Assorted Birthday Cards for Janice

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I was commissioned by a friend, Janice, to create cards for her grown up children. I have created cards for her husband and her daughter before but never for her sons. Time to put on my creating cap!

One of Janice's sons loves to travel so I thought of this design. I used a Hero Arts cover plate die on this card.

To create this look, I embossed the die on watercolor paper. To do this technique, I substituted the bottom cutting plate with an embossing mat. I added a cardstock as an additional shim to put more pressure on the paper. I painted the watercolor paper using the embossing as a guide where to paint.

I tried a paint that I recently bought, the Boku-Undo E-Sumi Shadow Black Watercolor Palette, on this card. It is a paint used for monotone paintings. The black stands out although I noticed difference in shades between the colors on the palette. With this being a birthday card, it needs more happy colors but I don't want to go away from the monotone since this is a masculine card. So what I did is add Tim Holtz Distress Sprays on a mixing palette. I muted this with water then mixed a small amount of Boku-Undo. I mixed the colors accordingly. 

I die cut the cover plate on holographic paper. I adhered this to the watercolored panel. I trimmed off the excess.

For the sentiment, I selectively die cut the sky portion of the cover plate on blue vellum. I treated the vellum with anti-static powder. I stamped the sentiment using Versaefine Onyx Black ink. I poured clear embossing powder over it then heat set it. I used a Sticker Maker to add adhesive to the back of the vellum then pieced this in to the die cut. 

I adhered this to a side folding note card.

For the second card, Janice mentioned her other son loves cars. I was going to create a truck card only to find out that her son has a car, not a truck. Good thing, I have this Spellbinders die set which I recently bought at Checkered Cottage. 

Like any die that I am not familiar with and since the packaging does not say much, I searched the internet on how to use this die set. There is a video on what this die set cuts and how to assemble it but after using this die set myself, I think there should be recommendations on what color of paper to use for each die so as to achieve the 3D look. I plan to create another card using this die. I want to see if I can recreate this car more easily being my second time to use it. I plan to write notes this time and share it here.

To create this into a card, I die cut a large diamond on black cardstock. I embossed this using a chevron embossing folder. I lightly swiped a white pigment ink over the embossing to make the dotted details pop out. 

I die cut the letters using a Lawn Fawn die set. I die cut this on black and white glitter papers. I adhered the black alphabet die cuts to the back of the glittered alphabet die cuts slightly offsetting it to achieve a shadow effect. I adhered the letters to the embossed diamond.

I die cut a glossy light blue paper with a Mama Elephant stitched rectangle die. The blue paper has some diamond design on it giving it a retro look. I adhered the elements of the card to this panel. It took a lot of adhesive to make the die cuts adhere to the shiny blue paper. Somehow, the blue paper repels the glue.

The last card is for Janice's daughter. It might look familiar to you if you follow my blog. This is not a new card. I created this last June for BPM. Janice showed a photo of this card to her daughter. Her daughter liked it so I saved this card for her.

When I created this card, it did not have a sentiment on it. To customize it, I added a sentiment by die cutting the word happy using a die from Hero Arts. I swiped a Lisa Horton Interference Ink on a white cardstock. I heat set this to dry. I die cut this twice, the second one being on black cardstock. I adhered the black sentiment die cut behind the other die cut slightly offsetting it for a shadow effect.

For the second part of the sentiment, I treated a black cardstock with an anti-static powder. I stamped the Altenew sentiment on the black cardstock with Versamark ink. I poured white embossing powder to it then heat set it. I die cut this using a sentiment strip die from Avery Elle. 

I adhered the sentiment strip to the sentiment die cut. I adhered the sentiments to the flower panel. I adhered this to a side folding A2 notecard. I was tempted to add a gem to the flower center but went against it to keep the card simple. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared one of the cards at

Simon Says: Add Some Text

 

Masculine Birthday Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's post is a part of Kat Scrappiness' Product Feature on Winter Dies. The focal image of my card is the deer die from the Kat Scrappiness Reindeer Duo Craft Dies.

Who says that winter themed products are limited in use? Apparently, not. I did a web research about deer greeting cards for other occasions and picked ideas from the images I saw online. This is what I came up with. A masculine birthday card! I hope you like it.

I created the deer to make it a cake topper for this birthday card. I used dies from the KS Build a Cake Craft dies for the cake. I added embossing powder to the top of the cake and the cake trim. 

For additional embellishment, I adhered some KS Mystical Leaves Sprinkles to the bottom of the cake. 

