The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - February 2021 Edition

Hello everyone!  It's the 25th of the month and that means a new Crafty Elf post.  Welcome to the February Edition of The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas. As usual, Debra, Lisa, and I have been busy this month (and it's a short month too) making 4 new holiday cards to share with you.  My cards are below and links to Debra's and Lisa's blogs and Instagram accounts are at the end of this post. 

Now, on to my cards...

Card No. 1

These three stamps from Impression Obsession have been hanging in front of my work desk for months. Mocking me.  Begging me to use them.  And I finally have!  LOL

• I made a 6" square card base using white cardstock.
• I stamped the Cover-a-Card Holly stamp on to another piece of white cardstock using a Pine Green ink pad by Marvy Matchables (old and from my stash) and then I embossed it with clear embossing powder.  
• I trimmed it to a 5 5/8" square, layered it on to a piece of black cardstock leaving a sliver of a border and then on to a 6" x 6" piece of red cardstock.  Then I adhered this to the card front.  
• On another piece of white cardstock, I stamped the Birds on Holly image and, the word "celebrate" from Express Yourself stamp set (sadly, discontinued).  
• Then I colored in the image using my Ultra Fine Tip BIC Intensity markers. 
• I die cut the Birds of Holly image using a stitched square die, layered it on a piece of black cardstock leaving a very tiny border and then on to a piece of red cardstock.  I trimmed the "celebrate" and layered it on a piece of red cardstock.  
• I adhered the birds in the stitched square the card front, in the center, and then I adhered the word "celebrate" between the holly leaves.  
  
• Lastly, I colored in the berries where they could be seen. 
  

Card No. 2

As I continue cleaning up my stash of more than 30 years, I am coming across stamps never used but still fun.  Found these two to make this card.  Fluffles Tree (Q122) from Stampendous and a Season's Greetings stamp from Studio G/Hampton Art.  

• I made an A2 top folding card from white cardstock.  Then I adhered a piece of decorative paper from the Merry & Bright 6x6 paper pad from Fancy Pants Design.  I chose a design with little trees on to go with Fluffles Tree.  
• I used the 2 largest dies from the Double Pierced Rectangles die set by Avery Elle to cut the corresponding red paper frame, from the same paper pad as the trees.  
• I did the same thing as above but with a piece of white cardstock.  Using the inside piece, which I knew would fit into the red frame, I stamped the cat image and then I stamped and embossed the sentiment.  I colored in the cat using some markers.
  
• I cut a piece of fun foam to fit behind the cat piece, adhered it to the center of the card and, lastly, added some crystals from my stash.  Oh, and two little googly eyes to the cat, which is sure to annoy my other Crafty Elf, Debra.  

 

Card No. 3

 

 

This card uses a fun but naughty Santa stamp.  I hope this does not offend anyone but, since there is a "naughty or nice list", I think my card idea works perfectly with this image. 

 

• I started with a top-folding A2 card base of red cardstock.  I also cut a piece of white cardstock using a stitched rectangle die, which I adhered to the inside for the message.
• I did not have any good sentiments for this image so I came up with my own, printed it on to a piece of white cardstock, and then stamped Flashing Santa from Viva Las Vegas Stamps just above the sentiment.  
• I die cut it using a stitched rectangle die, layered it on a piece of gold mirrored cardstock and then on to the card front.
• I wanted some 3D on this card so I stamped the image again, fussy cut it and then colored him in.  I used a Tombow Marker No. 800 on the skin and then Rambunctious Red BIC Intensity marker on the hat and coat.  Not much else to color.  
• I added some glitter glue to the coat, hat, and boots and set aside to dry completely.
• Lastly, I added some pop dots behind the image and adhered it right over the first one I stamped. 
  

Card No. 4

This card uses another very old stamp from my stash that had never been inked up until this month.  I got it when I was a demonstrator with The Angel Company and, sadly, I cannot find it's name. I love this stamp because it's just such a simple image to color and make a card with.

• I started by making a top-folding A2 card base out of red cardstock.  
• I stamped the image on to a piece of white cardstock adn then cut it out using a stitched rectangle die.  
• I colored in the image using BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers and then I adhered it to the card front.  
• I also used Stickles on some of the images to give some shimmer and shine.  
• Lastly, I cut another piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, adhered it to the inside of the card and stamped a holiday sentiment.

February is done and I really hope you enjoyed these quick and fun (and naughty) cards.  Have you started making any holiday cards this year?  Would you like to join us one month as a guest?  If so, leave a comment below and I will contact you.  

