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

Easy Stamped Backgrounds with Small Valentine’s Stamps

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone, it’s Jessica here. Have you tried using small stamps to create a card background? Today I am sharing this technique I discovered using the We R Precision Press stamping tool. It takes stamping these small images to the next level, and you can get really creative results!

Step 1:
I decided to create a stamped background for this year’s Valentine’s card. These adorable love bird images are from Mama Elephant’s Oh Happy Birds set. I placed 4 little birds onto the We R Stamping Pattern Block plate and made sure the images are within the 1’’ grid lines. This made pattern stamping the background so easy; simply use the pegs on the We R Precision Press to stamp on the 1’’, 3’’, 5’’ marks. Then rotate your 5’’ cardstock and stamped on the 2’’ and 4’’ marks using the opposite orientation of the stamps. The VersaFine Clair inks are my go-to for stamping fine line images like these. The lines are so clear and crisp, I’m totally in love with the result!

Step 2:
Die cut a piece of red cardstock with Cross Stitched Hearts dies. Then stamp the sentiment with VersaMark ink pad and emboss with white embossing powder. The cross stitched details on the die really adds a fine touch to this simple project.

Step 3:
Finally, adhere rhinestones with On Point Glue and this quick and simple Valentine’s card is complete!

I hope you enjoyed today’s quick tutorial. I have a lot of small critter stamp sets and I can’t wait to create more stamped backgrounds like this. It’s super easy and fun; I hope you’ll give it a try, too!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Mama Elephant – Stamps – Oh Happy Birds
  • We R – Tool – Precision Press and Stamping Pattern Block
  • White and red cardstock

Let’s Make a Valentine’s Day Card

By Anna Escalada York

I wanted to use some dies in my stash plus some warm colored inks to make a Valentine’s Day card for my husband.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:

Rub a piece of watercolor paper with a Love Letter Memento ink pad. Don’t worry too much about the consistent color across the watercolor paper.

Step 2:

Spray the same watercolor paper with Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 3:

Die cut the colored and sprayed watercolor paper.

Step 4:

Use a background or texture stamp to to stamp the center of the die cut with ore Love Letter Memento ink. If desired, rub the small hearts around the edge with more Love Letter Memento ink as well.

Step 5:

Rub a piece of watercolor paper with Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink pad. Again, don’t worry too much about the consistent color across the watercolor paper.

Steps 6 and 7:

Die cut the Rhubarb Stalk colored watercolor paper and use a paintbrush to paint GooseBumps Shimmer Texture Spray on the die cut. Allow the GooseBumps Shimmer Texture Spray to dry (or if you are impatient like me use your heat tool to dry it quickly).

(Not pictured: Die cut two more layers of the sentiment die with scraps of cardstock and glue the three layers together for dimension. Then die cut the shadow of the sentiment with vellum and glue the sentiment onto the shadow.)

Step 8:

Spray enough Angel Pink Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray onto a piece of watercolor paper to totally color the paper and allow to dry.

Step 9:

Die cut the sprayed watercolor paper. Glue the two layers of die cut hearts together.

Step 10:

Tape an outer and inner frames together with tape and use them both together to die cut more watercolor paper.

Step 11:

Ink blend the die cut frame with Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 12:

Spray the internal part of the die cut with Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 13:

Use Love Letter and Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink to ink blend through a stencil. Then ink blend around the edges of the die cut with more Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink.

Step 14 and 15:

Use the same texture stamp used to stamp the red heart, stamp the background (internal part) of the card base with more of the Love Letter Memento Ink multiple times to add some more interest to the background.

Step 16:

Arrange the card and glue it onto a 6” x 6” card base. Start out by gluing the sentiment onto the internal part of the cardpanel (over the die cut heart). Then glue the frame onto the card base and nestle the internal part of the card onto the card. Add sequins on the lower left and upper right parts of the card.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Angel Pink
• GooseBumps Texture Spray – Shimmer
• Memento Dual Marker – Rhubarb Stalk
• Memento Dye Ink – Love Letter, Rhubarb Stalk
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Sponge daubers

Other

• AALL & Create – die set – Nature’s Doily
• Brutus Monroe – die set – Heart Petals
• Scrappy Tails – rhinestones – white rhinestones
• Stampers Anonymous – woodblock stamp – U3-2603 (typewriter stamp)
• Stencil in my stash
• Watercolor paper
• Scrap cardstock
• Vellum
• Die cutting machine
• Paint brush
• Scissors

Glue

Cute Valentines Day Card

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!
It’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing a Clean & Simple Valentines card.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 30 to 45 Minutes

Directions:
Gather you supplies. You will need a stencil, valentines stamp, pink or any color ink, markers and black ink.

Step 1:
Stamp your image with black ink ,I used Memento Tuxedo Black.

Step 2:
Color the image with markers and then cut out with coordinating die.

Step 3:
Place a white panel cut to 4.25 x 5.5 down on a grip mat or other sticky surface. Lay stencil over it and add color with a sponge or blending brush starting in the center and gradually getting lighter toward the edge.

Step 4:
Add the panel to a card base and stamp the sentiment using VersaFine Clair Nocturne. Add foam tape to op up the image.

