Floral Mixed Media Card

By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! Today we are going to make this floral mixed media card with some ink-smooshing, ink-swiping, ink-splattering, and embossing techniques.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 15-30 minutes

Direction:

Step 1

Starting with creating the watercolored background panel by cutting a piece of 140 lb watercolor cardstock into 4 ¼ inch x 5 ½ inch. To pick out the color combo, make sure you pick the colors that won’t turn into a muddy color when they are mixed together.

Scribble some of the Tropical Lagoon Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water. Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 2

Scribble some of the Peony Purple Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water.

Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 3

Scribble some of the Tangerine Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water.

Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 4

Scribble some of the Lemon Yellow Fabrico Marker on the craft mat and then spray it lightly with some water.

Then, smoosh the watercolor cardstock to the watercolor ink on the mat. Pick it up and dry the watercolor ink on the panel with a craft heat gun. Repeat it until you like the result.

Clean the craft mat with the Staz-On All Purpose Stamp Cleaner and paper towel.

Step 5

Once the watercolored panel dried well, put it inside the embossing folder, and then run it through the machine.

Step 6

Swipe the VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze ink directly on the embossed part of the panel.

Make sure you swipe the ink lightly and smoothly, do not press down the ink pad to the paper. The juicer (good amount of ink) ink pad, the better.

Dry the ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 7

To tone down the bright color, swipe some of the VersMagic Cloud White ink on the panel.

This is an optional step, if you prefer a more subtle color background instead of bright color.

Dry the ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 8

Shake the Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Sprays bottles before you use it to make sure the ink inside mixes well.

Open the top of the spray and use it (or small round brush) to add some splatters of the Summer Sky Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray on the panel.

Dry the splatters of ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 9

Next, open the top of the spray and use it (or small round brush) to add some splatters of the Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray on the panel.

Dry the splatters of ink on the panel with a craft heat gun.

Step 10

Stamp the flower and leaf images on a white cardstock using the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad with a stamping tool (or acrylic stamping blocks).

Dry the stamped images with a craft heat gun.

Step 11

Cut all the stamped flowers and leaves with their matching die set, or you can fussy cut them using micro-tip scissors.

Step 12

Stamp the sentiment on a white card stock using the VersaFine Clair Warm Breeze ink pad with a stamping block.

Dry the stamped sentiment word with a craft heat gun and then fussy cut it with a micro-tip scissors.

Step 13

Trim the background panel into 4 inch x 5 ¼ inch using a paper trimmer.

Add the background panel to an A2 card base with the On Point Glue.

Step 14

Cut a piece of white paper (copy paper works great) with the Delicate Doily die to create your own doily paper mat.

Add the doily paper to the card with the On Point Glue.

Step 15

Add the flowers and leaves to the card with On Point Glue.

Then, add some of a thin foam to the sentiment with On Point Glue and add it to the card with the same glue.

Step 16

Add more shimmer to the card by spraying and splatting some of the Sheer Shimmer Spark Spray.

The ink-smooshing, embossing, ink-swiping, and ink-splattering techniques give an amazing texture look to the background of this card.

And those layers of doily, flowers, leaves, and sentiment add more dimension to this mixed media card.

I hope you will give this tutorial a try and play around with different colors to see the surprise you will get for your cards. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today.

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Bold Blooms stamp & die bundle set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Delicate Doily die set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Scallop Embossing Folder (Close To MY Heart, discontinued)
  • Watercolor cardstock 140 lb.
  • White cardstock
  • White copy paper
  • Acrylic stamping blocks / Tool
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Twizzers
  • Bone Folder
  • Bottle Sprayer / Mister Bottle
  • Paper Towel

Let’s Give Thanks Card

By Anna Escalada York

To me, Thanksgiving is mostly about food but also an excuse to say thank you to those people who are a part of my personal and professional life. So I decided to make a thank you card to let people know that I am grateful for them. I decided to use some paper scraps because I always have too many and to enhance them with sprays or ink to transform them. At first, I was planning on making one card with a lot of leaves, but changed my mind after die cutting the leaves, so ended up making two.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Pull out some scraps of paper from your stash and a variety of sprays and ink. Spray the scraps with the sprays. My scraps were colored with Cantaloupe, Angel Pink, Dandelion, Lilac Posies, and Tangelo Fireworks! Craft Sprays as well as Peanut Brittle Memento Ink. After the spray dried, die cut the scraps of paper with leaf dies. Reserve some of the sprayed paper for later.

Step 2:
Press Walnut Ink colored Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution as well as Elderberry Memento ink onto acetate packaging. Add water to the different parts of the acetate and splatter the die cut leaves with the Elderberry Memento ink. Then watercolor smoosh the leaves with both the Elderberry Memento ink and the Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution. After the leaves dried, rub the edges of the leaves with the London Fog Memento ink pad. Allow everything to dry again.

Step 3:
Trim a piece of kraft cardstock with a paper trimmer to about 5 x 3.75 inches. Then spray Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray directly into an embossing folder. Place the kraft cardstock panel into the embossing folder and then run the whole thing through a die cutting machine.

Allow the panel to dry.

Step 4:
Use Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink to add some color to the panel by brushing the panel lightly across the embossed paper. The raised part of the embossed panel will pick up the dark brown ink, while the other areas will be untouched. Then press the edges with the same Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink panel to add color to the border.

Step 5:
I die cut a scrap piece of rose gold glitter cardstock with a stitched circle die as well as the shadow die of a two-layer sentiment die. In addition, I die cut another piece of the lilac (purple) sprayed cardstock from step 1 with the top layer of the two-layer sentiment die. I also die cut two pieces of scrap cardstock with the same sentiment die. The layers of the sentiment die were glued together to give dimension and then they were glued on the rose gold shadow die cut.

Then the card was assembled. I glued three of the leaves onto the glitter cardstock die cut circle and then glued the whole thing onto the embossed panel. Next, the sentiment was glued onto the panel. Sequins were glued onto the panel. Finally, the whole thing was glued onto a kraft cardbase.

A second card was made with the leftover die cut leaves in the same manner. The only changes were that I used a light orange vellum and some more of the sprayed scrap paper from step 1 to create the die cut circular background and the sentiment.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Dark Brown Shimmer
• Fireworks! Shimmer Craft Spray
– Angel Pink, Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Lilac Posies (retired color) and Tangelo

• Memento Ink – Elderberry, London Fog and Peanut Brittle
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Walnut Ink

Other Products

• Alex Syberia Designs – die set – Large Thanks
• HAI Supply – embellishments – Cola Crystalline gems
• Simon Says Stamp – Embossing folder Modern Loop
• Sizzix – die set – Leaf Fragments by Tim Holtz
• Circular die
• A2-sized kraft card base Clear Embossing Powder Kraft cardstock
• Glitter cardstock
• Light orange sparkly vellum
• Patterned paper scraps and magazine pages
• Die cutting machine
• Paper trimmer Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make a Holiday Card!

By Anna Escalada York

It’s July, so bring on the holiday cards! I personally love non-traditional colored holiday cards and so created one in pink, blue and purple.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.0 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp a large snowflake stamp on watercolor paper with Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 2:
Watercolor smoosh the watercolor panel with alternating layers of Lilac Pansies Fireworks! Craft Spray and Champagne Delicata Ink mixed with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray on scrap acetate.

Step 3:
Ink blend a combination of Champagne Delicata Ink and

Step 4:
Stamp the sentiment on a small scrap of watercolor paper with more of the Warm Breeze VersaFine Clair ink. Heat emboss with more clear embossing powder. Trim the sentiment down to the desired size with scissors. Then press the edges of the sentiment strip into the remaining mix of colors from step 2’s watercolor smooshing to color the edges.

Steps 5 and 6:

Press the Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top onto another piece of scrap acetate to create a liquid gold medium. Watercolor the gold liquid inside the snowflake to make it shiny. Watercolor smoosh the remaining gold watercolor onto the card panel.

