Make a Wedding or Anniversary Card

By Monica Edwards

Welcome back to Imagine’s blog.  Today, I am going to show everyone how you can get more out of your embossing folders by adding some ink! 

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: Approximately 30 minutes

Directions:

Step 1
Create your card base by taking a piece of white cardstock measuring 10” x 7” and score it down the middle at 5”.

Step 2
To create the colored embossed background, you will need the folder you chose.  I am using the  Leafy folder with VersaMagic Dew Drop in “Hint of Pesto” and “Tea Leaves”.  

Step  3
Simply take the ink and wipe and/or dab it all over the folder.  

Step 4
Once you are done run it through your diecut machine so the ink is pressed onto the paper.  The beauty of this is that you can additional colors and simply add more color if you want a darker look.

Step 5
You will mat your background onto a piece of cardstock.  I chose Putty to go along with the greenery.  I am showing the mat before the color for  better visibility. 

Step 6
Use a Wood Flourish Frame

Step 7
Using your Dew Drop like a dauber simply sponge on some color this will bring out the green background.

Step 8
Add a diecut for the focal point, along with a sentiment to complete the card. 

Craft Supplies
Imagine
VersaMagic Dew Drops: Hint of Pesto, Tea Leaves

Other Products
Kaisercraft : Wooden Flourishes
Mintay Papers – Bohemian Wedding Collection – Embellishments
Spellbinders: Leafy (Embossing Folder)
Paper Roses: So Extra Black 1.0 Sentiments
Hammermill : White Cardstock
My Colors : Putty Cardstock 

Brilliance Metallic Inks On Black Cardstock

By Kathi Rerek

I recently shared a project using rich Brilliance Pigment Inks and a friend asked how they looked on black cardstock. I decided that it was a great idea to swatch them so that I’d have a reference.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Instructions:

I had a scrap of black mixed media cardstock leftover from a project. I used a Sponge Dauber or foam applicator to apply the inks singly or in combination onto black cardstock, then labeled them with a white gel pen and/or a purple Sharpie pen when the white didn’t show on the silver. I heat set after each application to avoid contaminating my ink pads.

Notes and Observations about Brilliance Ink:

  • Re-applying another layer of ink after heat setting intensified the opacity and metallic properties of the ink on black cardstock. I’d imagine building up several layers would continue to enhance the inks.
  • The bottom right hand corner of the cardstock was smashed. Applying metallic ink over the crush mark emphasized that textural component! Cool!
  • I applied Starlite Silver and Starlite Black Inks to a Gel Press with a brayer, then pulled a print with black cardstock, which resulted in a lovely silvery mottled metallic finish. Again, a second layer of ink deepened the silver and improved the coverage.
  • FYI: You can apply Brilliance Metallic inks over white chalk finish acrylic paint and over white gesso, which means you can use it on a variety of surfaces. I have not tried Metallic Brilliance Inks over transparent and/or black gesso or Matte Medium. Those will be experiments for another day.
  • Lastly, VersaMagic Inks can be applied over the Brilliance Metallic Inks and yield a nice matte finish.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Black Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • Premier Ink Blending Tools by Hunkydory Crafts
  • Premier Ink Blending Sponges by Hunkydory Crafts
  • White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

How to Make a Sunset with Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Sprays

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! It’s Alison Heikkila. In my latest YouTube video for Imagine, we’re going to create a sunset with Fireworks! Sprays. These pigmented sprays also have mica in them, which help you to achieve beautiful shiny effects. Creating backgrounds with these are really fun, and we’ll use a couple of techniques to do it.

*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: 40 minutes

Supplies:
Imagine:
Fireworks! Sprays in Dandelion, Tangelo, Rose Bud, Grape Jelly, and Paris Dusk
VersaFine Clair Ink in Nocturne
Black Embossing Powder
Brilliance Reinker in Moonlight

Other:
Hero Arts: Color Layering Palm Tree
Stampendous: Ocean Sayings Stamps (Discontinued)
MISTI Stamping Tool or other stamping platform
Strathmore Smooth Bristol Cardstock
Bearly Arts Glue
Accent Opaque 110lb. White Cardstock
Cosmetic Sponge
Paintbrush
Acrylic Block

It would be fun to try this with other colors of Fireworks! Sprays. Which colors would you use? Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Make a Summer Wedding Card Using VersaFine Clair

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello everyone, today I am sharing a summer wedding card that was inspired by a bridal bouquet from my friend’s wedding. I am using a technique that showcases how vibrant our VersaFine Clair inks are. 

