Coffee-Themed Card with an Unexpected Tool

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! I’m Alison Heikkila and I have a fun coffee-themed card to share today that uses a bunch of inks from Imagine and an unexpected tool. I hope you get some ideas for how you can create this card in your own way.

*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. 

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time to Complete: 30 Minutes, plus drying time

Supplies:
Imagine:
Java Walnut Ink
Desert Sand Memento Ink
Summer Sky Memento Ink
Rich Cocoa Memento Ink
Espresso Truffle Memento Ink
Wheat VersaMagic Ink
Sahara Sand VersaMagic Ink
Desert Sand Fireworks Spray

Other:
The Greetery: Warm and Wonderful Stamp Set
The Greetery: Warm and Wonderful Die Set
A Colorful Life Designs: Messy Harlequin Stencil
Rubbernecker Stamps/Brass & Bliss: Coffee Stamp Set (No longer available)
Bearly Arts Glue
Strathmore Smooth Bristol Cardstock
Neenah Desert Storm Cardstock
Accent Opaque White 100lb. Cardstock
The Rabbit Hole Designs: Cotton Tail Blending Brush

That was fun! I hope you enjoyed all of these different techniques. I’ll have another video for Imagine soon. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Ink Blending With Kaleidacolor Inks

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! I’m Alison Heikkila. Kaleidacolor Inks come in beautiful color palettes and help you do some really fun techniques. I love to use my Kaleidacolor Inks with my Gel Press plates. In this case, we’re using one of the Petite Plates to get the look of a watercolored painting without actually watercoloring.

Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Time to Complete: 20-30 Minutes

*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. 

Supplies:
Imagine:
Kaleidacolor Ink in Creole Spice
VersaMark Ink
White Embossing Powder
Fireworks! Spray in Cantaloupe
Memento Ink in Elderberry

Other:
Gel Press: Petites Set A
Gel Press: Rubber Brayer
Stampers Anonymous: Halloween Sketchbook
The Rabbit Hole Designs: Cotton Tail Blending Brush
Accent Opaque 100lb. White Cardstock
Scrapbook.com: Artis Craft Glue
Watercolor Paper
Stamping Platform

Let’s Make a Rose Postage Card

By Kathi Rerek

It’s summer and the roses are in full bloom. Let’s make a Rose Postage Card with VersaMagic and Delicata Inks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Use the Postage Collage die to cut Desert Storm cardstock.

Steps 2A and 2B:
Place a magnetic panel onto the cardstock panel. Use temporary adhesive to secure the Rose Postage Collage die-cut to a piece of scrap paper. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the first Rose Postage Collage Stencil to the die-cut. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut (2A). Use another Sponge Dauber to apply Mango Madness VersaMagic Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut, blending the ink as you go (2B).

Keep the Postage-Collage Die-cut panel in place. Remove the stencil and clean. Heat set the collage panel.

Steps 3A and 3B:
Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the second Rose Postage Collage Stencil to the Postage Collage die-cut. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Tea Leaves VersaMagic Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut (3A). Use another Sponge Dauber to apply Aloe Vera VersaMagic Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut, blending the ink as you go (3B). Keep the Postage-Collage Die-cut panel in place. Remove the stencil and clean. Heat set the collage panel.

Steps 4A & 4B:
Move the Postage Collage Die-cut panel to the base of a stamping platform. Secure with magnets. Position the postmark, cancellation, cost, and “forever” stamps from the Postage Collage Stamp Set facedown on the panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the stamps with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp (4A). I re-inked and stamped some of the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to add visual weight.

I decided that I wanted to add the words “With Love” from the second Postage Collage Stencil and that I wanted to add more stamped postage items to the collage.

Step 5:
Move the Rose Postage Collage Die-cut back onto the magnet panel and secure the second Postage Collage Stencil with magnets and low-tack tape overtop. Re-use the Sponge Dauber from Step 2A to apply Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Ink over the “With Love” words on the stencil onto the Postage Collage Die-cut panel. When done, lift the stencil, clean it, then heat set the Postage Collage Die-cut panel.

