Let’s Make a Happy Easter Card

By Anna Escalada York

– In today’s tutorial, I will show you how to use Brilliance Pigment Ink and VersaMagic Chalk Ink
to watercolor an image. This is a wonderful way to stretch your supplies and possibly try a new
technique. In addition, I will share some mistakes I made along the way while making this card.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Using a stamping platform, stamp the floral image with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Optional step: Heat emboss with a clear or holographic embossing powder. I did this because I
didn’t want to wait for the VersaFine Clair ink to dry.

Step 2:
Die cut the floral image with the corresponding die. I was “off” in the die cutting and so some of
the stamped image was cut off. You can mostly see this on the singular bud on the left side of
the image.
Not shown: Using the same die to die cut a piece of pink glitter cardstock.

Step 3:
Press the Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Dew Drop pad onto a piece of acetate packaging and spray with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. On another part of the same acetate packaging (or possibly a palette or other non-porous surface, press the Pearlescent Purple Brilliance Dew Drop pad onto the surface and spray with more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. You should have two areas of color that you can mix with the spray to use as a watercolor.

Paint each flower or bud with a single layer of Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Ink mixed with the
Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. Let the watercolor dry. Add some Pearlescent Purple Brilliance
Ink mixed with the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray to the edges of the petals to add some
dimension and interest.

Repeated the process for the stems. Press the Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink pad onto a
piece of acetate and Spray the ink with more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. Use a
paintbrush to paint the stem green. Let dry. If desired, repeat the process to amplify the intensity
of the green watercolor. Let dry.

Not pictured: Gluing the pink glitter cardstock die cut behind the flower so that it can be seen on
the left side of the floral image.

Step 4:
Place a piece of wide washi tape over a piece of cardstock for the background panel
before die cutting that cardstock. (I used a leftover piece of cardstock that had some leftover
pink gel press printing on it so that you can see a little of the pink through the washi tape).
Don’t have washi tape? Use a piece of patterned paper.

Step 5:
The die cut set that was used to make the panel allows for two layers if desired. To make the
matte layer, use a slightly larger die to die cut a piece of pink glitter cardstock and then glue the
two panels together. Set them aside to dry.

Step 6:
Press more of the Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Ink Dew Drop onto the acetate packaging and
spray more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray onto the ink to create more watercolor and
splatter both the floral image and the background with the orchid colored watercolor. To splatter,
extend your finger parallel to the paper and tap a brush that has the Orchid watercolor on it
multiple times. To create a more uniform splatter, move the paint brush or the paper around so
that the splatter is added to a variety of places.

Spray more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray (or water) into the gold watercolor pan and
then tap the paintbrush across the floral image and panel a second time. Let dry.

As you can see in the picture, between step 3 and now, the singular bud on the left was trimmed
from both the stamped layer and the pink glitter cardstock so the die cutting mistake was
eliminated.

Step 7:
Stamp the sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Optional step: Heat emboss the ink with holographic embossing powder to eliminate drying
time. (I originally was going to use this die cut sentiment, but later realized that it wouldn’t fit. I also
forgot to take pictures of the sentiment I trimmed with my paper cutter and ended up adding to
the card. So please use your imagination.)

Step 8:
On the sentiment that you see on the finished card, I trimmed the sentiment with my paper
trimmer. The one picture above was die cut with a hexagon die. Regardless of how you end up
shaping your sentiment (using a trimmer or a die), press the edges of the sentiment into the
Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Dew Drop pad to add color to the edges. Set aside to dry.

Steps 9 and 10:
Time to glue! Glue the flower on the left third of the background panel. Then glue the panel onto
an A2-sized white card base.

For step 10, attach foam tape behind the sentiment except on the upper left corner (since that
will be overlapping with the floral image. Attach the sentiment to the lower right corner of the
panel.

Step 11:
Add pink and green sequins onto the card–on the lower left corner, close to the sentiment, and
on the upper right corner of the card panel.

