The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - July 2021

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the July 2021 edition of The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas.  We wanted to call this month "Christmas in July" but, really, every month is Christmas for the 3 elves - me, Debra of Meticulosity, and Lisa of Life of a BZScrapper.  

There's a lot going on this month -

And this month we have a special guest Elf - Angie Blom of Angie Blom Digital Designs.  And, she is having a Christmas in July sale.  All of her digital images are 40% off.  No coupon needed.  Price will adjust in the cart.  Just click HERE to see all of the Christmas images.

And, the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas In July Blog Hop is happening until July 30th.  There are a lot of fun prizes to be won and Angie Blom Digital Designs is one of the Sponsors.

 

Angie sent the elves two brand new Christmas digi stamps to use if we wanted - Let's Be Merry and Elves.  I ended up, not only using both, but using her images for all 4 of my cards.  I hope Angie loves them as much as I do.  

Card No. 1

 

This was such a fun and fast card to make.  I used the brand new Let's Be Merry stamp set along with some paper piecing. 

• Using Pages on my Mac, I sized and designed my card using two of the images from the set and then I printed it on to a piece of white cardstock that had been cut using a stitched rectangle die.  
  
• I made a top folding A2 card base of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of red cardstock.   
  
• Next, I printed the image of the Santa on a piece of designer paper and onto a piece of red cardstock and I fussy cut the parts I need to paper piece.  

 

• I ran a black marker around where I cut to cover any white core of the papers and then I adhered the pieces to the main image on the card front. 
• I colored his face with an R20 Blush Copic marker, and grounded the image with a Warm Gray No. 2 Copic marker.  Then I adhered it to a piece of white fun foam and then to the card front.    
  
• Lastly, I added some Icicle Stickles (Ranger) to his mustache and the end of his hat.  
  
  

 Card No. 2

If you love to color as much as I do, then this is the card for you.  I used the Smitten Mitten Background stamp with a die cut sentiment.  

• I made a top folding A2 card base out of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of red cardstock.  
• I printed the Smitten Mitten Background on to another piece of white cardstock and then I colored it in using some alcohol markers.
• I adhered this to a piece of white fun foam and then to the card front. 
• Next, I used a variety of Stickles on some of the mittens to add some shimmer and shine.
• While the Stickles were drying, I used some red cardstock to die cut the sentiment from the Stacked Words: Christmas die from Tim Holtz (sadly, discontinued).
• I adhered the sentiment to the card front, then a crystal over the "j", and, lastly, some Wink of Stella Clear on the sentiment for more shine. 
  

Card No. 3

I made this tall slimline card using the brand new Elves stamp set and some paper piecing.  I am totally in love with the sentiment "have yours-elf a merry little christmas".  LOL

• I started by making a 4" x 9" top-folding tall slimline card from white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of Christmas paper to the front.
• Then I used Pages on my MAC to import the two images for a 3.75" x 8.75" card and printed it out.
• I then went back and printed parts of the image - the presents and the elves' hats - on to pieces of Christmas paper.
• I fussy cut the pieces and adhered them to the card front.
  
• Then I colored in the image using BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip markers.  
• Lastly, I adhered some crystals and stickles to the image. 
  
  

Card No. 4 (a Tag)

 

 

For my last project, I made a tag using the A Gift Just For You stamp set. Because we always need tags for gifts...right?  And, this is not just any tag.  It's a 3D tag with a boatload of bling. 

• I die cut a tag using the Tags set from Little B.  It's old and probably retired but you can use any tag die you want.  Or, you can make your own.
  
• Using Pages on my MAC, I imported the snowman image from A Gift Just For You and then printed it on to the tag.  Because it's going to be 3D, I printed it two more times in the same size.
• I fussy cut the snowman and the sign from one of the other images and then the presents from the last.  Then I colored them all in.
• I adhered the snowman to the main image using foam dots.  Then the presents.  There are 3 layers to this image.
• Lastly, I adhered Stickles to a few areas and then I blinged the heck out of the scarf.  LOL
  
  

And those are my 4 ideas for July.  Do you have a favorite?  I love them all, as usual, but I'm loving my little blinged out tag the most.

