Weaved Fall Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am a guest designer at the Cut It Up Challenge. The challenge theme is Colors of Fall/Autumn. This is my favorite season because of the colors. 

The Cut It Up Challenge requires a die cut to be included on your project. I die cut the letters using the Spellbinders Stitched Alphabet dies. I die cut the letters on various patterned papers from the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor 6x8 pad. I die cut the same letters on scrap white cardstock. I adhered the patterned paper letter die cuts to the white letter die cuts. This gives some stability to the patterned paper letter die cuts since the patterned paper are not that thick. 

I stitched Sulky gold thread on the stitching holes. This thread offers some challenge in stitching. Because of its slick texture, I had a hard time lining up the three strands and also had a hard time knotting the end. It was worth the struggle after seeing the effect of this glossy thread to the project. Very pretty!

I die cut the shadow of the letter on a woodgrain patterned paper which is included in the paper pad. 

I adhered the stitched letters to the shadow. I pressed the layers with a reverse tweezer and a mini clothespin while the liquid glue is drying. This promotes better adhesion of the die cut letter to the die cut shadow. I set the letters aside.

For the weaved panel, I die cut a heavy weight cream colored cardstock using The Stamp Market Weaving Cards die. Since I wanted to create a landscape card, I partially die cut the weave die on the cream cardstock. I used the cut tabs as a guide in repositioning the die to die cut the rest of the panel.

I wrapped a white crochet thread on the tabs. Using a heavy weight cardstock for this weaving card prevents the cardstock from curving during the weaving. Once I have wrapped all of the tabs with crochet thread, now its time for weaving. I secured the ends to the back of the panel with tape.

I am obsessed with trims! Thanks to Paige Evans. After seeing her trims on her mini scrapbook pages, I am simply on the lookout for trims. Thankfully, Michael's came up with a bundled trim for different occasions and color palettes. I used a tapestry needle to help me weave the trims through the crochet thread making sure I alternate the order of weaving on each trim. Once the panel is filled with trims, I added a double adhesive tape to the ends of the panel and adhered the trims to it. I also added a double adhesive tape to the back edges of the panel to secure the ends of the trims really well. I trimmed off the excess.

I heat embossed the additional sentiments on the same woodgrain patterned paper. I used Wow! Gold Pearl embossing powder. The sentiment is from the coordinating stamp set of the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor. The stamp sentiment was partially stamped to come up with a customized sentiment. I die cut this into strips using a die from Avery Elle. I die cut extras and adhered it to the back of the sentiment strips for a bit of dimension.

I adhered the letters and sentiment strips to the weaved panel. With all the texture on the weaving, I think it is best to use a glue gun. But I am messy when it comes to using a glue gun so I settled for a liquid adhesive which worked out just fine. It just took a long time for the liquid glue to dry. I also had to add more glue to some areas. 

I hope you like today's project. Thank you, Larelyn and Cut It Up for allowing me to share my work in their challenge blog. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Make Your Own Background, featuring Spellbinders #37

I used Spellbinders Stitched Alphabet dies.

Spotlight Stitched Slimline Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project is a stitched card. The pattern I used is from Cross Stitch Floral Dreams by Durene Jones. The die I used is the Crafty Meraki Stitch-A-Cross slimline die. I used a Neenah Desert Storm cardstock for my stitching panel. 

There are 8 holes per inch on the stitching panel created by the die. Any design you use on this stitching panel will be enlarged. Finding a pattern that fits this stitching panel can be a challenge that's why I resort to spotlight stitching. This technique involves choosing a part of the pattern, usually the focal point of the pattern, to stitch on the stitching panel. 

Since the holes are large, I used 6 strands of DMC floss per stitch. I separate the strands from each other then put the strands together again before stitching. I just practiced this lately. It can be time consuming to do this especially when the strand gets knotted but this step makes a difference to the floss by making the stitch fluffy.

I die cut a slimline frame using a Trinity Stamp die on a darker kraft cardstock. I die cut two frames, adhered one on top of the other then adhered it to the stitched panel.

I stamped a sentiment form My Favorite Things Bitty Birthday Wishes stamp set on the same dark kraft cardstock using a purple dye ink. I die cut the sentiment into a strip using an Avery Elle die. I die cut five more pieces of strips and stacked in on top of each for dimension. I adhered the sentiment on the stitched panel. 

I adhered sequins to the stitched flowers for embellishment. I added Nuvo drops and Stickles to the centers of the sequins. 

I hope you like today's project. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Spider Web Mobile

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. For today's project, I created a halloween decor featuring my most used and favorite Kat Scrappiness product, the KS Creepy Crawly craft dies. 

I die cut the half spider web die on black cardstock, cutting 6 pieces of it. There is a whole spider web die in this set but I wanted a larger spider web that's why I used the half spider web die. I overlapped the centers of the half spider web die cut to create a whole spider web. I built layers using the other pieces, cutting off the centers on some to make the spider web leveled. 

I die cut the spiders on holographic cardstock and pearl metallic cardstock. I adhered a narrow double adhesive on the back of the spider to keep the eyes of the spider in place. I adhered a transparent thread to the adhesive on the back of the spider. To secure this thread, I adhered another double adhesive tape over it. I added dots of glue to the back of the spider, then adhered another spider over it. The spiders mirror each other so it matches when you adhere it back to back. It is a bit tenuous adhering the spider legs but it all worked out. I cut the thread long enough before moving on to the next spider. 

I poked holes on the ends of the spider web. I threaded a black floss through these holes. I tied these flossed into a knot. This will be the hanger of the mobile.

I used a small needle to poke a hole on the spider web and to thread the transparent thread through this hole. I tied a knot on the end of the thread to keep this from slipping through the hole. I continued doing this until all the spiders are attached to the spider web. 

I decorated the spider web with a silver trim. I adhered the trim using a glue gun. A lot of mess but totally worth it.

I hope you like today's project. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I added below a link to the Kat Scrappiness product I used on this card. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase this product. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products. They have a new release, too! Enjoy!

I am sharing this project at

Not A Card

Stitched Mushroom Embroidery Hoop

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project is another stitching project. The pattern is from Waffleflower.com which was created for the Waffle Flower Stitchable Hoops die. I customized the pattern to fit my stitchable die cut which was cut using The Stamp Market Embroidery Hoop dies. The difference between the two is the number of stitching holes and center. The Waffle Flower has the stitching hole as the center of the circle die cut while The Stamp Market has the stitching space as the center. So the pattern was more towards the left side of the circle. To balance this, I repeated the color on the right side of the pattern.

The nice thing about stitching on paper is that you have a lot of choices when it comes to the color of the stitching panel. I have never stitched on black fabric before but here I am, stitching on black cardstock for a change.

I substituted some of the colors on the pattern since I don't have all of the suggested embroidery floss colors. I also used an orange DMC Mouline Etoile floss for some sparkle to the pattern. How I wish I used a red one to make the mushroom really sparkly. 

This stitched mushroom embroidery hoop can be used as a gift tag, a focal image of a card or an ephemera to a scrapbook layout. 

I hope you like today's project. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

 

Stitched Framed Art

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's cross stitch pattern is from Cross Stitch Floral Dreams by Durene Jones. 

I die cut a light pink cardstock using the Ellen Hutson A2 Piercing Plate 2. The die adds piercing holes to the paper for cross stitching. There are 53 squares x 64 squares which equals to a 12 count Aida cloth. These numbers guide in choosing the pattern that I will cross stitch on the panel. 

If the cross stitch pattern is too large, you can do a Spotlight Stitching in which you choose an area of the pattern that you like to stitch. The pattern I used is smaller than the panel. I don't have the recommended colors for the pattern. I substitute the DMC colors that I don't have with what I have in my stash. I use the DMC conversion chart in thread-bare.com to help me in substituting colors.

I revised the outlines of the pattern. Some of the outlines require stitching on the middle of two holes.  With paper stitching, you can only stitch on the poked holes. Stitching in between the holes might tear the paper especially with how small the count on this panel. 

Once I was done with the stitching, I framed the panel using The Stamp Market Scalloped Frame die. This die set comes with all the necessary dies to create a picture frame. I die cut the frame twice using a heavy weight kraft cardstock. I adhered the frames on top of each other to add depth. I die cut the stitched panel and another kraft cardstock using the oval scalloped die I adhered the kraft cardstock to the back of the stitched panel. The scallop only goes one way, so if it does not match, rotate the frame 180 degrees. Same with the solid scallop die cut, you cannot flip it to use the back of the die cut. The scallops will not match. 

The set comes with the easel die to make this frame stand. I die cut the easel on the same kraft cardstock I used for the scallop frame. Adhering the easel can be challenging. I usually tape the flap to the back first and check if the frame will stand before gluing it. 

I hope you like today's project. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Challenge #312~What's in Your Garden? #2

 

Framed Art

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project is a gift to the only locally owned brick & mortar craft store here in St. Louis, Checkered Cottage. They celebrated their 25th anniversary last August. This store is owned by three wonderful ladies, Susan, Robyn & Linda with the support of their staff and class instructors. If you happen to pass by St. Louis, how about stopping by this store?

My favorite section of the store is the Recreate where gently used craft items are sold. I love finding treasures here especially craft tools. I also love their wide array of products. It takes a lot of discipline not to splurge on craft items but sometimes, I cannot help it especially when they have the latest releases of my favorite brands. 

Back on the project, the letters are foiled using the Pinkfresh Studio Inna Alpha: hot foil set, layering stencils and die set. I purchased the first two items from the Checkered Cottage. I agreed to show them a project using the stencils. This has been a while. But isn't this the best opportunity to show them  how the stencils work and make them keep it, too?

There is another discovery I made in the process of creating this project. I have not been using my Spellbinders Glimmer Machine because of my failure of getting a good foiled impression. I found out that Spellbinders carry a Glimmer specialty paper. The Checkered Cottage does not have this specialty paper. They only have the Betterpress specialty paper. I went ahead and purchase this to foil on. What is there to lose, right? If it doesn't work then I can use the cardstock for other purposes. But what a nice surpise! This cardstock worked really well with the Glimmer Foil despite its textured and matte finish. 

I used Tim Holtz Distress inks in blending ink on the flowers and a gray dye ink for the letters. Since the flowers and leavers are small, I only used one color for each flower on a letter. I started with a light hand in blending the ink on the first stencil. You achieve a darker shade of the color as you go along with layered stencils.

I stitched a heart using the smallest embroidery hoop die from The Stamp Market Embroidery Hoop Dies. I used a red DMS Variegated embroidery floss for the stitching. I die cut the embroidery hoop on silver mirror cardstock to tie in with the silver foiling of the letters. 

For the background, I trimmed varied pastel colored cardstocks at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I added details to these panels with The Greetery Aida Cloth Texture plate to tie in with the stitched heart. I adhered these panels to a 12" x 12" white cardstock and trimmed off the excess. The frame size is 11" x 14". I trimmed 1/4" off each edge for a clear border around the panel. 

I die cut the Happy Anniversary on white cardstock. I adhered a vellum to the back. The die I used is the Altenew Essential Sentiment Strips die set. I embossed the 25th using a retired My Favorite Things stamp set. I embossed this using silver embossing powder. I stamped the date on white cardstock using the Heidi Swapp Roller Date Stamp. I die cut this into a decorative strip using a die from Concord & 9th. 

I hope you like today's project. Checkered Cottage was nice enough to make an FB post with a photo of this framed art and ME! (Checkered Cottage) They also have this framed art on display (Checkered Cottage 2). 

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

(The link to the Altenew product I used on my Framed Art is Altenew Essential Strips Die Set . My affiliate link is: https://altenew.com/6358517. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase this product. It is just a way to help a fellow crafter sustain her love for crafting. While in the Altenew blog, don't forget to check out this month's release. Thank you for your support!)

 

Spidery Pennant

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. The Kat Scrappiness Creative Influencers are celebrating Halloween and Fall this early to hopefully inspire you and get ready for these occasions. I love Halloween! I remember the days when I will create packaging for classroom treats for my sons. They are all grown up now to do trick or treating. 

Today's project features one of my most favorite and most used KS product. I have created several projects featuring this spider on different occasions/seasons.

I die cut a black cardstock using the KS Nesting Fishtail Banner die. I layered two of the banner dies to die cut a frame on a light brown cardstock.

I die cut the spider web on white cardstock. The spider web die is from the KS Creepy Crawly craft dies. I adhered a narrow double adhesive tape to the back of the spider web, from the center to the edge of the web. After I removed the release paper, I adhered a white yarn to the adhesive. 

I adhered the same double sided adhesive to the back of the fishtail banner frame. I adhered the ends of the white yarn to the adhesive, then adhered the frame to the black fishtail banner die cut. I trimmed off the excess yarn.

I die cut the big spider and the two small spiders on black glittered cardstock and black cardstock. I die cut two black pieces for the large spider and adhered it together. I adhered the glittered spider die cut on top of the black spider die cuts. 

I selectively die cut the spider's eyes on white glittered cardstock. I adhered a small piece of tape to the back of the spiders. This will serve as an anchor for the glittered spider's eyes once I piece it in. I squirted a dot of glue on the eye openings and pieced in the eyes. The eyes have a pierced dot which I accentuated with a black pen. 

I applied liquid glue to the back of the spiders, only on the spider's body. I adhered the spiders to the spider web. I zhuzh the spider's feet off the spider web.

I adhered some KS Onxy Black Pearl Mix for some accent.

I hope you like today's project. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I added below links to the Kat Scrappiness products I used on this card. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase any of these products. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products. They have a new release, too! Enjoy!

I am sharing this project at

#237~Anything Goes #16

CAS & ATC

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I am back after a much needed month long break from blogging. We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. I am this month's challenge author, too. Thank you to co-DT Karen for suggesting this month's theme/s of ATC (Artist Trading Card) and CAS (Clean and Simple).

I stamped the dog on a white cardstock using a black dye ink. The stamp is from the Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park stamp set. I also stamped this image on a Post-It note to create a mask. I fussy cut the stamped dog right on the stamped line. I applied the mask over the stamped dog image on the panel.

I stamped the letters for the sentiment. The sentiment was inspired by one of the sentiments on the LF stamp set. The alphabet stamp set I used is from Heidi Swapp. 

I colored the dog and the letters with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencil. I added details with a white Sakura gel pen.

I die cut the panel using a 3x4 stitched die from the Mama Elephant Peek a Frame Creative Cuts. 

ATC cards are easy to pull off especially if you make it a CAS one. With this card, the small size of the ATC and the white space of a CAS made this project easy to create. The most that took my time on this card is the fussy cutting and the coloring. 

I hope you like today's project and that it inspired you enough to join this month's challenge at Incy Wincy. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

#239-Anything Goes with a stamp

Challenge #323

Simon Says Stamp Instagram Challenge