Merry, Merry, Merry Copic Colored Tag

After I made the tag for this card, I had a hard time making its background card. My initial plan didn't work out since the stamp on that card seems to be competing with the design of the tag. But at least, I was able to make two projects in one seating. I really love this crystal stamp set so I used it once more for this card.

I stamped the crystals on thick white cardstock before coloring it with Copics, then fuzzy cutting it. I attached a silver thread to make it into an ornament. Since I used a thin thread, I tripled the strand and applied Multi Matte Medium to keep the strands together to create a thicker thread. I used this technique also in creating a thicker bow. I stamped the sentiment using a Kraft dye ink. The tag was cut using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. I also cut the layer using this cartridge which I ran through my Sizzix for the dot detail.

For the background, I stamped it first with Kraft dye ink. I rotated the cardstock then stamped it with Cream pigment ink. I allowed this to dry before running it again through my Sizzix machine for that border stitch detail, and before adding some washi tapes. The tag was adhered with dimensional tape.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Stamp: Hero Arts Christmas Crystals, HA Holiday Sayings. HA Tiny Flags
Copic Markers
Ink: My Favorite Things Kraft Hybrid, MFT Whip Cream Pigment, Tim Holtz Distress Tea Dye, TH Walnut Stain
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Floss: Coats, DMC, Trendy Twine
Washi Tape: Doodlebug, My Mind's Eye
Die: Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, Mama Elephant Peek-a-Frame Creative Cuts

I am submitting this creation to:

http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2014/10/01/new-holiday-challenge-2/

http://tagyoureitchallenge.blogspot.ie/2014/11/tag-youre-it-challenge-10.html

Second Generation Stamping With Sympathy Card

I made this card with my aunt, who recently passed, as my inspiration. She is my father's sister whom I met about 30 years ago. We kept our ties intact during holidays when we would send Christmas cards to each other.

I have never done a sympathy card, so this was a bit of a challenge for me. I looked through blog challenges to get some ideas, and I did find one. I wanted to keep the card simple as the photo inspiration. I also like how the blog designer, Tasnim, interpreted the photo inspiration http://runwayinspired.blogspot.com/2014/11/ric71-in-memory-of-oscar-de-la-renta.html. 

At first, I was trying a water spritzing technique to mute down the black dye ink wherein I spritz water to the stamp after inking it. It still came out too bold. Who would know that my first stamp pad in my collection will do this muted effect using second generation stamping. I used the Color It Pigment Ink by Ranger. I also eyeballed the flowers to stamp it on the black note card using white pigment ink. The big flowers were heat embossed using clear powder. For the sentiment, I stamped it using Versamark ink, applied white embossing powder, then heat set it. For embellishment, I used My Mind's Eye enamel dots. To add another color to this black and white card, I spritz the card with pastel pink spray. I am not sure if you you can see it in the photo below.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Paper: white carstock, Hero Arts black Notecard

Stamp: Paper Smooches Denim & Daisies, Paper Smooches Recipe For Success, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler

Ink: Color It black pigment, Memento Luxe Wedding Dress pigment, Versamark 

Embossing powder: clear, white

Die: Avery Elle Custom Panels Elle-ments

Embellishment: My Mind's Eye enamel dots

Spray: Prima Color Bloom Cotton Candy

I am submitting this creation to:

 

                                  

                                              http://runwayinspired.blogspot.com

 

                                     http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge

http://liastampz.blogspot.ro

White Christmas Card

I made this mostly white Christmas card. I wanted to create trees using a stencil, so I masked areas using tape to create triangles. I have to make sure the pattern is going downward to mimic leaves of pine trees. I used embossing paste to create more texture, and applied glittered embossing powder on top. I set this aside to dry before heat embossing it. I had to make one tree at a time.

After the trees are made, I mixed  gray and white mists to paint over the background, to make it not so white, and allow the trees to stand out. I painted gray mist on the middle of the trees to recreate a tree trunk. It took me a couple of coatings before I was satisfied with the color intensity I was aiming for. I was hoping there will be shimmer on the background, too, but I don't want to take the attention away from the sparkling trees.

I have no snowdrift stamp or stencil, so I looked through my stamp sets and saw this solid dots (which are actually from floral stamp sets). I stamped it randomly with Versamark and applied white embossing powder.

For the ground, I cut 2 vellums. I had to trace the middle tree on the bottom vellum. I don't want the middle tree to be covered so I cut around the tree using the trace marks. I adhered the vellum using adhesive since I have no other way to hide the adhesive under the vellum, that's why you will notice some warping.  The sentiment was stamped using a gray dye ink. Since it is stamped on vellum, it stayed wet long enough for me to apply clear embossing powder and heat set it.

To finish off the card, I cut 3 stars from a silver glitter paper. I don't know how the star on the left ended sideways. Since it is already adhered that way, I guess it just adds to the homemade feel of the card.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Stencil: Hero Arts Zig Zag Pattern

Embossing Paste: Wendi Vecchi White Embossing Paste

Embossing Powder: Hero Arts Clear, Judikins Iridescent Sparkle, Hero Arts White

Mist: Prima Color Bloom Storm Cloud, White

Die: Mama Elephant Borderlines Trio Creative Cuts, Confetti Creative Cuts

Stamp: Altenew Hennah Elements, Hero Arts Holiday Sayings, Paper Smooches Denim & Daisies

Paper: White Cardstock, Vellum

I am submitting this challenge to:

http://heroarts.com/blogs

Highlighted Stamped Poinsettia Christmas Card

I am trying a technique Jennifer McGuire shared in her blog a few days ago (http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2014/10/video-colored-pencil-highlights-blog-hop-giveaway.html.)  I wasn't happy with the effect my white color pencil made, so I used other mediums like a white Gelly Roll pen and a white Wink of Stella brush pen. I combined some it in some of the flowers, too. After stamping and highlighting, I used the coordinating metal die to cut the flowers. I stamped, colored, and cut the leaf in the stamp set but I didn't like the look so I just stayed with the idea of creating a poinsettia wreath. I stamped, colored and fuzzy cut 3 candles.

I cut 2 kraft card stock circles using a 2 metal stack dies. I cut another solid circle using vellum with its size just in between the circle ring. I cut another solid circle the same size as the outer circle ring using a teal cardstock. Now it is time to adhere this altogether. With the teal card stock as base,  I adhered one circle ring on top of it. I adhered the candles, the vellum, and the last circle ring. I adhered the poinsettia to this ring, some of which was adhered with dimensional tape. The focal point of the card is now done.

To keep up with the sketch, I poke a hole on the top center of the card and cut a slit on the bottom center of the card. This is where I threaded my twine. After knotting the twine ends at the front, I applied a little glue to the knot and at the back side of the card front to keep the twine in place. I splattered some dark brown paint using my paintbrush to the card front. After it dried, I adhered the wreath to the card.

The sentiment was stamped on a bark wood tape I bought at Jetpens.com. I tried using a die ink to stamp it, and fortunately, it didn't smear, and it dried quick. I trim this down and cut the ends to create a banner. I stamped the snowflakes at the sides of the sentiment using a gold dye ink. I applied foam tape to the center and just adhered the bark wood tape straight onto the card base.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Stamp: Paper Smooches Merry Motifs, Paper Smooches Warm Hearts
Die: Paper Smooches Motif Icons 
Ink: Close To My Heart (Cranberry, Hollyhock), Hero Arts Black Dye Ink, Hero Arts Gold Dye Ink
Copic Markers
Kuretake Gansai Tambi
Twine: Lawn Fawn Silver Sparkle Single Cord

I am submitting this creation to:

 

http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Paper Smooches October DT Blog Hop

Paper Smooches will be releasing a new line of products next month. Check out their Blog Hop and get a chance to win $25 worth of PS products. http://papersmooches.blogspot.com

My favorites so far are:

I can't have enough of snowman stamps. I especially love the couple. You can also build your own snowman image using some of these stamps.

I have the background stamp version of this die which is one of my two PS stamps. I did try cutting those squares out using a craft knife but I wasn't patient enough to finish it. With this die, it won't be a problem anymore.

Stitched dies are very in right now. Well, what's another one added to a collection.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Hope you join the PS blog hop. 

Maria Giselle B.

Water Colored Hello Kitty Christmas Card

One of my favorites is Hello Kitty, and it is her 40th birthday this year! As tribute to her, I made this card with her as the focal point. I cut a water color paper using the Cricut Hello Kitty Greetings Cartridge. I chose the base cut so I can be guided by the tick marks. These marks are intended as a guide to adhere the layers but I am using it as an outline for coloring. I used the picture of the finished layered die cut as a guide in coloring.

