Make A Fun Happy Bird-Day Card

By Kathi Rerek

Let’s make a cheerfully bright and fun birthday card with a stamp, two stencils, and lots of ink!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hour

Step 1:
Use magnets to secure a  piece of white Bristol paper to the base of a stamping platform.

Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink to stamp the bird stamp from the “I’m Fine”  image twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. Heat set the stamped image panel.

Step 2:
Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it onto the image panel as a mask.

Step 3:
Use low-tack tape to secure the Sunshine Small Stencil onto the stencil so that the “sun” is over the bird’s face. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Love Letters Memento ink over the mask and masked image onto the image panel (3A).

Use a separate Sponge Dauber for each color to apply Tangelo, Dandelion, Bamboo Leaves, Bahama Blue, Danube Blue, Lilac Posies, and Grape Jelly Memento inks in rainbow order (ROYGBIV) counter-clockwise over the stencil onto the image panel (3B). Not all stenciling is shown. Remove stencil.

Step 4:
Use low-tack tape to secure the Confetti Stencil over the image panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink over the stencil and masked image onto the top left and bottom right of the image panel (3A).

Use a separate Sponge Dauber to apply Golden Glitz Delicata ink over the stencil and masked image onto the top right and bottom left of the image panel (3B).

Remove the stencil and heat set the image panel. Set aside.

Step 5:
Secure a piece of black cardstock to the base of a stamping platform. Place the “You’re the best” sentiment from the Whatcha Saying? Clear Stamp Set, the “Happy Birthday”, “Celebrate”, and “Happy Birthday” sentiments from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Sets facedown on the black cardstock.

Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamps, lift the platform, ink the stamps with the VersaMark Dazzle ink, and stamp. Remove the black panel from the stamping platform.

Step 6:
Sprinkle White MBoss Powder onto the stamped sentiments, slide the the excess powder back into the bag, and heat set the sentiment.

Step 7:
Use cutting dies to die-cut the sentiments. Trim the left side of the “celebrate” flag and the right side of the “happy birthday” flag. Use Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink to edge the trimmed sides. Heat set the ink. Put the sentiment die-cuts aside.

Step 8:
Use watercolor markers to color the bird’s eyes and beak. Use a white gel pen to add highlights to the eyes and beak. (No photo, sorry!)

Step 9:
Trim the image panel to 3.75” x 5”. Use a Sponge Dauber to edge the top left and bottom right with Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink (9A).

Use a separate Sponge Dauber to edge the top right and bottom left with Golden Glitz Delicata ink (9B).

Step 10:
Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the image panel to a black panel cut to 4” x 5.25” and to adhere the matted image panel to a white A2 card.

Use Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the sentiments to finish the card.

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Bristol Paper by Strathmore
  • Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • Avalanche Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • I’m Fine Clear Stamp Set by Funky Fossil Designs
  • Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle
  • Whatcha Saying? Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle
  • Sunshine Small Stencil by Darkroom Door
  • Confetti Stencil by Newton’s Nook Designs
  • Sentiment Banner Die Set – Honey Bee Designs
  • Whatcha Saying? Die Set by Heffy Doodle
  • Emerald, Leaf Green, Light Green, Yellow, Brilliant Yellow, and Butterscotch Le Plume II Markers by Marvy/Uchida
  • Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery
  • Curved Craft Scissors by Fiskar’s
  • Low-tack Tape
  • Stamping Platform by Tonic Studios
  • Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Create Elegant Winter Snowflakes Cards

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!

It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing my first post as an Imagine Artist In Residence.  I am so excited to be a part of the Imagine team. I love all things snow related and with the groundhog not seeing his shadow and predicting an early spring, I had to make a couple more winter cards.

Here are the supplies I used:

Skill: Intermediate to Advanced.
Time: 45 mins

Directions:

Step 1
Stamp the snowflake with VersaMark ink onto a piece of white cardstock cut to 4.25″ x 5.5″ .
Emboss the snowflake with MBoss Sparkle embossing powder.

Step 2
Using a Sponge Dauber, Ink blend over it with Brilliance Pearlescent Purple Ink

Step 3
With a die cutting machine, run the snowflake cover plate through.

Step 4
Cut a piece of amethyst cardstock to 4.25” x 5.5” to back the snowflake cover plate.

Step 5
To make the snowflake more dimensional place foam adhesive dots in between the two snowflakes
Tip: Apply a little On Point glue to each foam dot to allow you to move it as needed.

Step 6
Stamp and die cut the sentiment and add it to the card front.

Step 7
Using On Point Glue, layer and glue all the pieces together.

I made a second card using Mboss Hologram and silver foil paper with the same design.

