avery elle challenge #14 - sequins

When I was in high school, my friends and I pulled a "prank" where we cut out a bunch of paper snowflakes, wrote inspiring, positive messages on them and then taped them to every locker in the school.  We didn't sign our names, just spread some good cheer anonymously.  This card I made reminds of the well wishes and heart behind that prank.  A simple, no-need-for-an-occasion, card to say hello.

I'm entering this into the Avery Elle Challenge, where we have to use sequins in our project.

Funny thing is I had every intention on making this a masculine card.  I first choose the colors for the chevrons, die cut and glued them on.  Then I lost control...added hearts, a sparkly sentiment, and then the sequins.  Even though the sequins are navy and metal/grey to match the masculine chevrons, I think this just shows how I have absolutely no self-control.  Haha!

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Modern Leaves; Red and Goldie
Dies: Chevron Border
Other: sequins, colored cardstock

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

mama elephant and me - watercoloring and birthdays

Happy August to you!  Can't believe it's already so late in the summer.  Now, I'm feeling the pressure to squeeze in as many summer concerts, outdoor movie screenings, and rooftop happy hours as possible.  Hope you're having a wonderful summer, and I hope you can take part in Mama Elephant's August challenge: Watercoloring and Birthdays.

I used one of my favorite sets, Nursery Deco, to watercolor a birthday bear.  The birthday presents were stamped, watercolored, and cut out, using the Cozy Christmas set.  Great way to use those holiday sets year-round! Its a bit difficult to see, but I used watercolors on the star/heart-shaped dies from the Confetti Creative Cuts.

Check out the wonderful inspiration from the Mama Elephant and Me Challenge Team.  My jaw hit the floor several times when I saw them.  Seriously, go take a look for yourself, and then after you pick up your own jaw, come play along with us.

The guidelines:   

• Your entry must use at least one Mama Elephant stamp
• Your entry must incorporate the theme: Watercoloring and Birthdays
• Your entry must link back to the Mama Elephant and Me blog post along with the graphic image
• Winner will be featured on the Mama Elephant and Me blog and receive a stamp set of their choice
• Link up your creations using the Inlinkz at the bottom of the Mama Elephant and Me blog challenge post
• Deadline to submit entries is August 28th
• You may enter as many times as you wish.  So, have fun, go crazy, and stamp, stamp, stamp!!!

Thanks for looking and can't wait to see your wonderful creations!

Supplies:

Stamps: Cozy Christmas (presents); Honey Bunny (party hat) Make a Wish (sentiment); Nursury Deco (bear and banner); Pandamonium (balloon)

Dies: Confetti

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)

cas(e) this sketch #84

I needed to get some papercrafting time in today before heading in to the city for a long day at work, so I decided to play along with the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.  And, a challenge it was!

The sketch:

My take on it:

Extra gold splotches to cover up the several mess ups I made;)

Thanks for looking!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant (Many Thanks); Simon Says Stamp (Best Mom Ever)
Dies: Mama Elephant (Bold Banner)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, fired brick, shabby shutters, peeled paint); Versamark
Other: Ranger black sparkle embossing powder; Hero Arts gold embossing powder; Wink of Stella brushes (clear, gold)

lawnscaping challenge #85

This card is for one of my closest friends, Zawadi.  He's taking off for Germany tomorrow to spend the rest of his summer.  I'm so excited for him and I wish him safe travels.

I had breakfast this morning with Zawadi so I could wish him well and hear about his plans.  He has an idea of where he wants to go and has some friends in several places, but he doesn't have a firm itinerary...just a open mind, an open heart, and a readiness for adventure.  That's my kind of vacation!  There are some people who I'd worry about if they didn't have a travel buddy or a tour group to be with...not Zawadi.  He is one of those guys that gets along with everyone, and everyone just loves him.

All the best to my dear friend.  Woo hoo!!!!  I'm entering this card into the Lawnscaping Challenge #85.

Supplies:
Stamps: Flying By, Milo's ABCs
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, tumbled glass); Versafine (black onyx)
Dies: Flying By 

best time of your life

I find paper piecing to be incredibly relaxing.  With all the tools and supplies I've accumulated over the years, I guess there's something about the basics of cutting, gluing and putting things together that is so appealing to me.  Here's a card I made using the paper piecing technique.

This card is for my  co-worker, Amanda (see the little "A" on the luggage tag?), who is taking off to Italy next week for the rest of the summer.  No, I'm not jealous, and yes, I'm lying.  I'm twice her age and though you might think that the age gap would make us complete opposites, we get along very well.  I admire her strong work ethic, her sense of humor, and the way she loves life.

The colorful look of this card reflects Amanda's bubbly personality.  She's bringing a bag full o' hair bows with her...one for each day for the five weeks she'll be in Italy.  How awesome:)  This will be Amanda's first time getting on a plane, and for this trip to take her overseas to another country...well, I love how she's just diving into the world of travel and adventure.  Wishing my dear friend safe travels.

I am submitting this card to the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Thanks for looking!  Grazie!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant (Around We Go, Geotagged)
Dies: Mama Elephant (Bold Banner, Confetti)
Other: patterned paper