Anthony's Paper Craft "Christmas In August" Blog Hop - Week 4 - String Art Shaker Tree Ornament

Hello crafty friends and anyone else that is along for the ride.  TGIF!!!  I am back with the team - Debra, Mike and Mary Kay for Week 4 of the Anthony's Paper Craft "Christmas in August" Blog Hop.   

So, the other night I was on Pinterest and I saw a "shaker ornament" pop up in my feed.   I don't know why but my mind immediately thought of the "faux string art" stamps that Anthony's Paper Craft sells and my head started spinning with ideas on how to use these images for "shaker ornaments".    

I decided to just go with it and see where this takes me and I wrote this post up as I made the ornament.  I hope it turns out the way the idea in my head looks.  LOL 

The first  I decided was that I would need a sheet of double sided decorative paper.  I went thru my stash and decided to use "Letters to Santa", which is from Graphic 45's 2009 Christmas Past Collection.  I cut two pieces 3.5" x 3.5" and stamped the Faux String Art - Large Open Square image using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink along with my Misti Stamping Tool. I cut each of the images out (super easy), cut the center out of one of them, and I also cut a piece of acetate about 2 1/16" x 2 1/16" (to fit in the center).

Next, using Multi Medium Matte, I adhered the acetate square to the back side of the window.  I also added an eyelet to each of the pieces.  When you do this, make sure you look at the designs on your papers to see if they go in a specific direction.  

Here you will see the back of my ornament and the direction of the designs.  So my eyelet had to be placed in that specific spot.

Next, I turned the front of my ornament over and placed doubled sided foam tape around the acetate.  I also placed a few on each of the corners so the ornament will not bend.  I removed the tape backing from the foam tape and added seed beads and prills to the center.  I also added a dab of glue to the foam tape before I adhered the other side to give me a few seconds of wiggle room.

Then I adhered the other piece sealing the beads inside.

I used a Brasilian product but it's basically the same thing as Prills or seed beads.

Next, I die cut the "scripty joy" (Lawn Fawn) out of textured red cardstock, 3 times, and glued them together.  

I felt it still needed more so....I threaded some red ribbon through the top along with a bead.  I also adhered some half pearls on the front (it may have gone too far but I kinda like them).  Finally, I adhered the word "joy" to the front and applied some clear Wink of Stella over the word to give some shimmer.

Here are photos of the front and back.

Today is the last day to get free shipping on any USA orders over $25 at Anthony's Paper Craft.  Just enter the coupon code "freeship25" at checkout.

I hope you enjoyed today's post.  I'd love to know what you think of my "faux string art shaker ornament".  Please remember to check out the other Design Team projects -   

Debra (Meticulosity)

Mike (Dezines by EM)

Mary Kay (MKW Cards) 

I appreciate you stopping by the blog today and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Halloween Card with the October Vera Lane Studio

Hello everyone!!   I hope y'all are having an awesome week so far.  We're starting to get some warmer days here, which is making me very happy!!  I love the hot weather and the sun! 

I am in a card swapping group on Facebook and one of the cards I picked this month was a "jack-o-lantern" card.  I had just seen this adorable digi set from Vera Lane Studio on Etsy and knew she would be perfect for this card.  

I started by printing the October Digi stamps in the sizes that I wanted.  Not knowing where this card was taking me, I duplicated the images in case I wanted to pop dot the witches hat.   Better to print them all now.  

.  

After playing around with different dies I decided to go round.  I die cut the image with the hat using the largest die from the Standard Circles set (Spellbinders S4-114).  I also used the same die to cut a piece of black fun foam to layer the image on. I also fussy cut the extra hat that I printed and colored it with Copic markers 100 (Black) and YR16 (Apricot).

I colored in the image using a variety of Copic markers - 100 (Black), YR16 (Apricot), V17 (Amethyst), E51 (Milky White) and E31 (Brick Beige) and a Cloud Nine Grey BIC marker for the hair along with a white gel pen. 

I made an A2 card base of white cardstock and adhered a piece of Halloween decorative paper from the "Frightful" digi paper set (SnapClickSupply) to the front.  I adhered the image to the black fun foam I cut earlier, which I then adhered to the card front.  

Because this card is for a "jack-o-lantern" card swap, I needed a sentiment that fit.  I went through my stash of stickers and found the word "jack o' lantern" in an old DCWV sticker pack.  

I adhered it to a piece of black cardstock and then adhered this to the card front.    

Lastly, I adhered the hat that I fussy cut earlier to the top of the image using some glue and foam dots.  

Here is the final card.  At the last minute, I decided to adhere some orange stickles (Ranger) to the hat band and on her dress.

And that's it!!  Have you started your Halloween cards yet?  I'll have some more coming up soon!  I hope you've enjoyed this post and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge No. 101 - FISH!

