Binding Project for a Retiree

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project is a retirement gift. My co-worker, Lea Anne, is very nice to hand out retirement cards for our work group to fill up for Jill, the retiree. I volunteered to bound the cards and jazz it up to make it more special.

I used the We R Makers Multi Cinch Binding Machine to punch the holes. I don't have Cinch Binding Wires. I only have the Zutter brand. Although the Zutter binding wires thread through the holes, it is not compatible with the Cinch machine when it comes to pressing the binding wires. Good thing, I still have my Zutter Binding Machine to press the wires.

I stamped a Honey Bee Stamps floral background stamp on the back of the cards and the inner cover of the book. I heat embossed this image on the front with gold embossing powder. You might notice on the photo that mybinding is not perfect. The wires got messed up after I attempted to use it on the Cinch.

I die cut the letters to spell out the retiree's name using dies from Spellbinders. It is a stitching die so I added stitching to the holes. I used DMC Variegated floss for the stitching. I substituted the teetles of the letters j and i with flowers from My Favorite Things. The recipient loves to garden so this will tie in with the floral stamped background. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge-Dazzling Die Cuts

 

A Crow For Christmas Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I won a give away at @valleyoakpaper IG page. The prize I got was a Spellbinders 13 Days of Craftoween which I received the week of Halloween. Lots of good Halloween die images to create in this package. Since I rarely create Halloween cards, I challenged myself to use something from the package and make it Christmas themed. I chose the crow die set for this challenge.

I did a web research if it is possible to feature the crow on a Christmas card. Surprisingly, I can. I die cut the layers of the crow. The die set sleeve was helpful in making me plan the colors of the crow layers. I changed the colors of the beak, wing, hat trim, bow, monocle and claws. 

 

I die cut the beak and wing on dark gray cardstock. I blended black ink to the right side of these die cuts.

I die cut the hat trim and bow on red pearl cardstock.

I die cut the monocle on gold mirror cardstock. I punched a circle on a transparency. This circle is large enough to fit the monocle. 

I die cut the claws on mustard cardstock.

I outlined the brow of the crow and added a dot to the eye using a white gel pen.

I added the leaves which I trimmed from a wreath die cut. This was die cut on green glitter paper. I added a red gem to the center of the leaves.

The tree is a Tim Holtz tree ephemera. I added green glitter gel to the tips of the tree and a bit on the center. My glitter gel dried up after not using it for almost a year. I spritz water to it until the gel loosened enough to spread it. I used a micro tip applicator to apply the glitter gel to the tree. I set this aside to allow the glue to dry.

The frame is also from same Tim Holtz ephemera pack. I lightly blended ink to the outer edges of the frame.

I die cut a brown cardstock using a Lawn Fawn banner die. I spelled out the message using a Lawn Fawn Milo's ABC stamp set. It took a while to put the message together since some of the letter stamps will fall on its side or move. I used the negative cut of the banner to position the letters. Thankfully, none of the letters fell off after I inked the letters while it was attached to the acrylic block. I stamped the letters using red dye ink. It would have been better if I was able to emboss it but I did not want to push it since putting the letters together took a lot of effort.

I die cut a gray patterned paper using a stitched die. I adhered the ephemera to the panel. I adhered the bird to the banner, and adhered this to the panel with foam tape.

What do you think? Will the crow pass for a Christmas creature? 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this card at

Simon Says: Masculine

SimonSaysChallenge in IG~Handmade Holiday Magic

SAS4Kids: Holiday Cards 4 Kids #11

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

 

A Mother's Day Gift

Hello! Happy Mother's Day! I am celebrating this day with a project made for two co-worker moms of mine. I hope you like it.

This project was supposed to be a part of a DT project but the colors are not matching so I decided to work on my DT project later and went ahead to finish this project. After all, I have been itching to sew for a while.

The pretty foiled patterned paper is from Spellbinders. I trimmed this based on the size of the stitched scallop rectangle die from Pretty Pink Posh. This paper is very light weight. I won't be able to support any stitching on it. I adhered a cream cardstock behind it to make this paper thicker.

