How to Make a Gorgeous Gift Box Using VersaColor

By Kathi Rerek

Keep the gift boxes you receive and decorate them to hold special gifts.

The recipient will treasure the gift and the stunning box. Great for Valentines or any occasion!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Time: 1 hour plus drying time

Directions:

Step 1:

Using an Ink Sweeper, stamp the lid using Pink VersaColor covering the top and all sides.
You don’t need to ink the entire top of the box because you will be covering it. Heat set thoroughly. Set aside.

TIP: I use a heat tool to speed up the drying process.

Step 2:

Trim a sheet of Mixed Media Strathmore piece of cardstock to about 3″x3″

Ink with Pink VersaColor. Heat Set.

Step 3:

Secure the inked cardstock to the base of a stamping platform. Position your Elegant Script Background stamp and cover surface with VersaMark. It is important to use a stamp platform for this technique to ensure that the image lines up properly.

Step 4:

Ink the Elegant Script stamp with Rich Cocoa Memento ink.

Heat emboss with MBoss powder. (Photo not shown)

Step 5.

Die-cut heart using the Nestabilities Plain Heart Die Set by Spellbinders.

Pro Tip: You can use Rich Cocoa Memento Ink to edge the heart.

Step 6:

Trim a small piece of Mixed Media cardstock (about 3″x3″) and using the Scalloped Heart Die Set from Spellbinders, die-cut another heart. Ink using Rich Cocoa Memento. Heat set. Using a Sponge Dauber, apply Rose Gold Delicata ink to add a touch of rosy shimmer.

Step 7:

Use a square die (that’s a bit smaller than your box) to cut Mixed Media cardstock. Stamp with Pink VersaColor.

Tape the inked square to the back of the Slimline Baroque Stencil and ink with Cardinal VersaColor. 

Step 8:

Tape each element using Tear-It! Tape. Set Aside.

Step 9:

To create the rose embellishment, take a small piece of cardstock and die cut the flower pieces. The Quickutz Doublekutz Rose bud die set was used here.
Using embossing styluses can add dimension to the petals. Press the flower petals into the Cardinal VersaColor ink pad. Let them dry. Sponge with Rose Gold Delicata ink to give them some shimmer. Heat set.

Ink the stem and rose-hip with VersaMagic Hint of Pesto. Heat step. Then add a little Delicata Golden Glitz.

Step 10

Tape rose to the top of the lid using Tear It! Tape. Now your lid is complete.

Directions – Box Bottom

Step 11:

Ink box bottom with VersaColor Cardinal. Heat set.

Step 12:

Cut a piece of Mixed Media Strathmore piece of cardstock no smaller than 4″x4″.

(This piece will be used to decorate the inside of the box)

Ink with Cardinal VersaColor. Heat set.

Step 13:

Secure the inked cardstock to the base of a stamping platform. Position your Elegant Script Background stamp and ink with VersaFine Clair – Acorn.

Step 14:

Trim the stamped red panel slightly smaller than the box. Edge with Acorn VersaFine ink and heat set. Adhere to the interior of the box with Tear It! Tape. Now your bottom box is done.

Supplies Used

Imagine:

VersaColor – Pink and Cardinal

Delicata – Golden Glitz and Rose Gold

Memento – Rich Cocoa

VersaMark

VersaMagic – Hint of Pesto

VersaFine Clair – Acorn

Ink Sweepers

Sponge Daubers

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Other

Gift Box

Strathmore – 140 lb Mixed Media Cardstock

Spellbinders – Nestabilities- Scalloped Heart Die Set

Spellbinders – Nestabilities – Plain Heart Die Set

Gina Marie Designs – Big and Little Chains Square Die Set

QuicKutz – Rose Die Set

Darkroom Door – Elegant Script Background Cling Rubber Stamp

Studio Light – Jenine’s Mindful Collection – Inner Peace Slimline Baroque Stencil

McGill – Paper Blossoms Tool Kit

EK Success – Martha Stewart Heat Gun

Sizzix – Big Shot

Make a Fun Valentine Card with Metallic Creative Medium

By Kathy Pisupati

Good morning! I have a new tutorial for you using the beautiful Silver Metallic Creative Medium. It is the perfect medium to add dimension to your cards, scrapbooks, journals or any paper craft! Today I am creating a Valentine’s Day card for you so let’s get started!

Skill Level: Medium

Time to Complete: 1.5 hour

Directions:

Step 1

Cut, score and fold a piece of red card stock to create an A2 top-folding card base. Die-cut a piece of white card stock using the scalloped rectangle from the Gina K Design’s Master Layout 4 die set. Cut a piece of black card stock to roughly 4.25” x 5.5”

Step 2

Tape your stencil to the black card panel. Using and Imagine Crafts Spatula and the Silver Metallic Creative Medium, swipe the medium over the entire panel. Remove and clean your stencil and allow panel to dry. Once dry cut the panel to 3 3/8” x 4.5”.

Step 3

Using the Lacy Layered Heart Die from Kat Scrappiness cut 2 white hearts, 1 red and use the solid heart die to cut a heart from black card stock. Now we will emboss one of the white hearts. Cover the heart with VersaMark watermark ink and then sprinkle with your choice of embossing powder. I used WOW Antique Silver Powder. After heat embossing I glued the two white panels together with On Point. The using Imagine Craft Mixed Media Brush I blended some Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink around the edges. Then offset the red heart and glue it on. This was then glued to the center of the black, solid heart.

Step 4

From the same red card stock cut three of the word LOVE from the Kat Scrappiness I Love You Sentiment w/Shadow. I cut the shadow from vellum. I spritzed the word LOVE with Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Silver. Cut the I and the YOU from black card stock and the shadows from white. Glue these together.

Step 5

I also cut a few hearts using the die from Concord & 9th’s Sweet Summer die set and the red card stock. I covered them with Glossy Accents and used them as embellishments. For assembly I glued the main heart towards the top of the stenciled panel. the words were glued directly to the heart. For any of the sentiment that hung over the edge, I added a small piece of foam tape. Foam tape was added to the entire panel and then adhered to the red card base.

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out this tutorial. I hope you have an amazing crafty day and a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Supplies Used:

Imagine Crafts

Silver Metallic Creative Medium

VersaFine Clair Nocturne

VersaMark Watermark Ink

Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray

On Point Glue

Palette Knives

Mixed Media Brushes

Imagine Craft Silicone Mat

Others:

Kat Scrappiness I Love You Words with Shadow Dies

Kat Scrappiness Lacy Layered Heart

Simon Hurley Small Hearts Stencil

Gina K Design Master Lay Out 4 Dies

Concord & 9th Sweet Summer dies

Taylor end Expressions Oreo Card Stock

Red Card Stock

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb Card Stock

Glossy Accents

Platinum 6 Die-Cutting Machine

Paper Trimmer

Foam Tape

Embossing Heat Tool

Techniques to Create Delicate Textures in a Valentine’s Card

By Martha Lucia Gomez

Hello there! Today’s tutorial is about texture without dimensions. Do you know that you can create a flat card with these two ingredients and just one type of ink? Well, the Delicata is the ink that can bring you these possibilities and more. I decided to make this card using two colors of Delicata, Ruby Red and Rose Gold.  

Skill: Beginning

Time: 45 minutes

Directions:

Step 1:

Take a piece of white smooth cardstock and solid stamps to create your design. In my sample, I am using hearts in different sizes and the Love Sentiment. First, ink the sentiment using the Ruby Red Delicata Ink. The Delicata is a pigment ink that dries within minutes on porous papers and never loses the luster. You can also obtain a Metallic touch with it if you don’t emboss the stamped images. 

Step 2:

If you want to obtain more texture and coverage, you can stamp the same image several times. In my sample, I stamped it three times.

Step 3:

To complete the sentiment, you can stamp a complement using the same ink or other ink. On this sample, I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne. On it, you can notice the different textures of both inks and the soft color of the Delicata. 

Step 4:

Now is the time to create more texture. This time, I used Rose Gold Delicata Ink to create it and hearts in different sizes. I stamped them randomly on the upper part of the card.  Using a stamping tool, you can create different tones with the same ink and color, depending of the times that you stamp your image.

 Step 5:

After finalizing the stamping process, I decided to embellish the card with a few loops of red twine. I used a dot of On Point Glue to secure just the knot.  

