Let’s Make a Graduation-Themed Gift Card

By Anna Escalada York

– As a high school teacher, it is time to get ready for graduation! I have lots of seniors and want to say goodbye with a handmade card. This card design allows for a discreet gift card to be tucked into the front and features our school’s colors–maroon and silver.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours (including dry time)

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut a gift card holder out of watercolor paper and spray with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Allow the spray to dry and then spray a second time to intensify the color. Allow the spray to dry a second time.

Step 2:
Trim another piece of watercolor paper into three strips approximately 1” high by 5.5” long and die cut each of the dies with the top part of the same die cut from step 1. Use a sponge dauber to ink blend one of the strips with London Fog Memento Ink and set aside.

Step 3:
Ink blend the two remaining die-cut watercolor strips with Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink with a second sponge dauber.

Step 4:
Spray all three die cut strips with more of the Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray to add some sparkle. Set the strips aside do dry.

Step 5:
Spray the large die cut gift card holder with London Fog Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray and set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Stamp both the sentiment and a graduation cap stamp on watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. Heat emboss both with clear embossing powder and then die cut them with their corresponding dies. While die cutting the sentiment, use the same die to die cut a piece of of black glitter cardstock.

Step 7:
Glue the three die cut strips and the gift card holder onto a white card panel (or in my case a watercolor smooshed panel made for another project that used some leftover London Fog Memento Ink mixed with some water), making sure that the top of the gift holder doesn’t get glued onto the card (so it can still be used to hold a gift card).

Then color the edges of the panel with a VersaMarker in order to heat emboss the outside edges with silver embossing powder. Then color some small star stamps on the lower left corner of the card and toward the middle of the card with the same VersaMarker to add more silver embossing powder.

Step 8:
Not pictured: Color the rays and stars stamp in the upper center part of the gift card holder with more of the Clear Embossing Powder and then heat emboss it with more silver embossing powder.

Next, attach the stamp die cut over the rays with foam tape. Then offset glue the stamped sentiment die cut so that the black glitter cardstock can be seen peeking out on the right side. Glue the whole thing on the lower right corner of the greeting card.

Step 9:
Die cut small stars out of black glitter cardstock and glue them around the stamped rays and the graduation cap. To finish the card, glue the whole card panel onto a white A2-sized card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – London Fog
• Memento Ink – London Fog and Rhubarb Stalk
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
• VersaMarker – Clear
• Sponge Daubers

Other

• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Emily Moore Designs – die set – Horizontal Pocket Die
• Elle’s Studio – stamp and die set – Retired stamp set in my stash (used for the sentiment, stars and rays stamps)
• Sizzix – die cut – Christmas Cutouts (retired)
• Unity Stamp Co. – stamp and die set – Snarky Graduation Clear Embossing Powder
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Heat tool
• Glue
• Watercolor paper
• Black glitter cardstock

Let’s Make a Floral Congratulations Card

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s card, I made a congratulations card for a coworker who just had a baby using some of the beautiful new VersaFine Clair ink colors.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a piece of watercolor paper with Grass Green VersaFine Clair ink using a background stamp with a variety of lines on it. Rotate the paper 180 degrees and repeat the process. Then move the stamp on the stamp positioning tool a little (so the lines don’t overlap) and repeat the process with Spruce VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss the whole thing with Clear Mbossing powder.

Step 2:
Die cut the panel with the second-largest die from a nested die cutting set.

Step 3:
Use a sponge dauber to ink blend the whole panel with Grass Green VersaFine Clair ink. (This doesn’t have to be done perfectly because it won’t matter on the final card.)

Step 4:
Stamp the large floral image with Bali Blue VersaFine Clair ink on another piece of watercolor paper. Then heat emboss with more Clear Mboss powder.

Step 5:
Die cut the floral image with the corresponding die.

Step 6:
Die cut the left edge of the floral image with the same die used earlier, that way the decorative edge of the stamped image can line up with the edge of the green panel.

Since I smudged the floral image while die cutting, I decided to cover the smudge with some spray.

Spray the image with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Press the cap of the spray bottle down about half-way, allowing the spray to come out more in drips rather than as a mist. (I was able to cover the smudges with large splatters of spray.) Allow to dry.

Step 7:
Glue the floral image onto the left side of the panel.

Press the Teal Zeal Memento Ink pad onto a piece of scrap acetate packaging and spray the packaging with water to create watercolor. Splatter it with a paint brush. After the splatter dried, ink blend the left side of the panel with more Grass Green VersaFine Clair ink.

