Card Sketch Inspired Card

Hello! I created this card to join in Pink Fresh Studio's latest FB Weekly Card Sketch Challenge. 

I created the circle windows on the front panel using a circle die using an acetate grid as a guide to make sure I create holes that are centered and evenly spaced. I also used a T-square to make sure my circles are aligned. I am using a white pearl cardstock for this panel.

I die cut the Pinkfresh Studio Lacy Floral Border die on a bluish-gray cardstock. I adhered this to the back of the top and bottom half circles making sure that the die cut is peeking thru these half circles and that it is aligned to the edges of the pearl cardstock. I cut off any excess.

For the center circle, I die cut a stitched circle frame on a dark gray cardstock. I adhered this to the front of the panel. 

I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" light blue cardstock. I aligned this to the front panel. Using the Misti Stamping Tool, I positioned my stamp on the circle window opening. The stamp is from PS My Favorite Things To Say stamp set. I stamped this sentiment with a dye ink. I re-stamped the sentiment with Versamark ink, then heat embossed it with a clear embossing powder.

I trimmed a 1/4" on both sides of the front panel. I adhered this to the light blue cardstock. I trimmed two pieces of bluish-gray cardstock and adhered this to the sides of the front panel. 

Remember those extra pieces of Lacy Floral Border die cuts? I did not want to put this to waste so I did a little bit of fussy cutting on these extra pieces, cutting off the leaf portion with a scissor. I used this to embellish the front and top of the sentiment circle. I adhered white gems to the center of the wreath.

I like the sentiment I used for this card. I feel that it is very timely with all the things going on in our region. 

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

Maria Giselle B. 

I am sharing this creation at

Pinkfresh Studio FB Card Sketch Challenge #9

June 2020~Anything Goes

June 2020 Challenge~Anything Goes

Watercolored Digi. on an Envelope

Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. Our challenge theme is Anything But A Card. Our sponsor for this challenge is Polkadoodles. Thank you very much, Polkadoodles!

I printed the image on Strathmore watercolor paper. I strategically positioned the image so it will be on the left lower corner of a slim envelope. I trimmed off the excess so I will end up with a 8 1/2" x 11" watercolor paper. On the short side, I scored the paper at 2 1/2" and 6 1/2". On the long side, I scored the paper at 1 1/2" and 10 1/2". Here is a video tutorial by Jenny Card Designs that I found very helpful in creating this envelope.

I taped the watercolor paper to a board, right at the score lines to serve as a mask for the flaps of the envelope. I watercolored the image using Karin Decobrush markers. I did not apply the pigment straight on the image. I was afraid that I won't be able to save any areas with plenty of pigment due to the intricacy of the image. Not to forget, I might activate the printer ink with the pigment since I just used a jet ink printer to print the image.

When I have no idea on how to color an image, I usually go to the image's website and reference my coloring to their sample. This also helps me to make sure that I am coloring a part of the image as I should. It also helps me see if I missed any areas.

I try not to touch the outline of the image with my waterbrush. To fill in any gaps, I used Prismacolor color pencils. I also used the color pencils to add details.

I added a wash of watercolor as a background of the image. Since the image is a bit too far from the edge, I drew in black lines to fill in that gap.

I don't have a card yet to put in this envelope. But I can also use this envelope if I need to mail a letter to someone.

To protect the image from water after I mail it, I applied a thin coat of Ranger Distress Glaze over the image.

I created a process video featuring this card.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you have a blessed, brilliant and creative day! Stay safe always!

Maria Giselle B.

Image Sponsor

I am sharing this creation at

Week 22~Anything Goes

June 2020~Anything Goes

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

Masked Sentiment and Stenciled Background

Hello! I created this card for the Karin Markers' IG May #karincolors Contest. I am also entering this card to the Honeybee Design FB Challenge.

I stamped the large sentiment from the Honeybee Designs Prayers stamp set on Strathmore Bristol paper using Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink. I heat set this to speed up the drying. I applied Fineline Masking Fluid over the sentiment. I set this aside to dry which was about an hour or so. I knew that it is dry when the masking fluid turned from blue to clear.

I sprayed a Memory Box Line Up stencil with Thermoweb ICraft Pixie Spray. I positioned this on top of the stamped Strathmore Bristol paper.

I started coloring the open spaces of the stencil using the May challenge colors. I created a gradient from top to bottom. This is the first time that I appreciated the tip to tip technique using the Karin markers. The longer you put the tips together, the better the color transfer is.

I used a water brush to spread the ink on the area, being careful not to oversaturate it so the colors won't bleed under the stencil. Unfortunately, I was not able to prevent this in some areas.

After I am done with coloring, I removed the stencil. I heat set the watercolored panel to dry it. I removed the fluid mask by rubbing it off with my finger. I also used a Xyron Adhesive Remover on areas where the mask would not come off.

I painted over the sentiment with the last of the May colors, Skin 1. The color came out darker than its true color since I used a THDI to stamp it. I wonder if I can directly color a clear stamp with Karin Markers? Any thoughts or experience on this?

I drew a line around the sentiment with a black marker to make it pop out.

I created sentiment strips to complete the sentiment. I colored some scraps of Bristol paper with the Skin 1. I stamped the sentiments using Versafine Onyx Black ink on this inked strip of paper. I die cut it into strips using Avery Elle Simple Sentiments Elle-ments dies. I adhered this to the card.

I trimmed off an 8th of an inch from each side of the watercolored panel. I matted this watercolored panel with a black card stock which I die cut with a stitched die from Mama Elephant Peek A Frame Creative Cuts. I applied clear Wink of Stella to the large sentiment, pouncing the brush so I don't re-activate the ink. I adhered some Studio Katia Exotic Onyx Pearls for some added interest.

This card will be sent to my husband's aunt whose husband died due to COVID-19. It saddens me that our country has passed the 100,000 in the death rate. Being in the healthcare, I try my best to be objective. I do share my opinions to my family, especially my sons, so they will know what is going on and hopefully, let them form their own stand regarding this.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Karin Markers IG #karincolors Contest

Honey Bee Stamps FB Challenge

JetPens Giveaway

Cactus In A Tea Cup Color Inspired Card

Hello! This is my second card for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. I also created this card to join the Inspired By...Blog Challenge.

I am using Paper Smooches products for this card, the Comforting Hugs and Cyber Cafe. If you have been following my blog, my previous post has a similar concept as this one. The cactus in a cup was my first planned card to create but after I saw the dog stamp that I used in my previous post's card, I cannot resist its cuteness. But I did not want to put this idea to waste so I pursued creating this card.

I stamped the images on Strathmore Bristol paper using Versafine Onxy Black ink. I stamped the tea cup first then dried it with a heat tool. I masked the edge of the tea cup then stamped the cactus. I also dried this with a heat tool.

I colored the images with Karin Decobrush markers. I colored the tea cups based on the colors in the inspiration photo. I fussy cut the images leaving a white border around it. I used a craft knife to cut the space in the handle.

I stamped coffee beans on the tea cups using a brown dye ink. I also stamped this on a scrap white cardstock and fussy cut it with a white border around it.

I stamped the sentiment on an acetate with Hero Arts Unicorn White Pigment ink. I pounced an anti-static tool before I did the stamping and embossing. I poured HA white embossing powder to the sentiment then heat set it. I trimmed this to size.