Art Supplies
Imagine
• Brilliance Ink – Pearlescent Orchid, Pearlescent Purple
• Sheer Shimmer Spray – Sparkle
• VersaMagic Ink – Tea Leaves
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne

Other
• Altenew – washi tape – Dotted Wide Washi Tape
• Altenew-Foam Tape-Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Catherine Pooler- sequins -Mission sequin mix
• Gina K Designs – dies- Master Layout 2 die set
• Kuretake – watercolor – Starry Colors Gansai Tambi Watercolors
• Local King Rubber Stamp – stamp and die set- Cherry Blossom
• Pink & Main – stamp set- Spring Sayings
• Embossing powder in my stash
• Watercolor paper
• Pink glitter cardstock
• Scissors
• Holographic embossing powder
• Small paint brush
• Stamp positioner
• Paper trimmer
• Glue

White Wash Technique Using Delicata Reinkers

By Jessica Lin

– Have you ever tried coloring on colored cardstock? The white washing technique is great for
creating a blank canvas for your coloring, making the colors pop against navy, kraft, or even black cardstock.

There are many white reinkers to choose from for this technique. I picked Delicata White Shimmer reinker and was surprised with how luscious the pearl shimmer looks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes

Directions:

Step 1:
The white wash technique works well with large stamps containing big, open areas. I chose this floral image from Stampin’ Up!’s Good Morning Magnolia set and stamped it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. You may use any waterproof black ink pad in your stash, but the VersaFine Clair Nocturne has been my go-to. Look at how crisp the lines are!

Step 2:
Using a waterbrush, color the center flower with Delicata White Shimmer ink from the reinker. I used the Craft Mat as my watercolor palette. Repeat this step a few times until you achieve a good coverage. Don’t worry if the black lines are covered by the white pigment ink; we will restamp the image at the end. 

Step 3:
Color the leaves with Memento ink pads in Bamboo Leaves and the branch with Desert Sand.

Step 4:
Use a sponge dauber to quickly apply color to the flower image. I dabbed on Memento Rose Bud and used Memento Rhubarb Stalk scarcely to create some shadows.

Step 5:
Restamp the floral image with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink once again to darken the outline. Die cut the floral image and some leaves using the Magnolia Memories dies from Stampin’ Up!. 

Step 6:
Emboss the front of your A2 card with Painted Textures embossing folder to create a textured background. Mount the floral piece with foam tape to add even more dimension. I also decided to add some gold thread as a finishing touch.

Step 7:
Apply On-Point Glue partially on the bottom of the leaves die cuts, and tuck them behind the center floral image. Press down and hold for 30 seconds to create a tight bond.

Step 8:
Embellish the card with some white enamel dots and sentiment strip stickers and that’s the finished card!

I hope you enjoy this creation and give the whitewashing technique a try. It’s so simple to paint with the Delicata White Shimmer reinker, and I just love the pearly shine.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

https://www.stampinup.com/products/water-painters?demoid=2164794

  • Gold thread
  • Foam Tape
  • Embellishment

How to Use Amplify! with Stencils

By Alison Heikkila

– Hello! Alison Heikkila here. I am so excited to share today’s video today because we’re using a product I haven’t used in quite a while. If you have never seen Amplify! before, you’re in for a textural treat. We’re going to use it with a cool stencil from A Colorful Life Designs.

*Some affiliate links are used in this post. That means that if you shop through these links, I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you. For more information, please see my Affiliates page, where I also have some coupon codes.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time to Complete: 20-25 minutes

Craft Supplies

Imagine:
Radiant Neon Amplify! in Electric Yellow, Electric Orange, and Electric Pink
VersaFine Clair Ink in Sunshine and Nocturne
Fireworks! Spray in Rose Bud
Craft Mat
On Point Glue
Tear It! Tape (not shown)

Other:
A Colorful Life Designs: Aztec Pattern Stencil (use code AlFan10 to save 10%)
Honey Bee Stamps: Enjoy Stamps & Dies- No longer available
Therm O Web: Pixie Spray
Metal Paste Spreader
Palette Knife
Accent Opaque Cardstock: 100lb. White
Recollections: Black Cardstock 110lb.
Bearly Arts Glue

I think you can tell from the video that I had a blast making this card. I plan on making more like this soon, so I hope you’ll check them out. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Let’s Make a Stenciled Card

By Anna Escalada York

– In today’s blog post, I will show you a couple of ways to incorporate stencils into your cards
using VersaMagic Chalk Inks, Brilliance Pigment Ink, and Delicata Inks. This is a wonderful way
to use those stencils you have in your stash for an encouragement card or any holiday.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Use washi tape to secure a large floral stencil to a piece of cardstock or watercolor paper,
making sure that the cardstock is slightly larger than the stencil image you are going to use. Use
a sponge dauber to apply Mango Madness VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto the center of the flower.
Optional: Move the stencil away from the image and heat emboss the center of the flower with
clear embossing powder before replacing the stencil and moving onto the next step.

Step 2:
Using a second sponge dauber, apply Pearlescent Purple Brilliance Ink to color in all of the
flower’s petals.

Step 3:
Using the same dauber, apply Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic Chalk Ink to the outer edges of
the flower’s petals.
Optional step: Remove the stencil and add embossing powder to your flower petals to help with
smudging. Then return the stencil onto your paper in the exact same place on your paper.

Step 4:
Using a black artist pen, trace the edges of the stencil’s holes (to add a border around
each ink blended area of the stencil). Then remove the stencil and set it aside.
(I decided not to add the black outlines to the innermost circle of the flower’s center as I was
planning something different there. Later, I realized that I had not outlined one tiny triangle that I
should have in the center of the flower.)

Step 5:
Fussy cut the edges of the flower with a pair of scissors. Then use the sponge dauber to ink
blend the edges of the flower with more of the Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic Chalk Ink.

Step 6:
Attach the leafy part of the stencil to another piece of watercolor paper or cardstock with more
washi tape. Using another sponge dauber, blend the inner part of the leaf with Tea Leaves
VersaMark Chalk Ink and the outer edges with Hint of Pesto VersaMark Ink.
Mix a little Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Chalk Ink with water and watercolor the center parts of
the leaves.
Optional: Remove the stencil and heat emboss the ink with more clear embossing powder.
Replace the stencil over the leaf.

Step 7:
Using the black artist pen, trace the edges of the leafy part of the stencil’s openings (to
add a border around each ink blended area of the stencil). Then remove the stencil and set it
aside.

Step 8:
Fussy cut the stenciled leaf using a pair of scissors. Using the same sponge dauber you used to
blend the rest of the leaf, blend the Hint of Pesto VersaMagic Chalk Ink around the edges of the
leaf. (Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the leaf with the ink blended edges.)

Step 9:
Return the stencil to another piece of watercolor paper. Spray the paper through the stencil with
Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray as well as Bahama Blue and Grape Jelly Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. Allow the spray to dry or use your heat tool to dry the spray. After the spray dried, use a circular die to cut a piece of the watercolor paper that is slightly larger than the stenciled flower.

Step 10:
Ink blend the whole edge of the circular die cut with more of the Brilliance Pearlescent Purple
ink with a sponge dauber.
Return the stencil to the circular die cut and use a variety of the same colors of ink to stencil the
edges of the die cut using more sponge daubers. In blend the small flower with Mango Madness
and Turquoise VersaMagic Chalk Inks, the dots with more of the Turquoise VersaMagic Chalk
Inks, and the curved lines with Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic Chalk Ink.
Optional: Heat embossed the ink with more clear embossing powder.

Step 11:
Create the background panel by die cutting a piece of white cardstock or watercolor paper with
an A2-sized die cut. Place a stencil with larger open leafy areas over the watercolor paper and
then gently run Golden Glitz Delicata ink across the panel to add some soft gold accents. Ink
blend several of the leaves with Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink, making sure that there are
some gold leaves and green leaves. Gently press the Golden Glitz Delicata Ink cube to the
edges of the panel to leave a gold border around the edge of the panel.
Splatter some gold watercolor across the panel and allow it to dry.

Step 12:
Stamp a sentiment of your choice on the lower right part of the panel with Nocturne VersaFine
Clair ink.
Optional: Heat emboss the sentiment with clear embossing powder.
Glue the circular die cut onto the center-right of the panel and trim the very edge of the circular
die cut to match the background panel. Attach the leaf and flower to the card with foam tape.
Glue small yellow sequins to the center of the flower and add purple and yellow sequins onto
the card. Glue the whole panel onto an A2-sized white card base. Splatter a little more gold
watercolor across the card.

Art Supplies
Imagine
Brilliance Ink – Pearlescent Purple
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Bahama Blue
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Grape Jelly
Sheer Shimmer Spray – Sparkle
VersaMagic Dew Drop – Hint of Pesto
VersaMagic Dew Drop – Mango Madness
VersaMagic Dew Drop – Purple Hydrangea
VersaMagic Dew Drop – Tea Leaves
VersaMagic Dew Drop – Turquoise Gem
VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
Sponge Daubers
Delicata – Golden Glitz

Other
TCW (The Crafter’s Workshop)-Stencil-Dahlia Blooms (6”x6”)
Simon Says Stamp-Stencil-Mod Layering Leaves (1 of 2 stencils in the set)
Simon Says Stamp-Stamp-Amazing
Catherine Pooler-Sequins-Paisley Park and Saint Lucia sequin mixes
Embossing powder in my stash
Hero Arts-Die-Nesting Circle Infinity die set
Honey Bee Stamps-Die-Deckle Edge A2 die set
Altenew-Foam Tape-Instant Dimension Foam Tape
Scissors
Black artist pen
Clear embossing powder
Glue

Presenting Imagine’s 2024 Design Team 

We’re thrilled to unveil our 2024 Artists In Residence Design Team!

Get ready to be inspired by the remarkable creativity of our group of skilled designers.

Let’s get to know them a bit…

LV Handcrafted

Hi! I’m Linh – or LV Handcrafted on social media. I live in Seattle, WA with my husband and our two dogs. I’ve been crafting since I was in high school but took a long break as I started my career. Now (many years later) I am my own boss working as a business consultant, so I can balance my time and do more of what I love – papercrafting! There’s always so much to learn in papercrafting, and I find great joy in adding my own twist and sharing what I’ve learned. I love Imagine products. There’s such a wide range of media supplies. It’s so fun to experiment, have a bit of a play and create something exciting.  I’m honored to be a part of this amazing team.

YouTube – https://youtube.com/@LVHandcrafted
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lvhandcrafted/
Facebook – https://facebook.com/lvhandcrafted 
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/lvhandcrafted/

Alison Heikkila

Hello! My name is Alison Heikkila and I have been a crafter my entire life. My mom started me off with coloring and stringing beads from a very young age, and I never stopped. I have an art degree with a specialization in jewelry and sculpture, but I love working in many mediums and styles. Getting inky is absolutely one of my favorite things!  

I have an amazing husband who loves to see what I create each day (and even crafts along with me sometimes!) and two very creative kids. Sometimes the four of us craft together, which is so much fun. We’ve also got two dogs, and we reside in New York. 

I love to create, as I feel it truly feeds my soul. Getting  a little “playtime” in my craft room each day is really important to me. I look forward to sharing projects with you. 

Blog – alisonheikkila.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alisonheikkila/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/AlisonHeikkila
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/alisonheikkiladesigns/

Amalia Montano 

Hi, I am Amalia from Cool Cakes and Crafts with Amalia on YouTube. I am new to the team but a longtime paper crafter. I started my crafty adventures as a Wilton Method of Cake Decorating instructor for 17 years, (that’s where the “Cool  Cakes” comes from) then a fellow instructor invited me to a SU! Party and I was hooked!  I live and work in New York City and while it certainly is a big city you would be surprised how far outside of the city I have to travel to find paper crafting resources! Thank goodness for online shopping and Imagine! Aside from baking and card making, I also make beaded jewelry and create projects with polymer clay.  As you can tell, I love all the creative things and I love sharing it with others and showing everyone how fun and easy it is to be creative.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cool_cakes_and_crafts/ 
You Tube –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwPB-Whs1LPs0nrxb0uif-w
Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/coolcakesandcrafts
Blog – https://coolcakesandcraftswithamalia.blogspot.com/

Nancy May 

Hi, I’m Nancy May, mother, sister, friend, licensed clinical social worker, creative, but you might know me as Handi Scandi. I have been crafting for many years – since my adult children were littles. It started as an inexpensive way to decorate my home to make it cozy for my family, and when my children loved to get messy with me in the process it became so much more. All of my children are creatives and creativity manifests itself differently in each of us. Stamping became my safe space, if you will, shortly after my youngest daughter passed away. I needed something to focus on rather than grief, and I remembered how much I loved stamping and card making. This crafty life has taken on a life of its own and I have been introduced to the wonderful world of card making on a much grander scale. As I learn more and more about art and the creative process I find myself drawn to mixed media, art journaling, grunge, stencils, sprays, pastes, and inks…glorious inks! I am an intuitive crafter who rarely has a plan, loves to get messy and inky and shows myself grace throughout the process. I reframe mistakes as opportunities and almost never throw things away. Through all of this I am developing my own style that I have coined grungy elegance. I am so excited to be a part of the Imagine Crafts team as it opens another door of exploration, creativity and discovery.

