Let's Flamingo! Shaker Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am up on the Blank Page Muse blog featuring the Flamingo Row Red Rubber Art stamps.

This stamp set comes on a 5" x 7" solid sheet. I cut off images that I used on this card from the stamp sheet. The red rubber stamp is unmounted. There are several techniques to stamp this unmounted red rubber stamp. The mounting techniques I used for this card are:

• Using an acrylic block by spraying temporary adhesive to the back of the red rubber stamp. I used this technique in stamping the rows of flamingos. Not my preferred choice since the temporary spray adhesive left some residue to my acrylic block which I was not able to fully remove even with the use of adhesive removers.
• Using a sticky mat and a Misti stamping tool. The sticky mat holds the red rubber stamp. I temporarily adhered the paper to the door of the Misti with a tape adhesive. This is my preferred technique since the temporary adhesive is easier to remove from the Misti. Best of all, there is an opportunity to re-stamp the image if needed.

I stamped the flamingos with a khaki colored dye ink. Coloring the row of flamingos can be overwhelming. To make the coloring easy and quick, I stamped the row of flamingos on a scrap cardstock. I fussy cut off some of the bodies of the flamingos to create a paper mask. I lined the opening to the flamingos, and blended the ink to this open space. 

I used color pencils for the beaks and legs. These are very small areas so coloring it wasn't not tedious at all. I used a black marker to add details to the eyes and the beaks.

For the larger flamingo, I did the same ink blending technique for some consistency in the coloring. I fussy cut the flamingo leaving a small border around it. 

I trimmed the flamingo panel to 5 1/4" x 4". I die cut a heart window on this panel. I also die cut a gold heart frame for the heart window. I positioned the flamingo on this heart window, adding adhesive to the areas that touch the panel. I adhered an acetate to the back of the panel. I added foam tape to the back of the panel. 

For the back panel, I trimmed a patterned paper at 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". I used a gel pen to add details to the wave print on the patterned paper. I poured several sequins to the area that will show through the heart window on the other panel.

I powdered the side of the foam adhesive lining the heart window. After I removed all the foam tape release paper, I adhered this window panel to the patterned paper. 

The sentiment I used is from the same stamp set. I heat embossed this using a blue embossing powder. I die cut the sentiments into strips using a die. I adhered this to the panel. Sine the sentiment strip is partly adhered to the acetate, I added a shorter piece of the sentiment strip to the back to make the sentiment strip leveled with the front panel. 

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!

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Fun with Stencils

SSS IG Challenge

Negative Alphabet Die Cut Panel Birthday Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. This card is a left-over supply from a previous card I created using letter dies (Washi Tape Letter Die Cuts). When I made that card, I strategically die cut the letters so I can use the negative cuts left over by the letter die cuts. It took a while for me to come back to it but now, I was able to find time to finish it. I am glad that I did not lose any inner part of the letters.

This panel will not be needing a lot since it pretty much covers the whole front panel of the card. But to step it up, I created this into a shaker card. I adhered an acetate to the back of the negative die cut panel. I adhered the inside letter die cuts on the front of the acetate. I cut slim pieces of foam tape to create wells for each line of sentiment. 

For the shakers, I used the small dies included in the Trinity So Appreciative coordinating die set. Unfortunately, this stamp and die sets are already retired. Look at your stash. I am pretty sure you will find a small, shaped die that can take the place of the dies I used for this card. 

Like I mentioned, the dies I used have a coordinating stamp which I did not use on this card. The small, shaped dies can stand on its own. One of the die cuts looks like a crown but believe me, its coordinating stamp is not near of a crown image. But it works.

I die cut these dies on various cardstocks. It is a lot of work. If you don't want to do the die cutting, you can substitute this with sequins and/or gems.

Adhering the welled panel to a cardstock does not make the letters pop due to the busy pattern of the washi tape. To fix this, I die cut the letters on Gold and Curry Cardstocks using the same dies I used for the negative die cut panel, the Trinity Marshmallow Alphabet die set. Since these letters will show through the acetate, I need to align it with the letters on the negative die cut panel. I pieced the letters to the front panel. I picked the letters with a Glad Press-N-Seal to keep the placement intact. In hindsight, if I do this card again, I will adhere the letters to the back panel first using the negative cut panel as a guide before adhering the acetate to the back of the negative cut panel.

