees stencil
  • C-Thru Stencils – 3/4” Swash Bold Italic alpha stencil
  • Art Institute Ultra Fine Glitter – Christmas Red
  • Crayola Chalk
  • Pencil sharpener for large pencils

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Fun and Easy Solution to Add a Festive Vibe to Your Celebration

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by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

The napkin rings are full of bright red color, combined with the gold wires and stars to bring a festive and glamorous air on your table.

Setting the table for Christmas can be a big part of this special occasion and having a handmade decoration that also serves a purpose makes it even better. These napkin rings are full of bright red cheer, combined with gold stars, they bring a festive and glamorous air to your table. Vertigo sheets make it easy to craft a functional and beautiful item for your holiday table.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Cut the Vertigo sheet in 3 pieces of 2 x 6 inches

Vertigo Sheet with the StazOn Blazing Red
Step 2

Using a sponge dauber color the Vertigo Sheet with the StazOn Blazing Red. Let it dry and place a coat layer of StazOn Studio Glaze in Claret. Finish with an additional layer of the Blazing Red.

Die cut a star in the center of the Vertigo cutting and punch little stars on the rest of it.
Step 3

Die cut a star in the center of the Vertigo piece. Punch little stars around the larger center star.


Step 4

Glue metallic stars on the Vertigo sheet.


Step 5

Cut wires of 4, 5 and 6 inches long pieces. Bind them together in with extra wire. Using jewelry glue, set some metallic stars and some Vertigo punched stars on the top edges only of each wire.

Glue the long edges of the Vertigo cuttings to form a tube. Add the wires near the large die cut star.
Step 6

Glue the edges of the Vertigo strips together to form a tube. Adhere the wires near the large die cut star.

Step 7

Roll your napkin and place in the napkin ring. It’s festive enough to be placed at the center of each place setting!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Star shape punch
  • Star shape die
  • Gold star embellishments
  • Jewelry wire – gold
  • Jewelry glue
  • Pliers

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Are You Ready for Christmas Cardmaking?

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by Martha Lucia Gomez

On this project, I used Delicata and Memento Markers with two different stamping techniques. I divided the making of this card into two steps. It's a simple process and so fun to make!

Are you ready for Christmas? I started my holiday creations using different colors and this year the Rose Gold is trending so I used it to create the background of my card.  I thought it would be fun to color the wood grain texture created by the embossing folder. On this project, I used Delicata and Memento Markers with two different stamping techniques. I divided the making of this card into two steps. It’s a simple process and so fun to make!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1-hour + dry time

Directions

Ink the upper side of the folder directly with the Delicata ink pad. Pass the sandwich as usual through the die cut machine
Step 1

Put rose gold paper inside of the folder. Ink the upper side of the folder directly with the Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata inkpad. Pass the sandwich through the die cut machine. Remove the embossed cardstock and paste the embossed layer over a card base once dry. (You could get a similar look using brown paper and Rose Gold Delicata!)

watercolor paper and Memento Markers in two different colors
Step 2

For this step, I used watercolor paper and Memento Markers in two different colors. Secure the stamp over a Misti stamping tool. Use Memento Marker to color the different parts of the image. Stamp over the watercolor paper. With a paint brush or aqua painter, create a distress around the leaves of the wreath and in the center of the berries. Cut the wreath using a cross stitch die cut circle. Add texture over the wreath using White Radiant Neon Amplify and activate with the heat tool to create the puffy effect. Stamp a sentiment on the center of the wreath using Delicata Ruby Red. Paste the wreath over the decorated base and finalize the decoration adding a tiny bow.

This project was very enjoyable to make and can be a great way to start off holiday cardmaking!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Misti stamping tool
  • Cardstock – rose gold, dark brown
  • Watercolor paper
  • Waterbrush
  • So Suzy Stamps – Wreath and Peace Stamps
  • Stampin’ Up – Wood Embossing Folder
  • Bakers Twine
  • Gina Marie Designs – Circle Cross Stitch die cut

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Learn How to Make Marbled Paper with Delicata Inkers

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by Roni Johnson

I wanted to share a throwback background technique to a time when I just started scrapbooking and making cards. There weren’t a whole lot of paper choices out there so we became inventive and made our own. One of my favorites is marble paper. This technique is quick, easy and very addictive. Best part, it can be made using a few items you’ve got around the home.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Cut cardstock to the desired size. You’ll need lots of cardstock pieces because this technique is like potato chips–you can’t make just one. Find a non-porous shallow pan with at least 1-inch sides. Apply a small dot of removable adhesive to the back of a piece of cardstock and attach cardstock to the center of the pan.  Add 3-4 drops of one or more colors of Delicata pigment ink along the edges of the pan.


Step 2

Drop in 3-10 marbles (or any small ball), try to find marbles or balls of varying sizes. By using different sizes you’ll be able to create a variety of different patterns. Pick up the pan and tilt it this way and that letting the marbles roll through the ink and over the cardstock.


Step 3

Continue rolling until you’re satisfied with the design.


Step 4

Remove the paper and repeat steps 3-7 as many times as you’d like. Once you’re finished you’ll have a whole pile of wonderful designs just waiting to be used. The results can be used on a variety of projects, everything from scrapbook pages, cards, tags, mixed media projects, place cards and more!

Supplies

Imagine
  • Delicata Inkers – Rose Gold, Emerald Green, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, Pink Shimmer, Champagne, Golden Glitz, Silver, Cosmic Copper, White Shimmer
Other
  • Cardstock
  • Shallow Bakers Pan
  • Marbles