Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas | July 2024 Edition | 2 Cards 1 Stamp

 

Hello everyone!  I'm playing along this month with my friends Debra and Lisa for the July 2024 Edition of The Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas, which happens on the 25th of each month, in hopes that our ideas inspire you guys to start to make or help you in your Christmas card making fun.  

Today I have 2 cards for you using the same stamp.  The other day I was cleaning out a box and I came across a stamp that I must be 12-15 years old but it had yet to be inked up - Birds on Gifts from American Art Stamp.  American Art Stamp went out of biz years ago but, believe it or not, I found a site in Germany that still has 1 in stock.  Go figure!  

It's the perfect little stamp for a Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa card, even, a winter birthday.  So I made two. 

Card No. 1 - Hanukkah

• I made a top-folding A2 card using white cardstock.
• I adhered a piece of plaid paper with tones of blue to the card front.
• I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using a 3.75" x 5" stitched rectangle die, stamped Birds on Gifts towards to the top, colored it using Hanukkah colors, adhered it to a piece of dark blue cardstock, and then to the card front.
• I die-cut the Happy Hanukkah Script Die from Pretty Pink Posh 3 times using the same plaid paper, glued them together, and then adhered to the card front.
• Lastly, I adhered small crystals to the image near the birds. 

Card No. 2 - Christmas 

• I made a top-folding A2 card using white cardstock and adhered a piece of red paper to the card front.
• I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using a 3.75" x 5" stitched rectangle die from Pink & Main, stamped Birds on Gifts towards the top, colored it using Christmas colors, adhered a piece of fun foam to the back, and then to the card front.
• I die-cut the Merry Christmas sentiment from Memory Box using red cardstock and adhered it to the card front.
• Lastly, I adhered small crystals to the image near the birds. 

I hope you have enjoyed this card and I really hope you will find time to visit the other Crafty Elves and see what they made.  All of our social media links are below.  

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Blog

Instagram

Facebook Page

YouTube Channel

Debra - Meticulosity

Blog (today's card)

Instagram

Facebook Page

Lisa - Life of a BZ Scrapper

Blog (today's card)

Instagram

Facebook Page

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Retro Rubber Challenge No. 235 | When Life Hands You Lemons | Technique Junkies Stamps

 

Hello everyone.  It's been a long time since I have played along with the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog but when I saw their latest challenge - Challenge No. 235 - I knew I had to make a card or two.    

Below is the inspirational graphic for this challenge - to use at least four colors in the graphic and the stamps have to be at least a year old.  The lemon theme is optional but, I have 3 "lemon" stamps, all more than a year old, that are perfect to use on the cards - Make Lemonade Background, Call the Girls, and Lemons - all from Technique Junkies.

As much as I love the Make Lemonade Background stamp, the thought of coloring the whole image was too much for me to think about this week.  So I stamped the image twice on scrapbook paper and die-cut them using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die.  

Here is the horizontal card I made using Lemons as the sentiment and yellow enamel dots as some accents on the card front.

For the vertical card, I used Call The Girls as my sentiment, added glossy accents to the glass because once dry, it looks like glass, and some yellow enamel dots as accents. 

Now I am off to enter these in the challenge.  Do you have a fav?  If you love any of these stamps, you can pick them up from Technique Junkies.  Use my code at checkout - TJ10Michael - to save 10% on your order.

Enjoy the rest of your day and week.  If you enter a card, let me know!  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 7 Costco Shopping Cart

 

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 7 of the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  For the first 8 days of every new release, the new stamps are 15% off and I wanted to showcase a different card on the first 7 days and a recap on the 8th day.   

For today's card, Day 7, I made a tall slimline card using the new Costco Shopping Cart stamp on the front of the card, and a birthday sentiment from Another Year, Set of 5 on the inside - both from Technique Junkies.  I have to admit that I miss Costco.  We don't have it here.  What I don't miss is how much money we spent there and how long the receipt used to be.  LOL.  I have a friend who LOVES Costco and sometimes she will call me and allow me to visit via video with her.  Hence this birthday card.  