I used The Stamp Market Stitched Alphabet dies to die cut the stitching holes. Initially, I was planning to stich on the patterned paper directly but I tear one of the papers when I was peeling off the tape that kept the letter dies in place. I die cut the letters again on the cream cardstock this time to cover the poked holes on the patterned paper. I cut the letters using a craft knife. 

I used a DMC embroidery floss and a DMC metallic threat do add cross stitching to the poked holes. I adhered this on the patterned paper.

I die cut a total of 6 pieces of the scalloped frame. I adhered 3 pieces on top of each other, stacking it for dimension. I adhered this on the patterned paper.

I used a Stampin Up rubber stamp to spell out the names of the recipients. I stamped the letters using  Wow! embossing pad then poured Wow! gold embossing powder over it. I heat set this. I punched the letters using the square punch included in the stamp set.

I adhered the letters underneath the stitched letter. 

I die cut 6 pieces of the scalloped frame. I adhered 3 pieces on top of each other, stacking it for some dimension. I adhered this on the patterned paper panel. 

I adhered a cream cardstock on the back to cover the stitching. I trimmed off any excess.

I used a die from The Stamp Market Scalloped Frame die for the easel. I die cut 6 pieces total. I trimmed the tabs off on 4 the easels. I adhered 2 of these pieces on the tabbed easel piece. I repeated this on the rest of the easel die cuts. I applied glue to the tab. I aligned the triangle/arrow tip of the easel to the bottom corner of the frame, then pressed the glued tab to the back of the panel. I set this aside to dry. 

I adhered the mini circles included in the die cutting to mimic the screws of the easel.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day! Celebrating all the mothers out there. Yay!

Maria Giselle B.

Christmas Trim Ornament Paper Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am a guest designer at the Cut It Up Challenge. The challenge theme is Starts with a "C." Can you guess what is my card's "C?" If you said Christmas, you are right. It might be too early to think about Christmas but it is never too early to start creating Christmas cards. 

What makes this card special is that it is not only a card. The tree embellishment on the front of the card is an ornament. I die cut the tree on green cardstock using a triangle die from the Spellbinders November 2018 Large Die of the Month kit. I adhered a double sided adhesive to one side of this triangle die cut. After removing the release paper from the adhesive, I adhered lace trims to this triangle die cut. I squirted liquid glue to some areas to keep the trim secure. I end up using a glue gun to adhere the ends of the lace trim to the back of the triangle die cut.

I die cut the trunk of the tree on brown cardstock. I used the mailbox post in the Lawn Fawn Happy Mail die set. I die cut several pieces and adhered one over the other to make it thick. This die cut has a slit which is part of the design. I adhered a scrap cardstock to one of the post die cuts to keep the slit shut. I fussy cut the excess. I adhered this to the back of the tree die cut.

For the star, I die cut two pieces on gold cardstock and one piece on gold mirror cardstock. The star die is from the same Spellbinders die set I used for the tree. I adhered one of the gold cardstock star die cuts on top of the tree.

I knotted a gold embroidery floss and taped it to the back of the Christmas tree. I die cut another triangle on green cardstock and adhered this to the back of the tree. I adhered the other gold star die cut to the back to sandwich the floss. 

The gold mirror star die cut was adhered to the front. I taped the loop of floss to the back to hide it.

For the card panel, I die cut the Kat Scrappiness Buffalo Plaid Background die on white cardstock. I die cut thin strips of green pearl cardstock, red glitter cardstock and gold mirror cardstock using a die from the Kat Scrappiness A2 Stitched Strips Craft die set. I adhered these strips to a white cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" to create a plaid pattern that will show through the plaid die cut. I adhered the plaid die cut to this.

For the holder of the paper ornament, I adhered a gold washi tape on vellum. I trimmed off the edges leaving a slim border of vellum on the top and bottom of the greeting washi tape. I wrapped this around the plaid panel with the paper ornament inserted underneath it. I secured the ends with tape on the back of the panel. 

I adhered this to a top folding A2 note card. Because of the weight of the paper ornament, it has a tendency to slip off the band. I secured the tree in place with a low tack tape adhered to the back of the paper ornament.

I hope you like today's card. Thank you for Cut It Up Challenge Blog for the opportunity to guest design in your blog again. Don't forget to link up your projects with 'Starts with a "C"' theme.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I added below links to the Kat Scrappiness products I used on this project. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase this/these product/s. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products. Enjoy!

