cas(e) this sketch #195 - guest designer

I’m so excited to join the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge as a guest designer this week!  Such an honor!  Here’s the sketch we worked with:

And, here’s my card:

I tried to achieve the splatter and blotchy look by using a heavy hand when I blended distress inks for the sky.  Then I splattered on some white color mist, waited for everything to dry, and stamped on the blue snowflakes.

I stamped, colored (with Copics), and die cut the buildings.  Then I die cut the snowy hill.  Next, I adhered everything onto the card base with a combo of glue and foam tape.  And last by not least, I brushed some Wink of Stella glitter on to the buildings.  It was absolutely necessary.

Thank you for taking a look, and big hugs and thanks to CAS(E)this Sketch for inviting me to the party!  I had a great time!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant City Sidewalks

Dies: Mama Elephant City Sidewalks and Landscape Trio

Inks: Copic markers, Mama Elephant (stargaze), Mister Huey’s Color Mists (opaque white), Tim Holtz Distress (broken china, peacock feathers)    

Other: Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear)

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)

hello, beautiful girl

Hello fellow crafters!  I'm sharing a clean and simple card I made using the Beautiful Girl stamp set from My Favorite Things.  I'm submitting it to the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge.  

The sketch:

My take on the sketch:

The little ballerina is as sweet as can be!

And there you have it!  Thank you for taking a look!  Please come by the Butterfly Reflections Ink blog to see my process for making the card.

Supplies:
Stamps: My Favorite Things - Beautiful Girl
Inks: Copic markers (various colors); Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz Distress (squeezed lemonade); Versamark (onyx black)
Other: foam adhesive, masking tape

cas(e) this sketch #135

I made this card after having a wonderful conversation over dinner with one of my closest friends.  It was one of those convos that gave me a push, a spark, and some motivation to live a better life.  Here's the card...

...which I'm submitting to CAS(E) this Sketch, where we used this sketch as our inspiration.

Thank you for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant - True Friend, Up & Away
Dies: Mama Elephant - Up & Away
Inks: Copics, Mama Elephant (buttercup, ocean) Memento (tuxedo black)

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

 

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

just wanted to say thank you

I had so much fun with the current CAS(E) this Sketch challenge that I decided to give it another try.  Here's my card:

I used the Simon Says Stamp Summer Garden set, designed by Mama Elephant, with the accompanying dies.  The sentiment is from Mama Elephant's Many Thanks, one of my most frequently used stamp sets.

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: Gansai Tambi Watercolors, Versamark Onyx Black

Other: patterned paper, sequins

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!

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

cas(e) this sketch #93: boo-tastic

I decided to give this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge one more try, since I felt like my previous entry didn't really come close to the sketch.  Here's my second card...

 

...using this sketch.

Wish I hadn't blended the moonlight so low, but hey, I'm learning from my mistakes and will make sure I fix this the next time I make one of these cards.

I'm sure I'll make several of these cards using Mama Elephant's Boo-tastic.  I mean, look at these cuties' faces!!!!  And, now that Mama Elephant has dies (Creative Cuts) for this stamp set, everything comes together so nicely.  I'm a sucker for tiny dies...like those little candies.  C'mon now...

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant (Boo-tastic)
Dies: Mama Elephant (Boo-tastic)
Inks: Copic markers; Memento (tuxedo black); Memento Luxe (dandelion); Tim Holtz distress (wild honey)
Other: Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear)

cas(e) this sketch #93: ka-pow!

I was so excited to ink up the Super Duo set that my sister got for me. It was designed by Mama Elephant for Simon Says Stamp. I used the cute superkid for my card, which I'm submitting to the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch that I used...

Though its hard to tell, I used the sketch:) The little strip with the sentiment was translated into the cityscape with the sentiment that was moved down.  The tilted frame is now a tilted power blast for the superkid to stand on.

Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant for Simon Says Stamp (Super Duo)

Dies: Mama Elephant for Simon Says Stamp (Crusader Kids); Mama Elephant (Cityscape)

Inks: Versamark (onyx black); Memento Luxe (dandelion); Copic markers

cas(e) this sketch 89 - shine bright

Woke up feeling pretty fancy this morning, so I made this before heading off to work.

I'm submitting this into the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge, which used this sketch.

Because I was feeling so fancy, I pulled out some vellum.  Then I got out my Mama Elephant Filigree set, one of the first sets I've purchased from Mama Elephant and sadly one that has been neglected for far too long.  The details of the images are lovely.  So I embossed in black super fine detail powder and then diluted some gold ink with a bit of water, then brushed on.  Yummy.

Then I got to play with a my new Winnie & Walter set, The Big, The Bold and Fun, which I won by leaving a comment on Julie Ebersole's blog.  Hello??! Awesome, awesome.  Meaning, Julie is awesome and so are these stamps.  The bold sentiments stamp out so clean and crisp.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you're feeling fancy, too;)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Filigree, Winnie & Walter The Big, the Bold and Fun
Inks: Delicata (golden glitz); Versamark
Dies: Mama Elephant Femme Frames
Other: embossing powder, sequins

pandamonium

It was one of those tough days today...the kind where you just want to call a do-over and start the day over again. Starting with the stalled train on the commute this morning, which made me an hour late to work, it just got a bit sillier from there.  To pass the time on the train, I scrolled through my photos on my phone and reminisced about the unforgettably awesome Fabrege egg hunt that I participated in this past spring.  Then it clicked, and I wanted to make a card for the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.

The sketch:

My inspiration:

My card:  

Yes, it's definitely a loose interpretation of the sketch.  I though about having the sentiment partially cover the pandas, but they're too cute, and I just couldn't do it.  So, I moved my sentiment down.

By the way, the Faberge egg hunt took place all over New York City.  Almost 300 eggs, each designed by artists around the world, were hidden throughout the city.  The Pandamonium egg was created by artist, Dot Zacharius, who stated that the egg shows the beauty of all moving parts fitting together neatly like a jigsaw puzzle, both in nature and in our lives. 

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Pandamonium

Inks: Versafine (onyx black)

Dies: Mama Elephant (Confetti, Type It); Lawn Fawn (Stitched Journal Card)