Please remember to check out the other Crafty Elves to see what they have come up with for February.  Links to their blogs and IG pages are below. 

Debra's Blog - Meticulosity

Debra's IG - djdavison814

Lisa's Blog - Life of a BZscrapper

Lisa's IG - bzscrapper

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today.  Let me know if you have a favorite card.  You can also check out my IG page - worldofmichaeltrent - pics of cards, food, dogs, and life in Brasil.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil!

 ~Michael

Anthony's Paper Craft Blog Hop for Turner Syndrome - "Love is Like a Butterfly"

Hello everyone!  Today is the Anthony's Paper Craft Design Team monthly blog hop - the first for 2021.  This month we are throwing our support behind Lori Kobular and her "It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome Blog Hop. 

Anthony's Paper Craft is one of 23 amazing sponsors on her blog hop and we thought it would be fun to show our support by doing one ourselves.

According to the Turner Syndrome Foundation - 

The butterfly has become the symbol for "Turner Girls" because, just like a butterfly, they are considered fragile and beautiful miracles.  Because it represents femininity, strength, and uniqueness, the butterfly was designated by TSSUS to become the Turner Syndrome symbol.  "Butterflies fly on their own which is our hope for our girls."

On March 1, Anthony's Paper Craft is releasing a brand new butterfly stamp set called Butterflies 3 and two of these sets are being offered as a prize on the It's A Girl Thing Turner Syndrome 2021 Blog Hop.  Click on the link to find out how you can have a chance to win one of the two sets being offered as a prize.  

Social Media links for each of the Design Team Members are at the end of this post and I hope you can find the time to go and check out what each of us has made.  

Now...for my card...

I started by making a top-folding A2 card base out of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of decorative paper from a 6" paper pad I had in my stash. 

I cut another piece of white cardstock, 2.75" x 5.5", on which I stamped two of the sentiments and one of the butterflies from the new Butterflies 3 set from Anthony's Paper Craft (it will be available on March 1st).  I also put it in my mini Scor-Buddy and scored two lines on each side - just to give a little texture to the card.

From the same paper pad, I found a sheet with some different strips of patterns.  I trimmed one and adhered it along the left side of the white cardstock.  I also cut a piece of fun foam and adhered it to the back.  Then I adhered this to the card front.

Then I stamped the same butterfly again on another piece of white cardstock, colored it in using some PITT markers I found in my stash, and then fussy cut it.

Lastly, I adhered the butterfly over the original using pop dots and then I added some Stickles to the wings for some shimmer.

The final card - 

Other creations made using this new Butterflies 3 stamp set can be found on the Design Team Members social media pages below.  

Chris - Christopher Crafts

His Blog

His Instagram
His Facebook Page 

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Pam Kline Stang

Her Blog

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Misty - The Jolly Fat Elf

Her YouTube Channel
Her Instagram
Her Facebook Page

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Michael - The World of Michael Trent

His Blog
His Instagram
His Facebook Page

I hope everyone loved this post and I hope you can find the time to follow all the links and help spread the world of what Turner Syndrome is all about.  And maybe you will win a prize too!

Have a great rest of your week and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

~Michael

The "Love Wins" Instagram Hop

 

Hello everyone.  I am honored to be taking part in the "Love Wins" Instagram Hop.  The purpose of this hop is to support and bring awareness to LGBT+ creators and craft companies that support the community.

I decided to also do a blog post for those that would like a more detailed step by step of how I made cards or the products I used.  BUT...in order to participate in the hop and be eligible to win some amazing prizes, please go check out my IG Page - HERE - for all the details.  

The hop runs from today, February 14, 2021 (Valentine's Day) until Saturday, February 20, 2121 and there are some really cool giveaways to win. 

I was asked to make 1 card but I ended up making 3 cards.  I guess you can call this blog post "Love Wins Three Ways" and I hope y'all like what I created.  My cards were really all inspired by THIS art print that I found on Etsy a few weeks ago by chance.  {If you love it, go buy it!} As soon as I saw it I thought how cool it would look as a card.  Or 3.     

Card No. 1

• I started by making a top-folding, 4" x 9", slimline card out of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of rainbow(ish) striped paper from my stash.  

• Using the largest die from the Slim Stitched Rectangle Die Set from Pink Fresh Studio, I cut another piece of white cardstock.
• Using Finley's ABCs alphabet dies from Lawn Fawn, I prepared the word LOVE and secured the letters with a piece of painter's tape.  And then I secured this to the center of my white cardstock.  It's a 1" tall letter set and it worked perfectly.

