Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas - July 2020 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the July 2020 edition of The Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas!  I have to say, this has been a busy crafty month with me making a few albums/folios, a few cards, and lots of cookies, cakes and candies!  The other elves, (Debra, Lisa, and Jessica), have also been busy making their Christmas/Hanukkah/Holiday cards for this month.  

Here are my 4 Crafty Elf cards for July.  The links to the other Crafty Elves' cards are at the end of this post and I hope you will also take some time to check out what they have made.

Card No. 1

• I made a top folding A2 card base of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of decorative paper.  
• I cut another piece of white cardstock using a stitched rectangle die and then, using a stamp positioner, I stamped the Vintage Holly Border (Great Impressions) with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on the top.  Then I turned the cardstock around and stamped the image again on the other side.
• I colored the holly and berries using Rambunctious Red, Key Lime, and Forest Green BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers.
  
• I adhered a piece of white fun foam behind the cardstock with the holly berries border and then adhered it to the card front.
• I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment (Technique Junkies) on a piece a white cardstock and then die cut it using Nestabilities Labels Eighteen (Spellbinders/retired) and colored in the image using the same markers.
• I adhered this to the card front using foam tape.

Card Nos. 2 and 3

For cards 2 and 3, I used Christmas embossing folders that I have had in my stash since Noah launched his ark. Honestly, I forgot how easy and fast it is to make a card using an embossing folder.  

• I made 2 top folding A2 cards to which I adhered a piece of decorative Christmas themed paper from Carta Bella's Christmas Market paper pad.  
• I cut 2 pieces of white cardstock using a stitched rectangle die and I embossed each one with a different folder - Christmas Ornaments by Crafts-Too and Christmas Ornaments by Cuttlebug. 
• I cut 2 pieces of white fun foam and adhered each of the embossed pieces to each piece of fun foam.
• Using the sentiment set called Gifts of Christmas by Technique Junkies, I stamped one sentiment on the front of one of the cards and for the other, I stamped the sentiment, cut it out with a stitched banner die, layered it on a piece of red cardstock and then adhered it to the card front.
• Lastly, I adhered some crystals to one of the card fronts for some shimmer.  

Card No. 4

For this card, I used the Snowflake Block Die by Simon Says Stamp to make a shaker card, an idea I have had in my head since I got this die.  

• I started by making a top folding A2 card base to which I adhered a piece of decorative Christmas paper from Dear Santa by Photoplay.
• I cut another piece of white cardstock using the stitched rectangle die from the Bundle of Stitched Shapes by Simon Says Stamp. 
• Then I adhered the Snowflake Block die where I wanted it and then ran it thru my Sizzix machine.  Then I adhered a piece of acetate behind it to cover the space left from the die.   
• I adhered the snowflake die cut using spray glue.
• I stamped my sentiment "Peace on Earth" from Classic Christmas (Hero Arts/retired) on to a piece of white cardstock, layered it on a piece of red, and then adhered it to the card front.
• Lastly, I adhered crystals to some of the snowflakes for some shimmer.   

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.

There is also a new Holiday Blog Hop that started TODAY...that I will be entering these cards into also.  Some great sponsors with prizes to be won!  You can check out the hop and all the details HERE.

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 Box of Buttons...

Hello everyone!  It's time for another Design Team project for the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  We are up to Challenge No. 147 and the theme is "buttons" and I managed to make 2 cards using 1 stamp.  

  

If you wish to play along with us, which I hope you do, below is the inspiration photo that the Design Team had to work with when making their projects.  

I will be honest, when I saw the above photo the design team had to use, my mind was blank.  Other than owning a button border punch, I had no stamps with a button theme to use.  But then I started to work on a flower card and it all came together...why not use actual buttons on my card!  

I started by stamping the Create-A-Card Doodle Flower stamp (Impression Obsession) on to white cardstock. Then I colored it in using BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers.  It took me 3 mornings, with my coffee, to color the whole image.  But, totally worth it!!  

