Let’s Make a Beautiful Mixed Media Panel

By Anna Escalada York

Last month, I made a jar for my younger kid and wanted to focus on my older kid in February. I made this piece for them while they were taking their ACT test! I decided to personalize the panel to feature some things they like–math and numbers, nature, space and mushrooms. This mixed media piece features sprays, ink, collage, stenciling, and cloth flowers. It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and I hope it inspires you to consider making something similar.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours (plus drying time)

Directions

Step 1:
Paint gesso onto a 6×6” canvas panel and let dry. Then mix a small amount of gesso with Tea Leaves VersaMagic chalk ink on a palette (or a piece of plastic packaging) to create a very light green tin. Repeat the process with more gesso and Bamboo Leaves Memento ink to create a slightly darker green tint of gesso. Using a wide paintbrush, brush both the lighter and the darker green gesso across the panel randomly. Allow to dry a second time. (Or if you are feeling impatient, dry with a heat tool.)

Step 2:
Using a smaller paintbrush, paint the entire surface of each paper flower’s petals with Cantaloupe Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray and then paint the edges with Tangelo Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. Allow to dry.

Step 3:
Using a sponge dauber, blend Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink through a stencil on the upper right and lower left corners of the panel. Allow to dry.

Step 4:
Stamp a mid-sized flower with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Fussy cut the flower and then press the edges along the edges of the flower with more of the Morning Mist VersaFine Clair ink to disguise any imperfections left behind when fussy cutting and heat emboss a second time with clear embossing powder.

(When I took the picture I had intended to only include one stamped flower. Later, when assembling the panel, I realized I needed another flower and so repeated the process to make two flowers in total.)

Step 5:
Press the Campagne Delicata ink pad onto watercolor paper. When dry, die cut the watercolor paper with a large circle in a nesting circle die set. Then spray with Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and allow to dry.

While drying, die cut a piece of collage paper with the next sized down circular die (not pictured).

Step 6:
Return to the canvas panel. Cut out a vertical strip of collage paper and glue it to the left side of the panel. Paint over with leftover gesso on the paint brush (from steps 1 and 3). Add more stenciled texture by blending Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink through the same stencil on the lower left corner of the panel. Then add ink along the edges of the panel by running the Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink pad along the edge.

Step 7:
Partially stamp the center of a small stamp multiple times across the upper and mid right side of the panel with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair ink by adding ink to the central part of the stamp (the text) and wiping away the ink from the edges of the stamp and then pressing just the center of the stamp onto the panel. Repeat the process 3 times.

Then stamp a small mushroom stamp multiple times on the lower right side of the panel with more Morning Mist VersaFine Clair ink, sometimes moving the stamp higher and lower on the panel to change the heights of the mushrooms. Allow the ink to dry.

Step 8:
Start to assemble the panel. Glue the die cut watercolor paper circle (step 5) and the collage paper circle together and then glue onto the panel. Then glue the stamped flowers and the 3D paper flowers onto the lower left part of the card. Glue yellow and clear sequins around the flowers.

After I assembled the panel, I realized that it wasn’t done and needed something more.

Step 9:
Die cut a scrap of watercolor paper and use Cantaloupe Fireworks! Craft Spray to paint them yellow with a small paintbrush.

Step 10:
Press Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink onto another scrap of watercolor paper and then die cut the paper with a sentiment. Then use scrap cardstock to die cut two additional layers of the sentiment. Glue all three layers together for dimension.

