Learn How To Create A Color Wash Effect On A Card

by Jowilna Nolte

Learn How To Create A Color Wash Effect On A Card with memento luxe inkers

Following in the footsteps of fashions trends we explore the warm yellow that has the world looking all happy and sunshiny. I too have fallen in love with this Tuscan Sun color and who wouldn’t? I show you how easy it is to achieve this warm dark yellow effect by mixing colors, pastes, and watercolor techniques. Take a look at how I created this watercolor wash effect.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

I used Creative Medium, Memento Luxe inkers, and clear texture pastes to create my colored base.


Step 2

Mix Creative Medium, 2 drops of Dandelion inker, 2 drops of Peanut Brittle inker and a small drop of the clear glossy texture paste. Smooth the mixture out onto a piece of cardstock and leave to dry.


Step 3

Once dry the surface creates a plastic looking smooth effect. Use a Loopy Rings die-cut and cut out the basic shape to use on your card. The die-cut elements have this amazing plastic looking effect that is super strong because of all the product mixed together on its surface.


Step 4

Use On Point Glue to adhere the Loopy Rings die-cut to the front of your card base. Add drops from your inkers into an inkwell and add water. Using a large soft watercolor paintbrush, paint inside the circles to give a watercolor wash effect. By mixing the two colors of inker you can achieve the perfect warm mustard yellow.


Step 5

Finish off your card by using the left-over watercolor ink to splat drops of color onto your card. Add a stamped sentiment using VersaFine Clair Nocturne and a stamped shark image. Add pearls and diamanté.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Cardstock – White
  • Joy Clair Stamps
  • Memory Box – Loopy Rings metal die
  • Die-cut machine
  • Anna Griffin – Texture Paste
  • Pearls
  • Diamanté

See How To Make 3D Flowers For A Scrapbook Layout

by Elina Stromberg

See How To Make 3d Flowers For A Scrapbook Layout

Lots and lots of flowers make a girly scrapbook layout bloom! There are many ready-made flower embellishments in the market, but I prefer making the embellishments myself. That way I can easily make sure that the flowers have just the right shape, size, and color to match my project. In addition to punched and die-cut flowers, I like to use my flower stamps to embellish my card creations and scrapbook pages. Coloring and fuzzy-cutting flowers are pure crafting mindfulness!

Stamped flowers don’t have to be dull flat decorations. Once the flowers are cut out, I press them gently on the palm of my hand. This lifts up the petals, and when glued on is applied only to the center of the flower the finished look is lovely dimensional.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 2 hours

Directions


Step 1

Stamp flowers and leaves on heavy white cardstock. When coloring with alcohol markers, use (black) Memento ink for stamping. When coloring with watercolors or watercolor pencils, use (black) VersaFine Clair or VersaFine ink.


Step 2

Color the flowers and leaves with alcohol markers, watercolors or color pencils. Use both lighter and darker tones of the colors of your choice. Add white highlights with a white pastel pen/charcoal pencil. Cut out.


Step 3

Trim two strips of patterned/colored papers, either horizontal or slightly slanted. Place a narrow strip on top of the page and a bit wider strip on the bottom. Adhere with double-sided tape and secure by sewing a wide zig zag over the edge. Using small pieces of tape fasten off the ends of the sewing yarn on the back of the page.


Step 4

Stencil light pink patterns on the background paper. Dab the ink through the stencil with a sponge dauber. 


Step 5

Stamp hints of texture on the stenciled pattern: Keep the stamp in your hand and bend it when inking and stamping. This way you can create small partial stamped patterns on the paper; you don’t want the stamped pattern to stand out too much!


Step 6

Stamp small embellishments on white or light patterned paper using the same VersaFine Clair color as was used on decorating the background. Cut out.


Step 7

Layer photo on pieces of patterned papers. Decorate photo with stamped and fuzzy cut images.


Step 8

Use a long ruler to align the title text letters. Grid lines of the craft mat will help in aligning. Plan the sticker placement carefully, as you will not be able to reposition them; they stick firmly on the photo! Press flowers on the palm of your hand to gently bend the petals. Glue on the page building clusters of flowers. Fold the leaves in half, put a drop of glue on the back and tuck under the flowers. Add small stamped and fuzzy-cut embellishments around the flowers.


Step 9

Write journaling on the page with a white gel pen.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Patterned paper in size 12” x 12” for layout background (Studio Calico May ’13)
  • Strips of solid color and patterned paper
  • Pieces of patterned papers to mat the photo
  • Stencil – 13 Arts ‘Stained Glass’
  • Stamps – Honey Bee: ‘Spring Blossom,’ Wycinanka: ‘Lorem ipsum,’ Carabelle Studio: ‘Mini Textures’
  • Letter stickers: American Crafts
  • White gel pen
  • Sewing machine
  • White sewing yarn
  • Glue
  • Double-sided tape
  • Scissors

Learn How to Make a Birthday Card with Ink Blending

by Lindsay Adreon

Learn How to Make a Birthday Card with Ink Blending Fireworks Ink Sprays in Blue and Pink

Fireworks! Is there a better product to use during the month of July? These shimmery craft ink sprays are gorgeous, full of pigment, shine and sparkle and make some gorgeous backgrounds that require little to no effort! If you’re looking for a sparkly and quick background that makes a big impact on your projects, this is the technique for you!

