“Wishing You A Happy Birthday” Card

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s post, I am sharing a fun, summer card that features some bold colors!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1
Color a piece of acetate packaging with both Cottage Ivy Memento marker and Emerald Fabrico
marker and then spraying the acetate with water. Press the acetate onto a piece of watercolor
paper multiple times, moving the acetate around so add green color around the watercolor
paper. Allow the water to dry.

Step 2
Die cut the watercolor smooshed paper with a circular die cut. Add a small dot of Pink Ultimate
Pigment Pigment Refill into the raised areas of an embossing powder, and then spray the
embossing folder with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray to both help the watercolor paper
stay moist (so it won’t tear) while embossing, and to help dilute the condensed pink refill ink.
Then sandwich the watercolor paper into the embossing powder and run it through a die cutting
machine.
After the watercolor paper has dried, ink blend the edge of the circular die cut with Pink
VersaColor pigment ink.

Step 3
Die cut another piece of watercolor paper with a slightly larger circular die. Directly press the
Pink VersaColor Pigment ink pad onto the watercolor paper.
Optional step: Heat emboss the ink with clear embossing powder.

Step 4 (and 4.5)
Stamp an image onto watercolor paper with a nature scene with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
Using a variety of media to watercolor the image: Celestial Copper Delicata Ink pad mixed with
water to color the rocks, Emerald Fabrico marker mixed with water to color the frog and leaves,
Bahama Blue Fireworks! Spray to color the sky and water, and Pink Ultimate Pigment Ink Refill
to color the flower petals. Finally, color the centers of the flowers with a Dandelion Memento
marker.

Step 5
Watercolor smoosh some of the leftover inks from the last step to watercolor smoosh a piece of
watercolor paper and then spray the whole thing with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Use
some additional color to stamp a text stamp in my stash to add a little interest onto the panel by
pressing the stamp into the acetate instead of an ink pad. Repeat the process a few times until
you like the amount of extra interest that is added. After everything dried, die cut the watercolor
panel.

Step 6
Glue the two circular die cuts (the embossed panel and the larger pink die cut circle)
and then glue it onto the watercolor background panel. After the glue dried, the whole thing was
die cut again to trim the circular die cuts. The edges were ink blended with more Pink
VersaColor Pigment ink. Splatters of the remaining Bahama Blue Fireworks! Spray from the
acetate packaging were added to the panel as well.

Step 7
Stamp a sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.

Optional step: Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 8:
Die cut sparkly white paper with a slightly larger rectangular die. Glue the main (frog)
stamped and die cut image onto the top panel, glue the matte (sparkly larger panel) behind the
top panel and then glue everything onto an A2-sized white card base. Glue sequins to the card
base.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Celestial Copper
• Fabrico Marker – Emerald
• Fireworks! Spray – Bahama Blue
• Memento Marker – Dandelion
• Memento Marker – Cottage Ivy
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• Ultimate Pigment Ink Refill – Pink
• VersaColor Pigment ink – Pink
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
• VersaMark Dazzle – Frost

Other
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Sequins – Milwaukee
• Gina K Designs – Dies – Master Layout 2 die set
• Hero Arts – Dies – Nesting Circles Infinity die set
• Penny Black – Stamp – Thanks, Thanks stamp (retired)
• Vicki Boutin – Embossing Folder – Let’s Wander (retired)
• Watercolor paper
• Clear embossing powder
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make A Mermaid Card

By Kathi Rerek

It’s summer, which makes me want to go to the beach to cool off in the ocean and pretend I’m a mermaid. Let’s make a card that fulfills those dreams using inks, stencils, and stamps!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use a craft knife to cut a piece of Low-tack tape in a curved pattern. Place the tape at the bottom of a 5.5” x 8.5” piece of white cardstock (no photo).

Lightly apply Bahama Blue Memento Ink to the white area of the cardstock.

Steps 2A & B:
Place a magnetic page onto the craft mat. Use low-tack tape to secure the cardstock panel to the magnetic page. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the Currents Stencil to the cardstock panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply the lightest blue ink from the Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze Ink pad over the stencil onto the cardstock panel (2A). Randomly apply Teal Zeal Memento Ink over the stencil onto the cardstock to deepen the colors.

Step 3:
Remove the stencil, then spritz the panel with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to blend the inks and add white splatters and splotches.

Step 4:
Remove the low-tack tape and replace with the negative part of the tape cut in Step 1. Sponge Desert Sand Memento Ink over the tape onto the image panel to create the sea floor. Remove the tape.

Step 5:
Place the panel onto the base of a stamping platform and secure with magnets. Position the mermaid stamp from the Guinevere Clear Polymer Stamp Set so that it’s face down along the lower right side of the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, and ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. Stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.

Remove the panel and thoroughly heat set the ink.

Step 6:
Use Copic markers to color the mermaid’s rocky throne. Usually I don’t use Copic markers with any ink other than Memento, but since I had duplicate markers, I gave it a shot and it worked!  Sorry! No photos!

Step 7:
Use Triplus pens to color the mermaid’s hair. Use Marine and Black Stardust Glitter Gel Pens to add detail the mermaid’s scales. The ink of both pens work well with most inks. Sorry! No photos again!

Steps 8A & B:
Place the image panel back onto the base of the stamping platform and secure with magnets. Use low-tack tape to cover the top of the ocean floor to the left of the mermaid.

Position the mid-sized Skeleton Tree stamp from the Skeleton Tree Clear Stamp Set facedown on the top left. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift. Ink the stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp (8A). Remove the tape.

Remove, clean and dry the stamp. Reposition the mid-sized Skeleton Tree stamp so that it’s facedown on the bottom left of the image panel. Position the smallest Skeleton Tree Stamp from the facedown on the bottom right of the image panel

Press the lid into the back of the stamps and lift. Ink both stamps with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp (8B). Remove the stamps from the platform.

Step 9:
Position the bubbles stamp from the Faerie Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown on the image panel slightly above the mermaid’s outstretched hand. Press the lid into the back of the stamps and lift. Ink the stamp with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Remove the panel from the platform. Heat set the panel.

Step 10:
Place the image panel back onto the magnetic page. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the Sunshine Small Stencil over the image panel as shown. Sponge White Shimmer Delicata Ink over the stencil onto the image panel. Remove the panel and heat set.

Step 11:
Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the image panel to a black A2 card.

Finished Card

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Guinevere Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
  • Skeleton Trees Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
  • Faerie Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image
  • Small Sunshine Stencil by Darkroom Door
  • Currents Stencil by A Colorful Life Designs
  • W3, W4, W6, BG45, BG57, E93, E95 by Copic Markers
  • Ultramarine, Orange, Yellow Orange, Rusty Orange Triplus Pens by Staedtler
  • Marine and Black Stardust Gelly Roll Gel Pens by Sakura of America
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Magnet Page used for die-cut storage
  • Misti  Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

How to Make a Shimmery Tag for a Celebration

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! It’s Alison Heikkila and today we are going to be making a tag that can be used for any type of celebration. You can use this tag on a hostess gift, as an invitation, attached to a card or scrapbook page, etc. The tag is super shimmery and is really festive! You can change up the colors to suit your needs.

*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 minutes

Supplies:
Imagine:
Danube Blue Memento Ink
Paris Dusk Memento Ink
Nautical Blue Memento Ink
Golden Glitz Delicata Ink
Golden Glitz Delicata Reinker
Sheer Shimmer Stix in Sparkle
Sponge Dauber
On Point Glue

Other:
Avery: Shipping Tag #11005- 4 3/4″ x 2 3/8″
A Colorful Life Designs: Night Sky Stencil
A Colorful Life Designs: Crystal Metallic Safari Card Bling
The Greetery: Pinwheel Party Die Set
Gel Press: 6×6 Plate
The Rabbit Hole Designs: Cotton Tail Blending Brush
Twiddler’s Nook: Skull Tray
Navy Blue Cardstock
Baker’s Twine or Ribbon

Let’s Make A Summer Wedding Card

By Kathi Rerek

Let’s make a summer wedding card with Memento and Golden Glitz Delicata Inks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use a stamping platform and VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink to stamp the Arty Hearts Collage Cling Stamp onto white cardstock.

