Stamp Ink Paper Challenge #63 - Wonderful Wings

Happy Tuesday everyone!!  I hope y'all had a nice weekend.  What a busy weekend!  Friday night Ruy and I went CNA, one of the language schools in town, for a Pizza Rodizio.  A "rodizio" pretty much means "all you can eat". Then on Saturday night we went to our friends Cris and Baron for one of his gourmet dinners.  Baron loves to cook and he did not let us down.  Salmon, asparagus risotto, and potatoes.  YUM!

We stayed until 2 am and I woke up on Sunday with whatever I was battling two weeks ago.  Ugh! Doctor tomorrow!!  So I did a lot of coloring on Sunday for today's project.  

Since it's Tuesday.....there is a new challenge over at the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge Blog!  This week's Challenge #63 is "Wonderful Wings".

I used a digi stamp called Bugfihappiness by Bugaboo Stamps.  When you buy this digi, you get several files.  One is the image without the phrase.  I love digi files because you can make them any size you want.  I made this project 7" square and is meant to be a "home decor" piece - for a shelf or wall.  I am also in love with image because it reminds me so much of many of the images I used to get from Outlines Rubber Stamps and do in 3D.  

The first thing I did was to size this in Word to 8" x 8".  With my margins, I knew it would print at 7".  I printed it 3 times on good quality white cardstock. One print will be my base.  Using the other two, I cut the various flowers in different layers.  I knew I was going to pop dot them and make the project 3D so you want each layer to be cut differently.

For example - the flower in the lower right corner has 3 layers.  The bottom layer, which is the layer printed on the cardstock.  Then I cut two additional layers from the other 2 print outs - 

After I did all my cutting, I pulled out my Sharpies and colored everything in - the base piece and all the different layered pieces.  Then, working flower by flower, I applied pop dots to each of the layers and layered them on each other. I then went back and applied some Stickles in various colors on the flowers to add some bling.  

Here are some close up shots of some of the flowers with the layers - 

Then I die cut the Home Sweet Home die by Spellbinders - twice.  Once out of plain purple fun foam and again out of purple glittered fun foam.  I adhered the glittered fun foam to the plain fun foam and then glued them to the front.  I then colored another of the butterflies and adhered this to the front using pop dots.  

The last things I did were to go back and add additional Stickles to the butterfly wings and a few other areas I missed the first time.  

I hope you enjoyed this piece.  It was nice to make something other than a card for a change.  LOL.  Using digi stamps gives you so many options.  Also, Bugaboo Stamps has an amazing amount of really affordable digi stamps to get you started.  If you want to make a card or project for this challenge, you have until Sunday, September 4th, at 8:00 pm.  

Click HERE to be taken to the challenge page with all the info.  

Would love to know what you think of the project.  Feel free to leave comments below!  I do answer all my comments. And....as always.....until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Retro Rubber Challenge No.45 - Baby Girl Card with Clear and Simple Stamps

Hello everyone!!  Did you know that today is National Dog Day?  I didn't either until I started to see all these posts on Facebook and Instagram.  In honor of today...and because I freakin LOVE dogs (all animals really)....and we have 6 dogs...I thought I would post 2 of my favorite photos of the dogs - 

Top to bottom is - Sunshine (son of Max and Bella), Latte (son of Max and Bella and Sunshine's best friend), Max (father of Sunshine and  Latte - and  Whiskey and Capuccino, both of whom have been adopted), Bandido (who showed up on our door for one night and has yet to leave), and Bella (The Princess who puts up with all the others).

Sasha, the Pit, who is 5 years old and, unfortunately, does not play nice with the other 5.  So she stays with us in the store.

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, I will posting a few other photos of the beasts.  LOL

Now, for today's card.  Today is the last day to enter a card in the Retro Rubber's Challenge No. 45 - Sketch Challenge!  I already entered a baby boy card and today I wanted to show a step by step for a baby girl card.  

I started with a top folding A2 white card base and covered the front with a piece of designer paper from the Nana's Nursery Baby Girl stack by DCWV.  I cut a strip of dark pink cardstock, 5 1/2" x 1" and a piece of light pink cardstock, 5 1/2" x 7/8".  I adhered the light pink cardstock to the dark pink, adhered them to the card front, and the stamped the phrase from the Cart Pals: Baby set by Clear & Simple Stamps.

Next was to stamp a few images from the same Cart Pals: Baby set - the wagon, the rabbit, and the presents with a rabbit on top.  Had my Scan N Cut cut them out (or you can fussy cut them).  Then, using Stitched Circle Layers by Memory Box, I cut 2 circles - larger one from the dark pink cardstock and the smaller one from the light pink cardstock.  Then I colored in the images, adhered them to the light pink circle, which I adhered to the dark pink circle, which I adhered to the card front, next to the phrase.  

