2-for-1 Graduation Cards

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. It is time for a new challenge at Stick It Down Scrapbook and Card Making Challenge on FB. It is very easy to join the challenge. There are three options to choose from. You can create a scrapbook layout, a double page scrapbook layout or a card. Choose one or choose all! 

I am commissioned by a college peer to create graduation cards that she will give away. Aside from the occasion, she specifically wants cards with gift card holder. I used this month's sketch to create two-for-one graduations cards since she ordered a dozen.

The first card I created was a shaker card. I trimmed a dotted Simple Stories patterned paper at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I die cut the stars on this panel using a star die from Altenew. I adhered an acetate on the back of the window patterned paper. I adhered strips of foam adhesives around the stars over the acetate. I wanted to contain the confetti in each star that's why I surrounded each star with foam tape. You don't need to do this. You can just surround all of the stars with foam tape to create one well.

The messy part of this project is putting the confetti in the shaker well. I treated the acetate and the sides of the foam with an anti-static powder tool to lessen the cling of the confetti. Somehow, the confetti has a mind of its own, adhering to places where it should not. 

I applied liquid glue to the foam before covering the well with patterned paper. The liquid glue allows some wiggle time in positioning the patterned paper over the shaker well. The down side of this is sometimes the confetti gets attracted to the liquid glue. 

I die cut star frames on a dark gray metallic paper. I used the star die I used to die cut the star windows and the next smaller sized star from the same Altenew die set. I pieced this on the acetate star window, adhering it with glue. 

I die cut the sentiment on gold glitter cardstock. The sentiment die is from Paper Smooches. I performed a bit of surgery on the die cut sentiment. Instead of using the original die cut of "congratulations", I trimmed the sentiment down to "congrats". The exclamation point is from a Hero Arts die set.

I created a gift card pocket using a We R Memory Keepers Goodie Bag tool. I adhered this to the inside of the card and embellished it with a grad cap which I cut using the Cricut. I stamped the inside and the grad cap with sentiments from my stamp stash.

I was tempted to add some gold splatters on the front but I was afraid it is going to take the eye away from the shaker so I kept the background as is. 

For the second card, I used the negative cut stars from the first card. I scored the gray star die cuts from the points to the center to make it 3D. I added a foam square to the back on the center to keep it raised as I adhere this to the dotted patterned paper star die cut. For the points, I used Ranger Glossy Accents to adhere this to the dotted star and keep the score folds up.

For the background panel, I partially embossed a white pearl cardstock with an alphabet embossing folder. I adhered the stars to this panel.

For the sentiment, I stamped this on gold pearl cardstock with black pigment ink. I poured black glitter cardstock to the wet ink and heat embossed it. I die cut the sentiment into a strip using the coordinating die. The stamp and die are from Pinkfresh Studio.

I curled the sentiment banner. I added a foam adhesive on the center and curled the ends up adding a dot of glue close to the edge to keep it adhered to the panel. 

For the inside of the card, I adhered a scrap patterned paper to the bottom to act as gift card pocket. I stamped the sentiment with a dye ink. Dye inks are supposed to dry quickly. My stamped sentiment did not. I accidentally smeared a part of the sentiment. Uggh! I was tempted to pitch the note card. I even thought of restamping the sentiment on another paper then fussy cut it. Then I remembered my white gel pen. I wrote over the mess to cover it up. Now, the boo-boo is hardly noticeable.

I hope you like today's cards and that you join this month's challenge. We always love to see your projects.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared these cards at

Simon Says: Anything Goes

Challenge 5~Anything Goes

Scraplift Challenge, Using a Scrapbook Layout on a Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I was able to watch a live of Paige Taylor. She is one of my favorite crafters. On her live video, she showed her process of creating a scrapbook layout using bows. She encouraged the viewers to create something based from her layout. I am glad she was okay with me creating a card instead of a scrapbook layout. 

The 3D bow dies are either too big or too small to re-create her layout so I used two different bow dies and layered it to make it 3D looking. 

