Let’s Make Winter Decor

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Imagine

By Anna Escalada York

It was time to reuse a small piece of wood to create a small piece of winter decor to add a little fun to a bookshelf. The stars feature wintery colors (blues and white) surrounded by some winter greenery, a snowflake and sparkly elements.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours (active time) + dry time

Directions

Step 1:
Cover the wood block with a layer of Gesso. Allow to dry. Then stamp the block repeatedly with Golden Glitz Delicata Ink on a small woodblock star stamp.

Step 2:
Ink blend a piece of die cut watercolor paper with Blue Belle VersaFine Clair Ink using an ink dauber.

Step 3:
Press the dauber of a Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top stick along the edges of the blue die cut star. After drying, press the edge of the Golden Glitz Delicata Ink pad along the edges to enhance the gold border of the star.

Step 4:
Glue a book page onto a scrap of cardstock. After the glue has dried, die cut the glued page with a smaller star. Then press a Champagne Delicata ink pad directly onto the die cut book page to obscure some of the words on the page and add sparkle.

Not pictured: Die cut a piece of sparkly vellum. This die-cut star should be in between the other two in size.

Step 5:
Ink blend the sides of the star with Paradise VersaFine Clair Ink with a sponge dauber.

Step 6:
Press a stencil into a Night Sky VersaMagic Chalk Ink pad. Then spray the stencil with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Press the inky side of the stencil onto the wood block. Keep the stencil in place by placing something heavy (such as a large wood stamp or book) on top of both and allow the ink to dry. Then remove the stencil.

Step 7:
Spray Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution (in Walnut Ink color) onto a small piece of watercolor paper. After it dried, die cut with a branch die cut.

Step 8:
Color the greenery. Press a Rain Forest VersaFine Clair Ink pad onto a piece of water color paper. After the ink dries, die cut two pieces of evergreen needles.

Not pictured: Spray New Sprout Fireworks! Craft Spray onto another piece of watercolor paper. After the spray dried, die cut the watercolor paper with a mistletoe die.

Step 9:
Add a sentiment on the lower right corner of the block with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 10:
(My camera lost the picture of this step. I wanted you to at least see the gold snowflake on the finished project.)

Press Golden Glitz Delicata Ink onto another piece of watercolor paper. Then heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the paper with a small snowflake die. (The whole snowflake was tucked behind the star in the next step.

Step 11:
Assemble the project. Glue the die cut snowflake in the lower left corner of the block and the greenery (branch, mistletoe and pine needles) in the upper right corner. Add glue along the edges of both the large, dark blue and small book page stars and add glitter. Allow to dry. Then add glue along the upper right and lower left corner of the block and add more glitter. Allow the glue to dry.

Layer the three layers of star die cuts. Glue the medium onto the large dark blue star. Then attach the small book page layer onto the vellum layer with foam tape. After the glue dries, attach the layered star onto the block with more foam tape. Glue star embellishments in the upper left and lower right corners of the block to finish the project.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Champagne and Golden Glitz
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – New Sprout
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• Sheer Shimmer Stick Dauber – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne, Blue Belle, Paradise, Rain Forest and Night Sky
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Walnut Ink color
• Sponge Dauber

Other

• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape Golden –
• Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Nested Stars Wafer Dies
• Simon Says Stamp – embellishment mix – North Star
• The Crafter’s Workshop – stencil – Stained Glass (TCW 462S)
• Unity Stamp Company – stamp set – …shake your flakes (December Unity Sentiment Kit 2022)
• Woodblock star stamp in my stash
• Small branch die
• Evergreen needles die
• Mistletoe die
• Small snowflake die
• Clear Embossing Powder

How to Make a Fall Acorn Box

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Imagine

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!
I’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing a tutorial on how to make this acorn gift box.

Skill: Intermediate to Advanced
Time: 45 Minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies. For this project you will need the Fall Favors Box die set and the coordinating stamp set. A dark brown ink (VersaFine Clair used here), Kraft and other colors of cardstock.

Step 1:
Out of kraft cardstock, cut six pieces each of the small (top) and large (bottom) of the acorn, along with the top and bottom hexagon pieces. Cut the stem out of a dark brown cardstock and the leaves out of your color of choice.

Step 2:
Line up the stamp that adds the detail to the acorn top and then stamp all six pieces with a dark brown ink, VersaFine Clair Pinecone used here.

Step 3:
Crease all of the score line on all the die cut pieces. Do not use a bone folder, just simply crease them on the score lines.

Step 4:
Align the large (bottom) pieces of the acorn on the hexagon as shown. Tip: I used liquid glue to allow me to move them as needed.

Step 5:
Align the small (top) pieces of the acorn on the hexagon with the square hole in it.

Step 6:
Fold the stem piece on the score lines and add h=glue to create the stem and then thread it through the square hole on the top. After threading it through the hole, fold back the tabs and glue down as shown.

Finish the project by adding the leaves and some twine.

Supplies:

Imagine Products

• VersaFine Clair: Nocturne
• VersaFine Clair: Pinecone
• On Point Glue

Other Products
• Fall Favors Box Dies – Concord & 9^th
• Fall Favor Extras Dies – Concord & 9^th
• Fall Favors Stamp Set – Concord & 9^th

Let’s Make a Repurposed Tea Tin Box

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Imagine

By Anna Escalada York

I’ve had a small metal tea box that I’ve wanted to repurpose into a mixed media piece for a while, so I took some time on a rainy day to make it happen.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour active time, 6+ hours (drying between layers)

Directions:

Step 1:

After applying two coats of gesso around all four sides of a tea tin, spray the top of the tin with Cherry Blossom Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution and allow it to drip down the sides of the tin. Set aside to dry.

Step 2:

Spray all four sides of the tin with Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 3:

While the tin was drying, die cut four leaf clusters out of watercolor paper. Then randomly add Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray to the centers of each leaf with the stick of the spray nozzle and color the outsides of the leaves with Elderberry Memento Dual Marker.

Step 4:

Spray each of the 4 leaf clusters with Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 5:

Partially stamp each of the four sides of the tin with Night Sky VersaMagic ink on a background stamp. (I used an old woodblock typewriter stamp.) Then press the ink pad along the top edge of the tin and the raised rib as well. Heat emboss the top rim of ink with clear embossing powder.

Step 6:

Ink blend Lilac VersaColor ink through a stencil on all four sides of the tin using a sponge dauber. (Not pictured was splattering more of the Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray onto each of the four sides as well.) Then allow everything to dry.

Step 7:

Glue two of the leaf cluster dies (one on top of the other) along the right edge of two of the sides of the tin.

Not pictured was the step after this where I decided to use my sponge daubers to ink blend some more of the Night Sky VersaMagic ink along some of the edges of the leaves while they were glued down, nor using my Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top to add some gold to the leaves as well.

Splatter the tin with more Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray. Allow it to dry. Then glue dark blue gems around the leaf clusters to finish the box on the two slides with leaves.

Art Supplies

Imagine

Fireworks! – Lulu Lavender and Paris Dusk
Memento Dual Marker – Elderberry
Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top – Gold
VersaColor ink – Lilac
VersaMagic ink – Night Sky
Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Cherry Blossom
Sponge Daubers

Other

AALL & Create – stencil – Lotza Starz 6″x6″ stencil
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
Scrappy Tails Crafts – embellishment mix
Simon Says Stamp – die cut – Autumn Leaf Branch
Old typewriter woodblock stamp in my stash
Clear Embossing Powder
Watercolor paper
Foam paint brush (for the gesso)
Die cutting machine
Glue

Learn to Make a Dressed Up Gift Box

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Imagine

By Tracy Fear

Hello Friends! Tracy here and today I am delighted to share this tutorial that helps you make gift giving even more spectacular by creating a custom gift box using your stamps and inks!

In today’s video tutorial I am sharing how I used some plain tissue paper and a Dollar Store box along with stamps and inks and a little paint to dress up a gift box!

Tracy

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 Minutes to 90 Minutes

Art Supplies

Stamping Platform
Glue
Fan brush
Your choice of stamps
Ephemera of your choice
Tissue paper
Empty gift box
Stencil
Stencil Brush

Imagine Products

• VersaFine Clair in Twilight
• VersaFine Clair in Periwinkle
• VersaFine Clair in Monarch
• VersaFine Clair in Nocturne
• Brilliance in Starlight Silver

Other Products Used

• Assorted Stamps from Lavinia Stamps
• Stencil from Lavinia Stamps
• 120lb paper in white
• Generic White Tissue Paper
• Misti tool
• PVA Adhesive

ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE USED TO RECREATE SOMETHING SIMILAR

Any Inks

To learn how to create your own dressed up box click here!

