LF - Rainbow Birthday

Lawn Fawn - Elphie Selfie stamp,  Lawn Fawn - Perfectly Plaid Rainbow 6x6

In the frenzy of making Christmas/Winter cards, sometimes it's nice to just take a break and make a bright rainbow birthday card. Of course, we're so close to Christmas and my cards are still not done (or in some cases started!), so I can't afford to make a complicated card.

And so, here's a simple CAS birthday.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Crafty Goals/Resolutions and Over the Moon

MFT - Happy Haunting, Dear Lizzy - Stargazer 6x6 patterned paper

This year, I did not shop the crafty Black Friday sales. I'm sure there were some fabulous deals, but there just wasn't anything I absolutely had to have. A part of it is that it was a really busy time for me at work and home. But a bigger part is that I'm trying to bring my supplies under control.

It was around this time last year that I went on a shopping freeze (of sorts) in hopes of making strides in using up supplies. Sadly, I think I still ended up bringing in more things than I've used up. Though I've seen a big change in how much restraint I have with making orders, I have had very very very little time to create and I don't think I've given crafting the kind of effort I was hoping to.

So, my BIG resolution for 2018 is to CREATE.
- I'm going to try to use up a lot of the consumables like stickers, patterned paper and embellishments without immediately replacing them.
- I'm going to use different coloring mediums (like colored pencils and watercolor) more often, to balance out all the Copic coloring I normally do.
- I'm going to make a card every day of 2018 -- that's 365 cards to make!
- I'm going to blog regularly, though not necessarily every day.
- I'm going to do daily writing exercises (journaling or creative writing) in addition to practicing modern calligraphy.
- And (most importantly!) I'm going to enjoy the process.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Happiness is Homemade

It's the beginning of the busy season for me, which means I need a lot more time to work, bake, wrap and decorate and that leaves me with a lot less time to make art. I still plan to make cards, of course, but once Thanksgiving feast is done, I'm probably jumping straight into Christmas cards and Christmas card gift sets.

I always oscillate between wanting to make gorgeous and unique complex cards for each individual person and making life easier by going in the simple mass production route. I have not decided what I'm doing this year yet, but I'll try to blog my attempts whenever I find a free moment.

In the meantime, I've been playing with the idea of quick and easy cards using things that are already on my desk - such as the die-cuts, embellishment packs and ephemera for a few paper pads I've yet to put away. I think it's fun to try something different and make a card without the usual stamping and Copic coloring.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

MFT: One of a Kind

I recently purchased a few Distress Oxide inks in my favorite colors (Abandoned Coral, Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Seedless Preserves), so I thought I would try them out. They've been touted by crafters left and right, and often made to sound superior to the regular distress inks.

So far, I'm not really in love with them. The coverage is okay, but the colors are different from the regular distress inks and they make my hands inky and messy. I don't like messy fingers, especially when they rub off onto the card and it's a CAS card that's supposed to be white...

I did purchase the black Oxide ink too, and I'll give a try to making some galaxy backgrounds -maybe I'll have better luck with that. Or I may invest in some rubber gloves to use while I work with the inks.

Onto the card! I made a rainbow background and used Birdie Brown's Magical Unicorns stamp for the cute unicorn and sentiment. I added just a few enamel dots and adhered the panel onto bright pink cardstock.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Autumn Hello

Although it's autumn, it's mighty cold here lately and it feels far more like winter. So, I thought I'd share some of my autumnal creations while I'm still inspired by the changing leaves (and before I move to the flurry of winter-themed projects).

Today's card features the Rustic Sugar Clove with Coffee stamp from C.C. Designs. I just lovedCloves design, with the fun hat and winter accoutrements. I chose a cooler palette for Clove, pairing blues with warm browns.

I happened to find the perfect papers to match my coloring from Pink & Main's Pumpkin Spice 6x6. With a bit of die-cutting, I had a fun and interesting background scene. As a last touch, I added a die-cut sentiment and 3 glittery enamel dots.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

LF: Boy Congrats

Today's card features an older set from Lawn Fawn called Home Sweet Home. It's a retired set that was released in 2013, but it's been sitting in my stash for ages - just waiting to be used. I decided to pair it with a newer set (Elphie Selfie) because it had a fun little bird stamp that fit the card idea perfectly.

I went for a baby boy card, as I seem to have very few of those in my stash. I added a bit of texture with a dot stencil and blue ink, and embellished with 3 glittery enamel dots.

