Category Archives: DIY

Learn How to Color Metal for a Jewelry Making Project

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by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Learn How to Color Metal for a Jewelry Making Project

The sun turned into a square! Capture the colors of the sun on faux enamel jewelry piece with a marbled pattern. Decorate the Imagine’s Sheet Metal in the squares shapes with a mix of irRESISTible colors and create a marble design that is covered with clear Mboss embossing powder to protect and give the impression of enamel.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Cover the square Sheet Metal shapes with the irRESISTible in Gold, mixing the gel with a bamboo skewer or toothpick.


Step 2

Add drops of the irRESISTible in Tangelo and mix in circular motions with a bamboo skewer. Let the paint dry well.


Step 3

Press the square shapes on the VersaMark inkpad, cover with Mboss embossing powder and heat set.


Step 4

Turn over to the other side of the Sheet Metal shapes, cover with StazOn Sunflower Yellow.


Step 5

Cover with GlazOn Vintage to secure the color. This is very important to use GlazOn in between uses because StazOn solvent qualities react with other layers of StazOn. In other words, you will erase or lift the color you just laid down.


Step 6

Cut 20-inch long cord pieces, pass it through a jump ring and inside the Sheet Metal shape hole. Add a gold colored bead.


Step 7

Continue with the rest of the pieces and secure all the cords together with a jump ring creating a stop.


Step 8

Cut 20-inch long cord pieces, pass them between the shapes and the previous stop jump ring. Braid the cords and secure all the edges with jewelry caps and clasps.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Bamboo skewers
  • Heat tool
  • Black waxed cord
  • Jewelry clasps, jump rings, lobster locks

Color of the Month is Tuscan Sun

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Color of the Month is Tuscan Sun

Color of the Month is Tuscan Sun. We were thinking of blended burnt orange and yellow sunset when we choose this hot summer color. Some of the inks that easily reflect this color choice are Memento Luxe in Morocco, Memento in Tangelo and VersaMagic in Pumpkin Spice.

For the Month of July August, we are also doing a special feature of Rinea Foil Paper. This beautiful paper foil comes in a variety of colors and patterns and we challenged our artists to use them in their tutorials and projects, so be on the lookout for awesomeness!!!  ******Correction: the exchange with Rinea is in August! 

Mixed Media by Roni Johnson

Best Wishes Card by Lori Warren

Paper Craft by Martha Lucia Gomez

Learn a Simple Smoosh Technique Using Memento Inkpad

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by Melissa Andrew

Learn a Simple Smoosh Technique Using Memento Inkpad

Today, I show you a simple technique using your Memento DewDrops. You don’t need stamps when you have fabulous inks! I choose colors of Memento that work well together for an interesting background.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Catherine Pooler Stamp – Feathered Friends
  • Catherine Pooler Chevron Divide Coverplate
  • White Cardstock
  • Bristol Smooth Paper
  • Copic Alcohol Markers

See How to Make a Handmade Creative Art Journal

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by Lori Warren

See How to Make a Handmade Creative Art Journal

Interested is slowing down and being more mindful? A Daily Journal to document artsy ideas and creative thoughts might be just what is needed. This journal includes “My Creative Day” journal templates (with prompts for daily journaling), blank art pages (for art journaling, sketching and jotting down ideas) and a special hand decorated cover to house it all.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour

 

Directions


Step 1

Select ready to make a cover or create a cover of your own (size 5 ½” x 7 ½”)


Step 2

Apply a trio of Fireworks! Sprays to add color, allow to dry. As you can see the color of the waterbased inks brings out the chevron design that was preprinted.


Step 3

Use the same Fireworks! colors on a ½” sheet of white card stock, allow drying.


Step 4

Stamp swirls and script randomly onto the card stock panel with StazOn Pigment ink.


Step 5

Add some shine to sections of the card stock panel with Delicata ink and a large Sponge Dauber.


Step 6

Use diecuts to cut out floral images from the card stock panel.


Step 7

Add additional color to the flower heads with Shimmer Stix in Rose Gold.


Step 8

Apply shading to the flower by using a Fantastix tool with StazOn Pigment ink.


Step 9

Stamp a floral pattern and script onto journal cover with StazOn Pigment ink.


Step 10

Directly apply VersaMark ink to cover, sprinkle with MBoss powder(s) and heat set for added texture.


Step 11

Adhere to a layer of tulle.


Step 12

Highlight floral cutouts with white ink.


Step 13

Assemble floral die cuts, adhere sequence, and apply StazOn ink directly to edges of cover for shading.


Step 14

Assemble Journal and embellish with fibers.


Step 15

Complete first daily journal entry.

