Category Archives: Cards

Use a Stencil Background to Create Artists Trading Cards

Posted on by

by Elina Stromberg

Use a Stencil Background to Create Artists Trading Cards

For me, crafting is my way to unwind and to relax. Sometimes I feel that I need to start crafting, but I don’t necessarily have a specific project in mind. The solution is to create background pages for later use. For making background pages, I take out a few white blank papers, my favorite inks or paints, stencils, and stamps, and I’m good to go. There are no strict rules to follow so I often start with the light colors, move towards the darker shades, and whenever I encounter issues I drop my original idea and jump over to plan B or C. If the result is a total catastrophe I throw away the page and start all over. For me, the end result is not as important as the pleasure the creative process gives me.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

On this background page, I started with inking the white paper with a light green color of Memento in New Sprout. I applied the ink directly from the ink pad on the paper, using the Dew Drop ink pad and a soft circular motion. If I had used a larger ink pad I would have used a brayer or a Jumbo Dauber for coloring the page.


Step 2

Then I used a darker green ink color of Memento in Bamboo Leaves and a Sponge Dauber to stencil a pattern on the page. Once finished, I splashed water on the page, letting the water-soluble ink react with the water before drying the page with my heat gun. Love those splash marks!


Step 3

Then I used another stencil and a bit darker green ink and added smaller patterns on the page. Just a hint here and there will do the trick!


Step 4

Adding a hint of both white and black is always a good idea. Those will refresh the page and make the other colors pop. I stamped some black text patterns on the page and added white color with a gel pen. I think it did the trick I was looking for!


Step 4

In the end, I had two almost identical decorated papers. I cut a few ATC card backgrounds and used a piece of the patterned paper for a background for a die-cut card.

I think that the stenciled backgrounds look good on my ATC’s!

Supplies

Imagine

Other

  • Mixed Media Paper – White
  • Cardstock – Green, Yellow, Orange
  • Card base – White
  • Pronty – Leaf Stencils
  • Carabelle Studio – Dots
  • 13Arts – Triangles
  • Heat gun
  • Katzelkraft – Dog stamps
  • Wycinanka – Text pattern stamp
  • Sizzix – Bird stencil, Oval stencil
  • Alcohol markers
  • Glue
  • Double-sided tape
  • Gel pen – White

Double Stencil Technique On A CAS Card

Posted on by

by Nadine Carlier

CAS Card by Nadine Carlier IC

Layering stencils is an easy and fun way to create a background on your cards and still have a clean and simple look. Watch my video below to see how easy it is.  Enjoy!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Supplies

Imagine
Other

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

Learn to Emboss with a Stencil

Posted on by

by Martha Lucia Gomez

Purple and lavender Hello Friend handmade card featuring Memento Inks by Tsukineko available from Imagine.

Hello Fellow Crafters! Today, I am sharing some of my favorite stencil techniques with you! Layering stencils are trending now and we can create beautiful designs and make techniques with the different patterns. I am sharing an all textured card with a “Hello Friend” greeting. This month our challenge is stencils and the Color of the Month is Lavender.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Select the color of cardstock and the stencils that you want to use. I am using Wisteria Wonder cardstock and the Layering Dahlia A & B Bundle Stencil from Altenew. Use the layers with different colors of ink. In my sample, I am using Memento Ink in Lulu Lavender and Grape Jelly. Apply the soft color on the stencil with more free areas and the dark color on the detailed stencil. To create the first layer of texture, place the stencil over the stenciled layer in the corresponding place.


Step 2

Create a special sandwich on your big shot to make the embossing. Remember that the pressures of cutting machines are different so you need to test and listen to your version. In my big shot the correct sandwich is:

  • Closed Platform
  • Rubber Pad
  • A piece of cardstock (shim)
  • Stenciled card layer
  • Stencil
  • Embossing Plate

Paste the ensemble sandwich easily through your die cut machine to emboss the stencil design and voila, you will have the first textured.


Step 3

Now it’s time to create the traditional embossing over your card. To make this I am using a Stencil Word from Jillibean Soup. Secure the stencil over the stenciled layer. Apply VersaMark directly with the ink pad over the “Hello”. Remove the stencil and cover the stamped word with Embossing Powder in White. Melt the powder with the heat tool. Paste the stenciled layer over a whisper white card base. Stamp a complement of the word and paste it over the card with On Point Glue.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Altenew – Layering Dahlia A & B Bundle Stencil
  • Hampton Art – Hello stencil from Jillibean Soup
  • Big Shot – Rubber Mat
  • Glue Dots
  • Cardstock – Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
  • Big Shot Die Machine
  • Masking Tape

Create Two Matching Cards with One Stencil Application

Posted on by

by Kassy Tousignant

Create Two Matching Cards with One Stencil Application

Stencils and Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray are a match made in heaven! Stencils can be used in so many different ways and here I show you a cool technique to get more use out of your stencils and maybe see them in a different way. I was able to make two cards rather quickly with one ink application.

Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray – Grape Jelly
• GooseBumps – Sparkle
• Creative Medium – Clear
• Tear It! Tape
• IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher -Tuxedo Black

Other

• Carabelle Studio – stencil
• Prima – Black gesso, Flowers
• Nuvo – Crystal drops
• Fine jute string
• Creative Embellishments – chipboard frames
• Glue Dots
• Cardbase

Color of the Month for August is Lavender

Posted on by

The Color of the Month for August is Lavender. We love this soft purple color and with summer in full gear, the lavender is blooming in full. We are reminded of how well this color compliments green leaves and also is the favorite of honey bees. With cardmaking and scrapbooking, lavender is a must-have to express sensitivity and delight! Imagine and Tsukineko offer several products to help achieve this beautiful color. Ink swatches such as Memento in Lulu Lavender, Brilliance in Pearlescent Purple, and All-Purpose Ink in Wisteria are great examples! In the meantime, we have a couple of sneak peeks of this month’s tutorials for you!

Kyriakos Pachadiroglou creates Lavender Feather Earrings 

Martha Lucia Gomez creates a beautiful Geometric Butterfly Card

Roni Johnson goes stencil crazy with this Mixed Media Stencil Art

Stay tuned to the Imagine Blog for more inspiration!

Make a Faux Batik Prints with GooseBumps Texture Spray

Posted on by

by Arjita Sepaha Singh

Make a Faux Batik Prints with GooseBumps Texture Spray + Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray

Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth this technique originated in Indonesia. I tried to mimic the batik effect using Goose Bumps Dauber and used it to create a resist. I used a leaf stamp and dabbed it with GooseBumps and created an impression on white paper. Then I added firework sprays to get the beautiful green background. I also heat embossed some leaves on vellum and adhered them on to the card to finish it.

Supplies

Imagine
Other