Hello! This is Alison Heikkila. My second video for Imagine this month once again focus on dies and how to use them creatively with inks. We’re making a pretty floral encouragement card, and I hope it gives you some ideas on how to use your dies and inks together.
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Skill Level: Intermediate Time to Complete: 20-30 minutes
I hope this inspires you to make stamps out of your dies. And don’t forget to try double-dipping into embossing powder! The effect is so pretty. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!
Hello crafty friends! Today, I want to share with you how to make these Spring themed bookmarks, using Imagine Crafts products and simple crafting tools. These bookmarks are a great gift for book lovers, or donating to your local library, or even just for you to use personally. You can make a batch of them in a short time!
Skill: Beginner Time: 15-30 minutes
Directions:
Step 1 I find that Canson Watercolor Paper 140lb is the best to make bookmarks. They are not only thick and sturdy, but also you can use any craft techniques with this paper – either simply stamping, or watercoloring, or even mixed media.
Cut a piece of watercolor paper into 6 inch x 1 ¾ inch size. One piece of this 9 x 12 watercolor paper, you can get 10 bookmarks.
You can leave it as a rectangle or you can round the corner with the corner rounder punch. Next, use a ¼ inch hole punch to punch a hole at the center top of the bookmark for ribbon or teasel.
Step 2 Next step is to create the watercolor wash background using Memento DewDrop ink and Ink Potion No. 9 Spray on each of the bookmarks.
Dab the Memento ink on the craft mat and then spray with some of the Ink Potion No. 9.
Step 3 Smoosh a bookmark into the ink. Gently press to get the ink transferred to the bookmark.
Step 4 You can repeat this step as many times as you want to get the first color wash you like to get. You can spray the ink more to get lighter color, or spray the ink less to get more darker color.
And then repeat the step 2 and step 3 with different colors that you want to use on your bookmark background. For mine, I used the Memento Dew Drop Inks Angel Pink, Rose Bud, New Sprout, and Bamboo Leaves colors.
Step 5 When done with adding watercolor washes on the bookmarks, use the craft heat gun to dry them.
Option step, you can repeat step 2, step 3, and step 4, if you want to add more color to them.
Step 6 Dab some of the Delicata ink on the craft mat, spray it with the Ink Potion No. 9, and then smoosh the bookmark into the ink. Gently press it to get the ink transferred well.
You will get a shimmer look on the bookmark with this step.
Dry all the ink on the bookmark with a craft heat gun.
Step 7 When the bookmark background is completely dry, stamp the image and sentiment on them with VersaFine Clair ink using acrylic blocks (or stamping tool of your choice).
Use a craft heat gun to dry the stamped images and sentiments.
Step 8 This is optional. You can leave the bookmarks as they are, or you can add some more ink splatters to them.
To add more splatters to the bookmark, dab some of the Delicata Ruby Red ink on the craft mat, spray it with Ink Potion No. 9, and use a flat brush (or fan brush) to add the splatters.
Use a craft heat gun to dry the bookmarks.
Add some ribbon or teasel to the bookmarks.
Hope that you like this project and give it a try. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog today. Have a wonderful day!
Let’s make a cheerfully bright and fun birthday card with a stamp, two stencils, and lots of ink!
Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 1.5 hour
Step 1: Use magnets to secure a piece of white Bristol paper to the base of a stamping platform.
Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink to stamp the bird stamp from the “I’m Fine” image twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. Heat set the stamped image panel.
Step 2: Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it onto the image panel as a mask.
Step 3: Use low-tack tape to secure the Sunshine Small Stencil onto the stencil so that the “sun” is over the bird’s face. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Love Letters Memento ink over the mask and masked image onto the image panel (3A).
Use a separate Sponge Dauber for each color to apply Tangelo, Dandelion, Bamboo Leaves, Bahama Blue, Danube Blue, Lilac Posies, and Grape Jelly Memento inks in rainbow order (ROYGBIV) counter-clockwise over the stencil onto the image panel (3B). Not all stenciling is shown. Remove stencil.
Step 4: Use low-tack tape to secure the Confetti Stencil over the image panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink over the stencil and masked image onto the top left and bottom right of the image panel (3A).
Use a separate Sponge Dauber to apply Golden Glitz Delicata ink over the stencil and masked image onto the top right and bottom left of the image panel (3B).
Remove the stencil and heat set the image panel. Set aside.
Step 5: Secure a piece of black cardstock to the base of a stamping platform. Place the “You’re the best” sentiment from the Whatcha Saying? Clear Stamp Set, the “Happy Birthday”, “Celebrate”, and “Happy Birthday” sentiments from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Sets facedown on the black cardstock.
Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamps, lift the platform, ink the stamps with the VersaMark Dazzle ink, and stamp. Remove the black panel from the stamping platform.
Step 6: Sprinkle White MBoss Powder onto the stamped sentiments, slide the the excess powder back into the bag, and heat set the sentiment.
Step 7: Use cutting dies to die-cut the sentiments. Trim the left side of the “celebrate” flag and the right side of the “happy birthday” flag. Use Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink to edge the trimmed sides. Heat set the ink. Put the sentiment die-cuts aside.
Step 8: Use watercolor markers to color the bird’s eyes and beak. Use a white gel pen to add highlights to the eyes and beak. (No photo, sorry!)
Step 9: Trim the image panel to 3.75” x 5”. Use a Sponge Dauber to edge the top left and bottom right with Silvery Shimmer Delicata ink (9A).
Use a separate Sponge Dauber to edge the top right and bottom left with Golden Glitz Delicata ink (9B).
Step 10: Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the image panel to a black panel cut to 4” x 5.25” and to adhere the matted image panel to a white A2 card.
Use Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the sentiments to finish the card.
In today’s blog post, I will show you how to add some patterned paper to a card to spotlight a part of the image.
Skill: Intermediate Time: 1.5 hours
Directions:
Step 1: Using a stamping platform, stamp the floral image with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink onto a piece of watercolor paper. (I used a pre-die cut panel.) Optional step: Heat emboss with a clear embossing powder. I did this because I didn’t want to wait for the VersaFine Clair ink to dry, as well as add some subtle shine.
Step 2: Mix some Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Chalk Ink with a Morocco Memento marker by pressing the ink pad and coloring a piece of scrap acetate and spraying both with water before mixing the colors to create a coral watercolor. Watercolor the petals of the floral image. Using the remainder of the watercolor to splatter the watercolor panel and smoosh the panel as well to add color around the panel. It was set aside to dry.
Step 3: Stamp the bottom part of the stamp onto a piece of dusty pink patterned paper with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Optional step: Heat emboss the image with more clear embossing powder.
Step 4: Cut the patterned paper image along the circular edge.
Step 5: Create green watercolor by pressing Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto a piece of acetate Create green watercolor by pressing Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk Ink onto a piece of acetate as well as scribbling the acetate with both Cottage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves Memento marker and spraying all of the areas of color with water before mixing them together. Watercolor the edges of the leaves with the watercolor. (You won’t need to color the central parts of the leaves as they will be covered soon.) Again, splatter the card and watercolor smoosh the panel with the acetate to add green blobs around the watercolor panel. Again, set aside to dry.
Step 6: Watercolor the leaves on the patterned paper with the same mix of greens created using the Tea Leaves VersaMagic Chalk ink as well as Collage Ivy and Bamboo Leaves Memento marker mixed with water. Set this aside to dry.
Step 7: I decided to add a little more intensity to the coral colors on the petals and on the watercolor panel by adding more Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic Chalk ink and Morocco Memento marker added to the scrap of acetate and again mixed with water before painting the petals. The remaining coral-colored watercolor was again smooshed onto the watercolor panel. Set the panel aside to dry again.
Step 8: Distress the edges of the patterned paper circle by rubbing the sharp part of a pair of scissors’ blade around the circle. Then rub the distressed edge of the circle with Golden Glitz Delicata.
Step 9: Using a sponge dauber, ink blend Pink Shimmer Delicata ink through a heart stencil in my stash on random parts of the watercolor paper. Not pictured: Ink blend the edges of the panel with more of the Pink Shimmer Delicata ink.