Crafting Supplies

Imagine :
VersaMark Ink Embossing
VersaFine Clair  – Nocturne
Mboss –  Sparkle, Hologram
Brilliance  – Pearlescent Purple ink
On Point Glue
Sponge Daubers
Craft Mat

Other Supplies:
Misti 2.0
Neenah 110lb Solar White cardbase
Neenah 80lb Solar White
Lessebo Amethyst Cardstock
Silver Foil Cardstock
Pinkfresh Studio: Folk Snowflake
Pinkfresh Studio: Folk Snowflake Coordinating Cuts
Pinkfresh Studio: Snowflakes Coverplate die

White Wash Technique Using Delicata Reinkers

By Jessica Lin

– Have you ever tried coloring on colored cardstock? The white washing technique is great for
creating a blank canvas for your coloring, making the colors pop against navy, kraft, or even black cardstock.

There are many white reinkers to choose from for this technique. I picked Delicata White Shimmer reinker and was surprised with how luscious the pearl shimmer looks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes

Directions:

Step 1:
The white wash technique works well with large stamps containing big, open areas. I chose this floral image from Stampin’ Up!’s Good Morning Magnolia set and stamped it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. You may use any waterproof black ink pad in your stash, but the VersaFine Clair Nocturne has been my go-to. Look at how crisp the lines are!

Step 2:
Using a waterbrush, color the center flower with Delicata White Shimmer ink from the reinker. I used the Craft Mat as my watercolor palette. Repeat this step a few times until you achieve a good coverage. Don’t worry if the black lines are covered by the white pigment ink; we will restamp the image at the end. 

Step 3:
Color the leaves with Memento ink pads in Bamboo Leaves and the branch with Desert Sand.

Step 4:
Use a sponge dauber to quickly apply color to the flower image. I dabbed on Memento Rose Bud and used Memento Rhubarb Stalk scarcely to create some shadows.

Step 5:
Restamp the floral image with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink once again to darken the outline. Die cut the floral image and some leaves using the Magnolia Memories dies from Stampin’ Up!. 

Step 6:
Emboss the front of your A2 card with Painted Textures embossing folder to create a textured background. Mount the floral piece with foam tape to add even more dimension. I also decided to add some gold thread as a finishing touch.

Step 7:
Apply On-Point Glue partially on the bottom of the leaves die cuts, and tuck them behind the center floral image. Press down and hold for 30 seconds to create a tight bond.

Step 8:
Embellish the card with some white enamel dots and sentiment strip stickers and that’s the finished card!

I hope you enjoy this creation and give the whitewashing technique a try. It’s so simple to paint with the Delicata White Shimmer reinker, and I just love the pearly shine.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

https://www.stampinup.com/products/water-painters?demoid=2164794

  • Gold thread
  • Foam Tape
  • Embellishment

Open Call For Designers

Become Part Of Our 2024 Design Team

Each year, Imagine selects talented artists for the Artist in Residence program. Our artists create exceptional projects with video tutorials posted on our YT channel and blog. Our team embodies a variety of different styles, from cards to dynamic 3D mixed media pieces.

For more details and to apply – https://forms.gle/SpVnvBeigiLPwz1M8

Thorny Rose – Trick or Treat Card

By Alison Heikkila

~Greetings! Alison Heikkila here. Today I have my latest video for Imagine, and I am making it part of my Halloween series. I broke out the Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray again (I love that stuff!) and I experimented with a technique idea I had. Did it work? You’ll have to watch the video to find out!

*Some affiliate links are used in this post. That means that if you shop through these links, I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you. For more information, please see my Affiliates page, where I also have some coupon codes.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time to Complete: 30-40 minutes

Supplies:
Imagine:
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray in Rhubarb Stalk and Lady Bug
VersaFine Clair Ink in Nocturne
VersaMark Ink
Memento Markers in Rhubarb Stalk, Love Letter, Lady Bug, Olive Grove, Bamboo Leaves, London Fog, and Tuxedo Black
Black Embossing Powder

Other:
A Colorful Life Designs: Thorny Vines stencil– Use code AlFan10 to save 10%
Erin Lee Creative: Stay Weird Stamp Set (no longer available)
Ellen Hutson: Hocus Pocus Stamp & Die Combo
Strathmore: Smooth Bristol Cardstock
Bearly Arts Glue
White cardstock

I hope you enjoyed this! Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a spooktacular day!

Easy Ombre Techniques with Kaleidacolor and VersaMagic

By LV Handcrafted

Hello friends! This is Linh (or LV Handcrafted on all the socials). Today I have a new video up on the Imagine Crafts YouTube channel showing how to create easy ombre papers to die cut from. The easiest way is Kaleidacolor ink pads!  Just swipe and you’re done!  Just as simple though is to swipe VersaMagic ink across your cardstock. I like using a small blending brush to create a smooth transition from one color to the next.  Whichever method you prefer, the results are stunning!

Skill: Beginner

Time: 10 minutes

Video Tutorial:

Supplies Used

Imagine:

• Kaleidacolor – Caribbean Sea

• VersaMagic Dew Drops

Other Products Used

  • Spellbinders Tag Die
  • Spellbinders Autumn Wonders Die set