Tag Archives: DIY Inspiration

See How To Make These Artist Trading Cards With Vertigo Dragonflies

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by Lori Warren

This cardmaking project is all about using layers of ink to create a collage background with stamps and stencils. It’s a great way to build a cool background in order to feature that perfect focal image, like a Vertigo, die cut dragonfly.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Apply VersaMagic DewDrops to a Craft Mat and add water.


Step 2

Lay 8.5” x 11” piece of cardstock down into the wet ink. Repeat as needed.


Step 3

Apply VersaMagic through the diamond shape stencil with a sponge dauber.


Step 4

Stamp script stamp with StazOn Pigment Ink.


Step 5

Apply water and blot with a paper towel, pulling some ink away.


Step 6

Spray panel with Walnut Ink, blot and dry. This gives the paper a vintage or antique look.


Step 7

With a different stencil apply a different color of VersaMagic. This creates a beautiful layered effect.


Step 8

Using the same stencil, apply White VersaMagic to make a bit of a frosty ghost effect.


Step 9

Cut cardstock panel to multiple 2.5” x 3.5” ATCs or Artist Trading Cards.


Step 10

Stamp a vintage postcard image with VersaFine Clair.


Step 11

Edge ATCs with brown and black inks to continue the antique look.


Step 12

Tie string around each card a couple times to give the ATCs to give extra flair.


Step 13

Die cut dragonfly image from Vertigo Prism, color with VersaMagic.


Step 14

Prepare dragonfly with double-sided dimensional tape. This will give each dragonfly the effect of flying.


Step 15

Adhere dragonfly die cut to ATCs.


Step 16

Enhance dragonfly with a white pen and embellish with tag and sticky gems.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Sizzix – Dragonfly
  • Jillibean Soup – Sticky Notes
  • Sticky gems
  • Lori’s Cards & Creations – Script Stamp
  • Clear Stamps – Postmarks
  • Uni-ball Signo -White
  • Black string
  • TCW Stencil – TCW202, TCW855

Create Your Own Holographic Vertigo Film for Cardmaking Crafts

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by Roni Johnson

Create Your Own Holographic Vertigo Film for Cardmaking Crafts

Holographic … as a color? Yep, that’s what May’s color of the month is at Imagine. I must admit at first I was thrilled. I LOVE the wide spectrum of color, the swirly design, and the amazing depth it gives a project. After the jubilation wore off I was stumped! Short of going out and buying some holographic paper, how do I create this look on my own? Well, I took this as a challenge and I set to experimenting.

Let me tell you experimentation is not a pretty process…lots and LOTS of trial and error but it is very fun! As luck would have it I found the perfect recipe for making my very own holographic colored technique and I’d like to share it with you.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Cut a piece of Vertigo film to the desired size. I am using a 4.25 x 5.5” for my examples.


Step 2

Begin applying ribbons of color using a variety of StazOn inks and a sponge dauber. I must warn you that the Vertigo film has a texture to it that may or may not tear up your sponge daubers. If you are a bit heavy handed as I am the film does tend to chew on the dauber. It’s o.k. though, I keep a set of the daubers set aside just for this purpose.


Step 3

Continue to add color until the entire piece of Vertigo film has been covered. You will be left with a very colorful sheet of Vertigo film.


Step 4

Freshen up or apply a brand new coat of the ink/glue your Essential Glue Pad.


Step 5

Pounce the Glue Pad over a background stamp.


Step 6

Position the inked piece of Vertigo film over the inked stamp. Lightly rub the back of the Vertigo to ensure complete coverage.


Step 7

Carefully place silver leafing flakes over the inked film. I find that a soft bristle brush helps to push the leafing flakes around where needed. Let the glue dry completely. I usually leave it undisturbed for 2-4 hours.


Step 8

After the glue has dried use a soft bristle brush to remove the excess leafing flakes. Save the excess leafing flakes for future use. And here’s how this example looks after removing the excess leafing flakes.


Step 9

Time to apply a layer of StazOn Pigment ink over the panel. Choose a color that will compliment the overall design and apply it over both the exposed Vertigo film and the leafing flakes.


Step 10

You will be left with an amazing design that has all of the wonderful aspects of holographic colors.


Step 11

The same panel from another angle reveals the beauty of the StazOn ink colors hidden beneath the leafing flakes. It will shine and shimmer from every angle.


Step 12

What can you do with the holographic design? Virtually anything! You are only limited by your imagination. The card above is assembled with a unicorn stamp and the “you are magical” sentiment.

This is another example made using the same technique with a different selection of colors. The card above is assembled with a mermaid stamp and the “The hardest part of moving forward is not looking back” sentiment.

Supplies

Unicorn Example

Imagine
Other
  • Hero Arts – Unicorn Stamp and Cut
  • Black Widow Colored Pencils
  • White Cardstock

Mermaid Example

Imagine
Other
  • Unity Stamp Co – She Mermaid (mermaid), Mystical Mermaid (sentiment)
  • Black Widow Colored Pencils
  • White Cardstock

Learn How to Use Iridescent Blue Creative Medium to get 3 Different Looks

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by Lindsay Adreon

Learn How to Use Iridescent Blue Creative Medium 3 Different Looks

When I first took a peek at the Iridescent Creative Medium I couldn’t quite figure it out. In the jar, it didn’t really have any shine and I couldn’t detect a color shift like other iridescent products. Then, I swatched it and let it dry. I could not stop staring at how beautiful it was! Moving the swatch in the light—I was mesmerized by the medium and how it would shift colors as I moved it around! It also looks different on different colors of cardstock, plus you can add color to it! I’m sharing three different ways to use the Iridescent Creative Medium. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy playing around and experimenting with this fun medium!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes + dry time

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • The Crafter’s Workshop Stencils – Wallflowers, Distressed Lace
  • Joy Clair Stamps – Spring Stroll Stamp Set
  • Hero Arts Prayers Stamp & Die Set
  • Cardstock – black, white
  • Cardbase

Learn to Create a Card with All-Purpose Ink Blowing

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by Lindsay Adreon

Learn to Create a Card with All-Purpose Ink Blowing

I love to create fun backgrounds with new techniques to be the main focal point on my cards. In this video, I’m sharing a really fun and creative way to use the All-Purpose Inks from Imagine to create one of a kind backgrounds! And all you need is a straw!!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour for 2 cards

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Watercolor paper
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Straw
  • Water Mister
  • Deco Foil – Gold, Bronze
  • Concord & 9th Hello Lovely
  • Inspired by Stamping Smile Die
  • Die Cutting Machine

See How to Create Rose Gold Theme Gift Tag

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by Lori Warren

See How to Create Rose Gold Theme Gift Tag

I have limited space for craft supplies and am always looking for ways to get multiple uses out of a single supply. One way to accomplish this, for example, is to keep a stash of white paper flowers in different sizes and color them to match your project.  This way, you don’t have to make room for multiple packages of pre-colored flowers. See how I create a Rose Gold Dragonfly theme gift tag using several of Imagine and Tsukineko inks.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions

 


Step 1

Apply Brilliance Ink to mat, add Shimmer Spray, use to color paper flower. Allow to dry.


Step 2

Repeat step one for multiple flowers.


Step 3

Add dots of clear IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher to flowers. Allow to dry.


Step 4

Apply Brilliance Ink in Pearlescent Coral to the mat, add Shimmer Spray and lay tag down into wet ink.  Allow to dry.


Step 5

Stamp diamond pattern, with Brilliance, to sections of tag.


Step 6

Stamp script onto tag with Delicata Golden Glitz.


Step 7

Edge tag with Brilliance.


Step 8

Stamp Dragonfly image and saying with VersaFine CLAIR in Nocturne.


Step 9

Embellish with dots of Tuxedo Black IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher.


Step 10

Apply Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix to edge of flowers.


Step 11

Embellish tag with ribbon and flowers.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • The Paper Studio – white tag
  • Recollections – paper flowers
  • Celebrate it – sheer ribbon
  • Ashland Floral Essentials
  • Lori’s Cards & Creations – Art Nouveau Dragonfly stamp set
  • Viva Las Vegas script stamp
  • Lost Coast Designs – Little Diamonds Background

Use a Beautiful Coral Color on These Cute Panda Birthday Cards

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by Elina Stromberg

Use a Beautiful Coral Color on These Cute Panda Birthday Cards

Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute declares a particular color “Color of the Year”. It is chosen in a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups, and the result of the meeting is communicated in Pantone View, which fashion designers and other consumer-oriented companies purchase and use as guidance for their future product designs.

This year the Pantone Color of the Year is “Living Coral”. It is described as “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge”. Lovely! To celebrate this newly released Color of the Year “Living Coral” is also the color of the month for Imagine AIR’s. I must admit that coral is very rarely seen on my crafting projects, but I was quite surprised how yummy this rich red color looked on my card creation. Especially when contrasted with simple light grey hues!

Skill: Beginner/Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Layer two stencils on the card background: Place the patterned stencil on the background paper and a circle stencil on top. Secure on your crafting mat with masking tape. Apply ‘Electric Coral’ Radiant Neon ink through the stencil with a sponge dauber. Remove both stencils.


Step 2

Place the inked background paper on a sheet of printing paper. Pour clear embossing powder over the stenciled and inked area. Pour any extra embossing powder onto the printing paper and funnel the extra powder back into its container. Heat the embossing powder with a heating tool until completely melted. Trim the decorated paper to size and mat on a piece of coral colored cardstock.


Step 3

Stamp the panda image and sentiment text with black ink on white paper. Cut out and glue on the card front. Attach card on white card base using double-sided tape. When the card was finished the stencil still had still coral ink on it, so I decided to use it for another fun card background: I misted the inked part of the stencil gently with water, placed it upside down on a piece of grey patterned paper, and transferred the ink on the paper by rolling the stencil background with a brayer.


Step 4

Then I removed the stencil, let the ink dry, and dabbed a thin layer of coral ink on the pattern. Then I repeated the mounting on coral cardstock and used a different panda image for this card. I think this reverse version of the stencil pattern looks very nice, too!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Light grey patterned paper
  • Coral cardstock
  • White paper
  • White card base
  • Heat gun
  • Brayer
  • Water mister
  • Stamps: Stampin’Up: Party Pandas
  • Stencils: Circle stencil
  • TCW: Botanical Garden (6”x6”)
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Double-sided tape