Category Archives: Beginner

Project Swap: Create a “You Are a Superstar” Lime-ade Card

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Welcome to another set for our Artist Project Swap with Iris and Jowilna. For the Month of May, we challenged our artists to exchange tutorials and create each other’s designs in order to see how each of our artists interprets style and choices. The receiving artist did not know who designed the project, nor did they receive any images! In today’s post, Jowilna gives the directions and recommended supplies list and Iris created the project.

Create a “You Are a Super Star” Lime-ade Card by Iris Rodriguez

I had the pleasure of creating Jowilna Nolte’s project. It’s a lime and black colored star card, which I found unique and fun to make. I learned new ways of using StazOn Studio Glaze on paper. Jowilna’s project calls for real or faux stitching. I always found stitching on mixed media and cards to look awesome but I can’t sew. I found that hand-drawn stitching created a fun whimsical look in its place. I can’t believe I never tried it before, but will from now on!

I like the “You’re a Superstar” sentiment for this card. I think it can be suitable for a graduate. It also makes for a great mother’s or father’s day card as well. Many of us think one or both parents are superstars; for raising us, being supportive and cheerleaders in our lives. I hope you consider making this card for the superstars in your life.

Directions


Step 1

Use smooth white cardstock and attach an alphabet stencil to the cardstock piece using washi tape or masking tape.


Step 2

Ink with Memento Dye Ink in Pear Tart and Inkblushers.


Step 3

Carefully remove the stencil and leave the ink to dry thoroughly.


Step 4

Add a few drops of StazOn Studio Glaze in Cactus Green onto the stenciled sheet. Let Dry.


Step 5

Use StazOn black ink and stamp a star image onto the background as a focal point. Did not have the star stencil, so I cut out my stencil with using a precision knife and card stock paper.


Step 6

Add sewing machine stitched detail around the star or add fake stitches using a permanent marker. Here I used a gel pen in white.


Step 8

Use Memento in Cottage Ivy and Pear Tart and an ink blusher and add ink around the outside edge of the star to highlight it.


Step 9

Once the ink is dry add graphite pencil scribbles over those highlights.


Step 10

Use a gold glitter star (or die cut one from glitter paper) and add a layer of StazOn Studio Glaze to add a green tint to the glitter. Add a glitter star to the center of your stamped star. Stamp a happy sentiment onto a scrap of cardstock and place below concentric stars. I hand cut a cardstock star, used gold glitter and glue. The glaze seals the glitter nicely.


Step 11

Trim the background to fit onto a folded card and adhere to the front of the card.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – white
  • Alphabet Stencil
  • Dina Wakely – Star Stamp
  • Sizzix – Star die-cut
  • Glitter cardstock or pre-cut glitter star
  • “You Are A Superstar” sentiment stamp
  • Graphite pencil
  • Sewing machine or permanent marker

Original Design by Jowilna Nolte

What did you think of Iris’s interpretation of Jowilna’s design?

Comment below!

Project Swap: Let Your Dreams Fly Greeting Card

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Welcome back for another Artist Project Swap with Martha and Steph. For the Month of May, we challenged our artists to exchange tutorials and create each other’s designs in order to see how each of our artists interprets style and choices. The receiving artist did not know who designed the project, nor did they receive any images! In today’s post, Martha writes the directions and recommended supplies list and Steph created the project.

Let Your Dreams Fly by Steph Ackerman

This month we were given another team member’s project to re-create. What a great way to see how someone else approaches cardmaking! I love creating backgrounds using stamps and inks, but don’t generally have a lot of “white space” on my cards. I’ve always felt the need to cover white spaces. This project challenge taught me that you can use white spaces to create amazing projects. See how I did it!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Ink background stamps with VersaMagic in Cloud White on white paper and let dry.


Step 2

Using daubers, ink panel with Memento in Morocco, Rhubarb Stalk and Peanut Brittle which should create a warm hue.


Step 3

Cut the panel to fit the card. Save the scraps. Die cut a circle from the center of the panel and set it aside to use for a second card design later.


Step 4

Ink a paisley stamp with VersaMagic in Cloud White. Stamp it several times in the circle. Re-ink paisley stamp with Memento ink in Rhubarb Stalk and Morocco. Stamp each color several times around the circle, stamping off the circle. Stamp phrase in center of the circle with VersaMark and emboss with White Embossing Powder.


Step 5

Add the circle to a card placing it slightly off the card. Cut off the excess. Using the scraps, cut two different sized strips. Ink the edges of the scrap pieces with Memento Rhubarb Ink and add to the card. Add drops of IrRESISTible in Wedding Dress around the card.


Step 6

Using the punched panel create a second card. Ink the die cut panel with Memento in Rhubarb. Add the panel to a white card base. Stamp the Mary Elizabeth Frye paragraph from Whimsy Stamps with Memento in Rhubarb on a smaller die cut circle. Mat with medium sized kraft die cut. Add to center of the card. The two additional dies can be size from the Spellbinders stackable sets. Stamp “With Sympathy” in Rhubarb Ink on a leftover scrap and mount with foam adhesives, slightly overlapping the circles.

These two card designs come together quickly if you plan to coordinate the original circle punch.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • JustForFun – Rubber Stamp background
  • Joy Clair Stamps – “With Sympathy” sentiment stamp
  • Whimsy Stamps – Mary Elizabeth Frye paragraph stamp
  • Spellbinders – Circle stackable dies
  • Die cut machine
  • Cardstock – white, kraft

Original Design by Martha

What did you think of Steph’s interpretation of Martha’s instructions?

Comment below!

Project Swap: Learn How to Make a Friend Celebration Card

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Project Swap: Learn How to Make a Friend Celebration Card

Welcome back for another Artist Project Swap with Jennifer and Kyriakos. For the Month of May, we challenged our artists to exchange tutorials and create each other’s designs in order to see how each of our artists interprets style and choices. The receiving artist did not know who designed the project, nor did they receive any images! In today’s post, Jennifer writes the directions and recommended supplies list and Kyriakos created the project.

Learn How to Make a Friend Celebration Card by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Project Swap: Learn How to Make a Friend Celebration Card

Sometimes we need to tell our friends how much we love and appreciate them! In this cardmaking tutorial, I go through several steps of stenciling and stamping to create a cute card using Creative Medium, Fireworks Spray, and VersaFine Clair. The combination of shimmer with complimenting colors creates a fun and bright look. See how I did it!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Mix Creative Medium in Clear and Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray in New Sprout on the Craft Mat with a palette knife and press through a circle stencil positioned on the center-right side of a 3 ¾” x 5 ¾” piece of white cardstock. Allow to dry or set with heat tool.


Step 2

Stamp sets of stems and centers of flowers with VersaFine Clair ink in Verdant, focusing more to the left of the Creative Medium.


Step 3

Stamp details with VersaColor ink in Orchid over flower centers.


Step 4

Stamp filler details around the top and sides of the card front and add leaves to the stems with Memento Luxe ink pads in Pistachio and Pear Tart.


Step 5

Stamp a butterfly next to one of the flowers with VersaColor in Orchid.


Step 6

Stamp a sentiment in VersaFine Clair in Nocturne in the lower right card front.


Step 7

Mat the completed card front to a 4”x 6” piece of pink cardstock and attached to a card base.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Artemio Fleur clear stamps
  • KaiserCraft – Tigerlilly clear stamps
  • The Crafters Workshop – Mini Mod Spirals stencil
  • Cardstock – pink, white
  • Heat tool
  • 5 x 7 card base

Original Design by Jennifer

What do you think of Kyriakos’ interpretation of Jennifer’s tutorial?

Comment below!

See How to Make this Cute Fox Theme Birthday Card

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by Elina Stromberg

See How to Make this Cute Fox Theme Birthday Card

Acrylic paints are perfect for creating patterned backgrounds for cards or art journal pages. However, simple stamping inks and pattern stamps work just as well! When your plan is to create layers of patterns and you don’t have the time nor the patience to wait for the paint layers to dry, just take out your stamping inks and start playing. You will be able to make gorgeous backgrounds in no time at all!

