Thursday, July 30, 2020

Faux Calligraphy, Pearl Embossed Sentiments Greeting Card



Hello! Today, I created a 3-in-1 card. What do I mean by 3-in-1? This is when I make a card to meet themes of 3 challenge blogs.
  • The Honey Bee Designs FB Challenge is on circles. I have limited Honey Bee Supplies. For this card, I am using the HB Bless Your Heart stamp set with the sentiment as the focal point of the card. 
  • Wow! FB Challenge is on using Wow! Pearl embossing powders. I have used the pearl powder in a different card before and I like the effect it had on black pigment ink. On this card, I used three kinds of pearl powder on black pigment ink. I used the silver pearl on the sentiment on the gray circle. I used the white pearl on the red circle. And, I used the gold pearl on the sentiment on the green circle. Among the three, I like the effect of the white pearl embossing powder on black pigment ink. 
  • Marker Universe's Monthly Art Challenge for July includes the colors green, gray and choose your own color. I am using Karin Brushmarkers 228 (Lush Green) and 278 (Warm Gray 1) as specified in the color reference chart. My chosen color is 170 (Magenta Red) since I think it will work well with the dark green. While working on the card, I realized that these are Christmas colors. It is never too early to make Christmas cards, or in this case, a thank you card for Chrsitmas. 
This is my third try in making this card. I started off with a circle shaped card using Strathmore Bristol Smooth but I keep warping the paper as I paint with the Karin Decobrush. After two tries using this paper, I switched to Strathmore watercolor paper and went for a traditional card rather than the circle shaped card. 

I stamped the sentiment using Tim Holtz Antique Linen. I traced with a pencil various sizes of circles using metal dies as a template. I painted the circles. I painted over the stamped sentiment using the green marker. I tried blending the green and red inks but it looked muddy to me so I just used the green marker. 

I built my sentiments on the circles, stamping the sentiments with Versafine Onyx Black ink with the help of the Misti. Because of the texture of the watercolor paper, I stamped the sentiments two to three times. I poured the embossing powder on the sentiment and heat set it in between stamping. 

I added a gray shadow to the sentiment. I adhered sequins and gems for additional embellishments.


I cut this to 4" x 5 1/4". I matted this with a dark green dotted cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I adhered this to a top folding card.

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

Maria Giselle B.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Sketch Inspired Card With Partially Die Cut Slim Frame



Hello! I created a card to join in PinkFresh Studio's FB Card Sketch Challenge. I am using patterned papers from a retired My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad. I chose cardstocks that coordinated with the colors in the patterned paper. The main focus of the card is the sentiment. I am using stamps from PinkFresh Studio My Favorite Things to Say stamp set. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink with the help of the Misti Stamping Tool. To frame this sentiment and since I only needed one circle window, I partially die cut the PS Slim Stitched Circle die on the floral patterned paper. The beauty of the scallop got lost with the busy pattern of the patterned paper. To fix this, I die cut a blue paper using the same die. I used a slightly bigger circle die to cut the scallop window and the stitching around it creating a frame.

I matted the floral patterned paper with the green sentiment panel. I trimmed a red-orange cardstock to add another matte. I added stitching details to this using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Border. 


I fussy cut the butterfly from one of the patterned papers in the pad. I stamped the antenna of the butterfly by masking a butterfly stamp and inking only the antenna. I traced this antenna with a gold pen. I adhered the butterfly underneath the sentiment to fill in the empty space. 

I wanted to use the same butterfly patterned paper to tie in with the fussy cut butterfly but the pattern was too busy that it was distracting. I muted this down by adding a layer of vellum over it. 


I added Stickles to the butterfly and Pretty Pink Posh blue gems to the scallop. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at



Craft My Stash-Qurantine Cricut Iron On


Hello! For today's Craft My Stash, I am creating something out of my Cricut Iron On.
  • I chose the shirt. I am using Rudy's hand me down hot pink shirt bought from Hobby Lobby.
  • I chose the design from the free images at Cricut Design Space. I was contemplating on this design since it seems that there will be a lot of waste especially on the stars cut.  
  • I chose the Cricut Iron On materials for the design.
I usually precut my materials prior to laying it on the Cricut mat. Since this is an iron on, I remembered to turn the Mirror on. 