Assembling the card, I created an A6 card which measures 6 1/4" x 4 1/4". I applied a light blend of Tim Holtz Bundled Sage Distress Oxide to the front of the kraft card base. I adhered the cacti and the clear sentiment. I embellished the cacti with flower sequins and coffee beans. I applied clear Wink Of Stella to the coffee beans being held by the cactus. I drew a line on the edge of this front panel with a Sakura brown gelly roll pen. I added black Ranger Enamel Accents to the eyes. I added Viva Rose Magic Transparent Perfect Pearl Pen on the flower sequin centers.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

2020 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

May 25, 2020

Week 20~Anything Goes

Dog In A Cup Thank You Card

Hello! I created this card to join in the Coffee Lovers Hop and also for the latest Paper Smooches' Blog Challenge. I am using these Paper Smooches products, Cyber Cafe, and Woofers & Tweeters.

After I sketched my plan for this card, I stamped the dog and cup image on a scrap paper to have an idea on the order of the stamping to create the scene. I wanted the dog's front paws hanging over the cup, so I need to tilt the dog a bit. I will need to create a mask for the paws. With the cup, I will need to extend its width to be wide enough to fit the dog. 

I stamped the dog on a Papelmerotti kraft card stock. I inked the dog with Versafine Onyx Black ink, avoiding the dog's back paws and tail. One of the back paws is very close to the front paw that I got ink on it. I simply rubbed off the ink with my finger. Since I did this, I also rubbed off some of the ink on the dog's left front paw. I fixed this by drawing in the line with a black marker.

I created a mask for the dog using a Post-It Note just focusing on cutting the dog's front paws since this is the area I don't want inked when I stamp the cup. I stamped the cup using Memento Desert Sand. To make this into a wider cup, I moved the cup stamp towards the dog's right side. I inked that side of the cup then stamped it. It does not have to be perfect since I will be coloring over the cup.

I colored the images with Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils. These color pencils work well with dark colored cardstocks. I enhanced the dog's eyes and nose by darkening it with a black marker. I added dots of Uniball Signo White pen on the dog's eyes.

I created a coffee-stained background using brown dye ink on cream paper. I cut the colored dog panel using a Hero Arts Rectangle Nesting die. I created a sentiment bubble. The die I used for this is from the Lawn Fawn Selfie Frames die set.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop 2020

Paper Smooches Blog Challenge

May Challenge~Make It A Beverage

Sketch & Color Inspired Card

 

Hello! I created this card to participate in My Favorite Things' Blog Challenge. I created one card to participate in two of their challenges, the Sketch Challenge and the Color Challenge. At the same time, I created this card for Father's Day. 

I die cut a white card stock using My Favorite Things Die-namics Mason Jar Mug. I blended Tim Holtz Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink using Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Brush. I die cut a yellow patterned paper using the label die included in the die set. I heat embossed the sentiment on this label. I used the MFT First Place Sentiment Stamps Sets. I blended TH Antique Linen Distress Ink to this label to give it some depth. I also die cut 2 more labels and adhered this on top of each other for some dimension. 

For the stars, I die cut the wand part using a stem die from the MFT Fresh Cut Flowers die set. I die cut this multiple times on grey cardstock. I adhered 3 stems on top of each other for some dimension. I die cut 6 stars using the same grey card stock. I adhered a double sided adhesive tape on the same grey cardstock. I die cut the stars on this cardstock with the adhesive side up. I removed the release paper and dipped the star on TH Distress Glitter Pumice Stone. I burnish the glitter to the adhesive tape using a bone folder. I adhered a star on the back of the glittered star. I sandwiched the stem in between this star and the other star die cut. I placed something heavy on top of the stars while the glue dries. 

I die cut a silver mirror cardstock using SSS Stitched Rectangle die. I adhered the mason jar and the stars to this. 

I trimmed a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" gray cardstock. Following the sketch, I die cut a border using the Simon Says Stamp Air Vent Border die. I cut a strip of blue glittered cardstock. I blended TH Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink to this glitter paper to darken the shade. I adhered this to the back of the gray cardstock panel, making sure it is shows through the vent holes created by the die.

I adhered the mirror cardstock to this panel with foam tape.

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

Maria Giselle B. 

I am sharing this creation at

My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge

My Favorite Things Color Challenge

Challenge 2021