Tag Archives: DIY

Let’s Make A Graduation Card

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By Anna Escalada York

In today’s tutorial, I am sharing a graduation card. As a high school teacher, it is the time of year to
stock up on them!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Press ink pads onto a piece of acetate packaging or other non-porous surface. Spray the ink
with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and then quickly press the acetate onto a panel of
watercolor paper multiple times to press the ink onto the watercolor panel. After the ink dries,
repeat with different colors of ink sprayed with more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray.
Both panels feature Turquoise VersaColor ink, with Jumbo Java VersaMagic chalk ink and
Golden Glitz Delicata ink layers, just in different intensities. (I only ended up using one panel,
but will be using the other card for a project in the future.)

Step 2:
Die cut the panel with a mid-sized panel die (there will be another panel that is slightly larger
than this layer from the same nesting die set).

Step 3:
Repeatedly stamp a graduation cap stamp onto the watercolor smooshed panel with more of
the Turquoise VersaColor ink to create your own patterned paper. Then directly press the edges
of the panel into the Turquoise VersaColor ink pad to create a border on the panel.
Optional step: Heat emboss the stamped image and the border with clear embossing powder.

Step 4:
Using a larger panel die, die cut a piece of kraft cardstock to create a matte layer.

Step 5:
Using an ink dauber, ink blend Jumbo Java VersaMagic chalk ink along the edges of the panel.
This ink blending can be very imperfect since most of it will be hidden.

Step 6:
Stamp the sentiment on another piece of watercolor paper with Jumbo Java
VersaMagic chalk ink. Trim the sentiment, with the left and right edge being trimmed on a
diagonal if desired. Then press the VersaMagic chalk Ink pad onto the edges of the sentiment
strip and ink blend the edges with more of the same Jumbo Java ink using an ink dauber.

Step 7:
Attach all of the layers of the card together. Glue the stamped layer onto the larger
(brown, matte) one. Then glue both layers onto an A2 sized kraft card base.
Finally attach the sentiment strip onto the card with foam tape.

Step 8:
Glue copper and blue sequins onto the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata Ink – Golden Glitz
• Sheer Shimmer Spray – Sparkle
• VersaColor Ink – Turquoise
• VersaMagic Chalk Ink – Jumbo Java
• Sponge Dauber

Other Products
• Altenew – Tape – Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Catherine Pooler Designs – Santa Fe sequin mix (retired)
• Pink & Main – Notched Corners (nesting) die set
• Unity Stamps – Snarky Graduation stamp set
• Clear embossing powder
• Scissors
• Glue

Graduation Gift Card Holder

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! The Month of May is the month for graduation. It is time to celebrate those who made it through their education journey. Today, I would like to share a way to celebrate and congratulate them with this handmade graduation gift card holder.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30-45 minutes


Direction:

Step 1
Cut all the pieces from the gift card holder die set using the pattern cardstock and plain cardstock of your choice. I chose the school colors for my project.

Step 2
Add a small amount of the Brilliance Inker Galaxy Gold on the Imagine Craft Mat.

Use the sponge dauber to add the ink on the cardstock cut out.

Let it dry for a few minutes, then add more ink to it for more color, if needed.

Remove the stencil carefully and let it sit to dry completely or use a craft heat gun to speed up the drying time.

Step 3
On the front piece cut out, stamp the graduation hat and diploma images randomly using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad.

Set aside to dry or use a craft heat gun to speed up the drying time.

Step 4
When all the pieces that need stamping or/and stenciling done, you can put together the cut out pieces following the instruction.

Use a bone folder to fold the pieces.

Use On Point Glue and Tear It! Double-Sided Adhesive Tape to put each piece together.

Step 5
On a white piece of white cardstock, stamp the sentiment using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad and stamping acrylic block.

Cut it with the tag die.

Add the tag to the gift card holder handle with a piece of twine.

Here’s how it looks when it is close. Isn’t that cute little gift card holder?

Hopefully this project will give you an idea for a handmade gift project and you give it a try.
Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Dare 2B Artzy – Purse Gift Card Holder Die Set
  • Dare 2B Artzy – Rectangle Framelits Die
  • Close To My Heart – Diploma Day Stamp Set
  • Close To My Heart – Smarty Pants Stamp Set
  • Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps – Starry Night Stencil
  • Pattern Cardstock
  • White Cardstock 100 lb
  • Solid Color Cardstock
  • Glitter Cardstock
  • Twine
  • Washi Tape
  • Bone Folder
  • Craft Tweezers
  • Embossing/Diecutting machine
  • MISTI stamping tool

Password Memo Book

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By Kathi Rerek

Intro: Do you have passwords that continually need to be updated AND have problems remembering them? Do you write those letter-number-symbols somewhere, then end up with an overwritten mess?

Get an inexpensive memo book and use your inks, stamps, stencils, and dies to decorate it!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Instructions:

Step 1:
Use a paintbrush and Snowflake Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint to paint the front and back covers of the memo pad. You don’t have to be neat as brush strokes will only add texture to the project. You might need a second coat to cover the print on the back cover. Let dry, though this paint dries really quickly!

Step 2:
Use a Sponge Dauber to apply a Starlite Silver Brilliance ink to both the covers. Heat set.

Step 3:
Use a Fantastix to apply Starlite Silver Brilliance ink around the binding rings of the pad.

Step 4:
Use copper or steel wool pads to pounce Cosmic Copper Brilliance Ink spots and marks to both covers the pad. Heat set.

Step 5:
Place a magnet sheet under a piece of paper and set the pad’s front cover onto the paper. Place the Keyhole stencil over the notebook. Secure with magnets and/or low-tack tape. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Black Brilliance Ink over the stencil onto the pad’s cover. Let sit for a few minutes and repeat the Ink stenciling. Remove the stencil and heat set the pad’s cover.

Step 6:
Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Silver Brilliance Ink to a small piece of black cardstock. Heat Set. Use the Keyhole Cutting Die to cut the inked cardstock. Sorry that there’s no photo.

Steps 7A and 7B:
Use Starlite Black Brilliance Ink (7A) to add depth to the silver keyhole. Repeat with Lightning Black Brilliance Ink (7B).

Step 8:
Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Big Head/Big Eye image from the Humanoids Stamp Unmounted Rubber Stamp Set onto white cardstock.

Step 9:
Color the image panel with Copic markers. Sorry that there’s no photo!

Step 10:
Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the colored image panel behind the opening in the keyhole. Add tiny screw-top brads to the each corner, then mat the keyhole rectangular image panel with black cardstock, cut slightly larger than the keyhole panel.

Step 11:
Use Snowflake Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint to paint the Skull Skeleton masonite key. Let dry, then use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Silver Brilliance Ink to the key. Heat set.

Step 12:
Use On Point Glue to adhere the key to the front of the keyhole image panel.

Step 13:
Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the keyhole image panel to the front of the Password memo pad.

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • 140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • 140 lb. Black Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore
  • Snowflake Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint by PaperArtsy
  • Keyhole Stencil – Source Unknown
  • Lock and Key Die Die-namics Set by My Favorite Things
  • Humanoids KTZ223 Red Rubber Unmounted Stamp Set by Katzelkraft
  • Copic Markers
  • Metallic Markers by Spectrum Noir
  • Skull Skeleton Key Masonite Cut Outs by Coffee Break Designs/Retro Cafe Art
  • Red Gemstone: Source Unknown
  • Heat Gun
  • Stamping Platform by Tonic Studios

StazOn Stamping on Fun Foam

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By Jessica Lin

StazOn is a great, fast-drying ink for stamping on special mediums. They work great for stamping on non-porous surfaces like plastic sheets, but I was surprised with how well they stamp on craft foam. The details are crisp and the ink dries almost instantly. Let’s dive into the process of making a unique tag with craft foam!

Skill: Beginner
Time:  30 minutes

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp the image with StazOn Timber Brown ink on craft foam. I used a stamp platform with the Doggone Friendly background stamp but did not have to re-stamp twice.

