Santa & Reindeer Silhouette Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. This is my second card for the Kat Scrappiness Christmas in July celebration. As part of this celebration, Kat Scrappiness is having a sale on their Christmas products. They also have a You Pick 3 Christmas Challenge on the KS blog. I have links to both at the bottom of this post. 

I created a DIY stencil using a re-purpose plastic from a worn out expandable file. I die cut a circle on the center of the plastic. Depending on the cutting die, sometimes the cut does not go through even with the use of a metal shim. It's alright. Just use a craft knife to reinforce the cut created by the metal die. 

To create the moon, I temporarily adhered the stencil with the circle opening over a smooth white cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I blended gray inks over the circle opening. Once done, I splattered some gray mica water over the blended circle. I set this aside to dry. Once dry, I removed the stencil.

I sprayed a temporary adhesive on one side of the DIY circle stencil. I covered the ink blended moon with this circle stencil. I blended blue inks around the circle stencil. I started the blending from the circle going outward, using the lightest blue ink first then slowly progressing towards the darkest ink. I splattered white mica water over the panel and set this to dry.

My die cuts were created using dies from the KS The Night Before Christmas Window Scene Craft dies. I die cut the Santa and the reindeers on black cardstock. I die cut it three times and adhered one on top of the other for a bit of dimension.

I die cut an extra piece of the Santa and reindeer on black cardstock. I did some die cut surgery to customize this die cut. I snipped off Santa and adhered the remaining reindeers die cut to the back of the layered Santa and reindeer die cut. I offset it so it looks like there are two rows of reindeers pulling Santa's sleigh.

I just need the top of the trees so I partially die cut the Christmas tree on the die set on black cardstock. I die cut three pieces of trees. I adhered the trees to the bottom right of the inked panel. I trimmed off any excess.

I adhered Santa and the reindeers on the moon. I splattered white ink over the trees for a snowy look.

I trimmed this panel into 4" x 5 1/4" then matted it with a dark glitter gold patterned paper from the KS Autumn Faux Glitter 6x6 paper pad. The glitter paper is cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".

For my pick 3, I used the following on my project:

1. Die cuts
2. Add snow
3. Add gold touches.

I hope you like today's project. You still have time to enjoy the Kat Scrappiness sale and also join this month's blog challenge. 

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I added below links to the Kat Scrappiness products I used on this card. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase any of these products. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products. They have a new release, too! Enjoy!

Kat Scrappiness

Kat Scrappiness Blog

I am sharing this project at

Challenge #108~Holiday Time

#308~Christmas in July #29

Christmas in July 4 Kids #9

Monochromatic Card

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Have you had those moments when you think you can re-make a stamp design using whatever craft supply you have? This card is a product of such moment. Just another way to stretch those supplies. 

The leaf stamp is from the Blank Page Muse You Make Me Happy stamp set. I used the leaf in a cascading design to mimic vines. I used a midnight blue cardstock for the card panel. After prepping the area with an anti-static powder tool, I stamped the leaf one branch at a time using Versamark ink. 

I poured silver embossing ink over the sticky ink. 

Despite the use of an anti-static tool, I end up having stray powders. I gently removed these stray, melted powder with an electric eraser. You can use a craft knife too if you don't have this kind of eraser.

I colored the leaves with a light blue acrylic marker. This marker gives a bold matte color. Despite coloring over the leaf spine with the acrylic marker, the embossing retained its shiny property.

I blended ink on the blank area of the panel with a dark blue ink. I splattered some gray mica water over the blended portion of the panel. Once this has dried, I adhered letter die cuts to create the sentiment. 

These letter die cuts were doubled up for some dimension. I also colored it with a blue acrylic marker to tie in with the color of the leaves.

This card is very easy to pull together. I encouraged you to give it a try. 

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!

Altenew July 2024 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway ($300 in Total Prizes!)

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I am so honored to be a part of Altenew's July 2024 release blog hop. This is a huge release with lots of amazing products to choose from. Today's post features product from this release and a few old Altenew products just to show you that these products can be used together. 

