thank you so much

I'm back from a wonderful time spent with my family in California.  My mom had her 50 year reunion from medical school and my brother got married while I was out there, so my time was filled with celebrations, family, and so much love!  Still feeling the love, which inspired my creation.

I'm submitting this card to the CAS(E) this Sketch #182 challenge.  This is the sketch:

And, this is my card:

A close-up:

Please come by the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog this Thursday, July 28th to see my process for making this card.

Thank you for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Banner and Wreath
Dies: Avery Elle-ments Banner and Wreath
Inks: Copic markers; Memento (tuxedo black); Versafine (onyx black)

go to your happy place

Happy Summer all!  I'm back with another card which I'm submitting to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  Here's the photo inspiration:

I used the blue, yellow, and grey color palette to make my card:

Come by the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog to see my process for making this card as well as the products I used.

Thanks for stopping by!

clean and simple card set

Spring is in the air!  I know because I can’t stop sneezing…

Here’s a card I made and shared on the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog.  I’m entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, which is all about flowers.

And here are some others that I made to complete a card set.

Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Avery Elle Banner & Wreath

Dies: Avery Elle Banner & Wreath Elle-ments

Inks: Copic markers; Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz distress (peacock feathers, squeezed lemonade, spiced marmalade); Uniball Signo gel pen (white); Versafine (onxy black)

Other: foam adhesive, masking tape

Happy Mother's Day

I'm excited to share my very first post for Butterfly Reflection, Ink's blog as part of the Spring/Summer design team.  Seriously, I'm so happy about being part of the team that I actually dusted off my computer, cleared the cobwebs from my own blog, and made this card...it really has been a long time.

I made this card using two stamp sets that I've been eyeing since they were released.  The first is Concord & 9th Sophisticated Script.  Honestly, the script is so dreamy and though I was intimidated at first with lining up the letters just so, I think the stamps are quite forgiving.

The cascading flowers come from Avery Elle's Banner Wreath stamp set, which caught my attention because of their delicate lines.  To add dimension to the card, I placed the flowers down in three layers: (1) stamped and colored (combination of colored pencils and Copics) directly onto the card panel; (2) stamped, colored, die-cut and glued over stamped images; and (3) die-cuts popped up over layers 1 and 2 with some foam adhesive.

Thanks for taking a look and Happy Mother's Day to all you all wonderful mamas!

Supplies:
Avery Elle - Banner Wreath
Concord & 9th - Sophisticated Script
Derwent Inktense pencils
Copic markers
Ranger Archival Ink (jet black)
Glue and foam tape

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

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

AEI♥U February Challenge: Masking

I'm back for another challenge with the AEI♥U.  Can you believe it's February already?!  Time is flying by!

This month's theme uses a technique that I really enjoy.  Here we go...

Here is the card that I made...

First, I stamped and fussy cut the outlined macaron from the Avery Elle set, Bonjour, three times on post-it notes.  These were my masks. Then I stamped the first macaron (the top yellow), covered it with a mask, stamped the second (middle pink), covered that up with another mask, and then finally stamped the third macaron (bottom, purple) and covered that up.  

Once all the pretty little macarons were stamped and masked, I then made another mask to create the frame.  I used four strips of washi for this frame, then lightly blended on some distress ink.  And, next came my favorite thing about masking...peeling off all the masks for that ta-dahhhh moment...

To finish off my card, I added the sentiment using Simply Said: You Elle-ments and Simply Said: You, with a few sequins and enamel accents.  Have to say that making this card made me get a craving for something sweet:)

I hope you check out the AEI♥U Challenge to get some inspiration from our challenge team.  You can tell that all of us really like masking:)  Then, I hope you put together one of your own projects and link it up to our blog.  Two winners will be chosen to receive a $25 gift certificate to Avery Elle!

All the rules and guidelines are on the AEI♥U Challenge blog.  Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Thank you for stopping by!

AEI♥U January Challenge: Paper Piecing

Happy New Year, everyone!!! Wishing you all a wonderful 2015, full of happiness, health, and love.
I can't think of a better way to kick off the new year than doing something creative...so, I'm back with another AEI♥U Challenge, where this month we're using one of my all-time favorite techniques.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I find paper piecing to be so relaxing...You stamp on patterned paper, cut around the outline, and then piece things back together again.   Here's what I made.

One of my goals for this year is to learn how to color better -- with Copics, watercolors, etc.  But, in the meantime, a technique like paper piecing is helpful, as patterned paper does all the work for me:)

This card goes out to all my family, friends, and virtual crafty friends who have supported me as I continue to explore blogging and cardmaking.  It has been a great journey so far, and I look forward to all the 2015 has in store.

I hope you check out the AEI♥U Challenge to get some inspiration from our challenge team.  Then, I hope you put together one of your own projects and link it up to our blog.  Two winners will be chosen to receive a $25 gift certificate to Avery Elle! How cool is that!!!

All the rules and guidelines are on the AEI♥U Challenge blog.  Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps and paper by Avery Elle
Stamps: Look Up, Red and Goldie
Paper: Every Day Collection
Other: sequins and enamel accents

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

AEI♥U December Challenge: Inlaid Die Cuts

This is 2 of 2 posts for today.  For my Mama Elephant challenge post, please click here.

Its time for another challenge at the AEI♥U, and I think you're going to love this month's theme:

Yes, inlaid die cuts!  Its on trend, it fun, and the technique takes die cutting to a whole other level.  My non-crafty friends have seen some of my cards, and pretty much anything that involves inlaid die cutting results in the "how did you do that?!" reaction.  I just love it.  Here's what I made:

I used the Avery Elle Weather It clear stamp set along with its coordinating Weather It Elle-ments die set.  First I die cut the umbrellas on the card base two times, in the position that I wanted them to be on the card.  Then I stamped and watercolored the die cuts.  Added the little hearts where the umbrellas intersected for a cute touch.  I also heat embossed the sentiment on some scraps of black card stock and cut them into banners.

Then my favorite part.  Putting the die cuts back into the negative space on the card base.  I love this part because it reminds me of putting a puzzle together.  I know I sound like a total dork, but I find piecing everything back together incredibly rewarding:)

And there you have it!  I hope you check out the AEI♥U Challenge blog.  My fellow challenge team members have created some beautiful cards using the inlaid die cutting technique, and they are sure to inspire you.  And get this...TWO winners will be chosen to receive a $25 Avery Elle gift certificate.  Can't beat that!  

I hope you join the fun at AEI♥U.  Please make sure to check out the AEI♥U Challenge blog for all the rules and guidelines of this month's challenge.  Looking forward to seeing your creations!

AEI♥U November Challenge: Holiday

This is 1 of 2 posts for today.  For my Mama Elephant challenge post, please click here .

Its the first of the month, which means its time for a new AEI♥U Challenge.  For the month of November, our theme is holiday.  

I hope you've already seen all the new holiday stamp and die sets that Avery Elle released in September.  There are a lot of cute and festive images that will help you to make some fantastic wintery and holiday cards.  I worked with the Noel set and made this...

The set has a couple large sentiments, which I cut apart (gasp!).  I like having the flexibility to build and change the layouts of sentiments so that they take center stage, and this stamp set allowed me to do just that. 

I embossed the sentiment in white, stamped and colored the birds and their accessories, and with a bit of masking, blended distress inks to make the gradient sky.

I added some glossy accents, which can take a card from simple to sophisticated.  Here's a close-up...

I hope you find some time to join us fun ladies over at the the AEI♥U Challenge.  Please check out the the AEI♥U Challenge blog to get some inspiration from our design team, see the rules for playing, and link up your projects.

Avery Elle Supplies:
Stamps: Noel
Paper: Birch Woodgrain Heavy Card Stock

cas(e) this sketch #96

I'm using a new stamp from Avery Elle, and I just LOVE it!!!  The Fabulous Florals stamps, along with its accompanying dies, include the size of florals that I've been looking for...not too small, not too big, but just right.

      

Here's a card I made using just the leaf outline and solid images.

I think it's called the rock n' roll technique to combine use two ink colors?

And a close up.

So fitting to make this card as autumn is in full swing.  Multiply those leaves on my card by 100 and that's what I have to sweep up in front of the house pretty much everyday.

I'm entering this card into the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge, where we are using this sketch.

Thank you for coming by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Fabulous Florals
Dies: Aver Elle-ments Fabulous Florals

AEI♥U Challenge - tags!

This is 1 of 2 posts for today.  For my Mama Elephant challenge post, please click here.

I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Avery Elle challenge, aka the AEI♥U Challenge, as part of the amazing design team.  This month's challenge theme is...

This theme comes just at the right time.  I'm sure many of us will be making tags for Halloween goodie bags later this month.  Then once the winter months come along, we're sure to make tags for gift packaging, cards, and more.  Here's my tag...



I absolute fell in love with Avery Elle's new patterned paper pad, The Everyday Collection.  The colors and designs are so scrumptious and they work very well with AE stamp sets.  I picked the pages with sun rays and a starry night sky and paired them with the Look Up stamp set.

The balloons and clouds from Look Up were paper pieced with even more of the yummy patterned paper.  And, the wonderful sentiment "Remember it's better to look up"...seriously, those are words to live by.  

Embarrassing fact about me: I had worked by Grand Central Station for a total of four years before I found out that the Chrysler Building was the building right in front of me as I got out of the subway stairs each morning.  So, for four years I would come of the stairs and with tunnel vision, head straight to work...never looking up!  Thus, missing the magnificent building that is such an iconic part of NYC's famous skyline.  So, let this tag serve as a reminder to look up:)  

I hope you find some time to join us fun ladies over at the the AEI♥U Challenge.  Please check out the the AEI♥U Challenge blog to get some inspiration from our design team, see the rules for playing, and link up your projects.

Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

The Everyday Collection Paper Pad

Look Up

runway inspired challenge #68 - time to soar

I'm still trying to hone my watercoloring skills.  Not sure how people make it look so easy!  Here's a card I made using Avery Elle's Look Up stamp set.  I just love the handwriting and doodly-ness of this set.

I'm submitting my card to the Runway Inspired Challenge, where we used this pretty shoe as inspiration. (Yes, I totally goofed on the color match....I thought it was purple, pink and light brown.   Well, at least I got the light brown???)

I first heat embossed the sentiment in white.  Then I used a combo of distress inks, colored pencils and watercolors for the background.

I cut square sequins so that they looked more like diamonds.

For a closeup of the matchy-matchy sequins...

Thanks for taking a look!  Would LOVE some feedback...and some pointers on how to improve my watercoloring:)

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Look Up
Inks: Derwent Inktense pencils, Koi watercolors, Tim Holtz distress ink (picked raspberry)
Other: sequins