Star Through and Through Window Card

After my Embossed Plaid Background card that I made for my last post, I created another background card. I made this card with my Amang (father) in mind who is celebrating his birthday this month. At the same time, I created the card to participate in Altenew's current challenge wherein they combine past month's challenges into one. I chose November's challenge having a Christmas colored theme.

I started by preparing a 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" white cardstock with an anti-static powder tool. I am using the small star stamps from Altenew Halftone Star stamp set. This is another way to use those small stamp images in a stamp set. I stamped the stars using Versamark ink. I poured Ranger Red Tinsel embossing powder to a part of the star, brushing off some of the red powder. I then poured Ranger Verdigree embossing powder to the rest of the stamped image. I melt the powder with a heat tool. I repeated this a couple more times, filling up the panel. I added black splatters using Prima Color Bloom Precious Stone Spray Mist. I wanted the splatters to be subtle. so instead of using the nozzle, I removed it & tapped the end of the nozzle tube to drop the ink to the panel. I set this aside to dry.

I cut a black cardstock to 4 1/2" x 5 1/2". I trimmed off the edges of the white star embossed panel to make it to a 4" x 5 1/4". I centered this on the black cardstock. I taped this together with a non-tacky tape so it will not shift when I die cut the star through both layers. I positioned the second to the largest star from the Altenew Halftone Star coordinating die to these taped panels, to the center but more to the top. I die cut the star on both layers saving the star die cuts especially the black star die cut which I used in this card. I taped the black cardstock on top of a side-folding white A2 notecard. I positioned the same star die on the star window. I taped it so it will not shift. I ran this through the die cut machine creating a through and through window for the front of the card. I adhered the layers on top of each other, lining up the star window of the layers.

I stamped the sentiment celebrate on white cardstock using red dye ink. The stamp is from Altenew Label Love stamp set. I stamped the sentiment using the Misti Stamp Positioner to re-stamp the sentiment if I did not get a good impression the first time. And, I sure did have to re-stamp it. I traced the letters with a Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen to make the sentiment pop. I cut the sentiment up to the edge of the inked area. I inked its edges using the same color dye ink to cover the white core of the white cardstock.

I positioned this label stamped sentiment on the star die cut. I customized the sentiment using a stamp from two Altenew stamp sets. I got the word stamp let's from the Super Script stamp set while the word stamp you is from the Adore You stamp set. I stamped these sentiments one a time, heat embossing it with white powder. I did some masking to stamp the you sentiment. You can also cut the sentiment stamp apart to allow you to stamp both sentiments at the same time. This was also heat embossed in white powder. I adhered the label sentiment with foam tape.

I spritz the star with diluted Perfect Pearl in water for some shimmer. After which, I dried this using a heat gun.

I applied liquid glue to the back of the star and adhered this to the card through the window. It is sort of like paper piecing the star to the panel. It is just not being adhered to the same layer.

And that finishes off my card. With the Christmas themed colors, you can easily change the sentiment to fit the holidays. It is actually the first thing that my Amang noticed. "It's for Christmas?" So, I told him, it is a card created to cover both occasions.

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


Maria Giselle 

I am sharing this creation at

Altenew Blog Challenge

Embossed Plaid Background

Hello! I am the author of today's challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. The challenge is called Create Your Own Background. When we were asked by our blog moderator, Hev, to come up with a challenge, this is the one that first came into my mind since I do enjoy creating backgrounds.

It took me a while before I came up with this card. This is not the original design I created featuring the image provided by A Day For Daisies. The images were already printed, colored and even, foiled that is why I am trying my best not to resort to re-printing the images. I am glad I did not give up in using these printed images.

The gift image is stamped on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I printed the gift in different sizes for some variation. I colored this with Copic markers and added details with a Sakura white gelly roll pen. I foiled this using the Minc Machine. I fussy cut the image leaving a small white border around the image.