Step 11:
Splatter the panel with Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray, making sure that gold splatter landed on the petals of the 3D flowers. Glue the beautiful sentiment and the stars onto the panel to finish the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Champagne
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – Cantaloupe and Tangelo
• Memento ink – Bamboo Leaves
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Morning Mist
• VersaMagic ink – Tea Leaves
• Sponge Daubers

Other
• AALL & Create – stamp – Astroventurer (#912)–used for the sentiment in the background
• Alt Alternatives – 6×6” Economy Cotton Canvas Panel
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Saint Lucia
• Concord & 9th – die set – Botanical die set (beautiful sentiment)
• 49th and Market – Salt (white colored) Paper Flower 8 pack
• Gina Marie Designs – die set – Mosaic Triangle Edge Circle
• Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
• Lavinia Stamps – stamp – Slender Mushrooms
• Simon Says Stamp – stamp set – Beautiful Flowers
• The Crafter’s Workshop (TCW) – stencil – Square Stones (TCW1087s)
• Tim Holtz and Idea-ology – collage paper – Archives (TH94366)
• Tim Holtz and Sizzix – die set – Creative Cutouts die set (for the stars)
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Heat tool Scissors
• Wide paint brush
• Small paint brush
• Glue
• Watercolor paper

Watercolored Daffodils Thank You Card

By Anna Escalada York

After winter holidays, my family always needs thank you notes. I really love this wonderful daffodils stamp set and wanted to use it to make one of those cards.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp the main floral stamp on a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then die cut the image with a mid-sized background panel die

Step 2:
Spray Dandelion Fireworks! Craft Spray onto acetate packaging and watercolor smoosh the two flowers.

Step 3:
Color the corona (the central part of the flower) with the Tangerine Fabrico Dual Marker.

Step 4:
Press the Emerald Green Delicata ink pad onto acetate. Then spray Pear Tart Fireworks! Craft Spray onto the same acetate. Mix the ink and spray together. Press the acetate onto the daffodil’s stem and leaf. Then paint the leaf and stem with the remaining green mix. After the image has dried, spray the mix with water to dilute the green. Paint the sides with this lighter color green watercolor. (I ended up using my finger to spread the watercolor the way I wanted, but I don’t mind getting messy!) After this layer dried, press the Emerald Green Delicata ink pad onto the edge of the die cut. Heat emboss the inked edge with more clear embossing powder.

Step 5:
Die cut light green patterned paper with the next-largest die from the background panel die cut set. Brush the Emerald Green Delicata ink around the edges of the panel to mask the pattern and make the green more intense.

Step 6:
Stamp the sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine CLair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then trim the sentiment with a paper trimmer.

Step 7:
Trim a piece of the same light green patterned paper a little bit bigger than the sentiment strip with the paper trimmer. Press the edges into the Emerald Green Delicata ink pad and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 8:
Assemble the card. Glue the two panels together. Glue the sentiment strip onto the light green, slightly bigger strip. Then attach the sentiment strip to the card panel with foam tape. Glue green and yellow sequins around the sentiment and daffodils. To finish the card, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Emerald Green
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – Dandelion and Pear Tart
• Fabrico Dual Marker Tangerine
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne

Other
• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – North Pole
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Squovals
• Visible Images – stamp set – Golden Daffodils
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Glue
• Green patterned paper
• Watercolor paper
• A2-sized white card base

Floral Mixed Media Card

By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! Today we are going to make this floral mixed media card with some ink-smooshing, ink-swiping, ink-splattering, and embossing techniques.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-30 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

Starting with creating the watercolored background panel by cutting a piece of 140 lb watercolor cardstock into 4 ¼ inch x 5 ½ inch. To pick out the color combo, make sure you pick the colors that won’t turn into a muddy color when they are mixed together.

Scribble some of the Tropical Lagoon Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water. Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 2

Scribble some of the Peony Purple Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water.

Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 3

Scribble some of the Tangerine Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water.

Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 4

Scribble some of the Lemon Yellow Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water.

Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 5

Once the watercolored panel dried well, put it inside the embossing folder, and then run it through the machine.

Step 6

Swipe the VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze ink directly on the embossed part of the panel.

Make sure you swipe the ink lightly and smoothly, do not press down the ink pad to the paper. The juicer (good amount of ink) ink pad, the better.

Dry the ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 7

To tone down the bright color, swipe some of the VersMagic Cloud White ink on the panel.

