Category Archives: Techniques

Create a “Be Happy, Be Kind” Scrapbook Layout

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by Jowilna Nolte

Create a "Be Happy, Be Kind" Scrapbook Layout

For this super fun scrapbook layout, I wanted to create a background using some of my favorite craft sprays—Fireworks! These amazing sprays create a color splash and shimmer which has a nice effect with a colorful “Be Happy, Be Kind” scrapbook layout like this one. As I created my background something truly magical happened with the ink and I really loved the end result. Scroll through the steps below to find out what it is!

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour or more

Directions


Step 1

Gather at least 3 colors of Fireworks! Sprays to use on your background. I selected Lady Bug, Lilac Posies and Bahama Blue.


Step 2

First, I sprayed a patch of Bahama Blue in the middle of my layout and left it to dry for a few seconds. Then I added splats with all 3 of my colors. If you’d like colors to layer make sure you allow them to dry fully before using another color.


Step 3

Once the Fireworks splatter layer was dry, I added stamping texture with a mixed media feel using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.


Step 4

Add texture with a circle stencil and Creative Medium and let dry. I wanted to add more deliberate splats to create a layered effect. Drop large drops of Fireworks onto the background in Lady Bug.


Step 5

Then use Bahama Blue and drop some of the ink directly onto the red drop and let it pool for a few seconds.


Step 6

Then I added more drops of Lilac Posies on top of the blue and let the ink colors blend. Since Fireworks is a dye-based ink the blending will happen if all the inks are still wet.


Step 7

The ink created the most amazing puddles of shimmer once dry. I totally love the unpredictably of the effect these inks layered on top of each other have.


Step 8

I used the same color to spray some flowers that would perfectly match my layout background.


Step 9

Once I was happy with my background I assembled my layout with photo, cut out flower layers, inked flowers and other embellishments. You don’t always have to have tons of crafting inks to be creative – all you need is a plan and a few amazing inks.

 

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – White
  • Short Cuts Craft – Stencil
  • Mixed Media Stamps
  • Scrapbook Flower pieces
  • Acrylic block
  • Photo
  • Scissors
  • Sentiment – Be Happy, Be Kind
  • Scrapbook page 12 x 12

Bring in the Fall Season with a “Blessings” Card

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by Martha Lucia Gomez

Bring in the Fall Season with a "Blessings" Card with Memento in Rhubarb Stalk

The Fall Season has officially arrived and what better way to celebrate this change than to switch inks colors to rich tones and hues. In today’s card making tutorial, I am sharing a fall card created with an embossing folder, Memento ink and die cuts.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Select your favorite design of the embossing folder and ink the debossing part using Memento Ink. I am using the Leaf Swirl from Darice and Memento Ink in Desert Sand. Insert a piece of cardstock in your inked folder and pass the complete piece through your big shot or die cut machine. Open the folder and take out the inked, embossed layer. If you want to intensify the color, just re-ink the embossing folder and use the texture created on the cardstock to align the piece.


Step 2

Now take the embossed layer and rub softly with Memento Rhubarb Stalk – a fantastic color that matches perfectly. Let the ink dry.


Step 3

Resize your inked embossed piece using a die cut. I used the Stitched Rectangle Frame Die Cut from Cottage Cutz. The idea is to have a central embossed panel to decorate the top of your card.


Step 4

Using the same die cut, cut several layers of Very Vanilla cardstock. In my project, I used four layers. Paste one of the frames created over the card base. Then paste the rectangle inked panel inside of the frame and paste all the additional frames. For this step, the On Point Glue works wonderfully. Select a die-cut word (here I used “blessings” from Gina Marie Designs) and cut out as many words as you have frames. Stack the word die-cuts to match the frame height. See photo above for an example. This effect makes the card look like a box frame.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Big Shot or any die cut machine
  • Darice – Embossing Folder Leaves Swirl
  • Cottage Cutz – Stitched Rectangle Frame Dies
  • Gina Marie Designs – Blessings Die
  • Stampin Up – Very Vanilla cardstock

Make an Easy Fabric Necklace with All-Purpose Ink

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by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Make an Easy Fabric Necklace with All-Purpose Ink

Make your own fabric cords necklace colored with All-Purpose Ink. The fabric creates a distressed look while the square metal piece creates a modern look. The added shine will catch the eye with a piece of Sheet Metal that works a buckle to hold the fabric stripes and connects them with the wax cord of the rest of the necklace. This is a super fun craft project but also will make a beautiful gift or fashion statement!

