Paper Castle

The castle in this tutorial is created from a pattern called Bedtime Stories from SVG Cuts.

With ordinary cardstock, you can create magical things. By adding ink and texture, you can really transform something simple into something wonderful. The colors and looks you can achieve with ink are only limited to your imagination.

A video is provided by SVG Cuts for assembling the castle. This tutorial assumes all pieces have been cut. Special techniques or tips and recommendations for inking and transforming various portions of the castle are outlined in the tutorial.

All portions of this castle use only Whisper Cardstock. All color is created using Memento™  Fade Resistant Dye Inks and Brilliance Fast-Drying Pigment Inks.

Imagine Crafts Castle Inking Tutorial
Castle Construction

Spritz base and wall pieces of Castle with Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray. Allow everything to dry completely.
Assemble parts and spray paint base and wall portions with Krylon Chrome Aluminum Metallic Paint.
Use Beacon Adhesives “3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue” to attach all finished parts and embellish.

Note: Art Glitter “Designer Dries Clear Adhesive” was used on the bulk of the paper to paper assembly. It dries clear and non-tacky so it’s great for construction.

Door and Exterior Embossing
Different looks can be achieved by strategic placement of paper onto the embossing folder, as shown in the images used for the door and the other areas. The inking process of the parts is similar, but different colors are used.

Emboss door using Spellbinders Diamond Fleur de Lis M-Bossabilities™ Folder. Align paper as shown below. (For instruction regarding proper use of M’Bossabilities™ Folders in the Grand Calibur, please visit Spellbinders Paper Arts helpful How-To Videos: M’Bossabilities™.)
Using a Sponge Dauber, sponge door with Desert Sand Memento™ Dye Ink. 
Apply theBrilliance Galaxy Gold Ink direct from ink pad to paper in long swipes.
Add details with a Precise V5 pen. The Precise V5 pen writes fine over the pigmented inks. Age with Toffee Crunch Memento™ Ink using a Sponge Dauber.
Add Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners to holes in door.

Note: These Sponge Daubers can be washed and re-used, and can be used with different colors.

Trim and Vaulted Entrance
Align paper as shown below.
Sponge on Toffee Crunch Memento™ Dye Ink with a Sponge Dauber.
Apply Mediterranean Blue and Rocket Red Brilliance Inks to desired areas.
Rub in inks with a paper towel. Directly from the ink pad to the paper swipe pieces with Brilliance Galaxy Gold Ink.
Sponge on Pearlescent Lime and Starlight Silver with Sponge Dauber. Rub in with paper towel to mute the brighter colors and give the pieces a patina effect.
Add dark details with Precise V5 pen. The picture below indicates the process before and after applying the Pearlescent Lime, Galaxy Gold and Starlight Silver Brilliance inks.
Prepare the vaulted entrance in the same way as the trim, using the reverse side of the M’Bossabilities™ folder and align paper as shown below.
The vaulted entrance is inked the same way but use less of the final finishing with Galaxy Gold and Starlight Silver Brilliance inks.
Adhere the door as shown below.

Towers and Turrets
Cut rectangles of Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko Vertigo™ Material (#VT-005-003).   Apply with iCraft Adhesive™ Tape.
Add a rectangle on the back of each tower window section. Add some Starlight Silver Brilliance ink to create little shadows and highlights on the back of the windows (shown below Turret Tip).
Assemble towers as directed.
Fold each turret on each score line ALL the way to the top. This allows you to glue flat and ensure that the tip is properly affixed.
Glue along the line shown by the arrows.
Ink towers with layers of with Pearlescent Lavender and Starlite Silver Brilliance Inks, and Memento™ New Sprout.
Ink Turrets with Pearlescent Lavender and Starlite Silver Brilliance Inks and assemble.
Finish the towers off with  Galaxy Gold Brilliance Ink.   Layer the ink more liberally towards the bottom. Let dry completely.

Turret Flags
There are seven flags. These are created with 14 pieces.

Assemble the flags by adhering the two flags back to back. Sizes vary, so match them up prior to gluing with Bonding Memories Broad Tip Glue Pen. Do not glue the lower portion yet.
Stamp Gina K Designs “Ribbon Stripes” by applying rubber stamp to 2” x 6 ½” My Acrylix® Block, using Mediterranean Blue and Rocket Red Brilliance Inks, making sure to stamp both sides.
Outline flags for added emphasis using the Precise V5 pen and distress the lower portion of the flags with Galaxy Gold and Starlight Silver Brilliance Inks.
Lightly sponge Pearlescent Lime Brilliance Ink.
Apply Bonding Memories Broad Tip Glue Pen to the inside of the lower portion on each side of the flags, and adhere to turrets.

Finishing Details
Add “mortar” look by sponging on Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray with a paper towel and  liberally applying Beacon Adhesives “3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue” to areas where walls and towers meet, wherever there are seams. The glue interacts with some of the ink on the towers, and creates a fun effect.
Flush Goosebumps sprayer with water following use.

Note: Drying time will vary based on coverage and surface.

Final Embellishment
Add some finishing touches with Galaxy Gold Brilliance Ink to the lower portion of the turrets, and any areas that might need a little more color.
Spritz the entire castle liberally Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray and sprinkle Cloud 9 Microfine Opaque Glitter. Let dry completely. This final application of products gives the castle a light dusting of snow and really makes the castle sparkle. The Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray dries raised, and looks like ice.
Because no castle is complete without jewels, add Teardrop Bling in clusters to look like flowers. Add LaCreme Pearls to flags and above each of the front windows. Line the embossed trim with Sleek Strips. Press firmly to ensure these finishing embellishments adhere well.

Design Note: The box under the center towers, shown below, was NOT attached so that it can be removed, filled with treats, and replaced easily.

Imagine Crafts Castle
Supplies Used:

Color
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko “Memento™  Fade Resistant Dye Inks” (New Sprout, Toffee Crunch,
Desert Dand, Danube Blue, Love Letter), “Brilliance Fast-Drying Pigment Inks” (Galaxy Gold, Starlight Silver, Pearlescent Lime, Mediterranean Blue, Rocket Red, Pearlescent Lavender)
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko “Goosebumps Shimmer Texture Spray”, Pilot Pen “Precise V5”
Krylon “Chrome Aluminum Metallic Paint”

Paper
Close to My Heart “Whisper Cardstock” (20 sheets - allow a few extra for the occasional craftastrophe)

Stamps
Gina K Designs “Ribbon Stripes”

Adhesive
Beacon Adhesives “3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue”, Art Glitter “Designer Dries Clear Adhesive”, Close To My Heart “Bonding Memories Broad Tip Glue Pen”, Thermoweb “iCraft Adhesive™ Tape”

Embossing and Die Cutting
Spellbinders “Diamond Fleur de Lis M-Bossabilities™ Folder”; “Grand Calibur Die Cutting and Embossing Machine”; “Grand Calibur Cutting Plate”, “Grand Rasperry Plate”, Silhouette® America “CAMEO®”, “Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition”, “Blade and Mat”, SVG Cuts “Bedtime Stories SVG Kit”

Embellishments
Want2Scrap® “Teardrop Bling - Silver Rhinestones”, “LaCreme Pearls”, “Sleek Strips Silver Rhinestones”; Art Glitter “Cloud 9 Microfine Opaque Glitter”; Advantus Tim Holtz Idea-ology “Mini Fasteners”

Other:
Paper Towels, Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko “Sponge Dauber”, Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko “Vertigo™ Material (#VT-005-003)”, Close To My Heart “2” x 6 ½” My Acrylix® Block”