Less Is More Challenge - Hexagons - Birthday Card

 

Hello everyone.  Today I want to share a quick card I made for a photographer friend who has a birthday coming up.  Since the paper I decided to use has hexagons as part of the design, I knew it would be perfect for the current card challenge on the Less Is More Challenge Blog since the recipe is ... hexagons.   

I started with a top-folding A2 card base of white cardstock.  Then I die-cut a 3.75" x 5" stitched rectangle die from the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 Dies from Pink & Main.

I pulled out some balloon dies I have and decided to use the Balloon Die Set from Top Dog Dies.  I know it's retired but there are so many companies with balloon dies that, if you wanted to case or copy this card, you have lots of options.

I die cut the largest balloon die using one of the designs from the 24/Seven paper pad by Simple Stories.  The sheet has hexagons all over it and one of them has a camera image.  Perfect.

I adhered the camera to the stitched white piece.  Then I tied a string to the balloon and adhered it to the back.  

Then a sentiment from my stash.

Lastly, I adhered it to the card front on an angle.  Done!

Done!  Super easy and super fast to make.  Hope you guys like it too.  Thanks for stopping by the blog today!  

Until next time, hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

National Coffee Week - Slimline Card - Anthony's Paper Craft

 

Hello everyone.  So it seems there is a lot going on this week related to coffee.  Wednesday, September 29th is National Coffee Day - a celebration of all things coffee in the USA and Canada.  

And then, on Friday, October 1st, is International Coffee Day.  Phew!  

To read all about National Coffee Day and to see 57 deals, discounts, and freebies related to coffee...check out THIS link.  

I wanted to make a quick card and other than waiting for the glossy accents to dry on the cups, this card is very quick to make.

I started by making a 3 5/8" x 8 5/8" slimline card base using Kraft cardstock.   

Then, I die-cut another piece of the Kraft cardstock using the largest stitched die from the Slim Stitched Rectangle Die Set from Pink Fresh Studio.  

Next, I randomly stamped 3 of the cups from the Coffee 2 set from Anthony's Paper Craft with Coffee Archival Ink all over the stitched Kraft piece.   

Using the smaller stitched rectangle die from the same Slim Stitched Rectangle Die Set from Pink Fresh Studio, I die-cut a piece of white cardstock.  I stamped the cup and saucer image using Coffee Archival ink starting in the center and then working out to each side.  Then I stamped each of the flourishes from the Flourishes 1 set from Anthony's Paper Craft.  I loved how these flourish images represent the steam coming off a hot cup of Joe! 

To finish off the card...

I layered this piece on a piece of dark brown cardstock leaving a very small border.  

Then I colored in each of the cups.

I made my sentiment, printed it, die cut it using a stitched banner die and layering it on a piece of dark brown cardstock, which I adhered to the upper right corner.

I adhered this to the card front.  

Lastly, I used Glossy Accents on each of the cups and set the card aside to fully dry.  Using the Glossy Accents gives a ceramic look to each of the cups.

I'd love to know what you think of this idea and card.  Hope you have a great week everyone.  Thanks for stopping by today and, until next time, hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas - September 2021

 

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the September 2021 edition of The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas. I cannot believe that Christmas is 3 months away!  Well, the elves...myself, Debra of Meticulosity, and Lisa of Life of a BZScrapper, have been busy this month making new card ideas to share with you guys.  

I was so busy preparing for a class that I was worried I would not have 4 cards made.  But I was able to come up with 4 cool ideas and I hope you like them. 

Links to all the other Crafty Elves' projects and social media links are at the end of this post.

Now, on to my cards!

Card No. 1

 

This card!  I loved making this card!  And here's an interesting fact about me...something only a few people know...Justin...Sue...Debra....I am NOT a fan of these triangle vector trees.  Yes, I know most trees are triangular but I like real looking trees.  But when I saw this digital set of the Christmas trees from LineArtLover on Etsy, the idea for this card immediately popped into my head and I had to have it.  I also loved the idea of coloring this image with different shades of green.  

Note:  Just as I was preparing this post I saw that Brutus Monroe is selling this image as a clear stamp called Ho Ho Ho. As much as I love digi stamps, there are limitations using them.  So, if you want this as a stamp, you now have that option. 

