Using Inks to Enhance Die Cuts and Patterned Paper

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! It’s Alison Heikkila. Let’s play with Memento Inks today! I have a bunch of fun ways you can use them to enhance your die cuts. Plus, I’ll explain some ways to use patterned paper with die cuts and inks as well. You can use any dies you have for these techniques, so I encourage you to experiment and play!

*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: 60-75 minutes

Supplies:
Imagine:
Memento Ink: Angel Pink
Memento Ink: Sweet Plum
Memento Ink: Northern Pine
Memento Ink: Nautical Blue
Memento Ink: Olive Grove
Memento Ink: Cottage Ivy
Memento Ink: London Fog
Memento Ink: Rhubarb Stalk
Memento Ink Refill: Angel Pink
VersaFine Clair Ink: Rain Forest
On Point Glue
Sponge Daubers

Other:
Spellbinders: The Botanical Solarium
Spellbinders: Sending Sunshine Sentiment Stamps
Carta Bella: Gather at Home Paper Pad
Kaisercraft: Greenhouse Paper Pad
Assorted Blending Brushes
Watercolor Brush
White Cardstock

Small dies like this can be a little fiddly, but it’s so fun to alter them with color and paper. I hope you enjoy trying some of these ideas! Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Let’s Make a Spring Card

By Anna Escalada York

In today’s blog post, I will show you how to add some patterned paper to a card to spotlight a
part of the image.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Using a stamping platform, stamp the floral image with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink onto a
piece of watercolor paper. (I used a pre-die cut panel.)
Optional step: Heat emboss with a clear embossing powder. I did this because I didn’t want to
wait for the VersaFine Clair ink to dry, as well as add some subtle shine.

Step 2:
Mix some Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Chalk Ink with a Morocco Memento marker by pressing
the ink pad and coloring a piece of scrap acetate and spraying both with water before mixing the
colors to create a coral watercolor.
Watercolor the petals of the floral image. Using the remainder of the watercolor to splatter the
watercolor panel and smoosh the panel as well to add color around the panel. It was set aside
to dry.

Step 3:
Stamp the bottom part of the stamp onto a piece of dusty pink patterned paper with more
Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Optional step: Heat emboss the image with more clear embossing powder.

Step 4:
Cut the patterned paper image along the circular edge.

Step 5:
Create green watercolor by pressing Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto a piece of acetate
Create green watercolor by pressing Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto a piece of acetate
as well as scribbling the acetate with both Cottage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves Memento marker
and spraying all of the areas of color with water before mixing them together. Watercolor the
edges of the leaves with the watercolor. (You won’t need to color the central parts of the leaves
as they will be covered soon.) Again, splatter the card and watercolor smoosh the panel with the
acetate to add green blobs around the watercolor panel. Again, set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Watercolor the leaves on the patterned paper with the same mix of greens created using the
Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk ink as well as Collage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves Memento marker
mixed with water. Set this aside to dry.

Step 7:
I decided to add a little more intensity to the coral colors on the petals and on the
watercolor panel by adding more Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Chalk ink and Morocco Memento
marker added to the scrap of acetate and again mixed with water before painting the petals. The
remaining coral-colored watercolor was again smooshed onto the watercolor panel.
Set the panel aside to dry again.

Step 8:
Distress the edges of the patterned paper circle by rubbing the sharp part of a pair of scissors’
blade around the circle. Then rub the distressed edge of the circle with Golden Glitz Delicata.

Step 9:
Using a sponge dauber, ink blend Pink Shimmer Delicata ink through a heart stencil in my stash
on random parts of the watercolor paper.
Not pictured: Ink blend the edges of the panel with more of the Pink Shimmer Delicata ink.

Step 10:
Glue the patterned paper circle onto the stamped image, making sure that the patterned paper
circle lines up with the rest of the stamped image.

Step 11:
Stamp the sentiment on the lower right corner of the watercolor panel with more Nocturne
VersaFine Clair ink.
Optional step: Heat emboss the image with more clear embossing powder.

Step 12:
Using a slightly larger die than the watercolor panel, die cut a piece of rose gold cardstock. Glue
the two panels together, and glue both onto an A2-sized white card base.

Step 13:
Add green gem stickers around the circle of patterned paper to finish the card.

Art Supplies
Imagine
Delicata Ink – Golden Glitz, Pink Shimmer
Memento Dual Tip Marker – Bamboo Leaves, Cottage Ivy, Morocco
VersaMark Ink – Pink Grapefruit, Tea Leaves
VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
Sponge Dauber

Other
AALL & Create – stamp set – Flower Journey
Gina K Designs – dies- Master Layout 2 die set
Honey Bee Stamps – gem stickers
Memory Box – stamp set – Big and Little Words
Sizzix- cardstock – Rose Gold Opulent cardstock
Heart stencil in my stash
Clear embossing powder in my stash
Watercolor paper
Scissors
Small paint brush
Stamp positioner
Glue

Create a Watercolor Look with Delicata

By Monica Edwards

Welcome to the Imagine blog, today I will be showing everyone how you can get a watercolor look, coloring your images with Delicata inks and using Fabrico markers to highlight the fine details of the image.  

A bit about Delicata inks. Delicata is the latest generation of metallic inkpad. Remarkably true and bright, it outshines other inkpads and provides stamping results that resemble the true effects of gold and silver leafing without the mess.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time to Complete: 45min to 60min

DIRECTIONS

Step 1
Stamp your image on watercolor paper using Stazon Black ink.  Then take a water brush and color the image using Delicata ink in Ruby Red.  Then, take your Fabrico marker in burgundy and outline the inner petals to give the image added depth.

Step 2
Mask the image and apply the Delicata Ruby Red ink and Radiant Neon Electric Yellow to create a blended background.

Step 3
Use the Fabrico pens in yellow and green to color your leaves leaving some white background

Step 4
Add a sentiment to complete the card

Craft Supplies
Imagine

Other Supplies Used:
Fabrico Watercolor Paper

Create a Monochromatic Floral Card

By Helen Gullett

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 – 45 minutes

Hi everyone! Helen is here. I am super excited today to share with you all my very first project as one of the new Imagine Artists in Residence!!!
I have been a big fan of Imagine Crafts products since I started making crafts. I made this monochromatic card. It is clean-and-simple yet has some layers to create an encouragement card or any occasion card.

Directions:

Step 1
Stamping the sentiment labels. Arrange the stamp labels you want to use on the stamping tool and then stamp them on a piece of white cardstock with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad. Stamping tool will help to get great second stamping for bold result. After stamping, dry the ink with craft heat gun and then trim them using the paper trimmer.

Step 2
Using the stamping tool, stamp the solid image of the flower (the first layer base of the layering flower stamps) using the VersaFine Clair Morning Mist ink pad on the white cardstock. Use the pressure tool to press the inked stamp to the cardstock to get even and better transfer ink. This pressure tool is very handy to use when stamping big images. But you can always stamp it again if needed.

Step 3
Line up the second layer of the flower stamp image on top of the solid stamped image. Make sure you position it in the right direction. Grab the stamp using the lid of the stamping tool and then ink it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad and then stamp it. Use the pressure tool to press the inked stamp to the cardstock to get even and better transfer ink. You can always stamp it again if needed.

Step 4
Grab the last part of the layering flower stamps, position it in the center of the stamped flower and then stamp it using the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad. For this center part, I stamped it 3 times to get darker stamped image. You still can use the pressure tool to press the inked stamp to the cardstock to get even and better transfer ink.

Repeat these steps: 2, 3, and 4 for the leaves.

After stamping the images, use the StazOn All-Purpose Stamp Cleaner Dauber Top to clean the ink of all the clear stamps.

Step 5
Cut all the flowers and leaves using the matching thin metal dies using the die cutting machine. And then after that, you can cut the pattern paper also with one of the Stitched Rectangle Dies to make a background mat for the flowers.

Step 6
Make a white card base out of the 8.5-inch x 11-inch 110lb white cardstock you cut into 2 pieces using the paper trimmer, using score in the middle of the cardstock, and then fold it into a card.

Put some of the Tear It! Tape on the back for the pattern background mat and then add it to the card base. This tape is strong and permanent, so make sure you position it at the center of the card lightly and then press it down.

Step 7
This is the time we arrange all the stamped flowers and leaves. Using the On Point Glue to add the first layer of the flower and leaves on the card. This glue gives you a few seconds of its drying time so you can position the flower and leaves to the spot where you like it. Then press them down and hold them down for a few seconds for the glue to dry permanently.

