Easter Egg Shaped Card

I love creating cards that I can mass produce and have my kids hand to their friends, teachers, or to my friends and co-workers.

My most recent purchase is the Paper Smooches Easter Egg Dies. I have no immediate project for it not until I saw Paper Smooches Blog Challenge for this month. I can't help but think of a project that is timely and that ties with this month's challenge.

You know how you see those kraft colored eggs in the store? That inspired me to come up with this card. I die cut a kraft colored card stock using the egg die. I die cut the egg twice. I inked the edge of the egg with a Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Paper. I embossed the top and bottom portions of the egg. You can emboss the whole egg since I was going to cover up the flat portion anyway. I used the Li'l Inker Design Quill Swirl Stitched Pattern die to emboss the egg.

I cut a strip of a pearl blue card stock. I cut this at 1/2". I adhered this to the center of the egg where there is no embossing. I die cut the ribbon using the same card stock. I curled the bow part using a  stylus just to train the card stock and prevent it from cracking. I tried using a liquid adhesive to adhere the parts of the bow but despite using a tweezer to press the pieces together while the glue is drying, it won't stay adhered. So, I turned to the Mini Glue Dots to do the job.

I scored another kraft egg die cut, around where the strip ends at the top. I made tick marks to ensure alignment. Fold the card stock at scored line. Stamp a sentiment on the top flap, making sure it will be upright when this flap is unfolded. I used sentiments from Paper Smooches Chit Chat and Recipe For Success stamp sets. I also used the smiley face from Paper Smooches Spectrum stamp set. Apply adhesive to the bottom part of the egg. Line up the eggs, then press to adhere.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://papersmooches.blogspot.com/2016/02/february-challenge-fun-cute.html

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-february-2016/

Masculine Interactive Birthday Card

I was asked by a friend to create a card for her husband's birthday. I have a plan for the lay out but I was having trouble choosing the patterned paper for the background. After taking a trip to Scrapbook Factory here in Illinois, I got inspired by a card sample featuring one of their on-sale wooden block stamps. It is an image of a pick-up truck.

After I revived my Cricut Imagine (Hoo-hoo!), I cut a car from the Cricut Going Places cartridge using water color card stock. I kept the negative cuts on the front of the card for further embellishing. I water colored the card using Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi. I mixed up some colors to come up with the gray bumper. I also mixed the pearl color with the palette I created to make the bumper shimmer. I colored the wheels black. Once it is dry, I doodled lines to accent the tire marks. I gold embossed the negative cut for the front of the card using Wow! Ultra Embossing Powder. I water colored the headlights. I adhered a piece of acetate to create a windshield. I applied a piece of tape to the back of the car to support the negative cuts that I want to piece in. I did apply a small amount of liquid glue to this pieces to secure it. I also applied Glossy Accents to the headlights.

For the pole embellishment, I stamped this on a water color paper using Ranger Archival Ink in black. I stamped the sentiment using a Close To My Heart stamp set. I masked the sentiment so it will be accomodated to the design. The sentiment is stamped using Versafine Onyx Black and heat embossed using clear powder. I also water colored the pole. I fuzzy cut the image.

For the background, I die cut clouds onto an Inkadinkado masking paper using a Taylored Expression Rolling Cloud die. I attached this on a white notecard. I inked the clouds using Simon Says Stamp Die Ink in Sea Glass. I moved the cloud mask up and changed the alignment to create variation.

For the ground, I applied a tape to where I plan to ground the car. I am using a Lawn Fawn Chevron Backdrop. I used different hues of gray for the solid chevron stamp. I stamped another chevron pattern from the same stamp set using a white pigment ink. I allowed this to dry.

To balance the card, I partially die cut an opening to the right side of the car using an Avery Elle-ments Custom Panel die. I adhered an acetate to the back of this. I trimmed a gray card stock to matte the panel. I applied foam adhesive to the back, making sure to keep the acetate free of foam tape. I applied sequins and seed beads to this well. I sealed this using another gray cardstock. I adhered this to an A4 note card.

I adhered the pole using liquid adhesive. I used dimensional tape for the signs to pop it out. For the car, I trimmed the adhesive of the Action Wobbler so it won't show. I adhered this to the front of the card.