Step 2:
Use a stamping platform and VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink to stamp the wedding rings from the Accessorize Clear Stamp Set twice — once onto 140 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock and once onto repositionable label paper.

Step 3:
Apply Clear MBoss Powder to the stamped image, dump the excess back into the packet, and heat set the image.

Step 4:
Add a few drops of Golden Glitz Delicata Ink to a small container. Dilute with a few drops of water.

Step 5:
Use a brush to paint the wedding rings with diluted Golden Glitz Delicata ink. Set aside.

Step 6:
Place the Arty Hearts Stencil over the image stamped in Step 1. Use Sponge Daubers to apply Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Summer Sky, Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, Lilac Posies, Dandelion, and Tangelo Memento through the stencil onto the stamped hearts on the image panel. Set aside.

Steps 7A and 7B:
Smoosh Summer Sky Memento Ink onto a piece of acetate packaging. Mist the acetate with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, then smoosh onto the right side of a piece of white cardstock.

Clean the acetate, then repeat this process using Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Danube Blue, and Dandelion Memento Inks until you’re happy with the ink coverage on the panel.

Safety Note: Please be sure to have good ventilation via an open window to minimize your exposure to alcohol fumes.

Step 8:
Fussy-cut the sticker paper version of the Wedding Rings from Step 2. Place atop the image. Use low-tack tape to secure the small rectangle die from the Specimen Thinlits Die Set onto the image panel. Run the die through your cutting machine.

Step 9:
Keeping the image panel in the die, use a Sponge Dauber to apply Angel Pink Memento Ink over the die onto the die-cut, which will leave a thin white border around the pink

Step 10:
Place the die-cut onto the base of a stamping platform. Ink the “Congratulations” stamp from the More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set with Nocturne VersaFine Clair and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.

Step 11:
Adhere the heart-stamped and stenciled panel (Steps 1 and 6) onto the left side of the smooshed ink panel (Step 7). Add a foil border sticker to cover the seam.

Use a Sponge Dauber to edge the heart image panel and the rings/sentiment die-cut with Golden Glitz Delicata Ink.

Step 12:
Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the card front to a white A2 card.

Imagine Supplies:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
  • Artsy Hearts Collage Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door
  • Accessorize Clear Stamp Set by Visible Image
  • Artsy Hearts Stencil by Darkroom Door
  • More Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle
  • Specimen Thinlits Die Set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix
  • Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery
  • Low-Tack Tape
  • Acetate from packaging
  • 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Mister
  • Misty Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia
  • Stamping Platform by Tonic Studios

Let’s Stretch Our Crafty Supplies!

By Anna Escalada York

– In today’s post, I will share a way to stretch your crafty supplies like using a die to stamp and to
use ink to change the color of some patterned paper.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Use a die as a stamp by pressing a Turquoise VersaColor ink pad into the raised edges of a
background butterfly die. Then press a piece of previously die cut piece of watercolor paper into
the die and lift the panel. You will have the outlines of the butterflies stamped on your panel.

Step 2:
Run the Turquoise VersaColor ink pad across some blue paper to enhance the blue color of the
paper.

Step 3:
Rub the Canary VersaColor ink pad across some yellow patterned paper to enhance the color of
the patterned paper.

Steps 4 and 5:
Die cut the yellow and blue patterned paper with the butterfly die.
Glue some of the die cut butterfly pieces onto the stamped watercolor panel, making sure that
the butterflies don’t line up totally with the stamped butterflies.

Step 6 and 7:
Die cut another piece of blue patterned paper using another background die.
Run the Turquoise VersaColor ink pad and the Golden Glitz Delicata ink pad over the blue
patterned paper to add some more colorful interest onto the panel.

Step 8:
Using a congrats die cut to die cut three layers– a scrap piece of cardstock as well as the yellow
and blue patterned paper.

Step 9:
Spray the blue patterned paper with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and let dry.

Step 10:
Glue all three layers of the die cut sentiment together, with the blue layer on the top, and the
yellow layer in the middle. Don’t line up the blue layer exactly on top of the yellow layer so that
you can see both. Set aside.

