Flocked Stamped Sentiment

Do you remember that time when flocking was all rage? Messy work but the fuzzy dimension is eye-catching. I am featuring the flocking powder in this project.

I embossed the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles onto the front of a top folding 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white note card. I used an embossing mat to achieve this look. The mat prevents the metal die from cutting the cardstock. Using Tab 2 in the die platform, I applied the embossing mat, a cardboard for extra shim, and the cardstock with die sandwiched between the two plates. I adhered the die with washi tape to prevent it from shifting when I run it through the Sizzix Machine. I was only able to use the two largest rectangles of the SSS die for this card.

I prepared the middle panel for embossing. I positioned the stamp on the Misti Stamping Tool. I first tried using the Ranger Sticky Embossing Powder to attract and adhere the flocking powder. I was not quite happy with the results so I resorted to the Tsukineko Essential Glue Pad. The results with flocking are better using this.

I adhered a very thin strip of double sided tape along the scored lines, avoiding the stitched impressions. I poured Elizabeth Crafts Warm Diamond to these strips and burnished the glitter using my finger. To make this pop, I drew a line around the rectangles using a Copic Marker.
I also added Doodlebug sequins.

To burnish the flocking powder, I covered the flocked sentiment with Swiffer cloth and used a bone folder to apply pressure to the flocked area. When I lifted off the Swiffer, it also picked up the extra stray flocking powder that I was having a hard time brushing off.

Is there a supply in your craft room that you have not used in a long time? How about you take a look and use it alongside with new released embellishments.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a blessed & brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation with

Neat and Tangled

Foiled Digital Image

It is a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. The challenge is to use a non-traditional image to create a Christmas Creation. I chose a cupcake for this challenge. I printed the image as a contact sheet, filling the sheet with the image. I printed it on Neenah 65 lb. cardstock using a laser printer. I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" panel form this, making sure the images are centered. I foiled the image using the Minc Machine and a gold Deco Foil sheet.

I colored the image to create a Christmas tree cupcake with a poinsettia flower at the top. I used color pencils which is a challenge for me. I noticed with color pencils that having a sharp tip does not necessarily mean good coloring. In fact, it created harsh lines while I color. I also think that the weight you put on coloring is another factor with color pencils. I am using Staedtler Ergosoft Color Pencils which has a waxed core. I think this feature of this colored pencil is another factor in the ability to add details to the image. I used a blending pen to mute down the harsh lines I created while coloring. I am not sure if it worked or not. When I googled reviews for this brand, it scored poor in blending. 

Coloring the images with color pencil is a lot of work, by the way. I cant' imagine how I can color a whole sheet of coloring page. Anyway, I added score lines in between the images using Lawn Fawn Stitched Borders. Since the panel still looked plain. I blended a yellow dye ink using a sponge dauber, making sure I avoid the cupcakes.

I created a window with the use of a craft knife and using the score lines as guide. I lined up a brown cardstock behind the windowed panel. Using the Misti Stamping tool, I positioned the sentiment stamp inside the window. I picked up the stamp and removed the windowed panel. I applied anti-static powder to the dark brown cardstock, then stamped the sentiment using Versamark ink. I embossed the sentiment using a Wow! Metallic Gold Rich embossing powder. The sentiment is from Li'l Inker Designs Greetings and Salutations stamp set. I trimmed off the top and bottom edges of the windowed panel to reveal a little bit of the brown cardstock. I adhered the windowed panel on top of the sentiment panel.

I added details to the cupcakes by adding dots of white Ranger Enamel Accents. At first, I was applying the dots directly to the image but some of the dots are too big for the small image. To have control over this, I squeezed some onto a scrap paper. I picked up the Enamel Accents using a stick pin.

For the flower, I squeezed red Stickles onto a scrap paper. This time, I used a brush to apply the Stickles to the petals. I had a hard time applying the Stickles. I am not sure if it is from the waxed coating of the color pencil that prevents the glue to adhere to the surface. For the last detail, I applied a dot of gold Nuvo to the center of the flower.

Thanks for viewing my blog. I hope you join us in today's bi-weekly challenge. Have a blessed and brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

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Shrinked Stamped Crystal Images

I came up with a card idea that I couldn't just give up on. I know the Hero Arts Holiday Cardmaking will end today, about 6 hours before I started working on this card. This is a big challenge for me, time crunch.

I stamped the images from HA Christmas Crystals onto Shrinky Dinks Crystal Clear transparencies. I used Stazon Cotton White to stamp the images. I also used the Misti Stamping Tool which is very helpful in stamping a lot of images at once, and also prevent shifting of the images when stamping on transparencies.

I cut the images separate before coloring it. I tried coloring first but the inks end up transferring to my hand. I then, punched a hole on the top of the image. I fuzzy cut the image leaving a small border around the image and the punched hole.

Here comes the magic. According to the packaging directions, it is recommended to use a toaster oven to shrink the plastic. I used my heat tool, a popsicle stick and a box cover. The plastic will curl during heating and seem to have its own mind because it will start curling and flip. This is where the use of the popsicle stick comes in, to get some control over the plastic. The end result, pretty crystal gems!

To create the card, I used the HA Tiny Flags to create a Christmas tree. I initially stamped this on a scrap paper to plan how I will mask the background rubber stamp. I used painters tape to create the tree border. I inked this background stamp with HA Soft Leaf Shadow Ink. I took the tape off and placed a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" green cardstock, to create a tone-on-tone image.

For the sentiment background, using the same colored cardstock, I stamped the sentiment from HA Snowman Christmas stamp set. I used the Misti to repeatedly stamp the sentiment with Versamark ink since the first impression weren't good. I heat embossed the sentiment using American Crafts Metallic Gold powder.

To add more detail to this sentiment panel, I rubbed the HA Unicorn pigment ink to an acrylic block. I spritz this with a little bit of water, mixed it with a small paint brush, then tapped the paint brush on my finger to create small dots.

I positioned the crystals on the tree panel. I poked holes using We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy needle. I hand sew the crystals to attach them to tree, sort of like the hooks for ornaments. I used a DMC Metallic Gold thread. I secured the thread at the back using a strong double adhesive tape. I fuzzy cut the tree which I should have done before sewing. Well, it still worked, just gave myself a bit of difficulty. I adhered this onto the sentiment panel using foam tape, then adhered to a kraft colored note card. I did snip a small portion off the edges from this green panels to create a border with the kraft color.

Here is a comparative picture of the stamp set and the shrinked version of it.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a blessed and brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation to

http://blog.heroarts.com/challenge/

November Linky Challenge-Anything Goes

Layered Stamping and Embossing

I have difficulties using layered stamps. I am amazed at what others can create from this kind of stamps. I just got to try again, right?

I started with creating the front panel. I repeatedly stamped the sentiments from Hero Arts Christmas Crystals stamp set. I positioned the words on an acetate. I made sure it is straight by using a T-ruler. I also made sure the 3 words are properly spaced. The acetate stabilizes the word stamps to prevent it from shifting. I am using the Misti Stamping Tool. I picked the word stamps by closing the door of the Misti onto the acetate. The word stamps attached to the Misti door. I then removed the acetate. I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" red cardstock. I stamped the sentiments repeatedly using Versamark ink. I started at the middle, moving the cardstock down, then shifting it to the left or right. The Misti grid lines are very helpful as a guide in moving and shifting the cardstock for even spacing. Once I stamped the whole panel,  using a soft brush, I pounced some pearl Perfect Pearl on the stamped sentiments. Once I've covered the whole panel with Perfect Pearl, I mist the panel with water to set the Perfect Pearl. I dried this using the heat gun. I buffed of the excess Perfect Pearl using a Swiffer.

To create the window, I used a My Favorite Things circle die. I temporarily adhered the red cardstock onto a note card, then ran this through the Sizzix. I also die cut a mask using the next biggest sized circle,

The Christmas tree is from HA Christmas Color Layering Tree stamp set. The set has 4 layers to create the tree. I practiced first with the colors I was planning to use to see if they match. I think aside from aligning these stamps to create a layered look, choosing the right color combination is another key to come up with good results. Using a stamp positioner can also be helpful.

I stamped the base layer on the back panel of the note card using HA Field Green ink. I restamped the image using HA White Unicorn Ink to lighten the color of the first impression. I don't have a lot of coordinating green inks so this is one way of creating variety of shades especially if you have limited supplies.

This is where I kind of messed up the image. I thought I've dried the Unicorn ink well enough. I stamped the second layer using Versamark so I can emboss it. My mistake. After I poured the powder, guess what happened? The powder stuck to the base layer with the Unicorn ink. Oh well. Moving forward, it was actually a happy accident. I used Wow! White Pearl embossing powder on this base layer. After the powder melted, I like the look of it! Continuing, I stamped the 2nd layer and embossed it with HA Silver embossing powder. The 3rd layer, I used Wow! Gold Rich Pale embossing powder. And, for the last layer, I used Wow! Snow Puff powder. For the star, I embossed this using Wow! Gold Ultra High embossing powder.

