runway inspired challenge #75

Hello, hello!  I'm so happy that I had a chance to be at my craft table today.  It gave me a chance to unwind, relax a bit, and make this card, which I'm submitting to the Runway Inspired Challenge.

My card is based on this dress.  Oooh, so pretty!!!

I was inspired by the bright pink and the swooshiness of the dress.  I made the pink curves by using a curved die to create masks for each section.  Time consuming, yet lots and lots of fun.

I then finished it off with my sentiment and a sparkly ampersand.  On the inside of the card, I stamped the sentiment "I'm so grateful".

Thanks for checking this out!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant So Many Thanks
Dies: WPlus9 Sparkle and Shine Trio
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (picked raspberry); Versafine (champagne)
Other: white embossing powder, sequins

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

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!!!

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!

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

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