After everything dried, die cut the watercolor panel with the second-largest die from an A2-sized nesting die set and a piece of blue metallic cardstock with the largest die from the same

A2-sized die set. Glue both die cut layers together. Attach the sentiment with foam tape. Glue sequins around the snowflake. Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata ink – Champagne
• Fireworks! – Lilac Posies
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Sparkle
• Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top – Gold
• VersaFine Clair ink – Baby Pink
• VersaFine Clair ink – Warm Breeze
• Sponge dauber

Other
• Altenew – foam tape
• Crafty Meraki – embellishments – Meraki Sparkle Prismatic Blue
• Idea-ology and Tim Holtz – 6 x 9 cardstock – blue (from the Metallic Colors collection)
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
Scrapbook.com – stencil – String Lights
• A2-sized white card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make a “Celebrate 4th of July Card” with Fireworks!

By Anna Escalada York

Today’s card was inspired by 4th of July celebrations, but is meant for a beloved coworker who is retiring after working at my school for over 25 years. She is one of the key people who everyone knew that they could turn to when they needed help and we will sorely miss her, but are so excited for her next adventure.

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. Spray Lilac Posies, Angel Pink and Rhubarb Stalk Fireworks! Craft Spray directly onto a fireworks embossing folder, trying to have the colors mix on the folder. Then add the watercolor paper panel onto the embossing folder and run the whole thing through a die cutting machine. The spray will move inside of the embossing folder when it is pressed through the machine, giving some interesting effects on your embossed panel. Allow the sprays to dry.

Step 2:
Ink blend the edges of the embossed panel with Neptune VersaColor ink. Press the Neptune VersaColor ink pad onto a piece of scrap acetate and spray with water and then splatter the mix onto the panel with a thin paintbrush. Then spray the panel with Copper Shimmer Spritz. Spray more of the Copper Shimmer onto a clean piece of acetate and use the spritz to paint the raised parts of the panel (the tendrils or arms of the fireworks). Allow to dry.

Step 3:
Die cut another piece of watercolor paper with the largest die in the A2-sized die set. Using a sponge dauber, ink blend the edges with more of the Neptune VersaColor ink and then the extreme edges with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink.

Step 4:
Splatter Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray onto the panel and allow to dry.

Step 5:
Stamp a sentiment on a scrap of watercolor paper with Medieval Blue VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Die cut the sentiment with the corresponding die.

Step 6:
Glue the two panels together. Attach the sentiment with foam tape. Then glue sequins on the lower left corner and just above the sentiment. Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase to finish the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray- Angel Pink, Lilac Posies, Paris Dusk and Rhubarb Stalk
• Sheer Shimmer Spritzer – Copper
• VersaColor ink – Neptune and Medieval Blue
• Sponge dauber

Other

• Altenew – embossing folder –
• Firework Trio 3D
• Altenew – Foam Tape
• Altenew – Die set – Blossoms of Encouragement
• Altenew – Stamp set – Blossoms of Encouragement
• Catherine Pooler – Sequin mix – Kyoto
• Pink and Main – Die set
• Notched Corners
• A2-sized kraft card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Create a Charming Valentines Card

By Ceil Pritchett

Hello Everyone, it’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing how to create a background using our Fireworks spray using a Gel Press plate.

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Time: 45 minutes to an hour

Directions:
Gather your supplies. You will need some Fireworks! sprays, some shimmer spray (I used gold), a stencil, a Gel Press plate, a rubber brayer, some copy paper or cardstock (I used copy paper) A word die or any other die ad some VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.

Step 1:
Spray Fireworks! spray directly on the Gel Press plate.

Step 2:
Lay stencil over the Gel Press plate and roll the brayer over it to distribute and then spray again with Fireworks! spray.

Step 3:
Lay the copy paper (I used Hammermil 60lb) on top and rub your hand over the entire piece several times until you see the medium come through the paper.

Step 4:
Die cut several pieces of the word die. I cut three out of whit and one out of gold to tie in with the gold shimmer on the background. I glued the altogether offsetting the gold one on the bottom.

Step 5:
Glue the background on a card base and add the word die to the front. Stamp the coordinating message directly on the background.

Supplies:

Imagine Products:

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Rose Bud and Dandelion
• Sheer Shimmer Spritz – Gold
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• Classic Crest Solar White card base -Neenah
• Gold Foil cardstock – Simon Says Stamp
• Gel plate – Gel Press
• Heart Stencil – A Colorful Life Designs
• Love die – Hero Arts
• Stamped sentiment – hero Arts

Create a Spooktacular Halloween Card with VersaFine Clair’s Latest Colors!

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s card, I used many of the new VersaFine Clair Ink colors to make another Halloween card.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut leaves and stems out of watercolor paper. Ink blend the fern-y shaped leaf with Baby Pink VersaFine Clair ink and the individual leaves with Lilac Bloom VersaFine Clair ink. I pressed the stem die cut into the Sand Dune VersaFine Clair ink pad and the leaf cluster die cut into the Lilac Bloom VersaFine Clair ink pad. These were all set aside.

Step 2:
A sparkly piece of rose colored cardstock was die cut with a bow die cut.

Step 3:
Two bats and a crow were die cut out of watercolor paper. The crow die cut was pressed into the Portobello VersaFine Clair ink pad and the two bats were pressed into the Very Peri VersaFine Clair ink pad.

Step 4:
Press a die cut leaf cluster and boo sentiment die cuts into the Hawthorn Rose VersaFine Clair ink pad.

Not pictured: die cut a piece of sparkly white cardstock with the same boo sentiment. If desired, also die cut scrap cardstock twice with the same sentiment. Glue the sparkly white cardstock behind the boo sentiment so that the white sparkly cardstock peeks out on the side (like a shadow).

If adding the two layers of scrap cardstock layers behind the sentiment, trim the second o (the one on the right side) off both layers so that when it gets glued onto the wreath, it lays flat.

Step 5:
Die cut the wreath twice–once out of watercolor paper and once with more of the white sparkly cardstock. Spray the watercolor paper wreath with Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray and the white sparkly cardstock wreath with Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Die cut another piece of watercolor paper with a smaller panel die cut. Roughly ink blend the panel with more of the Lilac Bloom VersaFine Clair ink. Then swipe the panel with the ink pad in a variety of directions and the edges of the panel. Add Clear Mboss embossing powder to the edges fo the panel and heat emboss.

Step 7:
Add a piece of patterned washi tape to a piece of scrap cardstock and die cut with a larger panel die cut. (If you don’t have washi tape, use patterned paper or a colored piece of cardstock.)

Step 8:
Run the smaller card panel through the die cutting machine with the plate die to add some additional texture.

Step 9:
Glue all of the die cut elements together. Start with the two wreaths, with the pink layer underneath the rose gold sparkly wreath on the top, making sure they are off set. Then glue the leaves, the crow and the bats along the wreath. The bow is glued down on the lower left part of the wreath. Glue the wreath onto the purple panel. The sentiment was glued down next. Gle the whole panel onto the larger, washi tape panel. Then splatter the whole thing with more of the Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Let dry.

Step 10:
Glue the frame gems on the lower left and upper right parts of the panel.

Step 11:
Glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized gray cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine

Other

  • Crafty Meraki – Embellishments – Meraki Sparkle Clear
  • Gina Marie Designs – Die set – Big and Little Chain Rectangle die set
  • Simon Says Stamp – Die – Detail Swirls Plate wafer die
  • Sizzix and Tim Holtz – Die set – Vault Foliage Wreath Thinlits dies
  • Sizzix and Tim Holtz – Die set – Vault Gothic Portraits Thinlits dies
  • Sizzix – cardstock – Rose Gold Opulent Cardstock
  • Watercolor paper
  • White glittery cardstock
  • Die cutting machine
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Scissors