Today's card was inspired by the Lawn Fanatics challenge:

Their challenge runs until November 19th and it's a great way to dust of your old Lawn Fawn favorites.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

CAS- Layered Love

Today's card is a clean-n-simple creation featuring dies and layers.

I've really loved the CAS layered style I've seen a couple of crafters use, but it's always eluded me. My own attempts felt clumsy and off - and it was a source of major frustration. I thought a part of it might be that I don't scrapbook. So things like layouts don't necessarily come naturally to me. Or maybe the problem was that I didn't have the right supplies.

But after much trial and error, I've come to the conclusion that it's simply a case of trying to shove my own preferences and work flow into someone else's visual. I mean, don't get me wrong.. I still appreciate the lovely creations those crafters share. But short of copying their cards exactly, I will never achieve the same results. So, I might as well do my own take on the style, right?

Today's card is the result. Lots of layers and elements, but a simple design. And I love it!

Thanks for reading.
~Elle~

Halloween Boxes

What else goes bump in the night? Trick-or-treaters!

Every year, I dress up the candy we give out for Halloween. We don't get too many kids, really - only about 30 or so - which means I can make all kinds of cute treat boxes, bags and decorations.

Last year, I made 2x2x2 boxes that fit a mini candy bar or a little bag of M&Ms. They feature fun Halloween paper (that I buy, but never use the rest of the year), some twine and charms made with a retired Halloween die and cardstock.

I got the instructions for the box from Sam (Pootles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBwm81fgok8
She is a SU demonstrator and does absolutely lovely boxes, treat bags and more. I do enjoy watching her videos and always feel inspired to make a special box or two.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Monster-ific

This card uses a free digital stamp from Useless Trinkets: https://uselesstrinkets.wordpress.com/freebies/

I colored the adorable toothy monster with grays and added some green dots. It reminded me of a mossy rock monster, though I didn't add enough texture to make his skin seem like a rock. I colored his belly yellow and gave him a bright purple patch of hair. I used the palette as my inspiration with the patterned paper and layering die colors.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Spooky Pun'kin

Halloween isn't always scary. There's the cute side of Halloween - especially when the tiniest trick-or-treaters EVER ring the doorbell. I love seeing their costumes!

I used an adorable bunny in a pumpkin stamp from Lawn Fawn and paired him from a cute SU pumpkin paper. I die-cut a circle in the bottom right corner and added the bunny and sentiment on some foam squares.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Don't Blink

Of course, I had to create another card featuring my favorite Doctor Who monster - Weeping Angels. If you're not familiar with weeping angels, they are predatory creatures that pose as still statues when they're looked at. But if you turn away, close your eyes or even just blink, they turn into terrifying monsters that send you back in time and steal your life force with a single touch. They are considered the most terrifying and the most popular creature in the Doctor Who universe.

I didn't have any classic angel stamps, so I sketched my own angel. I water-colored the image, playing around with the texture a little. I wrote my own sentiment onto a die-cut banner and adhered it to the card.

Thanks for reading.
~Elle~

Are You My Mummy?

The first thing that popped into my head when I thought about things that bump in the night is Doctor Who. Not because Doctor Who is synonymous with terror, but because some of the strangest, scariest and most unique creatures come from it. Doctor Who is an incredible blend of fantasy, action, drama, emotion and all the unique things that make it an eternally great show to watch.

So, of course, I had to do my homage to two of my MANY favorite episodes - The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances. If you haven't had the pleasure to see these episodes, I thoroughly recommend them -- especially if you'd like a bit of creepiness.

This was a card I created during my stint as the SCS design team member last October. It's still a big favorite for me, and I thought I'd share it with all of you.

Thanks for reading.
~Elle~

SM - Thanks

(Pinkfresh Studio - Indigo Hill; MFT - Thanks die)

 

Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.
~ Frederic Chopin ~

Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art. Frederic Chopin Art, Achievement, Reward
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/simplicity.html

Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art. Frederic Chopin Art, Achievement, Reward
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/simplicity.html

BB- Magical Flight

Today's card features Birdie Brown's Magical Dragons stamp. Of course, as soon as I saw this stamp set, my immediate thought was that I just had to let the princess and the knight ride the flying dragon. Wouldn't that be just the most awesome adventure?!

