Category Archives: DIY

Color a Journal Page in the Style of a Cute Nature Scene

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by Elina Stromberg

Stamped collages provide an easy way to create beautiful and colorful pages into your art journal book. For this technique, you can mix and match stamps from various sets and take those small pieces of leftover papers and put them into use. Main images on stamped collages are like paper dolls; first, you stamp and cut out the body, then hair, clothes, and accessories. Finished pieces contain several layers; just like dressed paper dolls!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions


Step 1

Stamp the main image on cream cardstock and again on brown, orange and patterned floral paper.


Step 2

Color the image face, hands, and legs. Add shadows and highlights to the brown hair and the flower-patterned skirt. Cut out. On the non-visible areas trim body image slightly smaller on the edges; this will ease the positioning of the colored and cut details.


Step 3

Using green papers hand-cut waves to build a landscape scenery. If you wish, decorate with stamped patterns.


Step 4

Ink the page background: Dab green ink on the bottom part of the page, and both lighter and darker blues on the top. The area in the middle may be left white as it will be covered with the green scenery papers. 
Create clouds on the inked sky by adding a hint of white gesso on top of the blue ink.


Step 5

Stamp trees on green patterned paper. Highlight the stamped lines with a color pencil. 
Cut out.


Step 6

Stamp flowers and stems on patterned or solid color paper. Color with color pencils and cut out.


Step 
7

Stamp small flower patterns on the layered landscape. Glue flowers on the background. Place the main image on the page. Stamp sentiment text on the bottom of the page. Done!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Art Journal book
  • Colorful pieces of leftover papers
  • Carabelle Studio – “The girl smiling” stamp
  • 
Simon Says Stamp – One With Nature
  • 
Studio Calico – Set 17179
  • Gesso – white
  • Color pencils
  • Scissors

Create A “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” Greeting Card

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by Iris Rodriguez

Create A Not All Who Wander Are Lost Greeting Card

I made a travel theme card with a porthole using the Vertigo film. This is a plastics film containing a 3D, hologram-like imprint. The porthole window view has a fantasy feel. It’s like looking into the abyss as you go onto your great adventure. Vertigo can be tinted with Imagine’s inks and cut with scissors or other cutting tools. Check out how this grungy, travel-themed card is made.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions

Step 1

Cut out or use a die cut tool to cut a circle containing an open center from the chipboard.

Step 2

Cut out four or more different size pieces of chipboard. This will be the steampunk looking wall. Rip the edges with your hands for added grungy-ness.


Step 3

Add a few Walnut Crystals to water and mix. Paint the chipboard with a brush. Dry the paper.


Step 4

Smoosh the Golden Glitz Delicata ink onto the craft mat. Spray with water and mix.


Step 5

Smoosh the card pieces onto the watered ink. Dry the paper. Ink the edges with VersaFine Vintage Sepia ink. Ink the porthole with Delicata Celestial Copper ink.


Step 6

Now we will create the porthole. It’s made using the Breeze Vertigo. This is a firm plastic film that has a cool effect imprint. Looks like a hologram.


Step 7

Tint the Vertigo with Cottage Ivy and Pear Tart Memento inks.


Step 8

Add tiny drops of the On Point Glue to the Vertigo circle and adhere the chipboard circle.


Step 9

Add tiny drops of the On Point Glue to the chipboard circle and adhere the metal studs.


Step 10

Ink an area onto one of the chipboard pieces with the White Shimmery Delicata ink and stamp the sentiment over it with the Piano Black StazOn Pigment ink. I did this so one can better see the sentiment. You may choose to stamp the sentiment over the chipboard piece as is.


Step 11

Adhere the map paper onto the card base first, then adhere the chipboard pieces. Next, adhere the porthole and finally add the rest of the studs onto the chipboard pieces.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Map scrapbooking paper or map stamp
  • Cardbase
  • Chipboard
  • Metal studs
  • Sentiment Stamp

See How To Make These Artist Trading Cards With Vertigo Dragonflies

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by Lori Warren

This cardmaking project is all about using layers of ink to create a collage background with stamps and stencils. It’s a great way to build a cool background in order to feature that perfect focal image, like a Vertigo, die cut dragonfly.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Apply VersaMagic DewDrops to a Craft Mat and add water.


Step 2

Lay 8.5” x 11” piece of cardstock down into the wet ink. Repeat as needed.


Step 3

Apply VersaMagic through the diamond shape stencil with a sponge dauber.


Step 4

Stamp script stamp with StazOn Pigment Ink.


Step 5

Apply water and blot with a paper towel, pulling some ink away.


Step 6

Spray panel with Walnut Ink, blot and dry. This gives the paper a vintage or antique look.


Step 7

With a different stencil apply a different color of VersaMagic. This creates a beautiful layered effect.


Step 8

Using the same stencil, apply White VersaMagic to make a bit of a frosty ghost effect.


Step 9

Cut cardstock panel to multiple 2.5” x 3.5” ATCs or Artist Trading Cards.


Step 10

Stamp a vintage postcard image with VersaFine Clair.


Step 11

Edge ATCs with brown and black inks to continue the antique look.


Step 12

Tie string around each card a couple times to give the ATCs to give extra flair.


Step 13

Die cut dragonfly image from Vertigo Prism, color with VersaMagic.


Step 14

Prepare dragonfly with double-sided dimensional tape. This will give each dragonfly the effect of flying.


Step 15

Adhere dragonfly die cut to ATCs.


