Trick or Treat… Let’s Made a Halloween Card

By Anna Escalada York

I’ve been really enjoying Halloween cards lately and it was so fun to use a bunch of sprays to make this one.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Die cut all of the pieces for the die cut pumpkin out of watercolor paper and then spray the two bottom pieces with Rich Cocoa Fireworks! Craft Spray (bottom-most layer) and Tangelo! Craft Spray (second-largest layer) and let dry.

Step 2:
Spray the other three die cut pieces: Dandelion Fireworks! Craft Spray on the middle die cut, Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray on the upper part of the pumpkin’s body, and Bamboo Leaves Fireworks! Craft Spray for the pumpkin stem. Allow all the layers to dry.

Step 3:
Glue the layers of the pumpkin together and then ink blend the edges of the pumpkin with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and a sponge dauber.

Step 4:
Ink blend the pumpkin stem die cut with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and a sponge dauber.

Step 5:
Spray the whole pumpkin die cut with more Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and set aside to dry.

Step 6:
Spray the Dandelion and Tangelo Fireworks! Craft Spray onto a piece of acetate packaging and use it to watercolor smoosh a panel of watercolor paper. After the spray dries, die cut it with an A2-sized die cut.

Step 7:
Splatter Rich Cocoa Fireworks! Craft Spray onto the background panel with the stick from the bottle’s spray nozzle. Then use a Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink to partially stamp the panel as well as ink blend the edges. Heat emboss the cobwebs and ink blended edges with clear embossing powder

Step 8:
Press the Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink pad onto a small piece of watercolor paper to color it black.

Step 9:
Die cut the now black piece of watercolor paper to create the sentiment and spray it with Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray.

Step 10:
Die cut a piece of vellum with the sentiment’s shadow and glue both layers together.

Step 11:
Assemble the card. Glue the pumpkin’s stem and the rest of the pumpkin together and glue it approximately in the center of the panel. Glue the sentiment on the right side of the pumpkin. Then add orange and yellow sequins onto the card. To finish the card, glue the whole card panel onto an orange A2-sized card base.

Art Supplies

Imagine

Fireworks! Craft Sprays- Bamboo Leaves, Dandelion, Rich Cocoa and Tangelo
Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Gold
VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
Sponge Dauber

Other

Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
Pretty Pink Posh – die set – Fringe Pumpkin
Simon Says Stamp – die cut – Trick or Treat 2
Simon Says Stamp – sequin mix – Autumn Leaves (retired)
Tailored Expressions – stamp – Spiderweb Cling & Clear Combo
A2-sized orange card base
Clear Embossing Powder
Watercolor paper
Die cutting machine Scissors
Glue

Create a Mini Halloween Bat Treat Box 

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

– Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Halloween is right around the corner and today I have a really quick & easy treat box idea for you. If you are interested in making mini treat boxes and dressing them up for Halloween, Christmas, or Easter, just keep reading!

Step 1:
Die cut a piece of Mint Macaron cardstock with Design a Treatbox die from Stampin’ Up. Fold along the score lines to create a mini treat box.

Step 2:
Die cut a piece of black cardstock with the bat wing die from the same set. Then spritzed it with a generous layer of Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Frost. The shimmer spray really adds a whimsical touch to the bat wings! You can compare it with the die cut in the back without the Sheer Shimmer Spray. Doesn’t it look so different?

Step 3:
Then I added a smiley face to the tab of the treat box with irRESISTible Pico Embellisher. The fine-tip nozzle was so easy to use to create fine details.

Step 4:
Die cut the box labels with mint patterned paper and white cardstock. The “trick or treat” sentiment is from Mama Elephant’s Meowlloween Extras set. I stamped it with Brilliance Starlite Black ink pad.

Step 5:
Since this is a mini treat box (holds 2 Hershey kisses), no tape or glue is required for the box assembly. Simply fold along the crease lines and hold it together with the flaps’ openings. This no-glue project is ideal for mass production and you could create many party favors in a short time!

Once the box is assembled, adhere the label dies to the front and slide the bat wings die between the top tabs. You could also create Christmas or Easter treat boxes with the other dies in this set.

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Stampin’ Up! – Dies – Design a Treatbox
  • Stampin’ Up! – Tool – Mini Cut & Emboss Machine
  • Mama Elephant – Stamps – Meowlloween Extras

Let’s Make a Repurposed Tea Tin Box

By Anna Escalada York

I’ve had a small metal tea box that I’ve wanted to repurpose into a mixed media piece for a while, so I took some time on a rainy day to make it happen.

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 hour active time, 6+ hours (drying between layers)

Directions:

Step 1:

After applying two coats of gesso around all four sides of a tea tin, spray the top of the tin with Cherry Blossom Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution and allow it to drip down the sides of the tin. Set aside to dry.

Step 2:

Spray all four sides of the tin with Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 3:

While the tin was drying, die cut four leaf clusters out of watercolor paper. Then randomly add Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray to the centers of each leaf with the stick of the spray nozzle and color the outsides of the leaves with Elderberry Memento Dual Marker.