Isn't she cute? Now, I have to create the rest of the card. I went through several patterned papers but settled in making my own patterned paper after seeing Fancy Pants Timbergrove Strips patterned paper. I used the B side of the Fancy Pants Bits-n-Pieces patterned paper and stamped it using Mama Elephant Boutique Borders. I love the outcome of the plaid. I die cut this paper using Mama Elephant Peak a Frame Creative Cuts. I also created the base layer by cutting Kraft cardstock with this metal die. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold. I created the star embellishments using Mama Elephant Confetti Creative Cuts. I die cut this in white paper, then temporarily adhered it to a scrap cardstock. I applied Versamark ink to these, poured gold embossing powder and heat embossed it. I applied another coat of gold embossing powder while this is hot, then heat embossed it again. Hello Kitty was adhered to the plaid paper using foam adhesive. The plaid paper was adhered to the stitched base layer with the excess on the top scored and folded to the back.

I adhered this base layer on another kraft cardstock to complete the card.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

Cartridge: Cricut Hello Kitty Greetings Cartridge
Paper: Water color, Fancy Pants Timbergrove,  Kraft cardstock
Paint: Kuretake Gansai Tambi
Stamp: Fiskar Holiday Hooplah, Mama Elephant Boutique Borders
Die: Mama Elephant Confetti Creative Cuts, Mama Elephant Peek a Frame Creative Cuts
Ink: Close To My Heart Cocoa Dye Ink, Color Box Frost White Pigment Ink, My Favorite Things Kraft Hybrid Ink, Versamark
Powder: American Crafts Zing! Gold Metallic Finish Embossing Powder

I am submitting this to the following challenge:

Photo Inspiration

http://runwayinspired.blogspot.com

     

Copic Colored Jack O' Lantern Pillow Box Halloween Treat

I am finally done with my 50 Halloween classroom giveaways! I finished it just in time. Thanks to Rudy, my oldest son, who helped me form and fill up the pillow boxes.

There are several steps and cuts done to create this treat box. I have to cut a sample box first, to make sure the treat fits the box. Then I have to cut a tomb and layout the stamps that will be used. Once all of this is set, then it is time to start the project.

I first start with stamping the jack o'lantern stamp on white cardstock. I colored it with Copic markers. I die cut it using the matching die. I applied glossy accents to the eyes and mouth so I can pour glitter to it. It is a small area so I have to control the amount of glue I squeeze, then I have to spread it to the edges using a pin. I set this aside to dry.

I cut the tombs next using Cricut Simply Charmed cartridge. I cut it at 2.5 inches. I chose the base cut to keep the tick marks intact as an added accent to the tomb. I stamped the greeting 'Happy Halloween' at the base of the tomb using Versamark, then poured metallic black glitter, then heat set it. The RIP is stamped at the top of the tomb. I distressed the edges using grey ink. I adhered the jack o' lantern to the tomb using foam adhesive.

I wanted this tomb to be a reusable item and hopefully, not something to be tossed with the box after getting the treat. Using the Cricut Fabulous Find, I cut the paper clip at 1.5 inches which will be attached to the back, and turn this embellishment into a bookmark.

 

To cut the pillow box, I used Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. I cut the pillow boxes at 4.8 inches which fits a snack size Kitkat.  I was able to cut four pillow boxes using a 12 x 12 paper. I scored the tick marks to create a crisp fold. I marked one of the grooves of the score board with a marker to easily line this tick marks. I created a slot at the front of the pillow box to slide the 'tombmark' in it. After making some measurements to center the tomb, I marked this and cut it using a craft knife to create the slot. (I should have taken a photo of this but I forgot,and the boxes are now gone.)  I used a double sided tape to attach the sides of the pillow box.

It is a lot of work but I had a good time making it. Thanks for viewing my blog. I hope you have a happy and safe halloween.

Maria Giselle B.

Stamp: Lawn Fawn Spooktacular, Martha Stewart Crafts Custom Stamp Setting Kit
Die: Lawn Fawn Spooktacular Lawn Cuts
Cardstock: White, Light Gray, Dark Gray
Patterned Paper: Carta Bella All Hallow's Eve Spooked, Carta Bella Spooky Journaling Cards
Copic Markers
Glitter: Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Black Soot
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Hero Arts Black Dye Ink
Embossing Powder: Recollection Signature Specials Charcoal
Cartridge: Cricut Art Philosophy, Cricut Fabulous Finds, Cricut Simply Charmed

I submitted this creation to:

Challenge: treats!

Simon Says...Anything Goes

https://www.flickr.com/groups/lawnfawn/