Zombies Invade Brooklyn Card

By Kathi Rerek

Halloween card made easy with VersaMagic, Brilliance, Delicata, VersaFine Clair, and Memento Inks!

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1 hour

Step 1.

Use low-tack tape to secure the Cityscape Stencil to a 5.5” x 8.5” piece of light grey cardstock. Trim and place low-tack tape to cover the buildings’ windows. Use a circle punch to cut a circle from mask paper and adhere the circle mask above the bridge. Keep the mask paper with the circular hole for another step..

Use a sponge dauber to apply Night Sky VersaMagic Ink over the stencil and the moon mask onto the the grey cardstock to create a night sky.

Step 2:

Keeping the stencil in place, remove the tape covering the windows. Use a Fantastix to apply Dandelion Memento Ink over the window apertures of the stencil.

Step 3:

Trace the spire onto masking paper, fussy-cut along the lines, leaving the outline of the spire intact. Place the mask around the spire on the image panel. Use low-tack tape to cover the base of the spire.

Use a sponge dauber to apply Platinum Planet Brilliance Ink to the spire, then apply Silvery Shimmer Delicata Ink overtop to amp up the silver.

Step 4:

Use low-tack tape to cover the area around the rooftop water tower, leaving the tower unmasked. Use a Fantastix to apply Platinum Planet Brilliance Ink to color the water tower. Use another Fantastix to apply Starlight Black Brilliance Ink to add shading to the water tower.

Step 5:

Remove the circle mask from the sky. Adhere the mask paper with the circle hole to the sky area, leaving the center open. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Moonlight White Brilliance ink to color the moon white. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply White Shimmer Delicata Ink overtop to add shimmer to the moon.

Step 6:

Use a scrap of cardstock and low-tack tape to cover the buildings. Place another piece of low-tack tape horizontally across the bottom 1.25” of the image panel.Use Sponge Daubers to apply Cottage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink between the masked areas to create a grassy lawn.

Step 7:

Use low-tack tape to cover the grassy areas. Use the pouncy tool to apply London Fog, Grey Flannel, and Desert Sand Memento Inks to create a cement sidewalk.

Step 8:

Use magnets to secure the image panel to the stamping platform. Position the Zombie stamps facedown where desired. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamps, lift, ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp. Re-ink and repeat stamping if needed to attain a good solid impression.

Remove the Zombie stamps from the platform., then remove the image panel from the platform,. Heat set the stamped images.

Step 9:

Place the image panel back onto the base of the stamping platform, secured with magnets.. Place the other two small Zombie stamps facedown between the other stamped images. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamps, lift, ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp. Re-ink and repeat stamping if needed to attain a good solid impression.

Remove the stamps from the platform Remove the image panel from the platform. Heat set.

Step 10:

Place the image panel back onto the stamping platform, secured with magnets. Place the Bat Colony Stamp facedown in the sky area as shown. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamps, lift, ink the stamps with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp. Re-ink and repeat stamping if needed to attain a good solid impression.

Remove the stamps from the platform Remove the image panel from the platform. Heat set.

Step 11:

Trim the image panel to 4 5/8” x 6 5/8” . Use a Sponge Dauber to edge the image panel with Midnight Black VersaMagic Ink.

Step 12:

Trim a piece of white cardstock to 4.75” x 6.75”. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Platinum Planet Brilliance Ink to the outside .5” of the image panel. Then use a Sponge Dauber to apply Silvery Shimmer Delicata Ink overtop to add to the metallic shine.

Step 13:

Use Tear It! Tape to mat the image panel to the silver-inked cardstock, then use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the matted image panel to a black 5” x 7” card.

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Light Grey Cardstock
  • Cityscape Stencil TCW376 by The Crafters Workshop
  • Bat Colony Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Zombie Party by Whimsy Stamps
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Mask Paper by Gina K Designs
  • Pouncy Tool
  • Heat Gun by EK Success
  • Mini Guillotine Trimmer by Tim Holtz for Tonic Studios
  • Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Catnapping by UFO Fun Creation

By Kathi Rerek

– Here’s a rare project from me that with no stamping at all. I’ve used inks, stencils, and cutting dies to create what will either be a wall hanging or a journal page.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1.5 hours

Step 1.

Secure the UFO stencil to a piece of cardstock with removable tape on both sides of the paper, creating a hinge. Apply Platinum Planet Brilliance over the stencil onto the cardstock. Open the hinged stencil and heat set the image panel.

