another star

I don't have TV service so I missed the Grammys, but I did catch the collaboration between Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk and my favorite artist, Stevie Wonder.  Since then, I've had Stevie Wonder's "Another Star" song replaying in my head.  One of the lyrics has this beautiful line...

I'm entering this card into the Constellations: Trendy Star Power Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, where we are incorporating constellations and/or stars into our designs.

And yes, I did play the game "How many different stamp sets can I fit in one card".  Hehehe!

Thanks for taking a look.  Keep on shining!

do what you love / love what you do

Two blog posts in one day?!  It must be my day off...and I must be procrastinating as there sure is a lot of cleaning to do.  

This card is for CAS-ual Friday's color blocks challenge. 

Do what you Love.  Love what you do. 

Ahhhh...Simple words that are not so simple to actualize.  This card serves as encouragement for myself and others who struggle to do things that we actually love.  Perhaps we feel guilty or selfish about pursuing things that bring us happiness.  I, for one, feel fear.  May this simple phrase be a gentle reminder that when we do what we love, it is actually good for us and those around us.

My pink and grey color blocks are quite minimal, but I tend to go overboard with my cards, so I wanted to hold back here to let the simpleness of the sentiment anchor a simple image.

My color choices were inspired by the current Mama Elephant challenge, which uses this photo as inspiration.  There's still time to play along!

Thanks for stopping by!  

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Cosmic Stars and XOXO

Inks: Copic markers; Tim Holtz Destress Inks (picked raspberry, spun sugar); Versamark (watermark)

loved you yesterday, love you still...

...always have, always will.

I'm entering this card into the Constellations: Trendy Star Power Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, where we are incorporating constellations and/or stars into our designs. There's still time to show your star power, so come and join the fun!

When I was home in California earlier this month, while crafting at my sister's house, I spotted a jar full of these fantastic wood veneer stars.  I also found sheets of these pearly round sticker things.  Lastly, I found a big roll of that post-it labeling tape, which is perfect for masking...I knew I had to use them.

I honestly can't seem to put away my Mama Elephant Cosmic Stars set.  I just want to pinch the little characters, they're so darn cute.

My color choices were inspired by Mama Elephant's photo inspiration challenge.  There's still time to play along!

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Cosmic Stars and XOXO
Inks: Copic markers; Tim Holtz Distress Inks (picked raspberry, spun sugar); Versamark (watermark)

always & forever

Just over a year ago, my sister introduced me to Papertrey Ink.  I'm not trying to be dramatic, but I'm pretty sure my life changed that day.  I remember looking at all the products and spending an entire day during my Christmas vacation watching a marathon of Make it Monday videos:)  I remember making my first purchase soon after (I got Hello Sunshine).  Fast forward 6 months later when I started this blog (July 2013), I remember asking my sister "What's a blog hop?"  Hehehe...some time has passed and thank goodness I've learned a few things.  I'm super-happy to join my first Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  Can I get a woot woot!

Our challenge was to use only shades of pink.  I was inspired by the curves and ombre in the inspiration photos.

The sentiment is from Grand Ampersand, and yes I sang Always and Forever (original version by Heatwave) while embossing it.

This card called for a lot of masking, which I find oddly relaxing!  I kinda changed course midway through making this -- from solid color curved sections to ombre within each curved section.  If I were to do this again, I'd make all the sections like the three curves on top.

Can't wait to check out everyone else's pretty pink cards.  Thanks for taking a look.

you and me

Yes!  I'm finally pleased with a card I made!!! I'm entering this into the CASology challenge, where our cue card is contrast.

I took a look at the design team's examples and got a lot of inspiration.  Contrasting colors - I thought the dark brown of the lamps would contrast with all the white space.  Contrasting fonts - the sentiment fonts work so nicely together.  Contrasting textures - combining card stock and vellum results in a hard/soft effect.

This card is a special one...it was made for my friends who are celebrating five years together.  They are going to NYC's super fancy restaurant "One if by Land, Two if by Sea", hence the lanterns.  Happy anniversary!!!

Hope everyone is safe and warm!  Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Grand Ampersand
Dies: Memory Box Bright Lanters
Inks: Copic markers, Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz Distress (walnut stain)

the card concept - first challenge

I'm playing along with a new design challenge called The Card Concept.  I saw this challenge through a blog that I follow -- To the Full by Leigh Penner.  The card she submitted is of a beautiful cityscape (see here), and well...it is just breathtaking.  When I saw it, I immediately pinned it and even saved the image to my phone.  Interestingly enough, the street where I live has a straight-on and unobstructed view of the Empire State Building in the distance.  Each night the lights are different colors to commemorate a holiday, event, or something significant.  Have to say that I'm hoping one day the lights of the Empire State Building will look like this:

I used the color palette and tried to make a Clean and Simple card.  One main image (check!); lots of open space (check!); limited layers and embellishments (I think...?); quick and easy to recreate (theoretically, it should be...).

This card took some twists and turns from my original vision for a one layered card because I was simply being me, and did too much.  This time, I sponged on too much pink because I just don't know how to stop!  Then to "save" the card I thought it would make sense to blend in some brown and then cut a funky angle and adhere it to a new card base.  Not what I had in mind, but hey, I can dig it...and for some reason have a craving for neopolitan ice cream:)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Cosmic Stars; My Favorite Things Bold Statements
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Memento Luxe (espresso truffle); Tim Holtz Distress Inks (picked raspberry, spun sugar)
Other: Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear), enamel accents, wood veneer stars

mama elephant - photo inspiration challenge

I am so excited to be joining Mama Elephant's challenge team, you don't even know!  Their designs caught my attention right when I got back into cardmaking about a year ago, and I find myself always going to ME stamp sets for special occasion cards.  Being asked to join their team is kind of like...well, it's kind of like Martha Stewart inviting me to go bake with her.  

Come join me in my excitement and giddiness by checking out Mama Elephant's new challenge, with this stunning photo as our inspiration.

I gravitated towards the bows and shades of pink, and came up with this.

What's not to love about a bunny couple floating through an ombre heart shower?  I mean, really.

The challenge runs from now until February 7th, and one winner will be selected as guest designer for an upcoming release.  Very cool.  Check out the challenge details and the rest of the team's projects here.  Hope you play along!

Stamps:

Mama Elephant: Up and Away, XOXO, Party Kit (for the tiny bow)

so cool...

I'm home in California where its warm enough to wear short sleeves.  Meanwhile, my friends on the east coast are dealing with a snow storm.  Hoping that they're all safe and warm...I think they're fine, especially since I saw a bunch of Facebook photos of enjoying a snow day:)  This card will be submitted to the Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge, and is completely and totally  inspired by Paper Smooches Design Team member Pamela Ho's card, seen here.

I think I'd have to spend endless years at the craft table to develop the skills, precision, and style that Pamela has.  She's crazy talented! I made my own mask to make two little notches to serve as talk bubble stems.  I love how Pamela flipped the sky and land so that white space is available for the talk bubble sentiment. When I did the same, the little critters were able to have a nice convo.  Brrr-fect and so cool!

That's it!  Thanks for stopping by:)

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches Chilly Chums
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz (peacock feathers)
Other: patterned paper

dare to be you in 2014

I'm a bit rusty here since I haven't blogged in a while, but I felt compelled to stretch out my creative muscles and do some crafting today.  After all, it is the beginning of the new year -- time to recommit ourselves to our passions and set our intentions for the year ahead.

I can't even count how many conversations I've had with friends lately about how we want to just follow our dreams...for once.  Many of us have experienced several bouts of professional burnout and personal challenges, and many of us have drifted far from the hobbies and interests that bring us true happiness.  So, this card is dedicated to my late 30 and 40-something friends who are contemplating or are at the verge of taking a leap.  I've got your back and so does the universe:)

This card is also dedicated to Paulina of Pretty Pink Posh.  I just had to craft today because this is the last craft dash hosted by Pretty Pink Posh.  This saddens me -- the Craft Dash was one of the first challenges I entered and its format is perfect for a scatterbrained person like me -- yet I completely support our generous hostess Paulina on her decision.  She has taken a creative leap herself and is following her dreams.  Congratulations to Paulina on all of her success..her Etsy shop looks fantastic!  What an inspiration!  2014 looks like it'll be a great year for Pretty Pink Posh.

Note: I finished this card with 38 seconds to spare.  Honestly, I think the only reason I was able to finish in time is because I'm spending the week at my sister's house.  She has 10x as many crafting supplies as me...including that super-awesome and fast automatic die-cutting machine.   No more cranking, just flip a switch?!  Saving up for my own now!  Oh, and the washi tape is a little nod to the first Craft Dash I entered (see here).

Happy New Year!  May 2014 bring you much love and laughter...and the little push you might need to follow your own  dreams:)

***EDITED TO ADD: I just saw that CAS-ual Friday's challenge is called "In a Word", and so I'm linking up this card to their challenge as well.  The words on my card pretty much sum up my 2014 resolutions as well as my hopes for everyone.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Bubble Talk; Verve Make a Statement and Dare to Be
Dies: Mama Elephant Inline Letters; Papertrey Ink Bubble Talk; Verve Make a Statement
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Stampin' Up (melon mambo); Tim Holtz Distress Ink (peacock feathers)
Other: washi tape