Let’s Give Thanks Card

By Anna Escalada York

To me, Thanksgiving is mostly about food but also an excuse to say thank you to those people who are a part of my personal and professional life. So I decided to make a thank you card to let people know that I am grateful for them. I decided to use some paper scraps because I always have too many and to enhance them with sprays or ink to transform them. At first, I was planning on making one card with a lot of leaves, but changed my mind after die cutting the leaves, so ended up making two.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions:

Step 1:
Pull out some scraps of paper from your stash and a variety of sprays and ink. Spray the scraps with the sprays. My scraps were colored with Cantaloupe, Angel Pink, Dandelion, Lilac Posies, and Tangelo Fireworks! Craft Sprays as well as Peanut Brittle Memento Ink. After the spray dried, die cut the scraps of paper with leaf dies. Reserve some of the sprayed paper for later.

Step 2:
Press Walnut Ink colored Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution as well as Elderberry Memento ink onto acetate packaging. Add water to the different parts of the acetate and splatter the die cut leaves with the Elderberry Memento ink. Then watercolor smoosh the leaves with both the Elderberry Memento ink and the Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution. After the leaves dried, rub the edges of the leaves with the London Fog Memento ink pad. Allow everything to dry again.

Step 3:
Trim a piece of kraft cardstock with a paper trimmer to about 5 x 3.75 inches. Then spray Rose Gold Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray directly into an embossing folder. Place the kraft cardstock panel into the embossing folder and then run the whole thing through a die cutting machine.

Allow the panel to dry.

Step 4:
Use Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink to add some color to the panel by brushing the panel lightly across the embossed paper. The raised part of the embossed panel will pick up the dark brown ink, while the other areas will be untouched. Then press the edges with the same Dark Brown Shimmer Delicata ink panel to add color to the border.

Step 5:
I die cut a scrap piece of rose gold glitter cardstock with a stitched circle die as well as the shadow die of a two-layer sentiment die. In addition, I die cut another piece of the lilac (purple) sprayed cardstock from step 1 with the top layer of the two-layer sentiment die. I also die cut two pieces of scrap cardstock with the same sentiment die. The layers of the sentiment die were glued together to give dimension and then they were glued on the rose gold shadow die cut.

Then the card was assembled. I glued three of the leaves onto the glitter cardstock die cut circle and then glued the whole thing onto the embossed panel. Next, the sentiment was glued onto the panel. Sequins were glued onto the panel. Finally, the whole thing was glued onto a kraft cardbase.

A second card was made with the leftover die cut leaves in the same manner. The only changes were that I used a light orange vellum and some more of the sprayed scrap paper from step 1 to create the die cut circular background and the sentiment.

Art Supplies

Imagine

• Delicata Ink – Dark Brown Shimmer
• Fireworks! Shimmer Craft Spray
– Angel Pink, Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Lilac Posies (retired color) and Tangelo

• Memento Ink – Elderberry, London Fog and Peanut Brittle
• Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray – Rose Gold
• Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution – Walnut Ink

Other Products

• Alex Syberia Designs – die set – Large Thanks
• HAI Supply – embellishments – Cola Crystalline gems
• Simon Says Stamp – Embossing folder Modern Loop
• Sizzix – die set – Leaf Fragments by Tim Holtz
• Circular die
• A2-sized kraft card base Clear Embossing Powder Kraft cardstock
• Glitter cardstock
• Light orange sparkly vellum
• Patterned paper scraps and magazine pages
• Die cutting machine
• Paper trimmer Scissors
• Glue

Coffee-Themed Card with an Unexpected Tool

By Alison Heikkila

Hello! I’m Alison Heikkila and I have a fun coffee-themed card to share today that uses a bunch of inks from Imagine and an unexpected tool. I hope you get some ideas for how you can create this card in your own way.

*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. 

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time to Complete: 30 Minutes, plus drying time

Supplies:
Imagine:
Java Walnut Ink
Desert Sand Memento Ink
Summer Sky Memento Ink
Rich Cocoa Memento Ink
Espresso Truffle Memento Ink
Wheat VersaMagic Ink
Sahara Sand VersaMagic Ink
Desert Sand Fireworks Spray

Other:
The Greetery: Warm and Wonderful Stamp Set
The Greetery: Warm and Wonderful Die Set
A Colorful Life Designs: Messy Harlequin Stencil
Rubbernecker Stamps/Brass & Bliss: Coffee Stamp Set (No longer available)
Bearly Arts Glue
Strathmore Smooth Bristol Cardstock
Neenah Desert Storm Cardstock
Accent Opaque White 100lb. Cardstock
The Rabbit Hole Designs: Cotton Tail Blending Brush

That was fun! I hope you enjoyed all of these different techniques. I’ll have another video for Imagine soon. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Make A Vintage Inspired Birthday Card Using Walnut Inks

By Kathi Rerek

Let’s make a vintage inspired flower card with Walnut Ink Sprays!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hour

Step 1:
Spray Java Walnut Ink Spray onto a craft mat. Mist with water.