Step 4:

Spray each of the 4 leaf clusters with Lulu Lavender Fireworks! Craft Spray and allow to dry.

Step 5:

Partially stamp each of the four sides of the tin with Night Sky VersaMagic ink on a background stamp. (I used an old woodblock typewriter stamp.) Then press the ink pad along the top edge of the tin and the raised rib as well. Heat emboss the top rim of ink with clear embossing powder.

Step 6:

Ink blend Lilac VersaColor ink through a stencil on all four sides of the tin using a sponge dauber. (Not pictured was splattering more of the Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray onto each of the four sides as well.) Then allow everything to dry.

Step 7:

Glue two of the leaf cluster dies (one on top of the other) along the right edge of two of the sides of the tin.

Not pictured was the step after this where I decided to use my sponge daubers to ink blend some more of the Night Sky VersaMagic ink along some of the edges of the leaves while they were glued down, nor using my Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top to add some gold to the leaves as well.

Splatter the tin with more Paris Dusk Fireworks! Craft Spray. Allow it to dry. Then glue dark blue gems around the leaf clusters to finish the box on the two slides with leaves.

Art Supplies

Imagine

Fireworks! – Lulu Lavender and Paris Dusk
Memento Dual Marker – Elderberry
Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber Top – Gold
VersaColor ink – Lilac
VersaMagic ink – Night Sky
Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Cherry Blossom
Sponge Daubers

Other

AALL & Create – stencil – Lotza Starz 6″x6″ stencil
Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
Scrappy Tails Crafts – embellishment mix
Simon Says Stamp – die cut – Autumn Leaf Branch
Old typewriter woodblock stamp in my stash
Clear Embossing Powder
Watercolor paper
Foam paint brush (for the gesso)
Die cutting machine
Glue

Let’s Make a Coffee-Themed Card

By Anna Escalada York

– As a high school teacher, having cards with a snarky-edge ready to go for a coworker having a wild day is a must, and coffee-themed cards are great to have in your stash because they are always appreciated. So as I get ready to go back to school, I can tuck this away for someone who may need a smile.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2.0 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Rub a Love Letter Memento ink pad onto a piece of watercolor paper. (The paper was a little rough, so additional color will be added later.)

Step 2:
After die cutting the colored watercolor paper, use a Poppy Red Fabrico marker to fix any areas that weren’t colored with the ink pad.Then spray the die cuts with Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray.

(Later, a third die cut was made to better fit the card. This was made in the same way.)

Step 3:
Die cut a piece of watercolor paper with the second-largest die from an A2-sized background die set. Then spray Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray into a coffee-themed embossing folder and emboss the watercolor panel. Allow the spray to dry.

Step 4:
Ink blend the edges of the embossed watercolor background panel with Champagne Delicata ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 5:
Before gluing the die cuts, I pressed the center coffee cup into the Ruby Red Delicata ink pad to change the color of that cup just a little. Glue all three die cuts down and trim the edges with scissors.

Step 6:
Ink blend a piece of patterned paper with more of the Ruby Red Delicata ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 7:
Die cut the ink blended patterned paper with the largest die from the A2-sized background die set. Then press both Ruby Red and Bark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink onto acetate packaging and spraying with water and splatter both panels with the red and brown watercolor. Ater the splatter dries, glue the two panels together.

Step 8:
Stamp the sentiment with Glamorous VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 9:
Die the inside of the coffee cups (the coffee) out of watercolor paper with the same coffee cup die three times and then spray them all with Potter’s Clay Fireworks! Craft Spray.

Step 10:
Ink blend the edges of all three coffee dies with Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink with an ink dauber. Then glue the three small brown die cuts into the three coffee cups on the cardbase.

Step 11:
Press the edges of the sentiment into the Ruby Red Delicata ink pad and then heat emboss the edges with clear embossing powder. Then assemble the card by attaching the sentiment onto the lower right corner of the upper card panel with foam tape and glue sequins onto the card.

Finally, glue the whole thing onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Delicata ink – Champagne
• Delicata ink – Dark Brown Shimmer
• Delicata ink – Ruby Red
• Fabrico Dual Marker – Poppy Red
• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Potter’s Clay
• Memento Ink – Love Letter
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• VersaFine Clair ink – Glamorous
• Sponge Daubers

Other
• Altenew – foam tape
• Catherine Pooler – sequin mix – Manhattan
• Pink and Main – die set – Notched Corners
• Riley and Company – die set – Coffee Heartbeat
• Sizzix – embossing folder – Coffee by Tim Holtz
• A2-sized white card base
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Watercolor paper
• Patterned paper
• Thin paint brush
• Die cutting machine
• Scissors
• Glue

Let’s Make a Welcome Card for a Teacher

By Anna Escalada York

As a veteran teacher in a local high school, I was excited to make a welcome card for the new culinary teacher at my high school. I decided that since I was making the card specifically for them, I would personalize it– using maroon (or as close as I could with the colors in my stash) and gray as the color scheme of the card as our school colors and use a cute new to me charcuterie-themed stamp set.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.0 hour

Directions:

Step 1:
Stamp the large charcuterie stamp onto a piece of watercolor paper with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 2:
After die cutting the colored watercolor paper with the second-largest die from an A2-sized background die set, press the Midnight Black VersaMagic ink pad onto a piece of acetate packaging and then sprayed the ink with Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray. Then press the acetate onto the watercolor panel. After everything dried, ink blend the edges of the panel with more of the Midnight Black VersaMagic ink using a sponge dauber.