(I added below links to the Altenew products I used on each card. My affiliate link is: https://altenew.com/6358517. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase these product/s. 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 the rest of the products included in this month's release. Thank you for your support!)

FOR YOU SHAPED CARD

• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos & Add-on Die
• Altenew Nature's Wonders Enamel Dots
• Altenew Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder (not a part of this month's release)

The Altenew layering stencils are conveniently marked with a number as a guide in applying inks for layering. You don't have to follow the order of the number. On this card, I started with stencil #2 which has larger open areas which seems easier for me to begin with. 

I also find it easier to die cut first before stenciling if the stencil comes with a coordinating die. The shape of die cut helped me with the alignment of the stencil. 

Don't hesitate to go back and forth between stencils especially if you feel you need some shading on a part of the image. This technique is no different when you color with other mediums. 

Using different brush sizes also help in getting the best of your coloring. Using a small brush on those tiny nooks and crannies help in the application of color. On the other hand, using a larger brush on a larger space limits the harsh lines created when blending inks. 

This shaped card was partially die cut. There was some difficulty in doing this because of how I laid the die on the notecard. It went beyond the 6" width allowed by my die cutting machine. If you have a wider die cutting machine, this will not be a problem. Another way to achieve this card look is to create a tab on the fold, then adhere it to another panel to create a note card. Or rotate the die so that it will fit your die cutting machine without problems. 

One of the layered stencils on this set has a detailed part which you can skew during cleaning if you are not careful. I suggest you go one direction when wiping off the ink from the stencil, preferably wiping towards the detailed part. 

I did partial embossing on the inner card panel which creates a background for the flowers.

Use those enamel dots sparingly to add accent to the card. 

I love the sentiments on the stamp set included in this Build A Garden set. The sentiment I used came as a one lined sentiment. I did partial stamping and a stamp positioner to make this into a two lined sentiment. 

SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS CARD

• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos & Add-on Die
• Altenew Raised Sentiments 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Just Leaves Die Set (not a part of this month's release)

The embossing folder I used on this card is my favorite in this release. You are not limited with the use of this embossing folder by its vertical sentiment design only. You can emboss a 6" x 6" cardstock and cut the sentiments apart creating a stash of sentiment strips ready for use. 

Or just like on the card above, you can use one of the sentiments and repeatedly emboss the same sentiment on a strip of cardstock which will be a great way to use those scraps. To make this last technique easier, I created a template by embossing a scrap cardstock. Using a craft knife, I cut off the sentiment that I will be repeatedly embossing. I positioned this template back on the embossing folder by matching the embossed impression with the raised sentiments on the folder. I placed the strip on the open spot, then emboss away! 

 

To make the embossed sentiment pop out some more, I used an inked brayer to apply white pigment ink to the raised letters. I over inked some spots but this added some grunge to the look of the strips. 

The floral stamp on the BAG comes with a coordinating die but fussy cutting this image is not hard at all. I also love the fourth stencil on the stencil set which is not a layering stencil but a background stencil. You can use this with other projects and not be limited to the layered floral image the stencil set creates. 

CONGRATS TO THE FABULOUS YOU CARD

• Altenew Geo Tree Stencil
• Altenew Raised Sentiment 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Woodland Escape Fresh Dye Ink (not a part of this month's release)
• Altenew Gold Peach Crisp Embossing Powder (not a part of this month's release)

The stencil, as its name implies, is designed to create trees. The packaging insert has instructions and photo samples on how to create different rows of trees with Christmas in mind. I don't have any Altenew Christmas-themed sentiment so I explored other ways of using this stencil for other occasions. Don't be afraid to stretch out those supplies. I cannot believe that I came up with this rosette-like design out of this stencil. I think I will be creating more projects using this stencil. 

I embossed the sentiments on pearl cardstock strips. To make the sentiment pop, I gently rubbed some lunar paste over the letters. The look reminded me of the Dymo embossed labels. 