Hello everyone and Happy Hump Day!!!  Man, this year is flying by.  I cannot believe it's almost September!  Crazy. But, I have a fun card for you today - all about fish! The If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog has a new challenge - No. 101 - and this is the inspiration photo we need to work with - 

I decided to use a digi-stamp set that I recently purchased from Vera Lane Studio on Etsy called Ocean 11, which has nothing to do with George Clooney and a lot to do with 10 fish and a shell.  LOL

I started by making an A2 card base of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of blue cardstock (for the water).  I then took 3 of the fish and sized them so it looked like they were each fish food for the other, printed it on a piece of white cardstock, and die cut it with a stitched rectangle die.  

Next...I colored the fish using a variety of BIC markers.  Then, using the River Rocks 6 stencil by StencilGirl Products, I applied Salty Ocean Distress Ink through the stencil for the fish bubbles.   

I then adhered the fish to the card front.  Since the set did not come with a sentiment, I made one.  I printed out the words "Have A Fintastic Day!", cut the words apart, adhered them to the same blue cardstock as the base, and then adhered them under the fish.  I also applied some True Blue, Crystal, and Glam Pink Stickles (Ranger) to the fish, and set it aside to dry.

And this is the final card.  

I have some other ideas but need more hours in my day to get them out of my head.  I hope you enjoyed this quick card.  Let me know by leaving a comment below if you wish!  And, remember to "have a fintastic day".  LOL 

Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael 

Anthony's Paper Craft "Christmas In August" Blog Hop - Week 3 - Christmas Coffee Gift Card Holder

Hello, my crafty friends and TGIF!!!  I have once again teamed up with Debra, Mike, and Mary Kay for Week 3 of the Anthony's Paper Craft "Christmas in August" Blog Hop.  I really wanted to use this coffee cup image.  Although it is not a Christmas set, I turned it into one and made a tag that will hold a gift card to your favorite store!    

I started by cutting a tag die with a piece of manila/cream cardstock and a piece from patterned paper.  The tag is from a set called Tags (Little B) (discontinued). The paper is from the Twas The Night Before Christmas Vol. 2 paper pad (Echo Park).  I then distressed the edges of both using Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger).

Using the Coffee Archival Ink, I stamped the coffee image from Coffee 1 as well as some of the smaller images from Christmas Set 3 - the tree, gingerbread man, and cookie - both from Anthony's Paper Craft, on to the manila tag.  Hey, nothing goes better with coffee than cookies!!! Right?  LOL

I then colored in the images by smooshing some distress inks on to a clear block and picking up the ink with a water brush.  I used Candied Apple and Mowed Lawn on the cup and tree and Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso for the cookie, the coffee, and the gingerbread man.  

Using an x-acto knife (you can also use scissors), I cut around the top half of the coffee cup.  I then distressed the edge with the Coffee Archival ink.  This is where the gift card will slip in.   

To make it a bit extra special, I added some Dark Chocolate Liquid Pearls to the chips and tree and I used White Linen Dylusions Paint Pen on the gingerbread men where the white icing would be.

I adhered the tag to the patterned paper tag I cut in the beginning.  Remember not to apply any glue to the back of the coffee cut because that is where the gift card will slide in.

Lastly, I typed up the words "WARMEST WISHES" using a label type font, printed them out on cardstock, cut them and adhered them to the tag front.  Then I cut a piece of red ribbon for the top and was done!!

Front of Tag

Back of Tag

As with the previous weeks, Anthony of Anthony's Paper Craft is offering free shipping with any orders over $25 (U.S.A. only).  Just use coupon code "freeship25" by August 31, 2018. 

I hope you enjoyed today's card.  Please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the card. Also, don't forget to check out the other design team members' blogs, below, to see what they have made for week two of the Christmas in August Blog Hop - 

Debra Davison (giveaway here)

Mike Fernholz

Mary Kay Werry

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

Hugs from Brasil.

Michael

Anthony's Paper Craft "Christmas In August" Blog Hop - Celebrate The Season Card

Hello everyone!!  Thank you so much for making last week's blog hop with the Anthony's Paper Craft Design Team such a success.  Once again I have teamed up with Debra, Mike, and Mary Kay for week two of the Anthony's Paper Craft "Christmas in August" blog hop.  

Remember, any orders at Anthony's Paper Craft -  over $25 (U.S.A. only) can get free shipping by using the coupon code "freeship25".  Offer is good until August 31, 2018!

This week I wanted to make a Christmas card - but not a typical Christmas card.  I went through my stash of stamps and pulled out a set that is really for birthdays or parties, I knew that it would be perfect for my "not your typical Christmas card" idea.    

I started with my card base to which I adhered one of the designer papers from the Twas The Night Before Christmas pad (Echo Park).  Then I die cut a piece of textured red cardstock with the largest die from the Stitched Rectangle Layers (Memory Box) and adhered that to the card front. 