Step 2:
Press a 4.25” x 5” panel of watercolor paper into the Java Walnut Ink puddle. Lift and press the paper again until the panel is colored. Heat set.

Step 3:
Press lace into the remaining Java Walnut Ink puddle and let it soak it up to color the lace. Heat set.

Step 4:
Lightly mist the watercolor panel, then use a paper towel to dab spots to create a variegated background.

Step 5:
Place the panel between pieces of cardstock onto the base of a die-cut machine. Place cutting plates overtop, then crank the sandwich into the machine to help flatten the cardstock.

Step 6:
Remove the cardstock, trim to 4” x 5.25” and edge it with Pinecone VersaClair Ink. Set aside.

Steps 7A through 7D:
Spray watercolor paper with Eucalyptus Walnut Ink Spray. Mist with water. Heat Set (7A). Repeat with Cherry Blossom Spray  (7B), Lilac Walnut Ink Spray (7C), and TerraCotta Walnut Ink Spray (7D). Please note that I created lighter panels by misting with more water.

Step 8 A and B:
Use the flower cutting dies from the Into the Blooms: Clover Die set to cut the Cherry Blossom and Lilac Walnut inked panels.

Step 9:
Use the Paper Blossoms Tool Kit to shape the flower die-cuts.

Step 10:
Use On Point Glue to layer and adhere the shaped flowers. BTW, my nails are dirty because the Walnut Ink Spray stains!

Steps 11A and 11B:
Use a sponge dauber to apply Verdant VersaFine Clair Ink to a piece of watercolor card. (11A). Use a second sponge dauber to apply Green Oasis VersaFine Clair Ink overtop. Go back over the panel with Verdant VersaFine Clair Ink to blend. Heat set.

Steps 12A and 12B:
Use the stem and leaves cutting dies from the Into the Blooms: Clover Die set to cut the Eucalyptus Walnut Inked panel and the VersaFine inked panels.

Step 13:
Using a sponge dauber, apply Cheerful VersaFine Clair Ink to a watercolor panel. Heat set.

Then, use the flower center die from the Into the Blooms: Clover Die set to cut enough centers for all the flowers created in step 10. Use On Point Glue to adhere the yellow flower centers to the flowers. Sorry that I forgot to take photos.

Steps 14A and 14B:
Use Pinecone VersaFine Clair Ink to apply the TerraCotta Pot Eclectic Red Rubber Cling Stamp onto the TerraCotta Walnut Inked panel, then heat set. Afterward, fussy-cut the panel and edge it with Pinecone VersaFine Clair Ink.

Steps 15A and 15B:
Ink the “Birthday Wishes” stamp from the Mixed Messages Clear Stamp Set with Pinecone VersaFine Ink and stamp it onto the Lilac Walnut Inked panel. Next, use a tiny tag cutting die from the Thinlits Tag Collection to cut out the sentiment.

Step 16:
Use a sponge dauber to apply Pinecone VersaFine Clair Ink to the outside perimeter of a white A2 card. Heat set.

Step 17:
Staple the lace to the base of the Java Walnut Ink panel. Use On Point Glue and Tear-It! Tape to adhere the flowers, leaves, and flower pot to the front of the card as shown. No photos. Sorry!
Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the card front to the Pinecone VersaFine Clair-inked white card.

Craft Supplies:

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Other Supplies:

  • Watercolor Paper by Canson
  • Avalanche Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • In the Blooms: Clover Die Set by Papertrey Ink
  • -Thinlits Tag Collection Die Set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix
  • TerraCotta Pot Eclectic Red Rubber Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door
  • Sentiment from the Mixed Messages Clear Sentiments by PaperTrey Ink
  • Tiny Attacher Idea-ology Stapler by Tim Holtz for Advantus
  • Curved Craft Scissors by Fiskar’s
  • Stamping Platform by Tonic Studios
  • Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Grunge Flowers Spring Card

By Kathi Rerek

Let’s experiment with Imagine’s fabulous Walnut Ink Sprays!

Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 1 hour

Step 1:
Using a stamping platform, ink the Grunge Flower stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good. Impression. Stamp a second time onto repositionable sticker paper. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version to be used as a mask later.