Step 6:
Place the Postage Collage Die-cut Panel again onto the base of a stamping platform and secure it with magnets. Place additional postage stamps from Postage Collage Stamp set facedown on the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink the stamps with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp. When done, remove the Postage Collage Die-cut Panel and heat set.

Step 7:
Move the Rose Postage Collage Die-cut panel back to the large magnet panel. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the third Postage Collage Stencil to the Postage Collage Die-cut panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Golden Glitz Delicata Ink over the stencil onto the Postage Collage Die-cut panel.

Step 8:
Use the pouncy tool to apply Golden Glitz Delicata Ink randomly over the Postage Collage Die-cut panel. Heat set the panel and set it aside.

Steps 9A and 9B:
Cut a piece of Desert Storm cardstock to 5.5” x 4.25”. Use temporary adhesive to secure this panel to a piece of scrap paper. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the first Postage Collage Stencil to the die-cut. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut (9A). Remove the first stencil and heat set the panel.

Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the second Postage Collage Stencil to the panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Mango Madness VersaMagic Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut (9B). Remove the stencil and heat set the panel.

Step 10:
Use the pouncy tool to apply Golden Glitz Delicata Ink all over the panel. Heat set.

Step 11:
Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the Postage Collage Die-cut panel to the 5.5” x 4.25” panel, then use to adhere the panel to an A2 card cut from the same cardstock.

Finished Card

Supplies Used:

Imagine:

Other Supplies:

  • Desert Storm Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Postage Collage Clear Stamp Set by Waffle Flower
  • Postage Collage Cutting Die Set by Waffle Flower
  • Postage Collage Stencil Set by Waffle Flower
  • Rose Postage Collage Stencil Set by Waffle Flower
  • Pouncy Tool – Source unknown
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Magnet Packaging from the Postage Collage Die Cut Set by Waffle Flowers
  • Misti  Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

“Wishing You A Happy Birthday” Card

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s post, I am sharing a fun, summer card that features some bold colors!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1
Color a piece of acetate packaging with both Cottage Ivy Memento marker and Emerald Fabrico
marker and then spraying the acetate with water. Press the acetate onto a piece of watercolor
paper multiple times, moving the acetate around so add green color around the watercolor
paper. Allow the water to dry.

Step 2
Die cut the watercolor smooshed paper with a circular die cut. Add a small dot of Pink Ultimate
Pigment Pigment Refill into the raised areas of an embossing powder, and then spray the
embossing folder with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray to both help the watercolor paper
stay moist (so it won’t tear) while embossing, and to help dilute the condensed pink refill ink.
Then sandwich the watercolor paper into the embossing powder and run it through a die cutting
machine.
After the watercolor paper has dried, ink blend the edge of the circular die cut with Pink
VersaColor pigment ink.

Step 3
Die cut another piece of watercolor paper with a slightly larger circular die. Directly press the
Pink VersaColor Pigment ink pad onto the watercolor paper.
Optional step: Heat emboss the ink with clear embossing powder.

Step 4 (and 4.5)
Stamp an image onto watercolor paper with a nature scene with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
Using a variety of media to watercolor the image: Celestial Copper Delicata Ink pad mixed with
water to color the rocks, Emerald Fabrico marker mixed with water to color the frog and leaves,
Bahama Blue Fireworks! Spray to color the sky and water, and Pink Ultimate Pigment Ink Refill
to color the flower petals. Finally, color the centers of the flowers with a Dandelion Memento
marker.

Step 5
Watercolor smoosh some of the leftover inks from the last step to watercolor smoosh a piece of
watercolor paper and then spray the whole thing with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Use
some additional color to stamp a text stamp in my stash to add a little interest onto the panel by
pressing the stamp into the acetate instead of an ink pad. Repeat the process a few times until
you like the amount of extra interest that is added. After everything dried, die cut the watercolor
panel.