Step 2:
Die cut the craft foam with Gift Tags 2 dies. I like the stitched details around these tag dies.

Step 3:
Add a sentiment. I created a custom “Pawsome Bday” sentiment with the Labeler Alphabet stamp set with VersaMagic Ocean Depth ink pad.

Step 4:
Add additional embellishments like enamel shapes and ribbons. I also adhered a piece of white cardstock to the back of the foam tag for writing messages. Then the tag is done for decorating any gift boxes! 

Craft Supplies:

Imagine:

Other Supplies:

https://www.stampinup.com/products/mini-stampin-cut-emboss-machine?demoid=2164794

  • We R – Tool – Precision Press
  • Paper Smooches – Dies – Gift Tags 2

Let’s Make A Floral Sympathy Card

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By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! One of the handmade cards I always have in my stash is the “sympathy” or “thinking of you” card. Today, I would like to share with you a quick and simple way to make this card using Imagine Crafts products, an embossing folder, and stamps. The cardmaking technique we will use is inking on an embossing folder to create that background.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 10-15 minutes

Direction:

Step 1
Dab some of the VersaMagic inks on the raised-side of the embossing folder. Try to blend the colors while adding them.

Add a piece 4 ¼ inch x 5 ⅕ inch heavy-weight white cardstock to the embossing folder and run it through the embossing machine.

Step 2
Stamp the image and sentiment on another piece of 4 ¼ inch x 5 ⅕ inch heavy-weight white cardstock using the stamping tool with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Optional: you can color the image with alcohol markers, or any other coloring medium. But I decided to use this image in simple black and white.

Step 3
After stamping them, use the scissors to fussy cut the image and sentiment. You also can use a matching die, if you have it.

Step 4
Trim the embossed panel into slightly smaller than the A2 card base. And then add it to the card base with On Point Glue.
Add the flower and sentiment banner to the card with the On Point Glue.

Optional: Add some small gems to the card to decorate it, or you can leave as it is.

That’s my project for today. Hopefully, you’ll like this project and give it a try. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!

Craft Supplies

Imagine:

Others:

  • Embossing Folder
  • Sympathy Morning Glories Clear Stamp Set (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
  • Heavy-weight white cardstock 100 lb
  • Clear gems
  • Micro-tip Scissors
  • Fiskar paper trimmer
  • MISTI stamping tool

Inking Stamps with Memento Markers for Watercolor Effect

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By Jessica Lin

Have you ever tried inking stamps with markers instead of ink pads? It has been a long time since I used this technique, so I decided to revisit it again today. To blend the colors and achieve a watercolor look, you can spritz on the stamp before stamping. I love the result and I hope you do, too!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes

Step 1:
Color the stamps with Memento markers (tip: use the broader tip of the marker to easily cover a large area). I used three sets of colors today: Green House, Juicy Purples, and the light pink marker from Girl’s Night Out. The floral stamp is from Stampin’ Up!’s Good Morning Magnolia set. It’s a red rubber stamp and the colors may not be fully visible after you color, so I would recommend starting with the lighter shades and adding the bolder colors afterwards.

Step 2:
Spritze Sheer Shimmer Sparkle spray onto the stamp before stamping onto your card. This would blend the colors together to create a watercolor look.

Step 3:
Stamp onto the card. For the flower image, I may have used too much purple so it’s harder to see the transition from purple to pink. The leaves turned out perfectly; I really like the faux watercolor effect.

Step 4:
Use a pair of paper snips to cut along the edge of the magnolia flower. I then added a piece of Fresh Freesia cardstock to the inside of the card. The Fresh Freesia cardstock peeks through the bottom cutout edge and complements purple flower nicely.

Step 5:
Stamp a “Happy Mother’s Day” sentiment with Brilliance Purple pigment ink. I also die cut a vellum decorative strip to embellish the simple sentiment but it’s totally optional. And that completes the card! I hope you enjoy this simple technique and would give these Memento markers a try!

Products Used:

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies: