Sad News

I have some sad news to relay to you tonight.  They have decided to discontinue the Inventory Challenges.  BUT, I have decided to play along by myself for as long as I have the themes that they sent me.  I believe it is thru August.  Would that be okay with you?  I have been having so much fun being on the Design Team that I don't want to quit.  SO, I will continue each week to post my cards for as long as I can.  Love, Elle

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #84-Creating a scene with the masking technique

Creating a scene with the masking technique?  Being a relative beginner this is something that I have never attempted to do.  Yikes!  What have I gotten myself into?  Now, mind you, after doing my card I realized how silly I can be worrying so much about the cards that I make.  Perfectionism is the word that comes to mind.   Let's see.  What do I have on hand?  When I was re-organizing and cleaning my studio I found my cloud making kit that I never got the chance to use before I lost it in the first place. 
I also had bought the magnolia tree branch, the fence, and Tilda with daisy.  I already had a die for the grass that I bought from MFT (My Favorite Things) that I thought would work perfectly.  Let's not forget the colored twine that I used for the bow and the mini pearls for the flowers on the tree branch. 
I love the way this turned out.  The next time I will be making the clouds more prodominent but otherwise I am happy with the card that I made.  Are you?  Sylvia isn't playing with us this week but will be back with the DT next week.  All of the other links are listed below the picture.  Please take a minute to visit each of the blogs; I'm sure you won't regret it!  Love, Elle

Here are the links to the other DT members blogs:
http://inkthreadpaper-cathylynn.blogspot.com
http://christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
http://au-deladesimages.blogspot.com
http://lestresorsdenadine.blogspot.com
http://cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

christinascardconnection.blogspot.com

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #83

I am posting my Inventory Challenge card a day early because I have yet to figure out how to schedule a post for a later date.  Any helpers out there?
Charlie is coming home and we are packing up the car to go see my MOM for the weekend!  After posting my Mother's Day card last week I felt a strong pull towards her and so did my husband.  He hasen't seen Mom since Dad's funeral a year ago and I only saw her for about an hour when we met my sister and her 1/2 way between Kansas and St. Louis, Missouri for lunch. 
This week's card involved making one with just a phrase on the front and a sentiment.  WHAT?  No Maggies?  What will I ever do? lol
What I did was to take a dry embossing folder and emboss the upper left hand corner.  It needed some 'pretties' so I added some white pearls to the flower centers.  I felt it needed a little something more so I included a blue swiss dotted bow.  I hope you enjoy my card!  On to load up the car.  Happy Memorial Day to those who celebrate this holiday.  Just remember what it really stands for.  I have included a list on my partners in crimes blog addresses so you can take a look see!  Enjoy!  Love, Elle
http://inkthreadpaper-cathylynn.blogspot.com
http://christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
http://au-deladesimages.blogspot.com
http://lestresorsdenadine.blogspot.com
http://cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
http://syliva-syllie.blogspot.com
http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #81-Mother's Day

Welcome back!  Today is the day to post my new card for the Inventory Challenge.  Mother's Day.  What does that mean to you?  You see, I haven't always had the best of relationships with my Mom.  Alot of years were wasted by hurt or hard feelings between the two of us.  We are so much alike that we often didn't get along.  BUT!  I love her.  She is the only mom I will ever have.  When we were loosing my father last year all of that hurt seemed to wash away.  So many years that we will never get back.  Does that change the past?  Certainly not.  We choose to read the book of pain in our lives and I choose to close that book and have my mom back.  What a relief! 
Mom and I are closer than we have been in years.  Hug your mom.  Call her.  Tell her that you love her.  Celebrate all of the woman in your lives.  We are the best of the best!  To be a mother is to touch the hand of your God.
Whew!  I have a tear running down my cheek lol.  On to today's card.  I choose the Tilda with Baby stamp from an older collection because I thought it symbolizes a new beginning.  My Mom and I are a new beginning.  The papers are from my stash.  I used cheesecloth to soften my project as well as a pretty chiffon pink bow.  Aren't those brads gorgeous?  I think so! 
Here are the Copic colors that I used:

Face:  E000, E00, E02, R20 as well as a white gel pen for the cheeks
Shirt:  G20, G21, G24
Pants:  R81, R83, R85, R89
Shoes/Diaper:  C1

When your done here I invite you to take a peak at what my teammates came up with for Mother's day this week.  Here are the links to their blogs:

http://inkthreadpaper-cathylynn.blogspot.com
http://christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
http://au-deladesimages.blogspot.com
http://lestresorsdenadine.blogspot.com
http://cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
http://sylvia-syllie.blogspot.com
http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

