Cool Penguins - Mama Elephant

Hello!  I couldn't WAIT to use my new stamps and dies from the new  Mama Elephant release and I imagine many of you are in the same boat as me.  My first card using my purchases (which were numerous ..... I'll admit it) is with Cool Penguins.



To start out I ink blended a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock using a combination of Distress Inks in Spun Sugar and Tattered Rose and using a Uniball Signo White gel pen, I hand drew in the snow.   I then die cut another panel of white cardstock using the Tri Window Cover - Creative Cuts and set that aside.   Using the word HUGS from the Creative Cuts die I die cut the word first out of my ink blended panel and then 3 or 4 more times from scrap white cardstock and I glued them in stacks to build depth then glued the stacks into position in the background.



I applied the ink blended panel to my prepared card base and using dimensional foam tape I adhered the white Tri Window Cover Creative Cut to the card also.  Separately on Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped out all the images from the Cool Penguins stamp set using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black.



I watercolour painted everything using Kuretake Zigs (colours used are:  Pale Pink, Light Violet, English Lavender, Light Pink, Dark Gray, Oatmeal and for their feet and beaks Bright Yellow) and I  highlighted cheeks and other points with the Uniball Signo White gel pen.  I decided on a layout and then used more foam tape to adhere them into place.

Not done yet though!!!!  I took some 80lb white paper which is a lovely quality weight and created a writing insert inside the card and on that I created a little scene using stamped and painted images not used on the front of the card, I also stamped the sentiment.



The final touch was to take a bottle of Stickles in 'Crystal' and add subtle (and not so subtle) twinkle to various points on the card.   In the image just above the penguin is surrounded by tiny dots of glitter ...... you know how glitter gets everywhere during the Christmas holidays!!!?  I also created a gloopy icicle affect on the word HUGS which is thick and dimensional.

Hmmm now .... which Mama Elephant set should I play with next?  Decisions ... decisions ...........

Happy crafting everybody!

Nicky x

Away In A Manger - Hello Bluebird

Hello Papercrafters!

Today I'm in Christmas mode and using Away In A Manger by Hello Bluebird Stamps.



My card started with a an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock which I ink blended with Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemon.  Prior to ink blending I had figured out my basic layout for the scene so I knew I'd want the glow of the star coming down on the gathered group below.



On yet more Bristol Smooth I stamped up all my images using Range Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I then watercolour painted everything with my Kuretake Zigs and die cut each image.  I arranged each piece into the scene that I had previously decided on and adhered them using varying amounts of dimensional foam tape.



I placed the panel into my Misti.  I positioned the sentiment stamp and stamped it twice in the same Archival Ink.   I then used Gold Stickles to add tiny dots of 'glimmer' emanating from the star and falling around the characters beneath.  Finally,  I used the negative off-cut from using the Gallery Frame 3 Die on a previous card and applied it raised up on more foam tape that I trimmed into very thin lengths.  The panel was attached to the card base and .... project complete!

I hope you enjoyed the card and found inspiration for your own projects.  Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon with more!

Nicky x

Frosty Friends - Hello Bluebird

Hi!

Tis the season (for me) to be busily turning out those Christmas cards.  There are expectations now, that if you know me, then you receive a handmade card from me no matter how long the 'to' list may be.  No pressure right?  The key to success?  Start early!



Encouraged by a fellow Hello Bluebird Stamps Design Team member I have, for the first time in years decided to dust off my Copics and given my watercolour paints a day off!  I believe I'm a watercolour painter through and through but there's no harm in challenging oneself right?

This card features a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock that was ink blended to ombré affect with Distress Ink in Faded Jeans.  This panel was then stamped using the 'Sprinkles' background stamp in white ink.   I only used the white ink to subtly mark the pattern - my plan was to always use my Uniball Signo White gel pen to hand draw in the 'sprinkles' since I wanted the design to look charmingly 'un-done' and not too uniform and perfect.  This card panel was adhered to the base.  I took an A2 panel of white cardstock and die cut the Halloween Tree Die by Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This left a lot of surround and so I die cut the remainder of the panel with the Gallery Frame 3 Die with the base of the tree die eating into the frame at the bottom for a jigsaw puzzle affect.   Both tree and frame were adhered into the scene on foam tape.