Last think was to glue some light pink and yellow paper flowers to each side of the circles.  

Done!  Just as simple as the boy card.  You still have time to enter a card in the challenge. Just click HERE for all the info on the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

"Passport" - Father's Day Workshop at Wizard Araras

Hello everyone!  The other day I talked about a class I gave in Araras, Sao Paulo, at an English school called Wizard. OMG!  It was so much fun and everyone at the school is so freakin cool!  About 50 kids came with their dads, one with his Uncle, and one with her Aunt, to make a "passport" of the fun things they would be doing over the next few months.  I cut all the pieces for each kit but the kids put them together and then I showed them how to use rubber stamps to decorate the inside. Honestly, I do not know who had more fun - me, the other teachers, the kids, or the dads.  LOL

I have to be honest - the faces on some of the parents - so proud of the kids, working with their kids on the projects...well, it was a great day that I will remember for a long time.  

Here is the kit I prepared for the 60 kids - 

Here I am with all the teachers that helped me -

Angela, Ednoélio (Junior), Me, Luciana,  Jéssica, and Maria

Although everyone helped me out A LOT...I have to send a huge thanks to Ednoélio and Luciana for really helping out all day.  Luciana even took me around the town when we had a break to see the lake, the old buildings.  It's a cool town and they even have - not 1 - but 2 - Chinese Restaurants.  I am totally moving there.  

But this never would have happened if it wasn't for these two ladies - Caroline, the owner of this Wizard school, and Gisele, the Manager of this Wizard School in Araras.  Gisele basically would not leave me alone until I agreed to do it!! LOL

Me with Caroline and Gisele

I even baked chocolate chip cookies for the classes and, although they were put out with Brasilian cookies, MY cookies were gone by the end of the night and the Brasilian cookies were still sitting there.  LOL.  But...between you and me, I am convinced that Ednoélio ate most of them.  LOL

A few more photos of me helping with the passport -  

And this is me with one of the funniest kids in the group - Joáo Paulo!  He wanted a selfie with me.  He was such a goofball (like me) that when he clicked the phone, we both made funny faces without telling each other that we were going to do it.  LOL

And a huge thank you to Guilherme Vieira, the photographer, who spent all day taking photos.  I think he took over 300 photos and I know he took a photo of me with each of the kids, their dad (or uncle or aunt) and the passport they made.  You can click HERE to be taken to the Wizard Araras Facebook page with all the photos.  

I hope you enjoyed this little look at my dad with these amazing kids!!  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Retro Rubber Challenge No.45 - Baby Boy Card with Clear and Simple Stamps

Hello everyone!!  Happy Hump Day!  The week is almost over.  LOL.  Today I wanted to show you a card I made for the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.  This week's Challenge 45 is a sketch challenge - 

I had so much fun with this sketch.  I needed to make a baby boy card so I pulled out this set called Cart Pals: Baby by Clear & Simple Stamps.  I think I have owned this set for over 3 years now and am just getting to ink it up.  It's a great set and since this sketch is so easy, I plan on making a baby girl card and a few others with this set.    

(A side note here - Clear & Simple is having a "retiring" party and this set is one of the sets retiring.  It normally sells for $24 but is on on sale for $16.80.  Once the retiring sets are gone, they will be gone.  So if you like this set, grab it.  You can check out all of the retiring items HERE.  Also, I earn nothing if you make a purchase.  I am just passing along some great savings to my followers).

Back to the card - I started with a top folding A2 card base of white cardstock. To the front I adhered a piece of decorative paper from the My Baby Boy paper pad by American Crafts.

Then I did all my stamping and die cutting.  First thing I did was to stamp the baby toys, the wagon, and the bear from the Cart Pals: Baby set and then I had my Scan N Cut cut them out for me (or you can fussy cut).  I also die cut a few of the smallest star from Pierced Stars out of dark blue glitter fun foam and two different sized circles using Stitched Circle Layers - the larger circle from navy blue cardstock, the smaller circle from white cardstock.  

I cut a strip of the same navy blue cardstock, 5 1/2" x 1" and a piece of white cardstock, 5 1/2" x 7/8".  I adhered the white cardstock to the navy blue and then adhered them to the card front.  Then I adhered the white stitched circle to the navy blue, which I adhered over the strip.  Then I stamped the phrase "Welcome Baby Boy".   

