Crafty Elves Countdown to the Holidays - April 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to the April 2020 Edition of the Crafty Elves Countdown to the Holidays.    

How are you guys doing?  Holding up?  It's been a strange month for all of us and this is definitely starting to get to me.  The elves (Debra, Lisa, Jessica, and myself) are all feeling it and it took a lot for us to make our cards this month.  But, this is what keeps me going even though my sanity is gone.  LOL  

So, without further ado, here are my 4 Crafty Elf cards for April.  Please remember to check out the other Crafty Elves - Debra, Lisa, and Jessica - whose links to their posts are at the end of this post.

Card No. 1 

Last week I received a little card in the mail from my fellow Crafty Elf - Debra - along with a little present inside - the Hanukkah stamp I used on this card.   I was happy just to get snail mail let alone a little gift. Thanks again, Debra!!  

• I made a top-folding A2 card to which I adhered dark blue cardstock. 
• Then I cut a piece of white and a piece of lighter blue cardstock using Stitched Rectangle Layers (Memory Box).  
• I adhered the light blue cardstock to the card front. Then I stamped the Happy Hanukah image and sentiment (Rubbermoon) on to the white cardstock.  
• Then I colored the menorah using gel pens, adhered it to a piece of fun foam, and then I adhered this all to the light blue cardstock!  

Done!  Clean and simple!  

Card No. 2

I love Christmas stocking cards!  So when I saw the stocking as part of Holiday Poinsettia from Polka Dot Orchard, I knew I had to get it.   

• I printed the image twice on to white cardstock.  One of the images I cut using a stitched rectangle die.  On the 2nd image, I fussy cut the poinsettias on the stocking.  I colored in the images using my Ultra Fine Tip and Broad Tip BIC Markers.  I kept to red, blue, green, and I use Moonstone Yellow for the gold color.  
• I found some Christmas stickers that I had picked up from Hobby Lobby on my last trip to the states and I adhered one to the card front.  
• I used red Stickles (Ranger) on the berries in the image and Glossy Accents on the "reflection" part of the ornaments.  
• I put some foam dots under the pieces I fussy cut and I adhered them on the stocking.  To give some shimmer to these parts, I put some Red Stickles on my finger and I gently ran it over the poinsettias.  
• The last thing I did was to adhere 3 small red/gold sequins.

Done! 

Card No. 3

This card, which is so simple to make, also uses Holiday Poinsettia from Polka Dot Orchard.  

• I started by printing the word "Noel" at 60% on white cardstock.  
• Using the Diagonal Stitched Fishtail Banner dies (Elizabeth Craft Designs), I cut the "Noel" and a piece of red cardstock using the next size up.  
• I found a pad called Festive from Authentique in my stash.  I adhered one piece of decorative paper to my card front and then used my stitched rectangle die to cut another piece, which I adhered to the card front. 
• Then I adhered the red banner and Noel pieces. 
• A few red sequins and I was done!

Card No. 4

For this card, I used the cutest digi called Christmas Fairy from HettyClare on Etsy.  I fell in love with this little girl wearing a dance tutu in front of the Christmas tree.  Too cute!  

• I printed her on to white cardstock and cut her out using a stitched rectangle die.  
• Then I colored her in using my BIC Markers.  I know it's a Christmas image but I had to put her in a pink tutu!!  
• I layered this on to a piece of red cardstock and then onto a very funky Christmas paper from way back in the day!  
• I adhered a "Joy to the World" sticker under her and then I used Red, Silver, Gold, Green, Blue, and Crystal Stickles (Ranger) on the ornaments, Santa's hat, and the two stars.  

Done!!

I hope these cards have inspired you to break out some of your Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Holiday stamps to make some cards.  We all 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

You Are The Mac to My Cheese...

Hello everyone!  I hope everyone had a good Easter or Passover if you celebrate, and that everyone is safe and doing well.  We are still under quarantine although, according to the news here, only 48% of the town is following it.  I am staying in and making cards...and mini albums...and cakes...and cookies...  

Today's card is for Challenge No. 140 on the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  We received a lot of entries for our last challenge and we are keeping this challenge as an "anything goes" challenge again with the hopes of keeping you crafters busy.    

Below is the inspiration photo that the Design Team had to work with when making their projects.  If you want to join us, which I hope you do, feel free to use the photo or make any card you want to make since it is now "anything goes".  

I decided to go with the photo inspiration and used the You Are The Mac To My Cheese digital image from Drawn by Krista on Etsy.  I LOVE mac n cheese!

I opened the image in Pages on my MAC and added the sentiment "You Are The Mac To My Cheese" under the image.  Then I used an "X" Stitched Square die (Gina Marie Designs) to cut the image out.  

I also cut Confetti Plate (Retired/Spellbinders) from a piece of yellow cardstock - to get the look of cheese.

And I made a top-folding A2 card from white cardstock.

I colored in the mac and the cheese using a few Sharpie markers including Neon Yellow on the mac.  I also cut a piece of fun foam and adhered it to the back.   