I started off with a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"red cardstock. I rubbed an anti-static pouch over the entire panel for embossing. I also added pencil marks on all sides to let me know where the center is. I am using the Misti Stamping Tool for this project. I positioned the stamp on the paper, straightening it with a ruler, and then picked it up with the Misti Tool door. The good thing about this pattern and using a Misti, I just have to rotate the paper to get the same impression on the other side. I used different embossing powders for this project. I know some designers love to complete the stamping and pouring the embossing powder before heat setting the panel to prevent warping. Although I did this in some parts of this panel, for the borders with multiple lines, I stamped, applied powder then embossed right away. I was afraid that I will sweep off the powder that's why I did this. To prevent warping the paper, I made sure the heat gun is really hot before pointing it to the area that will be embossed. I also started with heating the backside of the panel first before going to the front. I also made sure to move the heat gun around while heat embossing. The stamps I used to create the plaid are Mama Elephant Boutique Borders and Simon Says Stamp Basic Stripes stamp set.

I applied anti-static powder to a vellum. I heat embossed a sentiment from Hero Arts. I die cut this using a Spellibinders hexagon die. I stamped some small dots to fill in the empty space on top and bottom of the sentiment. This stamp is also from Mama Elephant Boutique Borders. I stamped this using Delicate Shimmer White pigment ink. I set this aside to dry.

I created a hexagon frame on gold cardstock with the use of two hexagon dies. I adhered this to the center of the plaid panel using foam adhesive. I adhered the vellum panel to the center with a liquid glue. I applied dots of glue to the back of the embossed sentiment to hide it. I adhered the gifts to the bottom of the frame. I added a die cut ribbon using a die from Paper Smooches Bows die set onto a red mirror cardstock. I adhered this to the top of the frame. I adhered the gifts to the bottom of the hexagon frame adding foam adhesives to areas with image overhang.

I added gems to the bow and ribbons on the gift boxes. I don't have a small red gem in my stash. I colored a clear one with a Copic Marker to create a red one.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you join us in this challenge. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

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Challenge #73~Holiday Spirit

The Spirit of Christmas Card Challenge

Embossed Cricut Die Cut and Embossed Cricut Written Sentiment

Hello! My 17 year old is at Columbia, Missouri right now auditioning for the All-State Missouri Band. He has worked so hard all his band life years to get to this point. This card is totally for him!

I first created a sentiment for the card. I searched the Cricut Design Space for a font I like then typed in the sentiment I want to add to my card. This font is in cut format. I changed it to write format so I can use a Ranger embossing pen to draw the outline of the letters. I prepared the area with an anti-static pouch. I positioned the sentiment to the area of the lay-out I want it at. I do not have plans to cut this out unless I don't get lucky with my first try of having the Cricut draw the letters out. Well, it turned out good on my first try. I poured white embossing powder and heat set this. I colored the inside of the letters with a lavender Sakura Souffle pen.

The image is from Cricut Design Space, too. I die cut the image. I temporarily adhered this to a scrap paper which will be my holder when I heat set the saxophone after pouring embossing powder to it. I did the embossing twice to even out the embossing and soften the edges, too.

To bring the attention to the saxophone, I used a My Favorite Things Spotlight stencil. The spotlight is longer than the area I want it at. I traced the bottom edge, the curve, of the spotlight to a paper. I cut this and use one of the edges to cover the excess bottom edge of the spotlight. I inked this area with Hero Arts Unicorn White pigment ink. I used the other half of the masking paper to cover the inked spotlight and add more inking to the base of the spotlight.

I selectively inked a My Favorite Things BG Sheet Music Background stamp with Delicata White Shimmer Pigment ink. I just wanted the impression more on the center of the background stamp. I placed the purple panel onto this inked background stamp and gently rubbed the paper. I set this aside to dry.

I applied Kool Tak clear foam tape to the back of the saxophone. I tried to cut this into thin strips but it does not really matter since it is clear. I adhered this to the center of the card. I added some musical notes. I used Paper Smooches Music Note die and DCWV glitter paper for the notes.

I trimmed off an eight of an inch from the edges then adhered this to a gold cardstock. I adhered this panel to a top folding A2 note card.

The audition usually takes the whole day. I won't hear back from him until later.

Thank you for taking your precious time to visit my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge #81~Anything Goes

Challenge #379~Anything Goes

Challenge #152~Anything Goes with Optional Use a Stencil

Harry Potter Themed Shaker Card

My 12 year old son got invited to to his friend's birthday. Nothing big. They are going to the movies, eat pizza and hang out at his friend's house. My son thought about giving his friend a card. His friend loves Ravenclaw, which is one of the houses in the Harry Potter movie. Although I have a couple of Harry Potter themed patterned papers (which is my sister's, by the way), I went on a trip to Scrapbook Factory at Fairview Heights, IL. This store is next to the closest local craft store near me. Lucky me because aside from the patterned paper I already have, they have new Reminisce Harry Potter themed patterned papers that are cut apart.

I let my son choose which of the cut apart design he wants to be the focal point of the card. I added details to this journaling card. I traced the letter R with a Versamark pen and added a sparkle black embossing powder for embossing. I also traced the rest of the sentiment with a Sakura White Gel pen. I blended Tim Holtz Distress Black Soot ink on the sides. To make the letter R pop out, I outlined it with a white gel pen.

I die cut a frame using Simon Says Stamps Stitched Rectangle dies on a white cardstock. I adhered an acetate to the back of this frame using a double sided tape. Next, I adhered thin strips of foam tape on the acetate to create a well making sure that it is hidden behind the frame.

Before I proceeded with the shaker element, I adhered a Reminisce Wizard 101 patterned paper to an A2 sized side folding note card. This patterned paper is cut a bit shy off 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I just trimmed off a little bit to let the white note card show around the edges. I centered the journal card to the patterned paper. I poured Twilight shaker sequin mix from Little Things from Lucy's Cards to the center of the journaling card. After I removed the adhesive foam backing, I adhered this on top of the journaling card.

My son wanted to give a gift card to his friend as a birthday gift. I was inspired to create this design by this week's freebie at Cricut Design Space. It would have been easier to use the CDS to cut the note card but if I aim for an A2 sized note card, I would need a longer cutting mat and a longer paper which I do not have. I don't like to customize the design cut just to fit a 12"x12" mat. So I cut a 6"x 6" white cardstock. I scored the right side at 1 3/4" to create the side flap that will hold the gift card. I scored both top and bottom edges at 1/2". I trimmed off the 1/2" part that is on top and bottom of the card body. I folded the tabs inwards. This will serve as a tab to apply adhesive on to keep the flap adhered to the card body.

Before I adhered the flap, I cut another patterned paper to 3" x 5 1/2". I adhered this to the card body, making sure the flap covers the part that does not have any patterned paper on it. Also, this is the time I worked on adding the sentiment to the flap. I heat embossed the greeting which is a freebie Lawn Fawn stamp. The rest of the sentiment was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. This stamp set is from Ellen Hutson. Both stamp sentiments came in as one liner stamps. I masked parts of the sentiment to create this staggered look.

I applied a non-tack tape to the scored lines so I can blend ink on the flap. I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Faded Jeans. I added some water droplets and picked it up with a dry paper towel. I added some white paint splatters too. Once this has dried, I gently removed the tape. I assembled this part of the card by adding double adhesive tape to the tabs. I added more adhesive to the inside of the flap, leaving enough space to tuck the gift card. This will keep the gift card from falling. I adhered this to the inside of the card.

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

Maria Giselle B.

Fall Window Square Card

Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog. The challenge is on Square Cards. Our challenge sponsor is Star Stampz. I am using the Thanksgiving Harvest Chibi digital image. I printed the image on Strathmore Watercolor paper. I colored the image using watercolor pencils and a water brush. I struggled in coloring this image that I have to search the net for a colored image of this digital stamp. Somehow, looking at it uncolored, it seems like the feather tail is attached to the girl and not the turkey. That is just me, okay?