I added dots of glue to the back of the letters. I adhered the letters to a black cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", slightly offsetting it. I carefully peeled off the Glad Press-N-Seal, then run my hand over the letters to better adhere the letters to the panel. 

I added my shaker elements on top of the letters. Each line of sentiment has a different shaped die cut. I did not put a lot since I don't want the shakers to cover up the letters on the background. 

Since I cut both panels at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", lining it up was easy especially with the use of the Misti Stamping Tool.  

I embellished the front with the extra die cuts. I layered some of the die cuts for dimension. I painted the Curry die cuts with a gold shimmer pen. I added gems to the silver die cuts.

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

I added the link to the Trinity Stamp product I used on this card below. 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.

I am sharing this creation at

Simon Says Monday Challenge~Die Cuts

Hero Arts Blog Challenge

Birthday Card Using Coordinating Stamps, Dies, Embossing Folder and Stencils

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. This is my 9th AECP post fulfilling the assignment on All About Layering 2. I am using the Altenew Silk Art Craft Your Life Project Kit. The layering stamps in this set are a game changer for me. If you follow me, you probably know how much I struggle with layering stamps, that's why I tend to shy away from it. Not with the Altenew Silk Art stamp set! The solid images are easy to line up with the outline images. 

Back to the card, I am using the smaller, individual flower and leaf images on the stamp set. I stamped this on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I stamped the solid images as inspired by the colors of this month's Altenew Blog Challenge. I wanted the color to be muted down, so I did 2nd and 3rd generation stamping on some of the images. Re-stamping the image was easy-peasy with this stamp set since it was easy to line up the solid images to the corresponding outline image. Despite using only two colors of dye ink for the flowers and the leaves, in doing 2nd and 3rd generation stamping, I was able to achieve various color intensities.

I used the coordinating dies to cut the images. I set this aside while I work on the background panel.

I trimmed a 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" light weight cardstock. Using the largest die from the Altenew Stitched Scallop Circle die set, I temporarily positioned this on the white cardstock panel. I arranged my die cut stamped images to create a wreath. I took a picture of the arrangement which will guide me later on when I start adhering the die cuts to the panel. 

I used a circle die to die cut a slightly smaller circle than the scalloped circle on the panel, thus, creating the window. The circle was also slightly offset to the right of the panel. 

I embossed this window panel using the Altenew Silk Art embossing folder. I trimmed off the edges to make this panel into 4" x 5 1/4". 

I cut a tule fabric that is large enough to cover the height of the panel window. I doubled the length of the tule fabric since I will make this into a shaker sequin pouch. I folded the tule fabric and ironed it at the crease. I adhered this to the back of the window frame using a strong double adhesive tape. I poured some pink sequins to the inside pocket of the tule fabric then secured this with another double adhesive tape. 

I die cut the largest stitched scalloped circle on light weight white cardstock. On this scalloped die cut, I die cut the next sized stitched scalloped circle to create a frame. It would have been better if I die cut several frames so I can use the extras for dimension, but I did not think about this at the time I was making this. I cut small pieces of foam tape and adhered it to the back of the frame. I adhered this over the circle window to frame it.

I adhered the flowers to create a wreath, tucking it under the stitched scallop frame. 

On a white top folding A2 notecard, I blended the same inks on the layering stencils. I only blended ink over the area that will show through the window.

I adhered the window panel on the notecard using foam adhesive. I trimmed off the excess and used some of the leaf trimmings to cover the open areas on the wreath.

I heat embossed the sentiment on a double layered heavyweight vellum. The sentiment is from Altenew Halftone Stars stamp set. I fussy cut the sentiment leaving a thin border around it. I added dots of glue on the back of the sentiment and adhered this to the tule fabric.

Although you can use the products in the Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit individually, I enjoyed using all the products in the kit on a card. Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Altenew Blog Challenge

SImon Says Monday Challenge~Die Cuts

Hero Arts Blog Challenge 

Felt Shaker Rattle

Hello! I always enjoy joining Lawnfawnatics, Lawn Fawn's challenge blog. But the timing of their challenge coincides with the challenge blog where I am a DT member. Luckily, I mistakenly interchanged our blog's challenges. So, I created a project for Monday's challenge in advance. Now, I can join Lawnfawnatics! But their current challenge theme is Oh, Baby. This theme does not appeal to me that much since my sons are all grown up. I don't have anyone close to me who is pregnant. Oh, well. I can always save it for a future event. 

I came up with this idea. The products I used are:

• Lawn Fawn Stitched Flower Frame for the flower rattle and the rattle handle.
• Lawn Fawn Mom + Me for the critter on the center of the flower.
• Lawn Fawn Tiny Tags for the star tag.
• Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Collection for the star tag.
• Lawn Fawn Chirpy Chirp Chirp for the sentiment on the star tag.
• Paper Smooches Easter Egg Dies for the bow.
• My Favorite Things Circle Stax Dies for the shaker stacked cardstock well, circular handle and the acetates for the shaker.

The felt I used for this project is from Target. I used a metal shim to cut through it. I used a glue gun to adhere the felt to the acetate and cardstock stacks. I am not the best with glue guns but I was able to find the trick on how to work with my glue gun. 

I die cut 6 pieces of heavy weight white cardstock which I adhered on top of each other. This created a chipboard like material sturdy enough to create the rattle. The straight handle and circular handle are separate die cuts. To create continuity and some stability so the rattle won't break on the seam, I created a notch on the circular ring using the end of the stem die. After I've stacked the stem and circle rings on top of each other, I applied a strong liquid glue on this notch and slid the stem into it. I covered this with the stem felt and circle ring felt that added more stability to this seam. 

The shakers I used came from a baby sequin pack that was given to me by my friend, Janice. She bought it at a garage sale and thought that I will be able to use it. 

I created a mirror image of the baby owl to cover the adhesive of the owl adhered on the other side of the rattle. I don't think making a mirror image matters since the back of the owl is pretty much covered with the confetti inside the shaker. I just want something to cover the adhesive.

I die cut a lined patterned paper with the star tiny tag die. I cut the edges off, removing the stitched lines so I can matt this with the patterned paper star tiny tag. I doubled this with another star die cut.

I stamped the sentiment with a blue dye ink. I have to mask the sentiment so I can have two separate lines of sentiment. I attached the tag to the shaker rattle with a silver thread.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant day! Stay safe always.

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Lawn Fawn Challenge Blog

See Through Snow Globe Shaker Christmas Card

I have been creating shaker cards, and here is another one. Somehow, after I created a Clear Shaker Card, I wanted to challenge to create more with the hope that on the second time, it will be easier. Well, it didn't turn out that way. I almost aborted the project but knowing me, I try to find solutions to mistakes.

I started this card as a square card but end up trimming the sides. It is now sized at 4 1/2" x 5 1/4". I am using an 80lb. Recollections Pearl Blue cardstock. I figured that with the layering, the end card will be sturdy enough.

I am also using the Lawn Fawn Ready, Set, Snow stamp set, coordinating dies and add-on dies. I die cut the snow globe on the front and back of the base card and on two more pearl blue cardstocks. I die cut the snow globe add-on using a pearl white cardstock. I die cut 4 pieces of this. I stamped the images from the stamp set which will be used for the shaker card. I colored the images with Copic markers. Using the coordinating dies, I die cut the images. I added Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Rock Candy using a glue pen on the snow drift, roof of the houses, and snow on the trees. The Add-on die set came with the snow drift die but you can easily create this yourself.

Here comes the tricky part, I should say. The only way I got this design to work is by keeping in mind how I wanted the layers to turn out.

Here is a close-up of the front snow globe shaker. The snowflakes were punched cuts from a Martha Stewart border punch. You can actually see the scene at the back on this photo. The sentiment was heat embossed using Hero Arts Silver embossing powder on gold cardstock.

And this is the shaker card on the inside of the card. I left the label blank so I can add a short sentiment to this card later on. Unlike the snow globe on the front of the card, this snow globe is inlaid to the inside of the card.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Technique Challenge~Embossed Impressions

Challenge #11~Cards For Kids

City Pop-Up Card using Cricut

This card is inspired by my soon to be 11 year old son who loves the Cricut Destination cartridge so much. When I bought this cartridge, I knew he will love it. And, he does! He loves interactive cards, too. So I mashed those two ideas together and came up with this card.

The Cricut Design Space has been updated. It still does not work with Safari but otherwise, the upgrade is great! I am sure I have not discovered all of its features but so far, the feature that I love the most is while the current layer is cutting, I can edit where the image will be cut on the next layer. In this way, I can maximize a cutting mat more and not overuse the top corners of a cutting mat. Isn't that great?! If you have a favorite CDS feature, I would love to know it!

To create the pop-up mechanism, I cut strips of patterned paper & scored it in different widths, from a  1/4" to 1". I overlapped the ends using a strong adhesive to form a square or rectangle. I attached this to the back of the die cut and card panel. I also used square acetate in some areas for more not too obvious support in the pop-up movement. The key to this type of pop-up card is to train the scored squares and rectangles by closing the card shut, and opening it wide, pressing the scored squares rectangles at both times.

The background was splattered with gold Finetec watercolor. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from a Hero Arts Fancy Uppercase Die.

For the front, I die cut a gray cardstock using the scallop border die from American Crafts Daydreamer. I centered a globe stamp from Concord & 9th Map Love stamp set using Versamark ink. I applied Platinum Ranger embossing powder to this. I die cut the globe and a circle window using stacked circle dies from My Favorite Things. To create a flat shaker card, I cut a scrap plastic wrapping to a size big enough to cover the circle window. This gave me a plastic pocket attached only on one side. I used the We R Memory Keepers Fuse tool to secure the other edges after I poured in some Studio Calico sequins. I attached this to the back of the window using a double adhesive tape. This panel is then attached to the front of the card. I used the Altenew Label Love for the front sentiment, stamping it with Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossing this using clear powder.

Yrwin loves to play with the Cricut Design Space. I still have this project in my account cloud. He saw it...grrr! I told him it is for a project. He didn't asked further which is good or else the surprise is gone.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

scrapbook.com-July 2017 Cricut Challenge

Shaker See Though Wedding Card

My son's 5th Grade teacher is getting married at the end of this month. I volunteered to create a card for her. I am on a time crunch since my promise day is Wednesday. Between fulfilling a promise to my pre-schooler and helping my 5th Grader create his favorite book character pumpkin, I was left with Tuesday night to create the card.

I made a little research on the would-be couple. Thanks to the web, I saw her wedding announcement. Thanks to my friend, Lindsay. for helping me out with the color theme of the wedding which are the colors of the couple's online wedding announcement.

I cut the wedding rings using Cricut Life's A Party cartridge. I cut 6 pieces of this image with one as a mirror image. I cut this on a gold Recollection cardstock. I stacked the 5 wedding rings on top of the other. I adhered a vellum and acetate to the back of the first layer. I adhered another acetate to the back of the mirror image. The vellum was stamped using a gem stamp from Studio Calico. I cut off the excess after I adhered it to the gem portion of the ring.

To create the windows, I used a circle die slightly smaller than the rings from the My Favorite Things Stacked Circle dies. I used the negative cut as a guide for positioning the circle die. I cut this on a navy blue cardstock and a cream cardstock which is the base of the wedding card. This is a card slightly larger than an A2 card. I embossed the navy cardstock with a Li'l Inker Designs embossing plate. My initial plan was to have the card front all covered with the navy cardstock. The embossing folder is smaller than the navy panel. I tried to continue the embossing but the plate shifted, so you know how that turned out, right? I was left with this navy cardstock that is slightly shorter than the card. This time, I was able to continue the pattern without any shifts. I would have pursued the sides of the panel too but since this is what is left of my navy cardstock, I just left that portion plain.

I adhered the navy panel to the card base. I adhered the mirrored ring die cut to the inner panel otf the card base. Working on the front of the card, I poured some clear Martha Stewart hear sequins to the center of the ring. I adhered the stacked rings to cover the window and create the shaker windows. I was using Ranger Multi Matte Medium to adhere this but I was having little luck on sealing the edges of the ring even if I applied a clear block on top of the rings while the glue is drying. I think one of the reasons why it is failing is because I have a groove in between the stacked and mirror imaged rings. I used a thin double sided tape, and finally, I can shake the card without any sequins falling.

This is a trifold card. I cut another card base using the same cream cardstock, with the score on my right. I cut the largest heart from the Lawn Fawn Stitched Hearts die on a Navy Pearl cardstock, also from Recollection. I stamped the panel using a garland stamp from Studio Calico. I used a Hero Arts Soft Vanilla dye ink. I adhered the heart to this panel making sure that the navy color is showing thru the ring window panel. I die cut the sentiment from Paper Smooches Always and Forever dies using the reverse side of the Recollections gold cardstock. I applied copper Wink of Luna to the words Always and Forever for highlight since these words are overlapping the ampersand.

For the middle panel, I stamped the names of the bride and groom, and added the homerooms of the kids for a personal touch. I didn't add the photo to this post. I want to save that portion for the couple to view first and hopefully, enjoy. I used a  Concord & 9th Sophisticated Script stamps. I used the Misti Stamping Tool to re-stamp the letters for a bolder impression. These kinds of stamps are on trend now a days. To connect the letters, like it is handwritten, I put an acetate on the area to be stamped on. I position the letter next to the already stamped letter, making sure that the tip of that letter is covered by the 'to-be-stamped' letter.  Then, I pick the stamp with a block or in this case, I use the Misti. The acetate stabilizes the letter since it is hard to sometimes hold these single letter stamps upright.

And what is a handmade card without a handmade envelope?

Congratulations, Miss Goehring! 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation with

October Linky Challenge-Anything Goes

FFC #161

Anything Goes

Window Shaker Card With We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool

I wanted to create a card using the Altenew Vintage Roses and participate in their blog's August challenge as well. This is the inspiration photo...

I was inspired by the color of the cake, the wood wall background and the scene behind the window. Based from these photo elements, I created my card.

I first worked on stamping the flowers and boy, that sure is hard work. I don't have the Altenew inks that will make stamp layering easy. I went through my ink stash to find the right combination of ink colors that will bring out the beauty of the rose. In fact, the inks I ended up using are not from the same company. I also had to double stamp the last layering stamp because the ink was too dark and does not complement the other ink colors. I stamped the roses a lot of times in white Neenah cardstock and chose which image is the best.

The leaves are another story. My green inks doesn't complement each other. I used one color of green and used it in all the layers. At first, the inked impression looked good but after the ink absorbed into the cardstock, it lost the details. I used a color pencil to add details to the leaves.

I don't have the coordinating die for this stamp set. It was not in stock when I purchased this stamp set from Ellen Hutson. I fuzzy cut the flowers and the leaves.

For the woodgrain background, I cut a pattered paper using Mama Elephant Peek A Frame Creative Cuts. I also used the window die to cut the center. I cut two acetates using the larger frame die. You don't have to do this since this will be behind the patterned paper. But since I have my die cutting machine and the dies out, I just decided to use it to cut the acetate. I also cut another patterned paper to serve as the background of the window.

To create the shaker window panel, I am going to use the We R Memory Keepers Fuse tool. Make sure it is heated enough before using it. I used the roller tip on this project. I also used the window panel die to guide the fuse tool. I poured confettis in each window panel before fusing two acetates together. I worked at one panel at a time. It was a glittery mess of a job but the result is pretty.

To assemble the card, I adhered the fused acetate to the back of the windowed patterned paper, making sure the panels are lined up through the window. I adhered the background patterned paper to the acetate. I adhered this to an A4 notecard. I adhered the flowers and leaves to the base of the window panel. The largest rose is adhered with foam tape. I used the Lawn Fawn Milo's ABC to create the sentiment. This was stamped on vellum and heat embossed using white powder. I cut this into a banner and fishtail the ends. For additional embellishment, I added green gems to the banner and scattered a few more on the leaves.

Thanks for viewing my blog. 

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://altenewblog.com/2015/08/10/august-challenge-from-places-abroad-united-kingdom/