Watercolor Wash Happy Birthday Card

It's my Amang's birthday. This is how I call my father in the Philippines. I was trying to create a card with four boy images to signify each of his grandson. There are only 2 boy stamps in the Mama Elephant In My Heart Stamp. I tried mirror stamping but cannot seem to get it to work, even if I tried penning over the missed spots. So I just gave up the idea and used whatever image I have.

I stamped the boy first. I stamped the Mama Elephant Inline Letters to create a customized sentiment. Then I cut out several Post-It papers to create a mask for the balloon and the ground, making sure I kept all the pieces since the background will all be watercolor washed.

I masked the boy with a Fineline Masking Fluid and allowed this to dry. For the balloon, I used a Hero Arts Tide Pool Ink Dauber. I applied a dot of the die to an acrylic block and picked it up with a wet paint brush. For the sky, I used a Vanilla Ink Dauber. For the ground, I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo. I removed the mask with my finger, then colored it with Copics. I created a bow using a silver thread. I also used this thread as the balloon string. To accent the sentiment, I used a marker to write on the spaces within the letter just to bring out letters more. I felt the washed background didn't pop out the sentiment as much as I want to.

I also embellished the inside of the card using the other boy image and also stamped a sentiment from the same stamp set.

So, Happy __th Birthday, Amang! Hope you love your card.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Reindeer Spinner Christmas Card

My son asked me to create Christmas cards he can give to his friends.  In my thought, creating an interactive card with a reindeer on it will not only suit the ages of his friends, but may also remind them of my son since his name is a short version of the red nose reindeer.

To create the card, I stamped the reindeer images onto a 60 lb. Neenah white card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the reindeers using Copic markers. This is the part you may call me crazy but I fuzzy cut the reindeers. Yes, I did! I haven't bought the matching die for the Mama Elephant Reindeer Games stamp set because it is not available at my local craft store and most of the time, I like to try the stamp set first before investing on its matching die. 

I colored the antlers with Clear Wink of Stella. I used a green Copic Spica for the collar. I used Stickles for the nose. And, I used Glossy Accents for the medallion. 

For the card base, I wanted to create a 4-Bar trifold card. I trimmed a white card stock at 4 7/8". Then cut the short end at 10 1/5". I scored this at 3 1/2", then rotated the paper to score the other end at 3 1/2" too. I folded the card at the score lines. After determining which will be the front of the card, I trimmed a small part of the other edge to allow it fold underneath the front panel. 

I die cut a stitched circle on the front. I embossed the front panel of the card using a We R Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folder. For the panel that will lay under the front panel, I created a night sky background. I masked the back portion of the trifold card. I also applied at thin strip of masking tape around the edges of this panel to create a white border around the inked area. I blended 4 Tim Holtz Distress inks (Broken China, Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, and Black Soot.) 

After the inked background has dried, I powdered the bottom area of the panel where I will heat emboss the sentiment. I used a Hero Arts stamp for the sentiment (not photographed.)  I wanted the sentiment to be curved too in relation to the window circle. I laid the sentiment on a plastic sheet until I got the curve I want. Then, I picked the curved sentiment with an acrylic block. I stamped the sentiment using Versamark ink and poured Wow! Silver Pearl embossing powder to it. I added some droplets to this inked panel by tapping W Plus 9 Shimmer spray to the area. 

For the spinner, I taped a thin silver thread to the back of one of the reindeers. I applied Multi Matte Medium to this, then adhered the mirror image of the reindeer. I place an acrylic block to this and allowed it to dry. I cut a thin white card stock, smaller than a 4-Bar, about 3 3/8" x 4 6/8". This will cover the threads at the back of the front panel. I also die cut a circle onto this. I centered the reindeer on the circle, and taped the ends of the thread on the top and bottom of the back panel. I cut the excess thread, then covered this with the thin white card stock.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Supplies used:

Stamp; Mama Elephant Reindeer Games, Hero Arts Holiday Sayings

Die: Simon Stamp Says Stitched Circle

I am submitting this creation to:

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

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3305

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-november-2015/

Christmas Gift Card Holder Shaker Tags

I created these tags for my work's Holiday project this year. I was not able to participate in Jennifer McGuire's Kind campaign last month. So this is my late way of showing my support to her campaign.

