Monochromatic Sketch Inspired Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday celebration. We have new sketch challenges at Stick It Down Scrapbook and Card Making Challenge in FB. It is very easy to join having three sketch options to choose from. I hope you join.

I went all gray on my card. I also used Altenew products on my card. 

I did several techniques on this card which includes foiling, embossing, die cutting and fussy cutting. Among these techniques, I spent most of my time on foiling using the Spellbinders Glimmer Machine. Like any technique, if you are not constantly doing it, you lose the skill of doing it. I don't usually do foiling with the Glimmer machine that's why each time I use it, it takes me a lot of of time and resources before I get satisfied with my foiling. 

I had a hard time matching the foiled image with the die. I used the Altenew Scalloped Circles Die set and Hot Foil Plate set. I tried foiling then die cutting but I lost some of the foiled edge with the die cutting. I tried a different technique of die cutting in which I used the negative cut to help me with placement of the die. The result was about the same, die cutting a part of the foiled scallop edge. 

I tried the reverse of this step, and the result was about the same. So I resorted to fussy cutting the foiled scallop, leaving a small border around it. In this way, I was able to preserve the foiling. I die cut the next size down scallop and inlaid it for added details. I cut this in half to extend it to follow the sketch.

For the rectangular elements, I embossed both pieces using the Altenew Beautiful Bergenia 3D embossing folder. I strategically embossed it so the design is continuous on both rectangle pieces. 

I embossed a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" dark gray cardstock with the Altenew Raised Sentiment 3D embossing folder. 

I created a banner and die cut the word hello on this. The hello die is from the Altenew Calming Cluster die set. I used the negative cut of the banner for this card. I adhered a dark gray banner on the back. I extended the fish tail of the banner a little bit. I adhered the center piece of the letter o. 

I adhered the elements to the embossed panel following the sketch above. I flicked white paint over the panel.

I did not add any more matting on the back since I felt that trimming the edges off will make the design elements too crowded on the dark panel. I could have cut a larger matte but I just want to keep this as an A2 card. I could also have added some staples for bit of interest. Maybe next time.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative year! I hope you join the first SID challenge for the year. 

Maria Giselle B.

Using Left Over Foil on Die Cuts

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. My last project prior to this involved foiling using the Spellbinders Glimmer Machine. I heard from some crafters that once you get a hang of it, it can be addicting. Indeed it is. 

I have collected several used foils from previous projects. I was looking for an opportunity to use it and thought of using these left over foil on die cuts. 

I die cut stars from the retired Altenew Halftone Stars die set on teal, brown and cream cardstock. I don't think the color of the cardstock will matter because of the foiling. I had a different plan for my project at the beginning that's why I die cut the stars on colored cardstock. I used a solid foil plate to add foil to the die cuts. I used the Waffle Flower brand but Altenew has a solid foil plate, too. The difference is that Altenew's solid foil plate is smaller. 

I heated the foil on the Glimmer Machine. I placed the foil, shiny side down, directly on top of the solid foil plate. I placed the stars on top of the foil then covered this with a scrap paper large enough to cover the foil. I forgot to do this step on my first foiling so I ended up foiling the plate. No harm done on the plate except for the permanent foil. I placed the spacer and added a shim of thin cardstock then ran this through my die cutting machine. 

In using the foil scraps, I was not only able to make the most of the foil but I transferred the design on the die cuts which you will see on some of the stars. 

For the panel, I trimmed a blue cardstock at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I heat embossed the word celebrate on both panels. The stamp I used is from a retired Altenew stamp set, one of my very first Altenew stamp sets. I used white embossing powder for embossing. 

I adhered the foiled stars on the panel. I stamped a dot using white pigment ink. I initially was using the dot stamp the way that it was intended for it to be used. The dot stamp is from the Altenew Hennah stamp set. To create variation, I flipped the dot stamp, inked it and stamped it on the panel. This added a larger dot than the first dot.

I created these cards to send out since we still received holiday cards. I plan to add a sentiment strip of "Happy New Year" on the bottom of the large sentiment. This card design can be customized for any occasion. You can leave it as is or add a different celebratory sentiment for birthday, retirement, graduation, etc. I stamped Happy New Year on the same colored cardstock using white pigment ink. I poured white embossing powder to the wet ink then heat set it. I die cut this into a strip and adhered it to the bottom of the word celebrate.

The foil is very pretty. The color changes depending on how the light hits it.

I hope you like today's card. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

Altenew Blog Challenge #28

I chose Erica Andersson's February Challenge. I was inspired by the colors.

Simon Says: Sparkle and Shine #137

Happy New Year!

