Let’s Make a Steampunk Love Card

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Imagine

By Kathi Rerek

It’s Spring and love is in the air. Let’s combine the metallic look of Brilliance ink, the shimmer of Delicata Ink, pastel colors, and Steampunk imagery to create a Steampunk Love card.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1 hour

Directions:

Step 1:

Use a stamping platform and Starlite Black Brilliance ink to stamp the Steampunk Heart twice – once onto a 6” x 8” piece of Mixed Media paper and a second time onto Repositionable Label paper. Heat set the Mixed Media paper panel.

Smoosh London Fog Memento ink onto craft mat. Spritz it with Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Craft Spray.

Use a paint brush to color the center of the heart.

Step 2:

Fussy-cut the label paper heart and place it atop its counterpart on the image panel.

Step 3:

Use a Sponge Dauber to sponge Summer Sky Memento Ink horizontally across the image panel. Don’t worry about leaving white areas.

Use a Sponge Dauber to sponge Angel Pink Memento Ink onto the white areas of the image panel. You’ve now created a stormy sky!

Step 4:

Use a stamping platform to position the wing stamps facedown on the masked steampunk heart.

Ink with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink and stamp. Repeat if necessary to attain a clean image. Wipe remaining ink off of the stamp. Heat set the image panel.

Step 5:

Use a brayer to apply White Shimmer Delicata Ink to the wing stamps. Stamp.

Step 6:

Smoosh a 1” wide strip of white cardstock onto the Starlite Black Brilliance Pad. Smoosh a second 2” wide strip of white cardstock onto the White Shimmer Delicata Ink Pad.

Heat set both panels.

Step 7:

Apply Tear-It! Tape to the backs of both panels.

Use the “love” Shadow die to cut the White Shimmer Delicata inked cardstock.

Use the “love” die to cut the Starlite Black Brilliance inked cardstock.

Adhere the Starlite Black “love” die-cut to atop the White Shimmer Delicata “love” shadow die. Set aside.

Step 8:

Position the stamped image panel so that it’s horizontal on the stamping platform so that different cogs will be stamped along the edges of the image panel.

Step 9:

Position cog stamps from both Cogs Clear Stamp Set 2 and Cogs Clear Stamp Set 2, facedown on the left and right of what is now the top of the image panel. Ink the stamps with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink, stamp, and heat set. Remove and clean the cog stamps.

Position two different cog stamps from the same set facedown towards the center top edge of the image panel. Ink the stamps with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink, stamp, and heat set. Remove and clean the cog stamps.

Position a large cog stamp facedown in the center of the cogs. Ink the stamp with Starlite Black Brilliance ink, stamp, and set. Remove and clean the cog stamps.

Step 10:

Flip the image panel so that the clean edge is at the top of the platform. Repeat Step 9 to complete a second cog border.

Trim the image panel to 5.5” square and edge with Starlite Black Brilliance Ink. Heat set the entire panel.

Step 11:

Use White Shimmer Delicata Ink to sponge a piece of 5.75” square white cardstock. Heat set.

Step 12:

Cut a piece of 12×12 Avalanche cardstock to 6” x 12”, score, and fold to form a 6” square card.

Place a piece of scrap paper into the card. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Starlite Brilliance Ink to the outer .25” edges of the card. Heat set.

Step 13:

Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the shimmery white 5.75” square to the card.

Adhere the image panel.

Adhere the sentiment to finish the card.

Art Supplies:

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

140 lb. Mixed Media Cardstock by Strathmore
Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers
Avalanche White Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
Steampunk Heart Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps
Wings Large Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
Cogs 2 Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
Cogs 3 Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps
Tonic Stamping Platform
Heat Gun by EK Success

Trapped Rainbow Stamping

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Imagine

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! I have a new tutorial for Imagine today and it uses some of my favorite types of inks: Kaleidacolor and VersaFine Clair. I’m going to show you how to use bold silhouette stamps, along with a detail stamp to get a unique “trapped rainbow” effect.

*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.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time to Complete: Approx. 45-60 Minutes

Step 1:

Apply Tahiti Kaleidacolor Ink to a 6×6 Gel Press Plate. Gently tap the color. You don’t need much.

Pro Tip: The Kaleidacolor Inks do not need to be clicked together. The pad does not reach across the entire surface, and the little area for your finger to click the colors together can get in the way of inking the Plate. I have mine hang over the edge, as seen above, then I flip the pad around to the other side of the Plate to finish inking it.

Your Gel Press Plate will look like this when you are done inking.

Step 2:

Spray the Plate lightly with water.

Step 3:

Lay a piece of cardstock on to the Plate. Gently rub your hand across the back of the cardstock. If you are worried about getting ink on your hands, cover the whole plate with a piece of copy paper and rub.

This is what the monoprint, or “pull” will look like. I love the bits of white showing…it makes it look grungy.

Step 4:

Let’s add some more interest by stamping a large text stamp on to our background. I inked this stamp up with Warm Breeze. Don’t worry about what the stamp says, you won’t be able to read much of it when we’re finished.

Step 5:

Dry the panel completely with a heat tool or embossing gun. VersaFine Clair ink stays wet for a long time, and we don’t want embossing powder to stick anywhere just yet.

