Tag Archives: DIY Inspiration

Easy Watercoloring with Chalk Inks Makes Beautiful Results

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by Martha Lucia Gomez

Watercoloring is always a unique technique that you can use to produce colorful and unusual results. Most people think of Memento dye inks with watercoloring because they are the most obvious water-based crafting ink, but have you tried chalk inks like VersaMagic? Today’s cardmaking project, I will show you how easy and wonderful your projects can look with these inks. And yes VersaMagic is water-based so they work wonderfully with this technique. See for yourself!

Directions


Step 1

I started using a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, you can also use watercolor paper but I preferred to use regular cardstock because the final texture of the chalk inks is very soft. Over your craft mat apply some spots of ink directly from the inkpad. I used three different colors of VersaMagic: Mango, Red Magic and Purple Hydrangea. Spray the ink with Ink Potion No. 9 and mix if you want or keep the colors separated. Place the cardstock over the sprayed area, press easily, remove and let the paper dry. If you want to speed up the process you can use the heat tool.


Step 2

When the paper is totally dry, stamp the image background using VersaFine Clair Summertime with a Misti or Stamparatus tool. Cover the entire layer with clear embossing powder and activate the powder with the heat tool.


Step 3

If you consider necessary, you can enhance some details of your stamped image with a Memento Marker. I used the Dandelion Marker to enhance some details of the Ornate Background. Also using VersaFine Clair Norturne, stamp a sentiment in a separate piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. If you want you can emboss this message with clear embossing or leave it in its original state.


Step 4

Resize your stamped layer and paste directly over the Tangerine Tango card base using Tear It Tape. Paste the stamped sentiment using dimensionals or double-sided foam tape and finalize decorating with some drops create with irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Dandelion Color. Easy and fun!

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – Very Vanilla, Tangerine Tango
  • Simon Says Stamp – Ornate Background
  • MISTI or Stamparatus Stamping Tool
  • Double sided foam tape or Dimensionals
  • Heat tool

Create a Beautiful Sunburst Card with VersaMagic

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by Melissa Andrew

Create a Beautiful Sunburst Card with VersaMagic and Fireworks Craft Spray

Today’s tutorial shows you how to use a stencil to create a beautiful design with a resist effect and VersaMagic colors. Embossing powder creates a resist with Fireworks Shimmer Spray and the combination can be used for gorgeous backgrounds for cards, scrapbooks, and any paper craft projects.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Whimsy Stamps – Sun Rays stencil, Fly By stamp set
  • Bristol Smooth Card
  • White Cardstock for card base
  • Hammermill Cover Copy
  • Copic Markers – B28, R29
  • Adhesive
  • Paper Trimmer

See How to Make a Paper Rainbow Pinwheel Wreath

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by Roni Johnson

See How to Make a Paper Rainbow Pinwheel Wreath with VersaMagic Ink.

It’s April! Can you believe it? I wanted to make something fun for summer to hang on our front door and I think this rainbow pinwheel wreath is just the ticket. It’s bright, cheerful and welcoming to all who grace our doorstep. I decided to use 21 different colors of VersaMagic ink to grace my rainbow but of course, any color theme would be perfect for this project. The complete color list can be found in the supply list below.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 4 hours

Directions


Step 1

Cut eight 5-inch squares, seven 4-inch squares, and six 3-inch squares from white cardstock.


Step 2

Pencil in lines from corner to corner. Draw a 1-inch circle in the center of each square.


Step 3

Punch a hole in each triangle near the corner as shown.


Step 4

Sponge ink on the lined side of the cardstock. Only a portion of each triangle needs to be colored.


Step 5

Flip the square over and stamp the desired pattern on each of the triangles. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until all of the squares have been inked.


Step 6

Cut along the penciled lines from the tip to the edge of the circle. Fold each triangle over to the center, line up the holes and secure with a brad.


Step 7

Repeat steps 7 & 8 until all squares have been turned into a pinwheel.


Step 8

Cut out a wreath shape from chipboard.


Step 9

Hot glue largest pinwheels to the wreath first, fill in blank areas with the medium and small pinwheels. A stack of foam board was used to elevate the smaller pinwheels above the larger ones.