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I still needed to send out holiday cards but I don't think it will arrive on time so I decided to create cards to celebrate the the upcoming year. I got my inspiration from the this month's Lunar Year Challenge. 

I used a My Favorite Things number die set to die cut the numbers. The number die cuts an outline and the negative cut. Instead of putting the negative cut aside, I decided to do a two-for-one cards, interchanging the outlines and the negative cuts. 

I used the solid number die as the base of the numbers. I die cut this on black cardstock.

I die cut a red cardstock using a panel die from Catherine Pooler. I backed this with the same gold cardstock I used on the numbers.

I stamped the horse and the hat on watercolor paper using VersaFine Clair. I colored the images with a Marvy Uchida Color In Watercolor Twist Pencils. I used a water brush to pick up the pigment from the pencil then paint this on the images. I die cut the images using the coordinating die. The die cuts a small border around the stamped image. I snipped off the bottom part of the hat die cut so it looks more continuous when adhered to the horse.

Next year is the Year of the Horse which explains the image choice for my card.

I die cut a banner on red carstock using a die from Lawn Fawn. I used a Lawn Fawn alphabet die to spell out my sentiment. Although I have a sentiment stamp with this message, using the alphabet stamps allowed me to follow the curve of the banner. My alphabet stamps are over used that it does not stick to the acrylic block anymore. That can be frustrating especially when you are ready to stamp and an inked letter falls to your panel. Not to forget the effort you put in putting the letters together. Cleaning the back of the letter stamp on a stamp scrubber sprayed with a stamp cleaner will recondition the stick of the polymer. 

I inked the sentiment with an embossing ink. I poured gold embossing ink over the sticky ink then heat embossed it.

I adhered the die cuts to the panel. I adhered this panel to a top folding A2 note card.

I hope you like today's card. Happy New Year to you all!

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day...and year!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this card at

December 2025 Challenge #29

Simon Says: Sparkle and Shine #120

Simon Says: Add A Sentiment #125

Happy Holidays!

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I finished stitching this two nights ago. I wasn't able to post it on Christmas day. The pattern is from Cozy Christmas 101 Counted Cross Stitch Ornaments...and other Small Motifs published by Maggie Smith. 

Even though the holidays are nearing to an end, I don't think I'll stop stitching patterns with Christmas motifs. It is just very adorable and addicting!

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

 

A Shimmery Christmas Card, a Blank Page Muse Post

 

Hello! I am back at the Blank Page Muse blog with this card for an alternate take on Christmas theme. I was going for a steampunk design but ended up with a shimmery design for a card. But before I continue with the card, let me greet you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope you are enjoying the holiday with your loved ones.

I used stamps from the Blank Page Muse Country Vintage Christmas Rubber Art Stamps Sheet Set. I did some embossing, fussy cutting and die cutting to create the scene. I used shimmer paper on this card except for the curved strip. 

I used a Glad Press 'N Seal to preserve the arrangement of the stockings as I add liquid glue to the back of the cut outs.

I hope you like today's card. Please visit the Blank Page Muse blog for details on the process of how I created this card. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this card at

Simon Says: Sparkle and Shine #48

Stitched Monogram Paper Embroidery Hoop Ornament/Tag Take 2

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I recreated one of my previous projects using a different color scheme. I created this as as a holiday gift to someone dear who supports and patronizes my card making. I stitched the first letter of her family member's name.

Of course, we have to include her dog.

You can find the first version of this project here. I thought I was detailed enough to describe the creation process of these paper ornaments. I forgot to describe how to attach the jingle bells but I eventually figured it out.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you like today's project. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

 

Trifold Retirement Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I have a co-worker who just retired this month. I was requested to create a card for her. She likes to travel which explains the theme of the card. 

I created this card using supplies from my craft stash. The luggage was cut using the Cricut Machine. I do this if I don't have a die to cut an image. I added eyelets to the luggage details. I fussy cut a patterned paper for the luggage embellishments. I punched one of the cut outs for a postage edge. I used a Martha Stewart custom stamp set to spell out the word retired on the luggage tag.

I put together the sentiment using several dies. 'Let' is from Simon Says Stamp. I did a bit of die cut surgery since the sentiment says Let's Party. 'The' is from Concord & 9th which I trimmed from the word There. 'Adventure' is from Lawn Fawn. And, 'Begin' is from Sugar Pea Designs. The last two dies are alphabet dies. I like alphabet stamps and dies. It allows me to customize a sentiment.

I inked the edges of the patterned paper I used for the panel. I splattered white ink over the panel.

I created this into a tri-fold card to provide a large space for my co-workers to write on. I added additional sentiments to both folds. The die cut sentiments and stamps are from Hero Arts. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this card at

Designs by Deborah & Friends FB