Step 6:

Apply your silhouette stamp to an acrylic block. Stamp it all over the panel, without overlapping the images. It will be hard to see, so if you are having trouble, go back and forth between this step and the next.

Step 7:

Sprinkle Clear Embossing Powder on to the stamped images and heat set.

You can see some of the shine from the embossed florals above. Don’t worry, with the next step, they will be much easier to see.

Step 8:

Using a cosmetic sponge (which gives a nice heavy application), apply Twilight Ink across the entire panel. You will see that the areas that have been embossed will resist the ink.

Step 9:

When you are done inking the panel, buff off the excess with a dry cloth or paper towel. Trim the panel down to 4″ x 5 1/4.”

Step 10:

Apply New Sprout ink to your white card base, just around the perimeter.

Step 11:

Die cut your sentiment. To grunge it up a bit, lightly apply Cantaloupe Ink to the top layer, which will bring out the texture in the cardstock.

Step 12: Adhere all elements to the card base.

Supplies:
Imagine:
Kaleidacolor: Tahiti
Clear Embossing Powder
VersaFine Clair Ink in Warm Breeze
VersaFine Clair Ink in Twilight
VersaMark Ink
Memento Ink in New Sprout
Memento Ink in Cantaloupe

Other:
Gel Press: 6×6 Plate
Speedball: 6″ Brayer
Hero Arts: Floral Imprints
Trinity Stamps: Encouragement Text
Birch Press: Big Hugs Sugar Script Die
Other: White card base, light teal cardstock, pale orange cardstock, spray bottle of water, embossing gun, cosmetic sponge

You can of course change up the colors however you like! Kaleidacolor Inks come in a wide range of palettes. I hope you will try this technique for yourself. Thanks so much f stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Create a Fun Summer BBQ Invitation

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Imagine

Ladybug-Greens-1-600

By Alison Heikkila

Summer is fast approaching and that means it’s almost barbecue season! After many of us spent last year at home, isolated, I know a lot of folks are looking forward to spending summer with friends and family again. Today, I have a simple tutorial to help you make sweet invitations (or just regular greeting cards) using some of my favorite products from Imagine, like Kaleidacolor inks and Fireworks! Spray.

Skill Level: Beginner

Time: Approx. 20 Minutes, plus drying time

Directions:

Ladybug-Greens-5

Step 1

Stamp the ladybug from the Entomology stamp set 5 times on to Smooth Bristol cardstock with VersaMark Ink.

Ladybug-Greens-6

Step 2

Sprinkle Black Embossing Powder on to the ladybugs, shake off the excess, and heat set.

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Step 3:

Using Lady Bug Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray and a brush, paint the ladybugs. Once the color is dry on the paper, you should wipe the embossed areas with a cloth, to remove any excess.

Ladybug-Greens-8

Step 4

Die cut the ladybugs with the coordinating die.

Ladybug-Greens-9

Step 5

Cut a piece of watercolor paper to 4″ x 5 1/4.”

Step 6

Swipe the Fresh Greens Kaleidacolor Inks across an acrylic block, and then spray with Ink Potion No. 9 a few times to get the colors to blend and move.

Step 7

Place the inked acrylic block in the center of the watercolor panel, put something heavy on top (I used a tape dispenser), and leave for a few minutes. The texture of the watercolor paper allows for imperfect color transfer, which I happen to love. If you prefer a smoother look, use paper with less tooth, or texture.

Ladybug-Greens-10

Step 8

Once you removed the acrylic block, stamp a subtle pattern around the edges with New Sprout ink. I used a crackle stamp from Stampendous.

Ladybug-Greens-11

Step 9

To add color to my white card base, I pressed my Fresh Greens Kaleidacolor inks into my Craft Mat, wet my brush, and applied the 3 center colors to the edges. I kept the colors soft and slightly blended. Using the same inks for the border as we did in the center of the card allows us to have perfectly matched elements, but since they’re applied differently, you create interest on your card.

Ladybug-Greens-2jpg

Step 10

Stamp a sentiment on the card with VersaFine Ink in Onyx Black. I combined a stamp from Erin Lee Creative with a stamp from Recollections to get the sentiment I wanted.

Step 11

Adhere your ladybugs to the card front, and your card front to the base when it’s dry.

Art Supplies

Imagine

VersaMark Ink
Black Embossing Powder
VersaFine Ink in Onyx Black
Fireworks! Spray in Lady Bug
Kaleidacolor Inks in Fresh Greens
Memento Ink in New Sprout
Ink Potion No. 9

Other

Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz: Entomology Stamp Set and Entomology Die Set
Erin Lee Creative: Winter Magic Stamp Set
Recollections: Sentiment set
Acrylic Blocks
Small paint brushes
Strathmore Smooth Bristol Cardstock
Canson Watercolor Paper
White A2 card base

All About You!!! An Emboss Resist How To

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Imagine

By LeeAnn McKinney

LeeAnn here with a fun project I made for a friend’s birthday. While looking at my stamps and thinking about what I wanted to do for this project it popped into my mind, and then a happy accident happened while making this mini slimline card that just “Sealed it” for me.