For creating eye-catching backgrounds you don’t necessarily need to use many colors of stamping inks. One or two may be enough; especially for creating a contrast between a colorful main image and a monochromatic background. Furthermore, one stamp color is enough for creating layers of various tones and shades; when stamping with the same color on an already stamped surface the shade will get darker by each layer.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Stamp the fox and birthday present images with Memento ‘Tuxedo Black’ ink on white cardstock. Color with alcohol markers, and cut out.


Step 2

Using grey ‘London Fog’ Memento ink, stamp patterns on the background. Layer different stamp patterns on top of each other. Do not cover the entire background, but leave some areas blank. Stamp the last patterns with ‘Tuxedo Black’ ink.


Step 3

Layer the presents and hand-torn paper on the card front. Glue with collage glue.


Step 4

Trim card to the desired size. Mat the card front on a dark green solid color cardstock. Attach to card base.

Supplies

Imagine
  • Memento – London Fog, Tuxedo Black
Other
  • Stamps: AALL Create. Fox design by Olga Heldwein
  • Promarkers for coloring
  • Scissors
  • Adhesive
  • White card base
  • Pieces of green and dark grey paper

Project Swap: Create a You Are My Hero Card

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Project Swap: Create a You Are My Hero Card

Welcome to another set for our Artist Project Swap with Kassy and Melissa. For the Month of May, we challenged our artists to exchange tutorials and create each other’s designs in order to see how each of our artists interprets style and choices. The receiving artist did not know who designed the project, nor did they receive any images! In today’s post, Kassy gives the directions and recommended supplies list and Melissa created the project.

Create a You Are My Hero Card by Melissa Andrew

Today, I create a fun card using a number of techniques that were designed and instructed by design team member Kassy Tousignant. This was a challenge created by Imagine to help show customers how diverse Imagine and Tsukineko products really are. If you don’t have something a designer uses, you can improvise!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Whimsy Stamps –  Lattice Stencil, sentiment stamp
  • SugarPea Designs Stamp – Peony stamp, Postage Stamp die
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Scissors – fine and regular
  • Foam Dots
  • Heat Tool
  • Watercolor Palette
  • Cardbase

Original Design by Kassy

What do you think of Melissa’s interpretation of Kassy’s tutorial?

Comment below!

Project Swap: Beautiful Floral Congrats Card

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Welcome back for another Artist Project Swap with Kassy and Melissa. For the Month of May, we challenged our artists to exchange tutorials and create each other’s designs in order to see how each of our artists interprets style and choices. The receiving artist did not know who designed the project, nor did they receive any images! In today’s post, Melissa writes the directions and recommended supplies list and Kassy created the project.

Create a Congrats Card with a Floral Element by Kassy Tousignant

This papercrafting swap project was so FUN! I wasn’t sure how it was going to go in the beginning. After seeing my project interpreted by someone else, I couldn’t wait to create the project given to me. It is exciting to see how different people interpret and work with similar materials to create different craft projects. You can really see each person’s personality come out in their artwork. It just goes to show you that you don’t have to have all the same craft supplies to make something equally beautiful. Just use what you have! I would really love to do this again.

Memento and Brilliance inks are perfect for achieving watercolor effects. The inks stay vibrant and layer beautifully. It’s fun to play on watercolor paper and then cut out shapes with dies to accentuate your favorite parts of the background.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Unity Stamp – Congrats stamp
  • Cardstock – White
  • Watercolor paper
  • Sequins
  • Simon Says Stamp – flower die, circle die
  • Glue dots

Original Design by Melissa

What do you think of Kassy’s interpretation of Melissa’s tutorial?

Comment below!

Did you miss some of the other swaps? Take a peak at how Arjita and Elina handled each others tutorials, as well as swapped projects by Nadine and Roni.