Alternate Take on Christmas, a Blank Page Muse Post

Hello! I am back with another art journal page. For the month of December, the Blank Page Muse team is doing an Alternate Take on Christmas theme. For my journal page, I colored the pines with color blue instead of the traditional brown. 

The BPM products I used on this page are BPM Pinecones stencil and the BPM Handwritten Note Art rubber stamp. 

 

I used Post-It Notes for masking. I also used small tipped blending brushes to apply ink for detailing and applying ink to small areas of the stencil.

 

I created a mask so I can apply ink all over the pine cones for a solid look. I used a very light blue ink for this purpose. 

 

I stamped the handwritten stamp around the pine cones without using an acrylic block for an organic look. 

I searched for a pine cone quote and wrote this on the page. I blended gray ink on the edge of the page to frame the quotation and the pine cone. 

I hope you like today's page. Please visit the Blank Page Muse blog for more details.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

 

Holly, Jolly St. Nick Card, a Blank Page Muse Post

Hello! Today's project was created for the Blank Page Muse blog. Please head to the blog for details on how to create this project. 

Thank you! Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Maria Giselle B.

Blank Page Muse and I Brake For Stamps 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 am sharing this project at

Using Dies in DieCember

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge

Masking to Create a Scene

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Creating a scene with masking is a lot of work but truly worth it especially when the masks are removed. It is like Christmas morning. 

On a scrap piece of paper, I stamped the images that I will be using for the scene. This layout gave me an idea on which stamp image will be on the front and which stamp image will be on the back. The images on the front will need masking. This layout paper was aslo cut the same size as my card panel.

I did the second generation stamping with the stamps that need masking on a Post-It Paper. I used the Ranger Archiver Ink to stamp on the masking paper. This is a fast drying ink that prevents the ink on the masking paper from smearing while fussy cutting this stamped image. When fussy cutting the masked images, I cut it on the stamped line. 

After I stamped the images that will be on the front, I covered these images with the fussy cut stamped masking paper. The ink I used on my panel is Versafine Onyx Black Ink since I will be doing some watercoloring on the images. Since I used a pigment ink, before adhering the mask, I dried the ink of the stamped images with a heat tool. This will prevent smearing the pigment ink used to stamp the images.

I returned the stamped scrap paper on top of the panel so I can align the image that I will stamp next on the scene. Once it is aligned, I picked up the stamp with the door of the Misti Stamping Tool, removed the paper template, inked the stamp, then stamped the image on the panel.

I put extra pressure on the areas that are close to the masking paper. Masking paper gives better results since it is thinner than a Post-It Note. But if you missed a line or two, just use a blank pen to fill in those missed spots.

Once I am done building my scene, it is time to peel off the masks and start coloring. 

I used the Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens to color the images. 

I created a border strip using the skinniest strip die from the KS A2 Stitched Strips Craft dies. I die cut this on a paper from the KS Autumn Faux Glitter 6x6 paper pad. I adhered this to the edges of a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" white cardstock. After the glue has dried, I added eyelets to each corner where the strips meet.

I trimmed the colored panel to fit inside the frame. 

I hope you like today's card. I hope you have a wonder Thanksgiving celebration. Thank you very much for visiting my blog. 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

Thanks/Thanksgiving

Scrapbook & Cards Today's October FB Challenge

Lunar Animals One Layer Greeting Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am glad you are here. I will be taking a month long break from blogging and creating. I hope you like my last project before my August hiatus. 

Mama Elephant is one of my favorite brands. The are searching for Guest Designers. So exciting, right?  I certainly want to give this a try. 

My card was inspired by a card I previously made with a similar design. Please check it out if you have time (Almost a One Layer Card).

To create the layout, I arranged the lunar animals from the Mama Elephant Lunar Animals stamp set based on its order on the Lunar Calendar. I have several pieces of stamped and die cut images left from a previous project that I used to plan the layout. For the animals that are lacking, I die cut scraps of cardstock with the coordinating dies. I used these die cuts as guide for placement of the stamp on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" scrap paper. Once I am happy with the arrangement, I picked the die cuts with a Glad Press N' Seal.

Using the Misti Stamping Tool, I positioned on a corner a top folding heavy weight A2 note card. I positioned the Glad Press N' Seal over the A2 note card. I matched the animal stamp with the die cut. I picked the animal stamps with the door of the Misti then carefully removed the Glad Press N' Seal. I inked the stamps with Memento Black Tuxedo ink since I will be coloring the images with Copic markers. Without re-inking the stamps, I stamped the images on a Post-It Note which I die cut later on using the coordinating die.

I cleaned the stamps, then returned it back to the clear sheet. I placed the Glad Press N' Seal again over the note card, then repeated the process of lining and stamping the stamps. I stamped one row of animals at a time. 