Step 6:

Due to the dimension created with the twine, I pasted the decorated layer over a red card base using crafty foam tape. And voila, my soft and textured Valentine’s Card is ready!

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget that you can explore more textures with other colors of Delicata Ink. 

Art Supplies:

Imagine:

• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

• Delicata Ink Ruby Red and Rose Gold

• On Point Glue

• Craft Mat

Other:

• I Love You Stamps by Diamond Press. 

• Stamping Tool

• Crafty Foam Tape.

Make a Birthday Card Using Multiple Stencils

By Alison Heikkila –

Hello! Since birthdays happen all year, it’s good to have a big stash of birthday cards at the ready for whenever you need one. Since I love to use stencils, I thought I would use a bunch of them together with many colors of Memento Inks from Imagine.

*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.

I chose a light color and a dark color Memento Ink for each candle of the Big Candle stencil. 

Step 1:

Step 1: Use washi or low tack tape to stick down your cardstock and stencil. Mask off any areas that you don’t want your first color of ink on. I masked off the second candle and the flames. 

Step 2:

Ink the candles with the lighter color from the pairs you chose. Be sure to mask off the areas that you don’t want your ink to go.

Step 3:

Mask off the candles so that you can ink the flames. I used Dandelion on the entire flame, and then Tangelo on the lower area of the flame.

Step 4:

Choose the stencils you want to decorate each candle with and ink with the darker shades you chose. You must keep the original candle stencil in place so that you only ink the candle. Slip the patterned stencil under the candle stencil to make inking easy. Be sure to mask off the other areas again! 

This is what the completed candles look like. You can stop here, if you want, but I kept going to make it even more festive!

Step 5:

Ink a stencil that looks like confetti or sprinkles on top of the entire panel.

Step 6:

Die cut your sentiment. First, I was only going to die cut my “happy birthday” out of purple, but I decided to cut one sentiment out of each main candle color so that I can have a stacked, 3D embellishment. You can glue these together with On Point Glue. 

Step 7:

Ink your card base using the lighter colors of Memento Ink, directly from the pad. I worked my way around my palette of colors two times. 

Step 8:

Glue the card front and sentiment on to the card base. Optional: Add sequins or rhinestones to the card front with On Point Glue. 

Here is the finished card! I love how happy it is, and it can easily work for anyone. It’s fun to work with so many colors and so many patterns of stencils, all on one project. I hope that you break out some of your stencils and try this technique! Thanks for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Supplies Used:

Imagine:

Memento Ink: Angel Pink, Rhubarb Stalk, Cantaloupe, Peanut Brittle, Summer Sky, Paris Dusk, New Sprout, Northern Pine, Sweet Plum, Elderberry, Dandelion, Tangelo, Teal Zeal

On Point Glue

Other:

A Colorful Life Designs: Big Candles, Milky Way, Cozy Knit, Primative Batik, Crocodile, Teeny Honeycomb, Layered Party 1

Simon Says Stamp: Happy Birthday Die

The Rabbit Hole Designs: Cotton Tail Blending Brushes

Sequins

Washi/Low Tack Tape

White Cardstock

Learn to Make a Valentine’s Day Treat Bag/Gift Card Holder

By Kathy Pisupati –

Hello!  Kathy here, creating art for Imagine Crafts!  Today’s project is a treat/gift card holder for Valentine’s Day but it is also about ADHESIVES!  Adhesives aren’t the focus on most tutorials so let’s change that today.

.Skill Level: Easy

Time to complete: 1 Hour

Directions:

Step 1

Cut 3 pieces of a layering weight, white card stock to 4” x 11”.  This will be enough for three holders. You don’t need a heavy weight card stock as we will be scoring, folding and adding a layer of patterned paper.

Step 2

Cut 3 panels of patterned paper to 3.5” x 10.5”.  I had this fabulous patterned  paper from Kat Scrappiness in my stash which is perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Step 3

Here is where the adhesive comes in!  You will attach the patterned paper panels to the white card stock.  The Tear It! Tape from Imagine Crafts is SO easy to use.  It is a strong double-sided adhesive AND you don’t need to reach for your scissors every time you want a piece.  Just tear it!  It tears so easy!  We will also be using the On Point Glue and I will give you a tip in a second.  The On Point Glue comes in a small bottle with a micro tip.  The cap of the bottle has a built in pin that fits in the micro tip when you close the cap so it never gets clogged!  No more losing those pins!

