Tag Archives: Paper

Create Your Own Holographic Vertigo Film for Cardmaking Crafts

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by Roni Johnson

Create Your Own Holographic Vertigo Film for Cardmaking Crafts

Holographic … as a color? Yep, that’s what May’s color of the month is at Imagine. I must admit at first I was thrilled. I LOVE the wide spectrum of color, the swirly design, and the amazing depth it gives a project. After the jubilation wore off I was stumped! Short of going out and buying some holographic paper, how do I create this look on my own? Well, I took this as a challenge and I set to experimenting.

Let me tell you experimentation is not a pretty process…lots and LOTS of trial and error but it is very fun! As luck would have it I found the perfect recipe for making my very own holographic colored technique and I’d like to share it with you.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour + dry time

Directions


Step 1

Cut a piece of Vertigo film to the desired size. I am using a 4.25 x 5.5” for my examples.


Step 2

Begin applying ribbons of color using a variety of StazOn inks and a sponge dauber. I must warn you that the Vertigo film has a texture to it that may or may not tear up your sponge daubers. If you are a bit heavy handed as I am the film does tend to chew on the dauber. It’s o.k. though, I keep a set of the daubers set aside just for this purpose.


Step 3

Continue to add color until the entire piece of Vertigo film has been covered. You will be left with a very colorful sheet of Vertigo film.


Step 4

Freshen up or apply a brand new coat of the ink/glue your Essential Glue Pad.


Step 5

Pounce the Glue Pad over a background stamp.


Step 6

Position the inked piece of Vertigo film over the inked stamp. Lightly rub the back of the Vertigo to ensure complete coverage.


Step 7

Carefully place silver leafing flakes over the inked film. I find that a soft bristle brush helps to push the leafing flakes around where needed. Let the glue dry completely. I usually leave it undisturbed for 2-4 hours.


Step 8

After the glue has dried use a soft bristle brush to remove the excess leafing flakes. Save the excess leafing flakes for future use. And here’s how this example looks after removing the excess leafing flakes.


Step 9

Time to apply a layer of StazOn Pigment ink over the panel. Choose a color that will compliment the overall design and apply it over both the exposed Vertigo film and the leafing flakes.


Step 10

You will be left with an amazing design that has all of the wonderful aspects of holographic colors.


Step 11

The same panel from another angle reveals the beauty of the StazOn ink colors hidden beneath the leafing flakes. It will shine and shimmer from every angle.


Step 12

What can you do with the holographic design? Virtually anything! You are only limited by your imagination. The card above is assembled with a unicorn stamp and the “you are magical” sentiment.

This is another example made using the same technique with a different selection of colors. The card above is assembled with a mermaid stamp and the “The hardest part of moving forward is not looking back” sentiment.

Supplies

Unicorn Example

Imagine
Other
  • Hero Arts – Unicorn Stamp and Cut
  • Black Widow Colored Pencils
  • White Cardstock

Mermaid Example

Imagine
Other
  • Unity Stamp Co – She Mermaid (mermaid), Mystical Mermaid (sentiment)
  • Black Widow Colored Pencils
  • White Cardstock

Learn How to Use Iridescent Blue Creative Medium to get 3 Different Looks

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by Lindsay Adreon

Learn How to Use Iridescent Blue Creative Medium 3 Different Looks

When I first took a peek at the Iridescent Creative Medium I couldn’t quite figure it out. In the jar, it didn’t really have any shine and I couldn’t detect a color shift like other iridescent products. Then, I swatched it and let it dry. I could not stop staring at how beautiful it was! Moving the swatch in the light—I was mesmerized by the medium and how it would shift colors as I moved it around! It also looks different on different colors of cardstock, plus you can add color to it! I’m sharing three different ways to use the Iridescent Creative Medium. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy playing around and experimenting with this fun medium!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes + dry time

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • The Crafter’s Workshop Stencils – Wallflowers, Distressed Lace
  • Joy Clair Stamps – Spring Stroll Stamp Set
  • Hero Arts Prayers Stamp & Die Set
  • Cardstock – black, white
  • Cardbase

See How To Make 2 Different Wedding Invitations

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by Elina Stromberg

See How To Make 2 Different Wedding Invitations

The wonderful high season of summer weddings is soon here! Whether you are invited for a wedding reception and would like to attach a handmade card to the wedding gift, or are planning your own wedding crafts, I hope that these easy-to-make card designs will give you ideas for your own wedding themed projects.