After coloring the image, I cut a plaid Pebbles Patterned paper at 5 1/4" x 5 1/4". I created a circle window using Pretty Pink Posh Scallop Circles Die. I embossed a long word stamp on patterned paper using Wow! Gold Rich Pale embossing powder. The sentiment is from Concord and 9th Lace Leaf stamp set. I inked the edges of the patterned paper and the edge of the window to hide the white core of the patterned paper. I adhered the image panel to the window patterned paper making sure I center the image to the window. I inked the edges of the scallop frame. I applied foam adhesive to the back of this circle scallop frame. I adhered this to the window, making sure the pattern is aligned. I applied Spectrum Noir clear shimmer to the frame. This panel was adhered to a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" top folding kraft notecard. I added orange Doodlebug sequins to the front panel.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you join us in our latest challenge. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

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Colouring Challenge 4/18~Orange in Accents

Customized Stamp Sentiment Card

My friend at work just moved to a new house. She requested me to create a set of cards with a customized sentiment, “It takes a Village to Raise a Child.” She will be giving this away to her previous neighbors. After looking through the net for ideas, I settled on creating a village using my Cricut. I was tempted to purchase stamps for this project but I just made a purchase for a previous card project. I was planning to use some of the images on that stamp for this project but decided otherwise.

I utilized Cricut Design Space to search for a house cut image in my owned images. Fortunately, I have a house cut image in the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge. It is a simple yet layered cut which is just perfect for this project. I created duplicates of the house, undoing the lock aspect so I can re-size the image to create five houses with different heights and widths. I cut this on different colored cardstocks, trying to follow a rainbow order. I applied shimmer to the second layer of the house using Spectrum Noir clear shimmer pen. I made sure that the shimmer is on the areas that will show through the opening on the first layer. I adhered the first layer using foam adhesive for dimension.

I am using Stathmore Bristol paper for the background. I ink blended Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Salty Ocean on a 6”x 4 1/2" Bristol paper. I added water droplets to this blended area, then picked up the water droplets with a dry paper cloth. I also added splatters of white paint by diluting a white paint no an acrylic block, then flicking it off to the paper with the use of a small tip paint brush. I set this aside to dry.

I ink blended another piece of Strathmore Bristol paper with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Mowed Lawn. I blended some THDO Peeled Paint on the top portion of this panel. I die cut this using Avery Elle Custom Panels to create a hill. I set this aside to dry so I can stamp the sentiment later on.

I created the sentiment using Lawn Fawn Milo’s ABC stamp set. I am lucky that this stamp set covers all the letters needed to form the sentiment. It is a tedious task to put the letters together to create the sentiment. Not to forget, some of my alphabet stamps lost its stickiness that’s why it falls off from the acrylic block. A trick I used to prevent this is to apply a temporary adhesive on the acrylic block to keep the letters stuck to the acrylic block. Also, in using alphabet letters, I find it best to use a lined acrylic block. I was trying to use the Misti Stamping Tool but putting the letters together was not working out for me. And, before stamping the sentiment on the final project, I test it out on a scrap paper to see if the lay-out of the letters are right.

I treated this panel with a powder tool so I can heat emboss the sentiment. I stamped each line one at a time, using the lines of the acrylic block and my grid mat as a guide. I used Versamark ink, poured Hero Arts white embossing powder and applied heat right away with a heat tool. I repeated this process on the second line of the sentiment, too. If you have some warping after heat embossing the first line of the sentiment, just secure this panel with some non-tacky tape to your work surface to keep it flat while stamping the second line.

If you noticed, I used a different font for the ‘a' for added interest. The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn Party Animal stamp set. I masked the rest of the sentiment stamp to be able to stamp the ‘a’ only.

I trimmed the background panel to 5 ¼” x 4”. I adhered the hill next, trimming off any excess. I adhered the houses next with a strong liquid adhesive. I adhered some sequins to the sky background.

I adhered this panel to a white top folding A2 notecard.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge #80~Anything Goes

Scrapbook Lay-out Complementary Card

 Hello! Don’t you like it when you can create more than what you intended? I got so inspired by the scrapbook lay-out I created for this month’s Pebbles Challenge Blog on Gratitude that I created a card using the same crafting materials and techniques. Not to forget, I have all this cut-outs from the scrapbook paper that I fussy cut which I hate to toss into the recycle bin.

One difference is the patterned paper I used on the card panel. I don’t have enough left to create a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” card. Instead, I used the polka dot paper for the background and the houndstooth patterned paper for the circle wreath background. I also used a different die cut sentiment and stamped sentiments. The die cut sentiment was cut on gold cardstock in this card compared to the patterned paper I used on the scrapbook lay-out. 

I attached the panel to a top folding A2 sized kraft note card. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge 405~Anything Goes