Something New, Something Old: Creative Gift Card Holder Greeting Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am commissioned to create birthday cards with a gift card holder. Aside from this, I was motivated to look through my craft box and use items from my stash. One of these items is a black cat die cut which I got from a mail swap. 

The other old items I used on this card are stamps from Newton's Nook Designs. I was inspired by their latest blog challenge. 

My new item is the balloon die from Hero Arts which is a part of a previous My Monthly Super Hero kit. 

I stamped the NND Birthday Roundabout stamp on a watercolor paper. I prepped the watercolor paper first with an anti-static powder tool before stamping the image with a Versafine Onyx Black ink. I poured black embossing powder to the wet ink then heat set it. I colored the images with Zig Clean Color Real Brush using fall colors. I die cut this stamped image using the solid balloon die from the HA kit. I die cut a white pearl cardstock using the outline balloon die from the same kit. I die cut the string on a white cardstock.

I partially stamped the balloon hat on watercolor paper. I heat embossed this hat the same way I did with the images on the balloon. I colored it using the same markers and colors as the one I used on the balloon. I fussy cut the hat on the outline. I ran a black marker around the cut up to hide the white core of the watercolor paper. For the top of the party hat, I added embroidery floss to replace that portion of the stamped hat.

The cat was die cut in black cardstock. I stamped Newton's face to this die cut using white pigment ink. I prepped it with anti-static powder tool and embossed it with white embossing powder. I added the blush using pink acrylic markers. I snipped off the tail and adhered it to the back of the die cut. I added white gel pen details to the cat. I adhered the party hat to the cat's head. 

I die cut a brown cardstock using a Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle die. I heat embossed the sentiment using white embossing powder. The sentiment is from the NND Newton Loves Cake stamp set.

I cut strips of cardstock and adhered it to the top and bottom portion of the backside of the balloon. I used a gift card to guide me with placement of these strips. These strips will slightly lift the balloon off the brown cardstock panel allowing the gift card to smoothly slide to and from the back of the balloon. I applied glue to the strips and adhered it to the brown panel. I adhered the cat on top of the balloon string. 

I trimmed a patterned paper and adhered the brown cardstock panel over it to make this into an A2 card. I adhered this to a top folding note card. 

Below is a video of how the gift card slides out of the balloon.

I hope you like today's card. I am so glad that I am able to create a commissioned card and at the same time join the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge. I love joining their challenges but I have been MIA lately because of my schedule. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this card at

Newton's Nook Designs Challenge Blog

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge~Celebrate Stamping!

Cute Fall/Halloween Cards 4 Kids

Art Journal Window, a Blank Page Muse Post

Hello! I am at the Blank Page Muse blog with a new entry to my art journal. For the month of June, the BPM DT members are using similar products which were provided by the lovely owner of BPM, Kim. 

For this art journal entry, I used the BPM Fern Art Rubber stamp and the BPM Create Something Sentiment Words stamp.

Please visit the BPM blog for details on how I created this page.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

Simon Says: Monochrome

Pick Two Challenge #290~Recycle, Repeat

June 2025 Challenge #77 Anything Goes #95

Last Minute Christmas Cards

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. We are really close to Christmas with only 2 days left. I want to share my last minute Christmas cards created and mailed.

This card was created upon a friend's request. The idea of this card is to highlight several Christmas greetings in different languages specifically Tagalog (Filipino), Italian and English. My friend who requested this card is Filipino, and she will give this card to an Italian couple.

The techniques I used on this card are: 

1. Stamping with markers
2. Selective heat embossing
3. Masking
4. Ink blending

When you are on a time crunch, one of the easiest method of creating multiple cards is using a patterned paper line and making use of the cut-apart sheet. I used an old Pebbles paper collection on the above cards. Usually the papers in a collection complement each other so it easy to mix and match. You can also use cardstock that matches a color on the patterned paper. You can go simple by just using the paper in the collection or you can go beyond that by adding embellishments, using cutting dies, using an embossing folder, etc. The sky is the limit.

I hope you like today's cards. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Enjoy the season!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Inspired By Challenge Blog

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

Eclipse Card Technique

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project was created for the Blank Page Muse and I Brake For Stamp blogs. Thank you BPM & IBFS for allowing me to share the project here in my blog, too!

Today's project showcases the Eclipse technique. Eclipse technique is when you die cut a word or a shape on a background panel, then raise this die cut up slightly with foam or layered die cuts. I have created several projects using this technique. I didn't know that what its called until now. Thanks to Craft With Sarah for now I have a name for this technique. 

The stamp I used is the I Brake For Stamps License Plate Vintage Style Alphabet Rubber Stamp. This is an unmounted red rubber stamp that comes in two strips of letters and icons. You have an option to cut the letters apart or keep it together. I did not cut my stamps apart.  

Initially, I was using the Misti Stamping Tool to create my background but later on changed to a long acrylic block. To temporarily adhere the rubber stamp to the acrylic block, I applied double sided adhesive to the block then adhered the rubber stamp strip to it. The adhesive was tacky enough to keep the rubber stamp in place but not too tacky that I wasn't able to reuse it for the other rubber stamp strip. I was also able to remove the tape without ruining the acrylic block. 

I repeatedly stamped the letters on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" watercolor paper. I highly recommend using a smooth watercolor paper to get a better impression of the letters. 

I did the paper to stamp inking technique here. After I inked the letters with Versafine Onyx Black ink, I placed the watercolor paper on top of the inked stamp and rubbed my fingers over the paper to transfer the ink. I repeated this step until I filled up the whole panel. 

I heat set the panel before coloring the letter blocks with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers following a rainbow pattern. Once I was done with the coloring, I heat set the watercolored panel again to speed dry it. 

Here comes the fun part. I die cut a sentiment on the panel making sure I kept every piece of the die cuts. The die I used is from Lawn Fawn.

I adhered tape to the back of the opening created by the sentiment die. Using a double adhesive tape is another option.

I die cut the word on brown cardstock three more times. I applied dots of glue to the back of one of the word die cuts, then pieced this on the opening of the water colored panel. 

I adhered the drop out pieces to the opening of the letters. It already looks good at this point, right? You can actually stop here to make this into an inlay card.

Since I am making this card into an eclipse card, I adhered the other two pieces of sentiment die cuts over the piece that is pieced in the panel to build layers. I adhered the sentiment die cut from the watercolored panel on the top. 

It is kind of difficult to see the raised sentiment on the first photo but this is what makes this card magical. The sentiment is hidden and you only figure out that there is a sentiment once you run your fingers over the panel and/or tilt the card. 

An option to make the sentiment pop out more is to lightly tap embossing ink over the raised sentiment, pour clear or glittered embossing powder over it, then heat set it. I like the camouflage look of the sentiment so I kept it as is.

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

Maria Giselle B.

Blank Page Muse and I Brake For Stamps are 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

Challenge #40~Rainbow

Challenge #311~Anything Goes

A CASE (Copy And Share Everything) Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project was inspired by the following:

• Altenew's April Inspiration Challenge featuring Bridget Casey. In fact, I was so inspired by Bridget's card that I did a CASE of it. I hope she doesn't mind. A photo of her card is at the end of this post.
• Altenew is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Congratulations! The Altenew FB group has a weekly challenge for the whole month of April. I am kind of late in joining but I am so glad that I was able to create and be a part of it. What a coincidence! My 10th post on April for Altenew's 10th Anniversary! What a milestone!

Both challenges are linked at the bottom of the post.

I am using the Altenew Hennah Elements stamp set on my card. This is my first Altenew stamp set. Below is the first card I created back in 2014 using this stamp set.

I stamped the flowers on watercolor cardstock, both the small and large circular flowers so I can layer these. I stamped an extra flower but applying ink only to the center circle of the flower. I colored the flowers with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, following the colors of the inspiration photo. I colored the flowers and leaves following Bridget's colors on her card.

Although this set has a coordinating die set, I fussy cut the images, cutting it on the line. I think this is one of the reasons why I love this stamp set because of the ease of fussy cutting the flowers. I ran a black marker on the edges of the fussy cut flowers and leaves to hide the white core of the paper. 

I layered the small flower on top of the large flower. For a bit of depth, I stacked several scrap circle die cuts in between these two flowers. I repeated the same step in between the small flower and the flower circle center. I just made sure that the circle die cuts are smaller than the flower circle center.

I blended ink on the leaves to add a bit of depth since this will be behind the flowers. 

I flicked mica paints to the fussy cut images, an orange paint on the flowers, and a blue paint on the leaves. I set this aside to dry.

I trimmed a white light weight cardstock at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" which I end up trimming it down to 4" x 5 1/4". I spritz some water on this cardstock and embossed it with the Altenew Organic Linen 3D embossing folder which is one of my newest Altenew craft supplies. 

Just like on Bridget's card, I matted this embossed panel with a white glitter paper. I also did Bridget's trick of gutting the glitter paper by die cutting the hello on the center of this panel. This sentiment is from the Altenew Hello And Hugs die set. I die cut the shadow on vellum. 

I adhered the flowers, leaves and sentiments to the embossed panel, following Bridget's layout. I have some white space that I can't help myself but add sequins to these areas. 

I hope you like today's card. Congratulations again to Altenew on a decade of creativity. It is such a pleasure to be a part of your journey especially when you gave me the opportunity to be a guest designer on one one of your releases and blog hops which I get to enjoy by winning one of your challenges. I am also thankful to Altenew for creating the Altenew Educator Certification Program (AECP) in which I have learned a lot from. I fulfilled the AECP 3 requirements. I just need to take the plunge and finish the course so I can truly be an Altenew Educator. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

6/2024: Altenew decided to change its affiliate program starting this month. Below is my affiliate link to the website. I don't think I can directly link the products I used with this new program. Please feel free to do a product search. I will update as I figure this out. The good thing about this new affiliate program is that I get to earn on each Altenew product you purchase and not only on the product/s I used on this project. As before, there will be no additional cost to you if you make a purchase. It is just a way to help a fellow crafter sustain her love for crafting. While in the Altenew blog, don't forget to check out their new release for this month. Thank you for your support!

https://altenew.com/6358517

I am sharing this project at

 

Altenew Challenge Blog #56

Altenew FB

Anything Goes