Create Your Own Background to Make an Adorable Easter Card

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Imagine

By Kathy Pisupati

Good morning! Kathy here, creating art for Imagine Crafts! Today I have a new tutorial for you. Today’s project is an Easter card but it is also about creating your own backgrounds with Imagine Craft’s Ultimate Pigment Ink Refills! If you don’t have much patterned paper this is an easy background using the refills and baby wipes!

Skill Level: Easy

Time to complete: 1 hour

Step 1

Cut a piece of a layering weight, white card stock to 4.25” x 5.5”. This will be enough for three holders. Grab your favorite ink refills. For today’s card I used Imagine Craft’s Ultimate Pigment Ink Refills in Canary and Pink. Grab a baby wipe and fold it up nicely.

Step 2

Dab your ink onto the baby wipe in an alternating order.

Step 3

Now just swipe across your card stock. YES you will get messy! But it’s fun. You may need to add some more drops. Make sure when swiping that you line up your baby wipe with the last swiped color as you move along.

Step 4

Time to get messy again! We will spray Sheer Shimmer Spray in Gold all over the panel. I use an old box and lay the panel inside. This contains the spray a bit. The sparkle of these sprays is so pretty and available in so many colors!

Step 5

I also unscrewed the top of the Shimmer Spray and splattered some random spots. I splattered some small spots using metallic watercolor paint.

Step 6

Next, I cut some scalloped frames and glued them together with On Point Glue. I used a coordinating pink card stock. Trim the background panel to fit behind the frame and adhere with On Point Glue from Imagine Crafts.

Step 7

I die-cut some an Easter Egg I had in my stash several times. I used the scalloped frame to die-cut the edges so they would fit perfectly against the frame. I also cut an additional egg to use as the main focal point.

Step 8

I traced the actual die and cut a solid egg out. I adhered this behind the main egg and adhered with glue. I took the insides of the die cut and just painted some of the pink and yellow refill ink on alternating stripes I also added 2 gold stripes from a metallic card stock.

I stamped, colored and die-cut a cute bunny. I used alcohol markers but any coloring medium will work. I stamped the Easter sentiment on the same pink card stock. I used VersaMark Ink, covered with gold embossing powder and heated. The sentiment, main egg and bunny are popped up with foam tape. The entire panel is added to a horizontal folded A2 card base with foam tape as well. The last thing I did was add a few confetti sequins!

I hope you enjoy this card and the tutorial. Thanks for stopping by I appreciate all of you! Please head over to the Imagine Crafts website to see all the beautiful products. Here is the link IMAGINE CRAFTS.

SUPPLIES

Imagine Crafts

Other

Kat Scrappiness Rainbow Egg Die Set
Kat Scrappiness Boxed Sentiment Dies
Kat Scrappiness Hippity Hoppity Bunnies
Kat Scrappiness Hippity Hoppity Sentiment Stamps
Kat Scrappiness A2 Reversed Scallop Dies
Kat Scrappiness Mother of Pearl Solid Round Confetti
Scor-Pal scoring tool
Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die-Cutting machine
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb
Paper Trimmer
Teflon bone folder
Foam Tape

Let’s Make a Thank You Card

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Imagine

By Kathi Rerek

– Greetings! It’s Kathi here. In today’s tutorial, I am going to show you how to create a shimmery Thank You card using multiple Brilliance Ink colors.

Skill: Beginner to Intermediate

Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:

Cut a piece of Mixed Media paper to 4” x 5.25”. Using a Sponge Dauber, apply Sky Blue Pearlescent Brilliance Ink to half of the panel. Use another Sponge Dauber to apply Orchid Pearlescent Brilliance ink to the other side. Blend the two colors of ink in the center.

Repeat this step with a second piece of paper. Set this piece aside to be used later.

Step 2:

Spray Isopropyl Alcohol onto ink blended paper panel and let sit for a minute. The alcohol will lighten, blend, and add white speckles to the paper. Heat set.

Step 3:

Use Removable Scotch Tape to tape the background panel to the back of the Mosaic Stencil, then use an Ink Sweeper to apply Moonlight White Brilliance ink over the stencil onto panel.

Step 4:

Remove the tape and the stencil. Heat set.

Step 5:

Use three flower dies from the Wildflowers 1 Thinlits Die Set to cut Mixed Media Paper.

Step 6:

Use Sponge Daubers to apply Pearlescent Purple, Pearlescent Ice Blue, and Pearlescent Lavender to the flowers. Use Fantastix Brush applicators to detail the flowers with Mediterranean Blue Brilliance, Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance, Grape Jelly Memento inks. Color the flower stems and leaves with Pearlescent Thyme Brilliance and Cottage Ivy Memento inks.

Step 7:

Use the Belly Band and “thanks” dies to cut the extra panel of paper created in Step 1.

Step 8:

Adhere the flower die-cuts to the stenciled panel. Adhere the Belly Band die-cut over the flower stems. Adhere the “thanks” die-cut to the center ornament of the Belly Band.

Step 9:

Cut a piece of white cardstock in half. Score and fold to form an A2 card. Put a piece of scrap paper inside the card, then use a Sponge Dauber to apply Purple Brilliance ink around the edges of the front of the card. Heat set.

