Make a Holiday Card Using VersaColor and Painter’s Tape

By Kathy Pisupati –

creating art for Imagine Crafts!  Today I have a new tutorial for you.  This is an OLD technique it is still fun, but messy!  What do you need?  A fabulous VersaColor Ink and some painter’s tape or any masking tape!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Time to complete: 1 hour

Step 1

You will need a top-folding card base measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2“. You will also need another white panel measuring 3.75” x 5”.  Grab your masking tape and a VersaColor ink.  I used Cardinal.  At this point you can put on some gloves if you want but I didn’t.  I swiped the ink across a 5”piece of tap.  I then laid the tape across the white card stock panel, put a piece of copy paper over it and pressed.  I repeated this stripe 4 times.  I like the texture of the stripe.

Step 2

Next I smushed some of the Cardinal ink on my glass mat, added water and with a paint brush I splattered the panel.  I did the same with some gold water color paint.  Finally, I spritzed the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray in Sparkle all over the panel.  Can you see the shimmer?  It is pretty!

Step 3

Next, I cut the panel with a die and added a piece of red stock to the back.  The red card stock is 1/4’’ larger than the striped panel.  Adhere with some On Point liquid glue.

Step 4

Now cut a hole from the panel and the red card stock you used for the frame.

Step 5

Cut a panel of white card stock slightly smaller than your main panel.  Add liquid glue to the back of the red circle.  Use your main panel as a guide, place over the white panel and press your circle into place.

Step 6

Cut a slightly larger circle from acetate or old packing and glue to the back of the main panel.  Add foam tape all around and add flat embellishments to the center.  I used gold confetti from Kat Scrappiness.

Step 7

Die-cut a few of the medium sized snowflakes from the Kat Scrappiness Snowflake Trio and glue together.  Then I used the Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray and spritzed the snowflake.  I also splattered it with gold water color paint.  It was still a bit too white so I pressed the snowflake into my Delicata Golden Glitz ink pad.

Step 8

Cut a circle frame using the die you used for the front panel and a slightly smaller one.  Glue this inside the cut out on top of the acetate. Adhere the snowflake on top of the acetate and allow to dry. Add a sentiment, I used the Christmas Stack Sentiment from LDRS Creative with the Sentiment Stack Shadow.  I glued these together and then popped it up with foam tape. I also added a few of the gold confetti around the outside of the card and some dots to the frame with a gold gel pen. I added foam tape to the back of the panel and adhered to an A2 top-folding, white card base.

I hope you enjoy this card and the tutorial. Thanks for stopping by.

SUPPLIES

Imagine Crafts

• VersaColor Cardinal

Delicata Golden Glitz

• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray SPARKLE

• Imagine Craft Mat

• On Point Glue

Other

• Kat Scrappiness Snowflake Trio

• Circle Dies

• LDRS Creative Christmas Sentiment Stack Stamp

• LDRS  Creative Sentiment Stack Die

• LDRS Creative Shadow Stack and Die

• Essentials Rectangles for Stitching by Ellen Hutson

• Kat Scrappiness Round Gold Confetti

• Gold Gel Pen

• Gold Watercolor Paint

• Paint brush

• Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die-Cutting machine

• Colored card stock

• Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

• Paper Trimmer

• Teflon bone folder

• Foam Tape

Make an Adorable Gingerbread House Card

By Kathy Pisupati –

Good morning!  Kathy here, creating art for Imagine Crafts!  Today I have a new tutorial for you.  Have you tried the VersaMark Frost ink?  This was the perfect ink to provide a sugar-like coating to today’s Gingerbread card.  The VersaColor inks make your die-cutting easy and stop the search for the perfect colored scraps!

So today I have a project for you that uses the VersaMark Frost and VersaColor Inks.  So, let’s make a card.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Time to complete: 1 hour

Step 1

You will need a top-folding card base measuring 4 1/4 x 5 1/2“. You will also need a piece of colored card stock measuring 4.25” x 5.5” and another piece of white, layering card stock the same size.

Using Maker’s Movement A2 Sweater Cover plate, die-cut the white card stock and and adhere to the colored card with On-Point liquid glue.  Adhere the entire panel to the card base with Tear-It! Tape.

Step 2

I inked a piece of scrap card stock with a variety of VersaMark Inks.  I allowed this panel to dry.  This is a quick way to small pieces of colored card stock for small die-cutting.

Step 3

Cut the Gingerbread House from a piece of Kraft colored card stock.  Then use the VersaMark Frost ink to apply a “sugar coating”.  This is what I am calling it.  The picture doesn’t do it justice but it sure looks sugar coated in real life!

Step 4

Now it’s time to cut all the cute little pieces from this Gingerbread House set.  I added some Glossy Accents to some pieces, some shimmer pen to others and did a little ink blending around the house and the gingerbread man.  I also added a glitter glue to the snow on the roof and the ground.

Step 5

Stamp a sentiment and add a shadow to the strip. I used Delicata Golden Glitz ink for my sentiment.  Now you can assemble your card.  The house, gingerbread man and sentiment were all adhered with foam tape.

I hope you enjoy this card and the tutorial. Thanks for stopping by I appreciate all of you!

Supplies Used:

Imagine

Imagine Crafts

• VersaColor Pink

• VersaColor Cardinal

• VersaColor Turquoise

• VersaColor Canary

• VersaMark Frost

• Delicata Golden Glitz

• Imagine Sponge Daubers

• Imagine Craft Mat

• On Point Glue

• Tear-It! Tape

Other

• Maker’s Movement Gingerbread House Dies

• LDRS Christmas Sentiments and Coordinating Dies

• Glossy Accents

• Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die-Cutting machine

• Colored card stock

• Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb

• Paper Trimmer

• Teflon bone folder

• Foam Tape

Learn How to Make a Vividly Fall Colored Thank You Card Using Kaleidacolor

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By Neva Cole –

There are many Kaleidacolor pads that are in the autumn themed pallet.  Even though this card is multi-layered it comes together in a short amount of time considering all of the inked embellishments!

Skill: Intermediate

Time: 2 Hours

Directions:

2022_Sept_Neva_KaliedacolorLeavesThankYouStep1
Step 1:

Trim cream cardstock to 5” x 5” and center the overlay and stamp on the center rotation point of the Turn About Stamp.  Place on stamp platform to pick up stamp, and remove overlay.

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Step 2:

Ink up the stamp with Kaleidacolor in Autumn Leaves with the green end of the pad and stamp the image.  Rotate the paper 90 degree to the right.

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Step 3:

Ink up the stamp with Kaleidacolor in Desert Heat with the orange end of the pad and stamp the image.  Rotate the paper 90 degree to the right.

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Step 4:

Ink up the stamp with Kaleidacolor in Cappuccino Delight with the brown end of the pad and stamp the image.  Rotate the paper 90 degree to the right.

2022_Sept_Neva_KaliedacolorLeavesThankYouStep5
Step 5:

Ink up the stamp with Kaleidacolor in Desert Heat with the red end of the pad and stamp the image.  Rotate the paper 90 degree to the right.  After I started the card I realized it can also be completed with two complementary Kaleidacolor pads, just by using opposite ends to ink the image.  Die cut the completed wreath with a circle die cut.

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Step 6:

Ink the sentiment from the red end of the Kaleidacolor Desert Heat pad and stamp.

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Step 7:

Die cut the sentiment.  The edges are then blended in with an Ink Dauber and the yellow end of the Kaleidacolor Desert Heat pad.  

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Step 8:

More embellishment is added with included stamps from the set from various sections of all three Kaleidacolor pads.

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Step 9:

Spritz a section of cream cardstock with Ink Potion No. 9.  This will allow the ink to spread more uniformly on the cardstock.  Generally glossy cardstock works best, but the rest of the card was regular cream cardstock, this is a good work around.

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Step 10:

Using a 2” rubber brayer add ink liberally to the white cardstock until fairly well blended.  All three Kaleidacolor ink pads are used on one piece of cardstock with the intention to have several colors to die cut the coordinating leave dies.

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Step 11:

Decorate the front of the 5” x 7” card front in the same way the sentiment die is inked and stamped in Step 8. 

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Step 12:

Arrange die cuts from the brayered section of cardstock on the card base.  Use repositionable adhesive to pick up the edges of the die cuts and flip over the entire front circle wreath.  Add dimensional foam adhesive to secure die cuts in place.  (You will notice that the reverse side was the first try, however it wasn’t the best, so it is simply flipped over and the other side was used.  You only see the mistake in the demonstration step!)

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Step 13:

Adhere stamped wreath to card front.  Adhere the sentiment to the center of the stamped wreath with dimensional foam adhesive.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Kaleidacolor–Autumn Leaves, Desert Heat, Cappuccino Delight

• Ink Potion No. 9

• Ink Dauber

Other:

• Cream  Cardstock

• Concord & 9th–Harvest Wreath Turnabout Set and Dies

• Elizabeth Craft Designs–Stitched Circles

• 2” Rubber brayer

• Temporary repositionable adhesive

• Dimension Foam adhesive

• Die Cut machine

• Stamp Platform

Create a Watercolor Sunflower Card using Stencils and Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-600

By Neva Cole 

In today’s tutorial, I will share how I used layering sunflower stencils to create a water color look to my image.  Notice there is no stamp outline, that helps achieve a more organic look to the project.  I learned a few things along the way, and almost want to include a few blooper photos!  Instead I share the way that will give you the cleanest look avoiding the pit falls!

Skill: Beginner

Time: 2 Hours

Directions:

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step1

Step 1:

Trim white watercolor cardstock to 4 1/4” x 9 1/4”,  or about 1/4” on each side larger than your stencil.  this will allow you to handle your project more cleanly.  Use reposition able painters tape or washi tape to secure stencil along left side with edges matching along the upper and left hand side.  Spritz with Fireworks! in New Sprout until color depth desired is achieved.  In this close up photo freezer paper is used underneath the stencil and paper with the plasticized side up.  This allows collection of the over spray for background papers.  Carefully lift stencil to keep excess Fireworks from leaking under the stencil and adding unwanted color.

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step2
Step 2:

Secure next layer of layering stencil in place and spritz with Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray in Bamboo Leaves.  This photo shows a spray box that protects your work area from over spray.  It also shows the best distance of 12” to 18” to spray the stencil to avoid large droplets of Fireworks!. 

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step3

Step 3:

Clean stencils with sections of watercolor paper after each layer.  Move the watercolor paper around on the freezer wrap to pick up excess spray.  Keep color families together, as both colors of green are used on this background paper.  Clean up excess with paper towels or baby wipes. 

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Step 4:

Continue with additional layering stencils.
Here Dandelion is used for Stencil 3, and Tangelo for Stencil 4. 

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step5
Step 5:

Sometimes as a designer you discover easier methods in the process of designing a project.  I was not satisfied with the color through the stencil by just spraying with the stencils that were smaller openings.  It is recommended to use this method for the rest of the layers.  Fireworks! in Tangelo is shown here sprayed on a plastic sheet.  Using a cotton swab the color is carefully dabbed through the stencil to give better color depth.  A cotton swab also prevents leakage underneath the stencil of excess color.  A lot less of the spray was used with this method!  Stencils 5 and 6 used this method to complete the look.  Stencil 5 used Fireworks! in Lilac Posies, and Stencil 6 a mixture of Fireworks! Rich Cocoa (for shimmer) and Walnut Ink in Java for a darker color. 

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step6
Step 6:

Here are the images from the entire stencil set.

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Step 7:

One “blooper” photo, all the backgrounds made with the over spray and Fireworks! left on the stencils.  To be used in future projects?  The green sheet is trimmed to 4 1/4? to 5 1/2” to cover the front of the card.

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step8
Step 8:

Tap drop of Fireworks! in Dandelion on white watercolor paper trimmed to 3 3/4” x 5”.
Use quilted card front die to add texture to front panel.

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step9
Step 9:

Part of the remaining background section is stamped with Memento Luxe in Lilac Posies using a sentiment from the Sunflowers stamp set.  It is die cut with a Spellbinder die.

Step 10:

The Sunflower is die cut with the coordinating die.  The layers are adhered together with Tear It! Tape with dimension foam tape behind the card front.  

Art Supplies

 Imagine
Other:
  • White Watercolor Cardstock
  • Pink Fresh Studio Sunflowers Stencils, Coordinating Die, and Clear Stamp
  • Concord & 9th Quilted Card Front Die
  • Spellbinders Fancy Tabs
  • Dimension Foam adhesive
  • Cotton swabs
  • Die Cut machine
  • Stamp Platform

Create Your Own Perfectly Matching Background Paper

July_2022_Neva_Featured_Blog

By Neva Cole –

In today’s tutorial I will show you how to create a background paper that will allow your photo(s) to shine on a scrapbook layout.  Using Memento Inks that match the photo allows the photo to be the center star of the layout.  All the embellishments will also match by coloring with the same inks.  The background itself is super quick and simple, and can be used for cards as well as layouts.

Skill:  Beginner

Time:  30 Minutes

Directions:

July_2022_Neva_600_Step1
Step 1

Select ink colors that are in the photo you wish to highlight.  In my case it is one of my favorite photos from our travels to Oahu when we climbed to the top of Koko Head.  The stunning blue, brown, and green directed my choice of ink colors.  In this step Memento in Peanut Brittle is brayered randomly over a sheet of canvas textured white cardstock.  Cover about a third of the cardstock in varying levels of ink layers.  The key to this technique is to not look for perfection, just go for a fun look!

July_2022_Neva_600_Step2
Step 2:

Memento Bahama Blue is used to ink the next layer in the background.  A good quality rubber balloon is filled with popcorn and tied off.  This is used to ink with random size dots in varying ink intensities on the background covering about one more third of the paper.

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Step 3:

A second balloon filled with rice gives a slightly different ink look for the last layer using Memento Olive Grove.  Fill in the remaining open areas on the cardstock to finish the background.

July_2022_Neva_600_Step4

Step 4:

The embellishments are shown here as one step, as the main focus of this tutorial is the background technique.  Smooth texture cardstock is used for all the embellishments as it die cuts more cleanly.  A frame of white cardstock is trimmed to 7 1/2 “ x 5 1/2 “ and inked with Memento Luxe in Peanut Brittle.  The Luxe ink blends a little more easily over larger areas.  The title is die cut in triplicate, then adhered together with small dots of On Point Glue around the die cuts to add dimension, and finally inked with Memento in Danube Blue.  A die cut of the island of Oahu is inked in Memento Olive Grove.  

July_2022_Neva_600_Step5

Step 5:

When the photo was layered over the frame the match between the soil and the Peanut Brittle was so close, they blended together!  The edges of the photo are inked with StazOn in Jet Black to add definition to all edges of the photo, and allow the photo to stand out from the frame.

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Step 6:

A journal block is written on the computer and printed out using photo settings and trimmed to size.  A frame is trimmed 1/4” larger than the journal block and inked in Memento Danube Blue.  The two are adhered together with Tear It! Tape.

July_2022_Neva_Main_600

Step 7:

The elements of the layout are placed on the background and adhered with Tear It! Tape or On Point Glue.  Memento Dual Tip Marker in Tuxedo Black is used to mark a small “X” as to the location of Koko Head on the Island of Oahu. 

 

Art Supplies

Imagine:

Memento–Peanut Brittle, Danube Blue, Olive Grove

Memento Luxe– Peanut Brittle

StazOn–Jet Black

Memento Dual Tip Maker–Tuxedo Black

Ink Daubers

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Other:

White canvas textured cardstock

White smooth textured cardstock

2” Rubber brayer

Rubber balloons with popcorn and rice

Momenta Casual Script Alphabet Dies

Die cut machine

Brother scan and cut 

Silhouette Design Store–Hawaii State die cut modified, Candy Apple Bold Script

Fourth of July Layout Made Easy with Memento inks and Fireworks!

2022_June_Neva_Scrapbook_blog

By Neva Cole –

Today I will share how easy it is to create a very cohesive layout using just two ink colors and the matching Fireworks! colors for an amazing Fourth of July scrapbook layout.  With just white cardstock, an embossing folder, a large die cut, and stamps this layout is perfect for Independence Day

Skill:  Beginner

Time:  30 Minutes

Directions:

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step1

Step 1

Trim white cardstock to 1” on each edge larger than the photos.  Pressure emboss with Star Blanket.  Ink raised portion of embossed areas and edges with Memento Danube Blue or Lady Bug.  For my layout I trimmed two sections 5” x 7”, three sections 4” x 5”, and one section by 4” x 4” to back my photos.

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step2
Step 2

Die cut two sets from Spellbinders Cascading Stars die and remove the stars.  Trim one outline die cut into a section of five stars, with the other being four stars.  Use Jumbo Dauber to tap Memento Danube Blue over one die cut and the smaller portion of the trimmed die cut.  Tapping the ink onto the paper keeps from damaging the die cut, which can occur if a rubbing motion is used.  The larger portion of the trimmed die cut is inked in Memento Lady Bug.  Continue to add ink until it is the desired hue. 

2022_June_Neva_4thofJuly_step3

Step 3

The splatter method is used with Fireworks! to add some interest to the white background.  Shake the bottle to distribute glimmer and then remove spritzer nozzle and gently tap the top to splatter ink from the outside of the spray tube.  Continue to tap until the desired amount of ink is on the paper.  I choose sections where the die cuts would be eventually placed.  I alternated the color choices from the die cut color.  This is the lower right corner of the right page.  

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Step 4

The left side of the layout shown completed with splattered Fireworks! in Memento Lady Bug and Danube Blue.

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Step 5

Determine placement placement of elements to add stamped sentiments.  Place on layout and remove other elements.  Use a stamp platform to stamp sentiments in proper position.

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Step 6

On the right page the stamped elements are determined, then half are removed before stamping to allow for clean stamping of correct colors.  The remaining elements are added and stamped.  It was easier to stamp all the images Memento Lady Bug at one time, then follow with images in Memento Danube Blue.

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Step 7

Spritz Fireworks! into a plastic tray or surface.  Place die cut stars from step 2 face down on the Fireworks! ink to add color.  Use tweezers to move around in the ink and add more ink to tray as needed.  About a third of the stars were inked with Fireworks! in Lady Bug the remaining in Fireworks! Danube Blue.

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Step 8:

Determine correct placement of Fireworks! stars in the die cut.  I rotated the star until it fit properly into the die cut area.  Not all the stars are identical, so taking the time to find the right one was worth the effort for a seamless look.  

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Step 9:

Adhere elements to layout.  Tear It! tape was used to adhere the photos to the textured mats.  The die cuts are adhered with On Point Glue.  The small dots around the star frames keep the layout clean and smudge free.  

Art Supplies

Imagine

Memento–Lady Bug and Danube Blue

Fireworks!–Lady Bug and Danube Blue

Jumbo Dauber

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Other

White Cardstock

Cuttlebug Star Blanket embossing folder

Spellbinders Cascading Stars

Technique Tuesday Spectacular Memories

Hero Arts CL493 Holiday Sentiments

Tweezers

Die Cut machine

Stamp Platform