I die cut the KS Happy Birthday Shadow Sentiment Craft die on green cardstock and an additional scrap cardstock. I adhered the green sentiment die cut on the additional sentiment die cut for some added dimension.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please check out the other KS Designers' work. We hope we inspire you to use those winter dies for other occasions other than winter. 

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 especially the exclusive Kat Scrappiness products. They have a new release, too!  

I saw it on Kat Scrappiness, Inc. Reindeer Duo Craft Dies

I saw it on Kat Scrappiness, Inc. Build a Cake Craft Dies

I saw it on Kat Scrappiness, Inc. Happy Birthday Shadow Sentiment Craft Die

I saw it on Kat Scrappiness, Inc. Mystical Leaves Sprinkles

 

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge #664~Anything Goes, Optional Twist: Make Me Smile

Week 4 Challenge~Anything Goes

Anything Goes

A Die Cut from Background Die Cut

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's post features a technique in which you die cut another die cut. If this sounds confusing, I'll explain it as we go along. Please bear with me. 

I die cut a light blue cardstock using the Kat Scrappiness Buffalo Plaid Background die. I did selective die cutting since I won't be using the whole panel. I adhered this to a light gray cardstock. From this, I die cut a banner using a die from the KS Fishtail Banners die set. I did partial die cutting so I can extend the length of the banner. I also strategically positioned the banner die so the pattern will be centered on the banner. Depending on how good you adhered the plaid die cut to the solid gray cardstock, some of the vented die cuts fell off. I am not worrying about this since it is hardly noticeable. This is what I meant with die cutting from another die cut.

For the main card panel, I die cut the plaid background on dark blue cardstock. I adhered this to a dark gray cardstock. 

For the main focus of the card, I die cut a reindeer from the KS Reindeer Duo dies on a blue patterned paper. I also die cut the reindeer on black cardstock. I adhered the black reindeer die cut to the back of the patterned paper die cut for some dimension.

For the sentiment, I stamped this on the same dark gray cardstock I used for the card panel. I used a dark blue dye ink for stamping. I die cut this into a strip using a sentiment strip die. I die cut several more strips. The sentiment comes as a phrase. I want the words separated so I cut the phrase in between each word. To create this into a chipboard like embellishment, I adhered the strips on top of the other. I adhered one word at a time. I cut this using scissors. I repeated this process until all the words were done and separated. To step this up, I pounced the word strips to a sticky ink pad, then poured Wow! Ultra High Clear embossing powder to it and heat set it. I repeated this twice to make it smoother.

I adhered the word strips to the top right corner of the light blue banner. I adhered the reindeer next. I added foam adhesive to the back and adhered this to the center of the dark blue-gray plaid panel. 

I hope you give this technique a try. This extends the use of large die cuts by creating smaller die cuts from it.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I added below the links to the Kat Scrappiness products I used on this card. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase a product. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products especially the exclusive Kat Scrappiness products. 

I am sharing this creation at

Game #45~Anything Birthday Goes

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge~Let's Party

Gnome Christmas Card

Hello! I am so glad I am off work tonight that I was able to create a card to participate on a challenge that I often miss.

I see gnomes frequently this Christmas season so I thought of using my newly acquired stamp set for this challenge. I stamped the image several times, on Neenah Solar White cardstock and different patterned papers from Lawn Fawn Knit Picky 6x6 pad. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink for stamping. I colored the face, hands, beard and belt of the gnome using Copic marker. I fussy cut the images. This is a good way of using my scraps since I strategically stamped the image on the patterned paper. I lined the sides of the fussy cut images with a Memento Tuxedo Black ink marker. I paper piece this to the stamped gnome on the white cardstock.

Working on the background, I am using the LF Outside In Stitched Scalloped die. I die cut two blue cardstocks and a white cardstock using this die. I created the slopes using the LF Stitched Hillside Borders die.

For the back panel, I created the snow using the LF Ready, Set, Snow Shaker Add-on. I die cut a glittered paper for this. I used the positive die cut to adhere the snow die cuts adding extra snow circles to the empty areas.

I adhered the left-over die cut of the blue slope on a double adhesive tape. I trimmed this off, leaving me with a piece that will fit the blue slope that I will be using for the scene. I adhered this to that slope, then poured LF Chunky Glitter to this area. I burnished the glitter to the adhesive but somehow I end up having lots of loose glitter on my work space, and on me.

For the white snow slope, I heat embossed a sentiment from LF Frosty Fairy Friends stamp set. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink, poured clear embossing powder to the area, then heat embossed it.