I don't have a Cricut EasyPress so I turn to my handy dandy iron to do the job. I set the iron heat to the cotton setting. I covered the design area with another cotton shirt, before putting the iron over it. I applied even pressure, making sure I do this on all the areas with the iron on cut. 

I did one iron on material at a time. Before lifting the clear backing paper, I burnished the design using the Cricut Scraper. I carefully lifted the backing paper. If there is a cut that did not adhere to the shirt, I repeat the process of heating and burnishing again. 

Once I am done with the whole lay out, I lay the cotton shirt on top of the design and placed the iron on top as it cools off. 

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

Maria Giselle B. 


Thursday, July 23, 2020

Rainbow Color Sketch Inspired Card



Hello! This is my 3rd creation using a product from my new craft stash. I am using products from Trinity Stamps. At the same time, I am participating in their blog challenge. This is definitely a way for me to use my stash.

I already chose the stamp set, So Appreciative stamp set, but I was debating on what paper to use which then comes to the question of what technique should I do based on the paper. I decided to use this retired Martha Stewart double sided colored paper. It has six colors and I can use a color for each layer of the card sketch.

I started with the back panel. I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" blue colored paper. The next layer was a light blue, which I cut at 4" x 5 1/4". I repeatedly stamp the zigzag stamp using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I embossed this with a Recollections Charcoal embossing powder.

I trimmed a 5 1/2" x 2 1/4" of green colored paper. I used the dash line stamp to create a stitched edge. I stamped this with Versafine Onyx Black ink and embossed this with a Martha Stewart black embossing powder.


For the circular focal point, I die cut an orange color paper using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle die. I die cut the coordinating sentiment die on this circle to create a window for the sentiment. I die cut a yellow circle using SSS Circle Thin Frames. This circle is a little bit smaller than the stitched orange circle. I embossed the sentiment on this yellow circle using the same black embossing powder. I colored the sentiment using a Karin metallic black Decobrush. I colored the yellow background with Zig Wink of Stella yellow glitter brush pen for some shimmer. I lined the opening of the orange circle to the embossed sentiment on the yellow circle then adhered this together. I applied Zig Wink of Stella orange glitter on the orange paper. You can see the shimmer on the above picture.

I die cut a red colored paper using the banner die included in the die set. I stamped the sub-sentiment on this banner using the metal die as a guide to curve the sentiment stamp so it will be aligned with the banner. I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossed it with black embossing powder.

I created a slit on the Y of the embossed sentiment so I can insert the banner through it. I had to trim a little off the banner to be able to slide this through the slit. I die cut a pink heart and adhered this to the banner. I applied Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Gloss to the heart.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I truly appreciate your being here and checking out my blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and crative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at



Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Identical Cards Using The Same Supplies



Hello! I created these cards to join in Rachelle Anne Miller Digital Stamps FB Challenge. I get to know Rachelle Anne's work through a free digital image through Kit & Clowder. I love her illustrations. It gives me a children's book feel although you don't have to limit yourself to this when you use her images in your creations.

I started off by printing the image on Arches watercolor paper. I flipped on of the images to give the second card a different look. The blog challenge is a color challenge which is a bit tough for me since I don't have the exact colors so I used supplies close to these colors. 

I colored the images using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide which gave it a chalky look. I applied the pigment using the dry technique method so as not to bleed the outlines of the printed image. I die cut the image with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die, using the partial die cutting technique to extend the length of the stitched die. I stamped the sentiment from a retired Doodlebug-Hampton stamp set using Versafine Onyx Black ink. To give it a muted look, I heat embossed this with Wow! White Pearl embossing powder.

I am using a retired My Mind's 6x6 paper pad for the panel. The solid colored cardstock was die cut using SSS Wavy Scallop Stitches wafer die. I matted the printed panel with the solid colored paper. 

I added flower sequins to the the panel, adding Nuvo Crystal drops to the flower centers. 



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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Monday, July 20, 2020

Digital Image on Postcard



Hello! We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. The challenge theme is on Summer Colours. Our sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy. I am using the Traveling Bird digital image. 

My family and I decided to stay at home during the summer. We have something planned to do for summer this year but we have to delay our plans for next year because of COVID. We can only wish for the best right now.