Next, I stamped the wrapping paper with ribbons image from the Celebrate Set 1 on to a piece of white cardstock.  Then I stamped the phrase "Celebrate the Season" from Christmas Sentiments 1 under the image. Note: there is another image in the set, wrapped presents, that would also work perfectly!  I then die cut the image using the 2nd to largest die from the Stitched Rectangle Layers (Memory Box).

I colored in the image using a variety of BIC Ultra Fine Tip markers, adhered it to the card front on top of the red cardstock, and, lastly, adhered some Stickles over each of the ribbons - Firefly, Christmas Red, True Blue, and Gold.  

I love this stamp set.  Perfect for birthdays, parties, invitations and, now, Christmas!!  I hope you enjoyed today's card.  Please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the card. Also, don't forget to check out the other design team members' blogs, below, to see what they have made for week two of the Christmas in August Blog Hop - 

Debra Davison 

Mike Fernholz

Mary Kay Werry

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

Hugs from Brasil.

Michael

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge No. 100 - Mermaid Card

Hello everyone and Happy Saturday!!  It's a bit cold today.  We woke up at 6am and it was less than 35F so Ruy went and made a fire in the fireplace.  Go figure!!  Normally July is the cold month and by this time it's warming up already.  Now that I have defrosted I can get this quick post done!!  LOL

I made this card for the 100th Cookie Challenge over on the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  My friend Debra is on their design team so I thought I would show her some support.  The cookie inspiration photo to use is - 

I decided to go with a mermaid card and I used a digi stamp called Mermaid Kisses that I bought from an Etsy shop called All Dressed Up Stamps.  

I printed her on a piece of white cardstock and then colored her in using Milky White (E51) Copic marker for her face and body and a variety of BIC Markers on the rest of her.   Her hair is Tiki Hut Tan, her fin is Oceanview Blue blended with Key Lime.  I used Lemon Bliss on the shells in her hair and on the fish.  Other colors used were Petal Pink and Fandango Pink.

I went through my stash and found a piece of paper that had the colors of water, which I adhered to my card front.  Then I cut some Seaweed Ribbons from Memory Box with another piece of designer paper and adhered them to the card front.  I put some pop dots behind the mermaid and the fish and adhered her to the card front.  

For the sentiment, I found a sticker pack in my stash called Love from Cosmo Cricket and used one of the phrases.  

Lastly, I adhered a few small turquoise sequins to the card front and added some Clear Wink of Stella Brush to her fin and tail to give a shimmer (prob can't see in the photo).

I hope you have enjoyed this quick card.  If you decide to make anything for the challenge...please let me know so I can see it too!!  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Anthony Paper Craft "Christmas In August" Blog Hop - Cozy Christmas Fireplace

Hello everyone.  I am so excited to announce that I am participating in the first ever Anthony's Paper Craft Blog Hop.  The amazingly talented members of the Design Team - Debra Davison, Mike Fernholz, Mary Kay Werry and myself have teamed up for a "Christmas in August" hop - happening each Friday in August, starting today!  

We hope to inspire you with some amazing Christmas projects - along with having some fun and maybe a prize or two to win.  I hope you will visit each of us, leave comments if you love our ideas, follow our blogs, Facebook and Instagram pages if you wish, and spread the news to all your fellow crafters!!!  There is even a code at the end of this post for free shipping over at Anthony's Paper Craft.

My card for the hop is a 3D card using one of the beautiful fireplace images, along with one of the mantles, and a bunch of other smaller images that all work together to give a homey holiday card.  Can you smell the wood burning?  

I started by sifting through my stash of 6x6 papers to find a design that would work well as wallpaper.  I found a perfect design in a pad called Jingle made by Lily Bee Design, which I adhered to my card front.  Then I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  

Next, I stamped, colored, and fussy cut Fireplace 2 - Stone.

On a piece of white cardstock I stamped the following stamps and then had my Scan N Cut cut them out.  

The holly plant in the basket and the large stocking are from Christmas Set 2, the smaller stockings, the wreath, and the poinsettia plants are from Ornament Set 1 and the Christmas mantel is from the Fireplace Mantle Set.

I decided to use the mantle, the two small stocking, the wreath, and one of the poinsettia plants.  I colored all of them in with Sharpie markers and then used some stickles to give them some shimmer.

Next, I adhered the fireplace to the card front.

Then I adhered the wreath, mantel, poinsettia and two stockings using pop dots.  I also traced around the fireplace with a dark brown sharpie to make it pop.

Here is the final card.  I stamped Merry Christmas on the inside from the Christmas Sentiments 1 set.

I hope you have enjoyed this card.  I'd love to know so please feel free to leave a comment below.  

Don't forget to check out the other design team members' blogs, below, to see what they have made for the Christmas in August Blog Hop - 

Debra Davison 

Mike Fernholz (he also has a giveaway) 

Mary Kay Werry

And, any orders at Anthony's Paper Craft -  over $25 (USA only) can get free shipping by using the cose "freeship25".  Offer is good until August 31, 2018!    

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

Hugs from Brasil.

Michael