My paper crafting hobby started 16 years ago when I decided to create my own wedding invitation cards and wedding reception decorations. In this process, I took my first steps in stamping and heat embossing and was so amazed how easy it was to mass create professional looking projects in just a few simple steps. I could even say that for me those wedding invitations were not just the start of a beautiful marriage but also the beginning for a lifelong love for paper crafting!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions for the Wedding Card


Step 1

Stamp the main image on a piece of white cardstock. Choose the stamping ink depending on the type of colors you want to use for coloring the image:
– If you’re using color pencils, any type of ink will work perfectly.
– If you’re using alcohol markers for coloring, choose a water base ink (e.g. Memento) for stamping.
– If you’re using watercolors, choose a pigment stamping ink (e.g. VersaFine, VersaFine Clair, StazOn Pigment).


Step 2

Cut out the image using scissors. A craft knife will help in cutting out smaller details.


Step 3

Decorate the card background with a swirl stamp. Stamp the pattern on a piece of cream color cardstock using clear VersaMark ink. Place the stamped card on a sheet of printing paper and cover the image with Embossing Powder in White. Lift the card; the fine embossing powder will stick to the clear ink. Using the sheet of printing paper pour the powder back to the container.


Step 4

Heat set the powder with a heating tool. When heated the powder will turn glossy and clean white.


Step 5

Stamp the sentiment text using black ink. Trim the card front to the desired size and shape. Mat the card front on darker solid color cardstock. Tip: Attach the card front to the base paper first, and only then cut the underlying layer to size. No exact measuring will be needed!


Step 6

Attach the layered card front to the card base. Trim to size if needed. Glue the main image on the card front. Embossing powders come in various colors, and especially the metallic colors work perfectly on all wedding themed projects. I created a second version of the same card design, but instead of a white swirl I used a silver ornament pattern for the background decoration: A great wedding invitation design looks elegant and beautiful but is quick and easy to make even in greater quantities. Stamping is a simple way to decorate the invitation card, and the choice of patterns and stamping colors can be used to give a hint of the wedding theme or the theme colors you’ve chosen for the reception.

If you master brush script lettering or modern calligraphy you can make the invitations even more personal with hand-written invitation texts. However, a printer and downloaded brush script fonts can make the task easier for you; on these invitation cards, I first printed the text on a heavy white office paper and then continued with decorating the front with stamping.

Directions for Embossed Wedding Invitations


Step 1

Hand-write or print the invitation text on the card front. Cover the text with Post-It notes. Stamp a pattern on the card front using clear VersaMark ink. Remove Post-It notes.


Step 2

Cover the stamped pattern with Embossing Powder in Silver. Pour off excess back in the powder container.


Step 3

If the powder is sticking to the invitation text remove the powder with a clean brush. Heat set the powder with a heating tool.


Step 4

Cut the card front to size, mat on a piece of solid color cardstock and attach to the card base. For the second invitation card, I used the same masking technique, but instead of heat embossing, I decorated the card front with stamped leaf patterns. The invitation text was printed with green color to match the stamped decorations.

Thank you for stopping by the Imagine blog for this wedding crafting tutorial! Please share this post on social or give it a like!

Supplies

Imagine

Other

  • Cardstock – White, Cream, Grey, Green, Burgundy
  • White card bases
  • Heat tool
  • Alcohol markers for coloring
  • Paper trimmer
  • Glue
  • Post-it notes
  • Brush
  • Simon Says Stamp-‘Rose Lattice Background’ stamp
  • Stampin’Up! – ‘Best Birds,’ ‘Falling Flowers’ stamp
  • Wedding couple stamp
  • Ornament stamp

Learn How to Make a Clear Wedding Invitation

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by Lindsay Adreon

2019_April_LA_ClearInvitation_72PPI

Wedding invitation styles are constantly changing and updating and recently on Pinterest I have seen some beautiful CLEAR invitations using acrylic sheets. I wanted to find a DIY to make clear invitations and still have them be very elegant. I used StazOn Pigment Ink and a Marble stamp layering stamp set to get the look I was going for, and it was easier than I thought to create these see-through translucent invitations!

