The Clearing Stamp and Stencils

So many of you have asked about the cards at the demo at the SECC and the NEC we thought we should post them for you so that you can see the beautiful effects you can achieve by using the Clearing Stamp and Stencil Set. http://imaginationcrafts.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137_186&products_id=1616. This gorgeous card is done by using the Reindeer and Trees from the Stamp Set and stamping with a dark green distress ink onto some background paper. Using the accessory words and dotty snow stamps to white emboss the snow and stamp the words Silent Night in black archival ink. The next card was created by using Mica Powders over versamark for the background. Just swipe Versamark across the background and then brush over Mica powders to create and landscape background. Place the Clearing stencil over the background and then colour some white stencil paste with a bit of black stencil paint and spread over the stencil with a palette knife. Life off the stencil, wash clean immediately and leave to dry for 1/2 hour. If you want to add a bit of sparkle sprinkle on some black glitter while the paste is still wet but after you have removed the stencil.

Finally, our third option is done by using the Clearing Stencil, mixing up some more black stencilling paste, as above. This time put the stencil onto some smooth white glitter card and spread the black paste over the stencil. Remove stencil wash straight away - it really is as simple as that.

Happy Crafting from the team at Imagination.

Pearly Pallet Backgrounds the easy way 1

Hello everyone,It's Jayne here again,

Hope you are all keeping warm as the chilly nights draw in, well, here is another technique to keep your creative spirits going...I shall show you through these easy step by step instructions along with photo's how you can create some stunning back grounds. just like this one above using the Fantastic new Vintage Pearly Pallet, the colours on this pallett are out of the world .....all are duo toned so depending on what card stock you are using light or dark you get amazing colour mixing..lets get started....

You will need

Vintage Pearly Pallet,
Non-stick mat,
Large Fluffy Brush,
Mister water spary,
Thick card stock cut into A5 size x5,
Black Sparkly embossing powder (see tips below),
Versamark ink pad,
Heat Gun,
Anti-static bag,
Scissors,
Silicone Glue,

All of these items can be bought at http://www.imaginationcrafts.co.uk/ if you can't find these items or have any problems call 01935 813664, we will happily help you.


Tips ;

Always use an anti-static bag before you do any embossing on these backgrounds, It will help to reduce the unwanted marks,

Add Approx 1 teaspoon of assorted glitter to 70grms roughly 1/2 a small pot of Fine detail Black embossing powder.



Step one,

Before you begin..... spray all over the Pearly Pallet, the wetter the better. really mix up the micas in the paint to a lovely creamy consistancy but not too thick, In this card above we will be using green and green/gold,

Step 2

Now spritz the card stock with the water and spread over the card stock.

For this card we need 5 colors and 5 Layers so have ready 5 pieces of card or as i have done used one piece for two colours ( see drying layers below) we will be using Gold, Green /gold. Bronze , Purple, Red burgandy and green. so make sure the colours are still nice and wet, if not spritz again,

Pick up the lightest colour and SWEEP across the card stock in a bold stoke, now pick up the other colour and Sweep again untill you have cover the entire area.Set aside to dry

Rinse your fluffy brush in water flick once to semi dry between colours and repeat for all the other colour layers

Step 3

these layers must be really dry to continue you can heat dry, but they will curl best is to let air dry they will curl but not as much. if you want them flatter you can leave under heavy books overnight...

Next you will want to mix your sparkly embossing powder.( see tips)

Before you Start embossing, rub the anti-static bag all over the dry coloured card stock and remember to do this EVERY time before embossing.

Step 4,

Place you stamp on the rock-a-block, inkup with Versamark and stamp onto the pre-coloured card stock. Sprinkle the embossing powder over image tap off excess, and heat emboss.

Repeat for each colour.

Here are the sugested layers

all layered up

Cut each layer and build up with either silicone Glue or sticky pads

this was then mounted onto gold ,then black card stock the next layer was the green gold layer the top right hand corner and bottom left corners were embossed with the sparkle embossing powder and the stamp from the set .this was mounted onto black card stock and then onto the cream card. Add the ribbon befor attaching layers to the card.
For a touch of gloss add Magi glaze to the berries once dry this adds a glossy shine to them.

I do love these Pallets, you can do so much with them here are one or two samples...

This card was embossed with the sparkly Embossing Powder, then coloured with a water brush directly from the pallet.

This one was embossed with gold then coloured....

We hope to see some of you soon at the SECC or the NEC shows...