To make this card: 

• I made a top-folding slimline card A2 card using white cardstock and adhered some colorful striped paper to the front.  
• I printed a Costco receipt image I found online.  Then I die-cut it using a stitched slimline die, adhered it to a piece of black cardstock, adhered a piece of fun foam to the back, and then to the card front.  
• I stamped Costco Shopping Cart, die-cut using a stitched banner die, layered it on black, and then to the card front across the receipt.    
  

• Lastly, I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from Another Year, Set of 5, die-cut with a banner die, layered it on black, and then to the inside of the card.     

I hope this gets a chuckle when it's received.  :-) 

Costco Shopping Cart is part of the new release and is 15% off through July 23rd (no code needed) - and, you can take 10% off Another Year - Set of 5, and EVERYTHING else on the Technique Junkies website by using my code at checkout - TJ10Michael.  

Below are the stamps in the July New Stamp Release, And, if you love all the stamps, you should get the Gotta Have It All Bundle and save $25.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Yes, It's A Holiday - Happy National Ice Cream Day!

 

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Yes, It's a Holiday Collaboration.  Today, my Instagram friend Lori and I are helping to celebrate National Ice Cream Day, which is celebrated on the third Sunday in July - in the United States

According to Holidays Calendar, in July of 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared the third week of July to be National Ice Cream Month by signing Proclamation 5219. In this proclamation, the president called ice cream the perfect dessert and snack food and stated that over 90 percent of Americans enjoy it on a regular basis..  

To read more about today's holiday, just click HERE. 

To help celebrate, I made today's card using a really old stamp I recently found in my stash.  

• I made a top-folding A2 card using white cardstock.
• Then I die-cut a piece of Kraft cardstock using a 4.25" x 5.5" stitched rectangle die from Pink & Main, embossed it with a retired Sizzix embossing folder, and adhered it to the card front.  I do not remember the name of this folder, nor could I find it online, but it reminded me of the pattern on an ice cream cone. 

• I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die.  
• I stamped the ice cream cone all over the white cardstock.  This is a stamp that I found in my stash, from 2012, and one of Imaginisce Snag 'em Stamps.  Although it's long retired, you might have a stamp like this that you can use.  After stamping them I colored them with markers in my stash.

• I measured 2.5" down from the top, and trimmed it, glued a piece of fun foam to the back, and adhered it to my card front at the top.  Then, I cut the bottom part measuring 1 3/8" up from the bottom, glued a piece of fun foam to the back, and then to the card front - leaving room for the sentiment. 

• I die-cut the Sweet Word Die from Sunny Studio - once using white glittered fun foam, and 3 times using plain white fun foam.  I adhered them together with white glue, and set it aside to dry.  Once dry, I adhered it to the center part of the card front.  
• Lastly, I added red Stickles to the cherries. 

I had so much fun making this card.  I hope you love it as much as I do.  If you have Instagram, it would be awesome if you could stop by Lori's page, check out the card that she made, and show her some love.  Links to both of our Instagram pages are below.

Me - @worldofmichaeltrent

Lori - @mamakobs

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and don't forget to go enjoy some ice cream.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 6 Swirly Snails Birthday Card

 

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 6 of the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  For the first 8 days of every new release, the new stamps are 15% off and I wanted to showcase a different card on the first 7 days and a recap on the 8th day.   

For today, Day 6, I made a fun birthday card for the snail lover in your life.  We all have one.  Don't we?  For this card, I used the Swirly Snails stamp on the front of the card, and a birthday sentiment from Grand Greetings on the inside of the card, which I also paired with the balloon from Let it Go - all from Technique Junkies.    

