Paper Pleating, Outline Inking Shaker Card

Shaker cards are in a rage these days. This is one of my inspirations in creating this card. I also wanted to stamp the penguins in different color, and not only black. But it is not realistic if I stamped the whole image in blue and pink. So what I did is stamp the penguins using colored pigment ink. After cleaning the stamp, I carefully inked the edges of the image, wiping off any ink that I don't want to be inked in black. I used a stamp positioner to make sure that the image matches when I re-stamp. 

I wanted the penguins to have a heart in between them. I wasn't sure at that time if I will make a string of hearts within the big heart or a shaker card. But I chose the latter after I adhered die cut tissue paper, pleating it accordingly to follow the shape of the heart. I used the Mama Elephant Borderline Trio Creative Cuts to cut scalloped tissue paper. 

The sentiment is a partial sentiment stamp from ME Just Hatched. I masked the 'you' and stamped the 'Love' on vellum using Versamark ink. I heat embossed this in Ranger Seafoam White. This will be the shaker portion of the card. I used dimensional tape to create a wall at the back of the heart. Before pouring the confetti, I brushed the vellum and sides of the dimensional tape. I used ME Confetti Creative Cuts to create the hearts for the shaker. I also added flat shaped sequins. I covered this with vellum to secure the shaker while I plan the rest of the card. 

For the background, I die cut two patterned papers with ME Peek-A-Frame Creative Cuts. I inlaid the center to the border. Before attaching the pleated heart, I attached the negative space of the heart to the background paper. I colored this first with Copics to mimic the color of the border. I adhered the penguins with foam adhesive. I also cut two hearts and a flat sequin using the ME Confetti to create the girl penguin's ribbon.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Inlaid Die Cutting Manual Stitching Season's Greetings Card

I only own one Avery Elle die, the Custom Elle-ments. With the current challenge, I tried to make the most of this die. The die comes with small shape dies which I thought of putting into use for this card. I first masked a triangle shape for a tree. I die cut the three circle shapes within this triangle. I die cut circles using other patterned papers to fill in these holes. To adhere the circles, I used a double sided adhesive sheet. I stacked some of the circles to create dimension. I filled in the gaps with sequins. It was rather looking plain like that so I use a We R Memory Keepers Stitch Piercer to poke holes and then, thread a silver twine around the triangle.

The sentiment tag was inlaid, too. I die cut the tag on the main patterned paper. I die cut another tag using a different patterned paper. This is where I stamped the sentiment and heat embossed it.

I used Simon Says Stamped Stitched Rectangles Wafer Die to create stitching on both  patterned papers. I inlaid this as well. This die helps you save on paper since it somehow creates a matte effect without having to use a whole piece of paper. Not to forget, by inlaying it, it lessens the bulk created by matting.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Geometric Crystal Gift Box

This has been my third time to give my sons' band teacher a flower pin corsage. Last year, I just handed it to her since I ran out of time to create a box for it. Well, it got lost since it didn't have her name. Learning for last year, I wanted to give her the Daffodil Pin Corsage in a box.

I wanted to try cutting the geometric shapes in the Cricut Pretty Packages. I chose the pentagon crystal box. The manual gives up to how big you can cut the image. I think it was too big for the corsage. I tried cutting it at 3.5 inches in which I can cut the top and bottom portion using a 12x12 card stock. Too small for the corsage. My next cut was 5.5 inches and this time, it was the right size.

To make this box, one has to be mindful of which side will be in the box. It won't be a problem if you are using card stock as long as you cut the top and bottom separately. I chose a patterned paper for the top part of the geometric box. I made the mistake of putting the inner side of the patterned paper up and cut it using the F1 key. I ended up with cuts and folds of the same side. I could have flipped the folds of the card stock piece but I didn't realize that until I was adhering the tabs.

The cut didn't come with tick marks like with previous cartridges. This marks allows you to score and fold the cut image. I think the shift key will make those marks. I have a Cricut Imagine. I am not sure if I lessen the pressure setting and blade level, if it will score and not totally cut. I manually score the cut image, just following the diagram on the manual.

If I followed the instructions at the back, I think it would be very easy to put the box together. Do not adhere the tabs of a cut piece together. The two cut pieces should be adhered together first before forming the box into a geometric shape.

Seeing the box get into form was such a total awe. But since I made the mistake of putting same sides out, I ended up with a side where there is no tab to adhere together to close the box. I just used washi tape to close this sides, sort of an accent to the design.

I was running out of time. So I just presented the gift like this. If I have more time, I would have cut a card stock on top which will serve as a tag for the box. I would also have punched a hole on top and thread through a twine and/or ribbon so it can also serve as an ornament after it got opened. I could also have embellished the box some more to make it more Christmas'y.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Daffodil Pin Corsage

It is that time of year that school concerts are held, in which two of my sons are participating. I usually make something for Sr. Gail (the band teacher) during spring concerts. But since my schedule worked out, I was able to create a flower pin corsage for her for this season's concert.

I recently purchased two Cricut cartridges, 3D Floral Home Decor and Pretty Packages. This is the second cut I made using the 3D Floral Home Decor. I did slow down the speed setting to cut the pieces. I don't think putting the pieces together will take a long time unless, you decide to embellish the pieces which I did. I inked all the cuts. The cardstock I used is actually cream in color but I inked it with vanilla and yellow.I also sprayed pearl mist to the pieces for shimmer. This also helped in softening the cardstock for easy manipulation to curl the petals and make the flower realistic.

At first, I was using Glossy Accents to adhere the edges of the floral pieces. I later shifted to glue gun (which I am still a mess with) when I had to stack the floral pieces on top of each other. From hereon, it is all glue gun. I cut the flowers at 3 inches making sure every piece is relative in size. I also cut three leaves using the leaf shift image on page 2. I think I cut it 3 inches, too. This is often my mistake. I do not write down the cut sizes of my images. I should really work hard on taking note of the sizes in case I have to do it again.

I inked the leaves as well. I adhered it center tabs to create a curved leaf. I spritz it with mist.

 

To give this wouldn't be complete if it is not in a box. I created a Geometric Crystal Box using the Pretty Packages Cartridge. 

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Die-cut Machine: Cricut Imagine
Cartridge: 3D Floral Home Decor
Ink: Hero Arts Shadow Ink Field Greens, Soft Leaft & Soft Vanilla, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade & Wild Honey
Mist: Ranger Perfect Pearls Perfect Pearl

Celebrate, Happy Birthday, Amang!

It's my Amang's (my father) birthday tomorrow. To celebrate his birthday, I created a card for him. The colors of the card is red, yellow, blue, black and white, as per inspiration photo (see below.)  I still into doing partial embossing with metal dies after last week's creation post. So, here I am trying to find more ways to do this partial embossing technique.

I used sprays and watercolor to splatter onto the card using a paint brush. The splatters came out tiny despite flicking my brush very close to the cardstock. The sentiment also was reversed embossed in order. I mistakenly applied the iridescent powder first which came out with a glittered tone on tone sentiment after heated. I wanted the sentiment to stand out so I stamped the sentiment again but slightly offset. I poured white powder this time. The white sentiment now has a glittered shadow.

For the inside of the card, I inked the sentiment using red, blue and yellow inks. I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig to maintain alignment. I did not use any mask. I inked a part of the sentiment at a time with a color, stamp it, wipe the ink off, then ink the next part with another color. I continued this process until the whole sentiment is done. I stamped the sentiment again using Versamark ink by aligning it to the colored stamped sentiment. I didn't plan to clear emboss this sentiment that's why I removed my Stamp-a-majig. Plus, it is a clear stamp so aligning it wasn't much of a trouble.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Stamp: Paper Smooches Chit-Chat
Ink: Close To My Heart Holiday Red, Jenny Bowlin Lemon Drops, Rubber Stampede Iris

I am submitting this creation to the following:

http://runwayinspired.blogspot.com/2014

 

http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com/2014

Partial Die Embossing Birthday Card

It is The Cutting Edge's last challenge. It is my friend's, Janice, birthday. Two reasons to create a card. I am only starting to build my collection of stitched dies. I enjoy looking at cards with stitched edge details so I experimented with the dies I have to see if I can create the impression on my card. The angled edge was cut using an Avery Elle die. Correct me if I'm wrong but there is no stitched angled edge die cut out in the market yet. I used a Mama Elephant die to emboss the stitched edge on the angled patterned papers. It made a subtle impression which was okay since I am using a thin patterned paper. Just like in partial die cutting, with partial die embossing, you just put the rubber mat and clear plate on top of the area where you want to emboss. It is another way of stretching your dies.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B. 

Die: Avery Elle Custom Panels Elle-ments, Mama Elephant Peek A Frame Creative Cuts, Paper Smooches Pocket 

I am submitting this creation to the following challenges:

http://thecuttingedgechallenge.blogspot.com/

http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com/

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-november-2014/

Masked Background Stamp and Sentiment Stamp Merry Forever Card

I created a square card with a Christmas theme. This was not the original plan I have in mind but I had to make adjustments since that plan of mine was not working out. For this card, I stamped the tree and colored it with Copics. I have the matching die for the tree but I fuzzy cut the trees to have no white border. For the background, I masked a part of the background stamp to create a triangular image. With a ruler, I drew lines to close the open squares and create the triangular edge. I used a Versamark pen since I am going to emboss the background. 

