Let’s Make Two Fun Plaid Backgrounds for Spring Cards

By Nancy May

Hey y’all. We are going to make two very different fun, bright Spring plaid backgrounds. One is very controlled, precise, and clean, stamped in VersaFine Clair inks with a fun color gradient; the other is much looser and more organic, hand painted with VersaColor inks for a more painterly look.

~Nancy

Skill: Beginner, Intermediate

Time: 30 -60 minutes

Art Supplies:

Imagine 

• VersaFine Clair Ink Pad: Charming Pink, Cheerful, Summertime and Verdant

• VersaColor Dew Drop: Mango Madness, Pink Grapefruit, Red Magic and Tea Leaves

• Memento Ink Pad – Tuxedo Black

• Tear It! Tape

• Craft Mat

• On-Point Glue

Other 

• Simon Says Stamp – clear Stamps – Spring Gnomes

• PinkFresh Studio – Cling Stamp – Diamond Plaid

• Creek Bank Creations – Dies – Stitched Rectangle

• Creek Bank Creations – Dies – Stitched Hearts

Get Messy With Embossing – St. Patty’s Day Card

By LV Handcrafted –

Hello friends! This is Linh (or LV Handcrafted on all the socials). I’ve made this St. Patrick’s Day card featuring some messy embossing techniques. Embossing powders aren’t just for stamped images. They are fun for creating a distressed, mixed media effect as well! 

Here I’ve swiped clear VersaMark ink on the border of black cardstock and embossed with gold. In my video, you’ll also see me use gum arabic and water to create a splatter effect and emboss with gold as well. (There’s some beautiful gold splatter beneath the leprechaun).

Skill: Advance

Time: 45 minutes

Supplies Used:

Imagine:

• VersaColor Green Tea

• VersaMark

• StazOn

• Mboss Gold Powder

Other Products Used

• Creative Crafts Double Gatefold Die Set

• Creative Crafts Nested Oval Dies

• Tonic Studios Handmade Cotton Paper

• Astrobright 80lb Black Cardstock

• Artful Angel Leaping Leprechaun Stamp Set

• Hammermill 100lb white card stock (card base)

• Ohuhu Alcohol Markers

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

How to Make Your Own Iridescent Glitter Cardstock for Valentine’s Cards or Any Occasion

By LV Handcrafted

Hello friends! This is Linh (or LV Handcrafted on all the socials). Why buy colored cardstock or

specialty card when you can make your own! To make solid color cardstock, just swipe a panel

of white card stock with any ink pad. However, to take it up a couple notches, use any pigment

ink. I used VersaColor Cardinal ink on my card today. Before the ink dries, cover it in Mboss

Iridescent powder. Knock off any excess back into the zip-sealed bag. Using a heat gun, melt

the Mboss powder to get this GORGEOUS iridescent shine! And voila! You’ve made your own

custom colored iridescent glitter cardstock! This technique also works with Mboss Sparkle

powder for even more sparkle and shine!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Time to Complete: 15 minutes

Supplies Used:

Imagine 

• VersaColor Cardinal Ink Pad

• Mboss Iridescent Powder

• On Point Glue

Other Products:

• Tonic Studios Heart Die Set

• Tonic Studios Iridescent Mirror Card

• Spellbinders Sentiment Banner

• Hammermill 100lb white card stock

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

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