I also created a customized envelope for the card.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-february-2016/

My Take on Distress Ink Lifting by Jennifer McGuire

 

I was so impressed by Jennifer's card technique that I can't wait to try it myself. Watch her tutorial here: Distress Ink Lifting by Jennifer McGuire.

I created this card for my husband for Valentine's. I was late in finishing it but the idea was in my head especially after watching Jennifer's video and getting the Simon Says Stamp Sentimental Circles stamp set in the mail.

I start with inking a Neenah Solar White 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" panel with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Candied Apple. After allowing this to dry, I embossed the Lawn Fawn Stitched Heart to it, more onto the left side of the panel. I used a Spellbinders Silicone Mat underneath the card stock to make the impression onto the card stock without cutting it.

I applied water onto the inside of the heart and allowed it to dry. I have a bigger space to work with compared to the image Jennifer used in her video. I think that was a factor and the amount of water given the size of the area I am trying to lift the ink from. I allowed this to air dry. I highlighted the edges using Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peacock Feathers. This time, I rubbed the pad onto a pallete, spritz the area with water, and used a water brush to apply the ink onto the heart image. This gave me control on coloring the edges. I allowed this to air dry again. On the next round of blending, I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink Tumbled Glass. I rubbed the pad again onto a palette. This time, I spritz it with a WPlus9 Shimmer Spray Mist, then picked this up with a water color brush to paint over the inside of the heart.

For the sentiment, I got the idea from the Simon Says Stamp Sentimental Circles but I want it to surround the heart. I carefully cut the circled sentiment. I cut a heart using the same Lawn Fawn Stitched Heart die. I used this as a guide to lay-out the sentiment around the heart. I am also using the Misti tool to properly align the message. I also masked some words that was not along the edge of the heart.

I powdered the area to be stamped on since I am going to heat embossed the sentiment. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark ink. With the Misti tool, I was able to re-stamp the sentiment since I miss some parts during the first stamping. I poured Hero Arts white embossing powder to this, then heat set it.

To finish off the card, I trimmed 1/8" off each side, then adhered this to a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white note card. I also added some red sequins and applied a dot of Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Pastel Rose to the center of the sequins.

Thanks for viewing my blog.
Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

Valentine's Give-away with Doodlebug

I created this base from a die on sale that easily cuts and scores the elements to create a mini note card. I am using a Doodlebug Design patterned paper for this project with Sweet Things: Tiny Valentines as the focal point. This patterned paper can be cut apart and it is an instant Valentine's!

After I trimmed the patterned paper, separating the icons, I ran each thru the Big Shot using a Lawn Fawn Stitched Square die for more detail. To mat the square icons, I cut any coordinating paper at 2 3/8" x 2 5/8". I added detail to this by using a Mama Elephant Postage Die. My paper is smaller than the die so I had to match the edges to the die to get the proper corner cut. I wish I have more Doodlebug patterned paper from this collection to use for this purpose. I just used scraps that coordinate and fit the measurement above. 

For the mini note card,  I maximized a 12 x 12 Doodlebug Design Kraft in Color patterned paper by cutting it at 6" x 3" being mindful of the orientation of the design. I am going to gatefold the mini note card so the pattern should be vertical. i scored this at 2" and 4 1/2". Using a We R Memory Keepers Envelope Notcher Punch, I punch a notch on the 2" side, making sure the notch is towards the edge of the paper. 

Now, it's time to start embellishing the note card. I adhered the Doodlebug Tiny Valentine to the Postage die cut. I adhered a foam to the back of this for added dimension. I adhered this to the outside of the note card. I embellish some of the Tiny Valentine with stamping, adding glitters, using a white gel pen. 

I lined up some Doodlebug Chevron washi tape on a white card stock. I die cut a Paper Smooches Heart die to this and adhered this heart onto the notch using a Glue Dot for added embellishment. I placed the lollipops inside these note cards which held well, not requiring any adhesive at all. But if I planned this well, and if I had more time, I would have punched two circles on the center to which I will thread a twine to hold the lollipop. The raised design on the front will conceal this and at the same time, keep it secure with the additional glue.

