Happy Birthday Floral Heart Wreath

Hey everyone!  How is everyone holding up?  I have to admit that if it weren't for my crafting, I would be going stir crazy.  I have a lot of friends here who do not have any hobbies and they are going crazy.  I am trying to keep busy with making cards, mini albums, and baking.  What are you doing to keep sane?  Let me know! 

Today I have a super quick birthday card, which I made for the A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge Blog.  

I am using a digi image that I won in a blog hop a few weeks ago called Floral Heart, from SheepSki Designs, which happens to be the sponsor for this month's challenge.    Perfect timing! 

I started by printing the image at 17% on a piece of white cardstock and used my Scan N Cut to cut the image out with a slight border.  Next, I colored the image in with Sharpie markers.  

Then I went and colored some of the flowers with a yellow and orange gel maker to give some shimmer to the card.  

Next, I made a 5" square card and adhered a piece of pink decorative paper to the front.  I also die cut the words "Happy and Birthday" using white and the same pink cardstock.  

I adhered the heart to the card front using foam tape, I adhered the sentiments to the inside of the heart and, lastly, I adhered some small crystals in the center of some of the flowers and for the dot above the "i" in "birthday".

That's it!  I told you - super easy!  LOL

I'd love to know what you think of the card.  Please leave a comment below to let me know.  Also, if you take part in the challenge, please let me know so I can go and check out your creation! 

As always, thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  Remember, you can also follow me on my Instagram page by clicking HERE!  Photos of Brasil, dogs, cats, food...normal stuff.  haha

Until next time, hugs from Brasil - 

~Michael

Crafty Elves Countdown to the Holidays - March 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to the Crafty Elves Countdown to the Holidays - March 2020 Edition.  

The elves (Debra, Lisa, Jessica, and myself) all feel strange to be making cards when the world is falling apart but we also need a bit of normalcy in our lives right now.  Playing with paper is my form of therapy. Hopefully, if we all keep our sanity and do our parts, we will be back to normal and these will help you with ideas for holiday cards!  

So, without further ado, here are my 4 Crafty Elves cards for March.  Please remember to check out the other Crafty Elves - Debra, Lisa, and Jessica (taking a break this week) - whose links are at the end of this post.

Oh, I decided to make a separate blog post next week for each of these cards.  They will include my normal photos of my step by step.  If I did that in this post you would be reading until Christmas.  LOL

Penguins Selling Snowballs - Card No. 1

• I used a digi stamp called Snowball Penguins from Bugaboo Stamps to make this card.   
• I started by printing 4 of the image at 80% on to a piece of white cardstock.  
• Then I used a stitched rectangle die to cut out one of the images.  
• Using another of the images, I colored the penguins and the sign using BIC Intensity Markers.  
• Then I fussy cut them out.  
• I made my card base out of white cardstock, adhered a piece of decorative paper to the front, and then I adhered the image that I cut with the stitched rectangle die on top of the decorative paper.  
• Using foam tape, I adhered the penguins and the sign to give a 3D effect.  
• Then I used Frosted Lace, Red, and Firefly Stickles on the images to give some shimmer.
• The inside of the card says "Happy Holidays".

Snowy Town on the Hill - Card No. 2

This is such an easy card to make.  Really.  I used the Houses on a Hill Die and the Santa Express and Santa Express Train Carts stamps sets - all from Your Next Stamp. 

• I used a stitched rectangle die to cut a piece of decorative paper and a piece of white cardstock. 
• Then I adhered the decorative paper to a piece of fun foam, which I then adhered to the card front.
• I cut the Houses on a Hill die using the white cardstock, then I stamped the two sentiments (one from each stamp set), and then I adhered this to the decorative paper. 

Done!  I told you, super simple!

Dreidel Hannukah Card - Card No. 3

I didn't make a Hanukkah/Chanukah card for February and I felt guilty.  Jewish guilt maybe?  LOL  So I decided to make one for March 2020!

• I adhered navy blue cardstock to my card front, I cut a lighter piece of blue cardstock using a stitched rectangle die, which I embossing using the Tied Together embossing folder, and I cut a piece of fun foam for under the lighter blue cardstock. 
• I stamped the dreidel image from the Festival of Lights set by Anthony's Paper Craft and had my Scan N Cut cut it out.  Then I colored them with some BIC Intensity markers.  
• I cut a stitched banner die and stamped Happy Chanukah on it.  Then I ran silver/glittered washi tape across the bottom and adhered the banner on top.  Then I adhered the fun foam to the back and then I adhered this to the card front.
• I adhered the dreidels with foam tape and 3 crystals to the card front.  I also stamped a sentiment on the inside of the card.   

Holiday Hugs & Mistletoe Kisses - Card No. 4 

This is such a fun and fast card to make.  You can probably pump out 5-10 of these in an hour!  Really!!