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

On a 14 inch-long piece of fabric mark triangles with a base of 1 ½ in. Cut 3 of them.


Step 2

Color the stripes with the All-Purpose Ink and a medium paintbrush making large strokes. No need to fully cover the fabric. Let the paint dries or use a heat tool. Iron the fabric to set the paint.


Step 3

Use a sponge dauber and the Memento Luxe in Rhubarb stalk to make a deeper red shade, fading the lightness of the red paint. Iron the fabric to set the ink.


Step 4

Using a thin stick start wrapping the fabric stripe, beginning of the base. Use fabric glue on the edge to set it and move further. Continue with all three.


Step 5

Cut in half a Sheet Metal ATC card and punch the corners with a round corner punch.


Step 6

Use a metallic ruler or something steady and thin to nicely fold in half the Sheet Metal piece.


Step 7

Glue the wider edges of the fabric cords between the Sheet Metal piece, making sure that they don’t reach the deep end of it.


Step 8

Loosely braid the fabric cords at the beginning of them. Attach a flat jewelry end cap on the other side (at this point you can trim to the desired length).


Step 9

Pass through the Sheet Metal piece 4 pieces of a waxed black cord 4 inches in length. Add a cap and lobster lock and you are finished.

For more tips on jewelry making please see Kyriakos’ tutorial.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Lightweight cotton fabric
  • Fabric glue
  • Round corner punch
  • Metallic ruler
  • Jewelry supplies – end caps, lobster locks
  • 1mm black waxed cord

A Halloween Card Using An Innovative Stencil Technique

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by Nadine Carlier

Have you ever tried dry embossing with a stencil? In my video, I share how I created this really cool background embossing with a stencil and using Firework! Spray and VersaMagic to get the eery color.
Watch my video below to see exactly how I did it.  Enjoy!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 20 minutes

Supplies

Imagine
Other

Visit our YouTube Channel for more inspirational videos and subscribe to get updates when we post new videos.

See How to Make Rose Petal Using Creative Medium

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by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

See How to Make Rose Petal Using Creative Medium

Working with the Creative Medium on some of my crafting projects, I noticed how it shows when it gets dry on the craft mat. Combining the nonstick feature of Imagine’s Craft Mat with the elasticity of the Creative Medium, I thought it could create a new kind of project–rose petals! Leaving a thick coat of the Creative Medium on the Craft Mat, it gives you a material for dimensional creation. The roses crafted with it can be part of the decoration on a festive table, attached on gift boxes, gifted as they are, or be an inspiration to use on various craft projects. The Creative Medium can be also mixed with different inks to make multiple colors of flowers.

Skill: Advance
Time: 1 hour + drying time

Directions


Step 1

Use a palette knife to lay a thick layer of Creative Medium on the Craft Mat making circles. Let the Creative Medium dry well. For each rose, you will need 7 circles to create the petals.


Step 2

When the Creative Medium dries, remove the circles and start rolling one to make the center of the rose.


Step 3

Continue by attaching more circles forming them to petals. Note that you may need to trim around a bit the circles if the Creative Medium is not spread nicely on the craft mat.


Step 4

While you attach more petals, bend the edges a bit and hold them to keep the shape of the petal. The Creative Medium is sticky enough to keep the petals together with no need of extra glue.


Step 5

Press the branches on the VersaMark inkpad, cover with Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Gold and heat set.


Step 6

Cut small pieces of the florist brown tape and trim the edges to form triangles.


Step 7

Press lightly the branch in the rose, secure with hot glue and cover with the trimmed tape. Add more tape around them for a better presentation.


Step 8

Color the fabric roses with the VersaFine Clair Chanti ink pad and then distress them with the irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Gold. When they dry, glue them on the branches.

 

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Thin branches
  • Faux/fabric rose leaves
  • Florist brown tape
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun

Learn to Make Cute Backgrounds Using VersaMagic Ink

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by Arjita Sepaha Singh

Learn to Make Cute Backgrounds Using VersaMagic Ink

Today, I used a few tiny stamps from a Gina K stamp set and VersaMagic Inks to create a super cute pastel background for a Happy Fall handmade card. This papercraft project can be done using any inks you have in your collection. I used the VersaMagic since I really like the chalky soft appearance it gives.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Xpress It smooth card stock
  • Acrylic Blocks
  • Gina K Designs – stamp
  • Whimsy Stamps – Scallop Die
  • Die cut machine