Instagram – Nancy May https://www.instagram.com/handi_scandi/
Pinterest – Nancy May https://www.pinterest.com/nancymay1965/
YouTube – Handi Scandi’s Crafty Ventures: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4SMddMdKd37YsMYDC2fMw
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nancy.may.904

Helen Gullett

Hi! I am Helen. I am a stay-at-home wife and a mom of 2 daughters. I grew up in Indonesia and now live in Ohio with my family. I am working at home part time as a translator. I love paper crafting, Bible Journaling, working on mixed media and DIY projects. I love coffee, tea, and dark chocolate.

Blog –  https://www.helengullett.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/helengdesigns
Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/helengullett
Pinterest –  https://pinterest.com/helengdesigns213
You Tube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-gVkOO8hxCzSNWOoa_q8A

Monica Edwards

Hi, it’s me Simply Monica mother of two.  I have an amazing grandson Jace and another one coming soon to join the bunch.  I have been crafting over 20 yrs and love it.  It’s my happy place and I hope to inspire others with my journey at Imagine

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/Monicascrapstreasure/ 
YouTube –  https://youtu.be/iPTruDVbVaU?feature=shared

Kathi F. Rerek

I’m a cat-loving card maker who also creates tags, art journals, and home décor pieces. I love stamping, mixed media, and experimenting with different supplies and techniques. I love to paper craft because there’s something so oddly calming about focusing on a project. My favorite part is when a project comes out the way I had envisioned it in my mind’s eye. I also like to share my creations online and always include full supply lists and detailed instructions on my blog posts.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kathi_r13/?hl=en
Blog – https://kathstales.blogspot.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathi.rerek
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Kaths-Tales-2316828635206019/

Jessica Lin 

Hello crafty friends! My name is Jessica Lin. You may have recognized me or seen some of my previous projects, and I am so excited to be back on Imagine’s design team! I am a crafty gal in my late twenties, but my passion for cardmaking started a long time ago when I was 9. I was introduced to wooden stamps and I haven’t stopped stamping since. Some of my other hobbies include sewing, washi tape collaging, and I hope one day I’ll learn how to crochet, too. 

I grew up in Taiwan and speak Mandarin as my mother tongue, so my YouTube channel is mostly filmed in Chinese. This year, I decided to create a bilingual Instagram account. If you are inspired by bold, vibrant colors and enjoy detailed projects with lots of layers, come have a visit! I look forward to meeting and crafting with all of you! 

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jessicard2424/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJDX4PHaBRYKcnSO8kWCmXw
Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553280188439

Ceal Pritchett

I am Ceal Pritchett and I reside in the mountains of western North Carolina with my husband and our little fur baby Shih Tzu. I have been a crafter in some form since childhood. I fell in love with cardmaking around 15 years ago. I am a clean and simple cardmaker who sometimes dabbles in other things like art journals, bible journaling, and painting. 

Blog – https://simplybeautifulcreations.blogspot.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cealp/
Splitcoaststampers – https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=170503
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053614696193
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/cealp/

Anna Escalada York

Anna Escalada York grew up on a farm outside of Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Portland, Oregon to go to college, where she met her husband. They have two children (one in high school and the other in middle school), a cat and two guinea pigs. She is also a proud teacher at her local high school for almost 20 years in SE Portland, Oregon (go Lightning)! Her other hobbies are reading, riding her bike, nerding out to Star Wars, and reading. 

Anna has been crafting (almost exclusively card making) since 2004, but stepped away for a while when it was too hard to juggle the demands of being a mom of little children and working full time. She returned to her craft room in 2019 and started blogging consistently in 2020. One of her recent crafty achievements has been creating 700 cards in 2021. Her favorite craft supplies include heat embossing, using splatter, and coloring with markers. Her favorite style is sparkle!

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sparklywallflower
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sparklywallflower/
Blog – https://sparklywallflower.blogspot.com/

Delicata Pigment Inks Make Elegant New Year Cards

By Nancy May

Delicata Inks are simply stunning.  I’ve used several of them on my New Year cards today.
Let’s jump into the process and see how they turn out

~Nancy

Skill: Intermediate
Time: undetermined

Art Supplies

Imagine

  • Craft Mat
  • Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
  • Delicata Pigment Ink
  • Golden Glitz
  • Pink Shimmer
  • Ruby Red
  • On Point glue
  • Tear It! Tape

Other

  • Whimsy Stamps
    • Happy New Year Stamp set
    • Mini Slimline Notched Dies
    • Mini Slimline Notched Stitched Dies
    • Frame Labels Dies
  • Technique Junkies: New year New Hope Red Rubber Stamp