Make a Cute Rainboots Theme “Happy Spring” Card

by Steph Ackerman

Make a Cute Rainboots Theme "Happy Spring" Card with VersaMagic DewDrop inks.

VersaMagic inks have a longer drying time so they are perfect to use with stencils where you can use multiple colors, and even blend them if desired. I love to use stencils, but I really don’t like to waste the ink that is left on them. Rather than clean the stencil, I like to lightly spritz the inked side of the stencil, flip it over, and place it on the second piece of cardstock creating a watercolored panel. See how I created two cards with the same stencil!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour + dry time


VersaMagic in Aegean Blue, Niagara Mist, Purple Hydrangea, Perfect Plumeria, and Thatched Straw.
Step 1

Tape a stencil to white cardstock. Ink with VersaMagic in Aegean Blue, Niagara Mist, Purple Hydrangea, Perfect Plumeria, and Thatched Straw. Remove the stencil.


Step 2

Lightly spritz the inked side of the stencil. Place the stencil, inked side down, on the second panel of white cardstock and tape in place. Brayer over the stencil to release the ink.


Step 3

Remove the stencil and let both panels air dry.


Brilliance in Graphite Black, stamp two pairs of boots and two "Happy Spring" sentiments
Step 4

Using Brilliance in Graphite Black, stamp two pairs of boots and two “Happy Spring” sentiments. Emboss with Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Clear.


Fussy cut the boots and color with different colors of Memento Markers.
Step 5

Fussy cut the boots and color with different colors of Memento Markers.


Step 6

Mat one stenciled panel with yellow cardstock and one panel with blue cardstock. Adhere each panel to a kraft paper card base. Double mat the sentiments and add to the cards with foam adhesives. Adhere the boots to the cards with foam adhesives. Use On Point Glue to adhere the gems to the boots.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – White, Blue, Yellow
  • Cardbase – Kraft
  • MemoryBox – Stencil
  • Penny Black – April Showers Stamp
  • The Robin’s Nest – Gems
  • Brayer

April Color of the Month is Mango!

Mango is April's Color of the Month 2018

Mango is not only a delicious fruit, it is also a beautiful color! Every month we challenge our Artists in Residence with a couple of different ideas or themes to push them to think outside the box, to try a technique they haven’t tried before and to give flow and continuity to the projects. This month our color is Mango which we consider a soft yellow-orange. We chose it to get us in the mood for summer! This color reminds us of fruit, flowers, the warming sun, and fun-in-the-sun activities. Another challenge we offered to our artists is to use VersaMagic ink. This chalk-like finish makes this ink a delight to work with on almost any crafting project.

Here is a sneak peak for the month of April

Elina Stromberg created this lovely “Hello” greeting card using Memento dye inks in Cantaloupe.

Iris Rodriguez created this “Hello” greeting card with a flowering tree using VersaMagic Mango Madness, Thatched Straw, and Aegean Blue

Roni Johnson created this “Keep on Swimmin” encouragement card using VersaMagic in Mango Madness with some shading using Memento Dual Tip Markers.

Keep an eye on our posts this month to see these and many more tutorials in this fabulous color!

Create an Ultraviolet Mother’s Day Hugs Card

by Roni Johnson

Create an Ultraviolet Mother’s Day Hugs Card

When I found out the color of the month for March would be Ultraviolet I was so excited. I wanted to get a jump start on upcoming holiday cards and I KNEW this would be the perfect time to make a Mother’s Day card for my mom. She LOVES purple! So much so that she has purple highlights in her hair. Yes, you read that correctly! My mom who is in her 7th decade of life is a bit on the wild side so this card will fit her perfectly.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 25 Minutes

Directions

Stamp with Radiant Neon Electric Purple.
Step 1

Place a piece of white cardstock in a stamp positioning tool. Stamp the marble background with Radiant Neon Electric Purple.


the marble stamp with VersaColor Neptune Ink
Step 2

Apply ink to some areas of the marble stamp with VersaColor Neptune Ink using a sponge dauber to create depth in the marble pattern and stamp again.


Step 3

Sprinkle Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Sparkle over the image. Shake off excess and heat to melt the powder.