Next I colored in the 3 images using Copic Markers and adhered the toys and the bear behind the wagon so it looks as if they are sitting in the wagon. Then I adhered this to the center of the white circle.  Final steps were to adhere the 3 stars around the front and apply some Glossy Accents to the bottle to give it a glass look. 

That's it.  Done!!  I really love this sketch.  With one piece of patterned paper, an image in the circle (for any holiday or occasion) and a phrase....and you are done!  Easy to pump out a bunch of these at one time.  I hope you can find some time to enter a card of your own in the challenge - click HERE for all the info!!  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Supply List:

Cart Pals: Baby by Clear & Simple Stamps

My Baby Boy paper pad by American Crafts

Pierced Stars by Spellbinders (SCD-024)

Stitched Circle Layers by Memory Box (30036)

Stamp Ink Paper Sketch Challenge 62 - Smile!

Hello everyone!!  I needed to take some time off to prepare for a project I did this past Friday at a school near here.  I will try to have some photos in the next blog post.  

I am so proud and happy that Brasil won their FIRST Gold Medal for Soccer while the country was hosting the Olympics!! It was a nail biter of a game.  And I have to say, after all the bad media and problems facing Brasil, that the games were a huge success.  There were a few bumps but that always happens in the host city!   

Now...for today's card!  Since today is Tuesday that means there is a new challenge over at the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge Blog!  This week's Challenge No. 62 is a sketch - 

To make this card I started with a side folding A2 white cardstock base.  I cut a piece of black cardstock, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", embossed it with the Chevron Background embossing folder, and adhered it to the card front.  

Then I found a cool patterned paper of Polaroid frames from the My Mind's Eye Record It! 6x6 pad.  I cut a piece 3 1/2" x 4 1/2", adhered it to a piece of black fun foam the same size, which I then adhered to the card front.

(Sorry for the blurry photo)

Next I used 2 dies (the 3.2 and 2.8) from Stitched Circle Layers.  I die cut a piece of black cardstock using the 3.2" die. Then, using the 2.8" die, I  cut a piece of silver cardstock.  I adhered double sided tape to the back of the silver circle to make adhering it later easier.

Then I placed the Smile die over the circle and die cut it again.  Then I placed the whole piece in the Cameras embossing folder and embossed the piece. (Another reason to use the double sided tape on the back).

Working slowly and in sections, I removed the tape backing and adhered the silver circle in the center of the black circle. I did NOT adhere the word "smile". I then die cut the word Smile again out of orange cardstock and adhered this into the silver circle.

Final step was to adhere the circle to the front of the card.

That's it.  Done!  I really love this sketch because you can use so many different stamps or dies in that center circle.  Well, I hope you enjoyed this card.  You can enter a card of your own in the challenge HERE and have until 8:00 pm (EST) on Sunday August 28th to do so!  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Supply List:

Chevron Background Embossing Folder by Darice (1218-96)

My Mind's Eye Record It 6x6 Paper Pad

Stitched Circle Layers by Memory Box

Smile Die (DIE378-E) by Impression Obsession

Cameras Embossing Folder by Darice (1219-232)

You Light Up My Life Card with Bugaboo Digi Stamps

Happy Monday everyone!!  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Although I am still trying to get rid of this upper respiratory issue, I did manage to go to a friend's birthday party on Sunday night.  The music was loud, the food was amazing - BBQ Boar, lots of Sushi and a ton of beer (none for me), and lots of people having fun.  I even made my first Strawberry Shortcake, that I brought with me.  Yay!

Today I wanted to share a quick card I made for someone in town.  She asked me to make a card for her husband who owns a lighting store and who she says is "the light of her life".  I had literally JUST bought a digi stamp from Bugaboo Stamps that would be perfect!  It's called "make it snappy you light up my life".  

When you buy the digi it comes in several formats and the image is separate from the phrase box.  One option is to print the phrase box empty, which is what I used on this card.  I printed the image of the lightbulbs twice and heat set it.  Then I used a mix of Tombow and Copic markers to color them in.  For the metal part that goes into the socket, I used a Wink of Stella Silver Glitter Pen and over all the lightbulbs, I used a Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush Marker.

Come on...we need these bulbs to be shining as much as possible!!  LOL

I then made a 5 1/4" square card base of white cardstock, to which I adhered a piece of decorative paper from a pad called Beautiful Moments by Carta Bella. Then I adhered the lightbulbs to the upper section of the card.  

On the second printing, I colored in the center of two of the bulbs and the socket section on the other two bulbs, cut them out, adhered to the front with pop dots, colored them in and then added colored stickles.  (More bling!)

Lastly I trimmed the black phrase box, printed out "You Light Up My Life" in Portuguese, trimmed the phrase, layered it on a piece of black cardstock and then adhered this below the bulbs.  DONE!

I hope you enjoyed this quick post with a fun card.  If you are looking for adorable and affordable digis, check out Bugaboo!  (I earn nothing for mentioning her.  Just sharing what I love).  Also, sign up for her newsletter and follow her on FB.  She gives amazing sales and you can earn points.  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Freshly Made Sketches #248 - Clean Underwear & A Dirty Martini

Hello everyone.  Me again!  Two posts in one day - I know, crazy!!  But I wanted to share with you a card I made for this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #248. You have until 2pm tomorrow to upload a card so maybe, if I post it today, someone will see it and try to make something too!  

Here is the sketch to work with - 

While I was making my "Jake & Chloe Lemonade Scene", I was going through my stash of Clear & Simple Stamps and came across this older set called "Martini Darling" and then, in another box, I came across this phrase from Rubbernecker Stamps called "Dirty Martini".  I knew I would have to use these two sets together soon and put them away for that day.  

Well, today was that day.  LOL  Unfortunately the Martini Darling set has been retired by Clear & Simple but the phrase by Rubbernecker is available but in a different format - HERE.

I started with a top folding A2 white cardstock base. I adhered a piece of decorative paper from Urban Traveler by Simple Stories.  I wanted a darker , edgier paper to reflect a "martini" mood in a dimly lit bar. 

Then I cut a piece of white cardstock, 4" x 5 1/4", and stamped "Splatter It" by Unity Stamp Co. with an "Ice" Color Pop Ink by Clearsnap.  (Both the stamp and the ink are designed by Susan K. Weckesser, Inc. and I am in love with these inks lately).  This "Splatter It" is also a GREAT stamp to use when you want a little something thing in the background without having to go all crazy. 

Next I stamped the two ladies from the "Martini Darling" set, cut them with my Scan N Cut, and then colored them in with Copic markers.  I paper pierced the pants on one and the dress on the other using other decorative paper in my stash.   

I adhered one to the left side of the cardstock over the "Splatter It" image.   Then I adhered the other image so it overlapped the first just a bit.  I DID NOT glue down the purse because I wanted to be able to lift it for the phrase.

I stamped the phrase and adhered it under the image.  Where the purse is, it is not glued gown.  You can understand the phrase but can also lift the purse to make sure you are correct.  LOL  

I then cut a piece of white fun foam and adhered it to the cardstock with the images.  Then I adhered both to the card front.  DONE!

I hope you've enjoyed this fun card.  I hope you can find some time to make a card for the current Freshly Made Sketch Challenge.  Just click HERE to be taken to the post!  Until next time -

Hugs from Brasil -

Michael

Let's Do Lunch...with Bella...in the Car - Stamp Ink Paper Challenge Funny Card

Happy Sunday everyone.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  We went to see the cherry blossom trees blooming yesterday in Sao Paulo.  It was a lot of fun but very crowded.  We even took Bella and she loved not only the car, but the whole day.  

Wanted to share another quick card I made the other day for this week's Stamp Ink Paper Challenge -  Funny/Punny cards.  You have until tonight at 8:00 pm Eastern time to get one entered!!  

I started with two pieces of this blue paper I had in my stash.  I loved that it already looked distressed and didn't need to do much with them.  I started by using Ocean Border by Impression Obsession.  There are two dies in the set that coordinate with each other and I die cut two pieces of the same paper each with a different die.  Then I distress the edge for the top die with Broken China distress ink.  This way there will be some dimension between the waves.  

Then I stamped and die cut the sailboat from Float My Boat by Lawn Fawn.  I adhered the boat at top of the front of my A2 card front and then adhered the piece of blue cardstock that has the distressed edge on it.  

Next I colored in my sailboat with some Tombow markers and adhered the other piece of blue cardstock to the card front just under the first piece.

Next I pulled out a set by Rubbernecker Stamps, which I believe is called Let's Do Lunch.  I have had this set in my stash for years and, unfortunately, it is no longer being made.  But I think you can find it for sale online or you can use this idea with other fish images out on the market.  Using Versafine Onyx Black ink, I stamped the trio of fish on the right side, the worm on the hook as if it was coming off the sailboat, and the phrase.  

Then I colored the images in with Tombow Markers.  I also stamped some of the plants on the bottom and colored those in also.  

Lastly, I added some stickles to the fish, the leaves on the plants, and the sailboat to give some extra texture to the card.  Done!  I love this set and am surprised the stopped making it.  It's adorable!!  

Well, I hope y'all have a fantastic rest of the weekend!  If you get a card made in time for the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge - just click HERE to upload it.  Good luck.  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael