Category Archives: DIY

Make a Thankful Card Using Multiple Stencils

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By Alison Heikkila –

I love to use stencils. They’re an inexpensive and simple tool that has a ton of options. For this Thankful card, I used stencils in a few different ways, along with a fun background stamp. You do not need to have the exact items I used to get this effect, so check through your stash to see what you have to recreate this look. Combining these tools along with some of your favorite inks from Imagine, will give you a visually interesting and unique card.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 30-45 Minutes

Directions:

Thankful-1

Step 1:

Tape your background panel of Smooth Bristol Cardstock (4″ x 5 1/4″) to your craft mat. Adhere your stencil on top with washi tape.

Step 2:

Using a Blending Brush, apply Morocco, Tangelo, and Dandelion Memento Inks on to the panel, being sure to blend the colors where they meet.

Thankful-3

Step 3:

After checking the panel to make sure the stenciling is complete, transfer the panel and the stencil to a stamping platform. Adhere the 2 pieces in the middle of the platform temporarily.

Step 4:

Attach your stamp to the platform. We’ll be using this houndstooth background stamp with VersaFine Clair in Pinecone.

Step 5:

After inking up the stamp, press the stamp very firmly. You need to try to get the inked image past the stencil, which has some dimension. Depending on your stencil and the stamp, you may or may not get a complete image. This is fine, either way. It just depends on the look you’re going for. You can see on my example below, that the houndstooth pattern didn’t go from edge to edge on all the leaves, but I like this look.

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Step 6:

Using another stencil with a small design, apply Pear Tart around the foliage. We’re only inking the white spaces with this design. I chose a grid pattern that is easy to line up as I work my way across the card.

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Step 7:

Using the same grid pattern, I inked it up on to a deep pumpkin colored cardstock with Memento ink in Morocco.

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Step 8:

Arrange the sentiment die on top of the stenciled cardstock and die cut.

Step 9:

Repeat the process with brown cardstock

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Step 10:

Adhere the brown outer portion of the die cut to the card panel.

Step 11:

Adhere the stenciled letters into the negative spaces. Don’t forget to add the center of the “a” in brown!

Thankful-10e.

Step 12:

On an A2 sized card base, ink the edges with Pear Tart Memento ink.

Step 13:

Adhere your card panel to the card base.

Thankful-14

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• Memento Ink in Morocco
• Memento Ink in Tangelo
• Memento Ink in Dandelion
• Memento Ink in Pear Tart
• VersaFine Clair Ink in Pinecone

Other:

• Brutus Monroe: Fall Foliage Stencil
• Simon Says Stamp: Game Day Patterns
• Simon Says Stamp: Bold Thankful Die
• Erin Lee Creative: Houndstooth 6×6 Stamp
• Strathmore Smooth Bristol Cardstock
• Brown and Pumpkin Colored Cardstock
• White A2 Sized Card Base
• Blending Brushes
• Adhesive

Create a Clean and Simple Fall Layered Card

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2021-Nov-Neva-FallCard

By Neva Cole –

In today’s tutorial, I will demonstrate how to use both VersaMark and Kaleidacolor ink to create a layered background for a clean and simple design fall card. VersaMark is a beautiful watermark ink especially on dark cardstock.

Skill:  Beginner

Time:  30 Minutes

Directions:

2021-Nov-Neva-FallCard-step1

Step 1

Trim a cream cardstock base to 8.5” x 5.5”, score and fold in half.  Trim a dark brown cardstock to 4.25” x 5.5”.

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Step 2

Use a stamp platform and stamp the leaf images in VersaMark Dazzle Champagneon the dark brown cardstock.  Any VersaMark ink will work, but there is a bit of Champagne shimmer with the Dazzle ink.  With the stamps in the same position on the stamp platform, stamp in Kaleidacolor Cappuccino Delight.  The Oak leaf is stamped on the darker brown end and the maple leaf is stamped on the lighter orange end of the Kaleidacolor Cappuccino Delight pad.

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Step 3

Continue stamping the base cardstock and dark brown cardstock.  Clean stamps between the Kaleidacolor ink and VersaMark ink.  It is not necessary to clean after the VersaMark ink as it will not affect the color of the Kaleidacolor ink.

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Step 4

Trim 0.5” from each edge of the brown cardstock.

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Step 5

Stamp the leaves in Kaleidacolor Cappuccino Delight.  The sentiment is stamped in the darkest color of the ink pad.  (I choose and another sentiment for the finished card.)  Die cut the leaves and the sentiment.  Edge the banner sentiment with a Brush Tip Fanstix using the orange from the Kaleidacolor Cappuccino Delight.