Step 2:

Put the UFO stencil back in place. Use a sponge dauber to apply Silver Shimmer Delicata over the stencil onto the image panel. Open the hinged stencil and heat set the image panel.

Step 3:

Use a brush-tipped Fantastix to apply Dandelion Memento ink through the UFO’s windows onto the image panel. Remove and clean the stencil.

Step 4:

Touch up the windows with the Fantastix. Use a grey watercolor marker to color the window frames and the bottom aperture of the UFO.

Step 5:

Fussy-cut the UFO, edge with a dark marker, and set aside.

Step 6:

Use a sponge dauber to apply Danube Blue onto a 4.75” x 6.75” piece of Bristol Paper. Use a sponge dauber to blend Paris Dusk onto the Bristol Paper to create a mottled background.

Step 7:

Tape the Time Tunnel Stencil over the inked background panel. Use a sponge dauber to apply Paris Dusk Memento ink over the stencil onto the paper.

Step 8:

Squeeze a few drops of Moonlight White Brilliance re-inker onto a craft mat. Spray with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. Use a paintbrush to mix the ink. Load the paintbrush with the diluted Moonlight Brilliance ink and splatter the background panel. Let air dry or heat set.

Step 9:

Use the Mini Cats die to cut Raven cardstock. Set the cat dies aside.

Step 10:

Use a sponge dauber to apply Bamboo Leaves Memento ink onto a white cardstock panel. Repeat Cottage Ivy Memento ink until the panel is covered.

Step 11:

Use the Grassy Hills Die set to cut the inked panels. Use a green Copic marker to edge the grass and to add details. Using Memento Ink to create backgrounds allows you to use Copic markers overtop!

Step 12:

Cut a piece of vellum to 6” square. Score on the diagonal from one point to the opposite point. Fold.

Repeat with both sides until it looks like the above photo.

Step 13:

Place one edge of the scored, folded square along the cutting edge of a guillotine trimmer. Cut.

Step 14:

Use On Point Glue to adhere the die-cut cats to the interior of the folded vellum triangle. Sorry that I forgot to take a photo.

Step 15:

Back a piece of vellum with two-sided tape. Use the Oval Shadows Die-namics to cut the vellum.

Step 16:

Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the three layers of grass to the background panel as shown. Edge the panel with VersaFine Clair Nocturne .

Adhere the vellum cone and the vellum oval as shown. Use On Point Glue to adhere escaping and/or partially beamed-up cats atop the vellum oval and cone.

Use dimensional foam adhesive to adhere the UFO as shown.

Step 17:

Adhere the image panel to a 5” x 7” piece of Black Mixed Media paper. Add the sentiment sticker to finish the piece.

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Bristol Paper by Strathmore
  • Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • 140 lb. Black Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • Vellum: Source Unknown
  • UFO Stencil by Funky Fossil
  • Time Tunnel Stencil by Visible Image
  • Grey Stone Zig Photo Twin Marker by Kuretake
  • YG 45 Copic Marker
  • Grassy Hills Die-namics Set by My Favorite Things
  • Ovals Shadows Die-namics Die Set by My Favorite Things
  • Mini Cats Die Cut Set by Impression Obsession
  • Small Talk Idea-ology Stickers by Tim Holtz for Adventus
  • 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Heat Gun by EK Success
  • Mini Guillotine Trimmer by Tim Holtz for Tonic
  • Big Shot

Let’s Make a Gel Print Cat Card

By Kathi F. Rerek 

Using a Gel Press with VersaFine Clair inks is a great way to create a quick background.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1.

Use a 2” brayer to apply Paradise VersaFine Clair ink to the top part of a 4” round gel press. Clean the brayer, then use to apply Green Oasis VersaFine Clair Ink to the bottom  of the gel press.

Press a 6” x 4.25” piece of mixed media paper onto the gel press and pull the print. I actually used a leftover panel from a previous gel print session that was not successful.

Step 2:

Mist the print with with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Use Fantastix to apply Verdant VersaFine Clair Ink to even out the green area of the print and then apply Rain Forest VersaFine Clair Ink to add dimension.

Step 3:

Use paper towel to gently dab the sky and grassy areas of the print with Purell to further blend the ink.

Heat set.

Step 4:

Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of a stamping platform.