Supplies

Imagine
  • VersaMagic DewDrop – Aegean Blue, Aquatic Splash, Key Lime, Malted Mauve, Mango Madness, Night Sky, Oasis Green, Ocean Depth, Perfect Plumeria, Persimmon, Pink Grapefruit, Pink Petunia, Pixie Dust, Pretty Petunia, Purple Hydrangea, Red Magic, Sea Breeze, Spring Pansy, Tea Leaves, Thatched Straw, Turquois Green
  • Sponge Dauber
  • Craft Mat
Other
  • Rubber Stamp Tapestry – Posy Flower; Dot Flowers
  • Cardstock
  • Crop-A-Dile Hole Punch
  • Brads
  • Chipboard
  • Foam Board
  • Hot Glue Gun

April Color of the Month is Mango!

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Mango is April's Color of the Month 2018

Mango is not only a delicious fruit, it is also a beautiful color! Every month we challenge our Artists in Residence with a couple of different ideas or themes to push them to think outside the box, to try a technique they haven’t tried before and to give flow and continuity to the projects. This month our color is Mango which we consider a soft yellow-orange. We chose it to get us in the mood for summer! This color reminds us of fruit, flowers, the warming sun, and fun-in-the-sun activities. Another challenge we offered to our artists is to use VersaMagic ink. This chalk-like finish makes this ink a delight to work with on almost any crafting project.

Here is a sneak peak for the month of April

Elina Stromberg created this lovely “Hello” greeting card using Memento dye inks in Cantaloupe.

Iris Rodriguez created this “Hello” greeting card with a flowering tree using VersaMagic Mango Madness, Thatched Straw, and Aegean Blue

Roni Johnson created this “Keep on Swimmin” encouragement card using VersaMagic in Mango Madness with some shading using Memento Dual Tip Markers.

Keep an eye on our posts this month to see these and many more tutorials in this fabulous color!

Create an Ultraviolet Mother’s Day Hugs Card

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by Roni Johnson

Create an Ultraviolet Mother’s Day Hugs Card

When I found out the color of the month for March would be Ultraviolet I was so excited. I wanted to get a jump start on upcoming holiday cards and I KNEW this would be the perfect time to make a Mother’s Day card for my mom. She LOVES purple! So much so that she has purple highlights in her hair. Yes, you read that correctly! My mom who is in her 7th decade of life is a bit on the wild side so this card will fit her perfectly.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 25 Minutes

Directions

Stamp with Radiant Neon Electric Purple.
Step 1

Place a piece of white cardstock in a stamp positioning tool. Stamp the marble background with Radiant Neon Electric Purple.


the marble stamp with VersaColor Neptune Ink
Step 2

Apply ink to some areas of the marble stamp with VersaColor Neptune Ink using a sponge dauber to create depth in the marble pattern and stamp again.


Step 3

Sprinkle Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Sparkle over the image. Shake off excess and heat to melt the powder.


Step 4

Spread an even layer of Iridescent Purple Creative Medium over a 5 ½” x 8 ¼” piece of black cardstock using a palette knife. Set aside to dry.


Step 5

Die cut the “Hugs” sentiment from the center of the marbled panel, then die cut a frame from the edge of the panel.


Step 6

Adhere the black Creative Medium panel onto a purple card base; mount the frame to the card using Tear It Tape. Mount the sentiment panel to the card base using double stick foam tape.


Step 7

Die cut fishtail banner from white cardstock. Stamp sentiment on the banner using VersaColor Neptune ink. Adhere to the card. Die cut “big” from a scrap of the Creative Medium cardstock and adhere using On Point Glue.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • MFT Stamps – Bottle Cap Alphabet; Fishtail Banner; Stitched Frame, “HUGS”, Marble Background Stamp
  • Double Stick Tape
  • Cardstock
  • My Sweet Petunia – MISTI Stamping Tool
  • Heat tool

