Mini Photo Album

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I created a mini photo album using Paper Rose patterned paper. Just a warning, there are lots of photos in today's post to showcase each page of this mini album. 

I used the PR Autumn Bouquet E for the sheets of my mini-album.

I paired two 4" x 4" cut apart pieces then scored it where the pieces meet. I die cut a circle window on some of the cut apart pieces with a floral wreath design. As seen on the photo above, the page unfolds. This is where a photo can be inserted with the photo showing through the window. Simply adhere the photo to prevent it from falling off the window page. 

I was left with a piece of cut apart which I used as an extra page for the mini-album as seen on the photo above.

For the cover and the spine, I used the PS Autumn Days A 12 x 12 paper. I trimmed this into 8 3/4" x 4 1/4". I scored the long end at 4 1/4", 1/4". To make the cover sturdy, I trimmed two patterned papers from the Autumn Bouquet 6x6 paper pad collection into 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" pieces. I adhered this to the inner front cover as seen on the second photo above, and the inner back cover which can be seen on the 2nd to the last photo above. 

The 12x12 patterned paper has a patterned paper strip on one of the ends of the paper. This area of the paper usually has the name of the patterned paper. I used this strip to add a faux band on the front of the album cover. I blended an orange dye ink on this strip to mute the color down.

For the front, I used some of the cut apart sheets on the 6x6 pack. I did some ink blending and I added some dimension. I also did some fussy cutting of the wreathes to create my own ephemera. I added a rose gold twine and some sequins for embellishment.

I hope you like today's project. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Paper Rose Studio Facebook Challenge

Challenge #110~Fabulous Fall

Use Patterned Paper

Day of the Dead Banner

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's project was created for the Blank Page Muse blog. Thank you BPM for allowing me to share this project in my blog, too!

I created a banner using two sugar skull stamps from Blank Page Muse in preparation for the Day of the Dead which is celebrated on November 1 to November 2. The Blank Page Muse stamps I used are

• Sugar Skull Male Mustache Day of the Dead Art Rubber Stamp
  
• Sugar Skull Floral Flourish Day of the Dead Art Rubber Stamp
  

I prepped a black cardstock with an anti-static tool before stamping the image using an embossing ink. This step limits the amount of stray powder on the cardstock. 

I poured embossing powder to the inked panel. I am using different neon colored embossing powders. I brushed off any stray embossing powder using a dry paint brush.

Using a heat tool, I melted the embossing powder. I usually start with the heat gun pointed towards the back of the powdered image. This somehow prevents the powder from being blown off. After which, I melted the rest of the powder with the heat gun pointed directly on the powdered image. Make sure to move the heat gun frequently to prevent over melting the embossing powder. 

I wiped off the anti-static powder from the embossed panel with a dry cloth. I fussy cut the image leaving a small border around it. 

I added details to the embossed image with neon gel pens. 

I added gems to the eyes keeping the colors the same for a monochromatic look.

I temporarily adhered the skulls to a trim with a piece of tape. To make this permanent, use a glue gun to adhere the skulls to the trim.

You can create more skulls depending on how much you need to decorate your home. 

I hope you like today's project. Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Blank Page Muse and I Brake For Stamps 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!

I am sharing this project at

Simon Says Stamp Instagram Challenge

Halloween Shaker Card

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Kat Scrappiness is celebrating World Card Making Day with a Scavenger Hunt. There are several ways to join so please visit the Kat Scrappiness blog which I linked below.

Kat Scrappiness IG

Now back to the card...

The number thirty-one was die cut on black cardstock using the retired KS Condensed Number dies. The banner was die cut using a die from the KS Nesting Fishtail Banner dies. I die cut this on a patterned paper. I spritz mica on the numbers and THD Oxide spray on the banner. I heat set this to dry in between spritzing inks. 

I also die cut another number thirty-one on a dark orange faux glitter paper from KS Autumn Glitter 6x6 paper pad. I adhered the black numbers on top of this faux glitter numbers, offsetting it to create a shadow. 

I stamped the month October on the top of the banner. I added eyelets to the top corners of the banner. No specific reason for adding the eyelets other than I just have to start using my eyelets =).

It is not only the eyelets in my stash that needs immediate attention. Lately, I have been obsessed with trims. Got to use it too before I end up hoarding it. I hand stitched an orange pompom trim to the side of the banner. I think it would have been quicker if I machine stitched the trim but I have little faith with my machine stitching skills. 

For the shaker portion of the card, I trimmed the same dark orange faux glitter paper at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I die cut the spider webs from the KS Creepy Crawly craft dies on dark gray cardstock. I spritz THD Stain and Oxide to each spider web. I heat set the spider web to speed dry it before spritzing it with another coat of ink. I adhered the spider webs to the faux glitter panel to create a pattern. 

For the acetate, I am using the KS A2 Full Front Shaker Card Pockets. These acetate comes with a tab to fold over your cardstock panel. I highly recommend scoring these tabs before removing the release paper. Scoring the tabs reinforces the folds on each tab. It will also be helpful to trim a sliver off each side of the panel before positioning the panel on the shaker pocket. This will mimimize the curling of the panel once all the tabs are adhered to the back of the panel. 

I only sealed three of the four tabs on the back of the panel since I have to pour the sequins in the pocket. If your tabs are not adhering well to the back of the panel, you can reinforce this with a strong double sided adhesive. My shaker elements are from my stash, which are also wanting to be used. Kat Scrappiness carries a lot of shaker elements to choose from which I linked below in case you are interested. You can stick to a sequin mix or put together several sequins from each mix to create your own mix. With the full front acetate, I prefer a flat shaker element. A flat sequin tends to move around freely and does not add additional bulk to the shaker that can potentially curl the panel.

I sealed the last tab to secure the shakers inside the pocket. I placed something heavy on top of the shaker panel to flatten it since this acetate pocket has a tendency to curly because of its thickness compared to the acetate used for shaker windows. 

Don't forget to remove the film that covers the pocket. No wonder it looks blurry! The film serves a protection for the acetate against scratching during shipping and while not in use.

I adhered the banner on top of the acetate using a strong liquid glue. I placed something heavy over it while the glue dries to make the banner adhere better to the acetate. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I added below a link 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!

I am sharing this project at

Simon Says Stamp Instagram Challenge

Challenge #11~Create a Shaker Card.

Dancing Witch Card

Hello! Happy World Card Making Day! I am a guest designer at Send a Smile 4 Kids for the month of October. This month's challenge theme is Holiday/Celebration 4 Kids. There are lots of ways to interpret this theme especially with the coming holidays. I chose Halloween since most kids love to dress up and do trick or treating during this holiday. 

Keeping in mind that I am creating a card for a kid, I decided to make an interactive card. The focal point of the card, the witch's legs swing left to right as you can see on the video below.

The dies I used for the witch and the legs came as a part of a Halloween die set given to me by my co-worker, Janelle. It came unmarked so I am not sure what company this die set is from. The details of the witch's legs are cut individually making it prone to misplacing a piece. It would have been nice if this die set came with a solid piece which you can adhere to the back of the detailed piece. I die cut the hat on purple cardstock twice. I did the same with the legs using black cardstock this time. I adhered the die cuts on top of each other for some stability. Since the legs have some missed pieces, I adhered it to another black cardstock. I trimmed of the excess up to the edge of the die cut being careful not to cut the detailed leg piece.

I colored the detailed parts of the hat and the legs with Karin and Altenew acrylic markers. 

I positioned the witch's legs on the back of the hat. I die cut a circle on the legs die cut. I adhered circle foam tapes on the top back of the witch's hat making sure that I do not apply any tape on the area where the legs will swing. I adhered another circle foam tape to the lower back portion of the hat, inside the circle opening.

For the background of the dancing witch, I added glue to a white scrap cardstock. I adhered a Halloween tape to this glue. I smoothen the tape with a bone folder. I die cut this piece with an arch die from Hero Arts. I die cut it larger than how I wanted it so I die cut this again using the next smaller size of arch die.  I die cut two more arches using this die on white scrap cardstock. I adhered this white arch die cuts to the back of the taped arch to add a bit of dimension.

For the back panel, I trimmed a black cardstock at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I stamped halloween sentiments from old My Mind's Eye stamp sets to this panel using white pigment ink. I set this aside to dry.

I adhered the arch die to the center of the stamped panel. I adhered the frame I created earlier to the panel. I adhered the dancing witch next, adding a dot of glue to the foam adhesives for extra support.

Now, you can freely swing the legs to and fro which you will see on the short video below.

I hope you like today's project. I hope you join this month's SAS 4 Kids challenge and also consider donating your card/s. There is a tab on the SAS 4 Kids for what cards are needed at the moment and another tab to whom you mail the cards to. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Simon Says Stamp Instagram Challenge

Anything Goes on a Card for World Cardmaking Day

Challenge #7~Create a Halloween Card.

 

A Card for You & a Card to Give Away (A 2-for-1 Project)

 

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. We have a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. The challenge theme/s is/are Autumn/More Than One Fold. I hope you join us in this month's challenge.

For today's card, I created a gatefold card with a surprise element when you open the card. 

The focal point of the card was stitched. I used The Stamp Market Embroidery Hoop die to cut the stitching circle. The pattern for the pumpkin is from Lawn Fawn. I added leaves cut from felt and some flower sequins for embellishment. The leaves were cut using a die from My Favorite Things. I used a hot glue to adhere the felt and leaves.  A bit messy but this is the only way to secure these embellishments in place. 

I matted this stitched hoop die cut with a larger circle patterned paper die cut. The patterned papers I am using is from Echo Park.

To make this into a gatefold card, I trimmed a kraft cardstock at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". I scored the long side at 2 1/8" on both sides. 

I trimmed a patterned paper at 4" x 5 1/4". I cut this in half on the short side to come up with 2 panels of 2" x 5 1/4". I adhered these panels to the front of the gatefold side of the card. 

I adhered the stitched circle to one side of the gatefold, applying glue to half of the circle only. I adhered a sentiment embellishment from an Echo Park ephemera pack on the bottom of the gatefold opening, applying glue to the half back of this piece just like how I did it on the circle die cut. 

I adhered a kraft circle die cut to the back of the stitched circle, and a kraft rectangle on the back of the sentiment ephemera to make these two elements sturdy when opening the gatefold card.

As you can see on the photo above, the the surprise element of the card is another card. I created a top folding card that fits inside the gatefold card. The recipient of the gatefold card will have an option to send this top folding card to someone. This top folding card measures 4" x 5 1/4" to fit inside the gatefold card. 

I used the same patterned paper pad I used on the gatefold card. I die cut the pumpkin using a die from Honey Bee. I added texture to this pumpkin using The Greetery Aida Cloth Texture plate. I blended orange ink on this pumpkin to create some depth. I doubled the die cuts to create the pumpkin with some scrap cardstock for a bit of dimension. I did not want to add a lot of bulk to this card since it will be inserted inside the gatefold card. 

I created a patterned paper panel using scraps from the patterned paper pad. I adhered the strips to a scrap typing paper. I die cut this using a nesting rectangle die from Hero Arts. I used a rectangle die smaller than the note card. I added texture to this panel with a piercing plate from Ellen Hutson. I stitched the patterned paper seams using a diagonal stitch. I adhered this panel to the top folding kraft cardstock.

I adhered a sentiment from the ephemera pack to the pumpkin. I adhered the pumpkin to the panel. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this project at

Scrapbook & Cards FB Challenge

Challenge #42~Fall Moodboard