Mother’s Day Card Using Stencils

By Ceil Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!
It’s Ceal, here. Today I will show you how to create a Mother’s Day card with you that uses several layers of stenciling, some stamping and then die cut out.  This card can also be used for other occasions because the “Happy Mother’s Day” greeting is on the inside.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Time: 45 mins to an hour

Directions:

Gather your supplies. You will need cardstock, a layering stencil (Pinkfresh Studio used here) Coordinating Dies, several colors of ink (listed below) and a sentiment stamp set (Taylored Expressions used here).

Step 1:
Lay stencil one over a piece of cardstock cut to 5.5 x 8.5 and blend VersaFine Clair Verdant ink over it. Remove and clean stencil.

A little tip for you, I place mine in the corner of the Misti so I will be placing all of them in the same place. This set also has alignment guides which are triangles, be sure to add ink to them.

Step 2:
Lay stencil 2 over the cardstock, lining up the triangle placement guides and blend VersaFine Clair Grass Green over it. Remover stencil and clean it.

Step 3:
Lay stencil 3 over the cardstock, lining up the triangles and blend VersaFine Clair Spruce over it. Remove stencil and clean it.

Step 4:
This step starts the flowers. Lay stencil 4 over the cardstock and blend VersaFine Clair Baby Pink over the open flowers. This photo shows the triangles that are used to align the stencils. Remove stencil and clean it.

Step 5:
Lay stencil 5 over the cardstock, lining up the triangles and blend VersaFine Clair Charming pink over open spaces on the pink flowers and VersaFine Clair Lilac Bloom over the other open spaces. Remove and clean the stencil.

**I forgot to take a photo of the Lilac Bloom, but you can see it below.

Step 6:
Lay Stencil 6 over the cardstock and blend VersaFine Clair Cheerful and VersaFine Clair Summertime inks over the open flowers. Remove and clean the stencil.

Step 7:
Lay stencil 7 over the cardstock and blend VersaFine Clair Charming Pink in the open spaces. Remove and clean the stencil.

This photo is showing the alignment triangles I have been referring to. For the next step you will need to know where they are.

Step 8:
Lay the coordinating die over the flowers lining up the triangles as pictured above. Tape it down so it doesn’t move and run it through the die cutting machine.  This also adds the texture to the flowers.

Step 9:
Cut a piece of kraft cardstock to A2 size 4.25 x 5.5.  Ink up a script stamp with VersaColor White and lay the kraft panel over the ink and rub across with your hand.

Step 10:
Stamp the sentiment and cut it out multiple times for dimension.
Adhere the kraft panel to an A2 white card base. Add the floral panel and then the sentiment. Also stamp a sentiment on the inside.

Supply list:

Imagine Products:

VersaFine Clair:

• VersaFine Clair: Nocturne
• VersaFine Clair: Baby Pink
• VersaFine Clair: Charming Pink
• VersaFine Clair: Summertime
• VersaFine Clair: Cheerful
• VersaFine Clair: Verdant
• VersaFine Clair: Grass Green
• VersaFine Clair: Spruce
• VersaFine Clair: Lilac Bloom
• VersaColor: White
• On Point Glue

Other Supplies:

• White Cardstock: Concord & 9th
• Wheat cardstock: Concord & 9th
• Floral Field Stencils: Pinkfresh Studio
• Floral Field Die: Pinkfresh Studio
• Hello Lovely stamp set: Taylored Expressions
• Hello Lovely Dies: Taylored Expressions
• Script Stamp: Hero Arts
• Penned Pretty stamp set.
• Misti: My Sweet Petunia
• Grip Mat: Waffle Flower

Create an Easter Card using VersaFine Clair Ink Pads

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Medium
Time: 30 minutes

Hi everyone! It’s Jessica here. Today I want to share an Easter card with a soft and romantic color palette. This color scheme turned out so well, and I think it would be perfect for a birthday or Valentine’s card! If you are interested in the colors I used, just keep reading!

Step 1:
Die cut the largest two shapes from Spellbinder’s Nestabilities Floral Oval die set. For the largest oval, I used Stampin’ Up!’s Bubble Bath cardstock. For the second largest oval, I used vellum.

Step 2:
For some added dimension, ink blend VersaFine Clair Baby Pink ink around the edges of the largest die cut. I recently bought the photopolymer sticky mat from Altenew and it’s a great tool for ink blending. It grips the die cut (or stencil) firmly so you don’t have to worry about anything shifting during ink blending.

Step 3:
Stamp the focal image with VersaFine Clair Baby Pink ink. This is an old wooden stamp from K-Kingdom that I got back in the days before I discovered photopolymer stamps. The dainty floral frame with the lacey details is what inspired the theme for this card. The VersaFine Clair ink is also great for showcasing the fine, wood-grain details on the rabbit.

The stamped image looks a bit dark when freshly stamped. It will turn into a softer, pastel pink that you see in the cover photo.