I layered this scene panel on a LF Knit Picky patterned paper. I added a white pompom to the top of the gnome's hat to give it more a feel of Christmas. I also applied Tonic Aqua Shimmer pen to the gnome's hat.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge 64~Cards For Guys

#38~Christmas

Challenge #227~Anything Goes w/ Optional Twist: Scrap Your Stash

Using Die Cuts to Create a Background

Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs on Musical Instruments and Singers. This challenge is close to me because my two sons are musically talented. My 18 year old is an all around wind instrumentalist (from clarinet, alto saxophone, bass saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet and trombone). And, my 13 year old is a percussionist.

I created this card with my 18 year old son in mind. I know the image is a female but it can also be a male, right? Anyway, my son is finishing up his Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson. He will graduate on the August 29. I cannot wait to see him and hug him.

I printed the image on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers. The dog was colored with our dog in heaven, Speeder, as my inspiration. I remember when Rudy will hit the high notes with his clarinet, Speeder will howl at the same time.

I fussy cut the image, leaving a white border around the images. I colored the saxophone with a Copper Wink of Luna, blending out the color with the Clear Wink of Stella to mute the copper color. I made a copper mess while coloring. Got me upset since I am mostly done with the coloring. I used a   battery powered eraser which I bought at Hobby Lobby. Took off some of the colored blob. Some more detailing muted the mess. I fussy cut the image leaving a white border around it. This also helped with hiding the blob of copper. I used a craft knife to cut the spaces out.

I embossed an MFT Music Background stamp on a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" Neenah Dessert Storm cardstock. I embossed this with Wow! Gold Pearl embossing powder.

For the frame, I die cut a window on a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" black cardstock using a die from Mama Elephant Peek A Frame Creative Cuts. I die cut two of these panels and adhered one on top of each other.

I die cut the Paper Smooches Music Notes on a gold mirror cardstock. I adhered this to the black frame. I trimmed off the excess die cuts that are sticking out. I adhered some of these scraps to the open spaces on the frame.

I don't have a music related sentiment stamp. I thought about creating one using my alphabet stamp but it will take too much space. I bravely typed the sentiment on the kraft cardstock. I am glad it worked out.

I adhered the black frame to the kraft cardstock. I adhered the colored image using foam adhesives. I adhered this to a top folding white A2 note card.

I hope you join us in our latest challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. We cannot wait to see your creations.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Image Sponsor

Color Inspired Masculine Card

I created this card with my eldest son in mind. He enlisted with the Army and will be leaving for Basic Training on Sunday.

At the same time, I created this card to join in Honey Bee Stamps Buzzworthy Challenge in Facebook. I am using the Honey Bee Prayers stamp set. I heat embossed the large sentiment repeatedly on a light gray cardstock using the Misti Stamping Tool. I used Hero Arts Silver embossing powder and embossed it about four times. On the fifth time, I poured Wow! ? embossing powder for added sparkle. Once this has cooled down, I fussy cut the sentiment, leaving a small border around it. The sentiment cut out warped from repeated heating so I placed it under a heavy block to straighten it.

For the panel, I am using different colored cardstocks based on the colors in the challenge. I created a pattern using these colored carstocks. I temporarily adhered the cardstocks to a 5 1/2"x 4 1/4" white cardstock. I used a rectangle A4 die to serve as a guide in placement of the sentiment and where to cut the cardstocks. I stamped on the blue cardstock using Mama Elephant Boutique Borders and Hero Arts Navy ink to create a mini checkered look. For the green cardstock, I ran it through the die cut machine using Li'l Inkers Design Quilted Stiched Pattern Die to create diamond background.

I embossed the rest of the sentiments on the other cardstocks using Hero Arts White embossing powder. I aligned the sentiments using the Misti Creative Corners which is a big help. I die cut these cardstocks with a Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles die while it was temporarily adhered to the white A2 panel. I added splatters of Prima Storm Cloud color mist, and set it to dry.

Assembling the front panel, I pieced each colored cardstock to create the pattern. I trimmed off the the excess on the blue and green cardstocks. I adhered the embossed large sentiment with foam adhesive. I adhered a fun foam to the back of this panel, then adhered it to an A4 sized dark gray cardstock. I adhered this to a top folding A2 sized note card. I added Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Confetti.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge 30 ~ Masculine Color Palette

Water Spritzed Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stamp Masculine Card

I created this card for my eldest son who is going on a retreat next month. It is actually a surprise. Good thing, he doesn't read my blog so it should still be a surprise.