My feature images are from Frosty Friends by Hello Bluebird.  I stamped them with Memento, Tuxedo Black and coloured them with Copic markers.  I frosted some points with Wink of Stella for some sweet shimmer.  I die cut the images and adhered them with 2 layers of foam tape to bring them forward.



I stamped my sentiment from 'Typed Christmas' with Versamark Ink and heat embossed with silver embossing powder on a strip of cardstock and applied it with foam tape. 

I knew from the beginning of my design that I'd want birdies in my trees and I settled on two.  The larger bird is from 'Quiet Christmas' and the smaller from 'Little Holiday Extras' both by Hello Bluebird.  These were created the same way as the other characters and also applied with foam tape.



So there you have it, another Christmas card complete!  I certainly hope you are getting on top of your holiday cards!

See you next time,

Nicky x

Mama Elephant 6th Anniversary Stampede!!!

Hello and welcome to Mama Elephant's #celebrating6years Anniversary Release Stampede with our wonderful crafty friends and designers! The wait is finally over! The release is now live and available for purchase in the shop!

www.mamaelephant.com

To celebrate with you, we have this amazing sale and promotion and giveaway! Keep reading to the end!

From 9/15 - 9/17

10% off entire store! No code required!

From 9/15 - 9/30

Spend $100* - receive 1 free 'Color Me Letters' 4x6 stamp set.
Spend $150* - receive 1 free 'Color Me Letters' 4x6 stamp set and 'Hilly THANKS' dies.

Spend $200* - receive 1 free 'Color Me Letters' 4x6 stamp set, 'Hilly THANKS' dies, and 'Hilly HELLO' dies.

Please read all the fine print carefully! :)

*Subtotal amount must be met before any shipping fees/tax/customs.
Free item(s) valid only a single order/transaction.
Limit one of each free offer per order.
Orders cannot be combined. New orders only.
Limit one free offer per customer/order.
We reserve the right to cancel/modify orders.
Free offer valid 9/15-9/30 or while supplies last!

Hello everybody, thank you so much for hopping along with us today as the Stampede rolls on in celebration of Mama Elephant's 6th Anniversary and this incredible new release!  I'm delighted to be participating and I have 3 cards to share with you today, so keep on scrolling down and hopefully you'll be left feeling very inspired.

First up, I have a card using the brand new 'Santa's Sleigh' stamp set.

This card features an ink blended and distressed background that fades away to a snowy white at the bottom.   All of the adorable characters were hand stamped onto Bristol Smooth watercolour cardstock using Archival Ink in 'Potting Soil', they were watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs and the antlers on the puppies were glittered as was the top edge of Santa's Sleigh and the sign.

Everything was adhered into position with varying amounts of foam tape to build dimension.  The sentiment was stamped with Versamark Ink and heat embossed in silver and added.  The final touch was the addition of white Nuvo drops for some dimensional snow.

My next TWO cards use the new and ultra adorable Little Elf Agenda stamp set.  For the first one I made a shaker card using the Grid Window Creative Cuts die and the sentiment is from the Santa's Sleigh stamp set as used above.

My little elves were stamped with archival ink, watercolour painted with Kuretake Zigs and die cut using the coordinating dies.

Since I'd stamped up all 16 of the little elves from the stamp set I had plenty left over to create a second card.  For this one I used the Hillside Cover Die as my backdrop.

I masked it off and ink blended the hilltops with Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass then used tiny dots of Stickles glitter to make them glisten.  I took the sentiment from the Santa's Sleigh stamp set and shaped it on my acrylic block to follow the line of one of my 'hills' and then stamped it with black ink.  All that was left then was to apply my remaining elves and their toys with foam tape.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope I've left you inspired.  I'd love to hear from you so please use the comments section!

A final HAPPY 6th ANNIVERSARY to Kryssi and Angela at Mama Elephant, thank you for all the beautiful stamps and dies you've created for us over the years.  Here's to the next 6 years and beyond!

Nicky x

To celebrate this mega anniversary release, we are giving away of ten $25 ME gift certificates throughout the 3 day stampede! Winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the Stampede. Winners will be announced on the last day of Stamp Highlights. You have up to 4 chances to qualify to win!

» 1. Leave a comment on this blog post «

» 2. Like/share us on Facebook: facebook.com/mamaelephant «

» 3. Follow/tweet us on Twitter: twitter.com/heymamaelephant «
» 4. Follow/comment on Instagram: instagram.com/mamaelephant «

Each action qualifies for one entry, max 4 entries per stampeder please!