Step 8
For the second and third layers, we will use foam tape for extra dimension to the flower. I made the foam tape out of white fun foam and Tear It! Tape. I put pieces of the foam tape on the petals of the flowers and added them to the base flower. And then, add one of the sentiment labels to the card with foam tape, too.

Step 9
Add some splatters of the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray on the card using the spray bottle nozzle and flat brush (or fan brush). Add also some white paint splatters on it for more texture.

Dry the splatters on the card with a craft heat gun by moving the heat lightly around the top.

It is optional, you can embellish the card with some clear gems or other embellishment you like.

Look at those layers on a CAS style card! That’s my first project to share with you. Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Craft Supplies
Imagine Craft supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Altenew – Label Love Stamp Set
  • Altenew – Build A Flower: Peony Blossom (stamp and die set)
  • Altenew – White Ink Spray
  • Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamp – Stitched Rectangle Die Set
  • Neenah Classic Crest White Cardstock 110lb
  • Graciellie Design – Botanical Dream Digital Paper Pack
  • Clear gems (or other embellishments)
  • White fun foam
  • Fiskar Paper Trimmer
  • MISTI Stamping Tool
  • TwiddlersNook Pressure Pal
  • Gemini Junior cutting machine
  • Craft heat gun
  • White brush (flat or fan)
  • Micro-tip scissors

Let’s Make a Happy Easter Card

By Anna Escalada York

– In today’s tutorial, I will show you how to use Brilliance Pigment Ink and VersaMagic Chalk Ink
to watercolor an image. This is a wonderful way to stretch your supplies and possibly try a new
technique. In addition, I will share some mistakes I made along the way while making this card.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Using a stamping platform, stamp the floral image with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Optional step: Heat emboss with a clear or holographic embossing powder. I did this because I
didn’t want to wait for the VersaFine Clair ink to dry.

Step 2:
Die cut the floral image with the corresponding die. I was “off” in the die cutting and so some of
the stamped image was cut off. You can mostly see this on the singular bud on the left side of
the image.
Not shown: Using the same die to die cut a piece of pink glitter cardstock.

Step 3:
Press the Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Dew Drop pad onto a piece of acetate packaging and spray with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. On another part of the same acetate packaging (or possibly a palette or other non-porous surface, press the Pearlescent Purple Brilliance Dew Drop pad onto the surface and spray with more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. You should have two areas of color that you can mix with the spray to use as a watercolor.

Paint each flower or bud with a single layer of Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Ink mixed with the
Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. Let the watercolor dry. Add some Pearlescent Purple Brilliance
Ink mixed with the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray to the edges of the petals to add some
dimension and interest.

Repeated the process for the stems. Press the Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink pad onto a
piece of acetate and Spray the ink with more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray. Use a
paintbrush to paint the stem green. Let dry. If desired, repeat the process to amplify the intensity
of the green watercolor. Let dry.

Not pictured: Gluing the pink glitter cardstock die cut behind the flower so that it can be seen on
the left side of the floral image.

Step 4:
Place a piece of wide washi tape over a piece of cardstock for the background panel
before die cutting that cardstock. (I used a leftover piece of cardstock that had some leftover
pink gel press printing on it so that you can see a little of the pink through the washi tape).
Don’t have washi tape? Use a piece of patterned paper.

Step 5:
The die cut set that was used to make the panel allows for two layers if desired. To make the
matte layer, use a slightly larger die to die cut a piece of pink glitter cardstock and then glue the
two panels together. Set them aside to dry.

Step 6:
Press more of the Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Ink Dew Drop onto the acetate packaging and
spray more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray onto the ink to create more watercolor and
splatter both the floral image and the background with the orchid colored watercolor. To splatter,
extend your finger parallel to the paper and tap a brush that has the Orchid watercolor on it
multiple times. To create a more uniform splatter, move the paint brush or the paper around so
that the splatter is added to a variety of places.

Spray more of the Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray (or water) into the gold watercolor pan and
then tap the paintbrush across the floral image and panel a second time. Let dry.

As you can see in the picture, between step 3 and now, the singular bud on the left was trimmed
from both the stamped layer and the pink glitter cardstock so the die cutting mistake was
eliminated.

Step 7:
Stamp the sentiment with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
Optional step: Heat emboss the ink with holographic embossing powder to eliminate drying
time. (I originally was going to use this die cut sentiment, but later realized that it wouldn’t fit. I also
forgot to take pictures of the sentiment I trimmed with my paper cutter and ended up adding to
the card. So please use your imagination.)

Step 8:
On the sentiment that you see on the finished card, I trimmed the sentiment with my paper
trimmer. The one picture above was die cut with a hexagon die. Regardless of how you end up
shaping your sentiment (using a trimmer or a die), press the edges of the sentiment into the
Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance Dew Drop pad to add color to the edges. Set aside to dry.

Steps 9 and 10:
Time to glue! Glue the flower on the left third of the background panel. Then glue the panel onto
an A2-sized white card base.

For step 10, attach foam tape behind the sentiment except on the upper left corner (since that
will be overlapping with the floral image. Attach the sentiment to the lower right corner of the
panel.

Step 11:
Add pink and green sequins onto the card–on the lower left corner, close to the sentiment, and
on the upper right corner of the card panel.

Art Supplies
Imagine
• Brilliance Ink – Pearlescent Orchid, Pearlescent Purple
• Sheer Shimmer Spray – Sparkle
• VersaMagic Ink – Tea Leaves
• VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne

Other
• Altenew – washi tape – Dotted Wide Washi Tape
• Altenew-Foam Tape-Instant Dimension Foam Tape
• Catherine Pooler- sequins -Mission sequin mix
• Gina K Designs – dies- Master Layout 2 die set
• Kuretake – watercolor – Starry Colors Gansai Tambi Watercolors
• Local King Rubber Stamp – stamp and die set- Cherry Blossom
• Pink & Main – stamp set- Spring Sayings
• Embossing powder in my stash
• Watercolor paper
• Pink glitter cardstock
• Scissors
• Holographic embossing powder
• Small paint brush
• Stamp positioner
• Paper trimmer
• Glue

White Wash Technique Using Delicata Reinkers

By Jessica Lin

– Have you ever tried coloring on colored cardstock? The white washing technique is great for
creating a blank canvas for your coloring, making the colors pop against navy, kraft, or even black cardstock.

There are many white reinkers to choose from for this technique. I picked Delicata White Shimmer reinker and was surprised with how luscious the pearl shimmer looks!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes

Directions:

Step 1:
The white wash technique works well with large stamps containing big, open areas. I chose this floral image from Stampin’ Up!’s Good Morning Magnolia set and stamped it with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. You may use any waterproof black ink pad in your stash, but the VersaFine Clair Nocturne has been my go-to. Look at how crisp the lines are!

Step 2:
Using a waterbrush, color the center flower with Delicata White Shimmer ink from the reinker. I used the Craft Mat as my watercolor palette. Repeat this step a few times until you achieve a good coverage. Don’t worry if the black lines are covered by the white pigment ink; we will restamp the image at the end. 

Step 3:
Color the leaves with Memento ink pads in Bamboo Leaves and the branch with Desert Sand.

Step 4:
Use a sponge dauber to quickly apply color to the flower image. I dabbed on Memento Rose Bud and used Memento Rhubarb Stalk scarcely to create some shadows.

Step 5:
Restamp the floral image with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink once again to darken the outline. Die cut the floral image and some leaves using the Magnolia Memories dies from Stampin’ Up!. 

Step 6:
Emboss the front of your A2 card with Painted Textures embossing folder to create a textured background. Mount the floral piece with foam tape to add even more dimension. I also decided to add some gold thread as a finishing touch.

Step 7:
Apply On-Point Glue partially on the bottom of the leaves die cuts, and tuck them behind the center floral image. Press down and hold for 30 seconds to create a tight bond.

Step 8:
Embellish the card with some white enamel dots and sentiment strip stickers and that’s the finished card!

I hope you enjoy this creation and give the whitewashing technique a try. It’s so simple to paint with the Delicata White Shimmer reinker, and I just love the pearly shine.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

https://www.stampinup.com/products/water-painters?demoid=2164794

  • Gold thread
  • Foam Tape
  • Embellishment