Mixed Media Sketch Inspired Greeting Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's card got its inspiration from the Newton's Nook Designs Inky Paws Challenge. You will see the sketch and the link at the bottom of this post. I struggled at the beginning of creating this card. I almost gave up but my method of walking away from my frustration worked. Some of my projects are staged in its creation. I either am creating it simultaneously with another project, or I work on it in between house chores, or I work on it during my waking hours as a night shift person. I think the break gives me time to think about the project, improve it and try not to ditch it.

Back on the project, I love joining the Newton's Nook Challenges. I try to join if my time allows. I used stamps from the NND Let's Be Mermaids. I think this stamp set has been retired since I cannot find it in the online shop.

I already stamped and colored the cat on the gray cardstock panel but I did not like how it looked so I changed my plan.

For the background, I cut blue and purple cardstocks to follow the sketch. 

I heat embossed the seahorse and fish on a blue cardstock panel using the Hero Arts Iridescent Blue embossing powder. I treated the panel first before stamping the images repeatedly using Versamark ink to create a background. 

I created a stencil of these images by stamping the images on a Post-It Note. I cut the images off the Post-It Note to create a window. This does not have to be perfect. I blended blue dye inks on the images over the DIY stencil. Easy and simple coloring!

For the purple panel, I stamped the shell image repeatedly using Versamark ink. This time, I brushed a Grape Perfect Pearl Powder over the ink. I wiped off any excess powder. I lightly spritz this panel with water to set in the powder.

I stamped Newton on a white cardstock using gray dye ink. I colored the image with Copic markers. I fussy cut the image leaving a narrow border around it. I stitched sequins to the mermaid's tail. This is the most tenuous part of the project but isn't it worth it? I used a transparent nylon thread in stitching the sequins to the paper.

For the gray cardstock panel, I partly embossed it with a wave embossing folder. I lightly swiped the Versamark pad over it. I poured Judikins Iridescent Sparkle embossing powder over the sticky ink. I heat embossed this area until the powder has melted.

I adhered a blue rick rack over the seams of the sketch. I used Ranger Glossy Accents to adhere the trim to the panel which explains the dots on the trim. I could have used my glue gun although I am not sure if I would have done a better job adhering the trim. I am always messy when I use the glue gun.

I adhered the cat with foam tape. 

For the sentiment, I heat embossed the sentiment stamp from NND Birthday Roundabout on the same blue cardstock. I used Simon Says Stamp Silver embossing powder. I cut this to create this into a strip using a craft knife. I fish tail cut the ends to make it into a banner. I adhered this to the panel.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Newton's Nook Designs Challenge Blog #27

Inspired By Challenge Blog

Simon Says: Anything Goes

 

Grogu 'Baby Yoda' Mini Card

Hello! My son asked me to created a card for his friend who loves Baby Yoda. Thanks to this this free cut file at free svg planet, I was able to put together this instant card request.

I edited the image on Cricut Design Space, creating a layered cut file. It would have worked if I used a lightweight cardstock. The dainty layered cut did not go through the thick cardstock. Since I am pressured for time, I edited the image and made it to a print and cut file.

For the sentiment, which comes with the free cut file, I edited this to have the CDS draw it instead of cutting it. I used a Ranger Embossing pen to write the sentiment on black cardstock. I prep the area with an anti-static tool before the sentiment is drawn on a black cardstock. I embossed this with white embossing powder.

For the mini card, I am using a die from Trinity Stamps Frame And Fold Die Set. I die cut a white cardstock using this die. The size of this card when folded is 3" x 4". 

I blended Tim Holtz Distress Black Soot Ink to create a spotlight. I used the My Favorite Things Spotlight Stencil as a guide where to apply the ink. I added Ranger Perfect Pearls in Perfect Pearl to the inked area for shimmer. I brushed off the excess powder. I spritz some water to the air and fanned the card towards this spritz water to help set the powder. I added splatters of gold paint to this area.

I adhered the sentiment to the bottom of the front panel. I adhered the printed image with foam adhesive. I added Blank Zig Wink of Stella Glitter pen to the open areas of the sentiment. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at 

Challenge #495~Anything Goes #40

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog #109

 

Challenge #207~Anything Goes #147

MKC Digitals Fall Window Card

Hello! I am a guest designing for MKC Digitals. Thank you, Mari Ko, MKC's owner, for giving me this opportunity to join this momentous occasion of her re-launching the company. I get to know Mari Ko when she sponsored one of our challenges at Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog. I fell in with love her images at that moment! I especially was thrilled to win on one of her blog challenges. But sometimes, life throws us a a curve ball. What's important is she is back again. I am very happy for her. Cheers to you, Mari Ko and to MKC Digitals!

I created this card not only with Mari Ko in mind but also, my Inang (mother), and to the many things we are and can be thankful for. My mother got sick a couple weeks ago. It was very nerve racking, with distance as my biggest barrier. But we stuck together as a family. She is home right now recovering, taking each day at a time. My biggest salute to my sister who never left our mother's side. I am thankful for my sister and my mother...among a lot of things I am blessed with.