DIY Wall Decor with a Sassy Twist

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Imagine

By Anna Escalada-York

As a mom of a teen and tween, I wanted to make a snarky piece of home decor that would make them smile. So I decided to make a pretty piece of art that I was going to put up in our dining room.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Paint a thin layer of white gesso onto a 5” by 7” medium density fiberboard (MDF) panel.

Step 2:
Glue a ripped piece of text-based patterned paper onto the left side of the panel, making sure that the paper doesn’t go off the side of the fiberboard panel. Then paint over the whole panel again with more white gesso.

Step 3:
Stamp a long, floral image onto white watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and then heat emboss it with clear embossing powder. Then color the main branch and ribs of the leaves with Northern Pine Memento Dual Marker and the flowers with Lady Bug Memento Dual Marker.

Step 4:
Die cut the long, floral image. Spray Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto a piece of scrap acetate packaging and watercolor paint the leaves and edges of the floral image green, making sure to blend the darker marker color with the lighter spray. Set aside to dry.

Step 5:
Add texture to the fireboard panel. Use some of the remaining Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray mixed with more white gesso to create a light green paint. Paint the center part of the fireboard panel with the light green paint. Then watercolor smoosh more of the Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray (without any gesso) onto the panel to add texture. After the spray and paint have dried, press Celestial Copper Delicata Ink through a circular stencil overlapping the patterned paper. Then press the Celestial Copper Delicata Ink pad around the edges of the panel.

Step 6:
Stamp a large butterfly on another piece of watercolor paper using Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Then spray Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto more scrap acetate packaging and watercolor spray the butterfly. Spray the whole thing with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray, which forces the Lilac Posies spray to diffuse outside of the butterfly’s outline. After the spray dried, die cut the butterfly with the corresponding die. Finally, paint the butterfly a second time with more of the Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray to deepen the color. Set aside to dry.

Step 7:
Return to the background panel. Attach two types of washi tape to the left side of the panel–small pieces of black and white dotted washi tape and a white piece of washi tape that comes die cut in a lacy geometric pattern.

Then stamp a sentiment on the lower right part of the panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair in and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder.

Step 8:
Using a small musical note stamp, partially stamp the panel multiple times with Spuce VersaFine Clair ink.

Step 9:
Stamp the smaller butterfly twice with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss them with clear embossing powder. Then color them in with Lulu Lavender and Tangelo Memento Dual Markers (orange butterfly) and with Tangelo and Grape Jelly Memento Dual Markers (purple butterfly). Then spray both butterflies with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Once the spray had dried, die cut the butterflies with their corresponding die.

(In the final piece, only the orange butterfly colored with Tangelo and Lulu Lavender Memento Dual Markers was used.)

Step 10:
Stamp part of the mountain outline stamp on the lower right part of the panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then stamp part of the sun stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink.

Step 11:
Spray around the sun with Cantaloupe Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. Use a paintbrush or your finger to move dots of the Cantaloupe spray to make the spray less uniform and more organic.

Step 12:
Glue the flowers and small butterfly onto the panel. Attach the larger butterfly to the panel with foam tape. If desired, the outer tips of the top wings can be given additional dimension with two layers of foam tape, forcing them to curve.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cantaloupe
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cottage Ivy
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Lilac Posies
Memento Dual Marker – Lady Bug
Memento Dual Marker – Northern Pine
Sheer Shimmer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
VersaFine Clair ink – Summertime
VersaFine Clair ink – Spruce

Other
Altenew – die set – All Things Orange
Altenew – stamp set – All Things Orange
Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
Altenew – washi tape – Many Dots
Art Alternatives – MDF Panel (5” x 7”)
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
Ink Road Stamps – stamp set – Roadies 8 (sentiment stamp)
Visible Image – die set – Antisocial Butterfly
Visible Image – stamp set – Antisocial Butterfly
Circular stencil
Die cut washi tape
Watercolor paper
Vellum
Pencil
Paintbrush
Die cutting machine
Paint brush
Scissors
Glue
Text-based patterned paper
Clear embossing powder

Easy Easter Egg Holders for Sweet Easter Displays

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Imagine

By Nancy May

Hey y’all. I am going to share how you can create simple Easter egg holder rings that you can use to create an Easter display to match your style, your décor, etc. The sky is the limit! Let get to it!

~Nancy

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Skill: Beginner (but adaptable to more advanced learners)

Time: 30-ish minutes