Skill: Intermediate to Advanced
Time: 1 to 1 ½ hours

Directions:

For this card, you will need a 3D embossing folder, several ink colors and sponge daubers or another tool to apply the ink.

Step 1:

Run the 3D embossing folder of your choice through the machine. Tip if you lightly spray it with water this helps get a better impression.

Step 2:

Using a sponge dauber or other inking tool and add color to the debossed side of the panel. It’s okay if you get ink outside of the debossed area because the next step will cover it.

Step 3:
Using the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad, rub it across the panel. The black will stay on top and will not go into the debossed areas and create a beautiful background. The versaFine Clair ink pads work well with this technique because they are so vibrant.

Step 4:
Stamp your sentiment using the Mini Misti and cut it out with the coordinating die.

Step 5:
Add your panel to a white card base and add the elements to finish he card.

Supply List:

Imagine:
VersaFine Clair – Charming Pink, Summertime, Cheerful, Verdant, Monarch, Pinecone and Nocturne
On Point Glue
Sponge Daubers

Other Supplies:
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 120lb
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb
Mini MISTI
Cake Toppers Stamp Set – Gina K Designs
Cake Toppers Die Set – Gina K Designs
Master Layouts One – Gina K Designs

Fun Ink Blending With Stencils

By Amalia Montano

I’ve had these stencils for some time, and the vibrant colors and rich textures of Tsukineko inks were perfect for these designs. I love Tsukineko inks for their versatility, stunning colors, and ease of use. They also come in various themed color sets. For this project, I used both VersaFine colors and Dew Drop VersaMagic ink pads.

Skill level: Intermediate
Time: 20 minutes

Products Used

Imagine:
• VersaColor Ink Pads in Canary and Cardinal
• Sponge Daubers
• Memento Dew Drops, New Sprout, Cottage Ivy
• VersaMagic Dew Drops: Mango Madness, Spring Pansy, Aloe Vera, Tea Leaves
• VersaFine Clair Pinecone Ink Pad
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray
• Desert Sand Re-inker

Other Products Used:
• White Gel Pen: https://shrsl.com/4jnpq
• Wobbler: https://amzn.to/3wYDJMq
• Spray bottle: https://shrsl.com/4jnpu
• Brutus Monroe Stencils:Chili Peppers Mixed Media Layering Stencil: https://shrsl.com/4jnpy
• Taco Tuesday | Slimline Stencil: https://shrsl.com/4jnq3
• Botanical Desert Mixed Media Stencil: https://shrsl.com/4jnq5
• Stamp set: Succulent & Cactus: https://shrsl.com/4jnq9

Let’s Make A Pink Floral Wedding Card

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s post, I am sharing a wedding card. I don’t have any wedding specific craft supplies, so
I used some general craft supplies.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Spray a panel of watercolor paper with Angel Pink Fireworks! Spray. After it dried, splatter some
Grape Jelly Fireworks! Spray on the panel, and the spray more Angel Pink Fireworks! Spray to
help diffuse the purple color. Then set the whole thing aside to dry.
After the panel dried, die cut the panel.

Step 2:
Press Charming Pink VersaFine Clair ink onto a second panel of watercolor paper. Then die cut
the panel with the same die. For this layer, get rid of negative parts of the die cut. Then press
the die into a Frost VersaMark Dazzle stamp pad.

Optional step: heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 3:
Glue the two die cuts together, so that the dark pink layer overlaps the corresponding light pink
layer.

Step 4:
Press Celestial Copper Delicata ink onto a scrap of watercolor paper.
Optional step: Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 5:
Die cut the copper-colored watercolor scrap with the congrats sentiment die. If desired, press
the sentiment into the Celestial Copper Delicata ink pad a second time for a more saturated
color.

Optional step: Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
Optional step: Die cut 2 additional pieces of scrap cardstock with the same die and glue them
behind the copper layer to add dimension to the sentiment.

Step 6:
Glue the sentiment die on the lower third of the pink die cut panels. Then glue the panel
onto an A2-sized white card base. (You can’t see the card base because the pink layer is the
exact same size as the card base.)

Step 7:
Splatter additional Grape Jelly Fireworks! Spray onto the panel. Glue pink and purple
sequins onto the panel on the left of the sentiment die and on the upper right part of the card.

Supplies Used

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fireworks! Spray – Angel Pink, Grape Jelly
• VersaFine Clair ink – Charming Pink
• VersaMark Dazzle – Frost

Other

• Honey Bee Stamps – Die – Congrats Honey Cuts die set
• Sizzix – Die- Leafy Twigs
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Sequins – Miami mix (purple sequins)
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Sequins – Rome mix (pink sequins)
• Clear embossing powder
• Scissors
• Glue