Create a Mini DIY Journal

Hello! I am on the Blank Page Muse Blog with this project using the newly released BPM digital download, the Summer Citrus Digital Papers, Ephemera, Pockets & Tag Printables. This collection is my featured BPM product for this month. This is the second project I created with this collection. You will see a glimpse of my first project using this collection on the photos at the end of this post.

I was planning to create a card with the image with the green design. I thought I sized the image to a note card size. After realizing I did not, I thought of creating it into a mini journal instead. The size of it is perfect for one. 

I am not going into details on how I created this mini journal. Please visit my post at the Blank Page Muse Blog to learn more about it.

I used sheets from an old lined notebook and some typing paper. I scored the papers so I can fold it really well but somehow there are still sheets sticking out and not aligned with the journal cover. I trimmed a sliver off the sheets until all sheets are aligned.

 

I created a bookmark using an ephemera and a tag. I lined the two and punched a hole on it. I threaded a twine through the hole and tied it into a bow.

I inserted a journal page in between the tied tag and the ephemera just like a bookmark. You will see on the photo above that the inside of the journal cover also has a print out of the design. This is another advantage of a digital image. You can print the image on both sides of the paper and come up with a double sided sheet.

I slipped the mini journal inside the pocket. Now, I have a double page art journal ready to be written on.

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

Maria Giselle B.

BPM is generously offering a 15% discount to their online store to YOU, my blog readers. Just use the code BPMMaria when you check out. Enjoy!

Stitched Panel in Shadow Box Stand-up Frame

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project is a spur of the moment project. I thought I am done after stitching the panel since I have no plans for it. But after seeing American Crafts & We R Makers Stars, Stripes & Scissors Celebration in IG, I said to myself, "I can probably do something with this stitched panel." I just needed to use AC and/or We R Makers supplies although I always use the We R Comfort Craft Magnifying Glasses when I cross stitch. I cannot go by without it.

I did my cross stitching on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 80-lb cardstock. The stitching holes were created with the use of the Altenew Cross Stitch Canvas die. The pattern is from CrossStitcher Magazine, July 2026 edition. It is a part of the Stars & Stripes stitch sampler. I did a spotlight stitching of one of the samplers and repetetively stitched this pattern on the panel for a quilt-like look. I used 2  strands of DMC floss in stitching.

I created a frame for the cross stitched panel using the We R Makers Shadow Box Punch Board. The punch board was designed for a square shadow box but can be used to create a rectangular shadow box. Simply add 4" to each side to come up with the dimensions of the paper you need to create your custom sized shadow box. 

I used a blue cardstock for the shadow box. I followed the steps on the punch board. I placed the cross stitched panel on the center of the punched cardstock and  folded the scored lines towards the center. 

To make this into a frame, I die cut the same blue cardstock using an easel die from The Stamp Market Scalloped Frame Die set. I die cut this twice and stacked the pieces to make it durable. After all, this piece is very important in keeping the shadow box upright. 

I added a ribbon to the back of the easel to prevent the shadow box from tipping backward.

I added rickrack trims to the photo frame. I used the We R Makers Creative Flow Glue Gun to adhere the trims so if you see any strings of glue, it is from that. I am not a neat glue gun user. 

I adhered transparent stars to the corners of the frame, hiding where the two colored rickrack trims meet. I also used the glue gun in adhering the stars.

I added blue gems to the cross stitched pattern for some shimmery accent. 

Now, my stitched pattern is up for display. I hope you like today's project. Below is a short video of the stand-up frame.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

 

American Crafts & We R Makers IG

#StarsStripesAndScissors

Digital Prints on Art Journal

Hello! I am on the Blank Page Muse Blog with another art journal entry.  Today's page is different from my previous art journal entries. First and foremost, I don't have any stamping on this page. Second, I only used printed papers. And, lastly, it is interactive. I hope you like it. 

Blank Page Muse has a new digital download, the Summer Citrus Digital Papers, Ephemera, Pockets & Tags Printables. This is what I am using on today's page. I also used a green paper from the Frosty Night Christmas Papers & Ephemera Printables. 