 

I used the stitched rectangle die from the Bundle of Stitched Shapes (Simon Says Stamp) on the piece I colored.  It is big enough to make a 2nd card using the strip that was leftover after I die cut the stitched rectangle section.  I made two top-folding A2 card bases out of white cardstock - one vertical and one horizontal.  

I put a piece of fun foam behind the rectangle piece and adhered it to the vertical card front.  For the strip, I just adhered it to the front of the horizontal card front.

Then I adhered small and super small buttons that I had in my stash to the center of some of the flowers.  

To finish off each of the cards - 

For the vertical card, I die cut the word "hello", several times, using a die in my stash, glued them together and then I adhered this to the card front.  I also brushed some Wink of Stella Clear on the word to give some shimmer.  

For the horizontal card, I used my Misti and stamped "Hello There" from Critter Crowd (Simon Says Stamp). I decided not to color in the letters since there was already so much color on the card. 

If you love to color, this is a great stamp for you to have.  And, to be able to make 2 amazing cards from one rubber stamp is great.   

I'm also going to enter this card into the current Retro Rubber Challenge Blog challenge, which is also all about buttons!  

I'd love to know what you think of the cards.  And, if you play along with the challenge, please let me know so I can check out your card.  Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Stay safe and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil -

~Michael

Love Life - Make Lemonade

Hello everyone!  It's time for another Design Team project for the If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge Blog.  We are up to Challenge No. 146 and it's all about lemons/lemonade/lemon cookies.  

I don't know about you but the first thing I think about in summer is a nice tall glass of ice-cold lemonade! When I first moved here, lemons were super expensive.  Limes are the big thing here.  But, recently, lemons have dropped in price big time and I am now making lemonade on a regular basis again.  

  

If you wish to play along with us, which I hope you do, below is the inspiration photo that the Design Team had to work with when making their projects.  

I was cleaning out my Stampin Up stash this morning and came across this stamp set, A Happy Thing, that my friend Justin gave me many years ago.  Sadly, it has never seen ink but that all changed today.  

To make this card -

• I started with a top folding A2 card to which I adhered a sheet from the Dilly Dally pad by My Mind's Eye (retired).  I chose a pattern that had just a hint of a pattern and was in a yellow hue.  
• I die cut a piece of white cardstock using a double-stitched rectangle die.  
• Using the "A Happy Thing" stamp set from Stampin Up (retired), I stamped the image with the lemon and leaves twice on to white cardstock.  
• I also stamped the lemon part on to the left-over designer paper.

Next - 

• I adhered the white cardstock to the card front.  
• I colored the leaves of the lemon tree branches with a green marker.
• Then I adhered the lemon branches to the card front using foam dots allowing them to overlap a bit.  
• I stamped the sentiment "Love Life" using black ink.

Lastly - 

• I fussy cut the lemons stamped on the designer paper and adhere them to each lemon.  
• I adhered 3 light yellow dew drops to the front of the card. 

Done!  Of course I am kicking myself for not using this set sooner.  This card came together in less than 10 minutes.  I am going to make a few more of these using different sentiments.  

I'd love to know what you think of the card.  And, if you play along with the challenge, please let me know so I can check out your card.  Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Stay safe and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil -

~Michael

Day 3 - 30 Day Coloring Challenge - Red, White, & Blue Through and Through

Hello everyone.  Welcome to Day 3 of 30 Day Coloring Challenge and Happy July 4th!  I really miss this holiday in NY.  The hot weather, knowing summer is here, and all the fireworks and food on the grill.  Here it's winter and chilly.  But we will do a BBQ this weekend too.    

One of my favorite artists, Lindsay Ostrom - Creator of Cuteness, posted an adorable {free} digi on her Facebook page for July 4th.  It's actually the 99th {free} digi (out of 100) and you can find them all HERE.

I printed the digi on to white cardstock twice (one to cut apart for pop-dotting).  I die cut one of the images using a double-stitched rectangle die and then I colored in the images using red, blue, and yellow/gold BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers.

On the 2nd image, I colored some of the stars and the flags, fussy cut them and adhered them to the first image with small foam tape.

