Maria Giselle's Creative Cuts

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. A new month means a new challenge at Stick It Down Scrapbook and Card Making Challenge in FB. There are several opportunities to join with three sketches to choose from.

My Favorite Things just said its goodbye to its crafting era. I am saddened to see another great crafting company close its doors. I remember my first MFT product, which I still have, believe it or not. I also remember where I bought it, a brick and mortar store here in St. Louis, which sadly closed a long time ago. I also remember joining the MFT blog challenges, winning once last November 2021. Lots of great memories. It just shows how anything is vulnerable to the changing times. I want to thank Kim, MFT's owner, for all the great things she has brought to me in the crafting world. I wish her well and maybe I will cross paths with her again in the future.

This card is a tribute to MFT using MFT products from my card stash.

This is also a remake of a card I created a long time ago. I had a bit of technical malfunction with the shaker feature of that card. I really wanted a seamless shaker card at that time but I was not able to contain the shaker beads. With the developments and improvements in crafting, I was able to figure out how to fix this problem. 

I stamped the images on watercolor paper using Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink so I can do a no line coloring. I used the Misti Stamping Tool to stamp the images. With the texture of the watercolor paper, I needed to re-stamp the images. The stamping tool was a big help on this part.

I stamped five images from the MFT stamp set to follow the number of balloons on the sketch. 

I colored the images using a newly acquired Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors Noveau Set of 24. I already have the set of 36 colors and also own several single watercolor pans. I love this watercolor brand! The new set offers muted colors which is a great addition to the 36 color set. 

After  I watercolored the images, I fussy cut the images leaving a narrow border around it.

I used pattern papers from Doodlebug to complete my scene. I trimmed the green checkered paper at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".  I traced the wavy road die on this panel. I cut the panel on the traced lines and erased the pencil lines.

I die cut the wavy road die on a pebbled patterned paper. Using the split panel as guide, I positioned the wavy road die cut on a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" light weight paper. I lightly traced this with a pencil. I colored this traced road with a black marker. This black coloring will show through the wavy road die cut.

I adhered the wavy road die cut to the white cardstock panel using the traced lines as guide. I erased the pencil lines. I lined the wavy road die cut with a double adhesive tape. I wrapped this panel with a left-over plastic film packaging leaving one of the ends open. The double adhesive tape served as a trap to keep the shaker elements. I poured seed beads on this wavy road pocket. It was a bit tough with the narrow opening that's why I chose a very small shaker element, seed beads. I closed the bottom flap to seal the shaker. Now I have a seamless shaker. This is the upgraded step of my previous card. 

I stamped the sentiment on the larger green checkered paper piece. I treated this first with an anti-static tool. I stamped the sentiment using a red dye ink then stamped it using Versamark ink so I can heat emboss it with clear embossing powder. I used the Misti Stamping Tool for this purpose.

I adhered the checkered paper to the wrapped panel using liquid adhesive. I set this aside to dry.

I adhered one of the bear images on the road portion of the panel using a mini wobbler. I adhered the other bear image and the larger tree with foam adhesive. I adhered the other tree and the stop sign image with liquid glue. I used a portion of the negative die cut to ground the car.

This is the old version of this card having the same shaker and wobbler elements (https://ienjoywhatido.blogspot.com/2016/02/masculine-interactive-birthday-card.html). 

Below is a short video showing the interactive elements of this card. It is scheduled to go live later at 4pm CST (My 13 year old posted it that way.) I hope you come back to see it.

I hope you join this month's Stick It Down Challenge. We can't wait to see your take on this month's sketches. 

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

I shared this project at

Challenge #346

Scrapbook & Cards Today FB Challenge

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. I created this card for a boy, Ollie, who celebrated his third birthday this December. This is especially made for him since it features all his favorite action characters. It reminds me of my sons who at one point loved action characters too. 

I searched online for free downloadable pdfs of the action characters that Ollie loves. I uploaded this to Cricut Design Space. This is one great thing I love about Cricut that's why I can't give up my machine despite its unpopularity in my crafting. I had problems cutting my file as a whole despite using the flatten function. I should have opted for the jpg version of the images to avoid this problem since I have no intent to cut and layer the images. Anyway, I settled with fussy cutting the images. 

I cut the platform on blue cardstock using the Lawn Fawn Platform Pop-up die. I trimmed off the scallop border. Instead of using the back panel die included on the set for the background, I cut the building using Cricut. I also cut a building without windows by editing the same building image in CDS. To remove the windows, I used the Contour feature. The building cut image is from Cricut Going Places cartridge. I increased the width of the building to 5 1/4" which is the same width as the back panel of the platform when cut.

Using the score marks of the platform as a guide, I scored the building. I adhered the solid building cut to the back of the windowed building cut. I added Glow in the Dark Nuvo Drops to the windows. I set this aside to dry. Once dry, I adhered this to the inner side of one of the platform die cuts. 

Working on the platform, I folded it on the scored marks, reinforcing it with a bone folder for a crisper fold. I wanted the top portion of the platform to be black. I partially die cut a black cardstock twice using the platform die. I strategically positioned the cardstock to the part of the die that cuts the top portion, the one with the open slot. Since some of the sides are intended to be scored only, I used this scored line to guide me where to trim. I adhered this to the top portion of the platform. 

For the tabs that will hold the action characters upright, I die cut a tab on black cardstock and acetate. The tab die is included in the Platform die set. I adhered the Teenage Mutant Ninja print out on the black tab die cut. I cut off any excess. 

I adhered Sonic on the acetate tab using a double adhesive tape. I snipped off the excess. 

For spiderman, to make him float, I adhered him to a strip of acetate using double adhesive tape. 

For the sentiment, I die cut the birthday celebrant's name using the My Favorite Things Spell Anything Alphabet Die-namics on a darker blue cardstock. I adhered this to the front of the platform.

I die cut a banner on white cardstock using a die from the Lawn Fawn Fancy Folded Banners die set. I heat embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment on this using Wow! Flourescent Blue embossing powder. The sentiment stamp is from Simon Says Stamp Sentimental Circles. I adhered this banner to the top front edge of the platform.

I enjoyed creating this project. I was having so much fun that I finished this in one day. Can't believe it myself. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

Party!

Polkadoodle Challenge Blog~Week 52 #7

Hello and welcome back! For today's post, I created a card for a college friend who is celebrating her birthday this month. This is actually a belated birthday card since I was out of the country on her birthday. To compensate for the delay, I allowed her to make a special request on what she wants on her birthday card. She has two choices. One of them is a Hello Kitty card. I can't say no to that being a HK fan myself. 

First, I want to say thank you to Icon Ape for the free HK SVG file. After I downloaded the file, I uploaded this to Cricut Design Space for cutting. The cut file does not include a silhouette cut file. I am unable to edit the cut file in CDS to create the silhouette. The tricky part is you have to space the cuts evenly including the tiniest cut created. I highly suggest to begin with the large cut parts like HK's face. 

After I put HK together, I set this aside to dry. I also added a heart balloon from CDS. I added a shadow to the heart to tie in with the HK image. To do this, just click on the offset button on the menu bar on the top. Toggle the slider bar to the size you want your shadow to be, then click accept. 

I heat embossed the sentiment on the heart balloon. The stamp I used is from Lawn Fawn #Awesome stamp set. 

For the background, I die cut a teal patterned paper using a stitched edge die from the Mama Elephant Peek-A-Frame Creative Cuts. I created my own background using a garland stamp from a HK stamp set. I repeatedly stamped this on the teal patterned paper using a Delicata White Shimmer pigment ink. After this has dried, I adhered HK and the balloon using foam tape. 

I adhere this to a red cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", then to a top folding white notecard.

I added floral sequin embellishments to the heart balloon, adding Ranger White Enamel to the floral centers. I added shimmer to HK's bow using Spectrum Noir clear shimmer pen. After which, I applied Ranger Glossy Accents to the bow. I added Ranger Black Enamel to HK's eyes. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

I am sharing this creation at

November Challenge

Challenge #56~Anything Goes With A Featured Critter

Hello! I am back home and this is my first card created in my craft room. I really missed this crafting corner of mine!

Anyway, while I was away, I had more time reading messages posted by others. One of them is a mom whose daughter turned 7 last October 13. I was not in town for her special day but I messaged her mom, that I can create a special customized card for her birthday but it will be late in delivery, if that is okay with her. She agreed to this so I asked for things that the birthday girl likes. After hearing back from her, I already have a plan on which stamp to use for her card.

Aside from person inspirations, I also look into blog challenges for another source of inspiration. I always join MFT challenges. I chose to participate in this one for this card since my focal image is an MFT product.

I stamped the girl image on Neenah Solar White cardstock. The image is from MFT BB Unicorns And Glitter stamp set. The other images I am using for this card are also from this stamp set. I colored the image with Copic markers. I fussy cut the image leaving a white border around it.

To follow the sketch, I die cut an oval opening on a cream cardstock cut at 3 1/2" x 8 1/2". I stamped rainbows on these cream panels using Hero Arts Soft Vanilla cardstock to create a tone on tone effect. 

I cut a pink cardstock at 3 1/2" x 8 1/2". This will be the back panel that will hold both cream die cut panels. I stamped the shooting stars stamps on this pink panel using Versamark ink. I poured Wow! Glow In The Dark embossing powder on the stamped images, then heat set it. 

To create the shaker element, I trimmed a scrap clear packaging large enough to cover the open space created by the cream cardstock panels. I adhered this to the pink cardstock panel using double adhesive tape. Before securing the last edge, I poured varied sequins into the pocket sleeve. 

For the strips on the sketch, I created a sentiment strip using the MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die-namics. After die cutting, I trimmed the letters off from the circle frame and adhered the letters to a pink vellum strip. I also used pink glittered washi tapes for the rest of the strips. The solid pink glitter washi tape was adhered to scrap cardstock first before die cutting it with a stitched scalloped edge die. 

I added shimmer to the girl's dress and the letter die cuts using clear Wink of Stella. I used Sakura Black Glaze pen for the girl's eyes. I used Nuvo Mica Glitter pen for the unicorn's horn. 

Here is a short video showing the shaker and glow in the dark features of this card.

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #16

Shaker Designs Challenge #11

 

For the sentiment, I die cut the acronym for the birthday greeting using Trinity Stamps Marshmallow Alphabet die set. I don't have a blue mirror cardstock. Looking at my supplies, I created my own blue mirror cardstock by using an iron on vinyl instead. I ironed the vinyl to a piece of cardstock which I sandwiched inside a parchment paper. This is actually a great way to use up those scrap iron on materials.

To create the scene, I trimmed a striped blue patterned paper for the ground. I also trimmed a woodgrain patterned paper for the background. I positioned the elements of my scene but before I adhered it, I did some embossing for the wand accent. 

I added links to the Trinity Stamps products I used on this card which is no additional cost to you if you decide to make a purchase. I highlighted these products for your convenience. At the same time, you can browse the other amazing products of Trinity Stamps. 

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

Maria Giselle B.

Challenge 103~Anything Goes #24

Challenge #409~Any Occasion #96