Using a Border Stamp to Create a Background

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I can't believe that we are down to the last month of the year. One of my Christmas traditions is to send out my handmade Christmas cards to family and friends. I used to create a bunch of the same cards. Now, I mail the Christmas cards that I created during the year.

I am using a stamp from the Blank Page Muse Beyond the Border Christmas set. The Christmas tree stamp I used on this card is very unique. Most tree stamps have the tree next to each other, side by side. This stamp has the trees next to each other but with a vertical orientation.

I prepped a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" green cardstock with an anti-static powder tool. I repeatedly stamped the Christmas tree border stamp on this panel using a Wow! Embossing pad. I poured Wow! Jealous Guy embossing powder to this panel, then melt the powder with a heat tool. 

I spritz some pearlized water over this panel for some shimmer. I dried this panel with the heat tool making sure that I move the heat gun constantly so as not to activate the already melted embossing powder.

I embellished the tree with red dots using Nuvo Autumn Red Crystal Drops. I used the head of a flat head pin in applying the red glue drops to the tree. I squirted the red glue on a scrap paper and picked the glue using the head of the pin. I lightly touched the glue to the embossed tree. I set this aside to dry.

To add more bling to this panel, I adhered tiny hollographic star die cuts on top of each tree. 

The sentiment was die cut on red cardstock. 

My stamping was more towards the right side of the panel. To balance this out, I trimmed a sliver off the left side. I adhered this panel to a top folding A2 note card. I trimmed a thin strip of red cardstock, and adhered this to the left side of the panel.

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

Maria Giselle B. 

Blank Page Muse is generously offering a 15% discount to their online store to YOU, my blog readers. Just use the code BPMMaria when you check out. Enjoy!

Color Inspired Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I got my inspiration for this card from the challenges listed at the end of the post. 

I created a full panel mask by trimming it at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I die cut a heart on the center using a heart die from the Hero Arts Nesting Hearts die. 

I trimmed an 80 lb. white cardstock at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I adhered the mask with the heart window to this panel. 

I inked the stamp concentrating the inking more on the area where the heart is on the panel. To get the best impression using this large wooden stamp block, I lay it on a flat surface, ink it and put the paper on the stamp. You can run your fingers on the paper to transfer the ink but I used a brayer instead.

I pieced in the heart paper mask before removing the full panel window mask. I used two different inks for the rest of the panel. I stamped one color at a time. I got lucky that there was no distortion on the seam where the two colors met. I think cutting the panel the same size as the stamp made the repositioning of the paper over the wooden stamp easy since all I needed to do was align the paper to the stamp.

I trimmed this panel to 4" x 5 1/4".

Using the same inks, I blended the ink to tone down the white paper. I also blended the two inks where it met for a seamless look. I embossed this panel using an embossing folder with the same triangle pattern to add some texture.

Using the same heart die I used for the mask and the next largest size heart die, I created a heart frame on peach cardstock. I die cut two pieces of heart frame. I also die cut a heart on vellum using the smaller heart die. I sandwiched the vellum in between the two heart frames.

I stamped the butterfly on white cardstock using the same inks I used for the panel. The butterfly stamp is from a past Hero Arts This Monthly Hero Kit. Using the coordinating die, I die cut these butterflies. I scored the butterfly on the center. Using this score line as a guide, I poked holes on the center of the butterfly die cuts. I hand stitched the butterflies together using a clear thread. I outlined the butterfly's antennae with a shimmer pen.

For the sentiment, I stamped this on the same peach cardstock I used for the heart frame. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink. This sentiment stamp is from the same HA This Monthly Hero Kit. I used a craft knife to cut this into a label. 

I adhered the heart frame to the panel, aligning it to the inked heart on the panel. I added liquid glue to the back of the butterfly and adhered this to the vellum portion of the heart. I adhered the sentiment label after. 

I matted this panel with the same peach cardstock I used for the frame which was cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".

I opened each wing up. I added color coordinating sequins to the each butterfly. The sequins kind of help in keeping the wings slightly open.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Hero Arts Blog Challenge

Woodblock Wednesday Challenge Blog

Color Throwdown Challenge Blog

Create a Shaped Card using a 3D Die

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's card was created using items from my craft stash. Would you believe that I used a die to create a 3D gift card holder for this card? Yes! I used the Honey Bee Gift Card Present Box on this card but instead of making it into a gift holder, I used some of the dies in the set to create a card. 