Steps 8 and 9:
Stamp a sentiment from the same stamp set as the floral image with Spruce VersaFine Clair ink on watercolor paper and heat emboss with more clear Mboss powder. Trim the sentiment strip with a paper trimmer.

Then run the edges of the sentiment strip through the Bali Blue VersaFine Clair ink pad. Emboss the Bali Blue ink with more clear Mboss powder.

Step 10:
Die cut a piece of silver glitter cardstock with the largest die from the same nesting die cut set.

Step 11:
Glue the green panel onto the silver panel, orientating them at a diagonal. Glue the sentiment on the lower right corner of the green and silver panels. Set aside to dry.

Step 12:
Glue blue and green sequins onto the card–three on the lower left corner and two on the upper right corner.

Step 13:
Finish the card by gluing the whole panel onto an A2-sized white card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Mboss – Clear
• Memento Ink – Teal Zeal
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• VersaFine Clair inks – Bali Blue, Grass Green and Spruce
• Sponge Dauber

Other
• Catherine Pooler – sequins – Yukon
• Gina Marie Designs – Die set – Pleated Lace Rectangles die set
• Hero Arts – Stamp set – Succulent Bouquet
• Hero Arts – Die set – Succulent Bouquet
• Unknown stamp company – background stamp – diagonal lines (I don’t know the brand or name of this stamp)
• Watercolor paper
• Silver glitter cardstock
• Die cutting machine
• Paint brush
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make A Pink Floral Wedding Card

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s post, I am sharing a wedding card. I don’t have any wedding specific craft supplies, so
I used some general craft supplies.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Spray a panel of watercolor paper with Angel Pink Fireworks! Spray. After it dried, splatter some
Grape Jelly Fireworks! Spray on the panel, and the spray more Angel Pink Fireworks! Spray to
help diffuse the purple color. Then set the whole thing aside to dry.
After the panel dried, die cut the panel.

Step 2:
Press Charming Pink VersaFine Clair ink onto a second panel of watercolor paper. Then die cut
the panel with the same die. For this layer, get rid of negative parts of the die cut. Then press
the die into a Frost VersaMark Dazzle stamp pad.

Optional step: heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 3:
Glue the two die cuts together, so that the dark pink layer overlaps the corresponding light pink
layer.

Step 4:
Press Celestial Copper Delicata ink onto a scrap of watercolor paper.
Optional step: Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 5:
Die cut the copper-colored watercolor scrap with the congrats sentiment die. If desired, press
the sentiment into the Celestial Copper Delicata ink pad a second time for a more saturated
color.

Optional step: Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
Optional step: Die cut 2 additional pieces of scrap cardstock with the same die and glue them
behind the copper layer to add dimension to the sentiment.

Step 6:
Glue the sentiment die on the lower third of the pink die cut panels. Then glue the panel
onto an A2-sized white card base. (You can’t see the card base because the pink layer is the
exact same size as the card base.)

Step 7:
Splatter additional Grape Jelly Fireworks! Spray onto the panel. Glue pink and purple
sequins onto the panel on the left of the sentiment die and on the upper right part of the card.

Supplies Used

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fireworks! Spray – Angel Pink, Grape Jelly
• VersaFine Clair ink – Charming Pink
• VersaMark Dazzle – Frost

Other

• Honey Bee Stamps – Die – Congrats Honey Cuts die set
• Sizzix – Die- Leafy Twigs
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Sequins – Miami mix (purple sequins)
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Sequins – Rome mix (pink sequins)
• Clear embossing powder
• Scissors
• Glue

Congratulations Card Using VersaFine Clair Ink With 3D Embossing Folders

By Katy Ingram

Hello Friends! Katy here and today I am sharing a super quick technique using VersaFine Clair.

In todays video tutorial I am sharing how I use VersaFine Clair in the color Chianti and some cream card stock with a 3D Embossing folder to create a quick, but elegant card. In the video I also share cleaning up the embossing folder so you have minimal to no staining. All this in just over 3 minutes! Check it out below.

