Let’s Make a “Celebrate 4th of July Card” with Fireworks!

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Imagine

By Anna Escalada York

Today’s card was inspired by 4th of July celebrations, but is meant for a beloved coworker who is retiring after working at my school for over 25 years. She is one of the key people who everyone knew that they could turn to when they needed help and we will sorely miss her, but are so excited for her next adventure.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper with the second-largest die in an A2-sized die set. Spray Lilac Posies, Angel Pink and Rhubarb Stalk Fireworks! Craft Spray directly onto a fireworks embossing folder, trying to have the colors mix on the folder. Then add the watercolor paper panel onto the embossing folder and run the whole thing through a die cutting machine. The spray will move inside of the embossing folder when it is pressed through the machine, giving some interesting effects on your embossed panel. Allow the sprays to dry.

Step 2:
Ink blend the edges of the embossed panel with Neptune VersaColor ink. Press the Neptune VersaColor ink pad onto a piece of scrap acetate and spray with water and then splatter the mix onto the panel with a thin paintbrush. Then spray the panel with Copper Shimmer Spritz. Spray more of the Copper Shimmer onto a clean piece of acetate and use the spritz to paint the raised parts of the panel (the tendrils or arms of the fireworks). Allow to dry.

Step 3:
Die cut another piece of watercolor paper with the largest die in the A2-sized die set. Using a sponge dauber, ink blend the edges with more of the Neptune VersaColor ink and then the extreme edges with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink.

Step 4:
Splatter Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray onto the panel and allow to dry.

Step 5:
Stamp a sentiment on a scrap of watercolor paper with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the sentiment with the corresponding die.

Step 6:
Glue the two panels together. Attach the sentiment with foam tape. Then glue sequins on the lower left corner and just above the sentiment. Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase to finish the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray- Angel Pink, Lilac Posies, Paris Dusk and Rhubarb Stalk
• Sheer Shimmer Spritzer – Copper
• VersaColor ink – Neptune and Medieval Blue
• Sponge dauber

Other

• Altenew – embossing folder –
• Firework Trio 3D
• Altenew – Foam Tape
• Altenew – Die set – Blossoms of Encouragement
• Altenew – Stamp set – Blossoms of Encouragement
• Catherine Pooler – Sequin mix – Kyoto
• Pink and Main – Die set
• Notched Corners
• A2-sized kraft card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Red, White, and Blue Birthday Wishes Card

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Imagine

By Monica Edwards

Welcome back to the Imagine blog. Today, I will show you how to use your VersaColor ink cubes to make a fun and creative background to celebrate America’s birthday.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 30 Minutes Approx.

Directions:

Step 1
Take a sheet of white cardstock cut it to 4×5 (set aside)

Step 2a
Take your VersaColor ink cube in Neptune and blot the color onto the stamp.
I applied the blue to the kids, grass border and bit of the flag.

Step 2b
Next, I blotted on some Memento Luxe in Love Letter on the flag.
This will give you the two-tone color stamping.

Step 3
Stamp your image on the white cardstock

Step 4
Next, create a mat for the piece of white cardstock by taking a piece of navy cardstock and cutting it to 4.25 x 5.25 inches. This will leave a 0.25-inch navy border around the white cardstock.

Finish your card with a sentiment.

Products Used:

Imagine:
• Memento Luxe – Love Letter
• VersaColor – Nautical Blue

Other:
Hammermill: White Cardstock
My Colors : Navy
Crackerbox Stamps: Happy Fourth, Happy Birthday Sentiment

Celebrate Our Nation Invitation Card

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Imagine

By Ceil Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!
It’s Ceal here. Each year I have my family over to celebrate July 4^th and I send out invitations, this is the invitation for this year, and I am sharing how I made it.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Directions:

You will need to gather the following supplies. Red and blue ink, stamp/stencil set, celebrate word die cut, VersaMark ink Hologram MBoss embossing powder.

Step 1:
Prepare the paper by using a anti-static tool, then ink up the background stamp (fireworks background used here)with VersaMark ink and stamp on panel.

Step 2:
Cover the panel with Hologram Mboss embossing powder and melt with heat tool.

Step 3:
Using a large dauber along with the stencil color the layers in red and blue,
I used red for layer 1 and blue for layer 2.

Step 4:
Cut out the word celebrate, cover with VersaMark ink using the pad directly to the word, or a sponge dauber.

Step 5:
Cover the celebrate die with Mboss Hologram embossing powder and melt with heat gun.