Now, on to the card. I am using the Fall Floral Arrangement digital stamp. I printed the image on Arches Cold Pressed watercolor paper. I re-sized the image to fit a top folding A2 note card. I also cropped the center flower. I colored the images using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint, Lucky Clover, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain. I mixed Perfect Pearl 'Perfect Pearl" with these oxide inks in the palette. I am trying to create pearl paints. I would love to have more colors of Finetec but for now, I'll settle with whatever supplies I have on hand.

I added foil to the image since I printed the images using a toner ink printer. I did this technique before on a previous project, Foiled Watercolored Kit and Clowder Card. It would be nice if all of  the image got foiled but because the watercolor paper is so textured, only specks of foil attached to the image. If I really want it watercolored and foiled, the next time I do a similar project, I should try using a thick, smooth cardstock.

I fussy cut the images. I cut the cropped flowers up to the image line while I left some border on the bouquet of daisies. I ran a black marker around the fussy cut daisy for a finished look.

I am using a 100 lb. Neenah Desert Storm cardstock for a card base. On the front, I cut it at 2 3/8" from the score line and cut this extra piece at the same size. I cut a brown cardstock at 4 1/4" x 2 3/8". I embossed this using a Darice Wood Grain embossing folder. I flicked some Finetec Arabic Gold pearl paint onto this and set it to dry.

For the window, I die cut a Clearprint heavy vellum at 4 1/4" x 1". I embossed this using Darice Checkered embossing folder. I die cut the sentiment which is from the Concord & 9th Grateful Leaf dies set. I embossed this sentiment using Ranger Copper embossing powder. I embossed the sentiment twice for a more raised look.

To assemble the card, I adhered the vellum in between the two Neenah cardstock panels, making sure that the bottom piece is aligned to the bottom of the note card. I adhered the embossed brown cardstock on top of the Neenah cardstock panels. I adhered the bouquet of flowers. I adhered the sentiment on the vellum window using a liquid adhesive. I adhered the flower cut out using a foam adhesive. I place an acrylic block on top of the sentiment as the liquid glue dries. I needed to reinforce the adhesive on some areas to make sure that the sentiment die cut won't fall off.

As last embellishment, I added clear mini round gems. I did not cut the overhang of the bouquet so this card will need an envelope slightly larger than an A2 envelope.

Another thing I am thankful for is you and your time to visit my blog. I appreciate you, and I hope you have a blessed, brilliant & creative day.

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Thankful Thursday Challenge #235~Always Thankful

Distress Oxides with Perfect Pearl

It is such an honor to be invited to participate in the Coffee and Cards Collaboration with Celeste of Crafting Junky and Deb of Meticulosity. Below is the photo inspiration for this month's collaboration.

The sentiment on this photo is very timely. It is supposed to be spring but sometimes the temperature still dips down so we can't really put the winter jackets away for the season. 

On to the card, I am using a black cardstock panel, measuring 51/2" x 4 1/4", I positioned the hello die cut from the Concord and 9th Say Hello Die to help in placement of the stamped flowers. The stamp I am using is from Ellen Hutson Bold Blooms stamp set. I stamped thhe flowers and leaf using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet and Peeled Paint. I created masks for the flowers to be able to stamp the leaf close to the flower, making it appear like the leaf is at the back of the flower. Distress Oxide has pigment ink properties. While the inked impression is still weit, I pounced Perfect Pearl to the stamped flowers and leaves using the same color. I spritz this panel with water to set the Perfect Pearl. I am not sure if the Oxide Inks reacted to the spritz ,lof water having Perfect Pearl on top of it. But I like the look of Oxide Ink on dark colored cardstock.

For the sentiment, I adhered a white cardstock on double adhesive sheet. I die cut the bold hello with the adhesive side on top. I peeled off the release paper and poured Elizabeth Craft Designs Cool Diamond Silk Microfine glitter on it. After shaking off the excess, I rubbed my finger on the glitter to set it and at the same time, the friction activates the silky feel of the glitter. I removed the excess glitter using a Swiffer cloth.

I adhered this to the center of the stamped panel. I trimmed off an eight of an inch from each sides so I can matte this onto another black cardstock.

Since my glitter is already out, I adhered a double sided tape to all four sides of a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" black cardstock. I poured the same Microfine glitter over the tape. Just like what I did on the sentiment, I rubbed the glitter to set it. I adhered the stamped panel onto this using fun foam for some dimension.

I embossed a sub-sentiment on black cardstock using white embossing powder. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Stamp and Cuts Hello Coordinating set. I trimmed this into a strip and cut the edges to create a banner. I adhered this below the hello die cut.

I added Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Confetti Mix as last detail.

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As I've mentioned, this collaboration will not be complete without coffee. My photo features my all-time and only favorite coffee from Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, non-fat and no-whip. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you've checked on Celeste and Deb's photo inspired creations and their featured coffee or tea as well.

Have a blessed and brilliant day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

 

April Color Trends Challenge: Pantone Drama Queen Color Palette