NO SENTIMENT CHRISTMAS CARD

• Altenew Geo Tree Stencil
• Altenew Halftone Stars Stamp (not part of this month's release)
• Altenew String Art Rectangles Die Set (not part of this month's release)

I created another card using the same stencil I used on the previous project now with a Christmas theme. I blended inks on a row of trees. Instead of a pair of triangles to create the tree, I extended the width of the tree by adding another inked triangle on each side of the triangles. And, the tree trunks? I used the incomplete triangle on the stencil to create this. I masked these incomplete triangle openings to shorten the height of the triangle. I also created a DIY stencil to ground the tree by cutting up an oval shape on a Post-It Note.

What is a Christmas tree without stars and sparkles? A bit of glitter embossing powder here and there does the trick. And, don't forget to add accents to the tree. I used a white get pen and a sparkle pen for this purpose.

I also used a colored cardstock as card base which somehow created a new different color.

Who said every card needs a sentiment on the front? I kept the card front sentiment free to keep the focus on the ink blended trees.

I added stitching using a metallic embroidery floss to create a border. I created a stitching hole template by embossing the Altenew String Art Rectangle die on vellum. I used the holes created by the die as a guide to manually poke holes on my project. In this way, I can extend the length of the stitching. I also have the option to poke extra holes on the middle of each piercing to make the stitches smaller if I want to. 

LOTS OF INK BLENDING CARD

• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos Stamp & Stencil 
• Altenew Build-A-Garden Sulfur Cosmos Add-On Die Set
• Altenew Raised Sentiments 3D Embossing Folder
• Altenew Warm Gray Fresh Dye Round Inks
• Altenew Tea Party Fresh Dye Round Inks
• Altenew Northern Shore Fresh Dye Round Inks

I like to highlight the Altenew inks on this card. Altenew has conveniently grouped their inks into color families. You don't have to have all the inks of a color family but if you are a new crafter or a struggling crafter or a crafter in a hurry, these grouped inks remove the guess work of mixing and matching colors. I used the Altenew Tea Party inks on the flowers. I stamped the floral image for this card, which I also did on my second card. Unlike the second card, wherein I colored the image with alcohol markers, I blended the dye ink colors on this image. It just shows how versatile this BAG set is. 

I colored the leaves and the stems with a color twist, using the Altenew Northern Shore inks.

For the background, I used the Altenew Warm Gray inks.  I mimicked the trendy cardstock strips look on this background. I used a large Post-it Note and a repurposed plastic from an accordion file for masking. I marked a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock every 3rd of an inch making the spacing on each line of the embossed folder just right. Make sure to center the markings on the cardstock panel since there will be an extra 1/16" on the top and the bottom of the panel if you make your project on a portrait orientation just like my card. I blend the gray inks in an ombre fashion. 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I apologize for a very long post. I appreciate your time. 

I hope you find inspiration in today's projects. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Here is a link to Altenew's March Release Products: https://altenew.com/collections/july-2024-stamps-dies-press-and-foil-plates-fresh-dye-inks-more-altenew

Giveaway Prizes

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by July 16, 2024 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on July 18, 2024.

*The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I am sharing some of the projects at 

Challenge #319 

#38-For You Shaped Card

Let's Get Into Shape!

For You Shaped Card

Stitching Behind a Coverplate Die-Take 2

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Kat Scrappiness is having a Christmas in July sale. Aside from this, there is a You Pick 3 Christmas Challenge on the KS blog.  I added the links at the bottom of this post, in case you want to check it out.

Back to my card, this is the second time I created a card like this using the KS Christmas Tree Background Craft die. This die is on clearance! You might want to purchase it before it is gone. 

The first stitched card I created using this die used traditional Christmas colors (https://ienjoywhatido.blogspot.com/2022/11/stitching-behind-coverplate-die.html).

I die cut the tree background on green cardstock. I used a Crafty Meraki Stitch-A-Cross slimline die to poke stitching holes on a white piece of cardstock. I temporarily taped the background die cut over the stitching panel to guide me with stitching.

Once all the stitching is done, I carefully peeled off the washi tapes from the tree background die cut. 

I applied some shimmer on the tree outline using a shimmer pen.