Learn How to Upcycle Wine Bottles with Paper Mache

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by Iris Rodriguez

Spring is coming and in some places, it’s already starting to look like spring with the beginning of sunny weather. To celebrate the change of the season, I like altering bottles of every type such as wine, liquor, and Coke bottles. Each one has it’s own potential and beauty. Today’s project is an altered wine bottle, made to look like flowers are springing out (pun intended) with a real zipper and paper mache to cover the glass. This project takes time! Paper mache takes longer to dry so to start this project please carve out a couple days for its completion. As part of my color palette, I was inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultraviolet. For my version of Ultraviolet I used Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray Grape Jelly and Lulu Lavender. This altered bottle makes a beautiful home décor, centerpiece or just a nice gift.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 2.5 hours + 1 day drying time

Directions


Step 1

Select a bottle, remove labels and wash it inside and out. Dry completely.


Step 2

Measure the zipper on the bottle, determined where it should open and adjust slider accordingly.


Step 3

Glue cardstock paper on each side of the zipper, ensuring that the paper is on front facing side of the zipper. Add paper starting from the top of the zipper to where the slider is located. The paper helps to glue the zipper on the bottle and still allows for adjustments to the opening.


Step 4

Glue tissue paper around the area where the zipper will be placed. The tissue makes for a porous surface to color and to glue on the zipper. Let dry.


Step 5

Glue the zipper onto the bottle.


Step 6

Mix the Sculptamold or other paper mache product with water. Mix in small sprinkles of water at a time until the desired consistency is achieved, which should be similar to cottage cheese. Mix a small portion at a time. Be careful but quick because it sets fast.


Step 7

Apply the paper mache with a palette knife around the outside of the zipper. Work time is short—about 15 mins before it begins to set. Spray a little water to smooth the surface. (After it has set, you won’t be able to change it much.) Paper mache is very porous and takes the ink sprays very nicely. It is messy, however. It is water soluble, so clean up is fast and easy. Let the bottle dry for one day or more.


Step 8

Apply more paper mache or molding paste through stencils. The pattern will not come out crisp and clear because of the bumpy surface but that’s what makes it artsy! Let dry.


Step 9

Color the bottle with Fireworks Shimmery Craft Sprays.


Step 10

Color paper flowers with the Fireworks. If you want some dilution of color without dilution of Sparkle, add Sheer Shimmer in Sparkle. (Also, if you wanted to keep some white, make them match by just adding Sheer Shimmer.)


Step 11

Spray Fireworks onto the smooth side of the watercolor paper. Dry it completely. Stamp and emboss the butterflies with Tuxedo Black Memento Luxe and black embossing powder. Fussy cut the butterflies. For the antennas soak a piece of embroidery thread in glue. This will stiffen the thread. Cut little pieces for the antennas and glue to the back of the butterflies.


Step 12

To make a decorative bottle stopper use a dresser pull knob.


Step 13

Apply gesso to the dresser pull knob then color with the Grape Jelly Fireworks Craft Spray. Then seal the knob with the spray sealer.


Step 14

To adhere the knob to the bottle, use a natural cork and glue. The cork usually expands when it is popped out the bottle, so in essence, it’s hard to stick back in the bottle completely. However, you can shave down the cork with a serrated knife. This image shows the cork before and after.


Step 15

Screw in the dresser pull knob into the cork. Apply E-6000 adhesive. An alternative to using a cork, adhere the dresser pull knob with a two-part Epoxy clay.


Step 16

Place the corked knob in the bottle.


Step 17

Phew! Almost done. All that is left to do is to put it together. Glue the flowers in the area between the open zipper, tucking them under the edges. Glue butterflies around. Spray a little bit of sealer over the entire bottle.


Step 18

The pull knob’s neck area will need a ribbon to cover the seam and glued cork. Embellish the bottle with charms, rhinestones, chains.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Glass bottle
  • Zipper
  • Paper flowers
  • Embellishments – ribbon, rhinestones, charms
  • Butterfly stamp
  • Sculptamold or other paper mache product
  • Molding paste (optional)
  • Cardstock – white
  • Watercolor paper
  • Gel Glue
  • E-6000
  • Cork
  • Dresser pull knob
  • Stencils
  • Gesso
  • Krylon – Spray Sealer
  • Embroidery thread – black