cas(e) this sketch #116

My best friend's daughter just arrived in China for an exchange program.  Before she left I made a trio of thank you card for her to take on her trip.  One thing I learned from my recent trip to the Philippines is that you should always have thank you cards on hand.  Being away from home and my comfort zone meant that I had to depend on people more than I'm used to.  I was very thankful for the family and friends who made my trip wonderful.

Here's the first card I made.  My favorite of the three...

I used the Simon Says Stamp Summer Garden set, designed by Mama Elephant, with the accompanying dies.

And my second card, using a few blingy sequins.

This is my final card.  It always feels good put scraps of patterned paper to good use:)

The whole set...The sentiments used in all three cards are from Mama Elephant's Many Thanks.  I use the set probably more than any other stamp set I own.  Thank you cards tend to be what I make the most of.

I am entering the first card to CAS(E) this Sketch, where we are using this sketch as our inspiration:

Thank you for stopping by!  

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Many Thanks; Simon Says Stamp + Mama Elephant Summer Garden

Dies: Simon Says Stamp + Mama Elephant Summer Garden

Inks: Derwendt Inktense Pencils, Versamark Onyx Black

Other: patterned paper, sequins

treat yoself

I used one of my current favorite dies, the Treat Yoself die by Essentials by Ellen, to make this card...

The little heart embellishments are from Heart and Hearth, also from Essentials by Ellen.  And, the triangles are from a Kelly Purkey craft die I purchased from Simon Says Stamp.  I think that craft die is no longer available.

I made this card using a bunch of paper scraps that I've seemed to accumulate over time.  My goal is to use my paper in different kinds of creative projects (cards, gift wrapping, tags), not necessarily to make room for more, but rather to share what I enjoy with other people.  Pretty paper brings me lots of joy, and I'm sure it'll bring other folks joy, too.

I'm submitting this card to both the Essentials by Ellen Pin-sights Challenge and CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.  Here is my photo inspiration and sketch.

  

Thanks for stopping by!

runway inspired challenge #80

I'm trying to get back to my routine of making cards after a bit of a break (Christmas through Valentine's day is the busiest time for me), and so I thought it would help if I combined cardmaking with my daily gratitude practice...writing at least one thing that I'm thankful for each day.  Today, I made this...

...which, I'm submitting to the Runway Inspired Challenge.  This was our inspiration.

It's important for me to focus on the positive, to remember and appreciate the good things in my life, and to always, always, always practice gratitude.  Even when everything seems to be going wrong and all the things that stress me out seem like they are just piling up, that's when I push myself the hardest to count my blessings.

This card was made for my Brooklyn family, for taking me in and letting me stay at their place while I'm having major repairs done on my house.  I can't thank them enough for their support and love.

This card was made by stamping with distress inks, which I hardly use to stamp with.  I liked the beady and not-so-sharp look that the ink made on the solid vase and flower images.  I provided a bit of definition by taking a wet brush to some places to smooth out the color.

Thanks for taking a look.  Would love your feedback...I'm always striving to improve my work:)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant - Many Thanks, Sweet Havana
Dies: Mama Elephant - Sweet Havana
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (black soot, faded jeans, peacock feathers, spiced marmalade, tumbled glass, wild honey); Versamark (onyx black) 

essentials by ellen: mix it up!

I just got back from the most wonderful vacation in the the Philippines with my family, and was delighted to find out that Essentials by Ellen just launched a new challenge.  So cool!  I love the new products so much and use them so much.  So, I fought off my jet lag and put this together for the first challenge: Mix It Up (mixing Essentials by Ellen and Hero Arts products). 

 I mixed up the Zipper Panel die by Essentials by Ellen along with one of my favorite alphabet sets, Sketchbook Letters by Hero Arts.

This birthday card was made by one of my closest friends, Zawadi.  We were co-workers at an performing arts-based afterschool program back in the day, and became close friends and even housemates after that.  He's one of the most talented and kind people I know, and I'm fortunate to have him as a friend.

Happy birthday, Zuzu!  And, congrats Ellen Hutson's Essentials by Ellen on the launch of this challenge!!!  Can't wait to play along in future challenges.

Thanks for stopping by:)

AEI♥U March Challenge: Stripes

Hi there.  This is a bittersweet post from me today, as its my last post as an AEI♥U Challenge Team member.  I've had a great time, so of course I wish it didn't have to end, but I'm also completely grateful that I was even given the chance to be part of something so cool.  To Karolyn and Jamie, thank you.

This month's theme is stripes.  They will never go out of style.  Never ever!

Here's my card:

I used the Berry Good stamps and dies for this.  The images and sentiments are punny and funny...right up my alley.

Again, thank you to the Avery Elle team -- Jamie, Karolyn, and I fellow challenge team members.  I had a blast working with you.  Thank you for your encouragement and support.

xoxo,
Lorraine