mama elephant photo inspiration - the best is yet to come

This is my third entry into Mama Elephant's Photo Inspiration Challenge, where I used this photo as inspiration...


to create this card:



This card if for my friend, Cynthia.  We went to undgrad together in California, grad school together in NYC, and now live just a few blocks down from each other in Brooklyn.  She's hella dope.



Cynthia made a joke about having to grow up now that she's approaching 40, so I tried to make the card look like a living room for a sophisticated, professional, grown up type of person.



Sadly, I had to work on Cyn's birthday and missed her picnic in the park, but my housemate was kind enough to deliver some cupcakes I made for her.

Happy birthday, dear Cyn!  I know you're going to finish off your 30s with style and fun, and I know you're always going to stay young at heart.  I mean look at you...you look like you're still in your 20s! Love you!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Central Park, Midnight Letters, Starry Night, Type It, Up and Away; Papertrey Ink On my Couch
Dies: Papertrey Ink On my Couch
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Hero Arts (bubble gum, butter bar), Copic markers
Other: patterned paper

10 minute crash dash - birthday theme part 2

My hair smells like sugar.

I just baked 6 dozen cupcakes and a birthday cake for a 2 year old's birthday party.  Her name is Rio...and she dances on the sand:)

The theme of the party: Sesame Street.  One of the many cupcakes with a Sesame Street sign cupcake topper...



More cupcake toppers...



Some chocolate cupcakes.  I also made vanilla and red velvet...all from scratch.



To accompany the sweets, I made Rio a birthday card by playing along in the 10 Minute Craft Dash (Birthday Theme) challenge hosted by Pretty Pink Posh.  Since I didn't have stamps of Sesame Street characters, I just stayed consistent with the primary colors that I used in the cupcake toppers.



It may not be Elmo or Cookie Monster, but who doesn't love a dog with balloons?



I finished the card in 8 minutes and 12 seconds.  It's definitely not my best piece of work...I think I need to just learn my lesson and not use watercolors for 10 minute challenges, and I need to learn to control myself on washi tape use. Still learning and I'm having fun doing so:)

Happy birthday, dear Rio!  Hope you enjoy the sweets.  And, happy birthday to the 10 Minute Craft Dash!



Supplies:
Stamps: Tiddly Inks Flying High; Lawn Fawn Smitty's ABCs
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Crayola water colors
Other: washi tape

10 minute craft dash - birthday theme

This is my first time participating in the 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge hosted by Pretty Pink Posh...officially anyway.  I find myself constantly trying to rush and finish up a birthday card just before I have to leave for a birthday party, so I'm all too familiar with the dashiness aspect of this challenge:)

For the birthday-themed challenge, I created this with just 8 seconds to spare!!!

I made several mistakes in my process...should have made a one layer card on water color paper so that I wouldn't have to spend so much time cutting out the pink bunny.  I should have also done all the water coloring first so that it would have time to dry while I was doing other things (e.g., washi tape, stamping the sentiment).  I'm still learning...it's all good:)

I actually used my oven timer for this challenge, as I had just rotated some banana pineapple (aka Hummingbird cake) cupcakes in the oven and needed to bake them for an additional 10 minutes.  And for some cute points, I topped those cupcakes with pink and yellow sprinkles to match the card.

A special birthday shout-out to my co-worker, Sammy, the birthday girl.  She is an amazing team player and a loving mother.  Don't let the smile fool you though; she is one tough cookie.  Strong, confident, and always taking care of people she loves.  Happy birthday to you!!!

Here's how it went down when I handed Sammy her gift:
Sammy: (looking in the bag) You got me cupcakes?!?!
Me: No, I baked those for you.
Sammy: Awwwwww! (picking up the card) You got me a card, too?!?!
Me: No, I made you that card.
Sammy: Awwwwww!  I'm Instagramming this right now.

Ha! Love the effect that handmade/homemade gifts can make on someone.

And, happy 1st birthday to the Pretty Pink Posh's 10 Minute Craft Dash.  Cheers!!!

Supplies: Happy Birthday Sammy card
Stamps: Mama Elephant (midnight letters, starry night, up and away)
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Crayola washable watercolors
Other: washi tape

Recipe: Hummingbird Cupcakes
http://www.oprah.com/food/Art-Smiths-Hummingbird-Cake

mama elephant photo inspiration - xoxo

I have always been a late bloomer and a late adapter.  I think I was still using a pager years after my friends had moved on to cell phones.  In the papercrafting world, I'll see a trend and it won't sink into my head until much later...like washi tape.  Have to admit, I didn't get it at first.  It's just pretty tape.  Then I bought a few rolls, and didn't even want to part with it.  It's just too pretty.

For my second entry into Mama Elephant's Photo Inspiration Challenge, I parted with some pretty washi tape and used the photo here...


to make this simple card.

             

Did a bit of masking for the xoxo sentiment...

And sliced a slit in the typewriter to tuck the paper in.  And there you have it.

So, now that I totally get why washi tape is special, I will only use it for very special cards.  This card is for my friend, Marlo, one of my dearest friends from high school.  We recently reconnected at our 20 year high school reunion, and I'm having lunch with her today to catch up even more.  Facebook is great to stay in contact with folks, but nothing beats one-on-one time and a real hug.

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Midnight Letters; Type It
Inks: Stampin' Up (rose red, so saffron); Memento (tuxedo black)
Other: washi tape, patterned paper

mama elephant photo inspiration - spread happiness

The papercrafting goddesses have answered my prayers!  Mama Elephant  is hosting a photo inspiration challenge! I love and use their stamp sets so much and I'm glad that I get to participate in their challenge.

Here's the photo that I based my card on.

I liked the classy feel to the photo as well as the bold stripes and the subtle splashes of color, so I came up with this.

I don't own any border stamps (yet) so I made the black/white sun rays from the father's day ties in ME's Papa Love stamp set.

My sister suggested I emboss the buildings in silver, and lucky me, I had just purchased silver embossing powder in our local stamp store's discount bins.  What luck...just a buck!

This card is for my friend, Justin, one of my closest friends from high school.  We recently reconnected during our 20 year high school reunion last weekend.  I spent the whole day with him and his beautiful family yesterday, where I milked a cow and rode a horse!!!  Hey, that's a big deal for this city gal.  I think he'll get a kick out of it.  Here's me, trying to look like I'm not terrified (which I was) with Justin's horse named Lucy.

Ha!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Up and Away, Papa Love, Central Park

Inks: Memento (tuxedo black)

Other: patterned paper, embossing powder, stickles, enamel accents

paper smooches - anything goes

I'm feeling thankful today, plus I have a case of the giggles.

First, I'm thankful that I was chosen as a featured player in Paper Smooches Picture Perfect challenge last week (yay!  Here's my entry).  Second, I'm thankful to have wonderful friends, many of which I reconnected with last night at my 20 year high school reunion.  I was anxious about going -- really worried about fitting in, having something to talk about, how I looked....and because I've been blessed with such great friends I quickly realized I had nothing to worry about.  I was welcomed with open arms and lots of hugs.  And wow, the room was full of love and laughter.

For the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge this week, where anything goes, I created this.  It reflects how I'm feeling and I hoped to capture the spirit of last night's reunion.

To friendship and laughter.  Cheers!

Supplies:

Stamps: Paper Smooches Flap Happy and Spring Fling

Inks: Copic markers; Memento (black tuxedo)

Dies: Paper Smooches Butterflies 1 and Butterflies 3

monday mood board

Just a quick post to participate in WPlus9's Monday Mood Board #17 challenge.  I often bake gifts for folks and because I'm usually scrambling to finish up the baking and packaging, I usually run out of time to make a nice card.  Most of the time, I resort to finding a scrap piece of patterned paper, folding it in half and then just writing on the inside.  Boo!  Major party-foul, especially when I really enjoy making handmade/heartfelt cards.

So, I found a cute little spoon image - solid and outline - and stamped away...

Eventhough I usually bake cupcakes and cookies (which you don't eat with a spoon), spoons are associated with food, and that's good enough for me.  

Supplies:
Stamps: WPlus9 Sweets and Treats + Fillers; Mama Elephant Midnight Letters
Inks: Stampin' Up (basic grey, calypso coral, peach parfait, pistachio pudding, pool party); Memento (tuxedo black)