I made a top-folding A2 card base and, using a stitched banner die, I cut several pieces of red, white, and blue cardstock. 

I adhered the strips across the card base, on a diagonal, starting in the center and working my way out.  When the front of the card was completely covered, I turned it over and trimmed the overhang.

Lastly, I adhered the colored piece to a piece of red cardstock and then to the card front.  I added some yellow stickles to the stars to finish off the card. 

Done!  I love it and it doesn't get any better than using just a red and blue marker on a project.  LOL  I hope you enjoy this card too.  If you do download this digi, please remember to tag Lindsay using #lindsayostrom and #creatorofcuteness.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Don't forget to also check out my Instagram page HERE and my friend Debra's HERE since we are both trying to post every day to the 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  

Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil!

~Michael

Day 2 - 30 Day Coloring Challenge - Happy Birthday with DRS Designs

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 2 of The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  I've been having fun making slimline cards and decided to make another one today, and it's super simple to make.  

I started with a piece of white cardstock, 3.25" x 8.25", on which I stamped Birthday Candle Burst from DRS Designs.  I tried to use my Misti but the paper is too long and I found that the old fashioned way of using a stamp positioner worked better. I started by stamping the center, then the right and left sides.   

 

Now I can use my Misti.  I put the cardstock in my Misti and stamped "Happy Birthday" using a stamp set called Simple Notes from Clear & Simple Stamps.  Sadly, they are no longer in business but I love this stamp set.

Next, I colored in the candles using BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers (my fav).

I made a top-folding card to which I adhered a piece of decorative paper.  I then adhered my colored piece to a piece of fun foam and then to the card front.

And, lastly, I added some Stickles from Ranger in a variety of colors to the candles.

Done!  I have a box of stamps from DRS Designs that I recently found while cleaning up here and I will be posting more cards using their stamps.  They are a wonderful Mom & Pop rubber stamp company that I miss seeing at the shows.  Go check them out.  I am sure you will fall in love with their images too.

I'm trying to post every day along with my friend Debra and I hope you can stop by her blog HERE or her Instagram HERE to see what she made for the challenge.  And, heck, while you are there, you can also check out my Instagram HERE!  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Please stay safe and, until next time, hugs from Brasil! 

~Michael

Day 1 - 30 Day Coloring Challenge - Fill Up Your Cup With Love and Kindness

Hello everyone!!  Welcome to July!  Where is this year going?  I hope you, your family, and close friends are all safe and Covid-19 free!

I am really happy because today starts a new 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  I don't know about you but I really need to de-stress mentally and I will be doing my best to take time each day to color.  If you want to participate check out THIS link for all the important info. 

My friend Debra of Meticulosity and I have agreed to TRY and post every day to our blogs but, let's be honest here, stuff happens and I might just end up coloring a bit and will share on my Instagram each day.  If you want, you can also follow me HERE and, if you want, you can also follow Debra HERE.   

For Day 1 of the Coloring Challenge, I am using a {free} coffee image called Love and Kindness Coloring Page from Artsyville.  Debra told me about it and I had to download it and make a card using it.  Hey...it's coffee-related!  LOL

I started by printing two of the image, at 62%, on to heavyweight white cardstock.  Then I die cut one image in full using a 4.5" square die and I fussy cut the coffee cup from the other image.  

  

I made a 5" square card base of white cardstock and adhered one of the papers from the Coffee Lovers Digital Paper Pad from Graciellie Designs.  I also layered my image on to a piece of dark brown cardstock leaving a small border.

Next, I colored the image and the cup I fussy cut, using my BIC Intensity Markers.  I adhered the finished piece to the card front and I adhered the cup using some pop dots.   I also added some clear crystals to the front and Clear Wink of Stella to the hearts and other small areas.

Day 1...done!  Now I need to go make a cuppa Joe!  Hope you guys liked this free digi as much as I did.  If you download it, please remember that it's for personal use and if you make anything using it, remember to tag Artsyville with @artsyville and with the #coloringartsyville on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  You can check out Debra's first post HERE.  Please stay safe and, until next time, hugs from Brasil!

~Michael