Position the stretching cat stamp from the The Furieux/Caffeinated Cats Unmounted Stamp Set facedown so that its paws are on the grass.

Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if needed. Remove the stamp and heat set the panel.

Step 5:

The left paws were stamped slightly above the grass, so I used Fantastix and Green Oasis VersaFine Clair Ink to add a tuft of grass under his floating paws and to add detail to the lawn.

Step 6:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance Ink around the image circle, leaving a bit of a halo effect around the circle.

Step 7:

Tape the image panel to the back of the Pawprint Stencil so that the smallest paw prints run horizontally across the top of the image panel.

Use Sponge Daubers to apply Pearlescent Sky Blue and Mediterranean Blue Brilliance Inks over the stencil onto the image panel.

Remove and clean the stencil, then repeat the steps above to stencil the small paw prints across the bottom of the image panel.

Lift the stencil and use the Sponge Dauber to edge the panel with Mediterranean Blue Brilliance Ink. Heat set the panel.

Step 8:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance Ink to a strip of white cardstock. Heat set.

Secure the cardstock strip to the base of a stamping platform. Position the “You talking’ to me?” sentiment from the Whatchamacallit Unmounted Stamp Set facedown on the strip.

Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Heat set.

Use scissors or a die-cut to cut the sentiment and edge it with Mediterranean Blue Brilliance Ink. Heat set.

Step 9:

Cut a piece of white cardstock to 9” x 6.25”, score at 4.5”, and fold to form a 4.5” x 6.25” card.

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Mediterranean Blue Brilliance Ink around the the edges of the card. Heat Set.

Step 10:

Use Tear It! Tape to secure the image panel to the card front.

Step 11:

After looking at the finished card,I decided that the card needed a larger sentiment up at the top left.

Secure the entire card with magnets to the base of a stamping platform. Position the “Hello” stamp from the Holiday Quotes. Unmounted Stamp Set facedown on the upper left. Use Nocturne VersaMark Ink to stamp the sentiment. Heat set.

Supplies used:

Imagine:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • The Furieux/Caffeinated Cats Unmounted Stamp Set 127 by Katzelkraft
  • Whatchamacallit Unmounted Stamp Set 276 by Katzelkraft
  • Holiday Quotes Unmounted Stamp Set 207 by Katzelkraft
  • 4” Circle Gel Press
  • Paw Prints 6×6 Stencil by KaiserCraft
  • Lemon Yellow Zig Clear Color Real Brush Marker by Kuretake
  • 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Purell
  • Stamping Platform
  • Heat Gun by EK Success

Create a Magical Card with Brilliance Inks

By Kathi Rerek 

Intro: Brilliance inks blend beautifully and the pearlescent ones create a beautiful shimmer that enhances magical scenes like this one.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1.

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Mediterranean Blue Brilliance ink horizontally across the top of a 4” x 5.25” panel of white cardstock. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance ink below the darker blue. Use both daubers to create a blended shimmery sky.

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply the Pearlescent Coral Brilliance ink from the Aurora 3-Color Brilliance Ink Pad. Sorry that there’s no photo!

Step 2:

Tape the image panel to the back of the Clouds Stencil.

Using a Sponge Dauber, apply Moonlight White Brilliance ink over the stencil onto the image panel.

Remove the stencil and heat set the ink.

Step 3:

Use magnets to secure the ink-sponged panel approximately .5” from the right edge and 1” from the bottom of the stamping platform.

Position the Cityscape Reflections Stamp facedown along the bottom of the stamping platform.

Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if needed. Remove the stamp and heat set the panel.

Step 4:

Move the image panel so that it’s flush the right and bottom edges of the stamping platform. Secure with magnets.

Position the Silhouette Lady with Umbrella Stamp facedown along the right edge above the cityscape.

Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if needed. Remove the stamp and heat set the panel.

Step 5:

Trim the image panel to 3 7/8” x 5 1/8”.

Use a Sponge Dauber and Mediterranean Blue Brilliance Ink to edge the image panel.

Step 6:

Cut a piece of Raven cardstock to 4” x 5.25”.

Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the black cardstock.

Step 7:

Create an A2 Card from White cardstock.

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Mediterranean Blue Brilliance Ink to the outer .5” of the folded card. Heat set.

Step 8:

Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the card.

Adhere the sentiment sticker to finish the card.