Step 6
Glue the two circular die cuts (the embossed panel and the larger pink die cut circle)
and then glue it onto the watercolor background panel. After the glue dried, the whole thing was
die cut again to trim the circular die cuts. The edges were ink blended with more Pink
VersaColor Pigment ink. Splatters of the remaining Bahama Blue Fireworks! Spray from the
acetate packaging were added to the panel as well.

Step 7
Stamp a sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.

Optional step: Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 8:
Die cut sparkly white paper with a slightly larger rectangular die. Glue the main (frog)
stamped and die cut image onto the top panel, glue the matte (sparkly larger panel) behind the
top panel and then glue everything onto an A2-sized white card base. Glue sequins to the card
base.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fabrico Marker – Emerald
• Fireworks! Spray – Bahama Blue
• Memento Marker – Dandelion
• Memento Marker – Cottage Ivy
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• Ultimate Pigment Ink Refill – Pink
• VersaColor Pigment ink – Pink
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
• VersaMark Dazzle – Frost

Other
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Sequins – Milwaukee
• Gina K Designs – Dies – Master Layout 2 die set
• Hero Arts – Dies – Nesting Circles Infinity die set
• Penny Black – Stamp – Thanks, Thanks stamp (retired)
• Vicki Boutin – Embossing Folder – Let’s Wander (retired)
• Watercolor paper
• Clear embossing powder
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make A Mermaid Card

By Kathi Rerek

It’s summer, which makes me want to go to the beach to cool off in the ocean and pretend I’m a mermaid. Let’s make a card that fulfills those dreams using inks, stencils, and stamps!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use a craft knife to cut a piece of Low-tack tape in a curved pattern. Place the tape at the bottom of a 5.5” x 8.5” piece of white cardstock (no photo).

Lightly apply Bahama Blue Memento Ink to the white area of the cardstock.

Steps 2A & B:
Place a magnetic page onto the craft mat. Use low-tack tape to secure the cardstock panel to the magnetic page. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the Currents Stencil to the cardstock panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply the lightest blue ink from the Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze Ink pad over the stencil onto the cardstock panel (2A). Randomly apply Teal Zeal Memento Ink over the stencil onto the cardstock to deepen the colors.

Step 3:
Remove the stencil, then spritz the panel with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to blend the inks and add white splatters and splotches.

Step 4:
Remove the low-tack tape and replace with the negative part of the tape cut in Step 1. Sponge Desert Sand Memento Ink over the tape onto the image panel to create the sea floor. Remove the tape.

Step 5:
Place the panel onto the base of a stamping platform and secure with magnets. Position the mermaid stamp from the Guinevere Clear Polymer Stamp Set so that it’s face down along the lower right side of the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, and ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. Stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.

Remove the panel and thoroughly heat set the ink.

Step 6:
Use Copic markers to color the mermaid’s rocky throne. Usually I don’t use Copic markers with any ink other than Memento, but since I had duplicate markers, I gave it a shot and it worked!  Sorry! No photos!

Step 7:
Use Triplus pens to color the mermaid’s hair. Use Marine and Black Stardust Glitter Gel Pens to add detail the mermaid’s scales. The ink of both pens work well with most inks. Sorry! No photos again!

Steps 8A & B:
Place the image panel back onto the base of the stamping platform and secure with magnets. Use low-tack tape to cover the top of the ocean floor to the left of the mermaid.

Position the mid-sized Skeleton Tree stamp from the Skeleton Tree Clear Stamp Set facedown on the top left. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift. Ink the stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp (8A). Remove the tape.

Remove, clean and dry the stamp. Reposition the mid-sized Skeleton Tree stamp so that it’s facedown on the bottom left of the image panel. Position the smallest Skeleton Tree Stamp from the facedown on the bottom right of the image panel

Press the lid into the back of the stamps and lift. Ink both stamps with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp (8B). Remove the stamps from the platform.

Step 9:
Position the bubbles stamp from the Faerie Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown on the image panel slightly above the mermaid’s outstretched hand. Press the lid into the back of the stamps and lift. Ink the stamp with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Remove the panel from the platform. Heat set the panel.

Step 10:
Place the image panel back onto the magnetic page. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the Sunshine Small Stencil over the image panel as shown. Sponge White Shimmer Delicata Ink over the stencil onto the image panel. Remove the panel and heat set.

Step 11:
Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the image panel to a black A2 card.

Finished Card

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Guinevere Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Skeleton Trees Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Faerie Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image
  • Small Sunshine Stencil by Darkroom Door
  • Currents Stencil by A Colorful Life Designs
  • W3, W4, W6, BG45, BG57, E93, E95 by Copic Markers
  • Ultramarine, Orange, Yellow Orange, Rusty Orange Triplus Pens by Staedtler
  • Marine and Black Stardust Gelly Roll Gel Pens by Sakura of America
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Magnet Page used for die-cut storage
  • Misti  Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Let’s Make A Summer Wedding Card

By Kathi Rerek

Let’s make a summer wedding card with Memento and Golden Glitz Delicata Inks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use a stamping platform and VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink to stamp the Arty Hearts Collage Cling Stamp onto white cardstock.

Step 2:
Use a stamping platform and VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink to stamp the wedding rings from the Accessorize Clear Stamp Set twice — once onto 140 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock and once onto repositionable label paper.

Step 3:
Apply Clear MBoss Powder to the stamped image, dump the excess back into the packet, and heat set the image.

Step 4:
Add a few drops of Golden Glitz Delicata Ink to a small container. Dilute with a few drops of water.

Step 5:
Use a brush to paint the wedding rings with diluted Golden Glitz Delicata ink. Set aside.

Step 6:
Place the Arty Hearts Stencil over the image stamped in Step 1. Use Sponge Daubers to apply Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Summer Sky, Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, Lilac Posies, Dandelion, and Tangelo Memento through the stencil onto the stamped hearts on the image panel. Set aside.

Steps 7A and 7B:
Smoosh Summer Sky Memento Ink onto a piece of acetate packaging. Mist the acetate with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, then smoosh onto the right side of a piece of white cardstock.

Clean the acetate, then repeat this process using Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Danube Blue, and Dandelion Memento Inks until you’re happy with the ink coverage on the panel.

Safety Note: Please be sure to have good ventilation via an open window to minimize your exposure to alcohol fumes.

Step 8:
Fussy-cut the sticker paper version of the Wedding Rings from Step 2. Place atop the image. Use low-tack tape to secure the small rectangle die from the Specimen Thinlits Die Set onto the image panel. Run the die through your cutting machine.

Step 9:
Keeping the image panel in the die, use a Sponge Dauber to apply Angel Pink Memento Ink over the die onto the die-cut, which will leave a thin white border around the pink

Step 10:
Place the die-cut onto the base of a stamping platform. Ink the “Congratulations” stamp from the More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set with Nocturne VersaFine Clair and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.

Step 11:
Adhere the heart-stamped and stenciled panel (Steps 1 and 6) onto the left side of the smooshed ink panel (Step 7). Add a foil border sticker to cover the seam.

Use a Sponge Dauber to edge the heart image panel and the rings/sentiment die-cut with Golden Glitz Delicata Ink.

Step 12:
Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the card front to a white A2 card.

Imagine Supplies:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Artsy Hearts Collage Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door
  • Accessorize Clear Stamp Set by Visible Image
  • Artsy Hearts Stencil by Darkroom Door
  • More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle
  • Specimen Thinlits Die Set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix
  • Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Acetate from packaging
  • 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Mister
  • Misty Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia
  • Stamping Platform by Tonic Studios