• I started by printing the image on a piece of white cardstock so it would fit a slimline card front.  
• Then I colored the image using a variety of BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers.  The tip on these makers is perfect for coloring images like this with small detailed areas.
• Then I fussy cut the image because I am going to layer it on my background. 
• For my background, I cut a piece of white cardstock, 3.25" x 8.25".  Then I blended the sky using 5 distress inks from Ranger.  I started at the bottom with antique linen.  Then, working my way up, I used victorian velvet, then seedless preserves, then chipped sapphire, and finally, black soot.
• I adhered my image at the bottom.  I used a 1" circle punch to cut another piece of white cardstock, for the moon, which I adhered to the card front.  
• I stamped Santa and the Sleigh (retired/Brasilian company) over the moon and embossed with black embossing powder.  
• Then I die cut the Merry Christmas sentiment (Elizabeth Craft) from white cardstock and adhered it to the card front. 
• Lastly, I adhered this to a piece of black cardstock and then to my slimline card base. 

Card No. 2

I got the idea for this card after watching THIS video of Ann Melvin, of Positively Papercraft, showing different ways to use shapes on cards.  She made a card like this with a circle die and I changed it up by going with a square inside a rectangle.  

• I made a top-folding A2 card base of white cardstock.
• Using a 4" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die, I die-cut a piece of gold mirror cardstock and a piece of red cardstock.  
• I adhered the gold mirror cardstock to the card front.  
• Then I cut the red piece into 4 pieces and then went back and removed an additional 1/8" from each side.
• I adhered the red pieces to the gold.  The 1/8" leaves a small space for the gold to show thru.  
• I printed the "joy square" from THIS sentiment set I purchased on Etsy, layered it on a piece of red cardstock, and then adhered it to the center of the card using foam tape.
• Lastly, I added 6 crystals to the card front.

Card No. 3

Believe it or not but I have had this die - Layered Snowflakes from Reverse Confetti for years!  YEARS!  And this is my first time using it.  I cannot tell you how many times I have pulled this die out to use it only to get distracted with something else and it goes back into the box.  Although this die is retired (sadly) you could use the Snowflake Magic Confetti Cuts, also from Reverse Confetti, to do a card just like this one.    

• I started with a top-folding A2 card base of white cardstock. 
• I cut another piece of white cardstock using a stitched rectangle die which I then embossed using an embossing folder from Sunlit (Brasilian brand), which I then adhered to the card front.
• Using Red, Gold, and Green Mirri mirror cardstock, all from Anthony's Paper Craft, I die-cut the different layers of the Layered Snowflake.  Then I adhered each of the layers using small foam tape.  Once finished, I adhered the whole snowflake to the card front.
• I printed out the Merry Christmas sentiment on a piece of white cardstock, layered on a piece of the Red Mirri mirror cardstock, and then to the card front.

Card No. 4

I really love how this card turned out and how quick it is to make.  I've wanted to use this Ornament Set 2 from Anthony's Paper Craft for so long and it feels good to finally get this idea out of my head too.

• I started with a top-folding A2 card base of white cardstock.  
• Next, I used 3 of the dies from the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 Dies from Pink & Main.  I cut a piece of red cardstock and a piece of striped decorative paper from the Dear Santa 6x6 pad from PhotoPlay.  Then a piece of white cardstock which I embossed with the Swiss Dots folder from Cuttlebug/Provocraft, which I then adhered to the card front.
• I die cut the Snow Globe die (IO Stamps) - the base using Gold Mirri mirror cardstock (Anthony's Paper Craft) and the globe part using white cardstock.
• Using Ornament Set 2 (Anthony's Paper Craft) and Jet Black Archival Ink, I stamped 3 of the images on the white globe section to form my scene.  
• Then I masked off the bottom section and distressed the sky with spun sugar, scattered straw, and spiced marmalade distress inks (Ranger).
• I adhered the globe to the card front using foam tape.  Then I used some Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger) along the scene edge to imitate snow.  
• Lastly, I cut my sentiment and adhered it over the snow globe base. 

Done!  

Another month under my belt.  4 new Christmas cards for my stash this year.  Do you have a favorite?

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 Post - Meticulosity

Debra's IG Page - djdavison814

Lisa's Blog Post - Life of a BZscrapper

Lisa's IG Page - bzscrapper

My IG Page - worldofmichaeltrent

My YouTube Page - World of Michael Trent

Until next time...hugs from Brasil!

~Michael

International Day of Peace Card with Debra

 

Hello everyone.  My friend Debra of Meticulosity and I talked about collaborating and making cards for fun, interesting and/or strange holidays thru the year.  This is our first collaboration and it's for International Day of Peace.  It's a United Nations holiday and you can read all about it HERE.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.  20 years later, in 2001, they unanimously voted to designate today as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.  

Deb and I are really posting over on our IG pages, links below, but I wanted to add my post here too for those that are not on Instagram.  

