Fourth of July Christmas Card

It is a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog. The theme for this challenge is Unconventional Christmas. I am using an image from one of our sponsors, Star Stampz.

My son suggested a 4th of July theme for the Christmas tree, which explains the colors I used for the tree. I used Zig Clean Color Real Brush for the tree. I ended up adding a coat of Finetec Pearl Watercolor on the white part of the tree. I also colred the red and blue parts with Spectrum Noir Shimmer pens.

For the background, I applied Versamark ink on the clouds and heat embossed this using Wow! White Pearl embossing powder. I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Chipped Sapphire, Seedless Preserves and Salty Ocean for the sky and snow. I colored the rest of the panel elements using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. Adding highlights to the girls coat and scarf with Finetec Pearl Watercolor. I applied Ranger enamel dots for the snow. The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted Little Elves clear stamp set.

I mounted this colored panel on a white top folding card. The sides of the note card were embossed with Lawn Fawn Stitched Borders Lawn Cuts.

Thanks for viewing my blog. I hope to see your Unconventional Christmas creations at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog. It is never too early to start creating holiday cards. After all, there are only 98 days left before Christmas. Less than 100!

Have a blessed and brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

Star Stampz

Scene Card Using Lawn Fawn with Mirror Stamping Technique

It is my Inang's birthday today. Another reason to create something on this special day. My Inang has a lot of cats. I would love to include all of her cats in the scene. I only have 4 cats to represent each of her 4 grandsons. I know, odd is always eye attractive but what can I do? I got four boys. I have to pass on that rule with this card.

I started of by creating a background for the scene. I adore the Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop Portrait die. I don't have this die so I mimic it by stamping clouds from the LF Into The Woods stamp set into an aqua cardstock sized at 4 1/4"x 5 1/2". I am going to heat emboss the clouds so before I stamped, I rubbed a dust buddy on the stamping area. I stamped the two clouds using Versamark ink. I poured Wow! White Pearl embossing powder after each time I stamped the two clouds. Sounds like hard work, right? But if you get to the rhythm of doing it (stamp-pour powder-return excess powder to the canister-stamp-powder-return...), before you know it, the card panel is already done. I heat set this, and I could have stopped here but I wanted to make the clouds pop out. So what I did, is I dry embossed the clouds by using the matching die and a brown silicone rubber mat, together with the Sizzix machine. The look is actually cool.

The mailbox is from the LF Happy Mail die set. I used LF Perfectly Plaid patterned paper for the mailbox. I blended a Hero Arts Silver die ink on the inside of the mailbox. For the stand of mailbox, I blended Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage photo on white cardstock. I stamped the LF Woodgrain Backdrop using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I embossed this with clear powder. I die cut the stand. I blended more ink on the side to cover the white core of the paper. The letter is from the LF Love Letters stamp set. I stamped this on patterned paper, fuzzy cut it and added Nuvo Pearl Drops to the heart.

The cat image is from LF Spooktacular stamp set. I mirror image stamped the other two cats. Mirror stamping can be a challenge. After so many trials and errors, I finally found my recipe to successful  mirror stamping. It is no different from the other tutorials. The only thing that I think worked for me is that I stamped the image on the mirror stamp three times. This created a crisp mirror image impression so I did not need to run a marker on the lines of the image. Which by the way, I am not good at.

I colored the images using Copic markers. I die cut the cat using the matching die. With the mirror image, you have to cut the image from the back. I used a light tracer to match the die to the image. I added dots to the eyes of the cat using Sakura Glaze pen.

For the ground, I die cut a green cardstock using LF Stitched Hillside Borders die. I stamped a grass border from LF Chirpy Chirp Chirp stamp set using different hues of green dye ink to add depth to the grassy hill.

After the scene panel has been assembled, I adhered this to a top folding kraft cardstock.