Step 4:
I decided to add some shadows behind the vellum die cut layer with VersaFine Clair Hawthorn Rose. Baby Pink and Hawthorn Rose compliment each other so well. I think they might be my favorite new color combo!

Step 5:
Apply a generous coat of Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray onto the ink blended die cut. I wish the camera could capture the shimmery effects of this spray; it is mesmerizing and the sparkle never dulls!

Step 6:
For the card base, I chose Stampin’ Up!’s Fresh Freesia cardstock and embossed it with Distressed Tile embossing folder. It adds the perfect touch to this shabby-chic look.

Step 7:
Finally, stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Hawthorn Rose ink and fussy cut the sentiment. I fussy cut the rabbit image as well since there were no coordinating dies for wooden stamps.

Step 8:
After some quick assembling with Tear-It Tape and foam tape, the card is completed! I love how this card turned out, and I hope you enjoyed it, too. Thanks for stopping by!

Imagine Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Spellbinders – Dies – Nestabilities Floral Oval
  • Stampin’ Up! – Cardstock – Bubble Bath, Fresh Freesia, Whisper White
  • Stampin’ Up! – Embossing Folder – Distressed Tile
  • K-Kingdom – Wooden Stamp – Woodgrain Rabbit
  • Stampin’ Up! – Sentiment Stamp – Fable Friends
  • Foam Tape

Create Ink Swatches for New VersaFine Clair Inks 

By Jessica Lin

Skill: Beginner 
Time: 30 minutes 

Hi everyone, it’s Jessica here. I am loving the new VersaFine Clair inks and I hope you are enjoying the creations from the Imagine team! Today I decided to create new ink swatches so I can have a quick on-hand reference for the colors. 

Step 1:
Print the labels onto your go-to white cardstock. For me, that is Neenah Solar White Cover in 80lbs. I used Word to create the labels template and it takes a bit of trial and error to align everything perfectly. I found that checking the “show grid lines” box was helpful during the process. 

Step 2:
Trim the labels to 2 x 2’’ squares. I used a standard 8.5 x 11’’ cardstock to print so each page equals to 20 labels at the end. 

Step 3:
Then stamp each label with the corresponding ink pad. I used a stamp positioning tool but it is completely optional. As for the stamp used for ink swatching, I would recommend an image that is solid so that there is enough area to truly showcase the ink color. I like to pick something that also has some fine lines; some inks have great coverage but are not the best at showing fine details. I recently bought a coffee-themed stamp set called Latte Love from Stampin’ Up!, and this coffee swirl stamp is perfect. 

Below are all the new VersaFine Clair colors. As you can see, they are great inks that offer great ink coverage and retain super-fine details of the stamps. I double stamped most of them as I 

typically double stamp my images when I am creating. I tried to minimize the amount of editing on these images so the colors are kept as true as possible. Hopefully they can provide a visual for you as well if you are interested in these inks. 

I hope today’s tutorial inspires you to create new ink swatches! They are handy tools and the ink swatching process is so cathartic. I can’t wait to create more projects with these inks! 

Imagine Supplies: 

● VersaFine Clair -Baby Pink, Hawthorn Rose, Lilac Bloom, Arctic, Bali Blue, Very Peri, Grass Green, Avocado, Spruce, Sand Dune, Portobello, Strawberry 
● StazOn Cleaner 
● Craft Mat 

Other Supplies: 

● Stampin’ Up! – Stamps – Latte Love 
● Paper Trimmer 
● Neenah Solar White Cardstock 

Have an Unbelievable Big Foot Birthday Card

By Ceal Pritchett

Hello crafty friends!, It’s Ceal, here. Today I am going to show you how to create this “Unbelievable” Big Foot birthday card using some VersaFine Clair inks.

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Directions:

Gather your supplies, you will need a masculine stamp set and several colors of blue inks along with a green, brown and black. You will also need a white gel pen.

Step 1:
Using a sponge dauber or ink blending tool, blend green ink across the bottom of a white panel cut 4 x 5.25. Next starting with the lightest blue blend a circle in the middle of the panel working your way out, then use the medium blue and the darkest blue last around the outside of the panel.

Step 2:
Stamp the tree tops in green, the trunk in brown and the sentiment in black on the panel.

Step 3:
Stamp the bigfoot (sasquatch) in black. I stamped the sentiment when I stamped the trees, but you could actually stamp both the sentiment and bigfoot here since they are both in black.

VersaFine Clair Nocturne is the absolute best back. The bigfoot was only stamped once, and he covers the background perfectly.

Step 5:
Use a white gel pen to add some stars to the night sky and then adhere this panel on the card base.

Supplies:

Imagine products:

• VersaFine Clair – Bali Blue, Blue Belle, Medieval Blue, Twilight, Pinecone, Spruce and Nocturne

Other products:

• Classic Crest Solar White card base – Neenah
• Unbelievably Bigfoot – This Calls for Confetti/Simon Says Stamp
• White gel pen – Gelly Roll

Batik Cards Using is Heat-Embossing Resist Technique

By Helen Gullett

Hello crafty friends! One of my favorite cardmaking techniques is heat-embossing resist. Today, I want to share with you how to make these Batik cards using this technique. It is a technique you can use to create fun and colorful backgrounds with heat embossing and ink blending.

