Use a Beautiful Coral Color on These Cute Panda Birthday Cards

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Imagine

by Elina Stromberg

Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute declares a particular color “Color of the Year”. It is chosen in a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups, and the result of the meeting is communicated in Pantone View, which fashion designers and other consumer-oriented companies purchase and use as guidance for their future product designs.

This year the Pantone Color of the Year is “Living Coral”. It is described as “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge”. Lovely! To celebrate this newly released Color of the Year “Living Coral” is also the color of the month for Imagine AIR’s. I must admit that coral is very rarely seen on my crafting projects, but I was quite surprised how yummy this rich red color looked on my card creation. Especially when contrasted with simple light grey hues!

Skill: Beginner/Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions

Step 1

Layer two stencils on the card background: Place the patterned stencil on the background paper and a circle stencil on top. Secure on your crafting mat with masking tape. Apply ‘Electric Coral’ Radiant Neon ink through the stencil with a sponge dauber. Remove both stencils.

Step 2

Place the inked background paper on a sheet of printing paper. Pour clear embossing powder over the stenciled and inked area. Pour any extra embossing powder onto the printing paper and funnel the extra powder back into its container. Heat the embossing powder with a heating tool until completely melted. Trim the decorated paper to size and mat on a piece of coral colored cardstock.

Step 3

Stamp the panda image and sentiment text with black ink on white paper. Cut out and glue on the card front. Attach card on white card base using double-sided tape. When the card was finished the stencil still had still coral ink on it, so I decided to use it for another fun card background: I misted the inked part of the stencil gently with water, placed it upside down on a piece of grey patterned paper, and transferred the ink on the paper by rolling the stencil background with a brayer.

Step 4

Then I removed the stencil, let the ink dry, and dabbed a thin layer of coral ink on the pattern. Then I repeated the mounting on coral cardstock and used a different panda image for this card. I think this reverse version of the stencil pattern looks very nice, too!

Supplies

Imagine

Radiant Neon inkpad – Electric Coral
VersaFine Clair inkpad – Nocturne
Embossing Powder – Clear
Sponge Dauber

Other

Light grey patterned paper
Coral cardstock
White paper
White card base
Heat gun
Brayer
Water mister
Stamps: Stampin’Up: Party Pandas
Stencils: Circle stencil
TCW: Botanical Garden (6”x6”)
Scissors
Glue
Double-sided tape

See How VersaFine Ink Can Be Used with Copic Markers and Stenciling

Posted on February 9, 2019 by Imagine

by Melissa Andrew

Today, I share how to use VersaFine Clair in multiple ways! This fabulous pigment ink allows for crisp clean stamping, stenciling, and layering. It works wonderfully for embossing sentiments “I am So Sorry” on vellum for sympathy cards and can be used under mediums such as Creative Medium. I stamped a teddy bear image with Memento ink and used Copic Markers for coloring, however, VersaFine can layer on top of the Copic coloring. See how I use VersaFine carefully with Alcohol Markers.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions

Supplies

Imagine

VersaFine Clair – Nocturne, Paradise
Creative Medium – Shimmer
On Point Glue
Tear It! Tape
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Tangelo, Dandelion, Angel Pink, Lulu Lavender
Embossing Powder – Clear
Memento Inkpad – Tuxedo Black
Craft Mat
Sponge Dauber
Palette Knife

Other

Whimsy Stamps – Hugs Bunny Clear stamp set
Copic markers
Cardstock – white, blue
Bristol Smooth cardstock
Vellum
Paper Trimmer
Heat Tool
Stencil

See How to Upcycle Packaging into a Mixed Media Statement Piece

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Imagine

by Kassy Tousignant

The inspiration for this piece was the quote I included on the canvas. I am forever on the lookout for inspiring and uplifting quotes. Things that make you think, or give you the push you need to move forward. I really also love working with upcycled materials. We don’t need more trash in the landfills, right?! I knew that my Imagine mixed media products would work wonders to make this piece come alive! When i’m working with resin pieces, I always reach for my Fireworks sprays and All-Purpose Ink. They both cover beautifully. This quote on the canvas is very near to my heart and all of the elements came together perfectly to give it a home.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours plus dry time