Lastly, I adhered the yellow "cheese" to the card front.  Then I adhered the mac n cheese image to the yellow cardstock.  

Done!  This card could not be any simpler or faster to make and you could make this for your "cheese" in less than 15 minutes.  I'm not even adding any stickles or sequins.  I think it's perfect just the way it is.  

What do you think?  I'd love to know!  Please feel free to leave a comment below.  I'd love to know what you think of the card.  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 with photos of my crafty stuff, dogs, food, Brasil...normal stuff.  

Stay safe everyone and until next time, hugs from Brasil - 

~Michael

It Doesn't Matter How Slow You Go.....

Hi everyone.  On Saturday I showed a card I made using the Anything Is Possible digital set from Polka Dot Orchard.  I printed two of the same frame and today I show you how I used the 2nd image to make  this "home decor" or desk project.  

I colored the 2nd frame using my Prismacolor markers again but I changed the color of the flowers.  I also cut a piece of black and pink cardstock so that I can layer them, and I cut a piece of black cardstock using the Small Easel die from Tim Holtz/Sizzix (sadly, retired).

I used the Angle Corner Chomper on the corners of the black and pink cardstock.  I adhered the black cardstock to the pink cardstock first, and then I adhered the frame to the black cardstock using foam tape - to give some dimension.  

Next, I adhered the Small Easel to the back of the pink cardstock so that it can sit up correctly.

To be honest, you could stop here and just put a nice photo in the center of the frame.  And it would look awesome.  But.....

I wanted to use another inspirational quote and I found the perfect one to use in the Camper Snail set.  I printed the sentiment on white cardstock, cut each word out, adhered them to the same pink cardstock, and then I adhered them to the frame using foam tape.  

   
I really love how this looks!  It all just pops.  The last thing I did was to apply some Yellow Stickles to the center of the biggest flowers and then I set it aside to dry completely.  

Now, it's done.  I toned it down a bit by not covering the whole thing in glitter glue.  And I know this will look great sitting on a shelf amongst some books or just sitting on a desk or work station as a reminder to just keep going.  

What do you think of this project?  I'd love to know.  Please feel free to leave a comment below.  And thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Stay safe...keep your social distance...and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 
~Michael

Beauty Begins The Moment You.....

Hello everyone!!  I've lost track of what day this is let alone the number of days we have been in quarantine.  At least I am keeping busy, which also keeps me sane.  And, with 7 dogs....life is never boring here.  

Today I have a special card or inspirational "home decor" piece.  I fell in love with this digital stamp set from Polka Dot Orchard called Anything Is Possible.  As soon as I saw the flower corner stamp and these sentiments, this idea popped into my head.  With so many people spending time alone these days, I am afraid that a lot of people might be questioning themselves.  And I think it's important to reinforce the facts that you can be whatever you want to me and you can achieve whatever you want as long as you believe in yourself.  

I started by manipulating the corner image from the Anything is Possible set in Pages (on a MAC) to give a frame.  I sized it so that I could have two on one sheet of A4 white cardstock.  In the center of one, I also added one of the sentiments.  This way, I am able to get two projects made.

I used my Scan N Cut by Brother to cut the frames out with a small border.  Then I colored the one with the sentiment using some Prismacolor markers that I had in my stash.  For those that might want to know, I used Prismacolors in Orange (PM-16), Pink (PM-8), Poppy Red (PM-13), and Canary Yellow (PM-19) and Letraset (542-T). 

Using foam tape, I adhered this to a piece of black cardstock, so that the colors would pop, which I think they do, and then to a card front that I made out of white cardstock.   

Lastly, I used a variety of Stickles and adhered them over the flowers to really make this pop!  

I can write my message or letter on the inside and the person receiving it can prop this up on a shelf or desk and always have handy to remind them that "beauty begins the moment you decide to be YOURSELF".

I would love to know what you think of this idea. Please feel free to leave a comment below.  Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!  Remember, you can also follow me on my Instagram page where I post photos of my crafts, the dogs, food and life in general here in the countryside of São Paulo, Brasil. 

Until next time, hugs from Brasil!!  Stay safe and wash your hands!  

~Michael

Do You Love to Color? - Free Digital Images and Coloring Pages

**Updated on April 6 to include the Art Sherpa, Beyond The Fringe Crafts, The Latina Crafter, and Jillian Vance.
**Updated on April 8th to include Gerda Steiner, Impression Obsession, and Robin Mead Designs.

Hi everyone!!  If you love coloring and digital images as much as I do, then this post is for you!  

In the past week or so I have found some amazing artists who have been uploading amazing digital images and coloring pages and they are encouraging people to download, print, and color their days away.   Knowing how much creating and coloring is helping me during this insane time we are living thru, I thought that it would be nice to spread the news.  

Below are the artists that I have found, together with links to their pages.  You can download the images that you love by right-clicking on the image and saving them to your computer.  Then you can print them out in whatever size you want (card, coloring page, tag, etc.) and color them using whatever medium you love.  

A few things to remember - 

Let's be nice and "like" their pages, if applicable, and thank them for their work.  They are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts and I am grateful for this.  Let's try to show them as much love as they are showing us.  And please remember to give each artist credit if you are sharing or posting your work with their images.  Thanks!! 