Watch out soon for the next Technique...I will do my best to get another technique to you next week.

Have fun Jayne

Mica Brushing with the New Decoupage Range

Hi everyone, It's jayne here

Team Imagination have been extremely busy lately with prepping for the QVC shows and the up and coming events,Happy Stampers, SECC and the NEC.Along with Designing the new Ranges of Stamps and Stencils coming out in the spring,Sue and Harvey have invited me to share with you a couple of techniques with you that i know you will enjoy doing with easy to follow step by steps , using our newest Range of Decoupage Stamps sets Holly,Berries,Bells, Baubles,Flowers and Ivy all can be found on our web site http://www.imaginationcrafts.co.uk/

When I was designing these sets, I didn't realize how versitile these would be, not only are they great for Copic Pens, Pro Marker's and Water colouring, I have also found that they are fantastic with our Mica Powders and the New vintage pallet (see previous post)

So the first Technique will be Mica brushing with the Decoupage stamp Range,

Items you will need:

Mica powders set 1 and 2
Decoupage stamp set Bells,
Rock-a-bloc med
Versa mark ink pad,
Small detail brush

Large fluffy Brush,

Anti-static bag,

Scissors,
Cheap Hairspray
An assortment of Smooth coloured card stock

All these items may be purchased via the Web site http://www.imaginationcrafts.co.uk/ if you can't find them then call 01935813664, we will be happy to help.

Tips....

1)Always use an anti-static bag on all card stock before you stamp any images, this helps to reduce any unwanted marks,

2)Only open the colours you are using , this reduces the possibilities of spillage..

Step 1) Cut 5 pieces of coloured card stock into 4x4 inches, you will get 6 froma A5 sheet,choose three colours of mica powders that work well together, Green Gold and Bronze were used on this card. open the lids of the micas and rub the anti-static over the pre -cut card stock.

Detail method

Sweeping method

Step 2) Place your stamp onto the Rock-a-Bloc, ink with the versamark ink pad and stamp onto the card stock, now there are two different methods you can do a) using the detail brush add mica to detailed areas ie border, background etc, or b) using the Large Fluffy brush to sweep across the pre stamped image in bold diagonal stokes. which ever way you like, the demo card above I used the sweeping method.

In both methods, once you have covered the image, tap off the excess and then use the large fluffy brush to dust n polish the image. ( don't use kitchen roll or tissues as this could scratch off the design,)

Step 3 ) A this point if you wish to change a colour or pick out certain areas you can do so by re applying some mica with the detail brush, then dust n polish again. Once you are happy with you image Seal it with a cheap hairspray set aside to dry , repeat for all 5 layers.

Step4) Cut out each layer,( these are suggested layers you can do as many or a little as you want, that's the beauty of these stamp images.Layer up using silicone glue or pads. (as shown on the card) and mat onto gold card stock,again matt onto green card stock this also stamped with versa mark and using the micas randomly around the edge to match

Step 5) To finish add some ribbon and greeting if desired,

Here is another card sample that has mica used as the background

Hope you enjoy playing

look out for the next technique coming next week

Have fun Jayne

Decoupage Stamping with the New Vintage Palette

Hi Everyone

At last a chance to update you on what is happening, here at Imagination but first of all heaps of apologies for not blogging more often! The only excuse is 'work', 'work', work, 7 days a week at the moment and of course coming up to the busiest time of the year with Shows on TV and Craft Shows all over the Country.

Hope you like the above offering from Jayne, her Decoupage Stamp Designs are beautiful and
this talented lady has done a fabulous series of Stamps and we look forward to more in the Spring.

The design team have been working overtime, thank you girls, so much, we couldn't do it without you, that's for sure and Jayne has literally been burning the midnight oil, all good artists do their best work at night I'm told!! They have been really busy working on all the Christmas Stamping Stencil sets and the new Decoupage Stamps - Wow how you love em! Kim has done some lovely samples of the Christmas Stencils and hopefully we can show you those in the next few days. Our lovely Jennifer who has been with us for the last 6 years has done some beautiful samples so tune in to the programmes and come and see the cards at the Craft Shows so that you can appreciate how fab they look.

This card has been made using the Poinsettia Decoupage Stamp, mounted onto a background of the embossed Invert Holly Stencil. The stamp has been inked up with versamark and heat embossed with black detail embossing powder. Do this 3 or 4 times and then paint in using the new Vintage Palette. The colours on the new Vintage Palette are beautiful and the colours have an Interference element of colour which really shimmers through. It's a really different look
but a great alternative to the usual bright colours we tend to use at Christmas.