The dies I used are from Paper Smooches. I die cut the curly one on a Lawn Fawn patterned paper. I matched these bows with the coordinating colored cardstock and die cut the smaller bow on the cardstock. I added a coordinating color Doodlebug sequin to the center of the bow.

I trimmed a light gray patterned paper from Authentique at 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". I stamped the message on the center. The stamp is from a Your Next Stamp stamp set. I flicked gray and pearlized water on this panel. I dried this with a heat gun. I should have left my stamp set on the Misti Stamping Platform. The red dye ink I used reacted to the splatters. I could have re-stamped the sentiment to regain the vibrant color of the ink. But it's okay. It looks like a special effect if you don't know that it was a crafter's mistake.

I adhered the bows around the sentiment applying glue to the center of the bows only. I added color coordinating sequins from my stash.  I did went gaga over sequins at one point of my crafting life. I think I still am.

I gave the bows a gentle lift to make it more 3D looking.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

Scraplift Challenge

Honeycomb Pumpkin Fall Card

  

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. It is the first of the month which means there is a new challenge at Stick It Down Scrapbook and Card Making Challenge in FB. We hope you join. There are several ways to participate with three sketch options to choose from.

The most intensive part of my card is creating the honeycomb. This is not the first time I created a honeycomb but somehow I struggled with this one. Maybe because it is smaller than the one I created before, and maybe because I am aiming for a halfway opened honeycomb.

The honeycomb above is my second attempt in creating a honeycomb for this card. I tried to save the first honeycomb but I was not able to. I think my mistake was applying more glue than I am supposed to. Some parts of the paper got stuck instead of opening up. 

Another thing that made this honeycomb a challenge is that I wanted to use a magnet to keep the honeycomb open. The honeycomb will initially be closed to allow it to be placed inside an envelope.

My first attempts were a fail. I later figured out that the magnet I used was not strong enough to hold it open. After adding another magnet, the honeycomb remained open.

If you are going to make a honeycomb using double sided patterned paper, keep in mind that the inside fold will be the one mostly showing when the honeycomb is opened. Just like in my honeycomb pumpkin, I have the orange background pattern outside and the brown background pattern inside. Thus, the pumpkin is more of brown with a hint of orange, There is nothing wrong with this but this piece of information can be helpful in case you are going for a certain look.

The dies I used for the honeycomb pumpkin is from Honeybee. The patterned paper I used for the pumpkin is from Simple Stories. I inked the edges of the pumpkin die cut on both sides using an orange and brown dye inks accordingly.

The other two patterned papers I used for the background are from Echo Park (green) and Simple Stories (brown). I die cut the green patterned paper using a stitched Lawn Fawn square die.

I used felt for the pumpkin stalk and curly vines. The lace trim is from Michaels. I used double sided tape to adhere the trim to the back of the square patterned paper.

The sentiment die is from Paper Smooches. I added stitching to the holes using an orange variegated DMC floss. I used all 6 strands and added a shiny gold thread for a tinge of shine.

The honeycomb pumpkin, when folded, still has a bit of depth but it still fits an A2 sized envelope.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

Challenge 10~Anything Goes

My Favorite Color is Yellow

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am a guest designer at the Cut It up Challenge. The challenge theme is Your Favorite Color(s). Yes! I created a card that screams my favorite color, yellow. I like yellow because it reminds me of the sun. The sun represents energy, power, positivity, and clarity. 

This is my second time to be a GD at Cut It Up Challenge. On my first GD gig, I created a Weaved Fall Card. It is very easy to join the challenge. Create a project based on the challenge theme and make sure to include a die cut. If you are chosen as one of the Top 3, you have the chance to become a Cut It Up Challenge GD. 

The most involving part of my card is the background which is all stitched. I used a cross stitch die to add stitching holes to a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock. I was so inspired by a card created by Jennifer McGuire that I used the stitches on her card on my card. The difference is that Jennifer used different colors of embroidery floss while I only used yellow DMC embroidery flosses on my card. I had so much fun stitching this background that I think I am going to create another card like this.