One of the advantages of using digital prints is that it can be sized based on your crafting needs. I uploaded the full sheets of the the digital prints. It comes as a .png file when uploaded. I saved it as .jpg so I can add it as an image to Microsoft Word. I edited the image using this program, resizing it so it fills up the whole 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock. I also edited the margins, decreasing the size, to maximize the area to print the full sheet. The cardstock I used is Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover Stock.

If you only want to print a particular image, you can crop outt image from the sheet. This cropped image can be resized and duplicated.

Not to forget, these digital prints are very affordable.

The only requirement is a printer. I printed my digital prints using a toner printer. I was going to try and use my Cricut to print and cut the images but my printer ink is low. I have not tried uploading the BPM digital prints to Cricut. I am very curious on how this will turn out. I am also curious on printing these images on a 12x12 paper which my printer is capable of. 

The details of the project is on my post at the BPM blog. I am just sharing snippets here. I added trims to the tags. I can intentionally fray the ends but I decided to heat set the this to melt it and prevent it from fraying.

I inserted the tags inside the pockets. The tags keep the folded journal closed shut. The one on the bottom tends to stay open so I might add a decorative paper clip to it to keep it close.

This is how the journal looks like when it is open when the tags are removed. You can see the stitching detail on the journals on the above photo. 

I have nothing written on the pages yet. I plan to write my goals on this mini journal pages.

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

'

Maria Giselle B.

BPM is generously offering a 15% discount to their online store to YOU, my blog readers. Just use the code BPMMaria when you check out. Enjoy!

I shared this project at

Challenge 7~Anything Goes #87

Sport Themed Birthday Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. It is time for a new challenge @ Stick It Down Scrapbook and Card Making Challenge on FB. It is very easy to join. Just create a new project following this month's sketch. Upload your project to the SID FB July folder. There are 3 sketches to choose from, a single scrapbook layout, a double page scrapbook layout and a card. Choose one or choose all!

We have three birthday celebrants in our household during the month of July. One of them is my oldest son, Rudy, who is turning a quarter of a century this year. I created this card for him based on the colors of his favorite basketball team. Can you guess which team it is? It is none other than the 2026 NBA Champions, the New York Knicks. 

To recreate the sketch, I die cut two pennants on orange cardstock using a die set from My Favorite Things. I embossed the pennants with a tiny dot embossing folder. I die cut the trims on a pearl white cardstock. 

For the sentiments on the pennants, I die cut an orange and blue cardstock using dies from Altenew. I backed these sentiment strip die cuts with the opposite color of the sentiment die cut. I adhered these to the pennants. 

I die cut a narrow rectangle frame on the same pearl white cardstock using a die from Simon Says Stamp. 

I die cut the large sentiment on the same pearl white cardstock using a die from Simon Says Stamp. I die cut this same large sentiment on blue cardstock and adhered it to the back of the pearl white sentiment die cut to give it some stability and dimension.

I created a background for the elements of the sketch using a patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs. I trimmed the 4x4 cut apart patterned paper. I die cut the star off this cut apart panel using a star die from Altenew. The star die almost matched the star on the cut apart panel. I trimmed off whatever is left of the star on the cut apart. In doing this step, I created a window. 

I die cut the next larger star on blue glittered paper and adhered it to the back of the window cut apart. The die is from the same Altenew star die set. 

I die cut extra stars on white cardstock, one star with the same size as the basketball star, and another which is the next larger star. I adhered the same size star to the back of the basketball star then adhered these stars to the larger star for some dimension.

I arranged the elements on the front of a blue top folding landscape A2 note card. I took a picture of the arrangement before adhering these elements to the front of the card so I would know the order of adhering it. Whatever is on the back of the arrangement was adhered first. To maintain the arrangement, I picked it with a Glad Press-N-Seal. Once all of the elements of my card were adhered, I trimmed off any excess. 

I did not add the small circle elements of the sketch to my card since my card design is already busy.

I hope I inspired you with today's card. Please join this month's challenge. We can't wait to see your take on this month's sketch.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this card at

Summer Fun Cards 4 Kids #15

Challenge 7~Anything Goes #73