I am sharing this project at

Challenge #121~Anything Goes Christmas

 

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

BetterPress Letter Press & Glimmer Hot Foil

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. It is a new month! I can't believe it is November already. It is an Anything Goes challenge at Incy Wincy Designs with an optional twist, create a Christmas Card with a Handmade Background. I used both themes on my cards for today's post.

Have you tried the BetterPress Letterpress machine by Spellbinders? This is my first time to use this machine. Just like any other new tool/machine, I have to learn the tricks in using it effectively. 

Although Spellbinders came out with inks for the BetterPress system, I used dye inks from Altenew for the inking. I used the Spellbinders BetterPress specialty cardstock (Cotton Card), which is a heavy weight cardstock (220 lb.), to do the letter press technique. 

On my first try, I did not get a bold impression. I thought it was because of the light blue ink that I used. I repeated the process and still was not getting a good impression. On my third try on re-inking and letter pressing, the cardstock shifted creating a double image of the background. Oh, well. 

On my fourth try with a new cardstockck, I added a thin cardboard as a shim on the top of the BetterPress platform. This time, the shim added extra pressure to push the inked press plate towards the heavy weight cardstock. I just discovered the right BetterPress recipe for my Sizzix machine. Doing it using a darker blue ink was easier now that I know the right BetterPress sandwich for my die cut machine.

The Pinkfresh Studio Decorative Frames Press Plate that I used for the background has a dual purpose. It can be used for both BetterPress and Glimmer Machines. I hot foiled the background on a light blue cardstock using a light blue foil. 

The Pinkfresh Studio Decorative Frames Press Plate has a coordinating die which I used to cut the frames apart. If you are going to use a full background press plate or hot foil plate, I suggest using a cardstock larger than A2. The extra space allows you to get full coverage of the background design when foiling and letter pressing. 

I tried transferring the left over design on the foil to another cardstock using the Waffle Flower Solid Hot Foil Plate. I failed on this part. I should have used a light weight, non-textured cardstock and/or I should have used a shim. 

I interchanged the frames to create a multi-colored background. With this I was able to create three cards right away. Extra cards created are always great. 

 

I created a fringed multi-layered Christmas tree on the card above. I used a fringe scissors to cut the fringes. I added impressions to the top layer of the tree and the trunk. The triangle die I used is from Honey Bee. The star was die cut using a Lawn Fawn coordinating die. I adhered blue gems to the tree. I inlaid the decorative frames, using all of the pieces including the drop negative cuts for a seamless finish.

 

For my second card, I cross stitched the Christmas tree on dark green cardstock. The Christmas tree pattern is from The Magic of Christmas to Cross Stitch by Veronique Enginger. I framed the cross stitched Christmas tree using the second to the largest frame of the decorative frames. I also removed the in-between frame cuts on this card. I embellished the tree with star sequins and gems that glow in the dark. I adhered star sequins on the top of the tree.

 

For my third card, I poked a hole on the Christmas tree. I threaded a green glitter thread through the holes. I added dash lines in between the glitter thread using a Sakura Stardust pen. I also did stitching on the trunk using a metallic embroidery floss. I added a gold glitter star on the top of the tree. I die cut the star using the same Lawn Fawn coordinating die I used on the first card. I added different colored gems to embellish the tree. 

I hope you like today's projects. Please join us in this month's challenge at Incy Wincy Design. It is a very good motivation to start working on those Holiday cards.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge

Scrapbook & Cards Todays FB Challenge

Weaved Fall Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am a guest designer at the Cut It Up Challenge. The challenge theme is Colors of Fall/Autumn. This is my favorite season because of the colors. 

The Cut It Up Challenge requires a die cut to be included on your project. I die cut the letters using the Spellbinders Stitched Alphabet dies. I die cut the letters on various patterned papers from the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor 6x8 pad. I die cut the same letters on scrap white cardstock. I adhered the patterned paper letter die cuts to the white letter die cuts. This gives some stability to the patterned paper letter die cuts since the patterned paper are not that thick. 

