Bible Journaling with Imagine Crafts Products

Today the Imagine Crafts blog is featuring my experimentation with IC products and Bible journaling.  I am honored to be able to share something near and dear to my heart with the Imagine Crafts blog readers.  Here are excerpts from the blog post.

I was recently introduced to a newer trend in paper crafting, Bible journaling. I was excited to get started so I bought a new journaling Bible with 2-inch margins to allow for artwork and journaling.  My excitement was tempered because I was just a little hesitant to try out different inks and products on my brand new pages because I didn’t want to ruin them.  Plus, I wasn’t keen on buying more paper crafting supplies because I already owned a plethora of fun Imagine Crafts products that just needed to be tested.  Product formulations cause them to react with the very thin Bible paper in ways that are different from the normal card stock.  Inks can easily bleed through to the back side, and in a few cases of really juicy pads onto the next page!  Some products are too opaque for use over the printed portions on the page, but others are suitable depending on the type of application. 

To do a few experiments I found a small New Testament at an estate sale, and it turned out to be a good one-dollar investment.  I was somewhat surprised with a few of my results.  For each initial ink test I choose a dark blue ink (brown for Delicata as it doesn’t come in blue yet) and a bold script stamp and stamped directly on the page over the printed section.  The pigment-based inks work wonderfully for most stamping and application with Sponge Daubers or Ink Blushers.  The lighter hues have less show through when used for stamping.  In the second round of testing I used Creative Medium Original and Shimmer as a gesso layer and had some amazing results with many of the Imagine Crafts products.

I continue to experiment in my new NIV Journaling Bible by Zondervan Publishers.  Shown above is my entry for Romans 15:13. I practiced on scrap paper twice to get the spacing and color combinations just right.  The edge was painted with Creative Medium Shimmer and allowed to dry.  The images were stamped and heat set as the Creative Medium makes the surface less absorbent.  The hand written portion can be added during the process or after the ink is heat set.  I choose the sparkly shimmery Delicata and related products because this passage spoke to me about power and hope.

Imagine Crafts Products used:  Creative Medium Shimmer, Delicata in Golden Glitz, Celestial Copper, Silvery Shimmer, and Bronze Burst, Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue, Memento Dual Marker in Sweet Plum and Danube Blue.

Other products:  Paper Smooches “Have Faith”, Unity Stamp Company “ . . . key to truth”, Dream Ink “Greetings”, Technique Tuesday “Whirly Gigs”, Scrappy Cat “Playful Serie” and “Twist of Lime”, Adorn It Stephanie Ackerman Documented Faith “Banner of Faith”, Illustrated Faith “Date Stamp”.    

The paper in my full sized journaling Bible is slightly less forgiving and thinner than the small New Testament.  My results are similar to my original experiments, but some of the darker inks I have tried are visible from the reverse side of the page.  Not all of my journaling entries to date are “blog worthy” (still practicing), but are still valuable because they have personal meaning.  It is delightful to combine artistic expression with Bible study and quiet reflection.  There is a certain freedom to meditate on the passage as I create, and when complete it seems much easier to visual the verse during memorization.

The Imagine Crafts blog features photographs of my experiments, stop by for more information!

The following products are recommended for Bible journaling:

·      Versa Magic

·      Radiant Neon

·      Memento Luxe: slight bleed through.

·      Memento Dual Markers: a light hand with the fine tip will result slight bleed through and this is similar to results using other recommended brands of fine tip pens.  This gives you a larger selection of colors to choose from as well!

·      Fabrico Markers:  very little bleed through, one of the surprises!  The bullet tip is very broad compared to the Memento Dual Markers. 

·      Versa Color: dark colors seem to exhibit slight bleed through.

·      Versa Mark: for use with chalks, pigment powders and light colored embossing powders, take care in stamping when lifting stamp from page.  First test caused a slight tear in page.

·      Essential Glue Pad: for fine glitter or foiling with a light heat set to remove excess glitter.

The following products are recommended with the cautions indicated.  The darker colors will have minimal bleed through, but will not obscure the printing on the back of the page.  Drying time or heat setting the product is recommended to avoid transfer to the opposite page in most cases.

·      Brillance

·      Opaque Creative Medium:  very thin application and allow for ample air dry time to avoid transfer.

·      StazOn Studio Glaze: best used spread out as a glaze, allow amply air dry time.  Larger areas may have slight page wrinkling.

·      Shimmer Mist: Frost and Sparkle are the most transparent, mask all area around intended artwork area and heat or air dry.  Seems to cause slight page wrinkling.

·      Embossing Powder: only white will not show through.

·      All Purpose Ink:  create very light hues with Ink Potion No. 9 for custom color sprays.  Mask all areas around intended artwork area.

The following are not recommended without Creative Medium due to bleed through or high opacity.

·      Encore Ultimate Metallics

·      Memento Ink Pads

·      Kaleidacolor

·      Delicata

·      Versa Fine

·      StazOn: bleed through but ideal for water color applications.