Directions

Supplies

Imagine

irRESISTible Pico Embellisher – Tuxedo Black
irRESISTible Texture Spray – Lilac Posies
Fireworks! Craft Spray – Rosebud, Tuxedo Black, London Fog, Lilac Posies, Dandelion, Cantaloupe
Creative Medium – Original (clear)
On Point Glue
VersaMark Ink Pad
VersaFine Clair – Nocturne
Embossing Powder – Black
All-Purpose Ink – White
Palette Knives

Other

Recycled packaging
Ribbon, string, twine
Washi tape
Modeling paste
Stencil of choice
Vellum
Sequins
Matte medium
Resin pieces of choice

See How to Create a Journal Cover with Walnut Crystals

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Imagine

by Iris Rodriguez

“Bloom where you are planted” is a phrase that means to make the best of our situation…a theme for my art journal page this month. For this journal page, I used Imagine’s Walnut Ink Crystals, which I find to be absolutely fabulous. Use them to create mottled, scumbled, drippy, sprinkly, watercolored painterly effects. Use this effect as a background or paint images with these effects. It plays well with other inks.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1.5 Hours

Directions

Step 1

Begin by stamping and embossing with Imagine’s white embossing powder. I was going for a theme of rulers and flowers, denoting growing and blooming.

Step 2

Spray the paper with a little water in random areas. Sprinkle the Walnut Ink Crystals, they look like coffee grinds. Spray more water in random areas, to allow the crystals to dissolve more than others. To color in sections, use a paintbrush to color.

Step 3

Techniques for varying the look of the Walnut Ink Crystals. Leave crystals as is, spray more water on some areas, for a watercolored look-paint with a brush, hold the paper up and spray water on the top of the paper and allow the ink to drip down. Allow the paper to completely dry.

Step 4

Add a different, but contrasting color. Place a few drops of Tropical Lagoon All-Purpose Ink on your surface, spray a little water into the ink. Brush the ink in random areas. Spray water and allow the ink to drip. Allow the paper to completely dry.

Step 5

Touch up areas with the walnut ink with a brush. Dissolve a few crystals completely in water to make a solid ink solution. I like to scumble ink in areas, making it look, a little like soil. Allow the paper to completely dry.

Step 6

Using white acrylic paint and Imagine’s Jumbo Dauber, stencil in flowers in random sections. Wash the dauber right away. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Step 7

Place the stencils over the same flowers that were just stenciled with the acrylic paint and color in the flowers by inking with pad directly or using InkBlushers.

Step 8

Vary the look by blending several color inks. Color the flower’s outline with a white Posca pen. Add a sentiment and you’re done.

Supplies

Imagine

Craft Mat
Walnut Ink Crystals
VersaMagic DewDrop ink pad – Red Magic, Mango Madness
StazOn ink pad – Jet Black
Brilliance Full-Size ink pad – Pearlescent Coral, Crimson Copper
VersaMark
Embossing Powder – White
Jumbo daubers

Other

Watercolor paper 9 x 12 inches
Carabelle Studio – Steampunk Metre stamp
Flower stencils
White acrylic paint
Posca pen-white (fine)

With Love Is The Sentiment Today

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Imagine

by Jowilna Nolte

Make your colors pop and become more vibrant by using layers of ink on top of each other and add a magical spray of Ink Potion to it. A quick resist effect and stenciling adds to this fun love inspired Valentine’s Day card in shades of red.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions

Step 1

Adhere a stencil (brick design) to a piece of white cardstock. Use Sweet Plum and Love Letter Memento Luxe ink pads and blend color through the stencil.

Step 2

Leave the stencil in place for this step. Use an ink blusher and a small amount of gloss texture paste and swipe it over the stencil. Using a small amount at a time will prevent the paste from seeping underneath the stencil. Carefully remove the stencil and leave to dry. Wash your stencil immediately.

Step 3

Trim your stenciled panel smaller to fit onto the front of a card. Use a heart stencil and modeling paste to add a stenciled design to your background. Leave the paste to dry.

Step 4

Once the paste is dry, spray Lady Bug Fireworks over the right side of the panel to add color. Mist the entire panel with Ink Potion no.9 and see how all the colors pop. The resist from the glossy paste leaves the design clear only letting the ink sit inside the open spaces adding more color in selected areas.

Step 5

Use VersaFine Clair Glamorous and stamp onto white cardstock using a background design. Die-cut small and large hearts out of the stamped piece.

Step 6

Ink the panel around the edges using Memento Rich Cocoa to highlight the color even more. Adhere the hearts using foam tape for dimension. Emboss a sentiment and adhere to the large heart. Add ink splats in red, white, brown and black. Finish off your card with diamante.

Supplies

Imagine

Craft Mat
On Point Glue
VersaFine Clair – Glamorous
Memento Dew Drop – Rich Cocoa
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Lady Bug
Ink Potion No. 9
Memento Luxe – Love Letter, Sweet Plum
InkBlushers
Palette Knives

Other

Modeling Paste
Heart Stencil
Brick stencil
Kaisercraft – Sentiment
Heart die-cuts
Carabelle Studio – background stamp
Watercolor paint
Palette knife
Heat gun
Anna Griffin – Glossy Paste
Foam tape

How To Create A Beautiful Embossed And Watercolor Thank You Card

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Imagine

by Elina Stromberg

Our lovely color of the month is ‘Passion Red’. What a perfect choice for a bright blooming flower card! I wanted to create a soft water-color painted look on my card, and all I needed was my water-soluble Memento and VersaMagic stamping inks and my Craft Mat as my palette.

Tsukineko ink pads come in several beautiful red colors, so I chose a few of my favorite reds and used them both for coloring the card background and for painting the beautiful Penny Black flower image. The trick was to stamp the main image twice and to layer the fuzzy-cut image on top of the stamped background; by using this technique the main image on the finished card has a beautiful, crispy edge, and while painting you don’t need to worry about the wet color running over the stamped lines!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions

Step 1

Stamp flower image with VersaFine ink on white watercolor or mixed media paper. Apply ‘Red Magic’ VersaMagic ink on the Craft Mat. Using a hint of water pick up the rich, creamy color with a brush and color the background. Apply more red pigment on the bottom, and mix the color with water to create a lighter color for the top of the card. Do not mind painting over the stamped image; it will be covered with a second image layer later. Let air dry or dry with a heat gun.

Step 2

Add texture to the painted background. Stamp random patterns here and there using red ‘Lady Bug’ Memento color. Keep the stamp in your hand (do not attach to an acrylic stamping block) and bend it while stamping.

Step 3

Re-stamp the main flower image on another sheet of white mixed media paper. Color the image using a water brush and a few hues of red ink. I used Memento ‘Lady Bug’, bit darker red ‘Rhubarb Stalk’, dark purple ‘Sweet Plum’, and VersaMagic ‘Red Magic’ for coloring the background. Use the Craft Mat as your palette and apply more ink if needed. Once dry, cut out the image.

Step 4

Glue the fussy cut image on the background. Trim the background to size.

Step 5

Color the letters for the sentiment word. Press each chipboard letter on clear VersaMark ink. Pick up the letter with a tweezer, dab into copper embossing powder, and heat-set the powder by heating the chipboard on the Craft Mat. Glue letters on a strip of vellum. Fold ends of the vellum strips on the card background and secure them with double-sided tape. This will keep the strip in place; there’s no need to glue it on the card front.