Supply List:

Imagine crafts:
VersaColor – Turquoise
VersaColor – Cardinal
VersaMark Ink
Mboss – Hologram
On Point Glue

Other supplies:
Neenah Solar White 80lb and 120lb
Fireworks background Stamp/Stencil Combo – Taylored Expressions
Celebrate Word Die –My Favorite Things

Make a Fourth of July Card with Colorful Heat Embossing

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Imagine

By Jessica Lin

Hi everyone! Are you ready to celebrate the Fourth of July? I made a sparkly, light-up card to celebrate the occasion. It’s been a while since I heat embossed with colorful embossing powders and I truly miss this simple and fun technique. Be sure to check out the supply list at the end to see the colors I used!

Skill Level: Advanced
Time: 1 hour

Step 1:
Stamp one image from MFT’s Festive Fireworks set with VersaMark ink pad. Then pour on embossing powder with the color of your choice. Repeat the steps if you would like to use different colors of embossing powders, making sure to heat set the powder before moving on to the next color. The colors I used today are Mboss – Valentine, Lucky Stars, Princess Party, and Shimmering Night Sky (not pictured here).

Step 2:
Use Brilliance – Galaxy Gold ink pad to stamp the layering images. I used a stamp positioning tool so that I could restamp a couple of times and get good ink coverage. The gold stamped images look so well against the black background, don’t you think?

Step 3:
I decided to add interactive elements to make this card even more festive! I used Chibitronics LED light stickers to create the light up circuit. If you are interested in making a light up card, feel free to check out the step-by-step video tutorial on my YouTube channel “Craft with Jessica V. Lin” and search for “How to Make a Fireworks Light Up Card with BLACK Cardstock”.

Step 4:
For some finishing touches, I splattered some Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray to the background. I used the brush-over-acrylic-block flicking method, but you could use the spray nozzle to add a fine mist of shimmer as well. Then I adhered some sequins with On-Point Glue, and that completes the card!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

MFT – Stamps – Festive Fireworks
We R – Tool – Precision Press
Antistatic Powder Tool
Heat Tool
Hero Arts – Dies – Infinity Circle (to die cut the small center circles for light to shine through the fireworks images)
Chibitronics – Tool – LED sticker and Circuit Tape
Foam Tape
Black cardstock

Fourth of July Layout Made Easy with Memento inks and Fireworks!

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Imagine

By Neva Cole –

Today I will share how easy it is to create a very cohesive layout using just two ink colors and the matching Fireworks! colors for an amazing Fourth of July scrapbook layout. With just white cardstock, an embossing folder, a large die cut, and stamps this layout is perfect for Independence Day

Skill: Beginner

Time: 30 Minutes

Directions:

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step1

Step 1

Trim white cardstock to 1” on each edge larger than the photos. Pressure emboss with Star Blanket. Ink raised portion of embossed areas and edges with Memento Danube Blue or Lady Bug. For my layout I trimmed two sections 5” x 7”, three sections 4” x 5”, and one section by 4” x 4” to back my photos.

Step 2

Die cut two sets from Spellbinders Cascading Stars die and remove the stars. Trim one outline die cut into a section of five stars, with the other being four stars. Use Jumbo Dauber to tap Memento Danube Blue over one die cut and the smaller portion of the trimmed die cut. Tapping the ink onto the paper keeps from damaging the die cut, which can occur if a rubbing motion is used. The larger portion of the trimmed die cut is inked in Memento Lady Bug. Continue to add ink until it is the desired hue.

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Step 3

The splatter method is used with Fireworks! to add some interest to the white background. Shake the bottle to distribute glimmer and then remove spritzer nozzle and gently tap the top to splatter ink from the outside of the spray tube. Continue to tap until the desired amount of ink is on the paper. I choose sections where the die cuts would be eventually placed. I alternated the color choices from the die cut color. This is the lower right corner of the right page.

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Step 4

The left side of the layout shown completed with splattered Fireworks! in Memento Lady Bug and Danube Blue.

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Step 5

Determine placement placement of elements to add stamped sentiments. Place on layout and remove other elements. Use a stamp platform to stamp sentiments in proper position.

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Step 6

On the right page the stamped elements are determined, then half are removed before stamping to allow for clean stamping of correct colors. The remaining elements are added and stamped. It was easier to stamp all the images Memento Lady Bug at one time, then follow with images in Memento Danube Blue.

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step7

Step 7

Spritz Fireworks! into a plastic tray or surface. Place die cut stars from step 2 face down on the Fireworks! ink to add color. Use tweezers to move around in the ink and add more ink to tray as needed. About a third of the stars were inked with Fireworks! in Lady Bug the remaining in Fireworks! Danube Blue.

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step8

Step 8:

Determine correct placement of Fireworks! stars in the die cut. I rotated the star until it fit properly into the die cut area. Not all the stars are identical, so taking the time to find the right one was worth the effort for a seamless look.

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step9

Step 9:

Adhere elements to layout. Tear It! tape was used to adhere the photos to the textured mats. The die cuts are adhered with On Point Glue. The small dots around the star frames keep the layout clean and smudge free.