Other than creating this card with a masculine touch, I want to play with my Concord & 9th supplies, and hopefully be able to participate in their current challenge on watercolor. I am using the Concord & 9th Lace Leaf stamp set for this card which comes with a watercolor wash stamp. Using a Strathmore watercolor paper, I inked the watercolor wash stamp with Tim Holtz Distress ink in different green shades. I used the Misti Stamping Tool to re-stamp the image several times. The first time I stamped the image is all pure distress ink on the stamp. I re-inked the image, spritz water to it and re-stamped it. I repeated this process once more without re-inking the image this time to create some shade variations. If I have some un-inked areas, I re-inked that area of the stamp then re-stamped it.

After I have covered up the panel with the watercolor wash stamped images. I lined up the outline leaf stamp to the watercolor wash impression. I stamped the leaf with Versafine Onyx Black ink. Since this is a large, detailed stamp, I had to re-stamp it a couple of times. I trimmed off an 8th of an inch around the sides and adhered it to a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" black cardstock.

I used the Concord and 9th Love You So die to create the main sentiment. I cut a green shimmer cardstock. The you sentiment is from the Concord & 9th Map Love stamp set. I heat embossed the sentiment using white embossing powder on a black cardstock. I adhered the Love die cut next to it. I trimmed the black cardstock and adhered this to the center of the watercolor panel. I drew a line close to the edge of this sentiment block using a black Sakura Glaze pen. I adhered some Doodlebug enamel dots on the top right.

As last embellishment, I added Nuvo Crystal Glaze White Blizzard to the letters. At first, I thought, I just ruined the whole card by adding this thick blob of shimmer glue. After setting it aside to dry then coming back to it, look at the shimmer and glitter effect it created. Very pretty! I adhered this panel to a top folding A2 note card to finish off the project

.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed & brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Challenge #18

Shimmer Star Masculine Birthday Card

My Amang (father) celebrated his birthday this month. This card is created especially for him.

I am using the Altenew Halftone Star stamp set as the focal image of this card. I had this stamp on my wish list for a while. I finally gave in to buying it. I had difficulty working with this star stamp. I was trying to go for an ombre effect with embossing. I used the Misti Stamping Tool to help with the repeated stamping, using different colored inks but the final image does not look the way I imagined it. I didn't want to give up since this stamp set did cost me some.

On my next experimentation with this stamp set, I did the ombre stamping first. I allowed this to dry before I inked the star with Versamark ink, then poured some Judikins Iridescent Sparkle embossing powder over the image, then heat set it. I die cut the embossed star using the coordinating die.

For the front panel background, I embossed the Ellen Hutson Stitching Lines on a gold cardstock. I positioned the metal die diagonally. You might have to make adjustments on how to run the metal die with the cardstock on your die cut machine. I sprayed this gold embossed panel with Prima Color Blooms Gold Foil Mist. I set this aside to dry.

To create the frame, I used the Simon Says Stamp This Is The Life Craft Die. I die cut the frame on white cardstock. I applied Versamark ink using a Versamark pen. I poured Ranger Copper embossing powder and heat set the frame.

I stamped the sentiment on vellum and embossed this with Ranger Copper embossing powder. I scored the sentiment strip to create a 3D label. I also fish tail cut the edges.

To put the card together, I die cut a fun foam with the next smaller sized star. I adhered this to the back of the embossed star die cut. I adhered the frame more to the left, then centered the star onto this. I added a rolled gold floss before adhering the star. I adhered the vellum label on top of the star, applying dots of glue to the back of the embossed letters. I also used a vellum glue tape runner for the edges.

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

Maria Giselle

Masculine Wobbler Get Well Soon Card

I was tasked by my husband to create a get well soon card for his uncle. Looking thru my craft stash, I came up with the idea of using Lawn Fawn products and Basic Grey Hipster patterned paper for the card.

I cut different papers using the heart from the Lawn Fawn Tiny Tags die set. I cut a second heart using card stock to use for layering. I snipped off the tag hole to just to make the cut a solid heart. I die cut different faces from the LF Make Me Smile die set onto the heart. I created the scene using LF Stitched Hillside Borders. I inked the edges of these die cuts with brown ink. I embossed a sentiment from My Favorite Stamps LJD Cheerful Blessings stamp set.

I know odd numbered embellishments is usually visually ideal, but I have 4 sons, thus, 4 hearts to represent each boy. To make the card interactive, I put one of the hearts on an Action Wobbler.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a blessed and brilliant new year!