Step 3:
Press the Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink pad onto the edges of a watercolor panel.

Step 4:
Die cut the panel with the largest die from the A2-sized background die set. Then press the Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink pad onto another piece of acetate packaging and spray the acetate with more of the Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and then watercolor smooshed the Rhubarb Stalk-colored panel. Allow to dry.

Step 5:
Press more Rhubarb Stalk Memento Ink pad onto acetate packaging and spray the acetate with more of the Frost Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and then watercolor smoosh the stamped gray and white charcuterie board stamped panel to add a hint of color to the card. Allow to dry.

Step 6:
Press Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink pad onto a small scrap of watercolor paper. Make sure the paper is fully colored. After the ink has dried, die cut the watercolor paper with the sentiment die. While die cutting, die cut two additional scraps of cardstock to create a-three layered die cut for dimension.

Step 7:
Assemble the card. Glue the two panels together. Then glue the three layers of the sentiment together and glue to the center of the card. Attach clear enamel dots onto the card (while they are hard to see on the photo, there are three on the lower left corner of the gray panel, and two on the upper right panel). Then glue everything onto an A2-sized white cardbase.

Art Supplies

Imagine
Memento Ink – Rhubarb Stalk
Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Frost
VersaFine Clair Ink – Nocturne
VersaMagic Ink – Midnight Black
Sponge Dauber

Other
Altenew – enamel dots –
Crystal Clear Enamel Dots
Colorado Craft Company – stamp set –
Charcuterie Board
Pink and Main – die set –
Notched Corners
Welcome sentiment die
Clear Embossing Powder
Watercolor paper
Die cutting machine
Glue

Let’s Give your Clipboard a Makeover

By Anna Escalada York

– I had an old clipboard that I wanted to decorate and was able to make it work with some of my Imagine Craft supplies.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2.0 hours (includes drying time)

Directions:

Step 1:
Paint a thin layer of thin layer of white gesso onto an old clipboard and set aside to dry. (I used some old spools of washi tape to hold open the metal clip so that it wouldn’t get stuck in the drying gesso.)

Step 2:
Spray Pear Tart Fireworks! Craft Spray through a detailed heart stencil on the lower left corner of the clipboard. Emboss with clear embossing powder to set the spray.

Here is a closeup of Step 2:

Step 3:
Stamp a large butterfly in the upper left part of the clipboard base and a sentiment (or maybe in this case affirmation) in the lower right corner with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and then heat emboss both with clear embossing powder.

Step 4:
Watercolor smoosh the clipboard with a variety of blue, green and black watercolor in layers.

  • Starting out with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Chalk Ink, press the ink pad onto a scrap piece of acetate packaging and spray with water. Then press the acetate over the butterfly to create a light blue area around the butterfly. Press the remaining color from the acetate in a diagonal line across the clipboard from the upper left corner to the lower right corner into the stamped sentiment.
  • Repeat the process with Hint of Pesto VersaMagic Chalk Ink.
  • Then draw on the acetate with Danube Blue Memento Dual Marker and spray with water; this time focus most of this darker color around the butterfly and splatter the clipboard with the remainder of the dark blue watercolor.
  • Finally, draw on the acetate with Tuxedo Black Memento Dual Marker and spray with water. Use the black watercolor to splatter the butterfly (and to cover up any blemishes left behind when stamping).

Let everything dry.

Step 5:
Color in parts of the butterfly image with Tropical Lagoon Fabrico Dual Marker (center of the upper wings) and Pear Tart Memento Dual Marker (small circles on the edge of the lower wings). Color in the word curiosity in the sentiment with more of the Tropical Lagoon Fabrico Dual Marker. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Step 6:
Spray Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray onto the acetate and watercolor smoosh it onto the clipboard. Splatter any remaining spray on the acetate onto the clipboard. If larger individual splatters are desired, unscrew the top and use the tube/straw from the spray bottle to dab large blobs of Silver Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray onto the clipboard and finish the project.

Art Supplies

Imagine
• Fabrico Dual Marker – Tropical Lagoon
• Fireworks! Craft Spray – Pear Tart
• Memento Dual Markers – Danube Blue, Pear Tart and Tuxedo Black
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Silver
• VersaFine Clair ink – Nocturne
• VersaMagic Chalk ink – Hint of Pesto and Turquoise Gem

Other
• Golden – Gesso Semi-Opaque Acrylic Primer
• Stampers Anonymous and Tim Holtz – stamp set – Perspective CMS213 Clear Embossing Powder
• Foam paint brush (for the gesso) Thin paint brush (for splattering) Small detail stencil in my stash