Supplies:

Imagine Products:
• Memento -Tuxedo Black
• VersaFine Clair -Nocturne and Charming Pink
• Memento Markers -Toffee Crunch, Desert Sand, Gray Flannel, Dandelion, Lulu Lavender, Rose Bud and Summer sky
• Sponge Dauber
• On Point Glue

Other products:

• 120 and 80lb Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock
• MISTI 2.0 -My Sweet Petunia
• Cupid Clarence Stamp Set  -The Rabbit Hole Designs
• Cupid Clarence die -The Rabbit Hole Designs
• Heart Stencil -The Rabbit Hole Designs (retired)

How to Make a Gorgeous Gift Box Using VersaColor

By Kathi Rerek

Keep the gift boxes you receive and decorate them to hold special gifts.

The recipient will treasure the gift and the stunning box. Great for Valentines or any occasion!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Time: 1 hour plus drying time

Directions:

Step 1:

Using an Ink Sweeper, stamp the lid using Pink VersaColor covering the top and all sides.
You don’t need to ink the entire top of the box because you will be covering it. Heat set thoroughly. Set aside.

TIP: I use a heat tool to speed up the drying process.

Step 2:

Trim a sheet of Mixed Media Strathmore piece of cardstock to about 3″x3″

Ink with Pink VersaColor. Heat Set.

Step 3:

Secure the inked cardstock to the base of a stamping platform. Position your Elegant Script Background stamp and cover surface with VersaMark. It is important to use a stamp platform for this technique to ensure that the image lines up properly.

Step 4:

Ink the Elegant Script stamp with Rich Cocoa Memento ink.

Heat emboss with MBoss powder. (Photo not shown)

Step 5.

Die-cut heart using the Nestabilities Plain Heart Die Set by Spellbinders.

Pro Tip: You can use Rich Cocoa Memento Ink to edge the heart.

Step 6:

Trim a small piece of Mixed Media cardstock (about 3″x3″) and using the Scalloped Heart Die Set from Spellbinders, die-cut another heart. Ink using Rich Cocoa Memento. Heat set. Using a Sponge Dauber, apply Rose Gold Delicata ink to add a touch of rosy shimmer.

Step 7:

Use a square die (that’s a bit smaller than your box) to cut Mixed Media cardstock. Stamp with Pink VersaColor.

Tape the inked square to the back of the Slimline Baroque Stencil and ink with Cardinal VersaColor. 

Step 8:

Tape each element using Tear-It! Tape. Set Aside.

Step 9:

To create the rose embellishment, take a small piece of cardstock and die cut the flower pieces. The Quickutz Doublekutz Rose bud die set was used here.
Using embossing styluses can add dimension to the petals. Press the flower petals into the Cardinal VersaColor ink pad. Let them dry. Sponge with Rose Gold Delicata ink to give them some shimmer. Heat set.

Ink the stem and rose-hip with VersaMagic Hint of Pesto. Heat step. Then add a little Delicata Golden Glitz.

Step 10

Tape rose to the top of the lid using Tear It! Tape. Now your lid is complete.

Directions – Box Bottom

Step 11:

Ink box bottom with VersaColor Cardinal. Heat set.

Step 12:

Cut a piece of Mixed Media Strathmore piece of cardstock no smaller than 4″x4″.

(This piece will be used to decorate the inside of the box)

Ink with Cardinal VersaColor. Heat set.

Step 13:

Secure the inked cardstock to the base of a stamping platform. Position your Elegant Script Background stamp and ink with VersaFine Clair – Acorn.

Step 14:

Trim the stamped red panel slightly smaller than the box. Edge with Acorn VersaFine ink and heat set. Adhere to the interior of the box with Tear It! Tape. Now your bottom box is done.

Supplies Used

Imagine:

VersaColor – Pink and Cardinal

Delicata – Golden Glitz and Rose Gold

Memento – Rich Cocoa

VersaMark

VersaMagic – Hint of Pesto

VersaFine Clair – Acorn

Ink Sweepers

Sponge Daubers

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Other

Gift Box

Strathmore – 140 lb Mixed Media Cardstock

Spellbinders – Nestabilities- Scalloped Heart Die Set

Spellbinders – Nestabilities – Plain Heart Die Set

Gina Marie Designs – Big and Little Chains Square Die Set

QuicKutz – Rose Die Set

Darkroom Door – Elegant Script Background Cling Rubber Stamp

Studio Light – Jenine’s Mindful Collection – Inner Peace Slimline Baroque Stencil

McGill – Paper Blossoms Tool Kit

EK Success – Martha Stewart Heat Gun

Sizzix – Big Shot

How to Make Your Own Iridescent Glitter Cardstock for Valentine’s Cards or Any Occasion

By LV Handcrafted

Hello friends! This is Linh (or LV Handcrafted on all the socials). Why buy colored cardstock or

specialty card when you can make your own! To make solid color cardstock, just swipe a panel

of white card stock with any ink pad. However, to take it up a couple notches, use any pigment

ink. I used VersaColor Cardinal ink on my card today. Before the ink dries, cover it in Mboss

Iridescent powder. Knock off any excess back into the zip-sealed bag. Using a heat gun, melt

the Mboss powder to get this GORGEOUS iridescent shine! And voila! You’ve made your own

custom colored iridescent glitter cardstock! This technique also works with Mboss Sparkle

powder for even more sparkle and shine!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Time to Complete: 15 minutes

Supplies Used:

Imagine 

• VersaColor Cardinal Ink Pad

• Mboss Iridescent Powder

• On Point Glue

Other Products:

• Tonic Studios Heart Die Set

• Tonic Studios Iridescent Mirror Card

• Spellbinders Sentiment Banner

• Hammermill 100lb white card stock