To make this card: 

• I made a top-folding A2 card using black cardstock.
• I stamped Swirly Snails on white cardstock, die-cut using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, and adhered it to the card front.  
• I glued tiny googly eyes to the snails and I added a Tim Holtz quote that would work for a birthday.  
• Lastly, I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using the 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, stamped the birthday greeting from Grand Greetings and the balloon from Let it Go, and adhered it to the inside of the card.   

 

So, what do you think of this card idea?  Swirly Snails is part of the new release and is 15% off through July 23rd (no code needed) - and, you can take 10% off the Grand Greetings stamps, the Let it Go stamp, and EVERYTHING else on the Technique Junkies website by using my code at checkout - TJ10Michael.  

Below are the stamps in the July New Stamp Release, And, if you love all the stamps, you should get the Gotta Have It All Bundle and save $25.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 5 Life on Fire

 

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 5 of the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  For the first 8 days of every new release, the new stamps are 15% off and I wanted to showcase a different card on the first 7 days and a recap on the 8th day.   

For today, Day 5, I made this card using the Life on Fire stamp and the Burst Background stamp - both from Technique Junkies.  I think this would be a great card to give to someone heading off to college or, maybe, to someone getting back into the dating scene.  

To make this card: 

• I made a top-folding A2 card using black cardstock.
• I stamped Burst on scrapbook paper in my stash that looked like the sun exploding in the background.  Then I die-cut it using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, adhered a piece of black fun foam to the back, and adhered it to the card front.
• I stamped Life on Fire on white cardstock, layered it on a piece of black, die-cut it using the same 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die so that the stitching would match up, and adhered it to the center of the card.  
• Lastly, I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using the 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die and adhered it to the inside for a message.  

I hope you enjoyed this quick card idea.  The Life on File stamp is part of the new release and is 15% off through July 23rd (no code needed) - and, you can take 10% off the Burst stamp and EVERYTHING else on the Technique Junkies website by using my code at checkout - TJ10Michael.  

Below are the stamps in the July New Stamp Release, And, if you love all the stamps, you should get the Gotta Have It All Bundle and save $25.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 4 It's Okay to Not Be Okay

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 4 of the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  For the first 8 days of every new release, the new stamps are 15% off and I wanted to showcase a different card on the first 7 days and a recap on the 8th day.   

For today, Day 4, I made this card using Abstract Florals on the front of the card and It's Okay on the inside.  There is a lot of talk about mental health and the fact that so many of us struggle to stay sane in an insane world.  Just remember that the phrase "It's Okay not to be Okay" is used to remind us that it's normal to feel sad, overwhelmed, or anxious at times.  It's a reminder that it's okay to not always feel okay and that it's important to take care of yourself and seek help if needed.  

If anyone ever needs or wants to talk, I am here for you.  Just reach out and send me a message.  Really!

To make this card: 

• I made a top-folding A2 card using black cardstock.
• I stamped Abstract Florals on a piece of green cardstock with a leaf pattern in the background, and die-cut it using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die.
• I used 2 circle dies to cut an opening on the front of the card and the larger circle die on the Abstract Florals piece, which I then adhered to the card front.
• I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, adhered it to the inside, and then stamped It's Okay on it.
• Lastly, I added some black enamel dots to the card front.  
  

When you look at the card it seems as if the It's Okay sentiment is on the front of the card.  But when you open the card, the sentiment is actually on the inside shown through by the circle cutout.

I hope you enjoyed this quick card idea.  Both stamps are part of the new release and are 15% off through July 23rd (no code needed) - and, you can take 10% off EVERYTHING else on the Technique Junkies website by using my code at checkout - TJ10Michael.  

Below are the stamps in the July New Stamp Release, And, if you love all the stamps, you should get the Gotta Have It All Bundle and save $25.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 3 Have A Flamazing Day

 

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 3 of the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  During every new release, the new stamps are 15% off through the 8th day of the release and I wanted to showcase a different card on each of the 8 days.  

For today, Day 3, I made this fun summer card using the Flamazing Day stamp on the front of the card and the Flamingo Flock stamp on the inside.  Both stamps are part of the new release and are 15% off through July 23rd (no code needed) - and, you can take 10% off EVERTYTHING else on the Technique Junkies website by using my code at checkout - TJ10Michael.  

To make this card: 

• I made a top-folding A2 card using green cardstock.
• Then I searched through my stash for flamingo scrapbook paper.  I found a sheet from a Brasilian paper company and die-cut a piece using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, adhered a piece of fun foam to the back, and adhered it to the card front.
• I stamped Flamazing Day on white cardstock, die-cut it using a stitched banner die, layered it on the same green cardstock, and adhered it to the card front. 

Lastly, 

• I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, stamped Flamingo Flock, colored them with Tombow markers, glued a tiny googly eye to each flamingo, and adhered it to the inside of the card leaving space for a message.

I hope you enjoyed this quick card idea.  Many companies have flamingo papers out for the summer and I know these 2 stamps will be perfect with them.  

Below are the stamps in the July New Stamp Release, which are 15% off through July 23rd.  If you love all the stamps get the Gotta Have It All Bundle and save $25.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Enjoy the rest of your day.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael 

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 2 Life Was Meant For A Great Adventure

 

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 2 of the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  During every new release, the new stamps are 15% off through the 8th day of the release and I wanted to showcase a different card on each of the 8 days.  

For today, Day 2, I made a quick card for someone about to go on an amazing European vacation.  Why?  Because life was meant for a great adventure.  This card uses the Adventure stamp, which is part of the new release (and 15% off), and the Passport Stamps stamp, which is not part of the new release but you can save 10% on the stamp by using my code at checkout - TJ10Michael.

• I made a top-folding A2 card using black cardstock.
• I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die and adhered it to the inside of the card where a message can be written.
• I stamped Passport Stamps using Jet Black Archival Ink from Ranger on a piece of Kraft cardstock, die-cut it using the 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, adhered a piece of fun foam to the back, adhered it to a piece of red cardstock, and then to the card front.
• I stamped Adventure on white cardstock and used my Scan N Cut from Brother to cut the image out with a .4 border.  Then I cut a piece of black cardstock with the Scan N Cut with a .8 border, adhered them together, and then to the card front. 
• Lastly, I added a Tim Holtz quote above the word Adventure. 

All I need to do is to write my message and give it to my friend.  I hope she loves it.  

Below are the stamps in the July New Stamp Release and are discounted 15% off through July 23rd.  If you love all the stamps get the Gotta Have It All Bundle and save $25.  

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Enjoy the rest of your day.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | July Stamp Release | Day 1 | Crabby Crabs

Hello everyone and welcome to the July 2024 New Stamp Release with Technique Junkies.  This month there are 12 new really fun stamps.  All the new stamps in the release are 15% off through Tuesday, July 23rd.  And, if you use my code - TJ10Michael - you can take 10% off everything else on the website.

If you love and want ALL the new stamps, grab the Gotta Have It All Bundle, for only $77.97.  These stamps would normally cost $103.95. You save $25.98 by buying the bundle.  It's a great deal and it's as if you're getting a few stamps for free.

To help celebrate the new release, I made this fun and fast card using the new Crazy Crabs stamp.  The moment I saw this image I knew they needed googly eyes and I really wanted to make it in black and white.  
    

Here is a quick rundown on how I made this card if you would like to make it.  

• I made a top-folding A2 card base using white cardstock.  
• I adhered a piece of red cardstock to the card front.  
• I stamped Crazy Crabs on white cardstock using black ink.  Then I die-cut it using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die.  
• I die-cut the Hello die from the Hey Hello Hi Word Dies from Photo Play using red and white cardstock and adhered it to the card front using foam squares.
• Lastly, I adhered small googly eyes to each of the Crazy Crabs.  

Below are links to Design Team blogs and I hope you will find the time to go check out what each of them has made to kick off the July release.    

Technique Junkies Blog

Pat - The Technique Trail

Debra - Meticulosity 

Pam - Mustang Creations

Shalana - Scrappin With Shalana

Jeanette - Cre8tive Play

Christine - Purple Lake Stamps

Darlene - Dar's Blog

Patti - Cherish Each Precious Day

Enjoy the rest of your day and have a great week.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael 

Let's "Hang 10" at the Beach | Square Shaker Card | Technique Junkies Stamps

 

Hello everyone and welcome to July.  The July 4th holiday is over but summer is in full swing, and it's the perfect time to make this fun, square, shaker card.  Once again I used my favorite new rubber stamp - Hang 10 - from Technique Junkies.  This is such a great background stamp, is so much fun to color, and, my Scan N Cut has no problem cutting all of these boards out with ease.  :-)   

So, how did I make this card?

First, the easy parts.

• I made a top-folding 6" square card using dark blue cardstock.  
• I cut a piece of white cardstock, 5.75" x 5.75" (for the inside).
• I stamped Smell the Sea on white cardstock, die-cut it using a fishtail die, and then die-cut a piece of the same blue cardstock using the next larger fishtail die. 
• I cut a piece of decorative paper 5.75" x 5.75" 

Next...

• I adhered the Smell the Sea sentiment to the blue layer, trimmed a bit off the top and bottom, and adhered it to the white cardstock.  
• I adhered the full white cardstock piece to the inside of the card.

Next...you will need a pencil, ruler, craft knife, and a piece of acetate. 

• I turned the decorative paper over, used a pencil to mark 7/8" in on all 4 sides, used a ruler to draw lines, and then cut out the center of the piece.
• I applied 3/8" score tape around the 4 sides of the window, cut a piece of acetate 5" x 5", and adhered it covering the window I cut.  

Next...

• I cut 4 strips of foam tape and adhered it around the back of the decorative paper.  The "foam tape" I used is actually weather stripping I found here but it works perfectly and it's so much cheaper.  Depending on your foam tape, you might need 2 layers.   

Set this aside and let's work on the inside of the card.

• I cut a piece of white cardstock 5.5" x 5.5".
• I placed the Mini Burst Stencil from TCW on top of the white cardstock and used a craft brush to apply mustard seed distress ink over the stencil.  
• I stamped Hang 10 and colored in the surfboards.  Then I used my Scan N Cut to cut them out with a small border.  Fussy-cutting them would also be super easy.  
• I arranged the surfboards along the bottom, making sure they were inside the window piece, and adhered them using small foam squares.  

Now...

• Add a little sand at the bottom of your front piece with the acetate - you do not want too much - just enough to cover the bottom of the boards a bit. 
  
  
  Now the glue - some foam tapes have an adhesive backing.  If yours does, remove the tape backing and then adhere the surfboards down on top making sure to center the piece. 
  
  
  If your foam tape does not have a tape backing, add white glue to your foam tape and then adhere the surfboards down on top.   

• After giving the glue a few seconds to set, I turned it over, made sure my scene was centered and there were no areas for the sand to come out.  Then I put a book on top and let it dry completely.  
• Once fully dry, I adhered this to my card front, added two more surfboards - one on each side - to expand the scene.    
• Lastly, I stamped The Beach Fixes Everything on white cardstock, die-cut it with a banner die, and layered it on the dark blue cardstock that had also been die-cut with a banner die.  

Here is the final card front and inside.  

I know this seems like a lot of work for 1 card but, if you are making it for someone special, or as home decor, it's totally worth it in the end.  

If you love these stamps - all from Technique Junkies - you can save 10% on your order by using my Design Team Discount Code at checkout - TJ10Michael.  

I'd love to know your thoughts on this card - please, leave a comment below.  Try to stay cool this weekend.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael