Faux Calligraphy, Pearl Embossed Sentiments Greeting Card

Hello! Today, I created a 3-in-1 card. What do I mean by 3-in-1? This is when I make a card to meet themes of 3 challenge blogs.

• The Honey Bee Designs FB Challenge is on circles. I have limited Honey Bee Supplies. For this card, I am using the HB Bless Your Heart stamp set with the sentiment as the focal point of the card. 

• Wow! FB Challenge is on using Wow! Pearl embossing powders. I have used the pearl powder in a different card before and I like the effect it had on black pigment ink. On this card, I used three kinds of pearl powder on black pigment ink. I used the silver pearl on the sentiment on the gray circle. I used the white pearl on the red circle. And, I used the gold pearl on the sentiment on the green circle. Among the three, I like the effect of the white pearl embossing powder on black pigment ink. 
• Marker Universe's Monthly Art Challenge for July includes the colors green, gray and choose your own color. I am using Karin Brushmarkers 228 (Lush Green) and 278 (Warm Gray 1) as specified in the color reference chart. My chosen color is 170 (Magenta Red) since I think it will work well with the dark green. While working on the card, I realized that these are Christmas colors. It is never too early to make Christmas cards, or in this case, a thank you card for Chrsitmas. 

This is my third try in making this card. I started off with a circle shaped card using Strathmore Bristol Smooth but I keep warping the paper as I paint with the Karin Decobrush. After two tries using this paper, I switched to Strathmore watercolor paper and went for a traditional card rather than the circle shaped card. 

I stamped the sentiment using Tim Holtz Antique Linen. I traced with a pencil various sizes of circles using metal dies as a template. I painted the circles. I painted over the stamped sentiment using the green marker. I tried blending the green and red inks but it looked muddy to me so I just used the green marker. 

I built my sentiments on the circles, stamping the sentiments with Versafine Onyx Black ink with the help of the Misti. Because of the texture of the watercolor paper, I stamped the sentiments two to three times. I poured the embossing powder on the sentiment and heat set it in between stamping. 

I added a gray shadow to the sentiment. I adhered sequins and gems for additional embellishments.

I cut this to 4" x 5 1/4". I matted this with a dark green dotted cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I adhered this to a top folding card.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Honey Bee Stamps Facebook Challenge

Wow! Facebook Challenge~Pearl Powder

Marker Universe #COLORSOFTHEMONTH Challenge~July 2020

Sketch Inspired Card With Partially Die Cut Slim Frame

Hello! I created a card to join in PinkFresh Studio's FB Card Sketch Challenge. I am using patterned papers from a retired My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad. I chose cardstocks that coordinated with the colors in the patterned paper. The main focus of the card is the sentiment. I am using stamps from PinkFresh Studio My Favorite Things to Say stamp set. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink with the help of the Misti Stamping Tool. To frame this sentiment and since I only needed one circle window, I partially die cut the PS Slim Stitched Circle die on the floral patterned paper. The beauty of the scallop got lost with the busy pattern of the patterned paper. To fix this, I die cut a blue paper using the same die. I used a slightly bigger circle die to cut the scallop window and the stitching around it creating a frame.

I matted the floral patterned paper with the green sentiment panel. I trimmed a red-orange cardstock to add another matte. I added stitching details to this using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Border. 

I fussy cut the butterfly from one of the patterned papers in the pad. I stamped the antenna of the butterfly by masking a butterfly stamp and inking only the antenna. I traced this antenna with a gold pen. I adhered the butterfly underneath the sentiment to fill in the empty space. 

I wanted to use the same butterfly patterned paper to tie in with the fussy cut butterfly but the pattern was too busy that it was distracting. I muted this down by adding a layer of vellum over it. 

I added Stickles to the butterfly and Pretty Pink Posh blue gems to the scallop. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

PinkFresh Studio FB Weekly Card Sketch Challenge

Craft My Stash-Qurantine Cricut Iron On

Hello! For today's Craft My Stash, I am creating something out of my Cricut Iron On.

• I chose the shirt. I am using Rudy's hand me down hot pink shirt bought from Hobby Lobby.
• I chose the design from the free images at Cricut Design Space. I was contemplating on this design since it seems that there will be a lot of waste especially on the stars cut.  
• I chose the Cricut Iron On materials for the design.

I usually precut my materials prior to laying it on the Cricut mat. Since this is an iron on, I remembered to turn the Mirror on. 

I don't have a Cricut EasyPress so I turn to my handy dandy iron to do the job. I set the iron heat to the cotton setting. I covered the design area with another cotton shirt, before putting the iron over it. I applied even pressure, making sure I do this on all the areas with the iron on cut. 

I did one iron on material at a time. Before lifting the clear backing paper, I burnished the design using the Cricut Scraper. I carefully lifted the backing paper. If there is a cut that did not adhere to the shirt, I repeat the process of heating and burnishing again. 

Once I am done with the whole lay out, I lay the cotton shirt on top of the design and placed the iron on top as it cools off. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B. 

Rainbow Color Sketch Inspired Card

Hello! This is my 3rd creation using a product from my new craft stash. I am using products from Trinity Stamps. At the same time, I am participating in their blog challenge. This is definitely a way for me to use my stash.

I already chose the stamp set, So Appreciative stamp set, but I was debating on what paper to use which then comes to the question of what technique should I do based on the paper. I decided to use this retired Martha Stewart double sided colored paper. It has six colors and I can use a color for each layer of the card sketch.

I started with the back panel. I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" blue colored paper. The next layer was a light blue, which I cut at 4" x 5 1/4". I repeatedly stamp the zigzag stamp using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I embossed this with a Recollections Charcoal embossing powder.

I trimmed a 5 1/2" x 2 1/4" of green colored paper. I used the dash line stamp to create a stitched edge. I stamped this with Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed this with a Martha Stewart black embossing powder.

For the circular focal point, I die cut an orange color paper using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle die. I die cut the coordinating sentiment die on this circle to create a window for the sentiment. I die cut a yellow circle using SSS Circle Thin Frames. This circle is a little bit smaller than the stitched orange circle. I embossed the sentiment on this yellow circle using the same black embossing powder. I colored the sentiment using a Karin metallic black Decobrush. I colored the yellow background with Zig Wink of Stella yellow glitter brush pen for some shimmer. I lined the opening of the orange circle to the embossed sentiment on the yellow circle then adhered this together. I applied Zig Wink of Stella orange glitter on the orange paper. You can see the shimmer on the above picture.

I die cut a red colored paper using the banner die included in the die set. I stamped the sub-sentiment on this banner using the metal die as a guide to curve the sentiment stamp so it will be aligned with the banner. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed it with black embossing powder.

I created a slit on the Y of the embossed sentiment so I can insert the banner through it. I had to trim a little off the banner to be able to slide this through the slit. I die cut a pink heart and adhered this to the banner. I applied Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Gloss to the heart.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I truly appreciate your being here and checking out my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and crative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Trinity Stamps Crafty Troop Challenge~July 2020

Identical Cards Using The Same Supplies

Hello! I created these cards to join in Rachelle Anne Miller Digital Stamps FB Challenge. I get to know Rachelle Anne's work through a free digital image through Kit & Clowder. I love her illustrations. It gives me a children's book feel although you don't have to limit yourself to this when you use her images in your creations.

I started off by printing the image on Arches watercolor paper. I flipped on of the images to give the second card a different look. The blog challenge is a color challenge which is a bit tough for me since I don't have the exact colors so I used supplies close to these colors. 

I colored the images using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide which gave it a chalky look. I applied the pigment using the dry technique method so as not to bleed the outlines of the printed image. I die cut the image with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die, using the partial die cutting technique to extend the length of the stitched die. I stamped the sentiment from a retired Doodlebug-Hampton stamp set using Versafine Onyx Black ink. To give it a muted look, I heat embossed this with Wow! White Pearl embossing powder.

I am using a retired My Mind's 6x6 paper pad for the panel. The solid colored cardstock was die cut using SSS Wavy Scallop Stitches wafer die. I matted the printed panel with the solid colored paper. 

I added flower sequins to the the panel, adding Nuvo Crystal drops to the flower centers. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Rachelle Anne Miller Digital Stamps FB Challenge

Facebook Challenge~Pearl Powders

Digital Image on Postcard

Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. The challenge theme is on Summer Colours. Our sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy. I am using the Traveling Bird digital image. 

My family and I decided to stay at home during the summer. We have something planned to do for summer this year but we have to delay our plans for next year because of COVID. We can only wish for the best right now.

Back to the project, I printed the image on Strathmore Watercolor paper sizing it at 4" x 6". I set this aside to dry but I still have a bit bleeding when I started watercoloring the image. I am using Karin Decobrush on the image. I colored straight to paper then used a water brush to spread the color. I noticed some bleeding and I think it is because my water brush is too wet despite wiping off the brush tip on a rag before blending the color out. I also noticed that I was not able to blend some of the colors out. To fix this, I used Faber Castell Polychromos color pencils. There are plenty of detailing done on this image. I just looked at my stash and added whatever I think will bring life to the image.

For the clouds and background, I blended Tim Holtz Salty Ocean and  Broken China Distress Inks using Picket Fence Life Changing Brush. I splattered water on the sky background then picked this up with a paper towel. I added silver pigment on the clouds using Finetec Pearl watercolor. 

For the sentiment,  I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink with the help of the Misti Stamping Tool. Because of the textured watercolor paper, I stamped this repeatedly before I got a good impression.

To make this into a postcard, I die cut the panel using Waffle Flowers A7 Layers die. I like stacking dies. It helps me know where to die cut my panel without the risk of coming off short of the size or having an off centered image which might happen if I use a paper trimmer. 

Using the Misti Stamping Tool, I positioned the American Crafts Postcard stamp. I stamped this using Hero Arts Pool To Navy Ombre ink pad. 

I set this aside to dry before applying Tim Holtz Distress Glaze on the printed image side to protect this from possible water damage once I send this through the mail. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see your creations in the challenge blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

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I am sharing this creation at

Challenge #217~Painting or Colouring

Challenge #15~Anything Goes

Foiled Die Cuts, Use My Stash Card

Hello! My primary motivation in creating this card is to use a craft item or tool that I have not used in a while. For this project, I chose my Minc Machine. I was going to tie it in with Pinkfresh Studio's FB challenge but I did not made it to the deadline. Luckily, they have a blog challenge. 

I am using a die from the Pinkfresh Studio Floral Squares die set. I just need the vine and the flower for this card. I don't want to waste a lot of paper so I selectively die cut a toner sheet. I did a bit of die cut surgery to cut off the frame from the vine and the flower. 

I cut pieces of Minc Reactive Foil in light pink and mint green, and Therm O Web I Craft Deco Foil in dark pink making sure it is large enough to cover the toner paper die cuts. I sandwiched the die cut, foil (with shiny side facing away the die cut) and tucked this in a folded parchment paper. I also added a cardstock for extra shim as I fed this through the Minc Machine. I set the Minc on setting 4. The result is simply amazing!

I trimmed a Neenah Solar White Cardstock to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I blended Tim Holtz Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide on this paper. I die cut this panel using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle Wafer die. I trimmed a teal patterned paper to 4 1/4"x 5 1/2". Instead of using this whole paper to mat the inked paper, I used the same wafer die to create a stitched frame. I carefully blended Tim Holtz Peacock Feather Distress Ink to this frame. I positioned this frame on the inked paper, flushing the edges together, and securing this with a tape on the back. 

I placed the panel on the Misti Stamping Tool. I arranged the flowers, the vines and the sentiment which is from Pinkfresh Studio My Favorite Things To Say stamp set. I closed the Misti door to pick up the sentiment stamp. To maintain the arrangement of the flowers and the vines, I placed a Glad Press 'N Seal on top of the arrangement, gave it a little rub, then lifted this off the panel.

I heat embossed the sentiment using Wow! Primary Blue Topaz embossing powder. 

Now, it is time to adhere the floral arrangement back into the panel. I flipped the Glad Press 'N Seal to reveal the back side of the die cuts. I placed dots of glue to the vines. Flipping the Glad Press 'N Seal with the die cuts facing up, I positioned the vines then gave the vines a light rub to adhere it to the panel. 

Since the flowers did not have any glue, I was able to lift if off from the arrangement. I cut small pieces of foam tape and adhered it to the back of the flowers. I then adhered this to the panel. I added pink Ink Road Stamps sequins to the flower centers. 

I added water splatters and white paint splatters for added texture. I adhered this to a white top folding A2 note card.

I really enjoyed playing with my Minc Machine again. I plan to make more projects of this kind wherein I feature a craft supply and/or tool in my stash that has not been getting my attention lately.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

  

Pinkfresh Studio Challenge Blog

Meant To Be Sent-July

Color Inspired One Layer Card

Hello! This is the second of a series featuring products from my newly acquired craft items. I am using a stamp from The Stamping Village Thinking of You clear stamp set. This is an amazing stamp set which consists of different stamps from different companies. Best of all, a part of the sale goes to Save The Children Organization. I am using the stamp by Hero Arts.

I created this card to meet three challenge blogs requirements:

• For the A Blog Named Hero, the challenge is Combine Old & New. I am using an old HA stamp Tiny Flags with the TSV Thinking of You HA stamp. 
• For the Hero Arts Stay Crafty With Hero Challenges, the challenge is One Layer Card.
• For the IG Karin Markers #KarinColors featuring the colors Egyptian Blue 305, Red 209 and Cool Grey1 160

I trimmed a Canson watercolor paper to 4 1/4" x 11", scoring it in half at 5 1/5". I stamped the image on the card front using Versafine Onyx Black ink, heat setting it to dry the ink. I masked the area using a full adhesive Post-it Note. 

I applied the color to the rubber stamp by rubbing the Karin Marker nib on the stamp. I lightly spritz this with water then placed the card front on top of the stamp. I gently rub the paper with my fingers then lift the paper off the stamp. I heat set this to dry. I rotated the stamp and repeated the process.

I removed the masking paper and sadly, the colors bled under the masking paper. I had a hard time lifting off the color from the paper so I just let this be for now.

Moving on, I colored the images with Karin Markers. I used paints from Finetec Coliro Watercolor Pearl Gold and Silver Set to color the stars and add shimmer to the bold hero sentiment. 

I drew a line to create a border around the stamped image. To hide the color bleed, I painted the background of the stamped image with the KM Cool Grey1 which turned out too dark. Since I am having difficulties lifting off the color, I painted white over this background using Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor. 

My 15 year old said this card looks like a flag. Very timely since I created this card during 4th of July. Just late in posting since I work the weekends. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Hero Arts Challenge Blog~June to July 2020

Hero Arts Blog Challenge #11

 IG #KarinColors

Trying Out We R Memory Keepers Bevel Quill

Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge blog. Our challenge theme is Curvy/Curves. We have two generous sponsors for this challenge. I am using an image from SheepSki Designs.

I am also using a product that has been on my 'new' things corner of my craft table for a long time, the We R Memory Keepers Bevel Quill kit. I already have the We R Memory Keepers Foil Quill and the Freestyle Foil Quill Pen which I really enjoy using. There are still other Quill sets by We R Memory Keepers but I chose the Bevel Quill because I like the debossed image look on the faux metal die cut. 

