Let’s Make an Embossed Father’s Day Card

By Anna Escalada York

I wanted to make my Father-In-Law’s Father’s Day Card with a variety of browns and a pop of another color. So I picked Neptune VersaColor ink for a pop of color on the monochromatic background.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper with the second-largest die in an A2-sized die set. Press a Sand Dune VersaFine Clair Ink onto the watercolor panel.

Step 2:
Spray Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray onto an embossing folder and then emboss the Sand Dune colored panel by running it through a die cutting machine between the two sides of the embossing folder. Allow the panel to dry.

Step 3:
Glide a Neptune VersaColor ink across the panel. The raised (embossed) parts of the panel will be colored with the Neptune ink, and the debossed parts of the panel will stay the Sand Dune color. Then run the Neptune VersaColor pad across the edges of the panel to color the border of the panel as well.

Step 4:
Stamp the card’s sentiments (both the larger “happy” and the “Father’s Day” subsentiment) on another piece of watercolor paper with Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink and then heat emboss both of them with clear embossing powder. Set this aside as well.

Step 5:
Press the Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata Ink Pad onto the edges of a watercolor panel until achieving a thick, dark brown border. This panel will become the matte layer of the card.

Step 6:
Using the largest die from the A2-sized die set, die cut the dark brown panel . Glue the two panels together and set aside.

Step 7:
Trim the sub-sentiment with a paper trimmer. Press the edges of the sentiment strip into the Sand Dune VersaFine Clair ink pad and set the sentiment strip aside to dry.

Steps 8 and 9:
Press the Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink pad onto another small piece of watercolor paper.

Not pictured: Die cut the larger “Happy” sentiment from step 4 with the corresponding die. Then die cut a piece of the Dark Brown Shimmer colored watercolor paper with the same die to create two layers of the die cut.

Step 10:
Glue the two die cut sentiment layers together, with the dark brown layer peeking out on the left side of the stamped (top) layer. Using some of the remaining dark brown watercolor paper from the last step, cut a thin strip to glue on the bottom of the sub sentiment. Glue the thin brown strip behind the sub sentiment as well as some scrap cardstock to make the sub sentiment three layers deep for strength and dimension. Set them both aside.

Step 11:
Press the Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink pad onto a piece of acetate packaging and mix with water. Splatter the panels and the sub sentiment with the dark brown splatter. Paint the large “happy” sentiment letters with some of the remaining brown-tinted water. Set it all aside to dry.

Step 12:
Press a Neptune VersaColor ink pad onto another small piece of watercolor paper. Set it asde for the ink to dry.

Step 13:
Die cut the Neptune-colored watercolor paper with a leaf die.

Step 14:
Assemble the card. If desired, add some twine and attach to the back of the card panels with washi tape and then add foam tape on the back so the card base will lay flat when attached to the kraft A2-sized card base. Then glue some brass-colored sequins near the sentiment to finish the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Pigment Ink – Dark Brown Shimmer
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle VersaColor Ink – Neptune
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Sand Dune

Other
• Altenew – foam tape
• Altenew – embossing folder – Illusion Triangles Altenew – die set – Just Leaves
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Bogotá Lawn Fawn – die set – Happy Happy Happy
• Lawn Fawn – stamp set – Happy Happy Happy Pink & Main – die set – Notched Corner
• A2-sized kraft card base Clear Embossing Powder Washi tape
• Watercolor paper Die cutting machine Twine
• Scissors Glue

 DIY Wall Decor with a Sassy Twist

By Anna Escalada-York

As a mom of a teen and tween, I wanted to make a snarky piece of home decor that would make them smile. So I decided to make a pretty piece of art that I was going to put up in our dining room. 

Skill: Intermediate 
Time: 3 hours 

Directions: 

Step 1: 
Paint a thin layer of white gesso onto a 5” by 7” medium density fiberboard (MDF) panel. 

Step 2: 
Glue a ripped piece of text-based patterned paper onto the left side of the panel, making sure that the paper doesn’t go off the side of the fiberboard panel. Then paint over the whole panel again with more white gesso. 

Step 3: 
Stamp a long, floral image onto white watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and then heat emboss it with clear embossing powder. Then color the main branch and ribs of the leaves with Northern Pine Memento Dual Marker and the flowers with Lady Bug Memento Dual Marker. 

Step 4: 
Die cut the long, floral image. Spray Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto a piece of scrap acetate packaging and watercolor paint the leaves and edges of the floral image green, making sure to blend the darker marker color with the lighter spray. Set aside to dry. 

Step 5
Add texture to the fireboard panel. Use some of the remaining Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray mixed with more white gesso to create a light green paint. Paint the center part of the fireboard panel with the light green paint. Then watercolor smoosh more of the Cottage Ivy Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray (without any gesso) onto the panel to add texture. After the spray and paint have dried, press Celestial Copper Delicata Ink through a circular stencil overlapping the patterned paper. Then press the Celestial Copper Delicata Ink pad around the edges of the panel. 