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Step 6

Line up the dark brown cardstock with the base layer.  Adhere with Tear It! Tape.  Adhere the oak leaves with Tear It! Tape and the maple leaf and sentiment with dimensional foam adhesive.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Technique Tuesday I Give Thanks Stamp and Die
  • Lawn Cuts Everyday Sentiments Banners

How to Make a Spooky Card

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By Alison Heikkila –

Halloween is a great time to experiment with deeper shades, interesting textures, and unique combinations. Things don’t need to be pretty or perfect…in fact, the weirder and more off-kilter they are, the better! Let’s use a variety of Imagine products to make a spooky card for Halloween.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 30 Minutes, including drying time

Directions:

Crow-1

Step 1:

Apply Silvery Shimmer Delicata Ink Refill to a 6×6 gel printing plate and roll out with a brayer.

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Step 2:

Lay your stencil on to the gel plate. Using a piece of scrap paper, rub the negative space areas to pick up the ink. Pull the print. You won’t be using this print for this project, but you can save it for another time.

Step 3:

Lift the stencil off of the plate.

Step 4:

Lay a piece of 4″ x 5 1/4″ black cardstock on top of the plate, where the stenciled image is. rub the paper on to the plate firmly, making sure to rub all areas to ensure a clean pull.

 

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Step 5:

Pull the print.

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Step 6:

Splatter irRESISTibles Spray in Love Letter on to the gel print. I open the bottle and tap the straw to get nice, big splatters. Let dry.

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Step 7:

On a piece of gray cardstock, stamp a solid or silhouette image with VersaMark ink. I used a crow.

 

Step 8:

Sprinkle Shimmering Night Sky Mboss powder on to the inked image, tap off the excess, and heat set. Then, you can fussy cut the image out.

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Step 9:

Die cut your sentiment out of a deep orange cardstock.

Step 10:

Using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, press the front side of the letters into the pad gently. Memento ink pads have a wonderful texture, which will work perfectly with our creepy card.

Step 11:

On a black A2-sized card base, ink the edges with Black Shimmer Delicata Ink.


Step 12:

Adhere all of your elements on to the card base.

 

Crow-7

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• Delicata Ink in Black Shimmer
• Delicata Reinker in Silvery Shimmer
• irRESISTible Spray in Love Letter
• VersaMark Ink
• Mboss in Shimmering Night Sky
• Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black

Other:

Black, Orange and Gray cardstock
Tim Holtz: Crossbones Stencil, Crow Stamp
6×6 Gel Printing Plate
Alphabet Dies

How to Make a Simple Fall Tag

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By Alison Heikkila –

As we approach Autumn, I thought it would be fun to share a way to make a simple tag that can be used for gifts, as a place card, or even attached to a card base. By using a few simple techniques, you can make a bunch of these tags quickly, and save them for when you need them.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 15-20 Minutes

Directions:

Leaf-Tag-1

Step 1:

Die cut a tag out of Kraft cardstock. Cut a piece of Bristol Smooth Cardstock that is a little larger than your leaf stamp.

Step 2:

Stamp your leaf with VersaFine Clair Ink in Pinecone.

Step 3:

Apply Clear Mboss Embossing Powder to the leaf, shake off the excess, and heat set.

Leaf-Tag-2

Step 4:

Using Memento Inks in Pear Tart, Dandelion, Tangelo, and Morocco, apply using a blending brush. The colors should fade into each other and cover the entire leaf. The photo above shows the leaf not completely inked.

Step 5:

Die cut the leaf using the coordinating die, or fussy cut it.

Leaf-Tag-3

Step 6:

Place the leaf on the tag to help determine where you will add Tear It! Tape. The Tear It! Tape will be used to add stripes of embossing powder. I applied 2 strips.

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Step 7:

Sprinkle on Shimmering Night Sky Mboss powder on to the Tear It! Tape, shake off the excess, and heat set.

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Step 8:

Ink the edges of the tag with Rich Cocoa Memento ink and a blending brush. You could also do this step before you add the Tear It! Tape.

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Step 9:

Splatter on Sheer Shimmer Spritz in Gold all over the tag. Let dry

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Step 10:

Ink a small sentiment with VersaFine Clair Pinecone ink and stamp it on the tag.

Step 11:

Apply foam squares to the back of your leaf to raise it off of the surface of the tag and adhere it.

Step 12:

Add some ribbon or twine to the hole in the tag.

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I think this tag is so pretty and festive. You can easily use different colors of Memento inks or different embossing powder colors to completely change up the look.

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• VersaFine Clair: Pinecone Ink
• Memento Ink: Pear Tart, Dandelion, Tangelo, Morocco, Rich Cocoa
• Tear It! Tape
• Sheer Shimmer Spritz in Gold
• Mboss Powder in Clear and Shimmering Night Sky

Other:

• Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Framelets Tag Die Set
• Kraft Cardstock
• Strathmore: Smooth Bristol Cardstock
• Stampendous: Jumbo Leaves
• Simon Says Stamp: Tiny Words
• May Arts: Organza Ribbon
• Blending Brushes
• Foam Squares

Learn How to Make a Fall Thank You Card

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By Neva Cole –

In today’s card making tutorial, I will show you how to create a Fall themed “Thanks” card using three different inks. The Autumn colors are vibrant and blend well with kraft card stock and burlap ribbon.  I hope this card inspires you to think of all things pumpkin spice and apple cider as we head into fall!