Step 10: Glue the patterned paper circle onto the stamped image, making sure that the patterned paper circle lines up with the rest of the stamped image.
Step 11: Stamp the sentiment on the lower right corner of the watercolor panel with more Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Optional step: Heat emboss the image with more clear embossing powder.
Step 12: Using a slightly larger die than the watercolor panel, die cut a piece of rose gold cardstock. Glue the two panels together, and glue both onto an A2-sized white card base.
Step 13: Add green gem stickers around the circle of patterned paper to finish the card.
Other AALL & Create – stamp set – Flower Journey Gina K Designs – dies- Master Layout 2 die set Honey Bee Stamps – gem stickers Memory Box – stamp set – Big and Little Words Sizzix- cardstock – Rose Gold Opulent cardstock Heart stencil in my stash Clear embossing powder in my stash Watercolor paper Scissors Small paint brush Stamp positioner Glue
I’m delighted to be returning to the Imagine Crafts AIR program again this year. Our first assignment was to create a project that reflected ourselves. I love creating scenic cards, magical creatures, and cats!
Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 1.5 hour
Step 1: Use magnets to secure a 4” x 5.25” piece of white cardstock onto the base of a stamping platform. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink to stamp the Puss in Boots image twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper.
Step 2: Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it onto the image panel as a mask.
Step 3: Use low-tack tape to secure the rolling hills mask from the Acetate Hills Mask set to the image panel as shown.
Use a sponge dauber to apply Dandelion Memento ink over the mask and masked image onto the image panel. (3A). Use another dauber to apply Angel Pink Memento ink onto the image panel so the pink ink is slightly overlapping and blending with the yellow ink (3B). Repeat this step with Summer Sky Memento ink (3C), then Danube Blue Memento ink (3D).
Step 4: Spray the image panel with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to slightly blend the colors and to add some white speckles and splatter.
Step 5: Trace the rolling hills mask from the Acetate Hills Mask set onto white cardstock, fussy-cut along the trace lines. Label the top and bottom of the mask so you know which is which. Place the top homemade mask over the sky area of the image panel and secure with low-tack tape. Use a Fantastix to apply Cottage Ivy Memento ink over the mask onto the image panel (5A). Place the acetate rolling hills mask below the hilly horizon. Use a Fantastix to apply Cottage Ivy Memento ink over the mask onto the image panel (5B). Continue this process to add additional grassy hills.
Step 6: Use a sponge dauber and Bamboo Leaves Memento ink to fill in the grassy hills. Colors the white area of the tail and the wings with Copic markers. Set the image panel aside.
Step 7: Place a piece of 4.75” x 6.75” Mixed Media cardstock into a box. Spray the panel with Danube Blue Firewords Spray to create a shimmery blue background panel. Heat set.
Step 8: Use magnets to secure the background panel to the base of a stamping platform so that panel is sideways. Position the long leafy border stamp from Puss in Boots Clear Stamp Set facedown along the edge of the background panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair, and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression. Heat set.
Keeping the stamp on the platform’s lid, flip the background panel, secure it with magnets, and stamp the border on the other side of the background panel. Heat set.
Step 9: Reposition the background panel as shown and secure with magnets. Place the small flourish stamp facedown horizontally on the top left of the background panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair, and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression. Heat set.
Clean and dry the stamp. Reposition it so that it’s facedown on the top left of the panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair, and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression. Heat set.
Remove the flourish stamp. Place the paw print stamp so that it’s centered and facedown on top of the background panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair, and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression. Heat set.
Step 10: Place the “Crazy Cat Lady” stamp facedown so that it’s centered at the bottom of the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Frost VersaMark ink, and stamp. Repeat.
Step 11: Sprinkle on Black MBoss Powder, slide the the excess powder back into the bag, and heat set the sentiment.
Step 12: Use a Sponge Dauber to edge the background panel with Black Shimmer Delicata ink (12A). Heat set. Trim the image panel to 4.25” x 5.25” and edge with Black Shimmer Delicata ink (12B). Heat set.
Step 13: Use Tear It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the background panel and the background panel to a 5” x 7” black card.
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