Step 6: 
Stamp a large butterfly on another piece of watercolor paper using Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Then spray Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto more scrap acetate packaging and watercolor spray the butterfly. Spray the whole thing with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray, which forces the Lilac Posies spray to diffuse outside of the butterfly’s outline. After the spray dried, die cut the butterfly with the corresponding die. Finally, paint the butterfly a second time with more of the Lilac Posies Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray to deepen the color. Set aside to dry. 

Step 7: 
Return to the background panel. Attach two types of washi tape to the left side of the panel–small pieces of black and white dotted washi tape and a white piece of washi tape that comes die cut in a lacy geometric pattern. 

Then stamp a sentiment on the lower right part of the panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair in and heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. 

Step 8: 
Using a small musical note stamp, partially stamp the panel multiple times with Spuce VersaFine Clair ink. 

Step 9: 
Stamp the smaller butterfly twice with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss them with clear embossing powder. Then color them in with Lulu Lavender and Tangelo Memento Dual Markers (orange butterfly) and with Tangelo and Grape Jelly Memento Dual Markers (purple butterfly). Then spray both butterflies with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Once the spray had dried, die cut the butterflies with their corresponding die. 

(In the final piece, only the orange butterfly colored with Tangelo and Lulu Lavender Memento Dual Markers was used.) 

Step 10: 
Stamp part of the mountain outline stamp on the lower right part of the panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then stamp part of the sun stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink. 

Step 11: 
Spray around the sun with Cantaloupe Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray. Use a paintbrush or your finger to move dots of the Cantaloupe spray to make the spray less uniform and more organic. 

Step 12: 
Glue the flowers and small butterfly onto the panel. Attach the larger butterfly to the panel with foam tape. If desired, the outer tips of the top wings can be given additional dimension with two layers of foam tape, forcing them to curve. 

Art Supplies 

Imagine 
Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper 
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cantaloupe 
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Cottage Iv
Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Lilac Posies 
Memento Dual Marker – Lady Bug 
Memento Dual Marker – Northern Pine 
Sheer Shimmer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle 
VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne 
VersaFine Clair ink – Summertime 
VersaFine Clair ink – Spruce 

Other 
Altenew – die set – All Things Orange 
Altenew – stamp set – All Things Orange 
Altenew – foam tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape 
Altenew – washi tape – Many Dots 
Art Alternatives – MDF Panel (5” x 7”) 
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer 
Ink Road Stamps – stamp set – Roadies 8 (sentiment stamp) 
Visible Image – die set – Antisocial Butterfly 
Visible Image – stamp set – Antisocial Butterfly 
Circular stencil 
Die cut washi tape 
Watercolor paper 
Vellum 
Pencil 
Paintbrush 
Die cutting machine 
Paint brush 
Scissors 
Glue 
Text-based patterned paper 
Clear embossing powder 

To Meow With Love – A Valentine’s Day Card

By Kathi Rerek

As a certified crazy cat lady, I had to make another another cat-themed Valentine’s Day Card! This one uses Baby Pink VersaFine Clair Ink with a shimmery Delicata die-cuts and a stenciled heart. It was quick, easy, and fun to create.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 45 minutes

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Baby Pink VersaFine Clair Ink to a 4” x 5.25” piece of white cardstock. Heat set.

Step 2:
Use low-tack tape to secure the inked image panel to the back of the Pawsome Heart Stencil. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Ruby Red Delicata Ink over the stencil onto the image panel. When done, remove the stencil and heat set the stenciled heart.

Use a Sponge Dauber and Black Shimmer Delicata Ink to edge the image panel. Sorry that there’s no photo.

Step 3:
Use two of the cat dies from the Mischievous Thinlits Die Set to cut white cardstock. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Black Shimmer Delicata Ink to both sides of each cat die-cut. Heat set.

Step 4:
Use the Little Mice Die to cut white cardstock. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink to the mouse. Heat set. Use a black pen to add an eye to the mouse and a Pink Uni-Posca Paint Pen to color its nose.

Step 5:
Use On Point Glue to add tiny gemstone eyes to the cats.

Step 6:
Use On-Point Glue to adhere the mouse to the outstretched paw of one of the cats. Use On Point Glue to adhere both cats to the image panel as shown.

Step 7:
Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Ruby Red Delicata Ink to the outside .5” of a white A2 card. Heat set. Repeat application of the Ruby Red Delicata Ink to deepen the color and shimmer. Heat set.

Step 8:
Use Tear It! Tape to mat the image panel with the Ruby Red Delicata inked card.

Step 9:
Use the “Meow” die to cut white cardstock. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Black Shimmer Delicata Ink to both sides of the die-cut. Heat set.

Use On-Point Glue to adhere the “Meow” die-cut to the card.

Adhere the “to”, “with”, and “love” Chit Chat Verbiage Stickers to finish the card.