It took a bit of finessing, but I managed to layer the stamps just right, and added some clouds to finish off my scene.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

NT: Magical Mermaid

Today's card features Neat and Tangled's Mermazing stamp. This time around, I used one of my favorite nautical palettes: white, purple and aqua blue. For a touch of contrast, I also added some minty green to the mermaid's top.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Warm Heart Bunnies

This morning was a rather chilly start to my day. It was just above freezing - so not quite cold enough for my breath to steam up, but cold enough for the air to smell of frost and snow. Just a couple of weeks ago, we were still sporting shorts and t-shirts. And it's already time to bring out the warm coats.

Speaking of warm coats... I just adored them on these two sweet winter bunnies! I paired the bunnies with a geometric patterned paper and a simple sentiment. It's a winter card without being Christmas.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

ME: Birthday Noise

Just a drive-by card share today of a fun birthday card featuring Mama Elephant's Rock & Paws stamp set.

I enjoyed pairing the cute critters with a musical background.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

AE- Tough Guy Red

Today's card features a fantastic stamp set from Avery Elle called Tough Guy. I was drawn to this stamp set both because it had a whimsical image and because I could see myself using the sentiments quite a bit. The image features a fun vintage theme with a more modern illustrated look. I think it's pretty unique and I definitely grabbed it for my stash.

For the card itself, I wanted to play with a bright red color - so that's what I chose for my card base and to color the strongman's costume. I paired it with white and light blue. This added a masculine touch, on top of increasing the contrast. A couple of enamel dots and the card was done.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Hang in There

Just a quick inspirational card share today, using the Hang In There sloth from Lawn Fawn, along with some retired Lawn Fawn papers.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Hello Cupcake

For today's card, I've used C.C. Designs' Pinke Cupcakes & Balloons stamp, along with the brushstroke Hello die from Ellen Hutson LLC. I wanted to create a bright and cheery card, so I used light colors and paired a neutral taupe with a yellow patterned paper. I chose a brown for the die-cut, as it seemed less harsh than black.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Charming Friend

Today's card features Birdie Brown's Magical Dragons stamp set. This set includes a bunch of adorable dragons, as well as a little knight and a little princess. I was drawn to this set both because it features a magical theme, and because I just adore the expressions and the poses of the dragons.

I loved this set so much that I've made a whole bunch of cards to write about! So, be on the lookout for more.

Thanks for reading,
~Elle~

Bits and Pieces: Warm my Heart

I just love paper. Some card-makers live for stamps and ink, some love their dies. I'm a patterned paper kind of girl. Not only do I love the look, the smell and the feel of paper, but I find it so inspiring. I take great joy in choosing the perfect paper to go with my stamp (or the perfect stamp to go with my paper!).

There's so much variety in patterned paper, too. You have the standard basics like polkadots and stripes, and then you have complex shapes or artistic patterns. There's watercolor effects, paint splatters and a bundle of textures and techniques that would take me hours to create. That's my favorite thing about patterned paper, by the way. I can have all the trendy looks, but without a ton of experimentation and inconsistent results. Don't get me wrong, I do like trying out new things, but when I want just one card to look a specific way, a patterned paper will do.

Today's card uses the lovely paper from Pinkfresh Studio's Indigo Hills. I've paired it with an MFT cat + accessory stamp (retired) and a simple sentiment from Perk Up.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Chatty Sunday: Making Mistakes

Recently, I was watching a card-making video where the crafter made a mistake and showed how she fixed it. I thought that was a pretty cool thing to add into the video, because I know I've made the same mistakes plenty of times and it would be nice to know how to fix them. And scanning through the video comments, I'm certainly not the only one. There were a whole bunch of appreciative comments that thanked the crafter for showing that card-making isn't always perfect. Mistakes happen!

But when you stop and think about it, mistakes are very rarely shared. If you take a stroll through someone's blog or their YouTube channel, you will only see the best of their work - the cream of the crop. You don't see the not-really-sure-about-this creations, the outright flops and the cards that went straight in the garbage bin. Seeing this carefully-edited collection makes the viewer feel like card-making should be effortless and mistake-free - when in reality, it's anything but.

And I do get it. Mistakes are disarming. They bump us down in confidence, leave us vulnerable and they come with all kinds of what-if's attached. What if someone sees that ugly card and thinks I suck at cardmaking? What if someone sees that ugly card and thinks I'm only sharing it to fish for compliments? What if that company was thinking of inviting me to their DT, but that ugly card made them reconsider? What if someone uses that ugly card as an example of what not to do with card-making? Those what-if's are probably always there in the back of our minds. But when you share a creation you're proud of, you can tell yourself "what if..., but at least I'm happy with it".

There's nothing wrong with only sharing what makes you happy. Nothing wrong with curating your many artistic messes and showing off your successes. But there's also plenty of room and ways to show off your mistakes without sacrificing your authority and the way you're perceived.

You can teach just as much - maybe more! - by showing what doesn't work. And there's benefits in it for you. Critically thinking about your art is incredibly valuable. Not only does it help you avoid making the same mistake on your next card, but it can boost your confidence - because you've got the experience and the knowledge to tell why the card didn't work.

Yes, it will be scary. There will be the "What if someone made a card just like this and they feel offended that I find it a failure?", along with many other what-ifs. But no one's gained an audience of viewers and blog followers by constantly walking on eggshells and avoiding any feedback. Even the worst-case scenario is an opportunity to connect with someone and help them.

It takes a degree of bravery and a lot of confidence to share our mistakes, but I hope artists and crafters are encouraged to continue doing so. I'd love to see an entire trend of videos and blog posts that embrace mistakes and talk openly about how we learn from them.

Thanks for reading,
Elle

Bits & Pieces: Witchy Ghostly Thanks

It's time for another Bits & Pieces creation, where I create a card using my box of pre-stamped and colored materials to make a fun and quick card.

For today's card, I used Lawn Fawn's Spooktacular stamp set  to make a little witch ghost. I added the ghost and a simple thanks sentiment to a scalloped rectangle and adhered everything to a piece of geometric patterned paper. I also stamped a scattering of itty shapes to make the card a bit more magical.

With this card, I challenged myself to make a non-Halloween creation using a Halloween stamp set - so I let myself be inspired by Harry Potter. I think I'll send this card along to a friend that's a true HP fan.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Bad Day Love

The Ton was a new company to me when I bought Love and a Cat stamp set last year, but I simply could not resist the kitties and their expressions. They're so quirky and whimsical that I just had to have the set (along with a couple of others). I stamped out a whole bunch of kitties and spent quite a bit of time coloring them with different fur patterns and mediums.

One of the things I really love about this set is that it is full of accessories - and the website has a handy video tutorial that goes over all the different options and expressions you could give the kitties. If any of the accessories didn't seem clear, the video shows you exactly how to use it.

For my card, I kept things pretty clean and simple - making a quick distress ink background for the center panel and lining up the kitties in a row. I put them against a striped background, as it brought a modern feminine element and a bit of extra contrast to the card. I embellished with sequins.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Mermazing Birthday Wishes!

The first thing that drew me in with Neat and Tangled's Mermazing stamp set was the name. As you may already know, I love puns and plays-on-words. They can be awfully clever at times, or just plain silly - and they make me giggle. So, with a name like Mermazing, this set was already a winner in my eyes. But after taking a closer look, I really liked the size of the mermaid and how she was designed - she's wearing a cute top that isn't too revealing - so she can be a modern everyday girl. She also has lovely flowing hair and a few accessories that would be great for making scenes.

I opted to keep my card very simple, pairing the mermaid (that I, of course, colored in Ariel colors) and fishes with a cute patterned paper from Echo Park. Since the pattern was flow-y and detailed, I chose not to add too much else -- just a few enamel dots and a birthday sentiment stamped in purple.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Autumn Leaves Hello

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and so did my plans to blog and share a card every day in September. However, I did still sneak in quite a few moments of creativity - so I'm excited to share all the lovely cards I've been creating.

Today's card is a mish-mash of manufacturers. It features a critter from Lawn Fawn, some stamps and dies from My Favorite Things and a die from Ellen Hutson. I also used some patterned paper and cork for my layers, as well as Tonic Nuvo drops for enamel dots. 

For this card, I tried to do the "layered but CAS" style that Kay Miller rocks. I'm not entirely convinced that I pulled it off effectively, but I had fun trying. I liked the color contrast, as well as the palette. It reminds me of autumn leaves crunching under my feet as I took walks through the neighborhood when I was younger.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Rocking Hello

 Today's stamp features Mama Elephant's Rock and Paws stamp set. Like last time, I used a teal background - though this time I just blended in some distress inks to a half-circle part. To punch up the contrast, I added a couple of black stars and a black enamel heart. I think it really brought the scene together.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Back in action: Yeti Thanks

Today's CAS card features Birdie Brown's Beast Friends stamp set, along with a sentiment from Mama Elephant's Many Thanks. I kept the card super simple, so the emphasis was on the cheerful palette and the adorable yeti. The yeti was colored with Copics and fussy-cut, then added to the card with foam tape.