Don't miss our next programme on QVC on Tuesday 20 September and great excitement here as they have given us a bit more time and we are doing a mini masterclass and you can see the Vintage Palette, Silkies, Inkadinks and Mica Spritzer colours being used on the Stencils and Stamps, so that really is one not to be missed.

Again a big thank you to Jayne, Jennifer and the lovely Kim for all your hard work.

Happy Crafting xx

P.S. This must be the earliest New Year's Resolution ever!! but we must blog more often!!!

Jayne's Gorgeous Stencil Store for You to Make!!

Jayne our amazing new talented Designer who recently joined the Imagination Team has been really busy making this incredible Stencil Store, which is such a clever idea! She has used the new range of Stencil Stamps, which she designed exclusively for us combined with our great new range of Stencil Paint. She has combined Leaf Swirl, Diamond Background and Bubble Background and stenciled through a combination of White, Mallow and Rose Stencil Paint using our fabulous new stencil brushes, of course! She has used the gorgeous Dragonfly stamp from the Bubble Stamping Stencil set, this is such a pretty dragonfly, love the lacy wings. Done in the white looks really effective. Then she covered some chipboard with the stencilled papers and made this beautiful Stencil Store using the Bind-It All tool. I have to confess I have had mine some time!! and haven't used it yet (you know how it is !lol!) but I will now! Have a look below to see the back and the front and inside, which is the really clever bit!

We are bowled over by this, what a clever idea and so beautifully made. She has embellished her work of art with pretty matching ribbon and the closure is using some white shearing elastic with a large pink bead slider - genius! Have a look at inside ............................

I hope you can see (light not too good for piccis today) but inside to store your stencils safely she has included 6 x 6 envelopes and it works - we have already filled ours up! Just love it - don't you? Isn't it great to see something different?
As well as being beautiful it's practical and would make such a great gift. We love things that make us want to rush off and make one! If you haven't already checked out the Imagination range of Stencils, Stencil Stamping Sets, Stencil Paint and brushes go to the web site www:imaginationcrafts.co.uk and check them out.

Happy Crafting x

The lovely Liz Barrell teaches workshops at one of our stockists Cards by Samantha and sent us some pics of the fabulous card she has made using Silkies, Chalkies and Mica Powders. As you can see Liz has used the products through the Flower Frenzy and Cosmic Swirl Templates.

This just shows you how amazing Silkies look the colours work so beautifully together.

Cosmic Swirl is simple but so effective!

We always make a point of saying how beautiful Silkies look when they are brayered and I think this proves the point. The colours blend seemlessly into eachother. If I were you I would be heading off to Samanthas for a workshop!

I don't think this photo does justice to the card because the incredible shimmer of the mica doesn't show on a photo but believe me it is superb. Another way of using Mica Powders - how fab is that!

We thought that it was time to show you some more of the fabulous From Me To You Range of clear stamps. This lovely little boy is on the Sunny Days Sheet, alongside our little girl holding a Sunflower and the sentiment 'Wishing You a Sunshiny Day.' We know you are loving the range and we will be bringing more out soon, so keep watching! Don't forget to check out Dawn's fabulous tutorials on previous Posts for using the Templates and the best news of all we have, at last, got the first of our own new designs of Templates here in the Studio. We are working on them as we speak and we will be launching them on the programme on QVC in June. The Templates work alongside an absolutely gorgeous new range of clear stamps and we know you will fall in love with them as soon as you see them. We will be launching 3 new ranges on the programme, so make sure you tune in.
Happy Crafting x

sneak peak of our new stamp !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW fellow bloggers !!!!!!!!!

i have the true honour tonight to show you the sneak peak of our next generation of stamp products from Imagination crafts .we are really excited to be showing you these new images from our talented stamp designer ,

so keep popping back for more beautiful images

NEW QVC SHOW DATES

Wow Happy New year every one !!!!!
well i bet you all thought we were all still on our Christmas break(we should be so lucky lolxx)
girls i have to say its been none stop here at imagination HQ we have so many new products to show you for the next QVC 1 HOUR SHOW(yes you read this right a 1 hour show) it will make your crafting heads spin
we go live on QVC on the 21st January at 1pm so we hope you will all sit and watch and maybe text in and show your support
so the Design team have been on a sample frenzy to get it all done for you in time for the show
Hope you will all join us
many thanks xxxx