Make a Postal Style Birthday Card

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!

It’s Ceal, back to share with you. Today I am sharing a birthday card using some postage stencils which are all the rage lately.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies. For this project you will need several colors of inks, postage stencils and a postage die.

Step 1:
Using VersaFine Clair Charming Pink, ink the first layering stencil.

Step 2:
Using VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze, ink up the second layering stencil.

Step 3:
Using VersaFine Clair Verdant, ink the strawberry, the candles and the streamers.

Step 4:
Using VersaFine Clair Lilac, ink the candle and over the present.

Step 5:
Using VersaFine Clair Sand Dune, ink the cake portion.

Step 6:
Using VersaFine Clair Charming Pink, ink over the cake frosting again with a heavy hand, the cupcake up top I inked with what ink was left on the brush.

Step 7:
Using VersaFine Clair Cheerful, ink over the candle flames and streamers.

Step 8:
Stamp sentiment and postage with VersaFine Clair Nocturne.

Supplies:

Imagine Products
• VersaFine Clair
– Nocturne, Charming Pink, Cheerful, Verdant, Warm Breeze, Lilac and Sand Dune

Other Products
• Postage Die – Waffle Flower
• Birthday Postage Stencil- Waffle Flower
• Birthday Postage Stamp Set – Waffle Flower

Let’s Make a Nature-Inspired Birthday Card

By Anna Escalada York

I wanted to use my husband’s birthday to make him a personalized birthday card. He loves to be in nature and loves it when I use recycled materials (mostly because then we don’t have to buy new things). I also added a background that expresses how I feel about him.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a piece of kraft cardstock with a text-based background stamp with Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the panel with the second-largest die from a nested A2-sized nested die set.

Step 2:
Stamp a large tree stamp set on a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut with a mid-sized star die from a nested star die set.

Step 3:
Lightly spray Rich Cocoa Fireworks! Craft Spray and Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray onto the watercolor stamped star. Blot a little of the spray off with a paper towel and allow to dry. Then Then press Celestial Copper Delicata ink onto a piece of acetate packaging and spray with water. Watercolor smoosh the star by pressing the liquid copper onto the panel. Then repeat the watercolor smooshing with Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink mixed with water on the acetate. Let the panel dry again.

Step 4:
Mix some of the remaining Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink and water with more of the Rich Cocoa Fireworks! Craft Spray to make a darker brown watercolor. Paint the trees with the watercolor. Allow to dry. Apply a second coat of watercolor to a few trees to add interest and darker trees. Allow to dry a second time.

Step 5:
Stamp a sentiment on kraft cardstock with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Then heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Then die cut with the corresponding dies.

Optional: Die cut 2 more die cut layers for each of the sentiment (3 layers total for each of the dies–1 that is the stamped kraft layer, and two scrap layers). Glue the layers together and set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Die cut a piece of corrugated cardboard with the largest die from an A2-sized nesting panel die set. Then brush the edges of the panel with Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink.

Step 7:
Use a sponge dauber to ink blend the edges of the star with Celestial Copper Delicata ink. Glue the die cut star onto the smaller, stamped panel. Trim the overhanging left part of the star. Then press Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto acetate packaging and spray with water.

Splatter the Tea Leaves-colored watercolor onto the panel. Add a couple of watercolor smooshed areas to add interest (or to cover areas where you want splatters but the splatters are not doing what you want). Allow to dry.

Step 8:
Brush the edges of the smaller, stamped panel with the Celestial Copper Delicata ink pad.

Step 9:
Assemble the card. Glue the two panels together. Glue the sentiment strips onto the panel. Then add sequins on the lower left and upper right parts of the card. Then glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized kraft card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – Rich Cocoa
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
• VersaMagic Chalk ink – Jumbo Java
• VersaMagic Chalk ink – Tea Leaves
• Sponge Dauber

Other
• Altenew – die set – Wings & Petals (for the sentiment)
• Altenew – stamp set – Wings & Petals (for the sentiment)
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Wintergreen
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
• Simon Hurley create – background stamp – Timber!
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Nested Stars Wafer Dies
• Simon Says Stamp – background stamp – You Are
• Kraft cardstock
• Watercolor paper
• Corrugated cardboard
• Clear Embossing Powder

Create Monochromic Butterfly Card with Bright Blues

By Jessica Lin

Skill Level: Medium
Time: 45 min

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I will be creating a butterfly card with bright blue colors. If you are looking for monochromic card ideas, just keep reading!

Step 1:
Stamp a bokeh background using Stampin’ Up’s Beauty Abounds stamp set. The stamp uses a unique technology to create light and dark shades even though I am only stamping with VersaFine Clair Blue Belle ink. I also tried to use splatter stamps to create a different background and that worked well, too.

Step 2:
Die cut the bottom butterfly layer with white cardstock and the top layer with light blue cardstock. Then adhere the top layer to the bottom layer. Since this is an intricate design with fine lines, I adhered Stick It adhesive to the blue cardstock before die cutting. This way, the blue top layer becomes a peel and stick. Alternatively, you could use glue with fine-tip nozzles, like the On Point Glue.

Step 3:
Then I spritzed a generous layer of Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Sparkle to create a subtle metallic shine on the butterfly die cut.

Step 4:
Stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad. This stamp is from Stampin’ Up’s Rooted in Nature set. I decided to cut around each word to create the tape label look.

Step 5:
Apply On Point Glue to the butterfly die cut, avoiding the overhang areas, and adhere to the bokeh background. Then mount the bokeh background to the card base with foam tape. Finally, adhere the sentiment with Tear-It Tape and embellish with some rhinestones, and the card is complete!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Beauty Abounds
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Butterfly Beauty
  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Rooted in Nature (for the sentiment)
  • Foam Tape
  • Clear Rhinestones

Bright and Colorful Happy Birthday Card!

By Tracy Fear

When it’s your birthday everything should be all color and shine! That’s exactly what we get when creating this colorful birthday card!

Tracy

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 60 Minutes

Craft Products Used

Imagine Products
VersaFine Clair in Summertime, Cheerful, Glamorous Pink, Strawberry, and Bali Blue
VersaMark Ink

Art Supplies
• Die cutting machine
• 100lb white paper
• A2 Card Base
• Foam Strips
• Dies
• Orange-tone iridescent sparkle paste
• Stencils
• Glue

Other Products Used
• Simon Hurley Astro Paste in Phoenix Feather
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Simon Hurley Polka Dot Assortment Layering Stencil
• Simon Hurley Birthday Party Stamps and coordinating dies
• PVA Adhesive
• Foam Tape

ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE USED TO RECREATE SOMETHING SIMILAR

Any Inks, any combination of dies!

To learn how to create your own Birthday card,  click here!

Fall Birthday Wishes with VersaFine Clair

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello everyone,
It’s Ceal, here. I am so ready for fall to be here and today I am sharing a fall birthday card with you.

Skill: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies. For this card you will need a stencil of choice, several colors of ink, and embossing folder and sentiment stamp.

Step 1:
The stencil set I used has four different layers. The first stencil in step one is to use Shady Lane to color the stems.

Step 2:
Using layer 2 of the stencil set and Purple Delight, color the flowers.

Step 3:
Using the third layer of the stencil and Chianti, color the flowers.

Step 4:
Using the fourth layer of the stencil and Golden Meadow, color in the flower centers and buds.

Step 5:
Add gold splatter using a watercolor paint, I used Fine Tec metallic.

Step 6:
Run the finished panel through the machine using an embossing folder. Add finished panel to the card base.

Step 7:
Finish card by adding a sentiment

Supplies:

Imagine Supplies
VersaFine Clair
– Nocturne
– Shady Lane
– Golden Meadow
-Purple Delight
– Chianti
On Point Glue

Other Supplies
Boho Botanicals Layering Stencil – Taylored Expressions
Halftone Dots Stencil – Taylored Expressions
Timeless Greetings Stamp/dies – Taylored Expressions
Grip Mat – Simon Says Stamp
Blending Brushes – Simon Says Stamp

Blend Delicata Inks to Make a Beautiful Fall Florals Wedding Card

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Fall is right around the corner and I have a fall floral card to share with you today. I decided to do some layered ink blending using shimmery Delicata ink pads. They are pigment-based and mostly used for stamping. However, they ink blend beautifully, too! Be sure to check out the shimmery effects of these ink pads at the end of this post.

Step 1:
Stamp the large floral image from Stampin’ Up’s Layers of Beauty set with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune ink pad. This color is becoming my favorite for stamping outlines. The soft, neutral tone creates an entirely different feel compared to black image outlines.

Step 2:
This particular stamp set coordinates with the Layers of Beauty decorative masks. I started with stencil 1 and ink blended with Delicata Golden Glitz. You could use the full size ink pad or the Quartet ink pad, which includes Golden Glitz, Silvery Shimmer, Celestial Copper, and Bronze Burst.

Step 3:
For stencil 2 and 3, I ink blended Bronze Burst and Celestial Copper. These two shades are similar, with Celestial Copper having a redder hue. I thought they contrasted too strongly against the golden base layer, so I ink blended Bronze Burst lightly to the base layer as well.

Step 4:
For the leaves, I ink blended VersaMagic Sage for stencil 4 and Hint of Pesto for stencil 5. Once the ink blending is completed, I die cut the floral image and mounted the back with foam tape.

Step 5:
I prepared a card base using Neenah Desert Storm cardstock. Then I embossed a 4’’ x 5 ¼’’ panel with Stampin’ Up’s Distressed Tile embossing folder. To create some background depth, I ink blended the corners of the embossed panel with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune ink pad.

Step 6:
Finally, I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Sand Dune ink pad and added matte white enamel dots from The Rabbit Hole Designs.

Here’s the finished card! I tried to capture the shimmery effects of the Delicata ink pads but the photo does not do it justice. It’s mesmerizing and so pretty in real life, I hope you will give ink blending with Delicata ink pads a try!

Craft Supplies:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Stamps, Die, Mask bundle – Layers of Beauty
  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Distressed Tile
  • Neenah – Paper – Desert Storm
  • Foam Tape