Skill:  Intermediate

Time:  1.5 hours

Directions:

2021-Sept-Neva-FallThanks-Step1ab2021-Sept-Neva-FallThanks-Step1c

Step 1

Spritz white cardstock with Fireworks! Lady Bug, Tangelo, and Dandelion.  I like to start with the darkest color first working to the lighter color to fill in the last areas of white.  Set aside to dry.

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Step 2

Use Memento Peanut Brittle and Rich Cocoa ink pads and press directly on the cardstock. This creates a splotchy look.

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Step 3

Die cut the Fireworks! colored cardstock with Skeleton Leaves dies.  Cut an outline to back the leaves either by hand or with an electronic die cutting machine.  Adhere the layers together with On Point Glue.  Small dots in the thicker areas of the leaves works best.

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Step 4

Die cut one “Thanks” sentiment from the Fireworks! colored cardstock and three from white cardstock.  Layer together with On Point Glue to create a dimensional sentiment.  To avoid glue from leaking out from between the layers, use small dots of glue on the outside edges.

2021-Sept-Neva-FallThanks-Step5

Step 5

Use a soft rubber brayer to ink cardstock trimmed to 4.74” x 5.75”.  Kaleidacolor in Autumn Leaves was used with the green portion in the middle and the light orange on either end of the cardstock.  Flip the cardstock to achieve this look.

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Step 6

Pressure emboss the cardstock with Basket Weave embossing folder.  Use a sanding block to remove color and allow the embossed design to pop.

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Step 7

Using Tear It! Tape, adhere your A7 kraft card base to background. Then tape the burlap ribbon. The Tear It! Tape, it’s translucent enough that it does not show through the burlap, and will hold the card together.  Adhere the “Thanks” sentiment and the leaves with On Point Glue.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Sizzix Thinlets Skeleton Leaves
  • Spellbinders Phrase Set One
  • Darice Basket Weave embossing folder A7 size
  • Recollections A7 card Base
  • Burlap Ribbon
  • Sanding Block
  • Dimensional Foam Adhesive
  • Brother Scan-N-Cut

Make a Cheery Birthday Card Using Fireworks! Shimmery Sprays

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By Neva Cole –

In today’s card making tutorial, I will show you how to use your Fireworks! Shimmery Spray inks in different ways rather than just spraying them!  All of the blooming sunflowers during my travels were the inspiration for this late summer birthday card.  It is very cool that sunflower heads follow the sun throughout the day, and they are always bright and cheery!

Skill:  Intermediate

Time:  1.5 hours

Directions:

2021-Aug-Neva-Fireworks!-Bday-card-Step1

Step 1

Stamp sunflower image in Delicata Golden Glitz and heat emboss with Iridescent Embossing Powder.  The Delicata Golden Glitz is one of the brightest gold inks, and works best for a sunflower.  Die cut with an electronic die cut machine, or fussy cut with scissors.

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Step 2

Use a brush tip Fantastix to color in the center of the sunflower with Delicata Black Shimmer.

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Step 3

Shake the Fireworks! spray until all of the shimmer is mixed in.  When the spray sits for awhile, the shimmer settles to the bottom and can be seen as a thin layer through the bottle.  Remove the spray lid and tap a bit of Fireworks! on your work mat from the end of the plastic tube.  Use a fine tip paint brush to paint the sunflowers a beautiful iridescent Dandelion Yellow.  Yellow ink is one of the more difficult inks to use, and this method solves that dilemma!

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Step 4

Stamp the leaf image in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy and heat emboss with Iridescent Embossing Powder.  Using embossing powder helps maintain the original ink color of the image while painting over with Fireworks! spray.  It also allows you to color inside the lines much more easily! Use a fine point paint brush to add Fireworks! in Bamboo Leaves.  Die cut or fussy cut the leaves.

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Step 5

To get a finer sprinkling of more carefully located drops of Fireworks!, use the same paint brush and gently tap over the card stock to create a fine splatter pattern.  When using the spray nozzle, the color is denser on the cardstock.  Finish the edges by inking with an ink blusher and Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy.

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Step 6

Edge the base card with an ink blusher and Delicata Golden Glitz.  Using inks throughout the card allows for perfect coordination.

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Step 7

Position the leaves and sunflowers on the card front to determine the location for the sentiment.  Stamp the sentiment in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy and heat emboss with Iridescent embossing powder.  Adhere the layers of the card together.  The card front and leaves are adhered with Tear-It! Tape, and the sunflowers are adhered with thin dimensional foam adhesive.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Auntie Amy Sunflower image
  • Heartfelt Creations Bold Leaf stamp
  • Technique Tuesday Large Birthday sentiment stamp
  • Fine point paint brush