Let’s get crafting!

Skill: Beginner
Time: 20 minutes

Direction:

Step 1
Cut out a piece of 8.5 inch x 11 inch white cardstock into 4 panels of 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch.

Using a blending brush, add some of the VersaFine Clair Avocado ink to one of the white cardstock panels.

Dry the ink on the cardstock with a craft heat gun.

Step 2
Add some of the anti-static powder all over the inked panel.

Stamp the images with VersaMark ink and add some of the clear embossing powder. Heat the embossing powder with a craft heat gun.

Using a blending brush, add some of the VersaFine Clair Grass Green ink on the panel.

Carefully dry the ink on it, not to make the embossed images melt too much. Let it cool down before touching it. Gently wipe off the extra ink with paper towel.

Step 3
Add again the anti-static powder on the panel.

Stamp the next images with VersaMark ink and add some of the clear embossing powder. Heat the embossing powder with a craft heat gun.

Step 4
After heating up the embossing powder, crumble the cardstock. Depending on the cardstock you use, you can spray the back of the cardstock lightly with water and then crumble it.

Flat it back on the craft mat and use the bone folder to smooth it down. You won’t get perfectly smooth cardstock back but the crumble lines are the one that will give the texture that we need for the batik look.

Step 5
The next step is adding more color to the panel!

Use the blending brush, add some of the VersaFine Clair Spruce ink on the panel.

You will start to see the pattern. Add more ink if needed to get more contrast between 3 colors.

Use a paper towel to wipe off the extra ink off the embossed images.

Step 6
On a piece of white cardstock, stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.

Dry the inked sentiment with a craft heat gun.

Step 7
Use a paper trimmer to trim the sentiment into a label size and punch a hole on one of the side.

Use a paper distress tool or a knife to distress all the edges of the background panel.

Step 8
Add the background panel on the card base using On Point Glue.

Wrap around some of the burlap twine on the card, before tie it up, add the sentiment label on the card. Put the tail of the burlap twine through the label hole. Glue the sentiment on the card with some white foam and Tear It! Tape.

Tie up the burlap twine into a bow.

This Batik cardmaking technique works well with solid images because of the heat embossing resist effect. You can pick any 2-3 colors of inks you can use that compliment each other.

Here’s the different look of the Batik card I made using the same heat embossing technique but simpler. So, instead of multiple times heat-embossing the images and blending the inks, this one is only once. Here’s the simpler steps:

First, heat emboss the image directly to the white cardstock panel.

Second, crumble the cardstock, flat it out back using a bone folder.

Third, using blending brush add the ink on the cardstock starting with the light color, medium color, then dark color.

I hope you will give this Batik technique a try and play around with different colors. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today.

Craft Supplies

Imagine Crafts:

Others:

  • Nature Silhouettes 3 Clear Stamp Set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Simple Sentiments Clear Stamp Set (Creative Worship Stamps)
  • Burlap Twines
  • Neenah Solar White Cardstock 80 lb
  • White fun foam
  • Blending brushes
  • Stamping tool
  • Acrylic stamping blocks
  • Micro-tip scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Hole Punch
  • Distresser Tool
  • Bone Folder
  • Bottle Sprayer / Mister Bottle
  • Paper Towel

Create a Charming Valentines Card

By Ceil Pritchett

Hello Everyone, it’s Ceal, here. Today I am sharing how to create a background using our Fireworks spray using a Gel Press plate.

Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Time: 45 minutes to an hour

Directions:
Gather your supplies. You will need some Fireworks! sprays, some shimmer spray (I used gold), a stencil, a Gel Press plate, a rubber brayer, some copy paper or cardstock (I used copy paper) A word die or any other die ad some VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.

Step 1:
Spray Fireworks! spray directly on the Gel Press plate.

Step 2:
Lay stencil over the Gel Press plate and roll the brayer over it to distribute and then spray again with Fireworks! spray.

Step 3:
Lay the copy paper (I used Hammermil 60lb) on top and rub your hand over the entire piece several times until you see the medium come through the paper.

Step 4:
Die cut several pieces of the word die. I cut three out of whit and one out of gold to tie in with the gold shimmer on the background. I glued the altogether offsetting the gold one on the bottom.

Step 5:
Glue the background on a card base and add the word die to the front. Stamp the coordinating message directly on the background.

Supplies:

Imagine Products:

• Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray – Rose Bud and Dandelion
• Sheer Shimmer Spritz – Gold
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne

Other Supplies:

• Classic Crest Solar White card base -Neenah
• Gold Foil cardstock – Simon Says Stamp
• Gel plate – Gel Press
• Heart Stencil – A Colorful Life Designs
• Love die – Hero Arts
• Stamped sentiment – hero Arts