Step 16

Enhance dragonfly with a white pen and embellish with tag and sticky gems.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Sizzix – Dragonfly
  • Jillibean Soup – Sticky Notes
  • Sticky gems
  • Lori’s Cards & Creations – Script Stamp
  • Clear Stamps – Postmarks
  • Uni-ball Signo -White
  • Black string
  • TCW Stencil – TCW202, TCW855

Make a Quick and Easy Mother’s Day Card

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by Martha Lucia Gomez

Hi there! Just popping’ in to share this quick and easy Mother’s Day project. I had fun playing with the different inks and created this colorful card using the Walnut Ink Spray, StazOn Pigment in White and Memento markers. With a couple of simple diecuts you can create this dynamic card in no time.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

I sprayed a whisper white piece of card stock with two colors of Walnut Ink in Cherry Blossom and Lilac and let the paper dry naturally for a few minutes. The walnut ink is a beautiful deep natural color.


Step 2

I diecut the inked paper with a “bed of roses die” from Essentials by Ellen and pasted it directly over a whisper white card base. Then, I stamped the sentiment “I want to be you when I grow up” over basic black card stock with Snowflake StazOn Pigment Ink.


Step 3

For the embellishments, I colored two leaves from the set Tropical Foliage of Hello Bluebird with Memento Markers.


Step 4

Finally, I arranged all the pieces over the card and pasting a rectangle frame on the center of the card.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – Whisper White, Basic Black
  • Bed of Roses Diecut
  • Stitched Rectangle Frame
  • Die Cut Machine
  • Misti Stamping Tool

 

Create Your Own Holographic Vertigo Film for Cardmaking Crafts

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by Roni Johnson

Create Your Own Holographic Vertigo Film for Cardmaking Crafts

Holographic … as a color? Yep, that’s what May’s color of the month is at Imagine. I must admit at first I was thrilled. I LOVE the wide spectrum of color, the swirly design, and the amazing depth it gives a project. After the jubilation wore off I was stumped! Short of going out and buying some holographic paper, how do I create this look on my own? Well, I took this as a challenge and I set to experimenting.

Let me tell you experimentation is not a pretty process…lots and LOTS of trial and error but it is very fun! As luck would have it I found the perfect recipe for making my very own holographic colored technique and I’d like to share it with you.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Cut a piece of Vertigo film to the desired size. I am using a 4.25 x 5.5” for my examples.


Step 2

Begin applying ribbons of color using a variety of StazOn inks and a sponge dauber. I must warn you that the Vertigo film has a texture to it that may or may not tear up your sponge daubers. If you are a bit heavy handed as I am the film does tend to chew on the dauber. It’s o.k. though, I keep a set of the daubers set aside just for this purpose.


Step 3

Continue to add color until the entire piece of Vertigo film has been covered. You will be left with a very colorful sheet of Vertigo film.


Step 4

Freshen up or apply a brand new coat of the ink/glue your Essential Glue Pad.


Step 5

Pounce the Glue Pad over a background stamp.


Step 6

Position the inked piece of Vertigo film over the inked stamp. Lightly rub the back of the Vertigo to ensure complete coverage.


Step 7

Carefully place silver leafing flakes over the inked film. I find that a soft bristle brush helps to push the leafing flakes around where needed. Let the glue dry completely. I usually leave it undisturbed for 2-4 hours.


Step 8

After the glue has dried use a soft bristle brush to remove the excess leafing flakes. Save the excess leafing flakes for future use. And here’s how this example looks after removing the excess leafing flakes.


Step 9

Time to apply a layer of StazOn Pigment ink over the panel. Choose a color that will compliment the overall design and apply it over both the exposed Vertigo film and the leafing flakes.


Step 10

You will be left with an amazing design that has all of the wonderful aspects of holographic colors.


Step 11

The same panel from another angle reveals the beauty of the StazOn ink colors hidden beneath the leafing flakes. It will shine and shimmer from every angle.


Step 12

What can you do with the holographic design? Virtually anything! You are only limited by your imagination. The card above is assembled with a unicorn stamp and the “you are magical” sentiment.

This is another example made using the same technique with a different selection of colors. The card above is assembled with a mermaid stamp and the “The hardest part of moving forward is not looking back” sentiment.

Supplies

Unicorn Example

Imagine
Other
  • Hero Arts – Unicorn Stamp and Cut
  • Black Widow Colored Pencils
  • White Cardstock

Mermaid Example

Imagine
Other
  • Unity Stamp Co – She Mermaid (mermaid), Mystical Mermaid (sentiment)
  • Black Widow Colored Pencils
  • White Cardstock

Learn How to Use Iridescent Blue Creative Medium to get 3 Different Looks

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by Lindsay Adreon

Learn How to Use Iridescent Blue Creative Medium 3 Different Looks

When I first took a peek at the Iridescent Creative Medium I couldn’t quite figure it out. In the jar, it didn’t really have any shine and I couldn’t detect a color shift like other iridescent products. Then, I swatched it and let it dry. I could not stop staring at how beautiful it was! Moving the swatch in the light—I was mesmerized by the medium and how it would shift colors as I moved it around! It also looks different on different colors of cardstock, plus you can add color to it! I’m sharing three different ways to use the Iridescent Creative Medium. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy playing around and experimenting with this fun medium!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes + dry time

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • The Crafter’s Workshop Stencils – Wallflowers, Distressed Lace
  • Joy Clair Stamps – Spring Stroll Stamp Set
  • Hero Arts Prayers Stamp & Die Set
  • Cardstock – black, white
  • Cardbase