I die cut the postage frame using the SugarPea Designs Postage Stamp Sugar Cut on a gold Grafix vellum paper. To create this into a frame, I used a Hero Arts Nesting Rectangle Die to die cut a rectangular opening on the center of the postage die cut. I adhered the frame to the stitched panel.

I die cut the leaf using the Simon Says Stamp Laurel Leaf die on vellum, a yellow-gold cardstock and the same gold vellum paper I used for the frame. I adhered these die cuts on top of one another with the vellum on top to mute the yellow-gold cardstock. I adhered this to the stitched area, applying dots of glue to the stem and the ends of the leaves connected to the stem. I applied something heavy over the leaf while the glue is drying up. 

For the sentiment, I used the Spellbinder Pocket Full of Spring die to etched a sentiment on a yellow cardstock. I die cut the sentiment into a strip using a sentiment strip die. I die cut two extra pieces on white cardstock. I adhered the white strips on the back of the etched sentiment strip for dimension. I inked the sides using the Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink. I adhered this to the laurel leaf on the stitched panel. 

I zhuzhed the tips of the leaves to add interest to the focal point of the card.

I trimmed an eight of an inch off each side of the stitched panel. I adhered this panel to a yellow cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I adhered this to a top folding note card. 

I hope you like today's card. Thank you, Larelyn and Cut It Up for allowing me to be a GD on your challenge blog a second time around. It sure was a pleasure. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Challenge #112~Monochrome #4

Stitched Card

 

Hello! Belated Happy World Card Making Day! I always look forward to this day even if it is a work day (work night, I should say) for me. One of the events during WCMD that I love to participate in is the Doodlebug Design's WCMD challenges. They have several challenges and the Stitch It Up Challenge is my most favorite. If you have been following me, you know that this is within my alley since I love to stitch.

I trimmed the B side of the Doodlebug Design Dragon Tails Cobblestones patterned paper to a little over 4" x 4". I poked holes where the triangle meet. I did a running stitch on these holes using DMC embroidery floss. I used colors of embroidery floss that coordinates with the colors of the triangle.

For the card base, I used a trifold card from the Doodlebug Design Cards & Envelopes Hello Assortment. On the small flap of this note card, I die cut the word thanks. The die I used is from Paper Smooches. The die created holes which can be left as is or since these are holes, it gave me an opportunity to add stitching to it. 

I adhered the stitched panel to the larger flap of the trifold card. The short end of this trifold card, where I stitched the thanks has a notch. I trimmed this off since I did not want the stitched panel to be covered. 

I added Doodlebug Design gray sequins to the stitched panel. I topped this with blue gems.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Doodlebug Design FB

Doodlebug Design FB

Add Some Texture

 

Doodling with Stencil to Create Faux Wax Seals with a Bonus Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project features one of the many creative ways in using a stencil. I created faux wax seals using the Waffle Flower Wax Seal die. As much as I am fascinated with this craft, I have not invested on the supplies needed for it. I settled with the alternative way of creating wax seals with use of the die set and embossing powder.

On different shades of red cardstock, which are mostly from my paper stash, I traced the mushroom using the Blank Page Muse Cute Muhrooms Stencil. I used gold glitter gel pens with different tip sizes. I added details to the mushrooms by adding dots and lines. 

I die cut the layers of the wax seal on red cardstock. I adhered the layers together. I blended gold dye ink on the top most layer of the wax seal. To make this into a faux wax seal, I embossed the wax seal using Versamark ink and Wow! Ultra High clear embossing powder. These wax seals are now ready for use. You can adhere this on the flap of an envelope or use it to embellish your project. You can use other stamp images and die cuts in place of the mushroom as long as it fits the circular space of the wax seal die cut.

With the layered die cutting of the wax seals, I came up with all these circle die cuts. Instead of adding it to my circle die cut stash, I created a matching card for the wax seals.