Step 4

Spread an even layer of Iridescent Purple Creative Medium over a 5 ½” x 8 ¼” piece of black cardstock using a palette knife. Set aside to dry.


Step 5

Die cut the “Hugs” sentiment from the center of the marbled panel, then die cut a frame from the edge of the panel.


Step 6

Adhere the black Creative Medium panel onto a purple card base; mount the frame to the card using Tear It Tape. Mount the sentiment panel to the card base using double stick foam tape.


Step 7

Die cut fishtail banner from white cardstock. Stamp sentiment on the banner using VersaColor Neptune ink. Adhere to the card. Die cut “big” from a scrap of the Creative Medium cardstock and adhere using On Point Glue.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • MFT Stamps – Bottle Cap Alphabet; Fishtail Banner; Stitched Frame, “HUGS”, Marble Background Stamp
  • Double Stick Tape
  • Cardstock
  • My Sweet Petunia – MISTI Stamping Tool
  • Heat tool

Make a Purple “Good Vibes” Shimmery Greeting Card

by Jowilna Nolte

Make a Purple "Good Vibes" Shimmery Greeting Card

Creating subtle interest on cards and other projects is easy with the amazing products from Imagine and Tsukineko. I have been experimenting and creating purple background ombre effects using VersaFine Clair and Memento Luxe ink pads as well as some older favorites like Creative Medium and All-Purpose Inks. Take a look at how to make this card.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Use a jumbo dauber and blend a pattern through a stencil using Memento Luxe Sweet Plum.


Step 2

Continue the same pattern using a darker shade of ink like Memento Luxe Elderberry.


Step 3

The blending creates a perfect ombre effect going from light to dark. Did you know that Memento Luxe has superior blending qualities? It makes for the most amazing blended effects with its creamy effortless application.


Step 4

Add a slight shimmer to the blended effect by adding Creative Medium in Shimmer over the blended pattern.


Step 5

To create a shade of purple, mix a couple of drops of All-Purpose Ink in Orchid Odyssey into the Creative Medium.


Step 6

Paint the colored Creative Medium over the pattern and leave to dry. The end result is a subtle shade of purple removing the bright white background, but also adding a beautiful shimmer to the card.


Step 7

Use VersaFine Clair Monarch and stamp the “Good Vibes” sentiment onto white cardstock and cut it out.


Step 8

Stamp the sentiment again but directly onto the stenciled background and sprinkle with glitter embossing powder. Heat set the embossing powder to give a beautiful shimmering sentiment on the shimmering background.


Step 9

Layer the stamped sentiment slightly off-set from the embossed sentiment onto the card using foam tape for added dimension. The embossed sentiment below makes the stamped sentiment really stand out and creates loads of interest. Add irRESISTible Neon Purple splats to finish off your card.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – White
  • Kaisercraft – Good Vibes stamp
  • Sewing machine
  • Jowilna Nolte – stencil
  • Embossing Powder
  • Heat Gun
  • Paintbrushes
  • Palette
  • Pipette

See What Craft Supplies Our Artists Recommend for Weddings

See What Craft Supplies Our Artists Recommend for Weddings

There are so many kinds of craft projects that would successfully create a DIY wedding. We see all sorts of fabulous ideas on Pinterest and highlights from crafter’s blogs that blow our minds. We decided to ask our Artists in Residence (and some members of the Imagine team) to recommend their favorite Tsukineko or Imagine products to use in wedding cardmaking and crafting. Here is what they had to say!

Product Recommendations

3 Votes for Delicata!

Steph Ackerman

I recommend Delicata in Celestial Copper and Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Clear. This metallic pigment ink creates a beautiful effect on vellum. For further detail add a touch of color with Memento Markers to coordinate with the colors of the bridal party. The full-size inkpad should be enough to create a large number of cards and this ink has an inker available. So if you are creating more than usual then purchase the inker with the large inkpad.

Nadine Carlier

Delicata in White Shimmer and Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Iridescent on black cardstock is a great combo. For a video tutorial, I created this gorgeous black and white themed wedding invitation card. If you need the extra shimmery wedding then spray some Sheer Shimmer Spritz Sparkle. Watch Nadine’s video.

Jowilna Nolte

I recommend using All-Purpose Ink Pale Mint Green and Delicata in White Shimmer on top, all on a pearly cardstock. One lovely stamping technique I recommend for making an invitation would be to use a layered stamp set like you would find in the Altenew collection.

Shop Delicata

 

3 Votes for Embossing Powders!

Jennifer Vanderbeek

Gold and silver embossing powder is the best way to bring a touch of elegance. If you don’t have time to DIY it all, a touch of gold or silver embossing on your paper goods can elevate purchased items with a bit of pizazz.

Melissa Andrew

I really love Imagine’s Embossing Powders on vellum. I love a beautiful soft look for weddings and a gorgeous embossing powder on or under vellum is simple yet stunning. The beautiful colors, gold or silver, are the perfect colors to represent long-lasting love. They seem to compliment any colors a bride would choose. VersaMark ink is a great ink for embossing because of it’s tacky qualities. 

Arjita Sepaha Singh 

For an Indian wedding, perspective red is the color! Red is considered auspicious and adding Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Gold will be like a match made in heaven.

Shop Embossing

2 Votes for Creative Medium!

Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

I recommend Creative Medium in any of the Iridescent colors as a great way to create backgrounds that are not visible at first sight, giving an elegant and festive style with a distinctive glamour.

Martha Lucia Gomez

I enjoy Creative Medium in Clear and created a floral design using a watercolor technique with Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray and Memento dye inks. See the full tutorial for this card. 

Shop Creative Medium

2 Votes for Sheer Shimmer Spritz!

Roni Johnson

For wedding projects, there’s nothing I like more than Sheer Shimmer Spray to add a touch of elegance, sparkle, and shine. It comes in 6 different colors, perfect to match any theme the bride and groom have chosen. Sheer Shimmer Spray can make plain white sparkle and they make colored backgrounds really pop! 

Marcie McCabe

My recommendation is Sheer Shimmer Spray in Sparkle and Fireworks Craft Spray in the colors of the wedding party. 

Shop Sheer Shimmer Spray

 

1 Vote for Fireworks Sprays

Iris Rodriguez

I recommend Fireworks Shimmery Craft Sprays for crafting in wedding decor. It can be hard to match the right colors for wedding decor. Since Fireworks is available in 24 colors and is a dye-based ink, you can choose one of the colors or blend colors to make the desired color. For example, to make a simple cork place card holder (in photo above), add a paper flower embellishment and color it with Fireworks! It’s elegant, inexpensive and personal. To make a zero waste wedding, make a wreath by attaching all remaining cork place card holders and flowers to a frame.

Shop Fireworks!

2 Votes for VersaFine Clair

Kassandra Tousignant

I recommend a delicate floral background stamp on paper with Sheer Shimmer Spray in Sparkle. In the photo above, I layered the paper with an acrylic sheet on top stamped with VersaFine Clair inked “It’s Your Special Day” sentiment. 

 Amanda Harryman

For those who don’t want to emboss, but want a touch of that elegant look, I would recommend Delicata in Golden Glitz or Silvery Shimmer depending on colors or preferences. I can also say that I would recommend VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, or other wedding colors, to use for the return address stamp on invitations since it will stamp the details clearly, and be smudge-proof quickly.

Shop VersaFine Clair

Use Ink Potion No. 9 to Make Creative Card Backgrounds

by Melissa Andrew

Use Ink Potion No. 9 to Make Creative Card Backgrounds

In today’s video, I show you how to create a gorgeous shimmer background with Fireworks Sprays, Ink Potion 9 and the New VersaFine Clair inkpads. Ink lifting with Ink Potion 9 creates a gorgeous Bokeh photography look when used with Fireworks Sprays and two different sized ink daubers. In addition, VersaFine Clair stamps beautifully over the backgrounds to finish the design.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour +

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Whimsy Stamps – Hand Stitched Nested Rectangle Dies, Stitched Heart Die Set (discontinued)
  • SugarPea Designs Stamps – Kindness Matters, Celebrate All Things, and You
  • Vellum
  • Bristol Smooth Card
  • Stamping block
  • The Crafter’s Workshop Stencils – TCW631 and TCW599
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Heat Tool