Step 4

Add your Tear It! Tape to the back of all four panels on all sides.  Here’s a tip, pull up only a bit of each back and a bit of On Point Glue to the exposed area.  Then flip the panel over and align to your white card panel.  This allows some wiggle room for you to align the panels perfectly!  Once the patterned panel is aligned press down the areas of exposed adhesive and then gently pull the backing paper off from each side.

Step 5

Now it’s time to score and fold.  You will score as indicated above and fold in the manner shown.

Step 6

Now it’s time to add a little decoration!  I used a heart die and coordinating stamps.  I stamped using VersaColor Cardinal ink.  For the sentiment I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink.  Foam tape was added to the lower half of the heart.  The reason for this is so the flap of the holder can tuck under the heart.  I also added foam tape to the sentiment, adding a bit more dimension to the design.  These were SO easy to create and you could change up the design for ANY occasion.  I haven’t put anything inside yet.  A gift card fit perfectly inside, just add some temporary adhesive to the back of the gift card.  You can also adhere a small cellophane bag filled with small treats and adhere it or add a bit of temporary adhesive to the back of a fun-size candy bar!  Perfect for Valentine’s Day and Halloween!

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

• VersaColor Cardinal

• On Point Glue

• Tear It! Tape

• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other

• Kat Scrappiness Patterned Paper

• Heart Die

• Coordinating Heart Stamp/Stencil

• Scor-Pal scoring tool

• Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die-Cutting machine

• Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

• Paper Trimmer

• Teflon bone folder

• Foam Tape

Presenting Imagine’s 2023 Design Team

We are so excited to announce our 2023 Design Team! 

We look forward to sharing all of the creative inspiration that flows from this group of talented designers.

Let’s learn a little bit about them…

Alison Heikkila

Hello! My name is Alison Heikkila and I have been a crafter my entire life. My mom started me off with coloring and stringing beads from a very young age, and I never stopped. I have an art degree with a specialization in jewelry and sculpture, but I love working in many mediums and styles. Getting inky is absolutely one of my favorite things!  

I have an amazing husband who loves to see what I create each day (and even crafts along with me sometimes!) and two very creative kids. Sometimes the four of us craft together, which is so much fun. We’ve also got a cat and two dogs, and we reside on Long Island. 

I love to create, as I feel it truly feeds my soul. Getting a little “playtime” in my craft room each day is really important to me. I look forward to sharing projects with you. 

Blog – alisonheikkila.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/alisonheikkiladesigns/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alisonheikkila/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/AlisonHeikkila

Martha Lucia Gomez

Hi friends, I am Martha Lucia Gomez. I was born in Colombia, but I live in a paradise called Miami, FL USA. I’ve loved crafts forever. I used to work with metal jewelry, but one day I discovered stamps, ink and paper, and now it is my passion. I’ve realized that working with paper crafts is the best therapy. 

I live with my husband and our two daughters. I divide my time between my family, my work in a Public Relations Company and my passions: my blog and crafting on various design teams. I find my inspiration in simple things. My style is clean and simple but don’t misunderstand me – I love the simple things  plus the techniques and work involved in it. Experimenting new things is my passion and mixing products is my therapy. I love stamps, die cuts, stencils and of course all type of inks. I can tell you that I work on my crafts every single day and this is one of the ways that I found to give thanks to God for all that He gives me every day.

I love to share my creations, so you will always find me easily on Social Media outlets as Stampartpapel.

Blog – https://stampartpapel.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/stampartpapel/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/stampartpapel/

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/marthalucia/boards/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/malugomez0

Katy Ingram

Hello Crafty Friends! My name is Katy Ingram. I am a wife and mama to 1 son and 6 kitties. I live in southeastern North Carolina and I LOVE making handmade cards. I started card making  back in 2016 and in 2019 I started my youtube channel and blog Eastwicks Paper and Ink. I wanted an outlet to share and hopefully inspire your creativity with my card making as well as give some tips and tricks along the way. I am excited to be back with Imagine’s 2023 Design Team and I look forward to meeting and crafting with you!

