Mother's Day and More Sushi!

I made several Mother's Day cards about a month ago, but now that it's getting closer, I find myself wanting to make something different just in case I change my mind about what I want to send. So...I broke out my Mama Elephant Bear Hugs stamps again!

These sweet little bears are just perfect! I simply love them. This was a super easy card, but I'm really loving simple and kraft right now. I colored the bears with copics and then fussy cut them out and popped them up on the heart with the sentiment stamped beside them.

Supplies:
Stamps: Bear Hugs (Mama Elephant)
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Night of Navy, Blushing Bride, Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copic Markers
Accents: Hemp Twine, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

My next card is a very punny one made with Lawn Fawn stamps.

Aren't those images so sweet? I just love them! Again, stamped and then colored with copics. I have the matching dies, so it was a cinch to cut them out and arrange them together. I used Claire's ABCs to create my sentiment (and borrowed "soy" from one of the included sentiments). The background was created by simply stamping the two flower images on Blushing Bride cardstock with Blushing Bride ink in a random pattern. So cute!

I'm entering my sushi card into Simon Says Stamp's Monday and Wednesday Challenge since they're both anything goes this week!

Supplies:
Stamps: Claire's ABCs and Let's Roll (Lawn Fawn)
Dies: Let's Roll (Lawn Fawn), Stitched Rectangles (SSS)
Paper: Blushing Bride, Whisper White
Ink: Blushing Bride, Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copic Markers
Accents: Hemp Twine, Clear Wink of Stella (soy bottle and wasabi)

Paper Smooches Challenge

This week's Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge is a sketch. I'm also going to enter this card into both the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday Challenges because they're both Anything Goes this week!

I decided to flip the sketch on its side and turn the scallops into waves. (I've really been loving my waves stencil lately, so it only made sense to me!)

I colored my fish from the Birthday Buddies set with copic markers and then fussy cut them out. I applied a little clear Wink of Stella to their fins and hats, but it's hard to capture in a picture. I also used some glossy accents on their eyes and the bubbles. It looks really neat in real life!

Supplies:
Stamps: Birthday Buddies (Paper Smooches)
Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink: Sea Glass (SSS), Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Waves Stencil (SSS), Assorted Copic Markers, Yellow Baker's Twine, Glossy Accents, Clear Wink of Stella

Another Challenge Entry

Okay, last one today, I promise!

I'm entering this card I in a few challenges. The Challenge #31, ShowCASe Your Style, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (CAS).

I took my inspiration from the photo by using the newspaper scripting (and changing it to just script) and the red umbrella. I chose my greeting specifically from the ShowCASe your style challenge.

I just love how this turned out. That pop of red color is just so sweet with all the neutrals. The script background is actually heat embossed with clear embossing powder to give it a bit of shine. I topped it off by adding a few drops of glossy accents to imitate drops of water.

Supplies:
Stamps: Abby's Spring Showers (Simon Says Stamp), Faded Text Background (Stampabilities), Bear Hugs (Mama Elephant)
Dies: Spring Showers (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Kraft, White, Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copics, Versamark
Accents: Glossy Accents, Clear embossing powder

Challenge Entries

I have a couple of cards for challenge entries today. First up is one I designed for a couple of challenges. This card fits with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge with the theme Due Date and The ColourQ Challenge #288.

When I think of due dates, I automatically think of library books. When I was a kid, my parents would take me to the library every week and we would pick out books to read together and on our own. It's a tradition that I hope to carry on with my future children. Using the theme of books and the colors from the challenge, I put together this card:

It's hard to see, but I used a scripted background stamp on the card base in Versamark ink and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I thought it added something a little extra. I also added a little Crystal Effects to the face of the clock and the glass in the picture frame.

Supplies:
Stamps: To Thine Own Shelf (Simon Says Stamp), Faded Text Background (Stampabilities)
Paper: Kraft, Black, Whisper White
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, Black, Bermuda Bay, Pear Pizzazz (I didn't have the Kiwi...), Versamark
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Accents: Clear embossing powder, Crystal Effects

My next card is for a challenge I haven't entered in a very long time. The Less Is More Challenge is Up, Up, and Away this week and I had an idea bouncing around in my head for a balloon birthday card that fit with the theme.

The April Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp had beautiful birthday images and this card had been sloshing around in my noggin for a few days. When I saw the theme, it all sort of gelled together to make this guy! I used the balloon stamp to randomly stamp rising balloons along the right side in various colors and then added some coordinating sequins. I used 2 of the sentiment stamps on vellum to create the sentiment panel. I heat embossed both in gold embossing powder and then lightly ran both edges through the ink pad and embossed them as well. I wrapped the vellum around my panel and adhered it to a kraft card base to finish it up. I think it looks super sweet!

Supplies
Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder, Strawberry Slush
Dies: Stitched Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp)
Accents: Gold embossing powder, Assorted sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Water and Fishes

I guess I have a thing for water, fish, and sushi lately. My last three cards have featured at least one...

Sometimes you get a theme in your head and you just can't move on until you work it out. That's what it's been for me lately. I've been going crazy with water-themed cards...and I guess sushi fits in there somewhere...

My first card was one that's been knocking around in my head for a few weeks. I knew I wanted to make a shaker card featuring this cute little girl from Abby's Spring Showers, but I couldn't quite figure out how I wanted to put it together. I still don't think it was quite what I was envisioning, but when does it ever turn out exactly like what you were thinking?

A close-up of the shaker, so you can see all the fun things inside. I used rain drop die cuts, sequins, and seed beads. I finished off Abby with some Crystal Effects on her boots and some clear Wink of Stella on her socks, dress, and flower. Just cute!

I'm entering this little cutie in the Addicted to CAS Challenge #61. The code word inspired the shaker on my card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Abby's Spring Showers (Simon Says Stamp)
Die Cuts: Abby's Spring Showers (Simon Says Stamp), Sunshine Layers (WPlus9), Circles Collection (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Mermaid Line Dance (Lawn Fawn)
Ink: Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copic Markers
Accents: Sequins, Seed Beads, Crystal Effects, Wink of Stella

This card features the Waves Stencil from Simon Says Stamp. I thought it looked like seaweed when I turned it on its side, so that's how this cutie was born! I added an image and sentiment from Paper Smooches' Calorie Free set and I was finished!

I've decided to enter this little guy into the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge. The theme this week is Anything Goes, so it's perfect for my first entry (because it's easy!).

Supplies:
Stamps: Calorie Free (Paper Smooches)
Stencil: Waves (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Mossy Meadow, Memento Tuxedo Black, Assorted Copic Markers
Paper: Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Accents: Sequins, Clear Wink of Stella

While I still had my Waves stencil sitting on my desk, I inked up another panel with some seaweed. I had some fish already colored from a previous project, so I created a little fishbowl using the waves stencil and a bit of cardstock finished off with the Mama Elephant Landscape Trio Dies. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' Birthday Buddies set.

Supplies:
Stamps: Birthday Buddies (Paper Smooches), Best Fishes (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Fish and Bowl (Simon Says Stamp)
Stencil: Waves (Simon Says Stamp), Landscape Trio (Mama Elephant)
Paper: Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Pool Party, Baked Brown Sugar
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party, Assorted Copic Markers
Accents: Crystal Effects, Wink of Stella, Pearls

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Backgrounds

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Blog has a make your own background challenge this week. As you know, I LOVE to make my own backgrounds! In fact, it's probably one of my very favorite things to do.

I recently got a bunch of new stamps in the mail from the Sweet Stamp Shop (with more on the way!) and I couldn't wait to play with them.

I created my background by randomly stamping the large and small flame stamps on a piece of whisper white cardstock. I love how it turned out! (Making my own designer paper is a passion!) I stamped the dragon image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and used my copics to color him in and then fussy cut him out leaving a white border around him. I stamped the sentiment and the egg on a separate piece of cardstock that had been cut out with Simon's Stitched Rectangle dies (coloring with copics again). I felt like the panel was getting lost with the flames behind it, so I backed it with a slightly larger rectangle of Daffodil Delight cardstock.

I think this makes the sweetest non-traditional baby card I've ever made. I have a friend who recently had a baby and I know she'll get a kick out of this.

Supplies:
Stamps: Dragon (Sweet Stamp Shop)
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Stitched Rectangle Dies (SSS), Assorted Copics

Colour Me Challenge #67

I just got some wonderful new products from My Favorite Things a couple of days ago and I was eager to try them out! Colour Me has a new challenge up on their blog, so I'm using their colors for my card (Rose Red, Blushing Bride, and Pistachio Pudding).

I used the new You're the Sweetest stamp set for my sentiment and the Sweet Treats dies for the cute embossed cone and scoops of ice cream. I covered the chocolate sauce die cut in crystal effects to make it look shiny and yummy! I used Rose Red with a stencil to create the fading background behind my ice cream cone. Pop on a few sequins and it's ready to send to a special someone!

A close up of my "chocolate sauce" since it didn't really show up in the first picture. I just love how it looks!

Supplies:
Stamps: You're the Sweetest (MFT)
Dies: Sweet Treats (MFT), Stitched Rectangles (SSS)
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso
Ink: Rose Red, Early Espresso
Accents: Crystal Effects, Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Cupcakes and Elephants

I've been busy creating lately and now I'm ready to share a few cards with you! I've been playing around with my new copics and I'm already in love with them. I'm so sad that I didn't get them sooner, but at least I have my new obsession now!

This cute birthday card was created using Mama Elephant's Carnival Cupcakes and Cupcake Toppers with coordinating dies. The background is a watercolor wash using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

This sweet little elephant image is from WPlus9's Unforgettable set. I just love elephants and the images in this set are just adorable! The background was sponged using a stencil that I created with a piece of paper and a die. I moved my makeshift stencil around the paper to sponge in the clouds. I cut off the stamped tail of the balloon and attached a piece of crochet thread instead. I just love how this turned out!

I CASE'd this card from one of the featured cards on WPlus9's February release post. I just loved the simple style and the spotlight cut for the elephant! Plus, I always seem to need belated birthday cards, so this was perfect for my stash! (The inside has a beautiful birthday sentiment, but I didn't take a picture and I've actually already sent it out! Yes, I am that bad...)

This card was actually just a happy accident. I stamped the images onto a panel just to practice using my markers, but I liked how it turned out, so I trimmed the sides and added it to a Pool Party card base. The stamps are from Ella and Friends by Mama Elephant.

Supplies:
Stamps: Carnival Cupcakes (ME), Carnival Toppers (ME), Ella and Friends (ME), Unforgettable (WPlus9)
Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party
Ink: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi, Distress Inks - Seedless Preserves, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar (Tim Holtz), Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Copic Markers, Stitched Rectangle Dies (SSS), Carnival Cupcakes and Carnival Toppers dies (ME), Circle Dies (SU), Silver embossing powder
Accents: Crochet Thread, Crystal Effects

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: "The Middle"

This week's challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog is "The Middle". I got out my stamp storage and chose one stamp set at random from the middle of the pack and I got to work making a cute card.

I ended up pulling out the Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes set (and I added the sentiment and rose from Carnival Toppers). I created my background panel by using a stencil to ink up some ombre stripes with distress inks. I heat embossed the sentiment in gold on some vellum and used my dies to cut out my copic colored stamps. Add some sequins and attach to the card base and you're done! I just love how it turned out!

Supplies:
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries (all Tim Holtz Distress Ink), Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Stripe Stencil, Various Copic Markers
Embellishments: Sequins, Clear Wink of Stella

Colour Me Challenge #66

I'm currently making up a care package for my mom and I thought it would be fun to make some bookmarks for her and my dad. They're both serious bookworms and I love to give them little things occasionally to let them know I'm thinking about them. I'm sending mom the sympathy cards she requested this coming Monday and I'm just slipping in a few extras as a surprise!

When I saw the colors for the Colour Me Challenge, I just knew I wanted to use them for a bookmark.

Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight are such a pretty combination and they just happen to coincide with one of my mother's favorite color combos! Perfect!

I used the To Thine Own Shelf stamp set from Simon Says Stamp to create a cute little scene on the bookmark. (I actually laminated it after I took this picture. I didn't know if the lamination would screw up trying to get a good shot...) I just love how these colors look together!

After I finished with this one, I went a little crazy with the bookmarks and made a couple more to stuff in their package!

They were just too cute to resist! I'm going to have to make myself some now!

And here's a card just because it was sitting on my desk staring at me and I can't help sharing!

If you can't tell, I recently got some happy mail from Simon Says Stamp and I've been going a little crazy with it! This is the You Are Pawesome set. It comes with a really cute puppy and kitty and when you get the bundle, you get the die cuts for the animals and the pawesome word die I used. They're just so sweet and I couldn't resist coloring one in! (Even though I'm still waiting for my copics to come in! Amazon says they should be here today...we'll see...)

Supplies:
Stamps: To Thine Own Shelf (SSS), You Are Pawesome (SSS)
Dies: You Are Pawesome (SSS), Pinked Circles (Paper Smooches)
Punch: Tag Topper (SU)
Paper: Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Night of Navy, Pistachio Pudding, Pacific Point, Real Red, Gumball Green, Smoky Slate, Basic Black
Other: Assorted Baker's Twine, Assorted Blendabilities

Coloring Fun!

I've been spending some time coloring images lately. All the sympathy cards were kind of depressing me and coloring always seems to cheer me up. I'm still waiting on my copics to get here (should be Thursday), so I used my Blendabilities again. I'm just not happy with the results I get with them sometimes, so I'll be extremely happy when I get my copics and finally get down to experimenting with them.

I'm obsessed with all the elephant stamps that companies are releasing right now. This image is from a Hero Arts set called Lil' Hoot.

Who doesn't like donuts? I know I love them! I colored these donuts and then used Crystal Effects to make the icing look shiny. I just love these cuties! (Simon Says Stamp I Love Donuts)

I simply added these donuts to a cute tag and attached it to a panel of a repeatedly stamped background. Love them!

Paper Smooches recently had a sale and I indulged in a little retail therapy. I just love their critter stamps! All the chubby little animals never fail to make me smile. I did a little masked stamping to create the trio of animals and then colored everything with my Blendabilities. This is where I think the Blendabilities show their downside. The larger colored areas were extremely hard to blend and you can still see some of the lines from the coloring. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't make it all blend together without making everything much darker than I wanted it to look. This is why I'm so excited for my copics to get here. I can't wait to try some of this again!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lil' Hoot (Hero Arts), I Love Donuts (Simon Says Stamp), Chubby Chums and Birthday Buddies (Paper Smooches)
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum
Other: Assorted Blendabilities, Sequins

Sympathy Cards Part 3

Continuing with my sympathy card extravaganza! I think I'm actually done now though (whew!).

I just love the Painted Petals set. It's truly perfect for just about any kind of card!

The Blooming with Kindness set has always seemed like it fits with a sympathy theme to me. It's elegant and just gorgeous all on it's own. I inked the main flower with Crushed Curry and did some partial stamping around the edges with Versamark and embossed with white embossing Powder. The color was then sponged onto the panel and the embossing resisted the ink.

Flowers are always a go to for sympathy cards for me and the Vintage Flowers set from Altenew is just perfect.

I made this card with the Vintage Flowers set, but I really wasn't liking that blue flower, so I inked up my stamps again and created another.

I don't know what it is, but I like the card much better with the purple flower.

Supplies:
Stamps: Blooming with Kindness, Painted Petals, Loving Thoughts, Vintage Flowers (Altenew)
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Calypso Coral, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Versamark, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Pistachio Pudding, Gumball Green, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, Soft Sky, Pool Party, Marina Mist
Other: White and Black embossing powder, enamel dots