I printed the image on watercolor paper. I colored the image with Tim Holtz Distress Ink ink Rusty Hinge and Ground Espresso for the coffee and coffee beans, and Weathered Wood and Hickory Smoke for the coffee cup. For the coffee design, I don't have a white gouache in my stash so I used the Copic Opaque White ink instead. I fussy cut the image leaving a white border around it.

For the background, I embossed a dark brown cardstock on a Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls embossing folder. I lightly sanded the raised swirls. I added details to the tips of the swirls by coloring it with Nuvo ? pen. The embossing folder is 4" x 5 1/4" so I had to trim off the edge without any embossing. 

For the focal point of the card, I designed the sentiment on Cricut Design Space. The bevel will take the spot of the marker in the Cricut machine. I positioned the metallic board die cut on the Cricut mat and pressed the start button to let the bevel pen create the impression on the board. Once this is done, without pressing the unload button, I pressed the start button again. I did this five times total to create a deeper imprint. Look at the photo below and see how great the imprint is.

The metallic die cuts that come with the kit has a circle that comes with it but it was too large for my design. I die cut this into a smaller circle by using My Favorite Things Circle Stax die. I adhered the image to the center. I adhered this to the panel with foam adhesive.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see your creations in the blog challenge. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

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July 2020~Anything Goes

SugarPea Blog-July Meant To Be Sent

Sketch Inspired Front Flap Card

Hello! I created this card to join the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge. At the same time, I created this for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. 

I stamped the images using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock. The stamps are from the MFT Town Bear stamp set. I colored the image with Copic markers. I fussy cut the images leaving a white border around it. I added shimmer to the leaves on the trees and the headlight of the car using a green Spectrum Noir shimmer pen.

For the front flap, I made this into a triangular shape from a side folding white note card. I trimmed off and left an inch from the back fold of the note card. I trimmed off the edges to make this into a 4" x 5 1/4". I placed a tick mark on the center of the front fold. Using this and the scored fold as a guide, I trimmed the front fold to make it into a triangle. 

For the scene, I created a mask of a hill using the Lawn Fawn Hillside Stitched Borders die and Inkadinkado masking paper. I covered the area for the sky while I worked on the hill. Using the Picket Fence Blender Brush, I created the hill by blending Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron Distress Inks. I covered this inked area with the other half of the masking paper. I also created a mask for the clouds using Taylored Expression Rolling Clouds die. I blended Tim Holtz Distress Ink Salty Ocean and Broken China Distress Inks.

Working on the card, I trimmed a blue Doodlebug sprinkles vellum into 5" x 5 1/4". I scored this at 1". I also trimmed a blue cardstock at 5" x 5 1/4". I adhered the vellum to this blue cardstock by applying adhesive to the short flap. I then adhered the triangle panel on top, applying adhesive to the flap only. I adhered this to a white 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" cardstock. 

For the scene, I adhered the trees directly to the blended cardstock. I adhered the bear using foam adhesive. 

For the sentiment strip, partially die cut the road using a die from the MFT Open Road die set so it will accommodate the height of the sentiment. I heat embossed the sentiment from the MFT BB Beary Special Birthday using Wow! Primary Blue Topaz embossing powder. I adhered this to the scene, cutting off the excess. The negative cut of the road die cut did not fall off during the die cutting. I decided to keep them as is. I colored these with Spectrum Noir Blue Topaz shimmer pen blending it out with the SN Clear shimmer pen. 

I added SN Clear shimmer pen to the car head light. I added Ranger Glossy Accents to this. For the eyes, I added Ranger Black Enamel Accents. Instead of adding the enamel accents direct to paper, I squirted a small dot of the enamel accent on a clear block and picked it up with a needle to apply to the eye. I did it this way since I was afraid that I will squirt a big blob of black enamel accent if I did it directly to the image. I set this aside to dry.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge~Take Me For A Ride

SugarPea Blog-July~Friendship