Katy

Skill: Beginner

Time: 5 minutes

Art Supplies

Imagine Products

VersaFine Clair – Chianti

Sheer Shimmer Spray – Sparkle

Tear It! Tape

Other Products Used

Cream Card Stock (Embossed Panel)

Gina K Designs Card Stock Soft Stone (Layering Panel)

Simon Says Stamp Card Stock Slate (Card Base)

Curious Translucent Pearl Vellum (Circle)

Tim Holtz Metallics-3 (Congrats Die Cut)

Spellbinders 3D Embossing Folder Beautiful Blooms

Spellbinders Congrats (Word Die) Simply Perfect Mix & Match Sentiments Die Set

Gold-Embossed Ombre Effect Congrats Card

By LVHandcrafted

Hello friends! This is Linh (or LV Handcrafted on all the socials). This is a fun way to create your own heat embossed ombre effect. I used Delicata ink, which is a pigment ink and remains sticky for period of time to swipe across a white cardstock panel. I made a very solid swatch of ink. Before the ink dried, I covered one end (the bottom) with Mboss powder in gold. I aimed for about 25% of the way up with solid coverage. Then I tipped the panel so the letter “C” is at the bottom and the letter “S” is at the top. Then spooned more Mboss powder from one and and further tipped the panel so it runs down the panel to create that graduated, ombre effect. 

When I make panels like this, I really want the panel and the effect to shine, so I like to keep the rest of the card really simple. These word dies are wonderful because they are so big, they nearly take up the entire card. And with a panel this beautiful, I save everything and made a second card using the negative effect of the word die. 

NOTE: In the video, you will actually see me create a smaller panel that I decided against using. I used a Sakura glue pen to draw a design over the Delicata-inked panel and then poured Mboss powder over it. The glue pen lets you draw or write anything you want and have that lovely embossed effect.

Skill: Intermediate

Time: 15 minutes

Supplies Used

Imagine:

• Mboss Powder in Gold

• Delicata Ink in Pink Shimmer

• On Point Glue

Other Products Used

• Spellbinders Congrats Die

• Hammermill 100lb white card stock (card base)

Create a Shimmery Background with Fireworks!

Lion 1 600

By Alison Heikkila –

Hello! Fireworks! Spray from Imagine is a collection that coordinates with the Memento line of colors, but in a shimmery spray format. I love using the in ways that go well beyond just spritzing them, and today’s technique uses a brayer. The finished look has a glistening background that looks amazing when it catches the light. 

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time to Complete: 1 Hour

Directions:

Lion-2-600

 

 

***Let me start my saying this background took a turn in the way I was planning on making it. I adore using my Gel Press Plates, but I was getting a better result with just using a brayer, so the photo above shows how I began the process, but I wound up changing my method as I went on.

Step 1:

I spritzed my 3×5 Gel Press Plate with Lady Bug, Tangelo, and Dandelion Fireworks Spray, keeping the colors separated so I would have distinct rows. I rolled the color out with my brayer. 

Lion 3 

Step 2:

I laid my cardstock on top of the Plate and pulled my print. It was pretty splotchy, which normally I like, but I wanted it to be more solid for this card. 

Lion 4

Step 3:

I decided at this point to just spray the color directly on my Imagine Craft Mat, roll the color on to my brayer, and then take it to my cardstock. After a few layers of color, I achieved the look I was going for. Solid, shimmery color with a gradation. 

Lion 5

Here is what the panel looked like after I trimmed it down. I really love the shine. 

Lion 6

Step 4:

I laid my stencil on top of the dry panel and began to apply Morocco Memento ink on top. I spread the color with my sponge dauber. 

Lion 7

I found it to be easier to spread the color on to the stencil itself, and then use the dauber to apply it to the cardstock. 

Lion 8

Here is the completed stenciled panel. 

Lion 9

Step 5:

Time to color the lion using Memento Markers. The list of colors I used is in the supply list below. Then the colored image was die cut. 

Step 6:

I inked the edges of the white card base with Sunflower Yellow Brilliance Ink. 

Step 7:

I assembled the card and stamped my sentiment with Fallen Leaves VersaFine Clair Ink. 

 

Lion 10Lion 11

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray in Lady Bug, Tangelo, and Dandelion

Memento Ink in Morocco

Memento Markers in Rich Cocoa, Toffee Crunch, Desert Sand, Love Letter, Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug, Morocco, Tangelo, Potter’s Clay, Peanut Brittle, Cantaloupe, Dandelion

VersaFine Clair in Fallen Leaves

Brilliance Ink in Sunflower Yellow

Sponge Dauber

Craft Mat

On Point Glue

 

Other:

Gel Press: 3×5 Plate

Brayer

A Colorful Life Designs: Bitty Rays Stencil

Erin Lee Creative: Brave Fierce Kind Stamps

Doodles Paper Playground: Gold (and Silver) Starburst Rhinestones

Orange Ribbon

White Cardstock