StazOn ink is a solvent ink that can be used on plastic, glass, metal, paper, and a host of mixed media surfaces and ephemera. So it is natural to assume that it might damage your stamps. We asked Nadine to talk a little bit about why StazOn is totally safe to use with any stamp set!
For this super fun scrapbook layout, I wanted to create a background using some of my favorite craft sprays—Fireworks! These amazing sprays create a color splash and shimmer which has a nice effect with a colorful “Be Happy, Be Kind” scrapbook layout like this one. As I created my background something truly magical happened with the ink and I really loved the end result. Scroll through the steps below to find out what it is!
Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour or more
Gather at least 3 colors of Fireworks! Sprays to use on your background. I selected Lady Bug, Lilac Posies and Bahama Blue.
First, I sprayed a patch of Bahama Blue in the middle of my layout and left it to dry for a few seconds. Then I added splats with all 3 of my colors. If you’d like colors to layer make sure you allow them to dry fully before using another color.
Once the Fireworks splatter layer was dry, I added stamping texture with a mixed media feel using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.
Add texture with a circle stencil and Creative Medium and let dry. I wanted to add more deliberate splats to create a layered effect. Drop large drops of Fireworks onto the background in Lady Bug.
Then use Bahama Blue and drop some of the ink directly onto the red drop and let it pool for a few seconds.
Then I added more drops of Lilac Posies on top of the blue and let the ink colors blend. Since Fireworks is a dye-based ink the blending will happen if all the inks are still wet.
The ink created the most amazing puddles of shimmer once dry. I totally love the unpredictably of the effect these inks layered on top of each other have.
I used the same color to spray some flowers that would perfectly match my layout background.
Once I was happy with my background I assembled my layout with photo, cut out flower layers, inked flowers and other embellishments. You don’t always have to have tons of crafting inks to be creative – all you need is a plan and a few amazing inks.
Make your own fabric cords necklace colored with All-Purpose Ink. The fabric creates a distressed look while the square metal piece creates a modern look. The added shine will catch the eye with a piece of Sheet Metal that works a buckle to hold the fabric stripes and connects them with the wax cord of the rest of the necklace. This is a super fun craft project but also will make a beautiful gift or fashion statement!
Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour
On a 14 inch-long piece of fabric mark triangles with a base of 1 ½ in. Cut 3 of them.
Color the stripes with the All-Purpose Ink and a medium paintbrush making large strokes. No need to fully cover the fabric. Let the paint dries or use a heat tool. Iron the fabric to set the paint.
Use a sponge dauber and the Memento Luxe in Rhubarb stalk to make a deeper red shade, fading the lightness of the red paint. Iron the fabric to set the ink.
Using a thin stick start wrapping the fabric stripe, beginning of the base. Use fabric glue on the edge to set it and move further. Continue with all three.
Cut in half a Sheet Metal ATC card and punch the corners with a round corner punch.
Use a metallic ruler or something steady and thin to nicely fold in half the Sheet Metal piece.
Glue the wider edges of the fabric cords between the Sheet Metal piece, making sure that they don’t reach the deep end of it.
Loosely braid the fabric cords at the beginning of them. Attach a flat jewelry end cap on the other side (at this point you can trim to the desired length).
Pass through the Sheet Metal piece 4 pieces of a waxed black cord 4 inches in length. Add a cap and lobster lock and you are finished.
For more tips on jewelry making please see Kyriakos’ tutorial.
Working with the Creative Medium on some of my crafting projects, I noticed how it shows when it gets dry on the craft mat. Combining the nonstick feature of Imagine’s Craft Mat with the elasticity of the Creative Medium, I thought it could create a new kind of project–rose petals! Leaving a thick coat of the Creative Medium on the Craft Mat, it gives you a material for dimensional creation. The roses crafted with it can be part of the decoration on a festive table, attached on gift boxes, gifted as they are, or be an inspiration to use on various craft projects. The Creative Medium can be also mixed with different inks to make multiple colors of flowers.
Skill: Advance
Time: 1 hour + drying time
Use a palette knife to lay a thick layer of Creative Medium on the Craft Mat making circles. Let the Creative Medium dry well. For each rose, you will need 7 circles to create the petals.
When the Creative Medium dries, remove the circles and start rolling one to make the center of the rose.
Continue by attaching more circles forming them to petals. Note that you may need to trim around a bit the circles if the Creative Medium is not spread nicely on the craft mat.
While you attach more petals, bend the edges a bit and hold them to keep the shape of the petal. The Creative Medium is sticky enough to keep the petals together with no need of extra glue.
Press the branches on the VersaMark inkpad, cover with Imagine’s Embossing Powder in Gold and heat set.
Cut small pieces of the florist brown tape and trim the edges to form triangles.
Press lightly the branch in the rose, secure with hot glue and cover with the trimmed tape. Add more tape around them for a better presentation.
Color the fabric roses with the VersaFine Clair Chanti ink pad and then distress them with the irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Gold. When they dry, glue them on the branches.
It’s never too early to start making Christmas cards! How about making them mixed media style?! Imagine makes so many wondering mixed media products that work great on canvas layouts and cards alike. In this project, I use Fireworks Craft Spray and a plaid stencil to create multiple Holiday backgrounds at once.
Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour
Heat embossing is a fun way to add dimension, texture, and shimmer to just about any paper craft project. With this technique, you can easily give an elegant look to stamped images, sentiments, or backgrounds. In heat embossing images are stamped using an embossing ink i.e. ink that is slow drying and enough sticky to hold the embossing powder. Then embossing powder is sprinkled over the stamped image, the excess is tapped off, and a heat gun is used for melting the embossing powder. Watching the powder melt into a stunning image is like magic on paper!
Today I’m showing you an alternative way to include embossed elements on your project. In this technique you will not be using stamps and embossing ink but die-cut patterns and two-sided tape. Let me show you how:
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Cut the card front to the desired size. Die-cut the image you want to heat emboss. You can use various types of dies: background patterns, sentiments, single floral elements, swirls – basically any design will work. Cover the back of the die-cut card front with two-sided tape, and place on a solid color background paper.
Place the card over scrap paper. Pour embossing powder over the die-cut image, completely covering it. Lift and gently tap the card for the extra powder to fall to scrap paper. Return extra powder to the jar.
Heat the image with the heat gun. The glue on the two-sided tape will partly melt, too, giving the embossed finish a special grainy and textured look.
Cut card front to size. Pour a drop of Fireworks spray paint on craft mat and use as the watercolor to color the card. You can paint over the embossed areas as melted embossing powder will resist watercolor. Mat card on the card base. Stamp sentiment. Using the same technique, I also made two small ATC cards. I think they look pretty cool, too!
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