This is the first time I used the Ranger Verdigris embossing powder. The color of this powder after melting is very pretty.

I masked the sentiment stamp so I will only have the word merry stamped to the card. At first, I stamped this straight to the card using a gold ink. It wasn't noticeable being stamped on a kraft cardstock. I stamped this onto a black strip of cardstock and heat embossed it in gold. The forever was die cut using gold cardstock. To make it stand out, I colored it with Wink of Luna Pen in copper. Coloring it was tricky since it is attached to the final card already. If I planned this ahead of time, I would have colored it first before attaching it to the card.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Stamp: Paper Smooches Hip To Be Square, Merry Motifs
Die: Paper Smooches Always & Forever

I am submitting this creation to:

 

http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com/

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-november-2014/

One Paper Pack Self-Challenge

My co-worker asked me to make a bunch of Thank You note cards. She will give it as a gift to her sister. I wanted to use what I already have, so I challenged myself to use one 6 x 6 paper pack. The one I chose is Jillibean Soup Sweet and Sour.

I used WOW! Ultra High Embossing Powder for the card below to add dimension to the die cuts. I used Glossy Accents for the die cut on the the card above. I like the Glossy Accent effect more than the WOW! But I enjoyed seeing the powder crystals melt, so it didn't stop me from using the WOW! some more.

With this next card, I didn't use the same sentiment die. I used the alphabet patterned paper and cut up the letters to create the sentiment.

Although it is not captured in photo, the letters were first heat embossed using the WOW! Ultra High. It didn't come out clean despite re-applying another second coat of powder. I ended up applying Glossy Accent on top of the embossing. 

This next two cards were inpired by Jennifer McGuire's technique:

 http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2014/07/video-die-cut-window-cards.html. 

I wanted to give it a try.  Using both positive and negative cuts allowed me to come up with two more cards. Now, I have a total of seven cards to which my co-worker can choose from. 

I embossed the background on the first card, and used embossing paste for the second card.

A set of note cards won't be complete without a box. Thanks to Jennifer McGuire's tutorial 
(http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2014/02/video-card-boxes.html).  The cards are snug in the box.  If I create another note card box, maybe I will measure the thickness of the cards and envelopes, then adjust the measurement accordingly.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

I posted this at:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

https://www.flickr.com/groups/lawnfawn/

Color Pencil Parol Inspired Card

I am a huge Jennifer McGuire fan, that is no denying. After seeing her video, I went ahead and tried the repeat stamping technique she thought in her video (http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2014/11/03/video-repeat-stamping/). I was going to use this as a background for the tag I made on my previous post but it was both competing for attention. Maybe because of the colors I used on both.

I was supposed to be done with the repeated stamping but after coloring the image with color pencils, it kind of reminded me of the colorful 'parols' (star lanterns) back in the Philippines. So I cut a circle to use as a template in drawing two circles around the image. I colored this with a brown color pencil. I used Staedtler Ergosoft color pencils. I wanted to blend my coloring so I tried a Finesse Blender pen which was supposed to work for all kinds of color pencils. Well, there is no much change after applying the blender to the colored area. Maybe this type of Staedtler is not wax based which is what the Finesse Blender pen will work with.

I draw the tails, used a black marker to write over the lines, then colored it in. I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Ink in black, applied clear embossing powder, and heat set it. I have to mount letters together to create the sentiment. I've always asked my sister in the Philippines to keep a lookout for a stamp with the Parol on it. Unfortunately, there is none for sale back there although, there are stamps for sale online. 'Maligayang Pasko' means Merry Christmas in Filipino. 

I have no gold enamel dots. I can't believe it. So, I used a wooden enamel dot, applied glue on it, and sprinkles gold glitter over it. I also applied glue to the ring then poured gold glitter over it to tie in with the gold center of the star.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Stamp: Hero Arts Christmas Crystals, Martha Stewart Unmounted Rubber Stamp Loop Script

Staedtler Ergosoft Color Pencils

EK Success Circle Curvy Cutter

Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Antique Linen

My Mind's Eye Enamel Dot

Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink

clear embossing powder

I am submitting this creation to:

http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2014/10/01/new-holiday-challenge-2/

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-were-seeing-stars/