CASology: landmark

Hey there!  I'm playing along with the CASology Week 239 challenge, where our cue card word is  "Landmark".

Here's my card...a little tribute to the big city I call home.

And, on the inside...

Thank you for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Blogging Buddies, Central Park, Everyday Greetings
Dies: Mama Elephant Cityscape
Inks: Mama Elephant Apple, Moonlight; Smoke; Versafine Onyx Black

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)

essentials by ellen: take 3

Hey there!  I’m submitting my third and final card for the Ellen Hutson’s call for artists.  Here it is:

For this card, I used a sentiment from Mama Elephant’s GoodTimes stamp set.  I paired up the little critter from Mama Elephant’s Rowdy Raccoons with the sun from Essential byEllen’s All Inside.  I loved the way the raccoon and sun have the same smug expression, kind of like they’re besties sharing an inside joke or something.

First, I stamped the images on cardstock and colored them in with Copic markers.

Next, I die-cut the images using the corresponding dies: Mama Elephant’s Rowdy Raccoons creative cuts and Essential by Ellen’s AllInside dies.

For the watercolor background, I used a combination of Derwent Inktense pencils and Tim Holtz distress inks.  I also painted in some hearts using the Inktense pencils.  Lastly, after the background was dry, I stamped the sentiment and adhered the images on the card with foam adhesive.

Thank you so much for taking a look!

essentials by ellen: all inside

Hello, hello!  I'm here submitting another entry into Essential by Ellen's call for guest artists.  Here's my entry.

I used Essential by Ellen's All Inside stamps and dies...I really love the bear!  I also used Mama Elephant's So Breezy stamp set (just for the "wishing you" part of sentiment).

Since I wanted to play around more with the All Inside set, I grabbed a couple of my other Mama Elephant stamp sets and made a couple more.   They both use Mama Elephant's In My Heart and Many Thanks stamp sets.

All of the cards together...

Thanks for taking a look!

Other supplies used:
Inks: Copic markers; Mama Elephant (buttercup, lemongrass); Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz distress (peacock feathers); Versafine (onyx black)

essentials by ellen: pin-sights challenge

Hi there!  I'm sharing a card that I made using the Wild Garden dies by Essentials by Ellen. The sentiment comes from Mama Elephant's Many Thanks, which I know I've said before, is my most frequently used stamp set ever.

To make this card, I die cut the flowers and leaves from scraps of colored cardstock samples that I've had for over 2 years (hoard much?).  I stamped and cut out the sentiment.  Then I adhered everything down to the card base using glue and foam tape.  Lastly, I glued on a few black sequins to match the banner.  With minimal stamping and basic techniques, this card could be mass produced quite easily.

I'm submitting this to the Essentials by Ellen's pin-sights challenge, or rather call for guest designers. Fingers crossed my card will catch someone's eye!

Thanks for stopping by.

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)

mama elephant july challenge: rainbow

I'm back from a quick trip to California, where I got to spend a lot of quality time with my family and as a bonus, play with some of my sister's craft supplies.  Here's one of the cards I made:

I'm entering this card into Mama Elephant's July Challenge, where we're asked to create a colorful rainbow in our projects.  I hope you like it and I hope you're enjoying your summer.

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant  - Freestyle Florals
Inks: Kuretake Gansai Tambi water colors, Ranger Archival Ink (jet black), Versamark (onyx black)
Dies: Mama Elephant Creative Cuts - Hello Script

runway inspired challenge #80

I'm trying to get back to my routine of making cards after a bit of a break (Christmas through Valentine's day is the busiest time for me), and so I thought it would help if I combined cardmaking with my daily gratitude practice...writing at least one thing that I'm thankful for each day.  Today, I made this...

...which, I'm submitting to the Runway Inspired Challenge.  This was our inspiration.

It's important for me to focus on the positive, to remember and appreciate the good things in my life, and to always, always, always practice gratitude.  Even when everything seems to be going wrong and all the things that stress me out seem like they are just piling up, that's when I push myself the hardest to count my blessings.

This card was made for my Brooklyn family, for taking me in and letting me stay at their place while I'm having major repairs done on my house.  I can't thank them enough for their support and love.

This card was made by stamping with distress inks, which I hardly use to stamp with.  I liked the beady and not-so-sharp look that the ink made on the solid vase and flower images.  I provided a bit of definition by taking a wet brush to some places to smooth out the color.

Thanks for taking a look.  Would love your feedback...I'm always striving to improve my work:)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant - Many Thanks, Sweet Havana
Dies: Mama Elephant - Sweet Havana
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (black soot, faded jeans, peacock feathers, spiced marmalade, tumbled glass, wild honey); Versamark (onyx black) 

mama elephant december challenge: valentine's day cards

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

Happy December!  I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday.  Its been a whirlwind of travel and family time for me, and I'm happy that I got to squeeze in some time at the craft table.  

Its time for another Mama Elephant and Me Challenge.  For this month, our theme is Valentine's Day cards.  

Here's what I made:

I used the Type It stamp set and coordinating die set to make this card.  I just love the dies that are in this set. For my card, I die cut lots and lots of xoxo's, and glued them on my card base to make a fun background.

Then I stamped and die cut the typewriter and typing paper.  I used a cute sheet of ombre pink patterned paper for the little sheet of typing paper.  I cut a slit in the typewriter and slipped the "love you." sheet right in.  Adhered everything together with some foam tape, and boom, one Valentine's Day card is done and we're just into December!

I hope you check out the Mama Elephant and Me challenge blog and see the stunning cards that our challenge team has made.  May it inspire you to join the fun and make some Valentine's Day cards.  

Here are the guidelines for playing along:

• Your entry must use at least one Mama Elephant stamp
• Your entry must be based on the challenge/inspiration source (Valentine's day)
• Your entry must link back to the Mama Elephant and Me post along with the graphic image
• Winner gets featured on the Mama Elephant and Me blog and receives a stamp set of their choice
• Deadline is December 28th
• Link up your entries using the Inlinkz on the bottom of the Mama Elephant and Me blog
• Have fun and stamp, stamp, stamp!!!

mama elephant november challenge: holiday cards and tags

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

We were simply blown away by the entries for October's Mama Elephant and Me challenge, and I have a feeling we're going to get a lot of amazing entries again this month.  November's theme is Holiday Cards and Tags.

I recently got the Instalove die set, which I instantly loved (heh heh!).  I thought the main die in this set -- the long and narrow picture frame -- would make a fun shaker...the teeniest, tiniest shaker in the land.  Here's what I made...

This tag used Polar Pals stamps and dies, as well as the partial die cutting technique, and yes, I had to channel my inner Pamela Ho in order to make this.  The process was like a crafty GRE question...from the analytical section to be exact.  I had to figure out where to set my die cutting plates so that I could cut some pieces and not others.  After several attempts, I finally got it right.

I had an extra glittery Tags a Lot tag that from Mama Elephants 2nd anniversary party (read all about it here), so I used it for the back.  Initially, I had thought of having a solid background for the shaker element, but I really liked the way the glitter tag sparkled, so I opted instead to make this a clear shaker.

  

  front                                                                  back 

I don't really like to toot my own horn, but this is honestly one of my most fave things I've ever made:)  Its so tiny and cute.  It has a bell and so it jingles.  Its clear, so its kind of cool to see the glittery background...and when you shake it, it appears that the sequins are dancing around magically.  Oh well...toot toot!

The Mama Elephant and Me challenge team has created some amazing holiday cards and tags that are sure to inspire you.  Make sure to check out their projects and join the fun.

Some guidelines for playing along:

• Your entry must use at least one Mama Elephant stamp
• Your entry must be based on the challenge/inspiration source provided
• Your entry must link back to Mama Elephant and Me blog post along with the graphic image
• Winner gets featured here and a stamp set of choice
• Deadline is November 28th
• Link up using the Inlinkz on the bottom of Mama Elephant and Me challenge post
• Have fun, stamp, stamp, stamp!!!

Hope to see your creations!  And, thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Polar Pals
Dies: Instalove, Polar Pals, Tags a Lot

cas(e) this sketch #97: seasons greetings

I've been paying more attention lately to bloggers who take really good pictures, hoping to pick up some tips here and there.  In my effort to improve my own pictures, I have been trying to snap some shots in the morning before heading off to work.  This is my project from this morning...

I am playing along at CAS(E) this Sketch using this sketch as our inspiration...

I was so happy with the pictures and their natural light!  I edited them on the train this morning -- a bit of cropping here and there, aligning it just right, adding my watermark -- and I noticed that I totally goofed.

Forgot to dot the "i" and add the apostrophe in Season's, as in Season's Greetings.  Whoops!

But, I liked the photos so much that I'm posting them anyway.  I'll just make sure to add the little missing pieces before I send this card off for the holidays.

Thanks for excusing my sloppiness and grammatical error:)  And, thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant (Arctic Penguins, Jolly and Merry)

Dies: Simon Says Stamp (Season's Greetings)

Inks: Copic Markers; Tim Holtz Distress (peacock feathers, tumbled glass)

Stencil: Simon Says (Falling Snow)

Other: Dreamweaver Embossing Paste (white)

ric #70: sparkle and shine

Just like a lot of other crafters out there, I was blown away by Julie Ebersole's new stamps that were released at the beginning of the month.  The new Essentials by Ellen stamps and dies have the quirkiness and humor that I really enjoy working with.  Here's the first of what I'm sure will be many projects using the EBE products.

The deer is from Essential by Ellen's Prize Stag.  I die cut it three times -- twice on scrap pieces of card stock and once on some glittery black card stock.  Stacked and glued them to each other for a sparkly embellishment.

This card easily came together with a small piece of patterned paper I made using Basic Grey's Tiny Triangles, a scrap piece of black card stock, a pinch of sequins, enamel accents, and a sentiment using Mama Elephant's Winter Wonderland stamp set.  I'm thinking it'll be a great card to mass produce for the holidays...plus it'll help me to cut down on my paper scraps (and make room for more in 2015!!!).

A close-up of the sparkly deer.  Oh, how I love him so:)

I'm entering this card into the Runway Inspired Challenge, where we used this pic as inspiration.

Pics like this make me miss having TV...Project Runway was one of my fave shows, especially the last part before the runway when the designers would bring their models down to the hair and makeup artists, who would often completely transform the look.  Pretty amazing, if you ask me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Winter Wonderland, Basic Grey Tiny Triangles
Dies: Essentials by Ellen Prize Stag
Other: sequins, enamel accents (black)

mama elephant - party recap and release in review

Hi all!  I'm guest posting for Mama Elephant's blog today, sharing some wonderful memories of the party we had last weekend to celebrate Mama Elephant's 2nd anniversary as well as some cards I made using Mama Elephant's newest products.

The anniversary party took place at the Westbeth Artist Housing and Center for the Arts in the NYC, and folks braved the rain to be part of such a special event.  We had one "make and take" table, which was full of crafters before the party even officially started, and by one hour in, we had spilled over to 4 full tables.

We had a chance to play around with Mama Elephant's newest products.  It was lovely to see everyone's creations, from sparkly tags and holiday cards to neon backgrounds using Mama Elephants new ink pads.

In the house that day: cardmakers, scrapbookers, parents, children, folks who had traveled great distances, people new to crafting.  It didn't matter how long you had been crafting, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, and we all just had a great time together.

My friend, Gary, came to join the fun.  This was the first card he ever made.  I'm so proud of him:)

Some were even lucky and won raffle prizes: gift certificates to spend in the pop-up store that the Mama Elephant staff set up for us.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the mamas behind Mama Elephant are pretty incredible.  They are so thoughtful with their product design and are committed to making quality products for their growing fan base (Mama Ele-fans?).  Stamp sets are compatible with each other and can be stretched for so many occasions, their aesthetic is cute, classy, and consistent, and there's just so much joy in their products.  More than that, Kryssi and Angela are two of the most fun, down to earth, talented, smart, and humble people I know.  When there are so many places where we can spend money, I choose to support a business where they people behind it respect and appreciate their customers and are just good people.

Congratulations to the mamas, Kryssi and Angela!  Happy 2nd Anniversary from your Mama Ele-fans!!!

We had a fantastic 3-day Stampede last week that showcased all of the new products in the most recent release.  But, you know we can never get enough of Mama Elephant goodness, right?!?  So, I put together some cards and would love to share with you.

Using Arctic Penguins, Season's Greetings, Jolly and Merry, and Boutique Borders.

Using Alpine Carolers (stamps and creative cuts) and Season's Greetings.

Using Block Party and Peace on Earth

Using Borderlines Trio and Thanks Script 

And, the last set of cards feature the "Happy Everything" stamp set and creative cut, free with purchase of over $100 (to get stamp set) or $150 (to get stamp set and creative cut).  

That's it for me!  Thank you for checking out this long blog of loads o' photos.  I hope you can see just how excited many of us are about Mama Elephant's anniversary and new release.  Congrats again, Kryssi and Angela.  To many more years of Mama Elephant goodness!