Debra's IG Page - djdavison814

My IG Page - World Of Michael Trent

I wanted to make a super simple card.  But I needed a peace sign image.  So I hopped on to Etsy and found THIS floral peace sign digital image. 

To make the card:

• I made a top-folding A2 card base of white cardstock.  Then I adhered the Narrow Rainbow Washi Tape (Altenew) across the whole card.  Super easy and fast with this tape.
• I printed my image on white cardstock, colored it with BIC Intensity Ultra Fine Tip Markers and then I cut it out using one of the dies from Stitched Rectangle Set 1 Dies (Pink & Main).
• I layered this on to a piece of hot pink cardstock, then on to a piece of fun foam, and then I adhered it to the card front.
• Lastly, I die cut the word "peace" using the same hot pink cardstock and adhered it under the image. Then I added some Stickles and a crystal to the flowers. 

 

Done!  Fun...simple...for a great day.  I only wish the planet could have a day of peace and non-violence.  Enjoy the rest of your day and try to do something nice for someone today.  Please remember to stop by each of our IG pages too.  

Until next time, hugs from Brasil!

~Michael

Happy Birthday Do-over Card for Amy and Debra

 

 

Hello everyone.  Today's card was really fun to make and it's for a fun cause and for two great people.  A "do-over birthday".  Back story - my friends Debra and Amy both have August birthdays and both of their birthday months...well, they sucked.  So they talked and decided to have a "do-over day" - yesterday - and each of them have giveaways over on their respective IG pages to celebrate. 

Make sure that you head over to Debra at @djdavison814 and Amy at @craftee1 and follow the directions for your chance to win something awesome.

I'm not taking part but I wanted to make a fun card to re-celebrate their birthdays.  Since both are ADDICTED to coffee, as am I, I went with a birthday coffee card.  

I started with a blank coffee-to-go template.  I printed 4 of them on a piece of white cardstock and then I fussy cut 2 of them completely and the other two I cut the images out.  You'll understand in a second. 

I placed each of the messy fussy cut images into my Misti, secured the top with a piece of washi tape, and stamped Candles Bold Prints (Hero Arts) with Onyx Black Versafine ink, and then quickly embossed it with clear embossing powder. 

Looks kinda messy but you'll understand in a second.  

I fussy cut the bottom sections of the cups, ran a black marker around the edges to hide any white core, and colored them using my BIC Intensity Markers.  Then I added some Stickles by Ranger and set it aside to dry.   

 

While those are drying I made the rest of the card.

I decided to go square with my card.  Made a 6" square card base of white cardstock to which I adhered a piece of fun, colorful, decorative paper from the Hello Pastel paper pad (Prima Marketing).

Next, I cut a piece of white cardstock, 5.5" square. Then I blended the coffee rings from the Splatters stencil (Holtz/Stamper's Anonymous) on to it using a blending brush and Coffee Archival ink.   

Then I adhered it to a piece of dark brown cardstock, leaving just a hint of a border, then to a piece of fun foam, and then to the card front. 

 

I adhered the cup together adhering the piece I cut out and stamped on to the other full coffee cup.  Then I adhered them to the card front.  The bottom cup I glued to the card front and the other is raised up using foam tape. 

To finish the card off...I used the Birthday Stamp & Cut XL (Hero Arts).  I die cut the word "Celebrate" several times using hot pink cardstock, glued them together and then adhered the word again using a piece of hot pink glittered cardstock.  I am not a fan of sentiments in the upper right corner but I felt it went best there so I glued it down.  

Then I die cut the Happy Birthday sentiment using hot pink cardstock and adhered it to the inside with one of the matching sentiments under it in black ink.  

Done!  Seems like a lot of work but it went fast.  Waiting for the Stickles to dry took the longest.   Hope you enjoyed today's fun, colorful card.  Remember to check out both of their IG pages for a chance to win some cool prizes.  

Until next time - hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Positive Thinking Day

Hello everyone!  Did you know that today is Positive Thinking Day?  I didn't either until one of my weird/strange holiday sites told me it was.  

From the link hightlighted above - 

Today is all about attitude...a positive attitude.  It's a lot like the ant when faced with moving a rubber tree plant.  He thought "I think I can".  With that in mind, I just know that everything will go fine from this day forward.  

The power of positive thinking is absolutely astounding.  Medical research confirms that a positive attitude works wonders at fighting disease and ailments, from the common cold to cancer.  People with an "I think I can" attitude, are far more likely to succeed at work, and in accomplishing every goal they set in life.  