For the tree background,  I used the negative portion of the mask and adhered this, centering the tree on the circle. I also created a mask for the ground. I blended Simon Says Stamp Sea Glass ink for the sky. I used HA Soft Granite and Silver inks for the ground. I added Nuvo Crystals drops for accents.

I stamped the sentiment in red ink. I adhered the red panel on the card front, making sure the circle windows are aligned. I added a Lawn Fawn twine and tied this into a bow at the top of the card.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a blessed & brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation with

http://blog.heroarts.com/challenge/

No-Line Digi Stamp Coloring

I thought the challenge for this image's sponsor, Sami Stamps, is next Incy Wincy Designs' Challenge. Aside from this, the card I created does not meet the challenge this image will sponsor. Let's just say, I fell in love with the cuteness of this owl, and that somebody who loves owls inspired me to create this card.

I printed the image on Strathmore Watercolor paper in sepia. I used Zig Clean Color and Akashiya Sai markers for coloring. I added a wash of grey on the background, making sure not to touch the already colored image.

I die cut the sentiment using Concord & 9th Grateful Leaf die. I heat embossed this with copper Ranger embossing powder.

For the panels, I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" kraft cardstock and embossed this with We R Memory Keepers 3D embossing folder. I adhered a strip of patterned paper to this. I matted the watercolored panel with patterned paper. I adhered this onto the kraft cardstock panel with fun foam.

This is just a preview of this digital image can be used. Please come and visit my blog again when the IWD Challenge sponsored by Sami Stamps is posted.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a blessed & brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation with

Anything Goes

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-thanksthanksgiving-4/

Color Challenge

Collage Nativity Card

The challenge for me in creating this card is coming up with coordinating embellishments to re-create the lay-out of the sketch in today's bi-weekly Incy Wincy Designs Challenge. I used Copic markers to color the image. I later end up fuzzy cutting it leaving a small white border.

For the background (which is just one of many =)), I used Strathmore Bristol paper to blend Tim Holtz Distress inks. I blended Tumbled Glass to the whole panel, which is about 4 1/2" x 5". I have no definite plans at this point so I ink blended the whole panel. I masked one part at a time to create rays coming from the right upper corner of the panel. I blended Blue Sketch and Faded Jeans to create the night sky part while the light areas are the rays coming from the star. I pounced pearl Perfect Pearl powder on the light areas. I later cut this using the second largest SSS rectangle die. It was too large for my intended lay-out, so I partially die-cut it to create a custom sized rectangle.

Looking through my Christmas paper packs, I am using Fancy Pants Timbergrove collection. Following the sketch, I created a panel using two different patterned papers. I taped it on the back before die cutting it using Simon Says Stamped Stitched Rectangles die. I used the biggest rectangle to cut this half & half panel.

I created a hill to ground the scene using a light brown cardstock and die cutting it with Avery Elle-ments Custom Panels die. I die cut to create some layers. I added stitching details to the outer corners of the ground using the SSS die. I embossed it with a We R Memory Keepers Tide embossing folder. I inked one with TH Ground Espresso, and inked the other with Vintage Photo.

For the upper half of the panel, I added stars. I die cut a Hobby Lobby vellum with spots of glitter using the SSS die. The spots were not enough to create a starry night sky. I can't find a star stamp in my stash that I like to use for this card. So, I used some silver Studio Calico star sequins and adhered it under the vellum for a muted look.

For the corner elements of the sketch, I stamped a sentiment on the same green patterned paper using an old Inkadinkado Christmas stamp. I heat embossed the sentiment using two different kinds of pearl powder from Wow!, a white and a silver. I didn't see any difference between the sentiment was heat embossed. Even if I did aim for a variation in colors between the star and the sentiment, I just kept it as is. I cut this in a triangular shape for the top right corner, sort of where the rays are coming from. For the bottom corner, I die cut the wood grain paper using a Paper Smooches Toppers Wise Die.

I added shimmer to the hay using clear Spectrum Noir. I added Novu Crystal drops to the stars and to the bottom corner embellishment.

Before I started adhering the elements to this collage card, I ran the edges of the base card on a Versamark ink pad. I applied Wow! Rich Pale Gold and heat embossed it.

A lot of details in creating this card. I hope you like it. Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a blessed & brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

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