Sparkle and Shine Challenge #17

Hi there!  It's time for another Sparkle and Shine Challenge!  This is our inspiration photo for the challenge:

We are sponsored this week by Pretty Pink Posh!

Here is my card!  I started off by watercoloring a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper with several shades of Distress Ink to match the color of the dresses in the inspiration photo.  I die cut the watercolor piece with the medium frame from the Tipped Tops die set by Papertrey Ink.  Then, using the largest die from the same set, I cut a mat from dark purple card stock.  I stamped a sentiment from the Carnival Toppers stamp set by Mama Elephant on a strip of white cardstock and cut a banner end on the left side.  I popped that up on the watercolor piece.  Then, I diecut, stamped and colored the frame and one of the cupcakes from the Papertrey Ink Bakers Dozen stamp set.  I adhered the frame with a glue pen, and popped the cupcake up with foam tape.  Then I added a scattering of Sparkling Clear and iridescent sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

Be sure to check out the blog for all of the challenge details and for lots more inspiration from the design team.  I  hope you'll join us for a chance to win some Pretty Pink Posh goodies! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Papertrey  Ink Bakers Dozen, Mama Elephant Carnival Toppers

Dies: Papertrey Ink Bakers Dozen, Tipped Tops

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink in Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet

Paper: PTI White, Royal Velvet, Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper

Other: Copic Markers, Foam Tape, 4mm Sparkling Clear sequins, Peridot Mist, Blue Lagoon, Peacock Feathers and Lavender Moon iridescent sequins from Pretty Pink Posh

Sparkle and Shine Challenge #10

Hello there!  Time for another Sparkle and Shine Challenge!  This week, we have a sketch challenge based on this sketch:

Challenge #10 is sponsored by our friends at Winnie and Walter!

I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again... Sketch challenges really ARE a challenge for me.  I don't feel like I follow the rules very well LOL!  Let me explain my thought process for my card...  I just got the Chance of Rain stamp set from Mama Elephant, and knew I wanted to use it for this card.  I started by watercoloring a peice of watercolor paper with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, and then I diecut it with a Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles die.  I stamped, colored the images with my copics and then fussy cut them out.  I added the three clouds to the top of the card to mimic the circular element in the sketch, and added some Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins to the left side of the card where the flags are supposed to be.  I totally make up my own rules when it comes to sketches.  LOL!  I do love this stamp set though, so you can count on seeing a lot more of it around here. *wink*

Be sure to visit the blog for lots more inspiration from the design team and to get all of the challenge details! I hope you'll join us for a chance to win an awesome prize!

That's all for now... thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Chance of Rain

Dies: Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Rectangles

Paper: PTI White, Lawn Fawn Pink Lemonade 6x6 paper pad, Masters Touch watercolor paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Other: Copic Markers, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Wink of Stella Glitter brush marker, Pretty Pink Posh 4mm and 6mm Sparkling Clear sequins, Foam Tape

Creative Chick 10th Blogiversary Celebration!

Hey there!  Today I have a super special and super fun post for you!  I am THRILLED to be celebrating the Creative Chick's (aka Jenn Shurkus) 10th blogiversary!  Jenn has been sharing her talent with the world for TEN years.  An entire decade of awesomeness!  That totally deserves an awesome celebration, and Jenn has lots of fun planned.  She wants all of you to celebrate with her too!  Your challenge is to browse Jenn's blog for a project that inspires you, and then recreate it!  There are lots of amazing sponsors that are joining in the fun too... Check out this list!  You can read all about the blogiversary fun here!

It was so hard to choose which project I wanted to CASE, but I decided on this fun, bright, card that features some of my favorite things -- Mama Elephant, Distress Ink and Watercolor! You can read all about how Jenn created this card in this blog post.

I pulled out my Three Amigos stamp set, and my new Twisted Citron distress ink (OMG LOVE), and got to work.  I didn't have the same patterned paper, or any of that yummy ribbon, but I  used some Lawn Fawn papers and twine, and made sure to include some staples just as Jenn did on her card.  I don't think I've ever used a stapler on my cards, but I think I might do it more often.  Such a fun finishing touch!

Be sure to visit here for all of the challenge details, link up, etc!  You have until August 4th to recreate one of the Creative Chick's projects and add it to the inlinkz on Jenn's blog, and winners will be announced on August 7th!

Super HUGE congrats to you, Jenn!  So honored to be part of your celebration!  Love ya lady!! :)

That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Three Amigos

Dies: Mama Elephant Three Amigos, Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles

Paper: PTI White, Lawn Fawn Beachside 6x6 paper pad

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Orange Zest, Ranger Twisted Citron and Pumice Stone Distress inks

Other: Lawn Fawn Tangerine Lawn Trimmings, Copic Markers, Foam Tape, Stapler

Marker Pop June Guest Designer - Take 2

Hey there!  Happy Sunday!  Today I am back with another card that is being shared today on the MarkerPOP blog!  I am so thrilled to be guest designing with them this month.  I've had so much fun!  For my card today, I used the Mama Elephant Playful Pup stamp set and the Sew Fancy Frames to create my little scene.  The little clouds are the Paper Smooches Cute Clouds dies, and the Grassy Border dies are by Lawn Fawn.  I love making cards where I can mix and match my favorite companies!  The great thing is, MarkerPOP carries products from all of these companies, and tons more!!

To create the cloud background, I used the Mama Elephant Landscape dies. I used the cloud die from that die set to cut a piece of clear acetate, then I used distress ink and an ink blending tool to sponge ink just along the very edge of the cloud before moving the stencil and repeating.  It is so easy it creates such a fun background! :)

I want to thank the gang over at MarkerPOP for having me this month!  It's been so much fun! :)  Have a great day!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Playful Pups

Dies: Mama Elephant Sew Fancy Frames, Mama Elephant Landscape Trio, Paper Smooches Cute Clouds, Lawn Fawn Grassy Border

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters Distress Ink

Other: Copic Markers, Foam Tape

Sparkle and Shine Challenge #1

Hello there!  Happy March!  How'd we get here already?!  Today I have a fun post for you!  I was asked to be on the design team for a new challenge called the Sparkle and Shine Challenge!  I'm sure you know by now that sequins are all the rage in card making... Well, that's what the Sparkle and Shine challenge is all about!  Sequins!

Our inspiration for the first challenge is this photo:

This challenge is sponsored by our friend Paulina at Pretty Pink Posh!

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I don't have any St. Patrick's Day stamps really, so I went with a luck themed card instead.  I used an adorable new set from Mama Elephant called Three Amigos, along with Lawn Fawn's Lucky Stars and Critters Ever After stamps sets and a scattering of my favorite sequins, the 4mm and 6mm Sparkling Clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

Please be sure to visit the blog for tons more sequin loving inspiration and all of the challenge details!  The Pretty Pink Posh design team is joining us for our first challenge too!  I hope you'll play along with us! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Three Amigos, Lawn Fawn Lucky Stars

Dies: Mama Elephant Three Amigos, PTI Double Ended Banner, Pinked Edge Border

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: PTI White, Summer Sunrise, Lawn Fawn LEt's Polka 6x6

Other: Copic Markers, Foam Tape, Pretty Pink Posh 4mm and 6mm Sparkling Clear sequins

I thank my lucky stars... {Mama Elephant}

Hello there!  I just got my January Mama Elephant order and wanted to dig into my new goodies! I love anything relating to stars and celestial themes, and as soon as I saw the new Shooting Star stamp set, it went onto my wishlist.  As soon as I could order it, it went into my cart.  Haha!

I am also so inspired by shaker cards, but they sort of terrify me.  I have never had much luck with them, UNTIL I got myself a pair of teflon coated scissors.  No more tape sticking to the blades.  Um, where have I been?!  There will be more shakers in my future for sure! 

This card has several layers.  I started off with a white card base and then used the Peek a Frames die set to cut an A2 stitched rectangle from patterned paper.  Then I used the Femme Frames dies to cut the scalloped layer and the smaller rectangle.  I used the medium star from the the PTI Seeing Stars die collection to cut a shaker window in the small rectangle.  Then I used the largest star from the same die set cut from Berry Sorbet.  After I cut the large star, I centered the medium star on that diecut and cut again, making a frame.  Then I glued the frame around the shaker window. I backed the window with clear acetate and used the Lots of Stars die, the smiling star from the Shooting Star stamp set, and some sequins to fill the shaker.  I stamped some tiny stars from the stamp set on the backer panel using my new Moonlight ink before closing up the shaker.  I stamped, colored, and diecut the little girl and popped her on the card front using foam tape and then added some more sequins and tiny stars scattered on the outside of the shaker.

Here is a closeup of the inside...

I am going to enter this card into a few challenges...

Colour Q #277

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Shooting Star

Dies: Mama Elephant Shooting Star, Lots of Stars, Femme Frames, Peeka Frames, PTI Stars

Paper: PTI White, Soft Stone, Berry Sorbet, Silver Shimmer, Lawn Fawn 6x6 Let's Polka

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Mama Elephant Moonlight

Other: Copic Markers, Foam Tape, Avery Elle Sequins

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #211 and Curtain Call Challenge

Hi there! Today I have a card to share with you that I am entering into two challenges.  I used this sketch:

MFT Sketch Challenge #211

And I was inspired by the theme and colors in this photo:

Curtain Call Challenge  - Soft Scarf

I'm also linking to the current ColourQ challenge:

I first diecut a piece of Rustic Cream cardstock using the Femme Frames dies from Mama Elephant, then I stamped the MFT Sweater Stitch Background in PTI Fine Linen Ink.  I diecut a circle from that panel and put some Lawn Fawn Sweater Weather patterned paper behind it.  Then I stamped, colored and diecut those adorable kitties and milk bottle from the Mama Elephant Purrfect Pair stamps set.  The sentiment is also from that set, and it is stamped on the ME Bold Banner diecut.  I used foam squares to adhere panel to a Fine Linen scalloped diecut also from the Femme frames die set.  Then I diecut some tiny hearts using the SSS Mini Hearts dies and added a bow with some twine. The entire panel is mounted on a kraft card base.

I'm also sharing a fun Valentine's Day card over at the Lawnscaping Blog today!  Click on the sneak peek below to see the entire card! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT Sweater Stitch Background, Mama Elephant Purrfect Pair

Dies: Mama Elephant Purrfect Pair, Femme Frames, Bold Banner, SSS Mini Hearts, PTI Limitless Layers 2.5" Circles

Paper: PTI Rustic Cream, Fine Linen, Kraft, Raspberry Fizz

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, PTI Fine Linen, Tropical Teal

Other: Copic Markers, PTI Rustic Jute Twine, Glossy Accents, Foam Tape

Top 10 of 2014

Happy New Year's Eve to you! I can't believe it's time to do another one of these posts!  Where has the year gone?!  I went through all of the posts in 2014 and picked out my favorites to revisit with you!  It was too hard to choose just 10, so instead, I am going to share my top 14 in 2014.  Let's get started! :) Here they are, from oldest to newest... You can click on the link below each picture to get more details about each project:

Star Confetti - Papertrey Ink

Blue & Teal Doodlie Do - Papertrey Ink

Artsy Backgrounds - Papertrey Ink

Dressed Up Succulents - Lawn Fawn

White on White Thank You - Lawn Fawn

You're My Universe - Paper Smooches

Watercolor Cupcake - Mama Elephant

Christmas Moose - Lawn Fawn

Super Girl - Mama Elephant for Simon Says Stamp

Monster Hugs - Lawn Fawn

Snowman Treat Bag - Lawn Fawn

Ugly Sweater Tags - Simon Says Stamp

Striped Snowman Tags - Lawn Fawn and Papertrey Ink

Merry and Bright - Lawn Fawn

I hope you enjoyed this little walk down Memory Lane!  Thank you so much for stopping by to visit me!  I can't wait to share more with you in 2015!  Happy New Year! XOXO

Alpine Carolers {Mama Elephant}

Oh my goodness, am I ever excited about today's post!  My dear friend Elena, of Just Me Prints, is a stamp designer!  Her new stamp set, Alpine Carolers, is available NOW in the Mama Elephant store! As soon as Elena started sharing her adorable hand drawn doodles on her blog, I knew that it wouldn't be long before she'd be designing stamps and she knocked it out of the park right off the bat!

I am so excited to be sharing my first card using these adorable carolers!  How cute are they?!  Yep, it's love.

I stared with the stitched frame from the Femme Frames die set and a diecut hillside from the Landscape trio.  I marked a pencil line where I wanted the hill to go, and used Tumbled Glass distress ink and a blending tool to add a tiny bit of color to the winter sky.  I stamped, colored and fussy cut the carolers and the tree from Cozy Christmas and adhered everything to the stitched panel.  The carolers and the panel are popped up on foam tape.  To finish the card, I decorated the tree with silver pearls and added some Wink of Stella pen to the angel topper.  

I just love this stamp set, and I hope you do too!  Elena is giving away a set on her blog, HERE.  Hurry for your chance to win,  The giveaway ends October 17th, midnight EST.

That's all for now... thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Alpine Carolers, Cozy Christmas

Dies: Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Landscape Trio

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Tumbled Glass Distress

Other: Copic Markers, Wink of Stella Clear pen, Silver Pearls, Foam Tape

Pinky Promise {Mama Elephant}

Hello there!  Today I have a card to share with you that I made with a few challenges in mind...  I started with a piece of Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor paper.  I  just love the texture of this paper!  I scribbled 5 colors of Distress Markers on an acrylic block and painted a watercolor background.  After I was done laying down the color, I added water droplets for more interest.  I then used the stitched frame die from Femme Frames die set to give the panel a stitched edge.  I stamped, colored and diecut the little girl from the In My Heart stamp set and the sentiment is from the True Friend stamp set.  The tiny hearts are from the Confetti stamp set.

 I will be linking to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week is to use Watercolors.

and I will also be linking to the October Mama Elephant and ME Challenge, which is Anything Goes.

That's all for now... thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant In My Heart, True Friend, Confetti

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Raspberry Fizz

Paper: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper, PTI Raspberry Fizz

Dies: Mama Elephant In My Heart, Femme Frames

Other: Copic Markers, Distress Markers

My Heart is Full {Mama Elephant}

Hello there!  Today I have a card to share that I created with the Mama Elephant and ME Challenge in mind!  This month's challenge is Paper Piecing + Thank You.

I wanted to create sort of a shadow box effect, so I cut an A2 card base, then I cut a piece of white cardstock to measure 4" x 5.25".  I positioned this die where I wanted it and than ran it through my diecut machine.  I then cut a third piece of white card stock only slightly larger than the window opening.  I did all of my stamping and decorating on that panel and then popped the window panel over it using foam tape.  

To create my little scene, I first sponged Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on the top 2/3 of the panel to create a clouded sky.  Then, using the Landscape Trio die set, I cut some hills from patterned paper.  I used the clouds from the Landscape Trio dies to create a vellum cloud.  After adhering the hills and clouds to my panel, I stamped, colored, paper pieced and diecut my little girl from the In My Heart stamp set and set her down on the panel where I wanted her,without glueing.  I added some grass detail with copic markers and stamped some flowers and the butterfly, then popped the little girl up on some foam tape.  I stamped a sentiment from Many Thanks, then mounted the windowed panel over the scene with foam tape.  It didn't feel quite finished at that point, so I cut some tiny hearts using the Confetti die out of dark red cardstock.  I added some white gel pen accents, Wink of Stella glitter, and a coating of glossy accents to the hearts after I glued them down.

That's all for now... thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: In My Heart, Many Thanks

Dies: ME Landscape Trio, In My Heart, Confetti, PTI Journal Card 2

Paper: PTI White, Scarlet Jewel, Lawn Fawn Let's Polka 6x6 pad, MME Gertie paper  pad

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Tumbled Glass Distress

Other: Copic Markers, Uniball Signo White Gel Pen, Wink of Stella Clear, Foam Tape

Ka-POW! {Mama Elephant}

Hi there! Today I have a card to share with you using the Simon Says Stamp/Mama Elephant collaboration stamp and die set for Stamptember!  As soon as I started seeing peeks of this ADORABLE set on Instagram, I knew I had to have it.  I stalked the website, and as soon as it was added I jumped on it!  This set is called Super Duo, and it is only available for the month of September or while supplies last.  It looks like the stamp and die combo set is out of stock, but you can still order the stamp set as a stand alone if you like!  I'm not sure if they will be restocking or not.

For my card, I started by cutting the rectangle from the Femme Frames dies out of some patterned paper.  Then, using the My Sunshine stamp set, I stamped the sunburst using ink only slightly darker than the patterned paper.  I then cut some clouds out of white card stock and vellum using the Landscape trio die set.   I colored and diecut the little super girl, tiny clouds and the comic bubble from the Super Duo set and popped them up on some foam tape, then matted the entire panel on the scalloped frame from the Femme Frames dies. :)

I colored the diecut a bunch of these little super heroes, so I'm sure you'll be seeing more of them around here soon!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: SSS Super Duo, Mama Elephant My Sunshine

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Pure Poppy, PTI Summer Sunrise

Paper: PTI White, Pure Poppy, Lawn Fawn Sweater Weather 6x6 pad, Vellum

Dies: SSS/ME Super Duo, Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Landscape Trio

Other: Copic Markers, Pop Dots, Wink of Stella Clear pen

Mama Elephant & Me Challenge

Hi there!  Today I have a card to share with you for the Mama Elephant & Me Challenge.  This month's challenge is Watercoloring and Birthdays.  I am loving watercolors lately, and I just got the adorable new Carnival Cupcakes and Carnival Toppers and couldn't wait to play along! 

I wanted a soft pastel watercolor wash for behind my images, so I took some Distress Inks on an acrylic block and lots of water and brushed on light stripes of color and let them dry.  Then I cut out the panel using the Femme Frames die set.  I stamped, colored, and fussy cut the images, added some Wink of Stella pen and glossy accents to the cherry, and adhered it to my card base.  This card is being mailed, so I had to keep it more flat than I normally like, but I think it turned out cute.  I can't wait to play with these images some more! :)

That's it for now... thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes, Carnival Toppers

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Dusty Concord

Paper: PTI White, Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper

Dies: Mama Elephant Femme Frames

Other: Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Wink of Stella Clear Pen, Glossy Accents, Pop dots