So I decided to make a quick card to send some positive vibes out into the world, something I think we can all use these days.  

The first thing I thought of for "Positive Thinking Day" were those journaling card pages in 12x12 paper pads. So I went thru my stash...stop laughing...like you don't have a stash too?  And I found the perfect quote from the Painted Passport Collection from Webster's Pages.  Awesome pad, by the way, if you can find one.  

I die cut the saying using a stitched rectangle die.  I adhered a piece of fun foam to the back and then I adhered the whole thing to a piece of black cardstock. 

Then I found another sheet from the paper pad and I die cut that using the largest stitched rectangle dies and adhered this to the card front.  Then I adhered the other part of the card on top of the card. 

Done. Not much more needed to be done.

That's it for today.  Stay positive everyone and go send out some good positive vibes too!

Until next time...hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Lots of Googly Eyes on Skulls Halloween Card

 

Hello everyone!  Halloween will soon be upon us and I love making Halloween cards.  I really miss this holiday.  The Halloween Parade in NYC, the costumes, all the decorations in the stores and on the streets.  But, most of all, I miss Candy Corn.  LOL

I recently found a new card challenge blog called The Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge Blog.  This month's challenge is September Anything Halloween and the mood board, which is below, is perfect for me to use my favorite retired Halloween stamp, Skull Stack by Stampendous.   Even though it's retired I love pulling it out each year.  It's perfect for googly eyes too, much to the dismay of my friend Debra.  

I started by making a top-folding A2 card to which I adhered one of the Halloween papers from the Halloween Market paper from Carta Bella.  Then I stamped the Skulls Stack image on white cardstock, die cut it with a rectangle die, layered it on a piece of black cardstock and then on to the card front.

Then I stamped a sentiment from my stash and cut it out with a banner die.  Layered it on a piece of black cardstock and adhered it to the card front. 

Next, I adhered googly eyes to each of the skulls.  Yes, Debra....sorry!  LOL 

And Orange Stickles by Ranger to the letters.

And...DONE!  Believe it or not, those eyes did not take long to glue down. 

I love shaking the card and seeing all those eyes bouncing around.  Yes...there is a child trapped inside this adult body.  LOL

I'd love to know what you think of this card.  And all those eyes.  Have you made any Halloween cards yet?  Do you make any?  I'd love to know. Until next time...Hugs from Brasil!

~Michael

Sending Sunshine / Sunflower Slimline Card

 

Hello...Hello...hello everyone!  There is a new card challenge blog on the block called The Four Seasons Challenge Blog that my friend Debra told me about. They will be having monthly challenges and the themes will always be an "anything goes theme" based on the season that that month is in.  I love this idea.  

Their first challenge is up and running and it's an Anything Goes Fall theme and will run thru September 25th with winners being announced on the 28th.  Here is the mood board for September.

I decided to make a sunflower slimline card. Sunflowers are my favorite flower and nothing makes me happier than finding a sunflower field to walk thru, which we have many of here in June and July, our Autumn.  

For inspiration, I used this photo of me and one of our dogs, Bella, in a field we found just 2 months ago.  I love the blue sky behind the sunflowers.

I used a stamp/die combo called Sunflowers from Divinity Designs.  I stamped the sunflower image 3 times, then colored them in with some Copic markers, and then I die cut them with the matching die.    

For my background, I grabbed my broken china, peacock feathers, and blueprint sketch distress inks, and a blending brush.  Then I cut a piece of white cardstock, 3.25" x 8.25", and blended my sky starting with broken china on the bottom, then peacock feathers in the center, and blueprint sketch towards the top.  

I wanted the sunflowers to be sitting in some grass so I pulled out my Martha Stewart Grass Edge Punch (older than dirt and retired) and punched a piece of green cardstock which I then adhered to the bottom of the card front.  Then I adhered the 3 sunflower pieces to the card front.

Next, I layered this on to a piece of dark brown cardstock.  Then I made my card base of white cardstock, adhered a piece of orange/brown cardstock to the front.  Then my card base.   

To finish off the card, I stamped the sentiment "Sending Sunshine" from the Cool Tag Banner Sentiments set from Your Next Stamp.  I cut it out using a banner die and then layered this on another banner die a bit larger.  And, finally, some Yellow Stickles (Ranger) on the sunflowers to give shimmer and shine. 

 

The final card.

I know the shimmer of the Stickles is not showing up in the card but, trust me, it's there.  You can see it in the short video below. 
 

I'd love to know what you think of the card.  Do you like to make slimline cards?  And, what's your favorite fall flower? 

Until next time!  Hugs from Brasil. 

~Michael