Supplies

Imagine

• StazOn Pigment Inkpad – Peacock Feathers, Shamrock Green, Piano Black, Koala Gray
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cottage Ivy, New Sprout, Bahama Blue
• Delicata Inkpad – Golden Glitz
• Fantastix – Bullet Tip
• Sheer Shimmer STIX Dauber Top – Rose Gold
• VersaMark Watermark Stamp pad
• Mboss Powder – Shimmering Night Sky, Lucky Stars
• On Point Glue
• Large Sponge Dauber

Other

• Prima – Mixed Media Covers
• Uniball Signo – White
• Inkadinkado Clear Stamps
• Lori’s Cards & Creations Stamps – Art Script
• Sizzix Thinlits – Wildflower Stems
• Hero Arts Sequence
• My Creative Day template
• Fibers
• Tulle

How to Make Different Sparkle Backgrounds on Handmade Cards

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by Lindsay Adreon

Glittery backgrounds are the best backgrounds! I love anything glittery and the Sparkle MBoss is quickly becoming one of my favorite new embossing powders. It is a clear embossing powder with holographic glitter mixed into it. It’s perfect to add over any backgrounds because it doesn’t add any color, just shine and sparkle! You can watch the video tutorial to see two different ways to make your backgrounds sparkle!

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 – 2 hours

Directions

Supplies

Imagine

VersaFine Clair in Green Oasis

VersaFine Clair in Verdant

VersaFine Clair in Rain Forest

Memento DewDrop in Pistachio

Memento DewDrop in Olive Grove

VersaMark

On Point Glue

Mboss Embossing Powder in
Sparkle

Jumbo Dauber
Other
  • Heat Tool
  • Masking Paper (Label Paper)
  • Kat Scrappiness Dies – Fancy Floral Cover Plate
  • Condensed Uppercase Alphabet
  • Blending Brush Set
  • Peel N Stick Toner Sheets
  • Laminator
  • Deco Foil – Black
  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Lawn Fawn Dies – Scripty Hello
  • Banner Dies
  • The Crafter’s Workshop Floral Spectacle 6 x 6 Stencil
  • Foam Tape
  • White Cardstock
  • Olive Green Cardstock

Learn How To Use Creative Medium To Upcycle A Wooden Box

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by Roni Johnson

Learn How To Use Creative Medium To Upcycle A Wooden Box

Preserving memories is a fun and rewarding past time but if you’re like me I like to keep little mementos as well. After every trip we take I end up with a little pile of goodies collected during our travels. I thought it would be fun to create a memory box to house all of these little treasures. Upcycling an old worn out box is just the ticket.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Find a suitable box for your needs. Garage sales, thrift stores or flea markets are an excellent place to start your search.


Step 2

Remove the insert from the lid (if applicable). Paint the lid insert with a layer of gesso.


Step 3

Make a skin from Copper Metallic Creative Medium. See our Make section for more details.


Step 4

Spritz the skin with Cottage Ivy Fireworks Spray and let dry.


Step 5

Apply a layer of Creative Medium to the lid insert and adhere the skin to the panel. Let the Creative Medium dry.


Step 6

Pounce VersaMark ink around the edges of the skin using a stipple brush.


Step 7

Sprinkle gold Mboss embossing powder over the ink.


Step 8

Shake off excess powder and return it to the bag for later use.


Step 9

Use a heat tool to melt the embossing powder. Set the insert aside for now.


Step 10

Remove the insert from the lid, lightly sand the box to roughen up the surface a bit.


Step 11

Apply a layer of gesso to the entire box, inside and out. I am using DecoArt Chalk Gesso in light green for this example.


Step 12

Stamp desired text and images on the body of the box using VersaFine Clair Inks.


Step 13

After the ink has dried, use a palette knife to spread Antique Creative Medium over the stamped area. Apply more medium in some areas, less in others, by doing so this will create depth and add interest to the finished piece. Let the Creative Medium dry. Use a Fantastix and your ink brand of choice to color the ruler yellow.


Step 14

Stamp and apply Creative Medium to the lid of the box just as you did in step 5. Use a stipple brush and pounce VersaMark ink on the edges of the lid.


Step 15

Sprinkle Gold Mboss embossing powder over the ink; shake off excess and return it to the bag. Use a heat tool to melt the powders. Repeat until all edges have been embossed.


Step 16

Emboss various elements which will be used to embellish the box lid. Here I choose butterflies and an ornate flower.


Step 17

Replace insert into the box lid. Use hot glue to affix the various elements to the box lid. Fill the box with all of the treasures you have found along your journey.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Box with a lid
  • Sandpaper
  • Just For Fun Stamps – Postcards, Postage, Keys, Keyholes
  • Lost Coast Designs – Ruler Border Stamp
  • Stamperia – Molds
  • Spellbinders – Embossing Folder
  • Misc embellishments
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Heat Tool