Lindsay Ostrom - Creator of Cuteness - is one of my favorite artists and she has been posting a new image every day. She has a line of stamps with Impression Obsession, which you can see HERE, and an Etsy store where you can buy more of her digital images as well as lessons on lettering, which you can see HERE. 

And, she has a blog - Lindsay Ostrom - Creator of Cuteness - where she shares her creations, art journaling techniques, lettering techniques.  

And she has an Instagram page HERE. 

She's a busy woman!!! 

Here are some of the things I have made using her free images.

Nola Pierce Chandler - is another artist I love and has a few adorable digi images on her page - SnickerDoodle Studios.  And, she also has a line of stamps with Impression Obsession, which you can see HERE.  And, she also has an Instagram page - Nola Chandler.

Here are some of the things I have made using some of Nola's free images - 

I layered this on to black and then pink cardstock and then I adhered the
Small Easel by Tim Holtz to the back.

I printed this guy twice and cut the bunny out and popped
him up using foam tape.  

Impression Obsession is now offering all of the free "coronavirus" digi images from Lindsay and Nola on their website.  You can check them all out HERE.  And, while you are there, they also offer some other digi stamps HERE (non-coronavirus related).  While you are there, why not check out their rubber stamps, inks, and dies and maybe help out a small business during this insane time.


April McCallum - has been posting some free coloring pages on her Facebook page that are from her upcoming book that you can save and color.  She also has an Instagram page - April Loves Color (awesome name).  

My Favorite Things - is offering 4 images of doctors and nurses from their Birdie Brown series.  They are too cute for words!!  You can find links to the 4 images, HERE, on their blog.  They are only available thru the end of April, 2020.  

Whimsy Stamps has some adorable free digital images that you can download.  You can see them HERE.  Some are COVID-19 related and some aren't.  But they are all super cute! 

Joanne Fink of Zenspirations also has a few hand drawn Zenspirations that are screaming to be colored.  You can find them on her blog HERE. If you love her work, she also has a store on Etsy with more of her digital work that you can find HERE.

Artsyville is another site offering some free "coloring printables", which you can find HERE...like THIS amazing coffee-themed printable and THIS adorable under the sea coloring printable that is perfect for the kids too.  

The Art Sherpa - Not only does she have daily videos teaching you how to paint, but she also has a few free coloring pages on her Facebook page that are worth checking out!

Beyond The Fringe Crafts - Carmen, the owner of this site, recently announced that ALL of the digital images on her blog are now FREE.  I've enjoyed many of her images over the years.

The Latina Crafter - is offering this freebie with some sentiments in both English and Spanish that can be used on cards or home decor.

Jillian Vance Design - has THIS free digital stamp set perfect for any doctor, nurse, or another hero you want to thank. 

Gerda Steiner Designs - is offering a few free digital images that you can check out HERE.  There is even an Easter digi and a coffee digi!!  I don't know how long they will be FREE so grab them while you can. And, after you add them to your cart, you can check out the other digi stamps she sells - HERE.  Why not add one or two to your cart along with the free ones?  I did.  I got 3!! 

Robin Mead Designs - Robin has a page of free digital images that you can download HERE.  I am in love with her images and cannot wait to put my markers to them!  

Do you know of any artists or sites that should be added to this list?  Please let me know by leaving a comment below or sending me an email to michaeltrent@gmail.com and I will edit the post.

Let me know if you love to color as much as I do and if these sites were helpful to you!  Let's color and stay connected together!   Stay safe everyone...wash your hands....and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

~Michael

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie - Anything Goes Challenge

Hello folks!  So, how is everyone holding up?  I am sure many of you are going to stir crazy.  I know I am at times.  I really want to just go grab a burger and a beer at my favorite pub or food truck.  But I can't.  I have to admit, if it wasn't for my crafting, I would have gone mad by now.  How are you guys coping?  Is crafting helping you?

Today's card is for Challenge No. 139 on the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  Although this was going to be a challenge about Easter, because of what's going on in the world, we have decided to make this an "anything goes" challenge.  

Below is the inspiration photo that the Design Team had to work with when making their projects, which is why my card is Easter themed.  Feel free to use the photo for your card or feel free to make anything!!  

This card is super easy to make.  I started with a top folding A2 card base of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of Easter-themed decorative paper.  Using a graphics program, I printed the Easter Egg/Chick digi stamp from Lili Of The Valley (which is on sale as of this posting) on to a piece of white cardstock.  I also added a text under the image saying "Happy Easter".  Once printed I used a stitched rectangle die to cut the image out.  Then I colored it in using a mixture of Sharpie markers and yellow and orange gel pens.

Here is a close-up of the coloring.

Once finished, I adhered the image to the decorative paper and then decided to add some Glam Pink, Firefly, and Yellow Stickles to the card front.  

Then I called it a day.

I know it's a difficult time for everyone but I hope you 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, wash your hands, stay safe, and, until next time, hugs from Brasil.

~Michael