I adhered the tree background die cut over the stitched panel.

I added french knots on the circle openings of the tree background die cut. I adhered KS snowflake sequins on the snowflake portion of the background die. I added a dot of clear glitter glue to the center of the snowflake sequin. I adhered circle glittered die cuts to embellish the tree.

For the challenge, the 3 that I picked are: Holiday tree (Christmas Tree), Die Cuts and add gold touches.

I hope you like today's project. Don't forget to shop this month long sale. And when you get your Christmas in July products, how about joining the KS You Pick 3 Challenge? 

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I added below links to the Kat Scrappiness products I used on this card. There will be no additional cost to you should you decide to purchase any of these products. While you are at the Kat Scrappiness website, do check out their wide array of products. They have a new release, too! Enjoy!

Kat Scrappiness

Kat Scrappiness Blog

I am sharing this project at

My Favorite Things Challenge Blog

Christmas in July 4 Kids

Almost a One Layer Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project is the featured card on my first blog post at the I Brake For Stamps Blog. IBFS is the sister company of the Blank Page Muse stamps. I am so grateful that the DT is allowed to cross over between the two. 

I am using a silhouette stamp from the IBFS on this card, Seibold Succulent Solid Set. Silhouette stamps were not my preference since I love to color. But I saw the different techniques you can do with silhouette stamps that I went out of my comfort zone and gave this type of stamps a try. 

I used a heavy weight A2 sized note card. I temporarily adhered the stencil from BPM, Blocks Pattern Stencil, to the card front. I covered the rest of the card with Post-It notes to prevent putting ink on these areas. I blended inks that are in the same color family with gradating shades. I lightly blended one color of ink over the stencil. After which, I cleaned the stencil and placed the stencil back over the card front off setting it toward the bottom right. I repeated the process using a different shade of ink until the whole panel is covered with different shades of ink blended blocks.

I bravely stamped the silhoutte stamp on the bottom right of the card front since I want this to be a one layer card. I did not get a good impression on my first try. Good thing that I used a stamp positioner but on my re-stamp, despite using the stamp positioner, the image was distorted. I must have moved my stamp positioner.

I didn't want to pitch my ink blended note card so I stamped the succulent on a white cardstock using Versafine Onyx Black ink. I did not get a good impression the first time again. It took me four attempts, three rejects, to finally get a good impression, can you believe that?! 

The ink was taking too much time to dry despite using a heat gun so I went ahead and poured embossing powder over it, then heat set it. I fussy cut the image leaving a small border around it. I directly adhered this to the card front, covering my boo-boo. 

I used my oldie but goodie typewriter to create a sentiment strip. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I Brake For Stamps and Blank Page Muse 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

Just Us Girls Challenge Blog

Framed Stitched Flower

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. It is the first of July, can you believe it? This means it is time for a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. The challenge theme/s is/are Round/Circles and/or Handdrawn/Sewing My project is using the circle and sewing themes. I hope you like it.

If you have been following me, you know that sewing is my jam! I used an Ellen Hutson die to poke stitching holes on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white cardstock. The pattern is from a cross stitching book that I borrowed from the library. My mistake is that I photo copied the pattern and forgot to write the title of the book on the paper. I will add the title of the book here once I have the book that includes this pattern. 

I have a lot of DMC embroidery floss that I've inherited from my late mom. I prefer not to buy anymore embroidery floss. Thankfully, there is a free online conversion chart that I use to substitute a color if I don't have the embroidery floss color in my stash. 

I used 2 strands of floss for stitching since the count of the stitching holes created by the die is small. I also used a thin needle so I will not rip the paper as I stitched on it.

I created a frame using two circle dies. I die cut a heavy weight kraft cardstock. I embossed this circle frame with an embossing folder with a woodgrain pattern. I adhered this frame on the cross stitched panel. I trimmed off the excess. 

I backed this framed panel with another circle kraft cardstock cut with the larger circle die. For the easel, I die cut the same kraft cardstock using a die from The Stamp Market. 

I hope you like today's project, and that you join us in this month's challenge.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.