·      Fireworks

·      Walnut Ink

·      irRESISTable Spray and Pico Embellisher

·      Embossing Powder: all colors but white will show through.

Recommend for use with Creative Medium:

·      Memento Dual Marker

·      StazOn

·      StazOn Studio Glaze

·      Delicata

·      Encore

·      Versa Fine

Not recommend for use with Creative Medium:

·      Memento had some pooling of ink.

·      Kaleidacolor did not adhere to surface.

·      Fireworks

·      Walnut Ink

·      irRESISTable Spray and Pico Embellisher

·      Embossing Powder: all colors but white will still show through.

If you have joined the Bible journaling movement, you might want try a few of these Imagine Crafts products to add some fun color to your journaling artwork.  Experiment on printer paper to get a feel for the product and create away!  Please be aware that paper in your Bible may not react in the same way as these trials, so if you are wary of a product, test it first before using it on a favorite passage.  These are suggestions based on my experiences with each of the products tested.  I have enjoyed the journey of discovery and plan on using a number of Imagine Crafts inks and media to continue my journey of exploring the Word of God through Bible Journaling.

 

Red, Green, Cream/White

The new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges is a color challenge of Red, Green, and white/cream.  It is the time of year where thank you notes are needed at my house so I choose to go that direction instead of the obvious Christmas theme.  Do stop by the blog and be inspired by the wonderful Design Team creations.

1.     The A7 sized cream base card is inked around the outside edges with an Ink Blusher and Brilliance Rocket Red.

2.     Cream cardstock is trimmed to 4 3/4" x 6 1/4".  The large swirl image from the Fancy Pants Bella Brush collection is stamped in Brilliance Rocket Red.  The smaller swirl image from the Fancy Pants Pollen Dust is stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy in three corners to complete the design.

3.     Spellbinders Fancy Labels Four is die cut from cream cardstock.  The edges are inked with Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy and an Ink Blusher.  The Inkadinkado Thanks set sentiment is stamped in the same.

4.     Sew Easy Floss in red in threaded through the small holes in the die cut sentiment which is first adhere with dimensional foam adhesive before adhering the floss around the back of the front panel.

5.     The panel is adhered to the prepped card base.

Thank you for stopping by and spend a little creative time to make your own Red, Green, and White/Cream project to share with us over at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges.

I am pleased to enter this card in the following:

Simply Create Too #109 Thank You

May Flowers

A perfect challenge for May . . . Flowers!  For our challenge at Retro Rubber we would like to see you use your retro flower stamps.  Please use images that have been around more than a year and link up to join the flower fun.  Stop by the blog and check out all the lovely inspiration from the design team.

For this challenge I decided to use my oldest flower stamp that has a matching die, Bella Rose Classic and Leaves by Heartfelt Creations and Spellbinders.  I purchased this set in 2011 because I really liked the leaves with the delicate swirls behind them.

1.     The rose image is stamped in Delicata Golden Glitz on white card stock, heat embossed with clear embossing powder, and die cut with matching die.  The image is colored with Versa Magic Persimmon, Ink Potion No. 9, and a brush tip Fantastix.

2.     The fern is stamped three times with Encore Ultimate Metallic Green on white card stock, heat embossed with clear embossing powder, and die cut.  Delicata Golden Glitz is sponged over the top with an Ink Blusher.

3.     The leaf is stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy, heat embossed with clear embossing powder, and die cut.  The image is colored with Encore Green, Ink Potion No. 9, and a brush tip Fantastix.

4.     Heartfelt Creations Eyelet Oval Die is die cut from peach and light green card stock.  The edges are inked with Delicata Golden Glitz and an Ink Blusher.

5.     The sentiment is from the Unity set, Beautiful Life, Blessed Memories.  It is stamped in Delicata Golden Glitz and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The image is die cut with Spellbinders Ribbon Banners and pressure embossed.

6.     An A7 white cardstock base is inked around the edges with Delicata Golden Glitz.  The layers are adhered at different heights by using glue dots and dimensional foam adhesive.

Please do stop by Retro Rubber Blog Challenge and enter your own Flower inspired project.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #169 Flowers

Scrapy  Land #42 Lots of Layers

Delicious Doodles Challenge April Showers Bring May Flowers

Quirky Crafts Challenges April Showers Bring Quirky May Flowers
Card Mania #80 May Flowers
Card and Scrap #118 Flowers

Get Organized for Imagine Crafts

My latest post at Imagine Crafts Blog is a way that I help keep my creative mojo flowing by visualizing what supplies I have on hand.

The challenge of organizing our supplies is a never ending dilemma!  Most seasoned crafters have accumulated so many fun products to work to play with on our project, we may forget what all is available at our fingertips unless we have a way to visualize our stash!  At times we may be stymied by color choice or product choice when getting started on a project.