Step 10:
Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the card.

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• Brilliance:

– Pearlescent Sky Blue

– Pearlescent Orchid

– Moonlight White

– Pearlescent Purple

– Pearlescent Ice Blue

– Pearlescent Thyme

• Fantastix Brush Tip

• Memento Ink

– Grape Jelly

– Cottage Ivy

• Sponge Dauber

• Ink Sweeper

• Tear It! Tape

Other:

• Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

• Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah

• Mosaic #54 Stencil by AALL and Create

• Wildflowers 1 Thinlits Flower Dies by Tim Holtz for Sizzix

• Belly Band Die by Frantic Stamper

• “Thanks” die: Source Unknown

• Removable Scotch Tape by 3M

• 91% Isopropyl Alchohol

• Heat Tool

• Big Shot by Sizzix

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!

Let’s Make an Inspirational Quote Wall Hanging

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Imagine

By Kathi Rerek –

Greetings! It’s Kathi here today to share with you a tutorial about how to create an inspirational wall hanging using a favorite quote and your craft supplies. I used Golden Glitz Delicata, Nocturne, VersaFine Clair, and VersaMagic Chalk inks.

Skill: Intermediate

Time: 2 hours

Directions:

Step 1:

Use a Stitched Slimline Die and a Big Tags cutting dies to cut black cardstock for the panels.

Step 2:

Position the moon and sun from the Alchemy Mixed Media Stencil on the top of the large rectangular die-cut. Use removable Scotch Tape to secure the stencil to the back of stencil. Cover the openings around the sun and moon with Post-It Notes. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Golden Glitz Delicata Ink over the stencil onto the die-cut. Heat set.

Step 3:

Use a magnet to secure the image panel horizontally along the base of a stamping platform. Position the clock from the ATC Coins Clear Stamp Set 6 facedown on the the panel, so that 12:00 is centered and facing the top of the panel.

Step 4:

Ink the clock with Golden Glitz Delicata ink and stamp the clock along the bottom of the tag. Heat set to bring out the lustre.

Step 5:

Position the compass from the Small Elements Stamp Set 2 facedown inside the circular opening of the clock with the “N” of North at 12:00.

Step 6:

Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink to stamp the small compass into the center of the clock image. Cover the stamped image with Clear MBoss Clear and melt the powder with a heat tool.

Step 7:

Use Turquoise Gem VersaMagic ink to stamp the swirls and stars from the Harvest Moon Clear Stamp Set and the stars from the Mini Stars Clear Stamp Set around the perimeter of the die-cut. Repeat using Sea Breeze VersaMagic ink. Heat set.

Step 8:

Edge the panel with Golden Glitz Delicata ink. I slide each edge of the piece along the side of the ink pad to create a strong golden edge. Heat set.

Step 9:

Use repositionable adhesive to secure the black tag die-cut to a piece of scrap paper, then use magnets to secure them to the base of the stamping platform.

Position the Celestial Navigation Clear Stamp 398 and stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair.

Step 10:

Cover the stamped image with MBoss. Melt the powder with the heat tool. (MBoss image application not shown)

Step 11:

Use Golden Glitz Delicata Ink to edge the tag.

Step 12:

Using an Ink Sweeper, apply Sea Breeze VersaMagic to a piece of mixed media paper.

Step 13:

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Turquoise Gem VersaMagic around the edges of the paper, then blend using the Ink Sweeper and Sea Breeze VersaMagic. Heat set.

Step 14:

Secure the inked panel to the base of the stamping platform. Position the Ink and the Dog Mini Cling Stamp 109 stamp and stamp with with Nocturne VersaFine Clair. Heat set.

Step 15:

Use the shaped die from the Small Stitched Envelope die set to cut the sentiment panel.

Step 16:

Cut a piece of black chipboard to 3.5″ x 9″. Punch holes in the top, insert eyelets, and thread ribbon.

Step 17:

Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the rectangular panel to the chipboard.

Step 18:

Then tape the stamped and embossed tag.

Step 19:

Lastly, adhere the quote die-cut.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope this project will inspire you as much as it inspired me!

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• VersaFine Clair – Nocturne

• VersaMagic – Sea Breeze

• VersaMagic – Turquoise Gem

• Delicata – Golden Glitz

Other:

• Crea-Lies: Bigz Tagz Crea-NestLies XXL #6

• Creekbank Creations: Stitched Slimline Dies

• Lawn Fawn: Small Stitched Envelope Lawn Cuts Die Set

• PaperArtsy: Ink and the Dog Mini Cling Rubber Stamp 109

• Lavinia Stamps: Mini Stars Clear Stamps

• AALL and Create: Celestial Navigation Clear Stamp Set 398

• Pink Ink: Harvest Moon Clear Stamp Set

• That’s Crafty: Small Elements Stamp Set 2

• That’s Crafty: ATC Coins Clear Stamp Set 6

• Stamperia: Alchemy Mixed Media Stencil

• Martha Stewart Crafts: Embossing Gun

• Tonic: Tim Holtz Stamping Platform

• Sizzix: Big Shot

Make Your Own Plaid with Tear It! Tape

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Imagine

By Alison Heikkila

Greetings! One of my favorite products from Imagine is Tear It Tape. That may be surprising, considering all of the fantastic inks and colors they offer. But, Tear It! Tape is an exceptional adhesive that has some cool properties you may not be aware of, namely the fact that it is heat safe. That means you can emboss right on top of it, so I decided to make a plaid, embossed background using it. This doesn’t take too long, but you do need to be precise, which is something I don’t normally try to be when I’m crafting.

*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.

Time to Complete: Approx. 30-45 Minutes
Skill Level: Intermediate to Difficult

Step 1: Lay your Craft Mat with the grid side up. It’s going to be necessary to use it to not only make sure our lines are straight, but also evenly spaced.

Step 2: Lay your cardstock at an angle on the grid. The angle doesn’t really matter.

Step 3: Apply a strip of Tear It! Tape at every horizontal grid line. I placed mine above the line consistently.

The panel will look like this when you’re done.

Step 4: Cut off the excess ends to make the tape flush with the edge of the panel.

Step 5: Begin to partially remove the release paper from the Tear It! Tape. I found it to be easier to only pull it off part of the way, so that I could still move the card around without getting my fingers on the sticky tape. When you finish lifting a bit of each strip, finish pulling off the release paper.

Step 6: Pour Copper MBoss embossing powder on to the panel. I put a piece of copy paper underneath so that I can pour the excess back into the bag. I recommend rubbing your finger across the panel to ensure good coverage of the powder.

Step 7: Shake off the excess powder on to the copy paper, and heat set the powder that’s on the panel.

Step 8: Begin applying Summer Sky Memento Ink in the middle of the card panel using the applicator of your choice. Admittedly, my brush wasn’t thoroughly clean, so my inking doesn’t look exactly like the ink color.

Step 9: Apply Nautical Blue Memento around the Summer Sky Ink, in a “U” shape.

Step 10: Lay the inked panel back on to the grid at a different angle from before and begin laying down more Tear It! Tape. This time, I only applied the tape where the lines were bold, so every inch.

When done applying the tape, this is what the panel should look like.

Step 11: Remove the release paper, sprinkle on Shimmering Night Sky MBoss, shake off the excess, and heat set.

Pro Tip: You may be wondering why we didn’t ink the panel after the second layer of MBoss was applied, instead of before. The Shimmering Night Sky powder has glitter in it, which could cause some drag or pulling on your ink applicators when you blend the ink. To avoid that, inking before applying a sparkly powder is advised. The Copper powder is metallic, so there’s no drag, and excess ink can be buffed away with a cloth or paper towel.

Step 12: To make perfectly coordinated cardstock for your sentiment, ink up a piece of white with Nautical Blue. Die cut the sentiment. Cut the shadow layer from vellum.

Step 13: Shake up the Summer Sky Fireworks Spray, unscrew the bottle and flick the straw on your card base to create splatters. Let dry.

Step 14: Assemble your card with Tear It Tape for the panel, and On Point Glue for the die cut sentiment.

I love how this card came out! It’s got lots of shine, but with a masculine vibe. You can change the powders and ink colors however you like to suit your needs. I love the indigo tones we’ve got going here. I hope that you’ll try making your own plaid. Thanks for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Supplies:
Imagine:
Tear It!Tape
Craft Mat
On Point Glue
MBoss Embossing Powder in Copper
MBoss Embossing Powder in Shimmering Night Sky
Memento Ink in Summer Sky
Memento Ink in Nautical Blue
Fireworks Spray in Summer Sky

Other:
Pinkfresh Studio: Classic Words Die Set
Blending Brush (or other ink applicator)
Strathmore Smooth Bristol Cardstock (for focal panel)
White Cardstock for card base

Let’s Make a Floral Happy Birthday Card

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Imagine

By Martha Lucia Gomez

Hello there! Today’s tutorial is about a Birthday Card using a background stamp but adding texture and color. To make this, I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne, Clear Embossing Powder and Memento Markers.

Skill: Beginning

Time: 45 minutes

Directions:

Step 1:

Take a piece of white smooth cardstock, ink well your background stamp with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink and stamp your image pressing hard to obtain a crispy image. You can use any stamping tool.

Step 2:

Cover the stamped image with Clear Embossing Power or MBoss. Melt the powder with the heat tool.

Step 3:

To enhance the details of the stamp, color it partially with Memento Markers. The VersaFine Clair in is a safe ink to work with these Markers or with any type of Alcohol Markers.

Step 4:

Combine the tones of your markers to have different shadows. In my sample I used Memento Markers in colors Angel Pink, New Sprout, Pistachio, Bamboo Leaves, Rose Bud, Desert Sand, Cantaloupe, Tangelo and Summer Sky.

Step 5:

If you want you can resize the stamped layer and paste it over a card base. You can use Tear It! Tape to paste it.

Step 6:

In a separate piece of white cardstock stamp the birthday sentiment using the same products used to create the background. I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne and Clear Embossing Powder.

Finalize your card pasting the sentiment with crafty foam tape.