Skill: Advanced
Time: 15 minutes for each

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other

See How To Make A Birthday Card With A Dynamic Look

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by Elina Stromberg

See How To Make A Birthday Card With A Dynamic Look

This card project is a playful combination of two very different design elements; a simple white graphical front and a rich bright colorful background. This design idea can be used for various card projects of different sizes and shapes; this background looks as great on a large square card as on a small ATC. For the background use your favorite colors and color combinations and add additional layers with stamps and stencils. The graphical white card front will calm down even the busiest color burst background making the result look elegant and beautiful.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 2 hours + drying time

Direction


Step 1

Trim a panel from white cardstock. The size should be slightly smaller than your card base (approx. 0.25 inch smaller on all edges). Place the panel on your craft mat, backside up. Using a pencil and a ruler trace a border around the edges. Trace a few straight lines across the panel, letting the lines cross. Decide on the placement of the solid front label that will be the base for the stamped sentiment. Mark the label area clearly so that it will be left uncut.

Step 2

Place the front panel on a cutting mat. Using a craft knife and a ruler cut out the areas inside the crossing lines. Leave a thin border on both sides of the lines. Do not cut into the solid label area.


Step 3

Mist a piece of white heavy watercolor paper with water. Use your craft mat as a palette: Remove the nozzle from the Fireworks mist, pour a drop of color on the craft mat and apply color on the paper using a brush. Add drops of another matching color either with a brush or with the nozzle. Mix colors using both water and a brush, let dry before adding more layers of color.

Step 4

When finished with painting splash the paper with clear water. Let water react with the colors for a few seconds and lift off excess by pressing the paper with a paper towel. Let dry completely and trim to size of your white card front.

Step  5

Using one or two ink colors stamp the sentiment text on the card front.

Step 6

Assemble the card by first gluing the white card front on the colorful background and then attaching the entire front panel on the card base.


Extra Tip:

When coloring a card background I often use a paper slightly larger than my finished project. After trimming the panel to the final size I keep the colorful leftover pieces and use them for decorating the inside of the card. This way I’m continuing the same color and/or pattern theme on the inside of the card!

Supplies

Imagine

Other

  • White cardstock
  • White heavy watercolor paper
  • Solid color card base
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Watercolor brush
  • Craft knife
  • Cutting mat
  • Paper trimmer
  • Glue
  • Double-sided tape
  • Ali Edwards – ‘Hello Birthday’ Stamp

See How To Create A Dynamic Looking Wedding Invitation

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by Martha Lucia Gomez

See How To Create A Dynamic Looking Wedding Invitation

Hi there! Today, I have a unique wedding card technique to share with you. By using this technique each wedding invitation will have its own unique subtleties. I used Desert Sand Memento Ink but you can use the colors used in your wedding decor. Embossing folders can be used in several ways and it is fun and simple. Now that you can get wedding invitations in craft stores you can add your personal touch to the make it more special just by pasting the decorated layer on top.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 20 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Select an embossing folder, ink the flat layer of the folder with the color of ink of your preference. Since this is a wedding card, I used Desert Sand Memento Ink because it matches well with gold and enhances the white. You can apply the ink directly with the ink pad or using a brayer. Insert the card stock on your embossing folder and pass the sandwich through your cutting machine.


Step 2

On a separate piece of card stock with the same color of the card base, stamp the couple image using VersaMark. Sprinkle Gold Embossing Powder and use a heat tool to set.


Step 3

To create a matching frame for the couple image, I inked the edges of a rectangle with the VersaMark inkpad.


Step 4

Then I sprinkled a heavy amount of Gold Embossing Powder and melted the powder with the heat tool.


Step 5

If you want to add more details this is the moment. In my sample, I tie a bow in the ribbon around of the embossed background and pasted it directly over the card base. Then I pasted the main stamped image over the decorated card base using double-sided foam tape.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – Whisper White
  • Die Cutting Machine
  • The Rabbit Hole Designs – Happily Ever After Stamp Set
  • Embossing Folder
  • Satin Ribbon
  • Heat Tool
  • Double-sided foam tape