Joining us on this wild ride of a stampede are our favorite crafty designer friends! Please visit them to see what they did with the new goodies!

www.mamaelephantblog.com 
Thi Lam
Heather Meeson
Alix Davis
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Nicky Meek
Suzy Plantamura
Rubeena Naz
Noriko Fairchild
Anika Karten

Kristina Werner

And that's a wrap to the 3 day mega stampede! Make sure you checked out Day 1 and DAY 2! Thanks all for joining us! The celebration continues all month long!

Autumn Gatherings - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hi everybody, I'm back with another card for Hello Bluebird Stamps.   For this card I've called on several of their stamp and die sets.  The thing with Hello Bluebird is how seamlessly everything works together from past and present releases and this will go forward so you can build a collection and draw from everything constantly.



This card started with the creation of the plaid background using the Plaid Background Stamp.  I stamped it in pale grey and then applied the panel (slightly trimmed up) to the card base.  Next I die cut the Halloween Tree Die from grey cardstock.  The pretty leaves for the trees are from the Gallery Frame 3 Die and were ink blended, as were the pumpkins.  The grassy banks are from the Grassy Knoll Die Set and these were also ink blended.  Finally the 'thanks'  sentiment was die cut three times in grey and deep orange cardstock from the Gallery Frame 2 Die Set and adhered together slightly offset so the grey shows as a shadow behind the orange.



I decided on an arrangement for all my die cuts and ink blended components and then adhered them into the scene layered up on varying amounts of dimensional foam tape to build depth.  

On some Bristol Smooth cardstock I  stamped my fox from the Autumn Gatherings stamp set together with the scarf (which is among various items of clothing you can dress the critters up in) and the acorn to give him something to hold.  I watercolour painted these using my Kuretake Zigs and then I die cut the images, assembled them and applied them into the scene using more foam tape.



The final touch was to highlight some areas with a Uniball Signo white gel pen and then I sourced a few toning mixed sequins and tucked them here and there just to add a sweet little twinkling accent.

I do appreciate you stopping by to read about this card.  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section - I'm very happy to try and help you!

Until the next time, happy crafting

Nicky x

So Many Snowmen - Mama Elephant

Hello everyone!



I'm so excited that in a few days I'll be participating in the huge Mama Elephant new release Blog Hop Stampede.  It got me feeling in the mood to create more cards by going back 1 year and playing with the much loved 'So Many Snowmen' stamp set.



I stamped the large image onto Bristol Smooth cardstock and then afterwards to some masking paper which I fussy cut out and layered over the original image to protect it.  I ink blended the cheerful sky with Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers to a subtle ombré affect.  Once dry and with the mask still in place I layered on Nuvo Glitter Paste and allowed it to dry before removing the mask.



Working with the colour of the sky I'd created I used colours that I felt went well together and watercolour painted the sweet snowmen using my Kuretake Zigs and then I highlighted  their pink blushing cheeks with a Uniball Signo White Gel pen.

The finishing touch was to stamp and heat emboss the sentiment onto a strip of black cardstock and then I die cut several snowflakes from 'Stitched Flakes' by Simon Says Stamp and applied them.

I hope you enjoyed the card tutorial and are feeling inspired.  Thanks for stopping by!

Nicky x

Autumn Gatherings - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hello!  My card today uses Autumn Gatherings and Birch Trees Die from Hello Bluebird Stamps.



For this card I softly ink blended the main panel with Distress Inks and applied it to the card base and then I hand textured in some ground using Distress Pens.   I then die cut my Birch Trees and ink blended their edges in two shades of Distress Ink and applied them with dimensional foam tape.



I wanted to continue the softer look so I stamped my characters from Autumn Gatherings onto Bristol Smooth watercolour cardstock using Distress Ink in Antique Linen.  I wasn't necessarily going for a no line watercolour affect but I certainly didn't want a hard black outline.   I then used my Kuretake Zigs in shades to suit the animals, applying colour and then fading it out.  Each animal got an adornment in the form of a hat, bow or scarf and were die cut and applied to the scene using more foam tape.



I stamped the sentiment in an an intentionally soft manner using Archival Ink in Potting Soil and applied it to the trees.  The card was finished out with the application of many 3mm sparkling clear sequins to complete the frosty scene.

I hope you are feeling inspired - happy crafting!

Nicky x