Finished Card

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Pawsome Heart Stencil by Funky Fossil Designs
  • Mischievous Thinlits by Tim Holtz for Sizzix
  • Little Mice Die by Gina Marie Designs
  • “Meow” Die: Source Unknown
  • Chit Chat Tim Holtz Idea-ology Stickers by Advantus
  • Repositionable Scotch Tape by 3M
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Magnetic Glass Craft Mat by Glassboard Studio
  • Big Shot by Sizzix

Let’s Make a Happy New Year’s Card

By Ceil Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!
It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing a New Year’s card with yo.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 45 mins

Directions: Gather your supplies. You will need an embossing folder, two different colors of dark ink, metallic ink, shimmer spray, number dies, and glitter paper.

Step 1:
Blend the two dark inks together on a panel cut to 4x 5.25 to give the appearance of a night sky.

Step 2:
Run the blended panel through the die cutting machine with a 3D embossing folder.

Step 3:
Rub a metallic ink pad over the raised areas of the panel.

Step 4:
Spray a shimmer spray over the panel to give it more sparkle.

Step 5:
Cut the number 2 and 5 out of glitter paper.

Step 6:
Add number to the panel and adhere the panel to the card base. Stamp the sentiment on panel.

Supplies:

Imagine products:

VersaFine Clair – Medieval Blue, Twilight
Delicata – Silvery Shimmer
Sheer Shimmer Spritz – Silver
On Point Glue

Other products:

Fireworks embossing folder – Altenew
Fancy Die Number 2 – Hero Arts
Fancy Die Number 5 – Hero Arts
Happy New Year Stamp – Taylored Expressions
Glitter paper – Altenew

Design a CAS Christmas Poinsettia Card

By Helen Gullet

Hello crafty friends! It’s the time of the year to start making some Holiday projects. As for me, I love making and sending handmade Christmas cards. Today, I wanna share how to make this CAS Christmas Poinsettia Card.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

Cut out a piece of any color cardstock into 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch that you want to use as your background panel.

I used all the words on the stamp set I used so I taped the whole sheet on the stamping tool lid instead of taking it out one by one. You can use any word stamp set you have to create a similar background pattern.

Stamp the words on the cardstock using VersaMark Dazzle. Make sure to cover the whole panel.

Step 2

Add some darker shadow to the edges of the background panel using Memento Dew Drop ink pads and finger sponge dauber.

First, add the Lady Bug ink on the panel, then add the Rhubarb Stalk ink, and then add the Lady Bug ink again to blend them together.

Step 3

Stamp each layer of the poinsettia flower with the Delicata Golden Glitz ink.

Stamp the middle buds part of the poinsettia with the Brilliance Cosmic Copper ink. Dry the stamped images with a craft heat gun.

Cut each of the images with their matching dies, or you can fussy cut them if you don’t have the matching dies.

Step 4

On a piece of white cardstock, stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, and then add some of the Sparkle Mboss Embossing Powder, then heat set it with a craft heat gun.

Cut the sentiment with the matching die set, or you can fussy cut it with scissors if you don’t have a matching die.

Step 5

Distress all edges of the background panel with distresser tool or scissors. Add the background panel to the card base with some of the Tear It! Tape.

Add the poinsettia flowers and the sentiment to the card with some of the fun foam and Tear It! Tape for some dimension.

Step 6

For more extra sparkle to the Christmas card, add some splatters of the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray using a fan brush.

Use the craft heat gun to dry the splatters.

Hope this Christmas card gives you an idea to start your Holiday projects. Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Have a fabulous day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine:

  • Memento (Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug)

Others:

  • Poinsettia Wishes Stamp & Die Bundle (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock 80 lb
  • Neenah Cardstock Multi colors
  • Fan brush
  • MISTI stamping tool
  • Stamping Blocks
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Craft heat gun
  • Paper trimmer
  • Die cutting Machine

Stenciled Ornament Card with Memento Inks

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! Alison Heikkila here. For my latest video for Imagine, we’re making a holiday card with snowflake ornaments. This is a great card for beginners, or for someone who likes to batch many cards. You can feel free to change up the colors as you like, but I love making cards with a limited palette from time to time.

Skill Level: Beginner
Time to Complete: 15-20 Minutes

*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.

Here is the YouTube video. If it doesn’t play properly, please click HERE.

Supplies:
Imagine:
Memento Inks in Summer Sky, Paris Dusk, Teal Zeal, and Nautical Blue
Delicata Ink in Silvery Shimmer
VersaFine Clair Ink in Twilight

Other:
Spellbinders: Snowflake Ornaments Stencils
Spellbinders: Tiny Dots 3D Embossing Folder
Spellbinders: All Seasons Sentiments
Lawn Fawn: Spiffy Speckles Paper Pad
Copic: B39 (to fix my error)
Silver Gel Pen
Gel Press Plate (optional)

I love the dimension we created by ink blending our colors a certain way. This is a really fun stencil set, and you can really play with different colors as much as you like. I’ll have another video for Imagine soon. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!