The colors of the present were inspired by the latest Inspired By Challenge which I linked below.

Both front and back of the card will have the present design. So I die cut duplicates of each piece for the card.

I stamped the Honey Bee Buffalo Plaid 6 x 6 Stamp on the blue cardstock and green cardstock. (Unfortunately, this stamp has been retired.) I wanted a light toned stamping to preserve the pastel color of the cardstock. To create this look, I stamped the pieces with Hero Arts Unicorn White Pigment ink first. After I cleaned the stamp, I restamped the plaid using the color coordinating dye ink to each piece. Since the pigment ink is still wet, some of the colored pigment transferred back to the stamp. Since I need to re-stamp the plaid background, before re-stamping, I cleaned the stamp before re-inking it with the same dye ink. This step prevents contaminating the dye ink pad with the white pigment ink. A stamp positioning tool is a must to be able to re-stamp precisely. I am using the Misti Stamping Tool for this card.

For the pink ribbon, I used a Simon Says Stamp stencil to add tiny dot details to it using a dye ink. While my plaid stamp was out, I discovered another use for it aside from stamping. I used the flat back of the plaid stamp as a grip mat. Why not, right? 

 

I did the same technique on the bow but this time using a yellow dye ink. I curled the bow with a scoring tool before assembling this into a bow. 

To make this into a card, I am using a white top folding A2 note card. I trimmed a bit off the side using the blue die cut as a guide. The present lid is 4 1/4" wide so there will be a bit of an overhang on the top of the card. 

The green piece comes with a score line when die cut. You can trim this on the score line to come up with two pieces but I decided to keep it as is to give the lid some dimension. I trimmed a sliver off the part that will be adhered to the note card. I adhered this to the top of the note card making sure it is on the center. One piece was adhered to the front and the other was adhered to the back.

I adhered the blue piece after, making sure it is aligned on the sides of the the note card. I also made sure that this is flushed to the back portion of the scored green lid. This allows the front portion of the green piece to overlap the blue piece.

I adhered the ribbons after, creating a cross on the center of the blue piece. 

I adhered the bow after. I flattened the bow a bit so it will fit inside an A2 envelope.

I hope you like today's card. It is always fun to use old crafting products especially if used in another way stretching the use of those supplies. 

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Inspired By Challenge Blog

FB Challenge~November Challenge: Adding Texture

Anything Goes

Sketch Inspired Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I created a Christmas card for today's post based on a sketch and other challenge prompts. 

I love that Lawn Fawn came up with stitching patterns to be used with their Embroidery Hoop die. I stitched the Cozy Cocoa Pattern for this card. I changed the colors of some of the embroidery flosses since I don't have all of the suggested colors. I modified the pattern by adding a holly to the mug. 

I worked on the card base after I was done stitching. I added the sketch that I followed for this card at the end of this post. I used a Simon Says Stamp Graceful Holly 3D embossing folder on an emerald green cardstock. I applied color to the berries and leaves using Tim Holtz Distress Crayons. 

For the center reverse triangle, I cut a Lawn Fawn holly pattern paper. I outlined these triangle with a gold Pebbles Merry Christmas washi tape which I adhered to a white cardstock first before adhering it to the sides of the the reversed triangle. 

I die cut a stitched scallop frame using the Altenew Scalloped Circles die on a red cardstock and adhered this over the stitched panel. I adhered this to the bottom portion of the triangle. 

I hope you like today's card. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge Blog #98

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Sketch Challenge in FB

Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges Blog

I added below a link to the Altenew product I used on this card. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase this item. It is just a way to help a fellow crafter sustain her love for crafting. Don't forget to check out their new release for this month and their sale. Thank you for your support. 

Platform Pop-up Christmas Tree

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's card features a digital download printable by Blank Page Muse. 

Frosty Night Christmas

This digital kit includes 9 printable designer papers and 2 pages of ephemera that are Christmas themed. The great things about digital kits are you can resize and crop it depending on how you will use it. 

I printed two sheets of the green digital paper at 8 1/2" x 11". I printed two sheets of the red plaid paper at 6" x 6". I cropped the snowman-music sheet, focusing on the top portion of the digital paper. I printed two pieces of this. I cropped the sentiment on the ephemera sheet.

I used a die from the Lawn Fawn Stitched Christmas Tree Frames to cut the green digital paper. I used the negative cut for this pop-up card. I die cut six pieces of the tree. 

I heat embossed one of the garland stamps from the BPM Beyond the Border Christmas set on the green digital paper. I used a silver powder for the embossing. 

I die cut the platform on the red digital paper. The die I used is the Lawn Fawn Platform Pop-up die. The die cuts a hole on the top of the platform for additional pop-ups. Since the tree is my only pop-up for this card, I covered the holes using the music digital sheet. I trimmed off any excess. I assembled this based on the instructions at the Lawn Fawn website. 

I scored each tree at the center. I folded the tree on the score line. I applied glue to the back of the scored tree, on half of it, then adhered the other half of a tree to this. I adhered the tab that will hold the tree in between the bottom of the trees. I continue this process until all six trees are glued together. 

For the star, I die cut this on a silver glitter paper. I die cut two pieces of the star. The die I used for the star is from the same Christmas Tree die set. I adhered a toothpick in between the die cut stars. I stuck the toothpick inside the folded tree.

I adhered the pop-up tab in between the platforms. I adhered the platforms together using a strong adhesive. 

I die cut the sentiment using a banner die from Lawn Flippin' Awesome die set. I adhered this to the front of the platform.

I hope you like today's interactive card. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Blank Page Muse is generously offering a 15% discount to their online store to YOU, my blog readers. Just use the code BPMMaria when you check out. Enjoy!

I am sharing this creation at

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge

Happy Holiday Cards 4 Kids #17

 

Fall Pop-up Vase Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Happy Thanksgiving to you, all. I created this a while back but didn't get to post it until now. 

I created a similar project in the past; a smaller version for Mother's Day (Pop-Up Vase Card), and a slightly larger version for a special birthday girl (Pop-Up Vase Card and Mini Note Card). For today's project, I challenged myself to create a pop-up vase card using a larger floral stamp which will need a larger vase. I would like to thank Crystal Best for her very helpful tutorial specifically in sharing the paper size needed to create the vase and also where to score the trimmed cardstock. 

I used the Scrapbook & Cards Let's Stamp Together January 2022 kit to create the flowers and the leaves.

I stamped the solid flower on white cardstock. Instead of doing an ink to stamp technique, I used a blending brush to apply the ink to the solid stamp. I am using the Misti Stamping Tool which is a must for this kind of inking. Blending the ink to the stamp gives a softer look to the image. Depending on how juicy your ink pad is, you might have to re-stamp the image a couple of times. I used two shades of ink color per image. I blended the lighter color first before the darker one. I die cut the flowers using the coordinating die. 

To save time in die cutting, I placed a dot on a prominent part of the flower die using a permanent marker. I marked this spot on the  plastic film that comes with the stamp making sure that this dot matches the dotted spot on the metal die. 

For the floral centers, I blended the ink on white cardstock using the same ink I used on the flowers. I added the details by adding embossing paste over the stencil. Since the flower centers have small holes, it might be tedious to add the paste. Lifting the stencil somehow distorts the details. The trick to preventing this is to wipe off any excess embossing paste on the reverse side of the stencil before doing another floral center. This prevents the stencil from sticking to the paper.

After I applied the embossing paste, I poured Ranger Copper embossing powder to the embossing paste. I set this aside to dry before heat setting it. The embossing paste gives the embossing powder more dimension. I die cut the flower centers using the coordinating die. The die is also something you can fiddle with to find the perfect alignment with the floral center details but I don't think this matters a lot.

I layered the flower centers with extra die cuts for more dimension. I inked the edges to hide the white edge of the floral center. I adhered this to the center of the flower.

I worked on the leaves using the same inking technique. I die cut the leaves using the coordinating die.

For the flower stems, I used the Lawn Fawn Slide on Over die set. Who said these can only be used for sliders? I die cut the four long slider dies on brown cardstock, cutting doubles so I can layer these stems to give it some stability. I adhered this to the back of the flowers. To give it a finished look, I adhered another white floral die cut to the back of the flower. 

I trimmed a kraft cardstock for the vase using the dimensions mentioned by Crystal in her video. I assembled the vase per Crytal's tutorial.

I started building my floral arrangement starting from the front and slowly increasing the height of the flowers. I was trying to limit the height of the flowers and the vase to 6", just like Crystal's, but I forgot that my vase has a wider width when flattened. I just need to make a customized envelope for this pop-up card to accommodate its size.

Adding the stemmed flowers is a messy, sticky job. I just eyeballed where I apply the liquid glue to the stem. Sometimes, the spot is not right so I have to add more glue leaving some glue residue to the area. Sometimes, the flower falls off so I have to re-glue the stem. Even my craft tweezers got glue all over it. Anyway, despite this mess, I think the end product is truly worth it. Good thing that I did not made any gluey mess on the flowers. 

Adhering the leaves is the next challenge since you only put a dot of glue to the tip of the leaf and adhere it to the back of the stem. 

Good thing that I delayed adding the vase details until after all the glueing is done. I was able to hide any adhesive mess underneath the rectangle details on the vase.

For the vase, I just trimmed an orange plaid patterned paper. I also doubled this with a light weight scrap cardstock. I inked the edges to give it a rustic look and hide the white core of the paper I used for layering.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed the sentiment stamp included in the kit on a woodgrain patterned paper. I adhered this to a kraft cardstock and used a craft knife to cut this into a rectangle. 

For the stick that holds the sentiment, I die cut this using a straw die from the My Favorite Things Mason Jar Mug die set. Yes, you read it right. I used a straw die to cut this out. You can also just trim a strip of cardstock if you don't have a die like this, or you can use a slim popsicle stick.

I also cut doubles of the straw so I can layer it to make it sturdy. I adhered the sentiment to this and adhered this to the vase. 

I hope you like today's project. I am thankful for your time in visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

November Challenge #59~Anything Goes with Optional Twist: Grateful, Thankful, Thank You

Cricut Cut Dog Shaped Ornament

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project was created for a friend, Linda, whose dog, Ollie, crossed the rainbow bridge. She has a vial encasing a snip of her dog's hair. She requested me to create something special with it.

I got this project's idea from a similar project I created for her a few years ago (More Cricut Cut Elves). I used my Cricut to create this dog.  Luckily, there is a Bichon Frise file cut image in Cricut Design Space. 

The image cuts the outline of the dog. I used the CDS Contour feature to create a solid cut for the backing of the dog. I also used this feature to create separate cuts for the dog's eyes, nose, lip and tongue so I can cut these pieces on a different colored cardstock. 

Most of the pieces were cut on white cardstock. Without separating the positive and negative cuts of the dog, I colored the dog with gray Copic markers to add dimension to the dog. I adhered this to the solid dog piece. 

I pieced in the eyes, the nose, the lips and the tongue to the digital cut. These pieces, except for the tongue, were cut on black cardstock. The tongue was cut on pink cardstock.

I added a heart to my Cricut Canvas. I resized this so it fits the dog's chest and it will fit the width of the vial. 

To make it personalized, I added Ollie's name and today's year to the heart with the use of a foil pen. Cricut has a foiling pen accessory but I don't have one. Instead, I used the We R Memory Keepers Foil Quill tool to write on the heart.

I poked holes on the center of the heart. I threaded a red-white twine through these holes. I added mini glue dots in between the holes. I adhered the vial to this. I tied the twine around the vial into a bow. I adhered two pieces of heart on the back for dimension.

I adhered a heart gem to the rubber cap of the vial. I forgot to take a top view photo of it but you can see a side view of the heart gem on the photos above and below.

I adhered the heart to the chest of the dog.

To make this into an ornament, I adhered a glittered twine to the back of the dog. I used strong double sided adhesive for this. I covered this up with two more pieces of the solid digital dog cut. If you notice it on the photo above, this paper ornament is thick from all the layers, making it really sturdy. 

Here is a link to the CDS file I used for this project, https://design.cricut.com/landing/project-detail/6557d2a6e00233f83add70a3, in case, you are interested.

It brings me joy when I make someone happy with my creations, especially if it is custom made. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day.

Ollie

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge

Scrapbook & Cards Today's FB Challenge

Challenge #303~Seasonal