Back to the project, I printed the image on Strathmore Watercolor paper sizing it at 4" x 6". I set this aside to dry but I still have a bit bleeding when I started watercoloring the image. I am using Karin Decobrush on the image. I colored straight to paper then used a water brush to spread the color. I noticed some bleeding and I think it is because my water brush is too wet despite wiping off the brush tip on a rag before blending the color out. I also noticed that I was not able to blend some of the colors out. To fix this, I used Faber Castell Polychromos color pencils. There are plenty of detailing done on this image. I just looked at my stash and added whatever I think will bring life to the image.

For the clouds and background, I blended Tim Holtz Salty Ocean and  Broken China Distress Inks using Picket Fence Life Changing Brush. I splattered water on the sky background then picked this up with a paper towel. I added silver pigment on the clouds using Finetec Pearl watercolor. 

For the sentiment,  I stamped this using Versafine Onyx Black ink with the help of the Misti Stamping Tool. Because of the textured watercolor paper, I stamped this repeatedly before I got a good impression.

To make this into a postcard, I die cut the panel using Waffle Flowers A7 Layers die. I like stacking dies. It helps me know where to die cut my panel without the risk of coming off short of the size or having an off centered image which might happen if I use a paper trimmer. 


Using the Misti Stamping Tool, I positioned the American Crafts Postcard stamp. I stamped this using Hero Arts Pool To Navy Ombre ink pad. 

I set this aside to dry before applying Tim Holtz Distress Glaze on the printed image side to protect this from possible water damage once I send this through the mail. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see your creations in the challenge blog. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.


I am sharing this creation at


Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Foiled Die Cuts, Use My Stash Card


Hello! My primary motivation in creating this card is to use a craft item or tool that I have not used in a while. For this project, I chose my Minc Machine. I was going to tie it in with Pinkfresh Studio's FB challenge but I did not made it to the deadline. Luckily, they have a blog challenge. 

I am using a die from the Pinkfresh Studio Floral Squares die set. I just need the vine and the flower for this card. I don't want to waste a lot of paper so I selectively die cut a toner sheet. I did a bit of die cut surgery to cut off the frame from the vine and the flower. 

I cut pieces of Minc Reactive Foil in light pink and mint green, and Therm O Web I Craft Deco Foil in dark pink making sure it is large enough to cover the toner paper die cuts. I sandwiched the die cut, foil (with shiny side facing away the die cut) and tucked this in a folded parchment paper. I also added a cardstock for extra shim as I fed this through the Minc Machine. I set the Minc on setting 4. The result is simply amazing!

I trimmed a Neenah Solar White Cardstock to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I blended Tim Holtz Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide on this paper. I die cut this panel using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle Wafer die. I trimmed a teal patterned paper to 4 1/4"x 5 1/2". Instead of using this whole paper to mat the inked paper, I used the same wafer die to create a stitched frame. I carefully blended Tim Holtz Peacock Feather Distress Ink to this frame. I positioned this frame on the inked paper, flushing the edges together, and securing this with a tape on the back. 

I placed the panel on the Misti Stamping Tool. I arranged the flowers, the vines and the sentiment which is from Pinkfresh Studio My Favorite Things To Say stamp set. I closed the Misti door to pick up the sentiment stamp. To maintain the arrangement of the flowers and the vines, I placed a Glad Press 'N Seal on top of the arrangement, gave it a little rub, then lifted this off the panel.

I heat embossed the sentiment using Wow! Primary Blue Topaz embossing powder. 

Now, it is time to adhere the floral arrangement back into the panel. I flipped the Glad Press 'N Seal to reveal the back side of the die cuts. I placed dots of glue to the vines. Flipping the Glad Press 'N Seal with the die cuts facing up, I positioned the vines then gave the vines a light rub to adhere it to the panel. 



Since the flowers did not have any glue, I was able to lift if off from the arrangement. I cut small pieces of foam tape and adhered it to the back of the flowers. I then adhered this to the panel. I added pink Ink Road Stamps sequins to the flower centers. 


I added water splatters and white paint splatters for added texture. I adhered this to a white top folding A2 note card.

I really enjoyed playing with my Minc Machine again. I plan to make more projects of this kind wherein I feature a craft supply and/or tool in my stash that has not been getting my attention lately.

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at