• I die cut the word "LOVE" and then I proceeded to die cut the word 6 more times leaving a small gap between each line.  Keep all the letters that you cut out. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I then adhered this to my card front over the striped lines so the rainbow colors popped thru the die cut words.  Now I had to decide whether to glue the center of the "O" or leave it the way it was.  Hmmmmm.......

• I decided to glue the centers down.

• Next, I stamped and die cut the word "WINS" using another Lawn Fawn alphabet called Owen's ABCs and the matching Owen's ABCs dies.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I adhered the letters to the card front using pop dots and then, to finish off the card, I applied some Glossy Accents over each letter to give them a glassy look.  
  
  
  
  
  

Card No. 2

For this card, I basically did the same as above with a few minor changes and making it more of a white on white card.

• Instead of covering the whole card front with the striped paper, I cut a piece slightly smaller than the stitched rectangle section so the stripes would only show thru where the letters had been cut out.
• I did not glue down the center of the letter "O".
• For the "WINS" banner, I stamped the letters on to a piece of white cardstock, made a fishtail of one end, and then layered it on another fishtail banner cut out using the striped paper for the banner.  
• I also added pop dots behind the "WINS" and I used Glossy Accents again on the letters.

Card No. 3

For this card I went with a simple, layered, top-folding A2 card size.

• I started with a top-folding A2 card base of white cardstock on which I adhered a piece of Bazzill Bling cardstock from my stash.  And, using the 2nd largest die from the Stitched  Rectangle Set 1 from Pink & Main, I cut another two pieces of white cardstock.  They will be layered on each other.

• Using the Cole's ABCs die set from Lawn Fawn, I secured the words "LOVE WINS" with some washi tape and die cut them out of one of the pieces of white cardstock -3 times.

• On the 2nd piece of white cardstock cut earlier, I ran strips of rainbow washi tape across where the letters will be.  I was only able to get 4 colors but that's okay.  

• I adhered this piece to the piece with the cut out letters allowing the rainbow washi to show thru. 
   

• Then I adhered this to a piece of black cardstock leaving a very tiny border and then to the card front.   
  
  
  
   
• Lastly, I die cut a small heart from my stash using the same Bazzill cardstock and adhered them in the middle of the words using a piece of foam tape. 

And those are my 3 "Love Wins" cards for this Instagram Hop.  Feel free to leave a comment below letting me know what you think of this hop and which is your favorite card, if you have one.  

Remember to head over to my Instagram page - HERE - follow the directions and check out all the other amazing creations.  Lots of great prizes to be won!  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I appreciate you taking the time from your day to do so.  Happy Valentine's Day, if you celebrate it, and, until next time -

Hugs from Brasil - 
~Michael

"I Love You" Valentine's Day Card

 

Hello everyone!!  Today is my day to showcase my Design Team project for Anthony's Paper Craft.  We have two main themes going on this month - a sneak peek of the new March 2021 release as well as Valentine's Day.  My card covers both of these.  

But, before I get on with today's card, I want to remind everyone that Anthony's Paper Craft is also one of 23 Sponsors for the "It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome 2021 Blog Hop.  There are lots of prizes to be won.  I hope you can take some time to go support this cause. 

There is also a prize over on my own blog, which you can check out HERE.    

Now, for today's card, which uses a new stamp being released on March 1st called Love Frame.  

• I started by make a top-folding A2 card base with red cardstock.  
• I cut a piece of white cardstock using the largest die from the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 from Pink & Main.  Then I stamped the Love Frame image in the center using black ink.
• I used the "I Love You" die (sadly, discontinued) from Simon Says Stamp to cut the words in the center and then I adhered this to the card front.   
• Then I colored in the hearts using a red marker and then I used red Stickles on some of the hearts to give some shimmer. 
• Lastly, I ran a strip of red glittered washi tape down each of the sides, burnishing well.  

  

Done!  That is how simple this card is to make.  You have no excuses now!  LOL  I hope you enjoyed this quick card idea for Valentine's Day...or just a card to tell someone that you love them.  

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone.  Until next time!

Hugs from Brasil - 

~Michael

"It's A Girl Thing" Turner Syndrome 2021 Card Challenge

 

Hello everyone!!  As some of you may know, February is Turner Syndrome Awareness Month, and each year I participate in a blog hop helping to bring awareness of Turner Syndrome.  The 2021 Blog Hop is happening now and there are lots of prizes to be won.  And, if you make a card and promote it on your social media, you will have even chances to win.  All the info you need is HERE.