I repeated the process of drawing the mushroom with the use of the stencil, and adding details to the mushrooms. I drew the mushroom on the red circle die cuts.

For the card panel, I trimmed a kraft cardstock at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I used a stamp from the BPM Scribble & Scratch Mixed Media Set 2 to add a subtle background to the panel. I used a kraft dye ink to stamp the image. 

I adhered the circle left over die cuts to this panel. I adhered a small x die cut in between the circles to mimic stitching in between the circles. The x was die cut on matte gold cardstock. The die I used is from Paper Smooches.

For the sentiment, I die cut this on matte gold cardstock using a die from Concord & 9th. I layered this die cut sentiment with another die cut for a bit of dimension. 

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

Maria Giselle B. 

Blank Page Muse 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

Anything Goes #48

Graduation Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. My 2nd son is graduating high school this Sunday. So excited for him on this milestone.

The background panel involves a lot of die cutting. I die cut the plaid cover panel on an ink blended background. I pieced in some of the square negative cuts to provide contrast to the white sentiment die cuts. The words and numbers are die cut in multiples and adhered on top of each other for some dimension.

I enjoyed creating this project a lot since it is a mash up of cardmaking (based on the supplies used and the size), and scrapbooking. I think this is something doable for me compared to the large scale scrapbook layout. 

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

 

Trifold Spinner Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. This month's challenge is on Funfolds +/or Summer Fun. Thank you to TLC Designs for sponsoring this challenge. I linked the image I used on this card below.

What I like about digital stamps is you can mirror the image easily. You can also resize the image depending on your project. 

This trifold card also has a window cut on the folded front piece to add interest to the layout. Below is a short video showing the toucan spinning.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you join our latest challenge at Incy Wincy. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Image Sponsor

I am sharing this creation at

Anything Goes

Creative Creases Challenge Blog

May 2023~Anything Goes

Autumn Inspired Slimline Card

Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. Our challenge theme for this month is Autumn Harvest and/or Houses. Our sponsor for this challenge is Alex Syberia Design. I linked the image I used on this card below.

I printed the image on heavyweight white cardstock. I colored the image using several mediums (Tim Holtz Distress Crayons, Zig Clean Color Waterbrush and Karin markers.) Since I am not using a watercolor paper, I am doing a dry watercolor technique. I fussy cut the image leaving a white border around it. I added Tim Holtz Antique Linen watercolor crayon to the white spaces to mute the stark white. 

I trimmed a Hero Arts Plum cardstock at 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" for the front panel. I added the embossed frame with the use of a mat. The slimline frame die is from the Trinity Stamps Frame and Fold die. 

The layout is inspired by the sketch below from Scrapbook & Cards. I die cut patterned papers from Echo Park Fall Fever 6x6 paper pad using one of the rectangles from the Hero Arts Infinity Rectangle dies. I picked some ephemera from the same line and from the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor. I played around with the elements that will complete my layout until I am satisfied with how it looks. I inked the edges of the rectangle patterned paper die cuts using an ink that matches the color of the patterned paper. I inked the hexagonal ephemera too.

I adhered the rectangle patterned paper die cuts to the plum panel, then adhered the ephemera, adding some metallic embellishments. I heat embossed a postage stamp from the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor stamp set to the right lower rectangle patterned paper. I used a Ranger Copper embossing powder for this.

I die cut the sentiment on the colored digital image. I heat embossed the sub-sentiment using a brown dye ink and clear embossing powder. I adhered a copper glittered paper to the back of the colored digital image which shows through the holes created by the sentiment die. I adhered this to the panel using foam adhesive. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you join our latest challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Below, I have added the link to the Trinity Stamp 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 Trinity Stamps website, do check out the other amazing Trinity Stamps products including their newly released products.

Maria Giselle B.

Image Sponsor

I am sharing this creation at

Scrapbook & Cards Fall Issue Challenge Week~Sketch with Nathalie DeSousa

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge~Anything Goes