I created a DIY stencil with a re-purposed plastic from a broken accordion file. I die cut a square on this plastic film using a square die that is large enough to fit the lunar animal stamp. I applied large Post-It Notes inside and on the back of the notecard to protect it from any stray ink.

I covered each lunar animal with the coordinating Post-It Note die cut to act as a mask. I positioned the DIY stencil over the panel with the square opening over the stamped die cut mask. I blended different Tim Holtz Distress Oxides on each lunar animal. I blended a color on the square opening, cleaned the DIY stencil and re-positioned the stencil on the next lunar animal. I repeated this process until I have blended inks on all of the lunar animals. I flicked some water droplets over the panel and picked the extra water droplets with a dry paper towel.

My most favorite part about masking is removing the mask and unveiling the image underneath it.

I colored the images with Copic markers. I stamped a simple message on the panel using a sentiment stamp from Mama Elephant Sunday Sentiments stamp set. I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I poured clear embossing powder over the wet ink then heat set it until the powder is melted.

I hope you like today's project. Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you come back again after my blogging break. Will I see you in September?

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Anything Goes

4 Legged Friends

Almost a One Layer Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project features the Kat Scrappiness Wok On stamp set. Isn't this stamp set stinking cute? 

I cut a heavy weight white cardstock at 4 1/4" x 11". I scored this on the long side at 5 1/2" to create a top folding A2 note card. 

I created a DIY stencil using the plastic insert from my son's broken accordion folder. I cut the plastic in half, measuring about 5" x 6". I die cut a square on the center of this plastic using one of the dies from the KS Never Ending Square Craft Dies. You might have to use a metal shim for the die to cut through the plastic. 

Using the stencil as a guide, I traced the square on the front of the top folding note card to create a grid of squares. This will guide me on where to stamp the images. 

I stamped an image on each square. I re-stamped the image on a masking paper. I fussy cut these images cutting it on the line. I used this mask to cover the images I stamped on the front of the card. I blended Tim Holtz Distress Oxide to each square, using different colors per square. I used two shades of each color per square, blending the colors together. I used the DIY stencil in blending the colors, taping it on the sides to avoid shifting. I covered the inner side and the back side of the card to protect it from any stray ink. But it is alright if you end up having inked portions on these areas. This just gives the card a handmade feel.

I flicked water to the blended area. I let the ink absorb the water, then picked the water with paper towel.

I lift the masking paper off the paper using a craft knife. I intentionally blended ink over the image on the blue square. My paper shifted while I was stamping this image. That's why I called this card an almost one layer card. It was the last image that I stamped. I did not want to repeat the process so I let it be. 

If you look closely, there is an area on the red and purple square without ink. To fix this, I adhered the mask back onto the stamped image. I lined the right portion of the mask to the stamped image on the card. This is when small blending brushes are very useful. I was able to do a touch up on these areas as you can see on the image below. 

I colored the images with Copic markers. While I color an image, I protected the other areas with a piece of paper while coloring. You never now if you drag colors with your hand while you color.

I stamped the image I used on the blue box on a light weight white cardstock. I colored this with Copic markers fussy cut it on the line. I adhered this on top of the inked image on the blue box. In this way, I was able to save this project. Nobody will ever know about this boo-boo except me and you.

I added accents to the images with a white gel pen. I did not add a sentiment to the front of the card. I wanted the focus to remain on the images.

I hope you like today's card and give this masking technique a try. 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. Enjoy!

Watercolour Resist Using Freezer Paper

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. For today's card, I am trying out a technique using freezer paper as a resist in watercoloring. I am using the Kat Scrappiness Christmas Tree Coverplate die on this card.

I die cut a piece of freezer paper using the coverplate die. My cutting pad is very warped that I have to add a metal shim to my sandwich for a clean cut. I trimmed a watercolor paper at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I positioned the freezer paper die cut over the watercolor paper with shiny side kissing the watercolor paper. I sandwiched this in a folded typing paper, then fed it to the Minc Laminator machine. I fed it twice just to be make sure that the freezer paper adheres to the watercolor paper. 

My colors are inspired by the latest Color Hues Challenge. I painted the tree with blue watercolor and painted the background with cream watercolor. The watercolor I used is Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors. I set the panel aside to dry in between watercoloring. I did not use a heat tool since this can deactivate the stickiness of the freezer paper. 

Once I am done coloring, I pointed the heat gun to one of the corners of the freezer paper mask. I carefully lifted this up using a craft knife. I peeled the freezer paper from the watercolor paper until I felt that I cannot peel it off anymore. I reheat the area where the papers are in contact, then repeat the process of peeling the freezer paper until all of the freezer paper is removed. 

Depending on how you die cut the freezer paper, your die cut might be the mirror image of the die which is not a problem with the die I used on this card. But if you intend to die cut a sentiment to use as a mask, just be mindful on which side of the freezer paper you are die cutting. Again, the shiny side is the waxed side that will adhere to the paper once fed through a laminator.