This past month has been a rough month - not because anything bad happened (thankfully, everyone is very happy and healthy), but because we've been busy jumping into the last of summer adventures before school started again. It's been a lovely adventure, but one that left me a bit too scattered to find the time to photograph and share cards I've created.

Thankfully, I have had a morsel of down-time in which I could create. But sharing is a whole different beast (no pun intended!). I'm going to try to work in advance and share a creation every day. I can't promise I'll be able to find the time to write a long blog post, but there will be something fun to see every day.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

LF- Winter Sloth

Yes, it's only August, but I've already got Christmas on the brain!

Ever since I decided to make cards instead of just buying them, Christmas cards have become a bit of an ordeal. I've got quite a few to make (one for each family member and close friend), but I cannot seem to quite bring myself to make all the cards the same and do them assembly-style. And it's funny, because before I got into card-making, I loved getting those big card boxes and giving everyone the same card with a personalized message. But when it comes to making a batch of cards, it's like my creative brain just shuts off - or worse, gets antsy.

At the same time, making a whole bunch of personalized cards gets very long - and kind of expensive. I don't always have all the winter stamps to suit everyone's favorite icon, or if I do have it, it's already been used. Plus, people's interests change throughout the year. Someone who used to love polar bears has suddenly grown to love penguins and I can see myself scrambling to add this new interest to their card.

So, I might take it a little easier this year. Maybe just make some fun cards that are "me" and then just pick out the right person they're perfect for. I've got both traditional and unconventional stamps that I'm excited/inspired to use, and I plan to just have fun with it.

For today's card, I pulled out the adorable Hang In There sloth from Lawn Fawn. I paired it with Lawn Fawn's Baaah Humbug (winter hat and sentiment), and set everything against a pretty winter snowflake paper. I kept the rest of the card very clean and simple, with a white cardstock and a couple of dies.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Keeping it Simple: Full Heart

As you might know, I like to challenge myself to make something different. For today's card, I decided to try and make something without using any coloring - no Copics, no watercolors, no pencils. Just a simple 2-color palette and some interesting die-cut pieces.

The sentiment is from Mama Elephant's Many Thanks stamp set, and it's certainly a unique way to say thank you. I paired it with a die-cut heart and made a panel with WPlus9's Sunshine Layers die. I popped up a few pieces on foam tape and adhered the rest flat. I set everything against a simple polka-dot patterned paper and a light pink card base.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

ST: Sending Joy

I mentioned recently that I really enjoy finding little treasures in my stash that I had forgotten about and thinking up ways to use them. I thought it might be a good challenge and some good fun to start a new feature on my blog called Stash Treasures. This will not only be a great creative exercise, but it will also help keep me focused on the supplies I've got instead of thinking about what new things I need to buy.

For today's card, I pulled out an ephemera pack from Fancy Pants' Oh Deer line. I remember getting the ephemera pack because it had two adorable deer that I wanted to use on gift packaging. I never did end up using the deer and the ephemera just sat there in a little jar.

I grabbed the "joy" word from the pack and paired it with a Simon Says Stamp Sending die. I added some warm polka-dot paper and hung a couple ornaments to the side that were echoed in sparkly enamel dots. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

SCS: Arthurian Legends

And here is the last of the SCS September 2016 theme I'll be sharing.

I love the myths and legends centered around King Arthur. I love the stories so much that I took 2 classes in college about King Arthur (and aced both of them). So, it's only natural that I would want to feature something Arthurian for the literally challenge.

Sir Galahad was just the perfect stamp to use, and I paired him with a sticker from Tim Holtz. I think I can use this card as a great masculine congratulations or birthday card. :)

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Retro-ish Thanks

Lately, one of my favorite things has been going through my crafty stash and digging up things I've had for ages, but never used. Like, for example, this patterned paper pad. I absolutely had to have that paper pad when I started out on my card-making journey, and then I just never ended up using it because I couldn't find the right stamps to use with it.

Happy Go Lucky has a retro feel, and (at the time) I owned no retro stamps. Everything that I could think to pair up with it felt too cutesy or too modern or too bold. So, off went the paper into "long term storage" where it sat until I got bit by the re-organizing bug.

I pulled the paper out recently, and I paired it with Hero Arts' Spring Hello stamp. Although the stamp is not obviously retro, the calligraphy made me think of shabby chic - and it just clicked together with the retro paper.

Thanks for reading,
~Elle~

SCS: Love of Mythology

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - Athena (retired)

Continuing on with the SCS theme of literature...

Ever since I was really young, I've had a tremendous interest and passion for mythology. I started reading when I was very young (I could read by myself when I was 3) and some of the first books my mom bought me were encyclopedias of Greek and Roman mythology. I fell in love with the stories and continued to read about mythology from then on.

For this card, I used a stamp of Athena - goddess of wisdom, courage, justice and art. I set her against a patterned paper that had hand-written text on it. I kept everything clean and simple - to echo the ancient Greek architecture that featured a lot of pristine white.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

AE: Christmas Joy

Yes, it's July and I've already got Christmas on my mind... But in my defense, when you're making hand-made gifts and cards, you really need to start working early. I'm still pinning down exactly what artful and crafty things I want to make this year, so I thought a wintry card might get me in the Christmas mood.

I just adore the cat from Avery Elle's Dear Santa stamp set! She has a lovely retro kind of feel, while still looking perfectly elegant and serene. She reminds me of Aristocats - one of my favorite childhood movies. So, it's a perfect mix of nostalgic and warm fuzzy feelings.

I paired the cat with some bits and bobs of paper from my stash. Blues went great with silver and gray, so that's the color scheme I chose.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

RC: Thank You Bear

Have I mentioned that I love Reverse Confetti's Bearing Gifts stamp? There's something so fun about a big old bear in a tiny car, carrying a bundle of gifts... And it lends itself to so many occasions! He could be delivering Christmas gifts or sending birthday gifts, or even taking home a bundle of happy that someone else gifted him. Change the color palette and add a few accessories, and presto - you've got another occasion this bear could visit. The versatility of the set is a great thing, and a big reason why I'm happy to have this stamp in my stash.

For today's card, I chose to go with "thank you". I thought I'd try something a little different and used my Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Borders die to make a front panel for the bear. A few lavender hearts tie in the color scheme.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

SCS: Art of Writing

Another fun card from the SCS September DT - Literally.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to see a museum exhibition that centered around books and writing. It featured early printing presses, ink making tools and displayed several old manuscripts. One of my favorite parts was an old practice book where the owner was practicing calligraphy that had ink splotches and sketches in the margins. It looked so playful and was in such contrast with the rest of the manuscripts.

I have to confess that the main reason why I bought the Music Hall stamp was the inky sketch of a Victorian lady. Ink being associated with writing and books made me think it was a perfect stamp to use for this month's theme.

I challenged myself to add a touch of mixed media flair, so I blended some distress ink across the panel. A sticker sentiment finished the card off perfectly. :)

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

SCS: Get Lost in a Book

Today, I'm sharing another card from my stint in the Splitcoast Stampers design team.

I am a HUGE bookworm - a voracious reader that on average goes through at least 2 books every week. I read a variety of genres and book types (depending on my mood). I was super excited to see a literary theme for September 2016, and just knew I had to do something special.

My first thought was to make a card based on my favorite book. But I can't possibly pick a favorite book! Too many choices... So, I made a card based on my favorite book series -- Terry Pratchett's Discworld.

If you haven't experienced Discworld, I can't recommend it enough! It's equal parts hilarious as it is thought-provoking. It features an unforgettable cast and a universe that seems truly alive. And you need it in your life. Go out, buy any book in the series and prepare yourself to fall in love. You'll thank me later. ;)

My card features Discworld itself, a flat world that sits on top of 4 elephants that are standing on a giant turtle that's swimming through the starry universe.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

CCD: Shell-o

It's summer in my corner of the world, though it's a bit of a funny summer. We've had days with perfectly pleasant warm temperature, and then cool days where it felt more like crisp late autumn. We still had a chance to splash around the pool (or lake!) and that's what inspired this summer-themed card.

Today's card features Roberto's Rascals Beachies stamp from C.C. Designs. Roberto's is my favorite stamp line from C.C. Designs and Beachies does not disappoint. I paired this cute stamp with some summer stripes and an orange card base.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

RC - You Lift Me Up

Today's card features Reverse Confetti's Lift Me Up stamp set. Like a couple other Reverse Confetti stamps I own, I was drawn to the whimsical and unique art style. I used bright color to color in the giraffes and paired them with a colorful-yet-subtle patterned paper from Pinkfresh Studio. A few enamel dots round out the color palette.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

LF: Sloth Smile

I couldn't resist playing with Lawn Fawn's Hang In There stamp set some more, so I gave scene building another try. For this adorable sloth, I made a little topiary by stamping leaves (both first and second generation stamping), and then lightly went over it with the blending tool. This gave me a very soft, dreamy look, which went great with the little smiling critter. I used the Smile sentiment from Into The Woods (an oldie, but a goodie) to bring in some pinky red to go with the reddish undertones of the branch.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

YNS: DT Dare!

It's time for another Designer Dare! Your Next Stamp gave us a challenge to make something with the theme "Just For You" - a theme that's both wildly open to interpretation and focused enough to get those creative gears going. My first thought when I saw the theme was the upcoming Father's Day and making a special gift for dad.

Dads can wear many hats - from hard-working providers to strong "rock" protectors to goofy fun-loving best friends - and each dad is a little bit different than the next. Some dads love sports, others would rather spend their time looking through a telescope or playing a video game match. But regardless of their interests, virtually all dads always need one BIG thing -- Time. Every Dad (and Mom!) I know wishes they had more time for something. So, in our family, we've made a tradition that the best gift we can give to someone on their special day is plenty of TIME to do what they feel like doing.

This is where today's project comes in - it's a coupon book meant to give Dad some time to enjoy his favorite activities. It could be a night out with the boys, or a "no chores" break for one day. With the coupons and help from his family, Dad is guaranteed to find some time to do the things he loves.

To decorate the coupon book, I used the brand new Waddles - Bring on the BBQ stamp set. I loved Waddles for this project, in particular, because there's a big variety of Waddles stamps in the YNS store that can be used to personalize each coupon. You can find a winter-loving Waddles, a baker Waddles or even a relaxing-on-the-beach Waddles. With just a few sets, you can have an entire adventure's worth of fun activities.

This project is a great project to do with children. Your little ones can help you come up with coupon ideas, decorate the cover or even help write descriptions. It's a great way to get them involved in creating something special for dad without breaking the bank.

Head over to the Your Next Stamp blog to see more takes on this fun challenge.

Thanks for reading,
~Elle~

Bits 'N Pieces: Kraken Birthday

It's time to make another Bits 'N Pieces card! This is where I take some ready-made elements from my stash and put them together on a card. For today's card, I'm using the kraken from Lawn Fawn's Lovable Legends.

I adhered the kraken to a scalloped rectangle die-cut and added a skinny birthday sentiment. It looked a bit like a label, so I played with the idea of having it go on a notebook. In the end, I placed it onto a striped pattern paper. To make the space at the top look less empty, I added a banner and a heart. Looking at it now, it looks a bit like a page bookmark, so I'm happy with the design.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

YNS- New Release Blog Hop!

This post is a part of the Your Next Stamp June blog hop, where we're sharing fun and adorable projects to inspire you into summer and beyond. You can play along with us by hopping along! The more blogs you visit and comment on, the greater your chances of winning a 25$ gift certificate to the Your Next Stamp store.

If you've taken a look at the Your Next Stamp store, you know that there's an abundance of my favorite type of stamp: cute - whether it's adorable critters you can't help but cuddle or boys and girls embarking on adventures, there's so many adorable bits and pieces to choose from. And then there's my all-time favorite gumdrops... I use enamel dots on virtually every card I make, and Your Next Stamp gumdrops are by far a favorite.

For my blog-hop project, I've created a bright and cheery masculine birthday card.

I played with primary colors - yellow, red and blue, and paired it with the simple sentiment and my favorite gumdrops! A little bit of masking and some creative trimming gave my card a fun edge that draws the eye to the sentiment.

The Handyman stamp is a fantastic set for any guy (or girl!) that loves tools, home improvement and fixing the many household objects we need on a daily basis. One of my favorite things about this set is that it has all the basic tools and you can choose whether you want to make them super cute by adding a smiley face or leave them plain. This adds so much more versatility, since you don't have to worry about selectively masking parts of the stamp if you don't want your tools to smile.

You can find the Handyman stamp right here. And remember, if you're quick, you can grab 20% off your entire purchase with this code:

Ready to keep hopping?

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