Step 11:
Ink blend around the edges of the stamped layer with more of the Canary VersaColor ink with
an ink dauber.
Not pictured: Spray the panel with more of the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Mix some more of
the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray with more Turquoise VersaColor ink and spatter it across the panel.

Step 12:
Press some of the remaining yellow and blue patterned paper die cut butterflies into the Golden
Glitz Delicata ink pad. Glue those butterflies into the stamped panel.

Step 13:
Glue the stamped panel onto the die cut background panel at an angle. Then Glue the
sentiment parallel to the base of the die cut background panel.

Step 14:
Glue blue, white and gold sequins onto the card panel. Glue the whole panel onto an A2-sized
white card base.

Art Supplies
Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Golden Glitz
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• VersaColor Ink – Canary
• VersaColor Ink – Turquoise
• Sponge Daubers

Other
• DCWV – Patterned Paper – Electric Jungle patterned paper
• Hero Arts-Die-Butterfly Confetti fancy die
• Honey Bee Stamps – Die – Congrats Honey Cuts die set
• Honey Bee Stamps – Sequins – Aztec Empire mix (retired)
• Kat Scrappiness – Die – Peacock Backdrop die
• Yellow and blue cardstock in my stash
• Scissors
• Glue

DIY Spring Bookmarks

By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! Today, I want to share with you how to make these Spring themed bookmarks, using Imagine Crafts products and simple crafting tools. These bookmarks are a great gift for book lovers, or donating to your local library, or even just for you to use personally. You can make a batch of them in a short time!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 15-30 minutes

Directions:

Step 1
I find that Canson Watercolor Paper 140lb is the best to make bookmarks. They are not only thick and sturdy, but also you can use any craft  techniques with this paper – either simply stamping, or watercoloring, or even mixed media.

Cut a piece of watercolor paper into 6 inch x 1 ¾ inch size. One piece of this 9 x 12 watercolor paper, you can get 10 bookmarks.

You can leave it as a rectangle or you can round the corner with the corner rounder punch. Next, use a ¼ inch hole punch to punch a hole at the center top of the bookmark for ribbon or teasel.

Step 2
Next step is to create the watercolor wash background using Memento DewDrop ink and Ink Potion No. 9 Spray on each of the bookmarks.

Dab the Memento ink on the craft mat and then spray with some of the Ink Potion No. 9.

Step 3
Smoosh a bookmark into the ink. Gently press to get the ink transferred to the bookmark.

Step 4
You can repeat this step as many times as you want to get the first color wash you like to get. You can spray the ink more to get lighter color, or spray the ink less to get more darker color.

And then repeat the step 2 and step 3 with different colors that you want to use on your bookmark background. For mine, I used the Memento Dew Drop Inks Angel Pink, Rose Bud, New Sprout, and Bamboo Leaves colors.

Step 5
When done with adding watercolor washes on the bookmarks, use the craft heat gun to dry them.

Option step, you can repeat step 2, step 3, and step 4, if you want to add more color to them.

Step 6
Dab some of the Delicata ink on the craft mat, spray it with the Ink Potion No. 9, and then smoosh the bookmark into the ink. Gently press it to get the ink transferred well.

You will get a shimmer look on the bookmark with this step.

Dry all the ink on the bookmark with a craft heat gun.

Step 7
When the bookmark background is completely dry, stamp the image and sentiment on them with VersaFine Clair ink using acrylic blocks (or stamping tool of your choice).

Use a craft heat gun to dry the stamped images and sentiments.

Step 8
This is optional. You can leave the bookmarks as they are, or you can add some more ink splatters to them.

To add more splatters to the bookmark, dab some of the Delicata Ruby Red ink on the craft mat, spray it with Ink Potion No. 9, and use a flat brush (or fan brush) to add the splatters.

Use a craft heat gun to dry the bookmarks.

Add some ribbon or teasel to the bookmarks.

Hope that you like this project and give it a try. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamp – Dearest Friend Stamp Set
  • Canson Watercolor Paper 140lb
  • Corner Rounder Punch
  • Hole Punch (¼ inch)
  • Fiskar paper trimmer
  • Acrylic stamping blocks
  • Flat paint brush or fan brush
  • Craft Heat Gun
  • Ribbon or twice or tassel