Hello! I’m Alison Heikkila. Embossing folders are so popular right now, not just because of the dimension they create so easily, but because of all the techniques you ca do with them. Today, we’ll be doing a Blackout technique with Memento and VersaFine Clair Inks for Imagine, which is so much fun to do.
*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.
Skill Level: Intermediate Time to Complete: 20-30 minutes
It’s summer, which makes me want to go to the beach to cool off in the ocean and pretend I’m a mermaid. Let’s make a card that fulfills those dreams using inks, stencils, and stamps!
Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 1.5 hours
Instructions:
Step 1: Use a craft knife to cut a piece of Low-tack tape in a curved pattern. Place the tape at the bottom of a 5.5” x 8.5” piece of white cardstock (no photo).
Lightly apply Bahama Blue Memento Ink to the white area of the cardstock.
Steps 2A & B: Place a magnetic page onto the craft mat. Use low-tack tape to secure the cardstock panel to the magnetic page. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the Currents Stencil to the cardstock panel. Use a Sponge Dauber to apply the lightest blue ink from the Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze Ink pad over the stencil onto the cardstock panel (2A). Randomly apply Teal Zeal Memento Ink over the stencil onto the cardstock to deepen the colors.
Step 3: Remove the stencil, then spritz the panel with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to blend the inks and add white splatters and splotches.
Step 4: Remove the low-tack tape and replace with the negative part of the tape cut in Step 1. Sponge Desert Sand Memento Ink over the tape onto the image panel to create the sea floor. Remove the tape.
Step 5: Place the panel onto the base of a stamping platform and secure with magnets. Position the mermaid stamp from the Guinevere Clear Polymer Stamp Set so that it’s face down along the lower right side of the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, and ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. Stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
Remove the panel and thoroughly heat set the ink.
Step 6: Use Copic markers to color the mermaid’s rocky throne. Usually I don’t use Copic markers with any ink other than Memento, but since I had duplicate markers, I gave it a shot and it worked! Sorry! No photos!
Step 7: Use Triplus pens to color the mermaid’s hair. Use Marine and Black Stardust Glitter Gel Pens to add detail the mermaid’s scales. The ink of both pens work well with most inks. Sorry! No photos again!
Steps 8A & B: Place the image panel back onto the base of the stamping platform and secure with magnets. Use low-tack tape to cover the top of the ocean floor to the left of the mermaid.
Position the mid-sized Skeleton Tree stamp from the Skeleton Tree Clear Stamp Set facedown on the top left. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift. Ink the stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp (8A). Remove the tape.
Remove, clean and dry the stamp. Reposition the mid-sized Skeleton Tree stamp so that it’s facedown on the bottom left of the image panel. Position the smallest Skeleton Tree Stamp from the facedown on the bottom right of the image panel
Press the lid into the back of the stamps and lift. Ink both stamps with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp (8B). Remove the stamps from the platform.
Step 9: Position the bubbles stamp from the Faerie Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown on the image panel slightly above the mermaid’s outstretched hand. Press the lid into the back of the stamps and lift. Ink the stamp with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Remove the panel from the platform. Heat set the panel.
Step 10: Place the image panel back onto the magnetic page. Use magnets and low-tack tape to secure the Sunshine Small Stencil over the image panel as shown. Sponge White Shimmer Delicata Ink over the stencil onto the image panel. Remove the panel and heat set.
Step 11: Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the image panel to a black A2 card.
Today I am sharing a card that uses VersaFine Clair inks to create a dramatic sunset. You will need to gather the following supplies to recreate this card. I have them pictured below.
Skill: Advanced Time: 1 to 1 ½ hours
Directions:
Step 1: Cut the window die out of black cardstock.
Step 2: Using the large stamp in the layering stamp set, place it near the bottom of the panel and ink one third of the top portion with Cheerful ink. Next ink the middle portion with Pink VersaColor. The bottom portion should be inked with Charming Pink and Glamorous. The very edge of the stamp should be inked with Purple Delight. I also used a dauber to add purple delight to the bottom of the panel and later went over that with a Copic marker.
The next layer adds more definition to the sea. I inked it up with Pink VersaColor which turns orange when stamped over yellow.
The last layer is to stamp the reflection which I stamped in Cheerful (yellow) ink.
Step 3: I used a post it note to mask off the bottom portion so I could create the sky. To do this I used a dauber and blended Warm Breeze and Paradise ink and then added a little of the Fantasia ink to the top portion. I placed the panel back in the Misti and stamped the sky using Warm Breeze on the bottom portion of the stamp, Paradise in the middle and Fantasia on the very edge.