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Bristol Paper by Strathmore
  • Raven Black Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Cityscape Reflections Cling Rubber Stamp by Andy Skinner for Creative Expressions
  • Silhouette Lady With Umbrella Unmounted Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Stamps
  • Small Talk Idea-ology Stickers by Tim Holtz for Advents
  • Stamping Platform
  • Heat Gun by EK Success

Let’s Make a Steampunk Love Card

By Kathi Rerek

It’s Spring and love is in the air. Let’s combine the metallic look of Brilliance ink, the shimmer of Delicata Ink, pastel colors, and Steampunk imagery to create a Steampunk Love card.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1:

Use a stamping platform and Starlite Black Brilliance ink to stamp the Steampunk Heart twice – once onto a 6” x 8” piece of Mixed Media paper and a second time onto Repositionable Label paper.  Heat set the Mixed Media paper panel.

Smoosh London Fog Memento ink onto craft mat. Spritz it with Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Craft Spray.

Use a paint brush to color the center of the heart.

Step 2:

Fussy-cut the label paper heart and place it atop its counterpart on the image panel.

Step 3:

Use a Sponge Dauber to sponge Summer Sky Memento Ink horizontally across the image panel. Don’t worry about leaving white areas.

Use a Sponge Dauber to sponge Angel Pink Memento Ink onto the white areas of the image panel. You’ve now created a stormy sky!

Step 4:

Use a stamping platform to position the wing stamps facedown on the masked steampunk heart.

Ink with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink and stamp. Repeat if necessary to attain a clean image. Wipe remaining ink off of the stamp. Heat set the image panel.

Step 5:

Use a brayer to apply White Shimmer Delicata Ink to the wing stamps. Stamp.

Step 6:

Smoosh a 1” wide strip of white cardstock onto the Starlite Black Brilliance Pad. Smoosh a second 2” wide strip of white cardstock onto the White Shimmer Delicata Ink Pad.

Heat set both panels.

Step 7:

Apply Tear-It! Tape to the backs of both panels.

Use the “love” Shadow die to cut the White Shimmer Delicata inked cardstock.

Use the “love” die to cut the Starlite Black Brilliance inked cardstock.

Adhere the Starlite Black “love” die-cut to atop the White Shimmer Delicata “love” shadow die. Set aside.

Step 8:

Position the stamped image panel so that it’s horizontal on the stamping platform so that different cogs will be stamped along the edges of the image panel.

Step 9:

Position cog stamps from both Cogs Clear Stamp Set 2 and Cogs Clear Stamp Set 2, facedown on the left and right of what is now the top of the image panel. Ink the stamps with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink, stamp, and heat set. Remove and clean the cog stamps.

Position two different cog stamps from the same set facedown towards the center top edge of the image panel. Ink the stamps with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink, stamp, and heat set. Remove and clean the cog stamps.

Position a large cog stamp facedown in the center of the cogs. Ink the stamp with Starlite Black Brilliance ink, stamp, and set. Remove and clean the cog stamps.

Step 10:

Flip the image panel so that the clean edge is at the top of the platform. Repeat Step 9 to complete a second cog border.

Trim the image panel to 5.5” square and edge with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink. Heat set the entire panel.

Step 11:

Use White Shimmer Delicata Ink to sponge a piece of 5.75” square white cardstock. Heat set.

Step 12:

Cut a piece of 12×12 Avalanche cardstock to 6” x 12”, score, and fold to form a 6” square card.

Place a piece of scrap paper into the card. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Brilliance Ink to the outer .25” edges of the card. Heat set.

Step 13:

Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the shimmery white 5.75” square to the card.

Adhere the image panel.

Adhere the sentiment to finish the card.

Art Supplies:

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore
  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Avalanche White Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • Steampunk Heart Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Wings Large Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Cogs 2 Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Cogs 3 Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Tonic Stamping Platform
  • Heat Gun by EK Success

Inking Techniques to Make Multiple Artist Trading Cards

By LV Handcrafted

Hello friends! This is Linh (or LV Handcrafted on all the socials). In today’s video I’m showing two techniques for creating background panels that you can either cut down or die cut from!  One technique features the ever-so-popular ink “smooshing” and the other features creating monoprinting with a gel plate!  These techniques are fast and easy to make multiples of if you ever need to make the same card en mass. I made a set of 6 Artist Trading Cards (ATC) using one panel for the background and the monoprint for die-cutting.

Skill: Advance

Time: 45 minutes

Supplies Used

Other Products Used