 

To address both of these issues I decided to develop a color swatch chart for the products that are manufactured by Imagine Crafts.  It is a great way to track your inventory and help you know what new products you might need to add to your stash!  There are also additional spaces for your glitter, flocking, beads, and other media that may be in your collection.  At first glance it may seem time consuming to create the swatch cards, (and it is!), but their value will be quickly realized when your mojo is stuck and you glance through the swatch cards and are able to pick a new medium and technique to continue your project!  Check out all of the wonderful videos and tutorials that are available through the blog and Imagine Crafts website.  Be forewarned, this is not a project to tackle without allowing time to let swatches dry.  Take your time and enjoy going through your supplies and create color swatches that you will add to and use for years to come!

Stop by the Imagine Crafts Blog and read through the details of the tutorial.

Transparent Element = Shaker Card

 Come join our challenge at Ruby’s Rainbow Challenges and create a card or project that incorporates a transparent element.  It was my turn to select the challenge theme and am delighted with the wonderful interpretations the Design Team created, do stop by and check them out!

A shaker card is one way to incorporate a transparent element into the design of a card.  I have these wonderful circular Shake It Pouches made by Impression Obsession that was perfect for this challenge.  We have a dear friend who just received her MBA, so it was time to craft a Gradation Celebration card.  In my search for confetti, I found that it is not readily available, so large glitter was the perfect solution and the starting point for the color theme of the card.

1.     I determined that I wanted the area for the shaker element to be 4” x 4” and worked from that dimension to create the step card.  Turquoise card stock is trimmed to 7” x 10.5”.  At 1 ½” from each edge the card stock is cut from 1 ¼” to 6 ½”.  The base is scored at 1 ¼”, 2 ½” and 6” along the sides, and at 5 ¼” in the center section.  The card is folded into the step card base.

2.     Trim pink card stock to 1 ¼” x 3 ¾” and 1” x 6 ¾”, pressure emboss with Cuttlebug James’ set circle pattern, and sand to bring out texture.

3.     Die cut Spellbinders Lacey Circle with the Standard Circle centered in the middle. 

4.     Stamp Hero Arts Congrats Stamp and Cut sentiments around the edge of the Lacey Circle.  The polymer stamps are easy to position and curve to shape with the use of an acrylic block.  Versa Color in Turquoise is a perfect match for the card stock.  Sand edges of the Lacey Circle. 

5.     Die cut Quickutz diploma and graduation cap from Kraft, black and purple card stock.  Die Cut Spellibinders Phrases One Congratulations from purple card stock. 

6.     Place confetti stars, hearts, and Rainbow large glitter in Shake It pouch and adhere.  To card front.  Adhere remaining elements, with the lacey circle concleating the edges of the Shake It pouch.  Dot the “i” with Memento Dual Marker in Grape Jelly, this is easier than trying to get the itty bitty tittle (yes it is a real word, I googled it!) to adhere to the pressure embossed card stock. 

Supplies:  Imagine Crafts-Versa Color Turquoise and Memento Dual Marker Grape Jelly, Spellbinders-Lacy Circle, Standard Circle Small, Phrase Set One, Quickutz-Graduation Cap, diploma, Hero Arts Congrats Stamp & Cut, Cuttlebug-James’ set Circle Pattern, turquoise, pink, purple, black, and Kraft card stock.

Please do come and play along with Ruby's Rainbow Challenges and share your project that includes a transparent element!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

House of Cards:  Vellum or Acetate

Alphabet Challenge Blog E for Embossing Folders
613 Avenue #173 My Sentiments Exactly
The Crazy Challenge #222 Three or more layers

Color challenge

We have a wonderful color challenge at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog for the next two weeks.  Such fun spring colors!

I decided to use a very old Personal Stamp Exchange stamp from 1993, the Botanical Pansy.  Pansies came in all sorts of cheery colors and it was simple to include all the colors from the challenge photo.  This fun card is one that I call a “one stamp wonder”!

 

1.     Stamp Pansy in Versa Fine Onyx Black and heat emboss with clear embossing powder. 

2.     Use a water brush and pick up ink in the following colors to water color the image.  Memento Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Lilac Posies, Grape Jelly, Sweet Plum, and Cottage Ivy.

3.     Die cut image with Spellbinders Labels Eight.  Die cut Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight. 

4.     Ink the decorative label with an Ink Blusher and Memento Lilac Posies. 

5.     Trim card stock to 6” x 8”, fold in half and round corners.  Ink with an Ink Blusher and Radiant Neon Electric Yellow. 

6.     Adhere decorative label to card base, and adhere the image with dimensional foam adhesive. 

 Supplies: 

·      Imagine Crafts:  Versa Fine Onyx Black, Memento Cantaloupe, Dandelion, Lilac Posies, Grape Jelly, Sweet Plum, Cottage Ivy, Radiant Neon Electric Yellow, Ink Blushers

·      Nishi Water pen

·      White card stock

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting When We Can #118 Add Flowers

Quirky Crafts Challenges #5 April Showers bring May flowers

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge May Flowers

Pattie’s Creations Design #122 Flowers