pandamonium

It was one of those tough days today...the kind where you just want to call a do-over and start the day over again. Starting with the stalled train on the commute this morning, which made me an hour late to work, it just got a bit sillier from there.  To pass the time on the train, I scrolled through my photos on my phone and reminisced about the unforgettably awesome Fabrege egg hunt that I participated in this past spring.  Then it clicked, and I wanted to make a card for the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.

The sketch:

My inspiration:

My card:  

Yes, it's definitely a loose interpretation of the sketch.  I though about having the sentiment partially cover the pandas, but they're too cute, and I just couldn't do it.  So, I moved my sentiment down.

By the way, the Faberge egg hunt took place all over New York City.  Almost 300 eggs, each designed by artists around the world, were hidden throughout the city.  The Pandamonium egg was created by artist, Dot Zacharius, who stated that the egg shows the beauty of all moving parts fitting together neatly like a jigsaw puzzle, both in nature and in our lives. 

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Pandamonium

Inks: Versafine (onyx black)

Dies: Mama Elephant (Confetti, Type It); Lawn Fawn (Stitched Journal Card)

cas(e) this sketch #84

I needed to get some papercrafting time in today before heading in to the city for a long day at work, so I decided to play along with the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.  And, a challenge it was!

The sketch:

My take on it:

Extra gold splotches to cover up the several mess ups I made;)

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant (Many Thanks); Simon Says Stamp (Best Mom Ever)
Dies: Mama Elephant (Bold Banner)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, fired brick, shabby shutters, peeled paint); Versamark
Other: Ranger black sparkle embossing powder; Hero Arts gold embossing powder; Wink of Stella brushes (clear, gold)

lawnscaping challenge #85

This card is for one of my closest friends, Zawadi.  He's taking off for Germany tomorrow to spend the rest of his summer.  I'm so excited for him and I wish him safe travels.

I had breakfast this morning with Zawadi so I could wish him well and hear about his plans.  He has an idea of where he wants to go and has some friends in several places, but he doesn't have a firm itinerary...just a open mind, an open heart, and a readiness for adventure.  That's my kind of vacation!  There are some people who I'd worry about if they didn't have a travel buddy or a tour group to be with...not Zawadi.  He is one of those guys that gets along with everyone, and everyone just loves him.

All the best to my dear friend.  Woo hoo!!!!  I'm entering this card into the Lawnscaping Challenge #85.

Supplies:
Stamps: Flying By, Milo's ABCs
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, tumbled glass); Versafine (black onyx)
Dies: Flying By 

best time of your life

I find paper piecing to be incredibly relaxing.  With all the tools and supplies I've accumulated over the years, I guess there's something about the basics of cutting, gluing and putting things together that is so appealing to me.  Here's a card I made using the paper piecing technique.

This card is for my  co-worker, Amanda (see the little "A" on the luggage tag?), who is taking off to Italy next week for the rest of the summer.  No, I'm not jealous, and yes, I'm lying.  I'm twice her age and though you might think that the age gap would make us complete opposites, we get along very well.  I admire her strong work ethic, her sense of humor, and the way she loves life.

The colorful look of this card reflects Amanda's bubbly personality.  She's bringing a bag full o' hair bows with her...one for each day for the five weeks she'll be in Italy.  How awesome:)  This will be Amanda's first time getting on a plane, and for this trip to take her overseas to another country...well, I love how she's just diving into the world of travel and adventure.  Wishing my dear friend safe travels.

I am submitting this card to the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Thanks for looking!  Grazie!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant (Around We Go, Geotagged)
Dies: Mama Elephant (Bold Banner, Confetti)
Other: patterned paper

heartfelt thanks

I just completely reorganized my paper crafting supplies, and in doing so, found some things that I sorta forgot I had.  Like my Inktense pencils.  And my distress pens.  I dusted them off, reintroduced myself, and made this.

I also discovered that I can paint with gold ink, just like I can with distress inks.  Had no idea!  So the duck gets a shiny gold balloon because that's the way it should be.

I was thinking of my sister when I made this card.  I remember calling her a while back to tell her that I LOVED the entire Avery Elle release one month.  Next thing I know, she ordered them for me.  Completely unexpected, and wholeheartedly appreciated.

Many, many thanks to my sister.  She recently took a trip from California to visit me in New York, but because we were so busy (2 baking gigs, 3 musicals, trip from NYC to DC, eating lots and lots...), we actually had no time to do any crafty stuff.  Hoping she'll come back for another trip so we can make cards and have more sister time.  Here she is in NYC's fashion district, or rather sequins heaven!!! Usually my sis smiles for pictures, but she is seriously focused here.  We went to several trims & notions stores, found the discount baskets and came home with a ridiculous amount of shiny goodness.

I'm submitting this card to both the CASology challenge (cue card: float) and the AEI♥U Challenge (use gold).

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Storybook, Red and Goldie (grass)
Dies: Avery Elle Storybook
Ink: Delicata (golden glitz); Derwent Inktense; Ranger Archival (jet black); Tim Holtz distress ink (antique linen) 

casology week 102 - float

I'm a new-ish subscriber to Studio Calico's monthly card kits.  It took me a long time to decide to subscribe to any kit because...well...I like to pick out stamps, paper, and embellishments on my own.  I guess I'm picky like that:)  But, when I saw Sugar Rush, and particularly JJ Bolton's cards using the kit, I was sold! Here's the card I made for the CASology challenge with the cue word being "float".

I made this card the other night when we had a crazy thunder storm.  Thunder and lightning really freak me out, and there was one point were the thunder was so loud that I felt everything shake...the floor below me, my entire body.  I thought that one of my housemates had dropped something upstairs.  So, I calmed my nerves by making this card.  Art therapy, for real!

Needless to say, making this card did the trick and I was able to relax.  The little girl with her kite has a look of pure contentment and peace, and the sentiment melts my heart.  Takes me back to childhood when me, my sibs, and our cousins would make our own kites out of barbecue skewers and tissue paper, and then fly them in the back yard...or at least, attempt to. Ahhh, those were the days.

Thanks for taking a look.  And, remember to enjoy the small moments:)

Supplies:
Stamps: Studio Calico Sugar Rush, Mama Elephant In My Heart (flower and snail), Avery Elle Storybook (grass)
Ink: Derwent Inktense pencils; Tim Holtz Distress (antique linen)
Other: patterned paper, Pilot Razor Point pen (kite string)  

avery elle challenge #10 - gold!

I am trying to get right back into the habit of making a card before bedtime...as there is no better way for me to clear my head and end the day on a positive note.  I was delighted to see that the Avery Elle challenge is centered around gold.  I love gold, and this challenge also gives me a chance to use the AE stamps that my sis got me.  Here's my card:

Just like those chefs on TV prepare a dish in three ways, I give you gold stars prepared three ways: gold embossed, gold glitter die cuts, and with a gold gel pen.  Take that, Master Chef! Ha!

I hope to give this challenge another try.  I wasn't really pleased with my perspective here...the deer should be lower to create more distance between him and the falling star.  But, I made a card (2 in one week!) so that's major progress:)

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: Storybook
Dies: Storybook 

mama elephant and me: july challenge

Hooray for summer, a new Mama Elephant challenge, and ME's new challenge blog, Mama Elephant and Me!  So very clever, I love it.  Here's the photo that serves as inspiration for this month's challenge.

I was particularly inspired by vibrant colors and the overall celebratory and festive mood of the photo.  Pom poms are always fun...I remember making them as a kid out of anything I could get my hands on...newspaper, tissue paper, yarn.  I wanted to capture the pure joyfulness of the photo, so I made this.

The little one is spreadin' a little love!

Come spread the love and join the fun this month's Mama Elephant and Me challenge.

Rules for playing along:

• Use at least one Mama Elephant stamp
• Entry must be based on the challenge/inspiration source provided
• Entry must link back to Mama Elephant and Me blog post along with the graphic image
• Link up your entry using Inlinkz on Mama Elephant and Me blog post
• Winner gets a stamp set of choice
• Deadline is July 28th
• No limits on how many entries you submit, so go crazy and stamp, stamp, stamp away!

Supplies:

Stamps: Everyday Greetings, In My Heart, No Peeking (dashed swirl), So Breezy (dashed swirl with heart), Around We Go (heart image)