Steps 2A and 2B :
Spray Cherry Blossom Walnut Ink into a small container (2A). Add water into a second container. Use a paint brush to watercolor the flowers’ petals, varying the intensity of the color by diluting the ink with water (2B). When done, wash and dry the containers.

Steps 3A and 3B:
Spray Lilac Walnut Ink and water into small containers (3A). Use a paint brush to watercolor the flowers centers, varying the intensity of the color by diluting the ink with water (3B). When done, wash and dry the containers

Steps 4A and 4B:
Spray Cherry Blossom and Lilac Walnut Inks into separate containers. Spray a small amount of Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray into both containers and into a third container (4A).  Use paint brushes to paint the circular elements of the stamped image with sparkly Walnut inks (4B).

Steps 5A and 5B:
Adhere the repositionable sticker masks from Step 1 atop the stamped and painted images. Smoosh Gold Sheer Shimmer Stix onto the craft mat (5A). Use a brush to apply over the masked images. Also use the applicator top to apply the shimmery gold ink directly to the image panel. Wipe the excess away with a paper towel (5B).

Steps 6A and 6B:
Repeat Steps 4A and 4B to add more shimmery walnut ink to the containers (6A). Load a paint brush with the ink then tap the paint brush to splatter the image panel (6B). Repeat with the second color. I wanted more splatter, so I loaded a clean toothbrush with ink and splattered the panel even more. (No photo). Remove the masks and heat set the panel.

Step 7:
Use the smaller die from the Frayed Frames Die Set 26 to cut the image panel. Use the larger die from the same set to cut black cardstock. Use Tear-It! Tape to mat the image panel die-cut with the black die-cut. (Sorry! No photo).

Step 8:
Place the matted image panel into a stamping platform. Position the “Flower” Sentiment from the Grunge Flowers Stamp Set 2 facedown on the bottom right of the image panel. Press the platform’s lid onto the back of the stamp and lift. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.

Step 9:
Remove the impute panel from the platform and place onto paper. Sprinkle Clear MBoss powder onto the stamped sentiment. Dump the excess back into the container. Heat set the sentiment.

Step 10:
Create an A2 card from purple cardstock. Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the image panel to the card.

Craft Supplies

Imagine:

Other:

  • Watercolor Paper by Canson
  • Raven and Purple Cardstock by Bazzill Basics
  • Crafty Grunge Flowers Stamp Set 2 by Melina Dahl for That’s Crafty
  • Frayed Frames Die Set 26 by AALL and Create
  • Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery
  • Curved Craft Scissors by Fiskar’s
  • Heat Gun
  • Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia
  • Big Shot by Sizzix

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. 

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step4
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.

2022-Aug-WatercolorFireworksSunflowers-Step7
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

Make a Beautiful Heart-Shaped Plywood Ornament

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-600-wm

By Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Make a distressed heart-shaped plywood ornament with Walnut Inks. Color with Memento inks for a smooth result and decorate with stamps and StazOn inks for a sharp and bleedless design.

 

Skill: Beginner

Time: 1 Hour

 

Directions:

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step1

Step 1

Paint the plywood shape with All-Purpose White ink color. Let it dry well.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step2

Step 2

Sprinkle drops of the Walnut Ink Eucalyptus, add very few Walnut Ink Crystals and spray with water to dilute further. Dry well.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step3

Step 3

Use a Sponge Dauber to smoothly add color with Memento Rich Cocoa and Pear Tart ink pads.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step4

Step 4

Stamp the foliage first with the Memento Bamboo leaves and then stamp on top, slightly offsetting to the first design, with StazOn Olive Green.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step5
Step 5

Stamp butterflies with StazOn Fuchsia pink and Royal Purple ink pads.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step6
Step 6

Add a sentiment with StazOn Jet Black.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step7

Step 7

Cut 12″ long pieces of the cotton ribbon and spay with the Walnut Inks Eucalyptus, Lilac and Cherry Blossom. Let them dry.

 

2021-aug-kyriakos-stamp-on-plywood-step8

Step 7

Tie the cotton ribbons on the heart shape.

 

Art Supplies:

Imagine

All-Purpose Ink – White

Walnut Ink – Eucalyptus, Lilac, Cherry Blossom

Memento – Pear Tart, Rich cocoa, Bamboo Leaves

StazOn – Olive Green, Fuchsia Pink, Royal Purple, Jet Black

Sponge Daubers

 

Other

Plywood Heart Shape

Kaisercraft – Tigerlily Stamps

½” Cotton Ribbon