This is an optional step, if you prefer a more subtle color background instead of bright color.

Dry the ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 8

Shake the Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Sprays bottles before you use it to make sure the ink inside mixes well.

Open the top of the spray and use it (or small round brush) to add some splatters of the Summer Sky Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray on the panel.

Dry the splatters of ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 9

Next, open the top of the spray and use it (or small round brush) to add some splatters of the Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray on the panel.

Dry the splatters of ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 10

Stamp the flower and leaf images on a white cardstock using the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad with a stamping tool (or acrylic stamping blocks).

Dry the stamped images with a craft heat gun.

Step 11

Cut all the stamped flowers and leaves with their matching die set, or you can fussy cut them using micro-tip scissors.

Step 12

Stamp the sentiment on a white card stock using the VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze ink pad with a stamping block.

Dry the stamped sentiment word with a craft heat gun and then fussy cut it with a micro-tip scissors.

Step 13

Trim the background panel into 4 inch x 5 ¼ inch using a paper trimmer.

Add the background panel to an A2 card base with the On Point Glue.

Step 14

Cut a piece of white paper (copy paper works great) with the Delicate Doily die to create your own doily paper mat.

Add the doily paper to the card with the On Point Glue.

Step 15

Add the flowers and leaves to the card with On Point Glue.

Then, add some of a thin foam to the sentiment with On Point Glue and add it to the card with the same glue.

Step 16

Add more shimmer to the card by spraying and splatting some of the Sheer Shimmer Spark Spray.

The ink-smooshing, embossing, ink-swiping, and ink-splattering techniques give an amazing texture look to the background of this card.

And those layers of doily, flowers, leaves, and sentiment add more dimension to this mixed media card.

I hope you will give this tutorial a try and play around with different colors to see the surprise you will get for your cards. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today.

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Bold Blooms stamp & die bundle set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Delicate Doily die set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Scallop Embossing Folder (Close To MY Heart, discontinued)
  • Watercolor cardstock 140 lb.
  • White cardstock
  • White copy paper
  • Acrylic stamping blocks / Tool
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Twizzers
  • Bone Folder
  • Bottle Sprayer / Mister Bottle
  • Paper Towel

A Winter Birthday Card with Soft Layers and Snowy Texture

By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends… If you are like me, I always need birthday cards at any season. Since it is Winter now, today we are going to make a Winter themed birthday card. Let’s gather your supplies and make it together.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-20 minutes

Directions:

Step 1

First, cut out a piece of vellum paper into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch (or any size that will fit inside your embossing folder).

Add some of the Brilliance Moonlight ink to the embossing folder on the raised side, carefully add the vellum paper to the embossing folder, and then run it through the die cutting machine (make sure to follow your die machine sandwich instructions for embossing folder).

It’s optional, you add more of the white ink to the embossed vellum if you want to.

Use a craft heat gun to dry the ink on the embossed vellum.

Step 2

To add more shine and sparkle to the white snowflake embossed vellum, gently rub some of the VersaMark Dazzle Frost ink pad on the embossed side (raised image).

Dry the ink on the embossed vellum with a craft heat gun.

Trim it into 4 inch x 5.5 inch. I suggest using scissors instead of papertrimmer.

Step 3

Add the 3 cake image stamps on the stamping tool, and then add the Brilliance inks (Pearlescent Purple, Pearlescent Lavender, and Pearlescent Sky Blue) to each cake stamp. Stamp them on a piece of white cardstock.

Repeat this step if needed to get good solid stamped images.

Dry the ink well with a craft heat gun and set it aside.

Step 4

Add the icing image stamps on the stamping tool, and then add the Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid to each cake stamp. Stamp them on a piece of white cardstock.

Repeat this step if needed to get good solid stamped images.

Dry the ink well with a craft heat gun and set it aside.

Step 5

Next, stamp the cherry and sentiment using the stamping tool with Delicata Ruby Red ink on a piece of white cardstock.

Repeat this step if needed to get a good solid stamped image.

Dry the ink well with a craft heat gun and set it aside.

Step 6

Cut each image with the matching die using a die cutting machine.

If you do not have the matching die set for your stamp set, you can fussy the stamped images with micro-tip scissors.

Step 7

Add the embossed vellum paper to the card using On Point Glue, press gently to make sure the vellum adhered well to the card background.

Add the birthday cake pieces to the card using On Point Glue, press gently to make sure they adhered well to the vellum background.

Step 8

Fussy cut the sentiment using the micro-tip scissors.

Add some of the white fun foam to the back of the sentiment using some of the Tear It! Tape, then add the sentiment to the card.

This card is easy and fun to make, especially the Brilliance Pearlescent inks give extra sparkle to the cake!

Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Birthday Cake Remix stamp and die set (Catherine Pooler Designs)
  • Snowflake Embossing Folder (Darice)
  • Vellum paper (Bazzil)
  • White Cardstocks
  • Thin white fun foam
  • Stamping Tool
  • Die cutting machine
  • Twizzers
  • Micro-tip scissors

Let’s Make a Nature-Inspired Birthday Card

By Anna Escalada York

I wanted to use my husband’s birthday to make him a personalized birthday card. He loves to be in nature and loves it when I use recycled materials (mostly because then we don’t have to buy new things). I also added a background that expresses how I feel about him.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a piece of kraft cardstock with a text-based background stamp with Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the panel with the second-largest die from a nested A2-sized nested die set.

Step 2:
Stamp a large tree stamp set on a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut with a mid-sized star die from a nested star die set.

Step 3:
Lightly spray Rich Cocoa Fireworks! Craft Spray and Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray onto the watercolor stamped star. Blot a little of the spray off with a paper towel and allow to dry. Then Then press Celestial Copper Delicata ink onto a piece of acetate packaging and spray with water. Watercolor smoosh the star by pressing the liquid copper onto the panel. Then repeat the watercolor smooshing with Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink mixed with water on the acetate. Let the panel dry again.

Step 4:
Mix some of the remaining Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink and water with more of the Rich Cocoa Fireworks! Craft Spray to make a darker brown watercolor. Paint the trees with the watercolor. Allow to dry. Apply a second coat of watercolor to a few trees to add interest and darker trees. Allow to dry a second time.

Step 5:
Stamp a sentiment on kraft cardstock with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Then heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Then die cut with the corresponding dies.

Optional: Die cut 2 more die cut layers for each of the sentiment (3 layers total for each of the dies–1 that is the stamped kraft layer, and two scrap layers). Glue the layers together and set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Die cut a piece of corrugated cardboard with the largest die from an A2-sized nesting panel die set. Then brush the edges of the panel with Jumbo Java VersaMagic Chalk Ink.

Step 7:
Use a sponge dauber to ink blend the edges of the star with Celestial Copper Delicata ink. Glue the die cut star onto the smaller, stamped panel. Trim the overhanging left part of the star. Then press Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto acetate packaging and spray with water.

Splatter the Tea Leaves-colored watercolor onto the panel. Add a couple of watercolor smooshed areas to add interest (or to cover areas where you want splatters but the splatters are not doing what you want). Allow to dry.

Step 8:
Brush the edges of the smaller, stamped panel with the Celestial Copper Delicata ink pad.

Step 9:
Assemble the card. Glue the two panels together. Glue the sentiment strips onto the panel. Then add sequins on the lower left and upper right parts of the card. Then glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized kraft card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – Rich Cocoa
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
• VersaMagic Chalk ink – Jumbo Java
• VersaMagic Chalk ink – Tea Leaves
• Sponge Dauber

Other
• Altenew – die set – Wings & Petals (for the sentiment)
• Altenew – stamp set – Wings & Petals (for the sentiment)
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Wintergreen
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
• Simon Hurley create – background stamp – Timber!
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Nested Stars Wafer Dies
• Simon Says Stamp – background stamp – You Are
• Kraft cardstock
• Watercolor paper
• Corrugated cardboard
• Clear Embossing Powder

Let’s Make Winter Decor

By Anna Escalada York

It was time to reuse a small piece of wood to create a small piece of winter decor to add a little fun to a bookshelf. The stars feature wintery colors (blues and white) surrounded by some winter greenery, a snowflake and sparkly elements.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours (active time) + dry time

Directions


Step 1:
Cover the wood block with a layer of Gesso. Allow to dry. Then stamp the block repeatedly with Golden Glitz Delicata Ink on a small woodblock star stamp.

Step 2:
Ink blend a piece of die cut watercolor paper with Blue Belle VersaFine Clair Ink using an ink dauber.

Step 3:
Press the dauber of a Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top stick along the edges of the blue die cut star. After drying, press the edge of the Golden Glitz Delicata Ink pad along the edges to enhance the gold border of the star.

Step 4:
Glue a book page onto a scrap of cardstock. After the glue has dried, die cut the glued page with a smaller star. Then press a Champagne Delicata ink pad directly onto the die cut book page to obscure some of the words on the page and add sparkle.

Not pictured: Die cut a piece of sparkly vellum. This die-cut star should be in between the other two in size.

Step 5:
Ink blend the sides of the star with Paradise VersaFine Clair Ink with a sponge dauber.

Step 6:
Press a stencil into a Night Sky VersaMagic Chalk Ink pad. Then spray the stencil with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Press the inky side of the stencil onto the wood block. Keep the stencil in place by placing something heavy (such as a large wood stamp or book) on top of both and allow the ink to dry. Then remove the stencil.

Step 7:
Spray Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution (in Walnut Ink color) onto a small piece of watercolor paper. After it dried, die cut with a branch die cut.

Step 8:
Color the greenery. Press a Rain Forest VersaFine Clair Ink pad onto a piece of water color paper. After the ink dries, die cut two pieces of evergreen needles.

Not pictured: Spray New Sprout Fireworks! Craft Spray onto another piece of watercolor paper. After the spray dried, die cut the watercolor paper with a mistletoe die.

Step 9:
Add a sentiment on the lower right corner of the block with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 10:
(My camera lost the picture of this step. I wanted you to at least see the gold snowflake on the finished project.)

Press Golden Glitz Delicata Ink onto another piece of watercolor paper. Then heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the paper with a small snowflake die. (The whole snowflake was tucked behind the star in the next step.

Step 11:
Assemble the project. Glue the die cut snowflake in the lower left corner of the block and the greenery (branch, mistletoe and pine needles) in the upper right corner. Add glue along the edges of both the large, dark blue and small book page stars and add glitter. Allow to dry. Then add glue along the upper right and lower left corner of the block and add more glitter. Allow the glue to dry.

Layer the three layers of star die cuts. Glue the medium onto the large dark blue star. Then attach the small book page layer onto the vellum layer with foam tape. After the glue dries, attach the layered star onto the block with more foam tape. Glue star embellishments in the upper left and lower right corners of the block to finish the project.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Champagne and Golden Glitz
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – New Sprout
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• Sheer Shimmer Stick Dauber – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne, Blue Belle, Paradise, Rain Forest and Night Sky
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Walnut Ink color
• Sponge Dauber

Other

• Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape Golden –
• Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
• Simon Says Stamp – die set – Nested Stars Wafer Dies
• Simon Says Stamp – embellishment mix – North Star
• The Crafter’s Workshop – stencil – Stained Glass (TCW 462S)
• Unity Stamp Company – stamp set – …shake your flakes (December Unity Sentiment Kit 2022)
• Woodblock star stamp in my stash
• Small branch die
• Evergreen needles die
• Mistletoe die
• Small snowflake die
• Clear Embossing Powder