I cut the base tag cards using my Cricut Imagine and Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, using the tag cut in page 50, which is the tag base, and its layer, which is the front panel. I cut both at 4.4". I used an old Martha Stewart Christmas patterned paper for the base tag, and some cardstock for the tag layer. The base tag was cut with tick marks where to fold the base tag.

I cut an acetate about the same size as the front panel using a trimmer. I stamped the message onto the acetate using white Stazon ink. The sentiment is from a Paper Smooches stamp set.

I punched a slot on a side of the base tag using a puncher. This is where the gift card will be inserted. I stamped a sentiment below the slot using a Mama Elephant stamp. I embossed this in either white or clear powder.

To embellish the front of the base tag, I stamped another sentiment from Hero Arts stamp sets. I just got the Misti Tool and it was very helpful in positioning the sentiment onto the tag base. The sentiment was embossed in gold or red powder.

I scored the tick marks and folded the tag base. I applied adhesive to the outer sides of the inside of the base tag making sure not to put any adhesive below the slot where the gift card will be inserted. I applied a slim double adhesive tape at the back of the tag layer and adhered the acetate to this. I applied another layer of slim double adhesive tape to this. I die cut different shaped and sized confetti. I used a Mama Elephant Confetti die for this. I poured a good portion over the front of the base tag, then adhered the acetate layer on top of this.

My Cricut does not make perfect cuts, even the layers are not exactly same in size. I trimmed off any excess base tag showing at the sides of the layer. The circle of the tag is also not a perfectly cut circle so I die cut hole reinforcers using a Paper Smooches die to cover this and as an added accent.  I threaded a ribbon, a twine and a thread through the hole and made a not.

    

 

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Supplies used:
Cartridge: Cricut Art Philosophy
Stamp: Hero Arts Christmas Crytals, Hero Arts Holiday Sayings, Mama Elephant Confetti, Paper Smooches Merry Motifs
Die: Mama Elephant Confetti, Paper Smooches Toppers

I am submitting this creation to:

http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2015/12/lawnscaping-challenge-tag-it-sponsored.html

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

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-november-2015/

All Kraft Sparkly Christmas Card

For this card, I challenged myself to create a card using just kraft cardstock. I stamped the raccoon using My Favorite Things Kraft Hybrid ink on a scrap kraft cardstock. I stamped it a couple of times just in case I make a mistake in coloring. My next challenge is how to color the raccoon. Raccoon always seem to be black and white so I went searching the net for a brown colored raccoon...and I did find one.

http://www.feltify.com/products/needle-felted-felting-wool-animals-raccoon-charm-cute-craft

I colored the raccoon using Copics. For the white accents of the raccoon, I used a white colored pencil. I used black Glaze pen for the eyes. I fuzzy cut the raccoon, including his belly since I am planning to make the image holiday inspired. This is my only Newton's Nook stamp set which I won by commenting on Chari Moss's blog. Looking through my stash of stamps, I found this Technique Tuesday gift stamp which is a part of Say It-Happy stamp set. I stamped this on Kraft colored cardstock using the same Kraft ink I used with the raccoon. I colored this by adding lines to create a striped gift wrapper. I used a Versamark pen on the ribbon to apply gold embossing powder to it. I also applied glue to the center of the ribbon, then poured gold glitter onto it. 

I cut a Christmas tree using the Cricut Winter Wonderland cartridge. I cut this on kraft cardstock, too. I used Copics to color the tree. I used the 0 to bleach out spots on the tree, sort of an ornament. I applied white dots to this bleached spots. I colored the star with a gold marker. Using the Versamark pen, I covered the star with the sticky ink, then poured Wow! Ultra Clear Embossing powder to this. I did this process twice.

For the background, I created a slope onto a Post-it note using Avery Elle Custom Panels Elle-ments. This will serve as a mask when I blend inks for the sky. I also punched a circle onto a Post-It note.  After adhering the Post-It masks, I blended Tim Holtz Distress inks to create the night sky. Guided by the circle, I attached the negative circle cut of the Post-It note, then remove the circle. I blended more yellow inks on this circle. I reapplied the circle Post-It note, then sprayed pearlized water to the night sky for shimmer.  I set this aside to dry. 

Once the shimmer is dry, I adhered the other half of the slope Post-It note to the shimmered area. I rub the Versmark ink pad onto this area. I poured Ranger Holographic embossing powder to this, then heat set it.

For the sentiment, I used stamps from two stamp sets and did some masking to create the message. I applied washi tape to the stamp, applied Versamark ink, remove the wash tape, stamp the sentiment onto the panel, then poured white embossing powder onto it. I was doing well doing these steps until I got to the last word. The letters overlapping the already powdered sentiment attracted the powder. So, I had to brush off all the powder. Good thing, the Versamark ink stayed wet long enough for me to apply powder to the three-lined sentiment again and all together. Whew! That would have been a disaster since I stamped this direct to the shimmered-blended panel.

I adhered the Christmas tree and the raccoon using foam adhesive. I trimmed 1/8th of an inch from the left and bottom sides of the panel. I adhered this panel onto a kraft cardstock.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Stamps: Newton's Nook Campfire Tails, Hero Arts Holiday Sayings, Technique Tuesday Say It-Happy

I am submitting this creation to:

http://www.newtonsnookblog.com/2015/11/inky-paws-challenge-27-kraft-sparkle.html

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-22/

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-november-2015/

Shaker Wedding Card

 

I created this card with a snow globe as an inspiration. After watching Laura Bassen's video tutorial (http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/meowy-christmas/) , I got an idea based on the partial die cutting of the circle on her card to use this technique in creating the shaker snow globe. I don't have a snow globe die. This sure is a way to stretch your dies. I used an Ellen Hutson woodgrain cardstock for this.

I also utilized my Cricut cartridges to create the base of the snow globe. I used the Create A Critter cartridge, with the image being the platform of the seal. I cut off the top portion of the platform which I saved for later use. Since this was cut with tick marks for layering, I flipped the die cut to use the back side wherein the tick marks are not so heavy.

Working on the base card, I traced the partial circle onto a white note card. This will let me know where to blend my inks which will be the background of the snow globe. I stamped the groom and the bride initially onto the base card using Studio Calico I Do! by Kelly Purkey. Instead of paper masking these images for ink blending, I applied Molotow mask to it. After I blended the colors, I was upset to find out that the Molotow mask stained the stamped images blue. Instead or starting all over again, I stamped the bride & groom onto a white cardstock, then fuzzy cut it. I adhered this with foam tape directly on top of the blue tinged stamped images. I also added some details to the bride & groom's clothing. I also die cut a blue heart and adhered this on the middle of the couple, sort of like they are holding the heart with one hand each. I applied glitter to the heart and Glossy Accent.

Now, it's time to work on the shaker. I adhered a clear plastic to the back of the woodgrain windowed cardstock. I ran a dryer sheet on the back side of this. I applied foam adhesives around the window, doubling this up since my bride & groom are raised by one layer of foam. I always make the mistake of putting the shaker elements to the plastic film when it should be the other way around. Pour the shaker elements to the base card, then adhere the shaker window panel on top of it.

Working on the base of the snow globe which was cut on gray cardstock, I trimmed the sides of the platform to make it match the snow globe window. I sponged the ends of the cardstock with Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Black Soot. I stamped the Congratulations sentiment, also from the same stamp set, by first, curving the sentiment, with the help of the die cut platform, onto a plastic film (the one that comes with the stamp sets.) I picked up this curved sentiment with an acrylic block. I applied anti-stick powder to the portion of the platform I cut earlier. Then I stamped  the sentiment using Versamark ink. I embossed this using white embossing powder. I trimmed this by tracing the platform onto it to create the same curve as the platform and stamped sentiment. I sponged this using the same Tim Holtz ink but I made it darker than the platform. I buffed the embossed sentiment with a rag to remove the black ink. The platform was adhered flushed to the window while the sentiment was adhered using foam adhesive.

As a finishing touch, which I should have done first before adhering the acetate and the platform, I splattered Prima Color Blooms in Storm Cloud. I just covered the acetate and the platform using a scratch piece of cardstock. I dabbed the excess using a rag.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Watercolor Smooshed Embellishment Encouragement Card

I am addicted to the watercolor smooshing technique these days. After the last card I created, I can't stop creating more with this technique in mind. For this card, I applied Tim Holtz Distress inks on a palate, spritz it with water and picked up the color using an acetate. I smooshed this to a watercolor paper until I got the right shades and blending. I adhered a Stick-It adhesive sheet to this where I will die cut the flowers. I die cut the smooshed watercolor paper using Bold Blossom by Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies. I strategically chose the area where I will die cut the flowers and leaves. I needed some stems for the flowers. I used the stems from Fresh Cut Flowers by My Favorite Things to cut stems. I removed the release paper from the die cut flowers and poured some Elizabeth Crafts Silk Microfine glitter to this.

For the background panel, I used a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" navy cardstock. I embossed this using Li'l Inker Quilted Swirl Stitched Pattern die. I partially embossed the cardstock, leaving an area without embossing. This is where I will stamp the sentiment. I also did not emboss the left side of the cardstock. I traced the flower onto this and cut this area making sure I cut on the traced line. The navy panel now is about 5 1/2" x 4" in size.

I adhered the flowers to this panel. Then adhered the stems and leaves. I tied the stems with a silver thread. I looped the thread several times on my fingers then tied it on the middle to create a bow. I adhered this on top of the knotted thread.

For the sentiment, I used a stamp from Mama Elephant In My Heart stamp set. I embossed this using white powder. I stamped the white note card with MFT Diagonal Stripes background using Simon Says Stamp Sea Glass dye ink pad. I adhered the navy panel to the note card with fun foam for dimension. I rounded the left lower corner of the note card. I added clear sequins for additional embellishment.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/2015/11/november-mix-it-up-challenge-with-mama-elephant.html

 

http://virginiasviewchallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/11/virginias-view-challenge-20.html

Red Roses Christmas Tree

I stamped the roses on watercolor paper although a white cardstock will be okay with this project. The watercolor paper is more challenging to fuzzy cut. I lined the edges of the flower with a red Tim Holtz Distress marker to hide the white core of the watercolor paper. I did the same thing with the leaves using a green Tim Holtz Distress marker this time. This stamp set comes with a coordinating die which I really should add to my collection since I always end up fuzzy cutting these roses. I highlighted the rose using a Wink of Stella marker, just drawing a clear glittered line where the rose is dark. 

I used a Memory Box Sparkling Tree die for the tree. I die cut it on a 110-lb white cardstock. This die only cuts the inner portion of the tree so I fuzzy cut the tree off the cardstock panel. I embossed the tree using a WOW! Ultra High gold embossing powder. I repeated this procedure since I missed some areas during the first embossing. 

For the background, I did a wash of Altenew Paper Bag Crisp Dye Ink. It is so pretty! I totally not regret purchasing this color for my first Altenew ink. I splattered some Prima Color Bloom Tea Stain by unscrewing the sprayer off the bottle, then tapping the tip of the sprayer onto the washed panel. I blotted dry the splatters using a towel. 

I created the sentiment using a vellum strip and words from Hero Arts Christmas Crystals stamp set. I embossed the words in white powder. For the dot in between the words, I used the dot from Altenew Hennah Elements stamp set. 

It is time to adhere all the elements, starting off with the gold embossed tree. I applied dots of glue randomly and adhered the tree to the center of the washed panel. I applied a clear acrylic block on top of it for better contact. I applied dots of liquid glue on the back of the vellum where the dots and letters are. I dried this with the acrylic block placed on top of it. Once the adhesive is dry, I adhered the flowers using a glue dot. I adhered the leaves using liquid glue applied to the back and front of one tip of the leaf. 

Thanks for viewing my blog. 

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

 

http://virginiasviewchallenge.blogspot.ca