Equality For All Card Collaboration with Misty, The Jolly Fat Elf

 

**Disclaimer - If you have issues with the idea of Equality For All people - no matter their race, skin color, religious affiliation, their level of income or education, or how they identify sexually - then you might not want to read this post.  But, I hope you do stay and read it.  

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Hello everyone and welcome to the first Equality For All collaboration between myself and Misty, The Jolly Fat Elf (and, hopefully, others down the road).  Misty and I collaborated in June for Pride Month and, out of that, came this "Equality For All" idea.  We both feel that ALL humans should be treated with the same respect and equality no matter their race, skin color, how they identify sexually, their gender, their income level, what country they come from, what language they speak, or their religious affiliation is. 

WE DON'T CARE!  As long as they are decent people, respect others, do no harm to children or animals, and try to make this planet a better place to live. 

So, on the last day of each month, we will join forces and make a card for equality - it could be for the LGBT+ community, BLM, indigenous tribes around the world, and even women.  Sadly, the list goes on and on.   

I am really blown away that, in this day and age, there is so much hatred and inequality - not just in the USA but in the world.  Trump, MAGA, OAN, Proud Boys, Fox News, Nazis...who knew, in 2022, that I would read about Nazis in the newspaper?  Good grief. 

And lets not even talk about the amount of elected officials spreading so much hate - against democracy, the constitution, even twisting the Bible to meet their needs.  It's sick. Why do so many people care about what other people are doing in their private lives?  It's really mind-blowing.   

Let's face it - humanity is doomed.  The planet is doomed.  Sorry for the bad news.  But, I can keep making cards and art until that day comes.  LOL  

Anyway, this insane "Don't Say Gay" law in Florida is beyond crazy.  Then again, just look at the elected officials in Florida and it explains everything.  So I decided to make this card of two cops kissing and proclaiming that they are gay.  Oh, they live in Florida and also work for the Governor there.  LOL

I started by making a top-folding A2 card base from black cardstock.  I also printed one of the digital graffiti papers that I bought from Digital Printable Me on Etsy. I felt that the Banksy image I am using warranted being in front of some street art.   

I used a stitched rectangle die, 4" x 5.25", to cut the part of the graffiti image I wanted in the background, which I adhered to the card front.  I also used the same die to cut a piece of white cardstock, which I adhered to the inside of the card.

Next, I stamped the Banksy Kissing Cops image from Viva Las Vegas Stamps on white cardstock with Onyx Black Versafine ink.  Then I embossed it with clear embossing powder, fussy cut the image, and adhered it to the card front using foam tape. 
 

A little history about this Banksy Kissing Coppers image.  It's a stencil that pictures two British policemen kissing.  It was originally unveiled on the wall of The Prince Albert Pub in Brighton in 2004.  Kissing Coppers has frequently been regarded as one of Banksy's most notable works, so much so that it was selected as the most iconic British piece of art at The Other Art Fair in London.  {Wikipeidia}.

Next, I wanted speech bubbles that said "Gay".  So I printed the words on white cardstock and used a speech bubble die from my stash to cut them out.  Then I colored them and adhered them using foam tape. 

Done.  

Misty, The Jolly Fat Elf, also has this amazing card over on her YouTube Channel. 

You can check it out HERE.  You should also subscribe to her since she does some really fun cards all year round.  

OK...done with my rant.  Off my soapbox.  I really hope you love these cards and our reasons for making them.  I would love for you to leave a comment - what do you think of the cards, the reason for this collab - just be nice.  You are allowed to have a different view than we do but I will not tolerate hate-filled comments.  Maybe one day I can bring you over to the side filled with light and love.  LOL

And, if you want to join us each month or just one month, just let one of us know and we'll talk.  

Below are the links to all of our social media links if you would like to follow or subscribe.  

Misty's Links

The Jolly Fat Elf on Facebook

The Jolly Fat Elf on Instagram

The Jolly Fat Elf on YouTube

My Links

The World of Michael Trent on Instagram

The World of Michael Trent on Facebook

The World of Michael Trent on YouTube

Anyway, thanks for stopping by the blog today.  I wonder how many have read this far.  LOL. Love to all and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Crafty Elves Countdown To Christmas - August 2022 Edition

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the August 2022 edition of The Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas.  I took last month off but I am back this month with 4 new Christmas card ideas.    3 of them use a digital stamp so, if you want to recreate them, the cost will not break the bank. 

If you are just joining us, on the 25th of each month, the Crafty Elves - Debra of Meticulosity, Lisa of Life of a BZScrapper, and myself - post {up to} 4 Christmas/Holiday card ideas.  Instead of stressing in November to make holiday cards, we make them each month so, at the end of the year, we are ready to send them out.  And we hope to inspire you to do the same.  

Links to Debra's and Lisa's projects, as well as links to all of our social media pages, are at the end of this post.   There are even more photos of the individual cards over on my IG page too.  

Now, on to my ideas for this month.

Card No. 1

The idea for this card has been sitting in my brain since I got this Winter Wardrobe Die from Penny Black...a few months ago.  All I could see was an elf on a shelf.  I know it's not really a shelf but I knew I could get it to work.  Then, last night, an adorable and perfect digital elf stamp popped up in my Etsy feed and I felt it was time to get it made.  I bought the Santa's Elves digi from LittlesPrintables 

• To start, I purchased the Santa's Elves digital coloring page from Littles Printables on Etsy.  It's only $1 - a no-brainer. 
• Then I sized them, printed them on white cardstock, fussy cut the boy elf, and colored him in.
• Then I die cut the various parts of the "shelf" using Kraft for the shelf, a darker brown for the knobs, and red, green, and white for the hats, scarf, gloves, and earmuffs.   Then I glued the pieces together where needed - the knobs to the shelf, the white to the earmuffs, and the red and green to the hats.   
• I adhered the shelf part with foam tape, then I glued the elf so he was sitting on the shelf, also using foam tape, and, finally, the other pieces - hat, gloves, etc.
• I added stickles to the hats, the scarf, gloves, etc.
• Lastly, I stamped my sentiment, Happy Holidays, from the Christmas Foilage set by Anthony's Paper Craft.

Card No. 2

While I was on the Littles Printables page on Etsy buying the elves, I spotted this super simple Christmas Tree digital image.  I just knew this would be super easy to color and cut for a 3D effect.  And, for $1, how can you go wrong?

• I started by printing 2 of the Christmas tree image on a piece of white cardstock.  Then I used a stitched rectangle die, 3.75" x 5", and cut one of them out.  
• I colored it in, layered it on a piece of red cardstock, and then I adhered it to my card front. 
• I colored in the 2nd image, fussy cut the different layers, and adhered these to the card front using small foam squares. 
• Lastly, I printed my sentiment, layered them on a piece of red cardstock, and then adhered them to my card front. 

Card Idea No. 3

I decided to make this card a big card - 5.5" x 5.5" square.  The card uses this Wreath digital stamp from Alexandra Dannenmann on Etsy.  It's considered a coloring page but I knew I could size it for a card.  And for $1.50, how can you go wrong?   You can even print this much larger with one image per sheet, color it in, cut it out and hang it in a window.  

• I started by printing 2 of these images on a piece of white A4 cardstock at 60% and coloring one image in full and only the red bow at the top of the 2nd image.   
• The fully colored image I trimmed to 4 7/8" x 4 7/8", layered it on a piece of red cardstock, 5" x 5", and then on my card front.  
• I fussy cut the red bow on the 2nd image and adhered it to the card front using foam squares.
• Lastly, some red stickles where the berries would be and the sentiment, Holiday Magic, from the Christmas Chatter stamp set by Anthony's Paper Craft.

Card No. 4

While I was cleaning the other day, I found a package of Christmas stickers that I got when I was in the states in 2019.  They are cars with trees on top and some campers.  I also found a stamp of some trees and thought that this could make a cute slimline card.

• I used a stitched rectangle slimline die to cut a piece of light blue cardstock.  I didn't want to distress a sky and thought the light blue could act like a fall sky rather than have a stark white background.  
• The blue cardstock is 3" x 8" so I made a card base using white cardstock, 3.25" x 8.25", and adhered a piece of holiday paper to the front.  The paper I chose is also light blue so you really don't see it well. 
• Next, I stamped the Mountain Top Trees from Poppy Stamps (retired) using pine green ink, across the card.  If you do not own this stamp, I bet you have a tree stamp, or two, in your stash that you can use.   
• I wanted snow - and I know I have a great snow stencil in my stash but I could not find it.  So I used a stencil with some round dots and applied some modeling paste thru the stencil.  Some of the snowflakes are large but, just assume it's a blizzard in Colorado.  LOL
• I used a heat gun to dry the snow quickly and then I placed the piece in my Misti and stamped the sentiment, Peace, Love & Joy, from the Deck the Halls stamp set from Anthony's Paper Craft. 
• Lastly, I distressed the edges, adhered this to the card front, and then adhered a car and trailer sticker next to the sentiment.  

And we're done!  4 new, quick, simple, and fun Christmas card ideas.  Which is your favorite?

I hope you can find some time to visit the other Crafty Elves also.  Debra and Lisa also have amazing card ideas for the holiday season.  

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 Facebook Page - World Of Michael Trent

My YouTube Page - World of Michael Trent

I'd love to know what you think of my card ideas.  And, until next time...hugs from Brasil!

~Michael