Blog – https://www.eastwickspaperandink.com 

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/eastwickspaper

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/eastwickspaperandink/

YouTube – https://youtube.com/c/eastwickspaperandink

Kathi F. Rerek

I’m a cat-loving card maker who also creates tags, art journals, and home décor pieces. I love stamping, mixed media, and experimenting with different supplies and techniques. I love to paper craft because there’s something so oddly calming about focusing on a project. My favorite part is when a project comes out the way I had envisioned it in my mind’s eye. I also like to share my creations online and always include full supply lists and detailed instructions on my blog posts.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathi.rerek

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Kaths-Tales-2316828635206019/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kathi_r13/?hl=en

Kathy Pisupati

Hello crafty friends!  My name is Kathy Pisupati. I have always loved art and crafting. I think my love for arts & crafts started the day someone gave me a “how to draw” book when I was 7 or 8. I have tried it all but cardmaking is my true happy place. I majored in Fine Arts & Communications in college. I love designing and blogging. I love all art mediums and cardmaking allows me to create mini masterpieces of all sorts!

I live in Arizona with my husband but grew up in the Midwest. I have been blessed to have traveled all over the globe with my family and live overseas. I also love dogs!

I love sharing my creations with you and can be found in the following sites and would love for you to follow me on my creative journey.

Blog – https://expressivepaper.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kpisupati

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/expressivepaper/

YouTube – https://youtube.com/@expressivepaper

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/kpisupati/

Linh V.

Hi! I’m Linh – or LV Handcrafted on social media. I live in Seattle, WA with my husband and our two dogs. I started crafting in high school as a scrapbooker but these days I also make cards, mini-albums, notebooks and all sorts of crafts. I’m excited to join such a talented team of artists here at Imagine Crafts, which I absolutely love.
It’s such an honor to join this team. There’s always so much to learn in paper crafting and I find these challenges are always an inspiration. I look forward to sharing and interacting with you on all the socials!

YouTube – https://youtube.com/@LVHandcrafted

Facebook – https://facebook.com/lvhandcrafted

Instagram  – https://www.instagram.com/lvhandcrafted/

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/lvhandcrafted/

LeeAnn McKinney

Hi there friends and fellow crafters, my name is LeeAnn McKinney and I live with my wonderful crafty enabling husband, our 2 pups JJ and Chase, along with our kitty Kit Kat. 

We have our “swimmers” as well… Koopa is our turtle, Silver and Apricot our goldfish, Cory and Cody are our cory fish, Gilligan the minnow and Picasso the plecko.

I have 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren and so far my 6 yo granddaughter loves stamping/crafting when I visit. 

I am so excited to bring my clean and simple projects and tutorials to you throughout 2023.

I can be found all over social media as LeeAnnGetsCrafty!!!

Blog – https://leeanngetscrafty.com

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/leeanngetscrafty

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/leeanngetscrafty

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/leeannmckinney

Nancy May

Hi, I’m Nancy May, mother, sister, friend, licensed clinical social worker, creative, but you might know me as Handi Scandi. I have been crafting for many years – since my adult children were littles. It started as an inexpensive way to decorate my home to make it cozy for my family, and when my children loved to get messy with me in the process it became so much more. All of my children are creatives and creativity manifests itself differently in each of us. Stamping became my safe space, if you will, shortly after my youngest daughter passed away. I needed something to focus on rather than grief, and I remembered how much I loved stamping and card making. This crafty life has taken on a life of its own and I have been introduced to the wonderful world of card making on a much grander scale. As I learn more and more about art and the creative process I find myself drawn to mixed media, art journaling, grunge, stencils, sprays, pastes, and inks…glorious inks! I am an intuitive crafter who rarely has a plan, loves to get messy and inky and shows myself grace throughout the process. I reframe mistakes as opportunities and almost never throw things away. Through all of this I am developing my own style that I have coined grungy elegance. I am so excited to be a part of the Imagine Crafts team as it opens another door of exploration, creativity and discovery.

Facebook – Nancy May https://www.facebook.com/nancy.may.904

Instagram –Nancy May https://www.instagram.com/handi_scandi/

Pinterest – Nancy May https://www.pinterest.com/nancymay1965/

YouTube-Handi Scandi’s Crafty Ventures 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4SMddMdKd37YsMYDC2fMw