Crafty Elves Countdown to Christmas June 2023 Edition

Hello all and welcome to a new Crafty Elves' Countdown to Christmas Collaboration with my fellow Crafty Elves - Debra of Meticulosity, Lisa of Life of a BZ Scrapper, and Misty of The Jolly Fat Elf.  If this is your first time here, every 25th of the month, the Crafty Elves share 1 Christmas/Holiday card with everyone to help them on their holiday card-making journey.  All of our social media links can be found at the end of my post. 

The idea for this card was so random it's crazy.  These two stamps were laying on my desk for other ideas and, at one point, I looked down at saw the words "we" and "beachy", noticed the couple could be a "we" and wondered how can I turn this into a Christmas card?  A few minutes later, while looking for something, I found the Santa hat dies in my stash and I figured, put a Santa hat on the mermaid and see where this goes.  

Hence, this card!

To make it even more fun, I added some sand and made the mermaid all iridescent and glittery.  I had so much fun making this card it's not funny.  

So, how did I make it?

• I started with a top-folding A2 card base using white cardstock.
• I printed the red/white/green striped Christmas paper that comes in THIS digital Christmas Paper Pack from Your Paper Stash on Etsy.  Then I adhered it to my card front.
• I stamped Mermaid Love on a piece of light blue cardstock, which I then die-cut using a stitched rectangle die.  I also stamped Beachy Christmas on a piece of white cardstock, which I die-cut using a stitched banner die.  Both of these stamps are from Technique Junkies.

Then I:

• Adhered the Mermaid Love image to a piece of red cardstock leaving a smidge of a border, then a piece of red fun foam under that, and then to the card front.
• I die-cut another piece of red fun foam using the banner die and adhered that under my sentiment, and then to the card front. 

Next - I added all the shimmer to the mermaid and sand to the beach.  When I made my sample idea (yes, I do this), my sentiment did not sit right because of the sand I added first.  Not this time.  

I applied some wet glue around the sand, added sand on top, and set it aside to fully dry.

Next, I added shimmer to the mermaid's scales and tail using some yellow, pesto, and ocean Recollections ultra-fine glitter from my stash.  I applied wet glue to her scales, then some glitter.  I removed the excess and then added some blue glitter to her tail.  And I set it aside to fully dry.  

And, lastly, I die-cut a Santa hat (brand unknown), adhered it to the mermaid's head and then added some stickles to the hat for shimmer.

Done!  I really love how this card came out as it's so outside my comfort zone.  But using a traditional stamp and adding some whimsy to it with the hat, the sand, and the glitter...made my day.  I hope you guys love it too.

Please remember to go and check out what the other Crafty Elves have made this month.  All of our social media links are below if you wish to follow us or check out our other work.  

Michael - World of Michael Trent

Blog

Instagram

Facebook Page

YouTube Channel

Debra - Meticulosity

Blog

Instagram

Facebook Page

Lisa - Life of a BZ Scrapper

Blog

Instagram

Facebook Page

Misty - The Jolly Fat Elf
Today's Card on her YouTube Channel

Instagram

Facebook Page

YouTube Channel 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies June 2023 Release Card | Sky Above | 2 Cards 1 Stamp

  

As soon as I saw the Sky Above stamp from the June 2023 Release from Technique Junkies I immediately had this vision of laying on a beach, looking out at the blue water, with a blue sky above me, and peace within me. Corny, yes.  But nothing makes me happier than being on a beach.  

Have you seen the June 2023 Release?   

For my first card, I wanted a tropical/beachy background, so I did a search on Google for "free tropical landscape backgrounds", found a photo that would work, saved it, printed it, and trimmed it to 3.75" x 5".  Then I used a piece of turquoise cardstock and embossed it with the Waves 3D Embossing Folder from Memory Box.  

I adhered the Waves background to my card front, and then I adhered the photo I printed.  I really only needed the blue background to show.  Next, I stamped Sky Above on white cardstock, trimmed it, layered it on a piece of turquoise cardstock, and adhered this to the card front using foam tape.

For my 2nd card, I adhered a piece of cloud paper to my card front.  Then I stamped Sky Above on a piece of white cardstock, adhered it to a piece of navy blue cardstock using foam tape, and then to the card front.  I love how so much of the sky shows around the stamped image.

There you have them - 2 card ideas using 1 stamp.  Do you like one more than the other?  I am leaning towards the first card with the amazing 3D Waves background.  Let me know, I'd love to know.  And, if you love this stamp or anything else on the Technique Junkies website, use my "friends and family" discount code at checkout - TJ10Michael - to save 10% off your order.   

Now, enjoy your weekend, and, until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael  

QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" Challenge | Snailing By to Say Hi

 

Hello everyone!  I hope your summer is off to a good start.  We are heading towards winter here in Sao Paulo and, sadly, it's a bit colder than normal.  At least we don't get snow here.  Yet!  Today, June 15th, starts a new QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" Challenge.  

I need a few notecards to send to friends and, since mail from here to anywhere else in the world takes forever, I decided to use this snail digi image to reflect that.  LOL For this card I used Hitching A Ride,  Hi, and Quote Balloon - all available on the Want2Scrap website. 

I started by importing Hitching A Ride, Quote Balloon, and Hi into Pages on my Mac. I sized it for an A2 card and positioned the "Hi" in the center of the Quote Balloon image.  Then I printed two of these on white cardstock.

I fully colored one of the images and on the 2nd, I fussy cut the Quote Balloon with the Hi inside.  I also made a top-folding A2 card from white cardstock and adhered a piece of decorative paper to the front.  

I adhered the fully colored image to my card front and then I adhered the Quote Balloon that I fussy cut using foam tape - to give a little 3D look to my card.

Now, all I need to do is write a little note inside and send it off to my friends.  And wait, about a month, for them to get it!  Snail mail at its best.  LOL

Now it's your turn.  If you want a chance at winning some free digital stamps, join us and make a card.  Since it's an "Anything Goes" challenge, you can use stamps or digital images from any company.  But, if you use images from QKR or Eureka, your chances are even better!  Hope to see one of your creations on the challenge.  

Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Woodblock Wednesday with Hero Arts/Tsuruta Designs | Festa Junina Coffee Cups

Hi everyone and welcome to a new Woodblock Wednesday.  When I woke up this morning I saw Amy's new Woodblock Wednesday blog post and decided to make a quick fun card.  She has 2 giveaways this month and you can check it all out on her blog by clicking HERE.  I have not joined her on her Woodblock Wednesdays because I have been so busy with classes and making folios but I made time today to have a little fun!

Since the sponsor this time is Hero Arts, I went thru my stash and found 2 older wood-mounted Hero Arts stamps - Cup of Coffee and Envelope Pattern (both retired) and, for my sentiment, Cup of Love, which is now a printable image you can buy on their site.  

My sentiment is a clear stamp but, since it's also Hero Arts and my other two images are wood-mounted, I felt I could get away with it this time.  LOL

I started by making a top-folding A2 card base using Kraft cardstock.  Then I stamped Envelope Pattern using Coffee Archival Ink on a piece of white cardstock, trimmed it to 4" x 5.25", adhered a piece of fun foam to the back, and then I adhered it to the card front. 

Next, I stamped the Cup of Coffee image twice on white cardstock and prayed that my Scan N Cut would count them out perfectly, which it did.  YAY!  I also stamped them on two different pieces of plaid scrapbook paper and then fussy cut the cups and sleeves out.  

We are in harvest festival time and our big festival here is called Festa Junina.  This involves street parties where everyone dresses up as "hicks" in plaids of many colors and straw hats.  I thought using these colors for the cups and the cup sleeves would be fun.  All these plaids...so much fun!

I paper-pieced the cups together, adhered them to the card front, and then I  stamped one of the sentiments from the Cup of Love set on a piece of white cardstock, die-cut it with a stitched banner die and layered it on a piece of Kraft cut with the next banner die up. 

Done!  I know these might be everyone's colors but, being Festa Junina time here, and with the background image being plaid, I went with the plaid theme.  I hope you guys love it as much as I did making it.  And, I hope you take part in Amy's Woodblock Wednesday.  Let me know if you are participating.  Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Happy Father's Day With Technique Junkies | Quick Father's Day Card

Hi everyone.  Although my dad is no longer with me, I still love to make Father's Day cards as if I was making one for him.  And I get to make them twice.  Father's Day in the USA is on June 18th this year and here in Brasil, it's on August 13th.  My dad loved the water.  Before meeting my mom, he was in the US Navy and he got to see the world before getting married, which is probably why he had no problem with me moving to Brasil.  He also loved to go fishing - at least when I was a young kid he did.  Hence the theme of this card.

Gratuitous Photo of My Dad in the Navy

I made this card yesterday using 3 rubber stamps from Technique Junkies - Ephemera Collage for the background, Row for the main image, and Happy Father's Day for the sentiment.  If you are interested in any of these stamps, or anything else on the Technique Junkies website, you save 10% by using my "friends and family discount code" - TJ10Michael.  Yes, I might earn a small commission. 

To make this card...

• I made my base card using white cardstock.  
• Using the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 Dies from Pink & Main, I die-cut a piece of black cardstock using the largest die in the set measuring 4.25" x 5.5".      
• I stamped Ephemera Collage on a piece of Kraft cardstock using Jet Black Archival ink.  Then I die-cut it using the 2nd largest die from the Stitched Rectangle Set that measures 3.75" x 5".
• I stamped Row on a piece of light blue cardstock using Jet Black Archival Ink and then die-cut it using the stitched rectangle die in the same set that measures 2.75" x 4".

• Before putting the card together, I stamped Happy Father's Day on a piece of white cardstock with Jet Black Archival Ink and then I die-cut using a stitched banner die in my stash.  It's old.  I think from MFT.

Now to put the card together.

• I adhered the black cardstock to the white card base.
• Then I adhered the Ephemera Collage/Kraft to the black cardstock.
• I adhered Row/light blue cardstock to a piece of black cardstock.  Then I cut a piece of black fun foam and adhered it to the back of the black cardstock and then I adhered the whole thing to the card front.

To be honest, stopping here makes a fantastic card - without the Happy Fathe's Day sentiment.  But, to turn it into a Father's Day card, I kept going.

• I adhered the Happy Father's Day sentiment on the white cardstock to a piece of black cardstock.  Then I adhered it to the card front covering the sentiment.

So, what do think of this card idea?  Or card ideas since I seem to have made 2 cards here.  Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by the blog today.  Remember, to get a 10% discount on the Technique Junkies website, just use my code TJ10Michael.

Until next time....

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Happy Pride Month 2023!

 

 

Hey everyone.  Welcome to Pride Month 2023 and a new Equality For All "Pride 2023" Collaboration with Misty, aka The Jolly Fat Elf.  I won't go into a big blah, blah, blah about the hate being thrown at the LGBTQIA community since it's all over the news.  And, I want my posts this month to be fun, filled with Pride, rainbows, and lots of bright colors.  

So, let's get started.

Today I made a slimline card - an idea that has been in my head for over 2 years.  I love the "Converse" sneakers in the Stand Up For America digital stamp set from Polka Dot Orchard and I have made many cards using this set for July 4th.  But, with the stripes on one of the sneakers, I've always seen a Pride card too, and it feels great to finally get this idea out of my head.      

I started by printing one of the papers from the Rainbow Vibes Digital Paper Pack from Graciellie Design, and the Converse sneakers from the Stand Up For America digital stamp set from Polka Dot Orchard.  Then I grabbed my GRAF alcohol pens, picked various rainbow colors, and colored in the sneakers.

Note: At the time of this blog post, the Stand Up For America set is on sale on the Polka Dot Orchard website and, Graciellie Design is having a 40% off sale on everything.  So you can get the paper at a nice discount too.  I also have a folio idea planned for - hopefully, next week - using the Rainbow Vibes papers.

Next, I made a slimline card base using white cardstock - 3 5/8" x 8 5/8".  Then I pulled out the Slim Stitched Rectangle Die set from Pink Fresh Studio and cut a portion of the Rainbow paper using the largest stitched die, and I cut the sneakers using the largest of the non-stitched dies.

I adhered the Rainbow Vibes paper to my card front.  And then, I realized I needed a sentiment.  So I grabbed my Love Wins stamp set from Reverse Confetti and stamped and colored "Love is Love".  Then I adhered this to a piece of fun foam and then to the card front.

Done!

Here is Misty's project, a very cool Pride calendar spread, which you can find HERE or over on her YouTube Channel - The Jolly Fat Elf. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I would love to know what you think of this card and this collaboration.  Planning anything for Pride month?  Let me know!  And, as always, until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

Technique Junkies | June 2023 Release | Newest Design Team Member

 

Hello everyone!  I hope y'all are doing well.  Me?  Well, I am super excited to announce that Pat, the brains behind Technique Junkies, asked me to join the Technique Junkies Design Team and, of course, I accepted.  This has been a dream for a long time.   About 15 years ago, Anna of The Ink Pad (at that time, NYC's only rubber stamp store) asked me to help her out in her booth in, I believe, Long Island's first-ever rubber stamp show.  I had never been around so much crafty goodness in one spot.  It was so long ago that clear stamps had yet to be invented.  

Pat was at that show.  We met, we talked, I bought a lot.  And I bought more every time I saw her at a show.  After moving here I would buy when I went back to visit or I had friends pick stamps up for me and send them to me.  

And now, I am on the Design Team and very happy.  You've probably seen other posts where I used Technique Junkies stamps but today is my "official" first project.   

Let's start with the 12 stamps in the June 2023 Stamp Release available starting today.  Think July 4th, beach and summer scrapbook layouts, flowers beginning to bloom, laying on the sand with the sky above, the sand below, and peace within.   

They are all on sale with a 15% discount thru June 8th. If you want anything else from the Technique Junkies site, you can get a 10% discount by using my "friends and family discount" code - TJ10Michael.

But wait, there's more! If you love ALL the stamps in the release, you can save $27.60 and grab them all for only $82.50. that's cheaper than a trip to Costco.

For my first "official" project, I used the Land That I Love stamp. The stamp measures about 2.5" x 4" and is perfect for a card front. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be perfect with a map.

For my first card, I printed a digital July 4th paper and adhered it to my card front. I stamped "Land That I Love" using Versafine Onyx Black ink on white cardstock, die-cut it with a stitched rectangle die, layered it on a piece of navy cardstock leaving a slim border, and then adhered it to the card front. Lastly, I added some red and blue crystals.

For my 2nd card, I adhered one of the USA maps from the Maps, Text, and Ledgers paper pad. I stamped the image again and had my Scan N Cut cut the image with a .4 border, which I then adhered to the center of the map using foam tape.

I cannot wait to show you guys more card ideas I have so keep a look out for those. Not that this is a blog hop but below are the other Design Team Members. When you click on their name, you will be taken directly to their creations.

Technique Junkies Blog

Debra - Meticulosity

Pam - Mustang Creations

Shalana - Scrappin with Shalana

Jeanette - Cre8tive Play

Christine - Purple Lake Stamps

Darlene - Dar's Blog

Pat - The Technique Trail

And, don't forget to visit Technique Junkies to see all they have to offer. All new releases are 15% off thru June 8th and remember to use my code, TJ10Michael, to get an additional 10% off anything else you might want to buy.

Thanks again for stopping by my blog today. I'd love to know what you think of my cards and what you think of this release. Which 2 stamps are your favs? As always, and until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael

QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" Challenge | July 4th Card | Want2Scrap

 

Hello everyone.  We are back!  The QKR Stampede Design Team had to take a month off because if you have not heard, Stamp On It sold their stamp lines to Want 2 Scrap and they needed time to get all of the fantastic images up on their site.  Not all the images are there yet and they are working their butts off - so keep checking back.

My Design Team ideas for the new May 1st QKR Stampede "Anything Goes" Challenge are a 4th of July card and a simple 4th of July tag.  I really love making anything for the 4th of July / Independence Day.  I have color combo issues but, with a red, white, and blue color base, ideas are easy peasy.  

Wanna make this card too?  Here's how to do it.

• I made a top-folding A2 card using white cardstock.  
• I printed one of the 4th of July Digital Papers that I bought from Bella Creative Design on Etsy, and die cut it using the largest die from the Stitched Rectangle Set 1 dies from Pink & Main).  It measures 4.25" x 5.5" and is perfect for a card front.  Then I adhered it to my card front.
• On the same sheet of white cardstock, I printed two of the Star Flag Header digital stamp and one of the Celebrate with Fireworks digital stamp - both available from Want2Scrap.  
• I had my Scan N Cut cut the Star Flag Header images with a .4 border and then I had my Scan N Cut cut the same outline from red cardstock but with a .8 border.  
• I used a 4.25" x 5.25" stitched rectangle die to cut the "celebrate" sentiment, which I adhered to the inside of my card.

• I colored one of the Star Flag Header images using a blue and red Graf marker.  On the other image, I fussy cut just the center and colored it using the red marker.  
• I applied white glue to the stars and covered them with Prisma Glitter (Hero Arts) and set them aside to fully dry. 

• Once dry, I adhered the Star Flag Header to the red cardstock piece and then to the center of my card, added the glittered star to the center using foam tape, and, lastly, added a few red, white, and blue enamel dots. 

To make the tag- 

• I printed another of the designs from the 4th of July Digital Papers from Bella Creative Design on Etsy, and die cut it using a tag die.  
• Again, I printed two of the Star Flag Header digital stamps and had my Scan N Cut cut them out, colored them using GRAF markers, and added the Prisma Glitter.

• Once fully dry, I adhered the Star Flag Header to the red cardstock piece, then to the tag with foam tape, and then to the center part using more foam tape, and a piece of red and blue ribbon.  And a few enamel dots. 

I hope you can find time to check out what the other Design Team members have made.  Remember, if you make a card and upload it to the challenge, you have a chance of winning FREE digi stamps.  And, if you use a QKR or Eureka image from Want2Scrap, you chances are even better!  Head over to the QKR Stampede Challenge by clicking HERE.  

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and, as always, until next time...

Hugs from Brasil. 

~Michael  

Yes, It's a Holiday - National Give A Bunch of Balloons MONTH

 

Hello everyone and welcome to a new "Yes, It's a Holiday" collaboration with my friends Debra and Lori over on Instagram.  This month we are kicking it off on the 1st of the month because on June 1st National Give A Bunch of Balloons Month begins.   

Yes, this truly is a holiday and it lasts all month!  According to National Today, National Give a Bunch of Balloons Month is celebrated in June to raise awareness about children who are sick and to find ways to reduce their suffering and spread joy in their lives.  The simple fact is that giving a child a balloon can lift their spirits and make them happy.  You can read more about this holiday by clicking on the links. 

And what better way for a cardmaker to help celebrate than by making a card that is filled with balloons.  I picked today's holiday because of the paper, below, that I have in my stash.  It's called Feliz Aniversario, which means Happy Birthday in English, and is made by Oficina do Papel, a Brasilian paper company.   

This card is very simple to put together and, once you see how I did it, you will look at scrapbook papers in a completely different way.  All I use is this one sheet of scrapbook paper, the Fancy Celebrate Die from Altenew, and the Slim Stitched Rectangle Die Set from Pink Fresh Studio.  If you don't own a slimline die set.

• I made a 3 5/8" x 8 5/8" slimline card base.  
• I cut a piece of the balloon scrapbook paper, 4" x 9", and I cut from the top of the paper since that is where most of the balloons are.   
• I die-cut the paper using the largest of the scalloped dies from the Slim Stitched Rectangle die set. Then I adhered the smaller of the scalloped dies to the center and die-cut again.  YES, there will be a gaping hole in the middle of your card.  Do not worry.
• Also using the smaller scalloped die, I die-cut a piece of purple fun foam.

• I adhered the outer portion - the border - of the balloons die-cut to the card front.
• Then I adhered the fun foam to the back of the other piece, which I then adhered to the card front - in the gaping hole.  

• Next, I die-cut the Fancy Celebrate Die from Altenew using a piece of red glittered fun foam and adhered it to the card front. 
• And, lastly, I added some Red Cosmos Enamel Dots, also from Altenew.

Here's the final card.

Making this card sparked some other ideas - just from the die.  Watch for a follow-up post soon.  Don't forget to check out what Debra and Lori have made - over on their Instagram pages.  Links to our Instagram pages are below.    

Me - @worldofmichaeltrent

Debra - @djdavison814

Lori - @mamakobs

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  And, don't forget to send someone balloons this month.  LOL Until next time...

Hugs from Brasil.

~Michael