Thanks for visiting my blog. 

Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

Car Shaped Birthday Card

 

It's my youngest son's birthday last February 9. He loves Hot Wheel cars. This and making a kid friendly card inspired me to create this card. This cut is from the Cricut Boys Will Be Boys cartridge. I cut the car twice at 6.5". I cut the layer at 6.5" making sure it is set at relative cut. But unfortunately, after this cut, my Cricut Imagine stopped cutting the next images. The mat will feed but the blade will just go back and forth, from left to right, on either the bottom or upper right corner, and spit the mat. I hate to admit it but I think my Cricut Imagine finally retired.

So, I had to innovate from here on since I still need cuts for the headlight, front bumper, door handle and wheels. I used an MFT Circle stacks to cut the wheels. I just traced the other elements onto the colored card stock that I will be using and just hand cut it.

I adhered the elements onto the first car base, cutting any excess on the edges. This is something I noticed on my Cricut cuts lately that even if it was cut at relative size, the cuts don't match.

I am trying out a newly purchased item, Judikins Embossable Plastic Film. I embossed the greeting using Mama Elephant Inline Letters and Hampton Arts Doodlebug Designs Inc. You Said It stamp sets. I used Versamark ink to stamp the sentiment being careful not to shift the acrylic block during stamping. I used WOW! Blue Topaz embossing powder. I custom cut the acetate to fit the driver's window.

For the passenger's window, Ryan loves to look out and also loves Panda bears. I stamped a panda from the Mama Elephant Pandamonium stamp set using Versafine Black Onyx ink. I added details to the panda by using Copic and Uni-Ball Signo white. I don't have the coordinating die for the ME Pandamonium, so I fuzzy cut the panda bear. If I had the coordinating die, I would have cut two panda bears, using one of it to cover the ink bleed caused by coloring the panda with the Copic marker.

I also punch a vellum circle and heat embossed the number 4 (Ryan's age) using the same colored embossing powder. I hand cut a small triangle to serve as the tip of the balloon. I tied a bow using Lawn Fawn Trimmings in Silver Sparkle. I adhered this to the balloon where the circle and the triangle would meet. I adhered another twine to the back of the balloon, and adhered one tip to the hand of the panda bear, like the panda bear is holding the balloon. I applied liquid glue to the panda bear and the balloon, to areas that will not show through the window. I sandwiched the balloon and panda bear with two acetates.

After I adhered the acetates, I adhered the second piece of the card onto the back to sandwich the acetates and keep the back clean.

I am glad my son loved his birthday card.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

Customizing A Card Stock Die Cut

I can say this is the 3rd in a series of posts in my blog featuring the Hero Arts Floral Stamp & Cut by Lia. While I was working on the cards from my previous post (Using Negative Die Cuts to Create New Cards,) I made a mistake when I adhered a red card stock on top of the Scor-Pal double adhesive tape pad instead of the sticky back side. Because of this, I created a die cut with an adhesive on the back ready to stick. There is nothing bad to this except that it wasn't going to work with that project.

Instead of adding this die cut to my stash of die cuts, I challenged myself to create a card featuring this heart die cut. It was cut using a plain red card stock so the choice is whether to cut more of it in different colors and fuzzy cut the elements to create a colorful detail on the inner heart, or just to make it easy, just go ahead and color it in. 

I used a white Wink of Stella brush marker to color in the flowers and the twigs. I colored in the twigs and leaves with a green Spica glitter marker. And for the flowers, I drew petals by following the contour of the cut. I applied dots of Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Pastel Rose to the center of the flowers. 

For the background, I used a scrap patterned paper. I added detail to this using Lawn Fawn Stitched Borders, positioning the different dies on the spaces in between the words. I  cut this at 1 3/4" x 3.5" and adhered it to the left side of the square note card which measures 3.5" x 3.5". The right side of the panel is the negative die cut card stock which I also used on the previous post. 

The die cut heart is adhered to this panel. For the sentiment, I used a Doodlebug washi tape which I cut slim to be able to mat with a black card stock. I added detail to the sentiment by doodling a heart inside the o-heart on the word love with the use of a Uni-Ball Signo pen. I also added random dots of Viva Decor Pearl Pen to the card stock negative cut side.

Thanks for viewing my blog. 

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://modsquadchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/02/from-heart.html

Using Negative Die Cuts to Create New Cards

On my previous post, I created a partially die cut card. I didn't want to throw the negative cut created from this step so I created a card with the mission to make use of this and not scrap it.

I was playing with the Hero Arts Floral Stamp & Cut by Lia and die cut two hearts using scrap patterned papers. It didn't blend with my previous created card plan. To be one with my mission, I am going to use this die cut hearts, too.

I want to add glitter to the negative die cuts of the heart. To achieve this, I need to use a Scor-Pal double adhesive tape sheet. Peeling one side, I adhered a coordinating card stock to it. Keeping the top release paper, I ran this with the die using the Sizzix Big Shot. Some of the release paper fell off. You can adhere it back. With the help of a kraft knife, carefully lift the release paper, trying to keep the release paper covering the negative spaces adhered. Line up the heart patterned paper die cut and adhere. Use a bone folder to burnish the patterned paper to the double adhesive sheet. I cut off the extra to reveal the heart shape die cut. I lost some of the negative die cut pieces but I didn't worry about it.

Now, it's time to peel off the backing sheet of the negative spaces of the die. I poured Elizabeth Crafts Silk Microfine Glitter in Cool Diamond to these areas. After returning the extra glitter back to the jar, I used my finger to burnish the glitter to the adhesive. To clean up, I used a Swiffer cloth to wipe off the excess glitter.

The card's front panel measures 3.5" x 3.5". I cut a 2 3/4" x 3.5" black card stock. I dry embossed this using We R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folder Gemstone. I added a thin cardboard to act as a shim to make the impression deeper. I didn't think the impression was deep enough on the first card (with the reddish/pink glitter) but I decided to keep it as is. It is totally up to you if you want to add a cardboard or not.

My card base is a top folding white note card, cut at 7" x 3.5" and scored at 3.5". I adhered the embossed panel flushed to the left of the note card. I adhered the negative die cut flushed to the right of the note card. I added detail to this part of the lay-out by running it through my Big Shot using a Lawn Fawn Square Stitched Stackable Die for added detail to the edge. I adhered the heart die cut using foam adhesive, piecing it to the negative die cut.

For the sentiment, I embossed the sentiment from the Hero Arts Handmade Kindness stamp set on a strip of black cardstock using white powder. I cut a fish tail on both ends. I also colored in the the spaces on the letters with a white color pencil for added detail. I adhered this to the center of the heart.

For a last detail, I randomly squirted some Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Pastel Rose to create dots that will mimic enamel dots.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://modsquadchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/02/from-heart.html

Partial Die Cut Valentine's Card

 

It's that time of the year were some of us get busy getting ready creating their Valentine's exchange. I created several cards using the Hero Arts Floral Stamp & Cut by Lia. I only partially die cut the heart onto the front of a note card measuring 3.5" x 7" scored at 3.5". To partially die cut, center the die onto the front of the note card, position the top cutting plate onto the area you want die cut, in this case towards the right edge of the heart, towards the card opening. Using a craft knife and with the guide of a ruler, I cut the card stock where the cut ends. This will reveal the half-heart shaped card front. Using the same die, I die cut glittered papers and directly adhered this onto the card front, making sure I line up the partial die cut heart with the front of the note card. Use a liquid adhesive since this allows some 'buy' time to wiggle the die cut while aligning it.

I embossed half of the inner note card, the one showing through the partial die cut, using We R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folders. I only sandwiched the area I want embossed, same technique I used with partial die cutting. 

I stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts Handmade Kindness stamp sent onto a vellum and poured white embossing powder onto it. I allowed the heat gun to be on for a while before pointing it towards the vellum piece to avoid warping. I applied dots of liquid glue to the back, to areas where there is concentration of the stamped sentiment to hide the glue. I randomly applied dots of Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Pastel Rose to the sides of the heart to add more accents. To finish off the card, I punch the outer top & bottom edges using We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile. 

Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-have-a-heart-3/

http://modsquadchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/02/hearts-and-flowers.html