I die cut the watercolored panel using a postage stamp die. I added cream gems to the tree. I lightly rubbed the Versamark ink to the postage edges. I poured Ranger Enchanted Gold embossing powder to this then heat set it.

For the background panel, I die cut a shimmery blue cardstock using the Kat Scrappiness Buffalo Plaid Backdrop die. I forgot to use the metal shim so the negative cuts did not fall off. This is actually a happy accident for me. Keeping the negative cuts intact gave an embossed impression to the blue cardstock panel. I adhered this panel to a top folding A2 notecard applying a lot of adhesive to keep the negative cuts from falling off.

I die cut a banner on blue cardstock. I embossed a sentiment to this. I adhered this to the bottom portion of the tree. 

I adhered the watercolored panel to the plaid panel with foam adhesive.

My son suggested to have a star added to the scene. I don't have a cream colored star sequin. I could really die cut one but instead, I embossed a sequin star with the Ranger Enchanted Gold embossing powder. I did multiple layers of embossing. I added a Wow! Gold Pearl embossing powder next and a Wow! Ultra High embossing powder as the last finish. Heat the heat gun first before melting the powder to prevent warping the sequin. I adhered the star to the top of the tree and added a sequin to the center. 

I added a dot of blue to the centers of the gems using a Copic marker. 

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 these products. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products especially the exclusive Kat Scrappiness products. Not to forget, Kat Scrappiness has an ongoing sale on all Christmas products including the dies that I used on this project. 

I am sharing this creation at

Color Hues The Color Challenge Blog

Holiday Cheer

Add Some Sparkle

Winter Issue Challenge Week: A Card Challenge with Meghann Andrew

Non-Traditional Layered Christmas Tree Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. For today's card, I am using the Hero Arts Christmas Color Layering Stamp set. I am using non-traditional Christmas tree colors. I stamped the Christmas tree layers using colors from the same color family. I used a Misti Stamping Tool so I can re-stamp the image, if needed. 

I created a mask to be able to create a scene of trees, with some appearing to be at the back of another tree.  Fussy cutting the tree mask seems challenging but the mask need not to be perfect. 

Depending on the mask you are using, sometimes it is difficult to ink the area between the image and the mask. I used a Tsukineko Fantastix blending tool to apply ink to those missed spots. 

I embossed the last Christmas tree layer, adding Wow! White Puff embossing powder. With the use of the Misti Stamping Tool, I re-stamped the last layer on the same spot with Versamark ink. I added Judikins Iridescent Sparkle embossing powder, and heat embossed it. The White Puff adds dimension while the Iridescent Sparkle adds shimmer. 

I stamped the tree trunk with brown dye ink.

I stamped the sentiments on the tree using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I poured black embossing powder to the stamped sentiments, and heat set it. I used the Misti Stamping Tool on this step, too. Because of the textured snow, it took several re-stamping before I got a crisp impression of the sentiment.

I blended a light blue ink on the panel. I stamped snow flurries to the background using the same light blue ink for a subtle background. 

I trimmed an 8th of an inch on the long and short sides. I adhered this to a blue colored cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", then adhered it to a top folding A2 notecard.

I added star sequins to the top of the trees. I drew a snow slope using a Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Hero Arts Blog

AAA Cards Challenge Blog

One Layer Card

 

Hello, and welcome back. For today's card, I challenged myself to create a one-layer card and do some masking. Masking for ink blending is my least favorite because my masks tend to peel off while I blend inks. I always hear on other crafter's videos that these can be re-used. Mines tend to be a one-time use only. Maybe it depends on the kind of masks. After I use up the brand of masking paper that I have, I will try another brand.

To create my card, I die cut the Lawn Fawn Stitched Speech Bubble Frames die, LF Sripty Thanks die and a cat die from the LF Spooktacular coordinating die on sheet of masking paper. I left the masking paper on the release paper. I only peeled off the speech bubble negative masking paper cut. I blended the Tim Holtz Faded Jeans Distress Oxide to this area being careful that I do not peel off the intricate scripty masking paper die cut. No matter how careful I was, some of it peeled off, having a bit of blue ink bleed which I have a fix later on.

I replaced the speech bubble negative cut then removed the background negative cut masking paper, making sure I leave the cat masking paper die cut adhered. I blended TH Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide Ink to this area. I flicked some water to this inked area, allowing the water to seep in before lifting it off with a dry paper towel.

I removed all the masking paper which is always like Christmas morning with the reveal. This is the best thing about masking, and my favorite so far, the revelation including any errors in blending. To fix the blue bleed on the white sentiment, I used a white Sakura Gelli Roll pen to cover up the areas with the blue ink. 

I stamped the cat on the area of the panel where the cat masking paper used to be. I colored the cat with Copic markers. For this card, Peppy is my model cat.

I added supplement sentiments to the large focal sentiment using LF Milo's ABCs. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Lawn Fawn Challenge Blog

Color Hues The Color Challenge Blog