I stitched Sulky gold thread on the stitching holes. This thread offers some challenge in stitching. Because of its slick texture, I had a hard time lining up the three strands and also had a hard time knotting the end. It was worth the struggle after seeing the effect of this glossy thread to the project. Very pretty!

I die cut the shadow of the letter on a woodgrain patterned paper which is included in the paper pad. 

I adhered the stitched letters to the shadow. I pressed the layers with a reverse tweezer and a mini clothespin while the liquid glue is drying. This promotes better adhesion of the die cut letter to the die cut shadow. I set the letters aside.

For the weaved panel, I die cut a heavy weight cream colored cardstock using The Stamp Market Weaving Cards die. Since I wanted to create a landscape card, I partially die cut the weave die on the cream cardstock. I used the cut tabs as a guide in repositioning the die to die cut the rest of the panel.

I wrapped a white crochet thread on the tabs. Using a heavy weight cardstock for this weaving card prevents the cardstock from curving during the weaving. Once I have wrapped all of the tabs with crochet thread, now its time for weaving. I secured the ends to the back of the panel with tape.

I am obsessed with trims! Thanks to Paige Evans. After seeing her trims on her mini scrapbook pages, I am simply on the lookout for trims. Thankfully, Michael's came up with a bundled trim for different occasions and color palettes. I used a tapestry needle to help me weave the trims through the crochet thread making sure I alternate the order of weaving on each trim. Once the panel is filled with trims, I added a double adhesive tape to the ends of the panel and adhered the trims to it. I also added a double adhesive tape to the back edges of the panel to secure the ends of the trims really well. I trimmed off the excess.

I heat embossed the additional sentiments on the same woodgrain patterned paper. I used Wow! Gold Pearl embossing powder. The sentiment is from the coordinating stamp set of the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor. The stamp sentiment was partially stamped to come up with a customized sentiment. I die cut this into strips using a die from Avery Elle. I die cut extras and adhered it to the back of the sentiment strips for a bit of dimension.

I adhered the letters and sentiment strips to the weaved panel. With all the texture on the weaving, I think it is best to use a glue gun. But I am messy when it comes to using a glue gun so I settled for a liquid adhesive which worked out just fine. It just took a long time for the liquid glue to dry. I also had to add more glue to some areas. 

I hope you like today's project. Thank you, Larelyn and Cut It Up for allowing me to share my work in their challenge blog. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Make Your Own Background, featuring Spellbinders #37

I used Spellbinders Stitched Alphabet dies.

Recipe Challenge Inspired Greeting Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I had a bit of a break from creating and blogging. It is nice to be back again.

I created today's card for Scrapbook & Cards FB Challenge. It is a recipe challenge which is detailed below and includes the link to the challenge.

If you have been following my blog, paper stitching is one of my favorite techniques to incorporate to my cards. Stitching dies, like the one I used for the flowers, are available now which makes stitching on cards easy for stitching lovers like me. 

The flowers were die cut on white card stock using My Favorite Things Floral Adornments Die-namics. I used a yellow DMC floss to add stitching details to the flowers. For the flower centers, I added yellow buttons. The buttons I have available are not all yellow. I colored the buttons with a yellow Karin Paint Decobrush marker. Once this has dried, I pounced the button on a Versamark pad, then brushed some yellow pearlescent powder to it. I added a green stem die cut to the flowers using MFT Fresh Cut Flowers Die-namics.

I die cut a pocket on blue cardstock. I heat embossed the pocket detail to it using white embossing powder. 

I trimmed a brown patterned paper at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I added a dry embossed impression to this panel using the Catherine Pooler Lights on Broadway Cover Plate die. This is hardly noticeable on the the photo. I flicked some gold spray to this panel and heat set to speed dry it. 

I temporarily positioned a rectangle frame to the panel to give me an idea on how much area I can use for my floral arrangement. After I am happy with my floral arrangement, I started adhering the flowers with liquid glue. I added leaves to the arrangement. 

I adhered the pocket to the base of the floral arrangement. I adhered the frame to the panel. I adhered the sentiment to the pocket. The sentiment was created using a Spellbinders Pocket Full of Spring Sentiments Etched die. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Scrapbook & Cards FB Challenge

Inkspirational Blog Challenge