Skill: Beginner/Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Waffle Flower – Celebrate Die
  • Kat Scrappiness – Happy New Year Die
  • Foam Tape

Quick & Easy: Acrylic Block Inking Technique

Beginner Guide: Acrylic Block Inking Technique

by Martha Lucia Gomez

Using this acrylic block technique is an easy way to create a colorful background with a watercolor effect on your paper projects like cards and scrapbook layouts. You can do this technique using any water-based pigment or dye inks, and acrylic blocks of different sizes and shapes. You do not need a lot of different supplies to make beautiful backgrounds! You can do this with a single color of ink, but I used two colors of Memento water-based dye inks because the colors in the line blend together so nicely.

shopping list for Imagine

 

Memento Inkpad Tuxedo Black

Memento Inkpad Tangelo

Memento Inkpad Dandelion

Imagine Craft Mat

 Joy Clair Stamps

Stampin Up Cardstock

Acrylic Block by Stampin’ Up

Case base – white or black

2 oz Water Bottle

Tear It Tape

Select the size and shape of the acrylic block that you want to use to create the background. Here I used a block large enough to cover most of a standard size card but small enough to also leave a white border. Apply the ink directly on the acrylic block by swiping the ink pad on the surface.. Dye inks appearance on the block will look clear, but once you press the block onto paper the color will pop! I used two different colors, Memento Dandelion and Tangelo. I love the way the two similar colors fade into one another.

Spray your inked block with water. The intensity of color depends on the amount of water that you apply. Less water  will result in more color, and more water less color. Since the dye inks are waterbased the water will allow the orange and yellow to blend even more. Turn your block around and stamp the color directly over your cardstock or watercolor paper. Press the block into the paper with your hands to transfer the color. Lift the block off of the paper and let the cardstock dry naturally or speed the process with a heat tool. This technique can be used on most types of cardstock.

Arrange your clear stamps on the acrylic block. If you are not sure how you would like the design to look you can practice placement before you ink the stamp. This gives you a sense of the final look and feel. It can be eye-pleasing to have the stamped image use the full panel frame, meaning it covers both the colored and white areas. Here I decided to place the large floral image in the top corner and the sentiment “Thanks” in the opposite corner. Ink your main image using Memento Tuxedo Black to create a contrast. Adhere your inked and stamped panel to the black card base using double-sided tape. The black in the flower print and sentiment will pop even more because it matches the paper of the card base.

 

Create a Sunflower Mixed Media Art Panel

by Lori Warren

Create a 3D piece of Mixed Media Art with a metal flower and a variety of inks. To add a nice 3D effect to your project, just use metal!  Metal is a great way to add dimension and can even be colored to match with StazOn Pigment ink.  The results can really be spectacular!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Add color to a metal flower with StazOn Pigment Inkpad.


Step 2

On an art panel, create a watercolor background with Memento DewDrops.


Step 3

Spray panel with Sheer Shimmer Spray in Sparkle.


Step 4

Stamp script stamp onto the panel with StazOn Pigment.


Step 5

Apply Memento ink in Teal Zeal and Pistachio onto the Craft Mat, add water, then use to stamp dots onto the panel.


Step 6

Stamp stem image with StazOn Pigment in Piano Black.


Step 7

Add water to a smear of Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black and splatter onto the background with a brush.


Step 8

Stamp saying with VersaFine CLAIR in Nocturne.


Step 9

Adhere metal flower onto the panel at top of the stem.


Step 10

Tie ribbon around the bottom portion of the panel.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Art Minds Metal Embellishment
  • Lori’s Cards & Creations Stamps
  • Art Panel
  • Celebrate 360 Sheer Ribbon

Color of the Month is Tuscan Sun

Color of the Month is Tuscan Sun

Color of the Month is Tuscan Sun. We were thinking of blended burnt orange and yellow sunset when we choose this hot summer color. Some of the inks that easily reflect this color choice are Memento Luxe in Morocco, Memento in Tangelo and VersaMagic in Pumpkin Spice.

For the Month of July August, we are also doing a special feature of Rinea Foil Paper. This beautiful paper foil comes in a variety of colors and patterns and we challenged our artists to use them in their tutorials and projects, so be on the lookout for awesomeness!!!  ******Correction: the exchange with Rinea is in August! 

Mixed Media by Roni Johnson

Best Wishes Card by Lori Warren

Paper Craft by Martha Lucia Gomez