• I adhered a strip of Christmas washi tape to each side of my A2 card base.  
• I cut another piece of white cardstock, 3.5" x 5.5" and I stamped the Birdies, Hugs & Mistletoe stamps (Unity Stamp) using Jet Black Amalgam ink (Gina K.) and I colored it in using BIC Intensity Markers.
• I adhered a piece of red fun foam to the back and then I adhered this to the card front between the strips of washi tape.  
• Lastly, I used some Frosted Lace Stickles on the hats of each bird and Firefly Stickles on the leaves - to give some shimmer!  

I hope these cards have inspired you to break out some of your Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Holiday stamps to make some cards.  Lord knows many of us have a lot of time on our hands right now. 

Please remember to check out what the other Crafty Elves have up their sleeves this month - 

Debra (Meticulosity)

Lisa (Life of a BZ Scrapper)

Jessica (Polka Dot Orchard)

I'd love to know which of my projects was your favorite!  As always, thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  You can also follow me on my Instagram page by clicking HERE!

Until next time, hugs from Brasil - 

~Michael

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge - All About Feathers!

Hello everyone!!  I hope everyone is doing well, staying safe, and avoiding the Coronavirus!!  It's a crazy time on the planet and I am doing my part by buying Corona beer!  LOL  The rain has stopped and the sun has been burning brightly.  I like the sun since it keeps me creative and, hopefully, will keep the virus away too!

Today's card is for Challenge No. 138 on the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog, which is all about birds, birdhouses, feathers, St. Patrick's Day, and hearts.  If you would like to play along with us, here is the inspiration photo that the Design Team had to work with when making their project. 

I decided to go with the feather theme because, well, I love feathers.  I was once told that if you find a feather on the ground, it means that someone from the other side is watching over you.  I love that idea and have amassed a  large collection of feathers sitting in a jar by my workstation. 

I ended up making 4 cards using the Flutter Away Digital Stamp Set and the Flutter Away Digital Paper Pad from Gracielle Designs.  She also offers a bundle deal where you get the stamps and paper pad at a better price - Flutter Away Duo Bundle.  I've owned these for some time now and am finally getting around to using them.

I started by making 4 A2 cards out of white cardstock.  I also printed 4 of the digital papers from the Flutter Away Digital Paper Pad.  I printed two per sheet so I can get up to 8 cards made.  I also printed the feathers and two of the sentiments from the Flutter Away Digital Stamp Set.  

I used my Scan N Cut to cut the feathers with a border to make it look like I die cut them.  Then I colored them in using BIC Intensity Markers. 

Next, I printed 4 of the sentiments on to white cardstock and then die cut them using my Stitched Rectangle Die.  Before I printed, I played around with the sizing taking into account the feathers and how I wanted them to work with the sentiments.

Next, I cut my digital papers in half and adhered one of each to my card fronts.  The other half will be used for other cards.  Then I adhered one of the card fronts with the sentiments to each of the papers.  Then I had a package of small adhesive hearts that I adhered to each feather.  

The last thing I did was to add Crystal Stickles on the various small dots on each of the feathers.  Just to give a bit of shimmer.  Below are each of the 4 cards I made.

I love this sentiment.  How perfect for someone that
just got their degree, quit a job to pursue a dream,
or, maybe, is going on a long trip.  

Love comes in so many different ways.  

Sigh...having fun making memories with good
friends is what life is all about.

I hope you have enjoyed today's post and I hope you make a card to enter into the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  If you do, please let me know by leaving a comment below so that I can go and check it out!!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and, until next time, hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge - "Focus On The Good Times/Paris" Card

Hello everyone!  Let me tell you...between the rain that never stops here...and coronavirus all over the news...not to mention politics...I just keep crafting away to keep the crazy out! And I really hope that you guys and everyone you know are safe and sound too!

Today is my newest Design Team project for the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  We are up to Challenge No. 137 and it's all about Paris.  Here is the inspiration photo we had to use should you wish to play along.   

I got to visit Paris many years ago and the city is absolutely beautiful and the food is amazing!  But don't get me started on the pastries.  LOL

I recently purchased an adorable digital stamp called Dreams of Paris from Art by Miran on Etsy.    I started by printing two of the images, at 48%, on to white cardstock.  I also pulled out a piece of decorative paper that had a "Paris" feel to it, a stitched rectangle die, Photo Booth Stamp Set (for the sentiments) and a Stitched Fishtail Banner Die - both from Your Next Stamp.

Next, I made a top folding A2 card of white cardstock and adhered the decorative paper to the front.  Then I cut one of the images using a Stitched Rectangle Die and used my Scan N Cut to cut out the other image with a small border.  I also stamped the sentiment "Focus On The Good Times" and cut that out with the Stitched Fishtail Banner Die. 

Then I colored the image using a variety of BIC Intensity Markers and Copics.

I adhered the uncolored image to the card front and then the colored image, right on top,  using foam tape.   I also adhered the banner with foam tape.

The last thing I did was to apply some Glossy Accents to the glasses to make them look like glass.  I love this idea!  

Done!  This image was so much fun to use and so easy to color.  I might even have another card this week using the same image.

I hope you will join the Design Team and make a card for the challenge.  If you do, please let me know in the comment section below so I can check it out!  As always, thank you for visiting my little blog and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 
~Michael