See How to Monoprint with VersaFine Clair

by Jennifer Vanderbeek

See How to Monoprint with VersaFine Clair

I’ve been curious to see how VersaFine Clair inks would work when used with a gel plate and finally made the time to give it a try. The rich colors meant I got very beautiful prints with each layer and the natural translucency of VersaFine Clair allowed me to build up some depth and color mixing between the layers without having to mingle the actual inks. Check out the video to see how I used VersaFine Clair and friends to create this sweet little bunny scene.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour +

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – White
  • Gel Plate
  • Speedball – Brayer
  • Darice – Heat Tool
  • Ivy Stencil
  • Stencil Girl – Stone and Mortar Version 2 stencil
  • Uni-ball Signo White Pen
  • Fiskars – Paper Trimmer, Scissors
  • Self-adhesive Crystal
  • Tweezers
  • Helmar – ZapDots

Upcycle a Thrift Store Find with VersaMagic DewDrops

by Kassy Tousignant

Upcycle a Thrift Store Find with VersaMagic DewDrops video tutorial.

I love giving old things new life. I found an old metal flower decor piece at a thrift store and I just couldn’t resist a little upcycle love. In today’s video, I show you how to use products like VersaMagic chalk ink and irRESISTible texture sprays to color metal pieces to mount on a stenciled canvas. This product is still as vibrant and rich on metal as it is on paper.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1.5 hour + dry time

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Prima – Plaster paste, Art Stones
  • Waverly stencil
  • Liquitex – Super Heavy Gel
  • Twine
  • Canvas board
  • White Gesso

Create Mango Madness with VersaMagic DewDrops

by Jowilna Nolte

Create Mango Madness with VersaMagic DewDrops

Who doesn’t love a happy color like Mango?! Well, today I combine two sunny VersaMagic colors to create a fun textured “Yes” themed encouragement card using recycled paper. Take a look at how I create loads of interest on this happy card with this versatile pigment ink, some texture paste, and a die cut. The DewDrop inkpad wears its color and versatility like a superstar.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes + dry time

Directions

VersaMagic in Mango Madness
Step 1

Create your own stamp by die-cutting small foam circles and adhering them to an acrylic block. Tack N Peel is perfect for turning anything into a stamp. Ink the stamps using VersaMagic in Mango Madness and stamp repeatedly onto your background.


Step 2

Add a small amount of VersaMagic in Mango Madness onto your craft mat or a plastic sheet. Lightly press the ink pad onto the surface to transfer some ink.


Step 3

Add a small amount of texture paste next to the VersaMagic ink on the craft mat. Start off with a small amount and add more as you need it to avoid wasting.


Step 4

Use your palette knife to mix the ink into the paste to create a colored texture paste.


Step 5

Apply the paste through a stencil onto the stamped background. Overlap the stamped images several times to create interest. Leave the stenciled paste to dry thoroughly.


Step 6

Use a paintbrush to lift some VersaMagic in Thatched Straw and create a washed watercolor effect over the stamped and stenciled circles. Mix the ink with a small amount of water and paint it directly onto your background, then leave to dry. Add color to a chipboard circle using two shades of VersaMagic ink and adhere the circle to your card. Add sewing details to the circle. Finish off your card with diamanté and sequins.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – white
  • Foam
  • Circle die
  • Acrylic block
  • Sewing machine
  • Jowilna Nolte – stencil
  • Anna Giffin – Texture Paste
  • Chipboard

Look at this Sweet “Sending You Smiles” Greeting Card

by Iris Rodriguez

Look at this Sweet "Sending You Smiles" Greeting Card

Smile! Why? Each time you smile, you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. So why not keep the party going and share the love by sending someone a smiley greeting card today. This fun card is made using a smiley face stamp, an alphabet set, a handmade envelope and colored with Tsukineko’s VersaFine Clair in Warm Breeze and VersaMagic ink in Mango Madness.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Stamp a large background image onto card stock paper. Dry paper.


Step 2

Find a template from the internet that is small enough to fit on the front of the card panel. Some stamp maker companies such as Waffle Flower have die sets you can purchase. Another way to achieve this is to study or deconstruct an envelope and recreate one you like with cardstock.


Step 3

Fold the envelope and ink the opening with VersaFine CLAIR in Warm Breeze with a large ink dauber.


Step 4

Flip the envelope to the opposite side and ink the outer flaps with the VersaFine Clair in Warm Breeze.


Step 5

Scribble words on the outside of the envelope with the irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Gold.


Step 6

Ink a sheet of cardstock with Mango Madness VersaMagic ink and let dry. Stamp the happy faces with the VersaFine Clair in Nocturne and let dry. Add a dime-sized amount of Creative Medium in Shimmer with the palette knife. Creative Medium will add dimension and shimmer to the smiley faces.


Step 7

Apply the Creative Medium with the Multi-Purpose Squeegee over the faces. This tool has a flat, even and large surface that will cover faces completely and will not leave scrape lines. Let the medium dry and fussy cut the faces.


Step 8

Create a curved banner and stamp the sentiment “Sending You Smiles,” cut out and ink the edges of the banner. Assemble card by gluing the smiley faces into the envelope, attach the envelope and sentiment to the front of the card. Ink a piece of cardstock paper with VersaFine Clair in Warm Breeze. Ensure that the paper is slightly larger than the card and only ink the outer edges. Using the Tear It Tape to adhere the card the background paper. And remember — Smiles are contagious! Pass it on.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock paper
  • Smiley Face Stamp
  • Hero Arts – Large Background Stamp
  • Alphabet Stamps

Watch A Video On Creating A Beautiful Mixed Media Tag

by Kassy Tousignant

Watch A Video On Creating A Beautiful Mixed Media Tag.

This handmade tag project uses VersaMagic DewDrop and Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray with a mixed media style. I wanted to compare VersaMagic ink and Fireworks sprays on tags using black and white gesso surfaces. I used all of the same colors of ink to show how they turn out so differently.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour + dry time

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Prima – Plaster paste, St. Tropez paper, embellishments
  • DecoArt Media – Matte Medium
  • Twine
  • Brutus Monroe – Tangled Waves stencil
  • Black gesso
  • White gesso

Product Release: Inkpad Personality Kit

Announcing the Inkpad Personality Kit!

Do your inkpads seem to speak to you every time you walk by your crafting space? We know what it means to become attached to certain inks. At times, it even seems the inkpads develop their own personality. Knowing this inspired us to develop the Inkpad Personality Kit™ to fill this void in the industry. If you feel that your inkpads have eyes…then why not give them some?!

All eyes on your little Angel! Give Memento Angel Pink a sweet smile to match!

Do you have an inkpad that is considered your bestie? We recommend the fun lets-go-get-drinks-after-work smile!

How about a bright green that is insistent you use it in every project. You can tell VersaFine Verdant to let the other inkpads have a turn!

How about Memento Sweet Plum who can always make you giggle with delight?!

Happy April Fool’s Day!!

If you have not figured it out by now… this is not a real product release! But what if it was?! Would you buy your inkpad a personality kit? Ha! In-house designer Marcie claims that Memento Bahama Blue makes its way into almost all of her projects at home and definitely plans to deck out her inkpads. She is even considering getting her inkpads their own dollhouse! Marketing Manager Amanda thinks VersaFine Clair Nocturne is the bees knees and winks at it every time she uses it. She’s super excited to have him wink back now! Bwahaha!