Please remember to visit the other Crafty Elves as well as our Guest Crafty Elf. Each of them has even more amazing card ideas for the holiday season and it's never too early to start making some.  Just click on their links to go right to their May 2021 creations! 

Debra's Blog - Meticulosity

Debra's IG Page - djdavison814

Lisa's Blog - Life of a BZscrapper

Lisa's IG Page - bzscrapper

My IG Page - worldofmichaeltrent

Angie's Blog - AB Digital Designs Blog
Angie's IG Page - Angie Blom Digital Designs

Angie's Website - Angie Blom Digital Designs

Until next time...hugs from Brasil!

~Michael

Shadow Box Christmas Wreath Home Decor with Anthony's Paper Craft

 

The idea for this "home decor" piece came after I watched THIS video on how to make a shadowbox.  The box measures 6" x 6" and the inside is 4.5" x 4.5", which is the perfect size for the Wreath 2 stamp I wanted to use.   You could also use Wreath 3 and, for a Spring/Floral box, you can use Wreath 4.

So, the first thing I did was to make my shadowbox using a piece of textured red cardstock.   Instead of me showing how to make the box, it's better if you just watch the video.  She does a great job showing how to make the box.    

I also cut 4 strips of decorative paper to fit the 4 sides of the front of the box.  

Next, I adhered the strips to each side of the shadowbox. 

I cut a piece of white cardstock with a 4" stitched square die.  Then I stamped the Wreath 2 image using Onyx Black Versafine ink and then I heat embossed it using Black Sparkle Embossing Powder by Ranger. 

Then I colored the wreath with Ultra Fine Tip BIC Intensity Markers. Then I adhered some crystals on the snowflakes and Red Stickles on the berries. 

After the Stickles dried I adhered the white cardstock to a piece of fun foam and then I adhered this to the center of the shadowbox frame. 

I also stamped "Peace, Love & Joy" from the Christmas Sentiments 1 set on a piece of white cardstock and die cut it using a banner die, which I adhered to the front. 

Then I adhered some crystals on each side of the sentiment and on each corner of the wreath.  

The last thing I did was to make a stand for the frame.  I cut a piece of the same red cardstock, 2" x 8.5", and scored it at 1/2", 3 1/2", 6 1/2", and 7 1/2".  Then I formed it into the stand and adhered it to the back. 

Done!  I hope you like this "non-card" idea.  I think this would be beautiful sitting on a shelf or mantel during the holiday season.  No?  I'd love to know what you think...leave a comment below!  

Stay safe and, until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Happy 245th Birthday USA! Happy July 4th with Impression Obsession

 

Happy 4th of July to all my friends and family in the states.  Today the USA turns 245 years old.  Although she is falling apart and needs her infrastructure structured again, she is still a good looking woman!! So I made her a birthday card.  I hope I look this good when I am 245!  

• I started by making a top folding A2 card from white cardstock. 
• Then I printed one of the papers from the Vintage 4th of July Digital Paper from the Jenny L Designs Shop on Etsy and I die cut it using a stitched rectangle die measuring 4.25" x 5.5", which I then adhered to the card front.
  

• I die cut another piece of white cardstock using a smaller stitched rectangle die.  Then I die cut the US Flag Die from Impression Obsession leaving room for a sentiment under it.   

• I adhered the piece with the big rectangle hole in the center to a piece of white fun foam, which I then adhered to the card front.
  

• Then I adhered the flag inside the rectangle space - without the stripes or stars areas.  Those will be next.
  

• Next, I die cut the US Flag die again using a small piece of red and then blue cardstock so that I could adhere the pieces into the main flag.  

• Then I adhered all the pieces into the main flag.  It really does go quickly. 

• Lastly, I die cut a Happy Birthday die from Top Dog (closed) using blue and white cardstock, which I adhered under the flag. 

Done!  Here's the final card.  

I hope everyone has a fun and safe July 4th holiday if you celebrate.  If not, I hope you have a great weekend.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil!

~Michael