I've already made one card, which you can see HERE, but I wanted to make some more.  Butterflies are the symbol of Turner Syndrome so I pulled out one of my favorite butterfly stamps for this card - Swallowtail from Stampin Up.  It's long retired but still a great image.

• I started with a piece of white cardstock. 5" x 5", which I place in my Misti, and then I stamped the Swallowtail butterfly image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  
  
  
  
  
  

• I colored in my image using a variety of Dual Brush Tombow pens trying to stay as close to the colors of the Mood Board.  I used 055, 133, 703, 761, and 985.

• Next, I stamped the world "hello" from the Simply Celebrate set, also retired and from Stampin Up.
  
  
• I made a top-folding card base, 5.5" from white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of decorative paper.  Then I layered the butterfly piece on to a piece of black cardstock and then on to the card front. 
  
  
  
  
    
  
• Lastly, I added some Glam Pink and Yellow Stickles (Ranger) to the wings.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Here is the final card. 

I hope you can take some time to go support the Turner Syndrome Blog Hop or maybe, make a card and be entered to win many many prizes.  If you do, let me know so I can go check it out!  

Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil!

~Michael

It's A Girl Thing - Turner Syndrome 2021 Blog Hop

 

Hello everyone and welcome to my project for the "It's A Girl Thing: Turner Syndrome Awareness 3rd Annual Blog Hop" (that's a mouthful) and, this year, we have added a Card Challenge - so that people can play along with us and win prizes.

What is Turner Syndrome?  It's a genetic disorder where a female is born missing partial or all of her second X chromosome, leaving her with life-long medical issues and learning disabilities.  This condition occurs one in every 2,000 female births worldwide, but is more common among pregnancies that do not survive to full term. 

This is why Turner Syndrome Females are considered MIRACLES!

22 Caring and Generous Sponsors and 12 Design Team Members are offering prizes to a commenter and card maker and they are helping bring Turner Syndrome Awareness to the public.  For details on how you might win any of these fabulous prizes, please see Lori's Turner Syndrome Home Page.  And thank you for learning about Turner Syndrome.  

Prize winners will be announced on March 13th, 2021.

My Turner Syndrome related project is inspired by the Turner Syndrome Foundation Mood Board. 

For my card, I used a brand new stamp set called Butterflies 3 from Anthony's Paper Craft, who is also one of the Sponsors of this hop.  Information on how you can win one of these new stamps sets is at the end of this post.  

• I started by making my card base using the colors from the mood board, above.  I made a top folding A2 card using dark pink cardstock.  
• Using one of the dies from the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 from Pink & Main, I cut a piece of white cardstock, on which I stamped two of the sentiments from the Butterflies 3 stamp set.  Then I adhered it to the inside of the card.  

 

• Using the same size stitched rectangle die, I cut a piece of light pink cardstock on which I stamped the "Happy Birthday" sentiment {yes, I know, again} from the Butterflies 3 stamp set.
• Then I layered a piece of designer paper from my stash, 1.5" x 5.5", on to a piece of the darker pink cardstock and then I adhered this to the card front so it sat just above the stamped sentiment.
  

 

• I stamped 3 of the butterflies and fussy cut them using some fine tip scissors by Martha Stewart.  (The matching dies to the stamps are still in production at the time of this blog post).
• Then I colored them in using BIC Intensity Markers. 
  
  

• Then I adhered them with foam squares to the card front.

• Then I went a little crazy and adhered crystals on the wings.  Where a crystal would not fit, I colored in the small circles. 

And here is the front and inside of the final card -

Now for the prizes you can win!  Make sure you go to Lori's Turner Syndrome Home Page, which can be found HERE and follow her directions.  Many of the Design Team Members are offering prizes on their individual pages and Lori has prizes from all the Sponsors to give away. 

Two of the prizes are this new Butterflies 3 stamp set from Anthony's Paper Craft.  

And, last but not least, I have a prize package that can be yours too.  A brand new Butterfly paper collection from a Brasilian paper company, along with a package of butterfly rub-ons and butterfly stickers, both from my stash but brand new.   

 

Just leave a comment on this page and either follow my blog or subscribe to it.  For an extra chance of winning the prize package, follow me on my Instagram page, HERE.  Contest is open globally.   

Good luck everyone.  Please remember to stop by the other blogs in this hop and check out all the amazing cards...you can enter your own card to win more prizes too. 

Hugs from Brasil!

~Michael