Sweet Birdie Holiday Card

By Ceal Pritchett

– Hello Crafty friends!
It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing how to make this sweet birdie holiday card using some VersaFine Clair inks.

Skill: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies. You will need several colors of ink, the Birdie Friends in Winter die and stencil or any other die/stencil combo you’d like to use. A holiday sentiment set, a snowflake

cover die or any other background you’d like to use. You will also need either a Sticky Mat or Grip Mat and some paste.

Step1:
I didn’t show all of them in the picture, but the first step is to cut all the birds out of white cardstock.

Step 2:
Using the coordinating stencil add color to each bird as you please. For the pink bird I used Baby Pink and Charming Pink. The blue bird uses Warm Breeze, Bali Blue and Strawberry. The yellow bird uses Cheerful and Golden Meadow. I have a picture with the steps circled so you can see the need for different shades of color.

No Step just showing stencil steps

Step 3:
Cut hats out of glitter cardstock and colored cardstock. Cut apart and add to glitter cardstock as shown in picture. Glue onto the birdie.

No step just showing completed birds

Step 4:
Cut the branch out of a dark brown cardstock.

Step 5:
Place branch under stencil, lining it up with the etched portion. Add a white paste using a palette knife.

Step 6:
To finish the card, stamp and cut out the sentiment to add to the front.

Supplies:

Imagine Products:
• VersaFine Clair Inks:
Charming Pink, Baby Pink, Warm Breeze, Bali Blue, Strawberry, Cheerful, Golden Meadow, Summertime and Nocturne

• On Point Glue

Other Products:
• Little Birdie stencil/de set – Waffle Flower Crafts
• Family Sentiments Stamp set – Waffle Flower Crafts
• Dashed Snowflake Panel die – Waffle Flower Crafts
• Misti Stamp tool – My Sweet Petunia
• Grip Mat – Waffle Flower Crafts

Let’s Make a Holiday Card!

By Anna Escalada York

It’s July, so bring on the holiday cards! I personally love non-traditional colored holiday cards and so created one in pink, blue and purple.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.0 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a large snowflake stamp on watercolor paper with Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 2:
Watercolor smoosh the watercolor panel with alternating layers of Lilac Pansies Fireworks! Craft Spray and Champagne Delicata Ink mixed with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray on scrap acetate.

Step 3:
Ink blend a combination of Champagne Delicata Ink and

Step 4:
Stamp the sentiment on a small scrap of watercolor paper with more of the Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Trim the sentiment down to the desired size with scissors. Then press the edges of the sentiment strip into the remaining mix of colors from step 2’s watercolor smooshing to color the edges.

Steps 5 and 6:

Press the Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top onto another piece of scrap acetate to create a liquid gold medium. Watercolor the gold liquid inside the snowflake to make it shiny. Watercolor smoosh the remaining gold watercolor onto the card panel.

After everything dried, die cut the watercolor panel with the second-largest die from an A2-sized nesting die set and a piece of blue metallic cardstock with the largest die from the same

A2-sized die set. Glue both die cut layers together. Attach the sentiment with foam tape. Glue sequins around the snowflake. Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata ink – Champagne
• Fireworks! – Lilac Posies
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Baby Pink
• VersaFine Clair ink – Warm Breeze
• Sponge dauber

Other
• Altenew – foam tape
• Crafty Meraki – embellishments – Meraki Sparkle Prismatic Blue
• Idea-ology and Tim Holtz – 6 x 9 cardstock – blue (from the Metallic Colors collection)
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
Scrapbook.com – stencil – String Lights
• A2-sized white card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Stunning Monochromic Winter Snowflake Card

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Advanced
Time: 45 minutes

Hi everyone, it’s Jessica here. Have you seen the latest addition of colors for the VersaFine Clair ink line? I am a big fan of the VCF inks and am swooning over the new pastel colors. There are some really gorgeous shades of purples and blues, which are perfect for today’s wintery themed card. Let’s get started!

Step 1:
Emboss a piece of purple cardstock with Stampin’ Up!’s Whimsical Woodland embossing folder. This is one of my favorite embossing folders to use to create any christmas or winter themed cards. It looks great on both white and colored cardstock.

Step 2:
Ink blend the edges of the embossed panel with Lilac Bloom VersaFine Clair ink. I like to dab off excess ink on my craft mat before blending onto the cardstock so that there would be no harsh lines. I also tried to ink blend in a circular motion to create a spotlight effect.

Step 3:
Then ink blend Very Peri VersaFine Clair ink to create a color gradient. This beautiful dusty blue complements Lilac Bloom nicely. I just love the blended look of these two colors.

Step 4:
I ink blended a small amount of Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink to add a dramatic feel to this forest scene.

Step 5:
Using the same VersaFine Clair inks (Lilac Bloom and Very Peri), ink blend the center of a square piece of cardstock. Then die cut a large snowflake with Hero Art’s Snowflake die. If your snowflake die does not have thin, intricate lines, you could die cut the shape before ink blending.

Step 6:
Spritz a generous layer of Sheer Shimmer Spray in Sparkle to add a shimmery look to the snowflake die cut. Make sure you shake well before spritzing! I spritzed several layers, letting one layer dry briefly before applying the next, to get a thick coat of shimmer. The photos don’t do it justice! I wish you could see the amount of sparkle in person.

Step 7:
I also splattered on some white acrylic paint droplets to the embossed background by flicking the paint brush. After that is dry, I adhered the snowflake onto a strip of white cardstock and mounted the center piece onto the background with foam tape. For some finishing touches, I adhered a couple of rhinestones as well using On Point Glue.

Step 8:
To complete the card, I stamped the sentiment using the Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink pad. This sentiment stamp is from My Favorite Things’ Hand Lettered Holiday set.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Whimsical Woodland
  • Hero Arts – Die – Snowflake
  • My Favorite Things – Stamps – Hand Lettered Holiday
  • Die Cutting Machine
  • Blending brushes
  • Stampin’ Up! – Cardstock – Wisteria Wonder

Grumpy Kitty Christmas Card

By Kathi Rerek

Here’s a snarky and fun Christmas card that shows how well VersaFine Clair Inks work on Kraft Cardstock!

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 45 minutes

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Pissy Kitty twice — once onto Kraft cardstock and once onto repositionable sticker paper.

Step 2:
Use Copic markers to color the kitty. Use white gel pen to add highlights to his eyes.

Step 3:
Fussy-cut the sticker paper version of the kitty and place it over its counterpart as a mask.

Step 4:
Place a ruler horizontally across the image panel, right below the masked cat. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Grass Green VersaFine Clair Ink over the ruler onto the bottom of the image panel.

Step 5:
Use low tack tape to secure the image panel to the back of the Grunge Notes Stencil. Secure the stencil to the craft mat with magnets. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Strawberry VersaFine Clair Ink over the stencil onto the image panel. Remove the stencil and the masks, edge the panel using both Strawberry and VersaFine Clair Inks, then heat set the image panel.

Step 6:
Squeeze a few dollops of Cloud White VersaMagic Ink into a little dish. Use a paint brush to apply white paint to the pom-pom and brim of the Santa hat. Use both Strawberry and VersaFine Clair Inks to edge the image panel.

Steps 7:
Cut a 4” x 5.25” panel from Desert Storm Cardstock to create your own patterned background. Use low tack tape to secure the image panel to the back of the Holly Background Stencil. Secure the stencil to the craft mat with magnets.

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Grass Green VersaFine Clair Ink over the holly leaves of the stencil onto the background panel (7A). Use a small brush to apply Green Oasis VersaFine Ink, which is a slightly darker green, to the outside of the holly leaves on the stencil to add a touch of shading (Sorry. No photo).

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Strawberry VersaFine Clair Ink over the stencil’s holly berries onto the background panel (7B). Remove the stencil, edge with Grass Green VersaFine Ink, and heat set.

Step 8:
Use Grass Green VersaFine Clair Ink to stamp the “Fa La La” sentiment onto a scrap of Kraft cardstock. Remove the stamped scrap from the stamping platform. Heat set.

Use a speech bubble die to cut the sentiment. Edge the die-cut with Strawberry VersaFine Clair Ink.

Step 9:
Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the sentiment, image panel, and background panel to an A2 Kraft card.

Finished Card

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Desert Storm Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Ho Ho No Pissy Kitty Stamp Set by Unity Stamps
  • N7, N6, N5, N4, N3, YG17, YG05, YG03, R39 R27, R24, R22, R01 Copic Markers
  • White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America
  • Grunge Notes Stencil by Studio Light
  • Holly Background Stencil by Funky Fossil
  • Speech Bubble Die Set by Whimsy Stamps
  • Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery
  • Small Curved Tip Craft Scissors by Fisher’s
  • Clear Ruler
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Magnetic Glass Craft Mat by Glassboard Studio
  • Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia
  • Big Shot by Sizzix

Upcycle Chocolate Bar Packaging into a Money Holder

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone, it’s Jessica here. Christmas is right around the corner. Did you start preparing presents and gifts for the holidays? I recently received several Iceland chocolates and their packaging is so adorable! I decided to upcycle them into money holders which is perfect for the upcoming gift-giving season. If you like this idea, just keep reading!

Step 1:
Trim the chocolate bar packaging to size. For U.S. dollar bills, I trimmed down to 6 3/8‘’ x 2 3/4‘’. This was the largest size I could get from this packaging. If your packaging is larger, 6 1/2‘’ x 2 7/8‘’ would be a great size too.

Step 2:
Cut and score a piece of white cardstock to create the envelope base. I started with a 7’’ x 7 1/2’’ piece of cardstock and scored at 3 5/16‘’ to create a 7’’ x 3 5/16‘’ envelope. This envelope also has a small flap closure but it sticks out a little bit. If you would like a larger flap that lays flatter, you could use a 7’’ x 8’’ piece of cardstock instead.

Step 3:
Apply Tear It Tape to both ends of the envelope and adhere together to form the envelope pocket.

Step 4:
I decided to decorate the backside of the envelope as well. I ink blended a 6 3/4‘’ x 3’’ piece of cardstock with Strawberry, Summertime, Cheerful, Grass Green, Bali Blue, and Lilac Bloom VersaFine Clair inks. I love the newly released ink colors. They create such a vibrant rainbow gradient!

Step 5:
For additional shimmer and shine, generously spritz a layer of Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray (Sparkle) and let dry.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and would try upcycling pretty packaging in the future. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I’ll see you next time!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Paper Trimmer
  • Color packaging or patterned paper
  • White cardstock

Walking In A Winter Wonderland Card

By Anna Escalada York

Today’s card is a winter card featuring some of the new VersaFine Clair colors.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:

Watercolor smoosh a die cut watercolor paper panel with three sprays sprayed onto a piece of acetate packaging: Summer Sky and Paris Dusk Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray as well as Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray.

(I accidentally smudged the upper edge of the panel with some yellow ink during the process, but planned on covering the color in the next few steps.)

After the sprays dried, the upper left corner of the panel was stamped with Very Peri VersaFine Clair Ink using a woodblock rubber stamp. The ink was then heat embossed with clear Mboss powder.

Step 2:

Color small pieces of watercolor paper (or in my case watercolor paper scraps) with a variety of greens: Spruce and Grass Green VersaFine Clair ink and New Sprout Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. The scrap on the left was sprayed multiple times with the Fireworks! Spray and set aside to dry; the two straps on the right were pressed directly into the two ink pads until the whole scrap was colored with the ink. While there was a small space on the dark green tree (on the lower right in this picture) left uncolored, I knew that it would be covered up in the next few steps.)

After all of the papers had dried, I die cut the three small pieces of watercolor paper with three different tree dies.

Step 3:

Color three more scraps of watercolor paper with Pear Tart Memento Double Marker and Emerald Fabrico Dual Marker. After the markers had dried, these three scraps were die cut with three more tree die cuts.

Step 4:

The layers of the dies were glued together. Then Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray was sprayed onto more acetate packaging and used to paint sparkle onto the trees.

Step 5:

Ink blend the edges of the panel with Neptune VersaColor Ink until it reaches the saturation of color desired. Heat emboss with more of the clear Mboss powder.

Step 6:

Glue the three die cut trees onto the panel. Splatter with gold watercolor.

Step 7:

Stamp the sentiment on a piece of watercolor paper with Spruce VersaFine Clair Ink and heat emboss with clear Mboss powder. Trim the paper with a paper trimmer. Distress the edges with a pair of scissors. Then press the edges of the sentiment strip into the Grass Green VersaFine Clair Ink pad. After the ink dried, paint the edges with more of the gold watercolor. Set aside to dry.

Step 8:

Spray New Sprout Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray directly onto an embossing folder. Place a die cut watercolor panel into the embossing folder and run it through a die cutting machine. Set the panel aside to dry.

Step 9:

Distress the edges of the panel with scissors. Run the edges of the panel through the Spruce VersaFine Clair ink pad to add ink directly to the edges. Then ink blend the edges with more of the Spruce VersaFine Clair Ink pad using a sponge dauber.

Step 10:

Watercolor the embossed panel with more of the gold watercolor and allow to dry.

Step 11:

Add a strip of black and white polka dotted washi tape onto the green panel. (The washi tape I used is very wide, so I ripped it into a thinner strip before attaching it to the card panel.)

Glue the smaller (blue) panel onto the larger, green panel at an angle. Glue star sequins onto the blue panel. Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fabrico Dual Marker – Emerald
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – New Sprout, Paris Dusk, Summer Sky
Mboss – Clear
• Memento Dual Marker – Pear Tart
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• VersaColor Ink – Neptune
• VersaFine Clair ink – Grass Green, Spruce Versa, Very Peri Sponge
• Sponge Dauber

Other
• Altenew – die set – Tree Mix
• Gina Marie Designs – die set – Big and Little Chain Rectangles
• Gina Marie Designs – die set – Pleated Lace Rectangles
• Hero Arts – woodblock stamp – Stunning Snowflakes (retired)
• Kat Scrappiness – sequins – Winter Wonderland mix
• Kuretake – watercolors – Starry Colors
• Sizzix – embossing folder – Jeweled Snowflakes (664489)
• Stampers Anonymous – stamp set – Cozy Christmas
• Watercolor paper
• Die cutting machine Paint brush
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Glue