If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge #88 - Birdhouse Snail Mail Art

Hello everyone!!  A huge thank you to you guys....my blog post the other day with the dictionary page - it has received over 2,300 pages views {so far} and it's because of all of you.  So....thank you so much for all the love!!  

I am back today playing with the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  This week is Challenge #88 and this was the photo inspiration - 

and before you ask, YES, the above photo is an actual, real cookie {HERE}.  I was debating whether to use birds or a birdhouse and, after going through my stash, I found a set called Country (retired) by Art Impressions, which was made as a "snail mail art" set birdhouses and birds.  I have not made any snail mail art for a long time but decided to do a simple envelope that I will fill with a snail mail flip book and some goodies.  And, it's super simple to make.

Hmmm, I don't even know if I can make "snail mail art" for the challenge, but it is thinking outside the box! 

I started with a white envelope and, using Jet Black Archival Ink, I stamped the "TO" image on to the front of the envelope and the "From" image on to the back.  

Then I pulled out my BIC markers and colored in both images.  

I felt the envelope was a bit too stark so I distressed the edges on both sides with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  

Because I plan on using this as an actual envelope and to make sure that the inks do not run if it gets wet, I will rub some MicroGlaze (Judikins) over the images and edges before I mail it.  

And that is pretty much it!!  I told you - simple.  And fun.  I love to see the faces of the ladies at the post office when I decorate an envelope or a box.  This one might put them over the edge.  LOL

I hope you enjoyed this fast idea of mine.  Do you guys make snail mail art?  I would love to know...and see what you make.  Leave a comment below with any links that I can visit.  Until next time....

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

How To Make A "Hello" Card With A Book Page or Newspaper

Hello my crafty friends and curious bystanders!  I mentioned yesterday that I am in a card swapping group on Facebook and another card I have to make this month is a card using newspaper or a book page.  I have to admit, I have never made a card using either and this was easy and fun to make!  

I started with a piece of white cardstock, some multi matte medium (you can also use decoupage glue) and a torn page from an old Portuguese dictionary.

I applied the medium matte to the white cardstock, placed it upside down on the torn dictionary page, and burnished it well with a Teflon bone folder.  Then  I turned it over, applied the matte medium to the front, and used a heat gun to dry it.

Next, I die cut the paper using a stitched rectangle die and then I distressed the edges and a bit of the front with Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger).

I adhered a piece of black cardstock to a top folding A2 card base and then went back and distressed a bit more using Black Soot Distress Ink (Ranger).

I'm liking how this is looking.....

Lastly, I die cut the word "hello" (Oh Hello Again/Memory Box) 3 times, glued them together,  and adhered it to the card front.  Then I adhered 3 black round sequins to the card front.

Done!

This was another super simple card to make.  The glue dries really quickly and you can use so many different die cut words or big bold sentiment stamps.  

I hope you liked this card and idea.  If you give it a try, let me know!  I would love to see what you create.  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Easter Eggs Card with Anthony's Paper Craft

Hello everyone!  TGIF!!  I hope you guys had an awesome week.  I am looking forward to the weekend.  Last Sunday we fell back 1 hour so now it gets darker earlier.  And the neighbor next door has a new puppy that loves to start barking at 5am.  To say that I  am not a happy camper would be an understatement!!  At least making art keeps me sane!  LOL

I take part in a card swapping group on Facebook and one of the cards I need to make this month is an Easter card.  I came up with this super easy card.  

I started with a piece of white cardstock that I die cut using a stitched rectangle die.  Next, I randomly stamped the eggs from Easter Set 2 (Anthony's Paper Craft) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  

Then I colored in the eggs using only pastel colored BIC markers (Margarita Green, Pink Flamingo, Peach Parfait, Polynesian Purple, Lime Sorbet, Oceanview Blue, Petal Pink, Turquoise Teal and Yellow Blaze).

I found a Martha Stewart pastel paper pad in my stash and I adhered a piece of the purple to the front of my top folding A2 card base.  Then I adhered a piece of piece of white fun foam behind the eggs, which I then adhered to the card front.  

Of course, it was at this point that I realized that I had forgotten to stamp the sentiment.  UGH!  So I placed the card into my Misti and prayed that I could stamp the sentiment without screwing up the whole card.  I used the sentiment "Happy Easter" from Easter Set 1 (Anthony's Paper Craft) but this time I used Onyx Black Versafine ink.  I stamped it twice and it came out perfect!!  

  

To finish the card I added Stickles (Ranger) on each of the eggs to give it a bit of shimmer.  

Done!  

As I said, super easy card to make.  The only time-consuming thing is the coloring but you guys know I love to color.  Here is the final card.

I hope you guys enjoyed this card.  Feel free to leave a comment below!  I am off to make a few more Easter cards.  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge - Love (Is Spontaneous)

Hello, Hello, Hello everyone!  I needed a few weeks off to get my craft area under control.  I have been playing in about 4 different areas, with stuff out all over the place, projects half finished...and my mind had a meltdown!  I needed to organize the chaos!  You guys ever get that feeling?  Please tell me that I am not alone!  LOL

I saw that the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie blog  has a new challenge.  Challenge 87 is all about Valentine's Day and LOVE.

Yesterday, after I watched THIS video in the morning, my creative juices started to flow.  The video shows a really cool and unique way to use embossing powders, I had to give it a try, and I started pulling a whole bunch o'stuff out to make a Valentine's Day card.  This is what I came up with.

I started with a chipboard heart, which I heat embossed with Aged Scarlet, Aged Gold, and Aged White embossing enamels.  I then reheat the powders and added Champagne Glass Glitter (all by Stampendous) and put it aside to cool down.  I really love how it came out!

I made a top folding A2 card front of white cardstock.  I went through my stash, found a piece of vintage looking paper, distressed the edges, adhered it to the card front and then I adhered the heart off to the side, not dead center.  

Next, I pulled out my Clippings Stickers by Tim Holtz/Ideology and searched for the right words/phrases to form a nice sentiment.  Because the paper kind of looks like stars and the theme was love, I pulled the phrases to make "The stars are always shining and love is spontaneous by the light of the moon".  

I really love how this came out.  It might be a bit too mixed media-ish for the challenge blog but it's fun to do something a bit different.  I hope you love it too.  

I made a few more hearts with the embossing powders and will show them later in the week.  And, as always, until next time....

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael