essentials by ellen: may mix it up challenge

I know that its graduation season when folks start asking me for congrats cards.  Here’s one of them.

This card is being entered into the Essentials by Ellen Mix it Up Challenge, where we paired up EBE products with Avery Elle, a stamp line that I really dig.  I had the opportunity to be on the AEI♥U Challenge team a little while ago and I must say, not only is Jamie a sweetheart, but her products are made with great detail and heart.  I was so happy to play along with this challenge.

My congrats card was made for a proud mother to give to her son on his graduation day.  She ordered a “money lei” from my Etsy shop and requested everything be in her son’s school colors: blue, silver, and black.

The money lei, inspired by Hawaiian flower leis, was made out of 100 one-dollar bills…some floral wire, ribbon, and a whole bunch of Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher staples.  I LOVE that thing!

Congrats to all the graduates out there! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Avery Elle Fabulous Florals

Dies: Essential by Ellen -  Home and Hearth, Zipper Panel

Inks: Mama Elephant (ocean); Memento (tuxedo black); Wink of Stella glitter brush (silver)

Other: black glitter paper

runway inspired challenge #82

I'm playing along with the Runway Inspired Challenge.  Here's my card...

 
...and here's our inspiration.  So pretty and sparkly.

I was inspired by the bold black and gold combination as well as the blue background.

This card was made for a friend of mine to give to her sister, who is leaving NYC to move to California.  Making it kind of made me sad, but I hope the card can bring them both a bit of joy.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle (Fabulous Florals); Simon Says Stamp (You)
Dies: Avery Elle (Simply Said: You); WPlus9 (Spring Wreath)
Inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black); gold gel pen
Other: gold sequins, glitter paper

essentials by ellen: april pin-sights challenge

Howdy!  I'm submitting this super last-minute card to the Pin-sights Challenge hosted by Essentials by Ellen.  Here's my card...

...which was inspired by this pretty mood board.

I was inspired by the color palette and the polka dots mostly.

I used the Congrats die that came with the Essential by Ellen zipper panel as well as the star dies from the Home and Hearth die set.

Fingers crossed that my card will be picked for the $50 gift card to Ellen Hutson.  I just saw the Essentials by Ellen spring release and I want everything!  Every darn thing! Ha!

Thanks for looking:)

Supplies:
Dies: Essentials by Ellen - Zipper Panel, Home and Hearth
Other: patterned paper

cas(e) this sketch #120

I've been focusing on Mother's Day cards for the past week, hoping to make a good head start so that I'm not rushing to make them at the last minute.  Here's my latest...

I used the "smooshing" technique I learned from Laura Bassen's blog, applying watercolor (in this case, distress inks) by using an acetate sheet.  

Totally love this technique...not only is it fun, but it helps me to achieve this free flowing, natural look.  I'm submitting this card to CAS(E) this Sketch, where we're using this as our inspiration.

Thank you for taking a look!

Supplies:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Best Mom Ever

Dies: Simon Says Stamp Devonshire Butterfly

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

Other: sequins

 

CASology: Ombre, Take 2

I had so much fun with the CASology's ombre theme, that I had to make another card.  I'm submitting this to CASology's challenge.  Here we go:

I was inspired by the card made by Cristina Kowalczyk a while back, and it just stuck in my memory...oh dear, as happy as I am for Cristina's success and an author (her latest book is fantastic!), I really do miss her blog.

I colored some strips of vellum with Copic markers in the same color family, embossed one of the strips with the sentiment, adhered them on the card panel, and added a few sequins.

My two ombre cards, side by side, all ready to go for mama's day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Best Mom Ever
Inks: Copic markers
Other: gold embossing powder, sequins

CASology: Ombre, Take 1

After learning my lesson from Christmas and Valentine's Day (that I should start making holiday cards waaay in advance, instead of procrastinating and rushing at the last minute), I decided to get a  start on Mother's Day cards well in advance.  Here's my first of what I'm sure will be many...

I'm entering this into CASology's challenge, where I cue word is Ombre.

It's a bit busier than I had wanted, mainly because I got some gluey blemishes on my card and had to cover them up with enamel accents and flowers.

And, here's a fun little glimpse of the madness before I finished up my card.  What a fun mess!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Happy Everything
Dies: Mama Elephant Happy Script
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress (tumbled glass, peacock feathers)
Other: white embossing powder, flower sequins, enamel accents

cas(e) this sketch #119

I was so moved by an image I saw on Instagram by @hannexstitch, where she made the most gorgeous banner with gold letters and gold-dipped wreaths.  Just breathtaking.  So, I asked what technique she used and she directed me to Danielle Flander's tutorial on gold-dipped die cuts...I was hooked, and made this...

I die cut some flowers from colored paper, brushed some of the petals with an embossing pad, and then heat embossed the tips in gold.  Its a bit hard to see, but up close, I find it quite pretty.

I'm entering this into CAS(E) this Sketch, where we used this sketch as our inspiration.

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Many Thanks; Paper Smooches Reflections
Dies: Paper Smooches Reflections Flowers
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark Champagne
Other: Patterned paper, gold embossing powder, sequins