essentials by ellen: mix it up with waffle flower crafts

Hello there!  I'm playing along with a couple of challenges today.  The first is the Essentials by Ellen Mix It Up Challenge, where we are combining Essentials by Ellen and Waffle Flower Crafts products.

The second challenge is CAS(E) this Sketch, where we are using the following layout.

Putting together the two challenges, I made this...

For my card, I used the Wild Garden dies for the flowers. The sentiment comes from Balloon Messages.

Thanks for taking a look!

cas(e) this sketch #184

Hi there!  I can always count on the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge to help me get out of a creative funk...you know when you want to make a card, but just don't know where to start.  This week's sketch -- CAS(E) this Sketch #184  -- was a bit tough for me.  Here it is:

After struggling to come up with something I turned the sketch on its side, and I got the much needed spark of creativity to make this:

This card uses Lawn Fawn products: Year Two and Party Animal stamp sets.

Please come on over to the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog to check out my process for making this card.  Thanks for looking!

joyeux anniversaire!

Oh my goodness, I'm in loooove with this Poppy Stamps Ooh La La stamp set, which I got from Butterfly Reflections Ink.  The penguin can wear a beret!  I mean, come on!!!

I made this card for the CASology challenge, where our cue word is sunshine.

I kept my card CAS by using just two images and leaving a lot of white space.  The sunshine was made by masking off the bottom portion of the card and blending in distress ink to look like the sun.  I then stamped the images, colored them with Copic markers, and die-cut them.  They're adhered with glue and foam tape.

Note: The heart that the penguin is holding is drawn in.  I wanted it to be smaller than the heart that was included in the stamp set.  Also, I don't have many stamp sentiments in French so I hand-wrote the sentiment.  The card is for my French-speaking friend for his birthday:)

Thanks for looking!
Supplies:
Stamps: Poppy Stamps Ooh La La
Dies: Poppy Stamps Ooh La La
Inks: Copic markers; Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz distress ink (squeezed lemonade) 

fusion card: cupcake inspiration

It has been a while since I participated in my first Fusion Card Challenge, so I decided to give it another go…especially since it’s a cupcake inspiration challengeJ  Here is the card I made to give to my mom on her birthday.

Here is the inspiration provided by the Fusion Card Challenge.  I was drawn to the photo and started out thinking I’d make a monochromatic yellow cupcake/bunny/balloon scene, but I remembered that my mom really likes bright colors, so I added spring colors to the mix.

Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes & Party Kit; Simon Says Stamp + Mama Elephant Summer Garden

Dies: Mama Elephant Creative Cuts: Carnival Cupcakes & Party Kit; Simon Says Stamp + Mama Elephant Summer Garden

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks: peacock feathers, picked raspberry, squeezed lemonade; 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:)

runway inspired challenge #73

I recently picked up a bad habit, where I make a card for a challenge, forget to blog about it, and then remember right after the collection has closed.  Well, its time for me to break the habit.  Here's a card I made for the Runway Inspired Challenge.

The card was inspired by this dress.

The color palette reminded me so much of the 80s.  What a wonderful time.  I used the colors and striped pattern for my card, which was given to my aunt for her 67th birthday.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Red and Goldie, Avery Elle Fabulous Florals
Dies: Avery Elle Fabulous Florals Elle-ments; MFT By the Numbers Die-Namics
Other: Patterned vellum

mama elephant and me - watercoloring and birthdays

Happy August to you!  Can't believe it's already so late in the summer.  Now, I'm feeling the pressure to squeeze in as many summer concerts, outdoor movie screenings, and rooftop happy hours as possible.  Hope you're having a wonderful summer, and I hope you can take part in Mama Elephant's August challenge: Watercoloring and Birthdays.

I used one of my favorite sets, Nursery Deco, to watercolor a birthday bear.  The birthday presents were stamped, watercolored, and cut out, using the Cozy Christmas set.  Great way to use those holiday sets year-round! Its a bit difficult to see, but I used watercolors on the star/heart-shaped dies from the Confetti Creative Cuts.

Check out the wonderful inspiration from the Mama Elephant and Me Challenge Team.  My jaw hit the floor several times when I saw them.  Seriously, go take a look for yourself, and then after you pick up your own jaw, come play along with us.

The guidelines:   

• Your entry must use at least one Mama Elephant stamp
• Your entry must incorporate the theme: Watercoloring and Birthdays
• Your entry must link back to the Mama Elephant and Me blog post along with the graphic image
• Winner will be featured on the Mama Elephant and Me blog and receive a stamp set of their choice
• Link up your creations using the Inlinkz at the bottom of the Mama Elephant and Me blog challenge post
• Deadline to submit entries is August 28th
• You may enter as many times as you wish.  So, have fun, go crazy, and stamp, stamp, stamp!!!

Thanks for looking and can't wait to see your wonderful creations!

Supplies:

Stamps: Cozy Christmas (presents); Honey Bunny (party hat) Make a Wish (sentiment); Nursury Deco (bear and banner); Pandamonium (balloon)

Dies: Confetti

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 

ombre birthday

I just got back from celebrating my friend, Kofi's, 40th birthday.  Kofi is one of the many New York friends I met on the dance floor.  This man can boogie! The birthday boy asked everyone to dress in blue, so I did just that.  Well, I really got into the spirit and baked up some blueberry scones...and made this blue card.

I'm submitting this card to Avery Elle's challenge -- using an ombre or gradient effect.  Trying to learn how to paint with water colors.  How does everyone make it look so easy?!?

And yes, I know that scones aren't the typical birthday sweet, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Happy birthday, dear Kofi!

Supplies:

Stamps: Avery Elle Bonjour

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (broken china, peacock feathers, tumbled glass); Versafine (black onyx); water colors

Other: Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear); liquid pearls; glossy accents

happy ten/ten, jenn jenn!

The other night when I was taking the subway into the city to attend the grand opening of my friend's bar, a familiar-looking man sat next to me.  We did the "how do I know you" thing, and within seconds realized we had danced together at a few parties.  Then when I got to my friends bar, I experienced the same thing another 4 times...running into fellow dancers, who's names I didn't know, but who I had met once (or more times) before on the dance floor.  Truth be told, I love to boogie...and even as I approach my forties, I can still shut a place down.  However, I've met my match in Jenn.  She can out-dance me and out-last me, and for that I give her much respect.  Jenn, I salute you.

October 10 is her birthday, so I made her this card.  Happy 10/10 to Jenn Jenn!

We're celebrating Jenn's birthday at my place this Sunday with a potluck brunch and game day.  I'm certain that dancing will take place, and I'm almost positive that at some point we'll be doing the electric slide.  Here were are at the neighborhood spot, Frank's, for Jenn's birthday a few years back.

This card will be entered into the CAS-ual Fridays challenge. Happy birthday, Jenn!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Party Animal; Lawn Fawn Milo's ABCs; Stampendous Tiny Alphabet.  Disco ball was found in a discount bin; manufacturer unknown.
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Memento Luxe (rose bud); Copic markers
Other: pattern paper, sequins, Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear)

birthday cupcakes

This a sweet little birthday card for a sweet friend named Lisa.  Lisa is a really cool lady who lives on a farm full of chickens and goats.  She has named each and every one of them and can actually tell them apart.

Why the cupcakes?  Because Lisa has been a strong voice of encouragement for me in starting my own baking business.  She may have not been one of the first to nudge me in this direction, but she was definitely one of the most assertive.  On a visit to her neck of the woods she drove me to several different bakeries in her small town, asked for menus, and then told me to make me own.  Now, this exercise is something I could have easily done myself in the hundreds of bakeries around NYC...but, I didn't do it.  Lisa kinda kicked me in the behind and got the ball rolling.

So with these little cupcakes, I celebrate Lisa.  Happy birthday to you!  This card will be entered into the 10 Minute Craft Dash hosted by Pretty Pink Posh.  I stopped my timer at 9 minutes and 58 seconds to take pictures (seen above) before the 10 minute time limit.

However, I felt like the card needed more work (e.g., one polka dot wasn't colored, messy coloring in general), so I continued to work on it...fixed the coloring, added glitter, shadows, sequins.  The version below is what was sent to Lisa.

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: WPlus9 Sweets and Treats; Lawn Fawn Milo's ABCs
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Copic markers
Other*: Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear), enamel accents, sequins
*Only on final version, not being considered for 10m Craft Dash

golden lady

This card is a belated birthday wish for my friend, Shino, a super-talented photographer, cook, healthy living expert, and all-around beautiful person.  She is the wife of one of my first NYC friends, whom I met on the dance floor...come to think of it, I've met most of my NYC friends on the dance floor:)

Tomorrow, my friend is off to Japan to spend time with Shino, who traveled ahead of him.  I'm sending him off with this card along with some goodies from my job at Jacques Torres Chocolate.  Yum!

I created this card for the All that Glitters is Gold Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  I decided to give the "washaker" (washi tape + shaker) card a try.  I first saw a washaker card on JJ Bolton's website, where she said she learned it from Donna Mikasa, who referenced a tutorial by Julie Ebersole ...I'm not sure who came up with the technique, but I do know that I have much respect from all the ladies I listed:)

The backstory to the "Hello Golden Lady" sentiment is kinda funny.  Last weekend at work, a customer dropped a box of caramels on the ground.  The box busted open, so we deemed the item unsellable and gave the caramels out as samples.  There was a strip of gold cardstock in the box that my manager was about to throw away, when she handed it over to me.  "I bet you can do something with this," she said half jokingly, given that I look at a lot of stuff we throw away and brainstorm all sorts of things we can do to repurpose it (e.g., plastic bags, acetate, cardboard).  So me being me, I took on the challenge.  The "hello" and the stars are made from the caramel box gold cardstock.

And, "Golden Lady"?  It's a song by Stevie Wonder that Shino sang to me on my 35th birthday.  At my birthday dinner, all me friends took turns grabbing the wooden spoon from the pitcher of sangria and sang me a song...because well, that's how we do.

Happy belated birthday, Shino!  Hope you're having a fabulous time back home.  Love ya, sis!

Supplies:

Stamps on card front: Mama Elephant Midnight Letters
Stamps on inside: Avery Elle Party Animal

Inks: Delicata (golden glitz); Memento (tuxedo black)

Dies: My Favorite Things Happy Hello, Memory Box Star Flourish

Other: gold gel pen, sequins, gold cardstock, washi tape, acetate. 

you're a star

This card is dedicated to all the 80s babies out there.  If you were a child of the 80s, chances are you once rocked a bowl cut.  And baby, you're a star!

Cue music: Prince's Baby, I'm a Star from 1982:)  I'm submitting this card into the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

I'm not sure how this happened, but somehow the glitter mist was sprayed in a way that looks like its coming right out of the Aquarius girl's pot of water.  Super-cool! 

I love Mama Elephant's zodiac themed stamp sets Cosmic Stars and Starry Night so much.  When I received them a few months ago (before I started blogging), I completed an entire zodiac birthday collection.  Now that I have a platform for sharing through this blog, I'm happy to present my work...

Love the little Sagittarius:)

And the Libra...such a diva!

I'm a Gemini myself, so the little twins are one of my faves, too.

I was happy with how the Pieces turned out...little fishies breaking out of their tank.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies for "You're a Star":

Cards: Mama Elephant Cosmic Stars, Starry Night

Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz (dusty concord)

Other: Mister Huey's color mist (blizzard), Martha Stewart glitter, enamel accents