Maria Giselle 

I am sharing this creation with

Challenge #10

Father's Day License Plate Card

I was asked by a friend to create a card for her husband for Father's Day. This is the same friend of who asked me to create a birthday card for her husband, too. (http://ienjoywhatido.blogspot.com/2016/02/masculine-interactive-birthday-card.html) 

For this card, I turned to the Cricut Design Space and browsed under the Father's Day category. I found this License Plate cut file from the Holiday Cakes cartridge. After duplicating the base cut, I rotated this 180 degrees and welded both the base cuts to create a card base. I added the scoring line on the middle.

I designed and customized the layer cut by adding my friend's husband's name on the top. I chose a font close to the fonts on the layer cut. I cut the layers three times in 3 different colored cardstocks, red, blue and white, to re-create the Illinois license plate where they live. The size of this layer is 12" x 6", just like a real license plate. With the card base, this is a huge card since the card base is slightly larger than the layer cut to matte it. I kept all the negative die cuts since I will be in-laying this later on.

Using a Post-It Full Adhesive Roll, I masked the upper portion of the white layered cut. I also applied this on the back of the layered cut. This is where I attached the negative cuts using the letter cuts as guide. I blended Tim Holtz Distress Inks on this bottom area, starting with the lighter blue shade of Tumbled Glass, then blending in Faded Jeans.

This is where the tedious process begins. I first applied a double sided tape to the back of the white layered cut. This will make the in-laying process easier. With the exposed adhesive from the double sided tape, all I needed to do is piece in the die cuts. This is why I kept the negative die cuts.

I layered the different die cuts by adhering one on top of the other using wet adhesive for more wiggle time. I made sure that the die cut color that will be on top is the same as the color of the Illinois license plate. I adhered a silver Duck Tape around the edges of the front of the card base to serve as the matte. I adhered the layer cut to the card base using a strong double sided adhesive tape for stability. For added shimmer, I applied Wink of Stella to the stars and the main sentiment, No. 1 Dad.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com/2016/06/fccb-challenge-278-celebrate-dad.html

http://dragonflyjourneys.blogspot.com/2016/06/challenge-no-61-daddy-day-care.html

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-fathers-dayfor-a-guy/

Monochromatic Father's Day Card

Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge is Monochrome and their Wednesday Challenge which will be ending in a few hours is Anything Goes featuring Technique Tuesday. When Archiver's was still open, I bought stamps by TT because of Ali Edwards. I rarely use their stamps nowadays with all the stamp companies coming out with their releases. So with both challenges in mind, I challenged myself to create one card. I didn't have a special occasion in mind when I was creating this card but it eventually turn out to become a Father's Day card which is very timely.

I am using the TT Ali Edwards All My Heart stamp set. At first, I was planning to stamp all the squared sentiments to create the background but it didn't have the same sizes. The clear stamps kept sticking together making it hard to lay out the stamps. I just picked one stamp and repeatedly stamp this on Strathmore Bristol paper using the Misti tool. The paper is cut at 4 1/4 x 5 1/2. I prepared the surface with an anti-static tool before I stamped the sentiment. I used Versafine Onyx Black for ink and embossed this using clear powder.

After the panel is filled, I blended various shades of grey inside the squares. I used a sponge dauber to do the job. I am not really being careful blending it. I would rather achieve different shades and am not particular if I go out of the lines. I used 5 shades of gray from 3 different companies (Close To My Heart, Hero Arts and Memento.) I applied white Wink of Stella to the spaces in between the squares. I don't think it is noticeable but I am having a hard time appreciating the effect of this particular Wink of Stella anyway.

I die cut a window on this panel using SSS This Is The Life Frames Cut die. I positioned the window slightly to the lower left of the panel. I also cut a black cardstock using this die. This metal die cuts 2 pieces, an outline piece and a solid piece. I used the black outline as an accent to the window.

For the sentiment, I die cut a dark gray and a white cardstock using the TT Say It Happy DIY Steel die. I stamped the rest of the sentiment from the TT Say It Happy stamp set on a black cardstock strip using Versamark ink. I embossed this using WOW! Silver Pearl Embossing powder.

I adhered a light gray cardstock to the back of the window panel. I adhered the black outline to the window. I adhered the gray happy sentiment on top of the white sentiment slightly off setting this to create a shadow effect. I adhered this to the window area and adhered the sentiment strip on the bottom. I ended with an empty space on the right upper corner of the window. To fill this, I adhered some sequences. For the final touch, I applied clear Wink of Stella to the die cut sentiment. I adhered this panel to a top folding A2 card.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Have a brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-27/

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=4800