I hope you get some inspiration on mix and matching your stamp sets to create a card. You can say by now how much I love Lawn Fawn based on the number of products I used on this card.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Let me greet my Inang again, a Happy, Happy Birthday! I hope you have more blessed and brilliant years to come. Hope you like your cat card. Do you recognize your cats?

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this card at

Challenge #12~Create A Scene

September Linky Challenge

Digital Stamp Shaker Card

 

We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog. It is a Photo Inspiration Challenge featuring the photo below to be used as inspiration.

I am using an image from our sponsor, Lemon Shortbread. I colored the images using Copic markers and Prisma color pencils. For the girl, I colored her like an Anime character with yellow hair. For her clothing, I colored it with the Hello Kitty Cafe color motif. The cupcakes were colored using the colors of the shake in the photo inspiration. 

I partially die cut the image using the Pretty Pink Posh Windows Frame Die. This was a brave move in my part because I can easily go wrong here by putting the cutting plates incorrectly. I did have a boo-boo on the purple cupcake side but after giving that much time into coloring this image, I am going to move forward with the design.

I added details to the cut image. I added small dots of gold Nuvo Drops to the cupcake frosting using a pin. This allows you to control the amount of enamel accent you apply on your project. I just squirted a blob of Nuvo Drop on a scrap paper, picked it up with the tip of a needle, then applied it to the image. I also used the needle to apply red Stickles to the cherries. I added shimmer to the girl's clothing and hat using a clear Spetrum Noir Shimmer pen. I added a small die cut heart to the girl's hat, added shimmer to this, then applied Ranger Glossy Accents to it.

For the shaker window, I cut a frame using the two largest dies from the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle dies. I am using a Studio Calico 6x6 patterned paper. For the background, I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" kraft colored cardstock. I am using a sentiment from a Hampton Arts Doodlebug stamp set. I am using the Misti Stamping tool for repeated stamping and embossing. I double embossed the sentiment using Wow! Rich Pale Gold embossing powder. I wasn't satisfied with the effect and I didn't want to pitch this panel, so for the last embossed layer, I used a red Ranger embossing powder. This created a customized metallic red sentiment which almost looked like a metal embellishment due to the repeated embossing.

To create the shaker panel, I adhered the digital image to the bottom portion of the rectangle frame. I adhered the clear plastic to the back of the frame. I adhered foam tapes to the back of the rectangle frame and the digital image. I added Doodlebug sequins to this well. I adhered the kraft cardstock onto this, creating the shaker card panel. This is adhered to a top folding note card. As a last finishing touch, I added shimmer to the window frame.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see your creations at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog. Have a blessed and brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

Image Sponsor

I am sharing this creation at

September Linky Challenge

Challeng #49~Anything Goes

Stamp It

See Through Snow Globe Shaker Christmas Card

I have been creating shaker cards, and here is another one. Somehow, after I created a Clear Shaker Card, I wanted to challenge to create more with the hope that on the second time, it will be easier. Well, it didn't turn out that way. I almost aborted the project but knowing me, I try to find solutions to mistakes.

I started this card as a square card but end up trimming the sides. It is now sized at 4 1/2" x 5 1/4". I am using an 80lb. Recollections Pearl Blue cardstock. I figured that with the layering, the end card will be sturdy enough.

I am also using the Lawn Fawn Ready, Set, Snow stamp set, coordinating dies and add-on dies. I die cut the snow globe on the front and back of the base card and on two more pearl blue cardstocks. I die cut the snow globe add-on using a pearl white cardstock. I die cut 4 pieces of this. I stamped the images from the stamp set which will be used for the shaker card. I colored the images with Copic markers. Using the coordinating dies, I die cut the images. I added Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Rock Candy using a glue pen on the snow drift, roof of the houses, and snow on the trees. The Add-on die set came with the snow drift die but you can easily create this yourself.

Here comes the tricky part, I should say. The only way I got this design to work is by keeping in mind how I wanted the layers to turn out.

Here is a close-up of the front snow globe shaker. The snowflakes were punched cuts from a Martha Stewart border punch. You can actually see the scene at the back on this photo. The sentiment was heat embossed using Hero Arts Silver embossing powder on gold cardstock.

And this is the shaker card on the inside of the card. I left the label blank so I can add a short sentiment to this card later on. Unlike the snow globe on the front of the card, this snow globe is inlaid to the inside of the card.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a blessed and brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Technique Challenge~Embossed Impressions

Challenge #11~Cards For Kids

Clear Shaker Birthday Card

I created this card to join in this month's Neat ant Tangled Little Tangles Challenge on Birthday which coincides with Neat and Tangles 5th birthday. Happy Birthday!

I cut a birthday cake on a Strathmore Bristol paper using the Cricut Design Space. The image is from Cricut Wrap It Up. This is a folded card cut. I removed the score line. I cut the image on the middle to layer the die cut. I blended Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick and Spiced Marmalade on both cake die cuts. I spritz this with water, heat set it, spritz it some more and heat set it again until I got the look I wanted. I ran the dust buddy to this cake die cut for heat embossing. I am using the Neat and Tangled You Are My Most Favorite stamp. I am using the Misti Stamping Tool to stamp this bold sentiment onto the cake die cut. Since I am using Wow! Ultra High Metallic Gold embossing powder for the sentiment, I decided to use Tsukineko Essential Glue pad instead of Versamark. I colored the candles using Copic markers, adding details with Sakura Souffle, Ranger Glossy Accents and clear Spectrum Noir glitter brush pen.

Working on the top window panel, I die cut a patterned paper from the Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid 6x6 Petite paper pack using Pretty Pink Posh Scallop rectangle frame. Using a thin double sided tape, I adhered an acetate to the back of the patterned paper. I am using the Hero Arts Acetate card since this is thicker than the usual acetate.

It would have been easier if I have a rectangle die that is the right size as the scallop die. Since I don't, I traced the edges of the die onto a Papelmerotti kraft cardstock and cut this out using a craft knife. I adhered another acetate on top of the base card. I applied Darice Double-Sided Foam Sticky Strips around the window to form a valley for the sequins. I ran the powder tool to the sides of the foam adhesive. I poured a mix of sequins to the valley then adhered the other acetate to it to close the shaker card. Somehow, despite treating the foam with the anti-static tool, some of the sequins still got stuck to the foam. How I wish I added more sequins.

I adhered the cake to the front panel. Since the back side of the cake is showing on the inner side of the card without plans of covering it, I strategically applied a strong adhesive to areas that does not show through the back window. The nice thing about this is you can see the shaker more from the inner side of the card.

For the sentiment area, I adhered the negative cut of the scalloped plaid paper to the inside of the card, showing through the clear acetate window. I die cut another scalloped rectangle using kraft cardstock. I paper piece this to the the scalloped plaid paper. I stamped the sentiment using the Misti. I strategically placed the sentiment so it is still hidden behind the cake. The stamps I used are My Favorite Things Beary Special Birthday  and Technique Tuesday Say It Happy stamp sets. I stamped the sentiment using a black Hero Arts dye ink. I stamped a heart from the MFT Cheeful Blessing stamp set to fill in the area above the word happy. I used Avery Elle Raspberry pigment ink to stamp the heart.

Again, birthday wishes to Neat and Tangled. Wishing you more creative years to come.

And, Ryan, my youngest, 5 year old, loves to show off not only the card but also his first missing tooth.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blesesd & brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B. 

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge #83~Birthday

Scrapbook.com~August Cricut Challenge

Watercolored Background for a Digital Image

The theme of today’s challenge at Incy Wincy Designs is being on the Wild Side. It could be something created outside your usual or something about wild animals. The image I chose from our sponsor for this challenge, Rick St. Dennis, is Aloha Nui. It reminds me of the Disney character, Moana, one of my youngest son’s favorite. I could have created a card with marine animals with the girl image but I don’t have any marine animal stamps or images. So, I am creating something out of my comfort zone.

I am not a free hand artist, and a free hand paint artist for that matter. But I decided to challenge myself to create a beach back drop for the Hawaiian girl. I watched a couple of You Tube videos, just to give me an idea on how to create one. I used the Gansai Tambi watercolors for this project. I added detailing to the painted trees using Prismacolor Color Pencils. I trimmed this to fit a top folding A2 card.

I printed the image on Neenah white cardstock. I colored the image using Prismacolor Color pencils. I could not believe how well I did with blending the colors this time. I did not even use the blender pen on this one. I think the type of paper in coloring, for whatever medium, matters a lot. From now on, Neenah will be my go to paper for Prismacolor coloring.

I fuzzy cut the image after coloring it. I added shimmer to the flowers using a clear Spectrum Noir shimmer pen.

I watercolored another piece of Canson watercolor paper to create a ground for the image as I layer it. I die cut this panel using Lawn Fawn Hill Side border but used the non-stitched side of the cut border. The sentiment is from different stamp sets, Hampton Art and Avery Elle. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed it with clear powder. I adhered this to the watercolor panel using foam adhesive. I adhered the image with foam adhesive, too.

Thanks for viewing my blog. I hope you join us in our new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. I cannot see what Wild Side you create.

Maria Giselle

Image Sponsor

I am sharing this image at

Challenge 4~Anything Goes With Rick

Male Teacher Card

I created a masculine teacher card for my seventh grader's homeroom teacher who is their Science teacher as well. I am using the Perfect Chemistry stamp set by Your Next Stamp. I also created this card to join their blog's current challenge.

I stamped the professor image using Memento Tuxedo black ink on Neenah Solar white cardstock. I colored the image using Copic markers, and using Prismacolor pencils for detailing. I used a black Sakura Glaze pen for the boots. I used a white Sakura Gelly roll to add details on the tie. I applied Ranger Glossy Accents to the eyeglasses. I fuzzy cut the image leaving a small white border around hte image.

The chalkboard is a paper from Echo Park. I stamped the sentiment from the Perfect Chemistry stamp set on this using Versamark ink, embossed with white powder. I re-stamped the sentiment using Hero Arts Unicorn white pigment ink slightly offsetting it. Using a cloth, I rubbed some white pigment ink on the chalkboard. I set this aside to dry.

For the chalkboard border, I blended Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo on Strathmore Bristol paper. I spritz water onto this and heat set it, repeating this process a couple of times until I achieve the look I am going for. I prepared this blended panel with anti-static powder. I stamped Lawn Fawn Woodgrain Backdrop using Versafine Onyx black ink. I embossed this using clear powder. I cut this into strips and adhered it to the edges of the green chalkboard paper.

I embossed a yellow cardstock with Cuttlebug Typeset embossing folder. I blended Tim Holtz Distress Ink Wild Honey on this to make the embossed letters pop out.

For the banner, I selectively stamped the element stamp on red cardstock using Versamark ink. I heat embossed this using clear powder. I cut this and used a square punch to add fishtails to the bottom.

To assemble the card, I die cut a 6x6 patterned paper from the Jillybean Soup Country Chowder paper pad using a stitched rectangle die from Mama Elephant Peek-A-Frame Creative Cuts. I ink the edges of the paper using Tim Holts Distress Tea Dye ink. I adhered this to a top folding A2 note card. I adhered the yellow embossed cardstock to the left. I adhered the chalkboard to the right using foam adhesive. I adhered the professor next using foam adhesive as well, doubling it on some areas. I adhered the banner on the top with a We R Memory Keepers twine.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed and brilliant day.

Maria Giselle

I am sharing this creation at

  

Sketch and Color Challenge #70

I challenged myself to create a card using the sketch and the color combo. I had fun designing and creating!