Step 4: Cut out a circle for the sun and ink blend Cheerful at the top, Charming Pink in the middle and Glamorous at the very bottom.
Step 5: Cut the panel into two pieces in order to layer them on an A2 panel.
Step 6: Adhere the sky panel to the top of the white A2 panel, add the sun and then add the sea panel so you overlap the sun and sky just a bit. You can see the white portion left in the photo above.
Step 7: Stamp a sentiment with VersaMark ink and emboss with white Mboss powder and then cut it out with the coordinating die and add to the front of the card.
Other Products • Neenah Solar White 110lb and 80lb cardstock • Pitch Black cardstock – Hero Arts • Color Layering Sunset Over Waves Bundle – Hero Arts • Tropical Foliage Window – Hero Arts
Hello everyone, today I am sharing a summer wedding card that was inspired by a bridal bouquet from my friend’s wedding. I am using a technique that showcases how vibrant our VersaFine Clair inks are.
Skill: Intermediate to Advanced Time: 1 to 1 ½ hours
Directions:
For this card, you will need a 3D embossing folder, several ink colors and sponge daubers or another tool to apply the ink.
Step 1:
Run the 3D embossing folder of your choice through the machine. Tip if you lightly spray it with water this helps get a better impression.
Step 2:
Using a sponge dauber or other inking tool and add color to the debossed side of the panel. It’s okay if you get ink outside of the debossed area because the next step will cover it.
Step 3: Using the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink pad, rub it across the panel. The black will stay on top and will not go into the debossed areas and create a beautiful background. The versaFine Clair ink pads work well with this technique because they are so vibrant.
Step 4: Stamp your sentiment using the Mini Misti and cut it out with the coordinating die.
Step 5: Add your panel to a white card base and add the elements to finish he card.
Other Supplies: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 120lb Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Mini MISTI Cake Toppers Stamp Set – Gina K Designs Cake Toppers Die Set – Gina K Designs Master Layouts One – Gina K Designs
I’ve had these stencils for some time, and the vibrant colors and rich textures of Tsukineko inks were perfect for these designs. I love Tsukineko inks for their versatility, stunning colors, and ease of use. They also come in various themed color sets. For this project, I used both VersaFine colors and Dew Drop VersaMagic ink pads.
Hi everyone! It’s graduation season. Do you have a gift card, a ticket, or even a polaroid photo you would like to send to someone who is graduating? Today I’m sharing my favorite way to send a gift card. It’s super easy and versatile; if you are interested, keep reading!
Skill: Advanced Time: 1 hour
Directions:
Step 1: Stamp the images with any waterproof ink. Many Tsukineko ink pads are waterproof when the ink dries; I am using VersaFine Nocturne today. Also, can we talk about how adorable these images are?! They are from It’s a Science stamp set and they’re totally perfect for any science majors. I thought they would look so cute for a graduation card.
Step 2: Watercolor with dew drop ink pads. I love to watercolor with my dew drop ink pads. You can choose from the VersaMagic (pigment ink), Brilliance (pigment ink) or Memento (dye ink) lines and they all work great! I smooshed some ink onto my craft mat and colored away!
Step 3: Fussy cut the images with scissors. If the stamp set has a coordinating die set, you could use that too!
Step 4: Stamp images with VersaMark ink pad to create details for the background panel.
Step 5: I actually decided to create a light up card by adding a LED light to the microscope image. If you are interested in seeing a video tutorial, you could follow my YouTube channel: Craft with Jessica V. Lin or search for “Interactive Gift Card Holder that Lights Up”. I’ll edit the video and post it soon.
Step 6: This is what the LED light looks like when the circuit is finished. It’s really not that complicated, and the result is so worth it!
Step 7: Finally, for the gift card holder, simply score an A2 card base at 4.5’’, 5.5’’ and 6.5’’. Adhere the bottom edge with Tear-It! Tape (make sure you don’t adhere the entire flap closed). Then, create a gift card opening by die-cutting along the edge of the middle flap. If you don’t have a die that works, you could also cut the opening with scissors.
And the gift card holder card is completed! I love this design since it’s super easy and you could easily swap the gift card with tickets (like the Disneyland ticket shown in step 7) or even a polaroid photo if you decided to keep it as a card instead. I hope you give it a try, thanks so much for stopping by!
Imagine Blog 