I hope that you enjoy my card!  Love, Elle

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #80

Welcome to Inventory Challenge #80.  I can't believe it is my 3rd week of being on the design team!  What fun I am having.  This weeks challenge was to use Tilda or another image that resembles you and why.  I had several choices of stamps I wanted to use, the obvious being Stamping Tilda, but after looking at my Magnolia-liscious stamps I found the perfect one.  Tilda holding a Summer Umbrella.  There is a story behind my choice.  A family tradition that spans several generations.
My mom told me a story on how her mom use to wash ther hair in the rain.  My mom also washed my hair outside when it was pouring down rain.  That soft spring rain.  You know the kind.  Not wanted in break the tradition I would take my kids outside and wash their hair.  My daughter carried on the tradition and washed Jacobs hair in the rain too.  I love family traditions and this one was SO much fun!
After that we would take out our umbrellas and sing in the rain just like in the movies.  The sun would come out and dry our hair.  We loved playing in the rain and the sun. 
I had bought some pretty material and made a flower,  I think it turned out so beautiful with the pretty white button in the center.  I used a new border punch in the center, diecut the butterflies and the center shape that my image sits on, colored Tilda with my Copic markers, added some pearls and I was done.  I hope you enjoy my choice of cards!  Love, Elle

If you have a minute please take some time to view my wonderful teammates.  Here are the links to their blogs:
http://inkthreadpaper-catylynn.blogspot.com
http://christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
http://au-deladesimages.blogspot.com
http://lestresorsdenadine.blogspot.com
http://cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
http://sylvia-syllie.blogspot.com
http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

INVENTORY #79-I'll Sew You Something

Whew what a morning!  I went to upload my dt entry early this morning and the camera didn't work.  Then I had trouble figuring out how to post on the new blogger.  Urgh!  I'm sorry I am late!
On to my card.  The theme for this week was I'll sew you something (sewing on your card).  I love to add stitching on my cards.  It adds such a country feel to them.  After spending an afternoon trying to fix my sewing machine I was able to accomplish my task.  (See why I'm late!)  Tilda holding Heart is one of my absolute favorite stamps of all of the collections.  It shows such love.  After coloring her with my Copic Markers which I match colors to the papers that I choose to use, I cut out Nestability shapes and popped up the top one, assembling the rest of the card.  It needed something so I got out my flower die from My Favorite Things then added some blue stickles instead of brads or pearls.  I'm into glittery things right now.  I hope you enjoy my dt entry this challenge.  I had fun making it after I solved all of my troubles.  Love, Elle
After viewing my card you must see the fabulous entries of my fellow team mates.  Here are the links:
Okay, I thought I added them right but apparently I didn't.  Let's try this:
http://inkthreadpaper-cathylynn.blogspot.com
http://christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
http://au-deladesimages,blogtspot.com
http://lestresorsdenadine.blogspot.com
http://cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
http://sylvia-syllie.blogspot.com
http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #78-Are You Seeing Spots?

Welcome to my second Inventory Challenge entry!  This weeks theme is "Are you seeing spots?".  Man did I ever have fun with it.  Meet Doty.  Doty loves spots!  (as you can attest to by her shirt).  My background paper is full of them as is the banner.  I am still learning alot about stamping and card making in general and wanted to try my hand at masking.  Did I do a good enough job?  Tilda is an outdoor kind of girl who loves working in her garden.  She was tired from all of her planting and took a break and sat on  her watering can.  She got her butt wet but don't tell anyone-she would be SO embarassed.  I added a rose and leaves using my newest diecuts from My Favorite Things. 
Here is Doty.  Be sure and take a peak at my teammates wonderful creations when you are done here!  The links are listed below my card.  Love, Elle

Here are the links that I spoke of:
http://inkthreadpaper-cathylynn.blogspot.com
http://christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
http://au-deladesimages.blogspot.com
http://lestresorsdenadine.blogspot.com
http://cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
http://sylvia-syllie.blogspot.com
http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #77

Welcome to the  Inventory Challenge this week.  Can you believe we are on #77?!  This is my first week joining my lovely teammates with this weeks challenge that asks us to use a very old or forgotten stamp. 
I just reorganized my studio.  You wouldn't believe all of the forgotten stamps that I found!  Best of all I found the very first Maggie that I bought.  Tilda with Ice Cream.  I love this 'sweet' little image.  After coloring her with my Copic markers, I diecut my image using one of my favorite Nestability shapes.  On to the details.  I really wanted to do a good job creating a scene that reminded me of Summer days running after the Ice Cream truck.  I also wanted to use as many found and forgotten elements that I could find.  I dug thru my stash and found that I had some LONG forgotten Flower Soft.  I honestly did forget that I had any at all!  I also found this little flower punch in the bottom of a drawer filled with about 30 other punches.  The 'ENJOY' sign is another one of my finds, dug out of the bottom of a bin full of little tidbits.  Of course how can you not have Summer without a white picket fence?. 
My favorite part of the whole card is the flower in the upper left-hand corner.  I wanted to go natural so I used Kraft paper.  What is a card without buttons?  All of these details together make up what I hope is a sweet Summer scene. 
Today is a special day for me. This is something I have wanted to do for the longest time.  With the encouragement of Charlie (dh) and my wonderful teammates I took the plunge.  I'm SO glad that I did!
Please take a minute to see what my teammates have come up with!
inkthreadpaper-cathylynn.blogspot.com
christinascardconnection.blogspot.com
au-deladesimages.blogspot.com
lestresordenadine.blogspot.com
cardsbyrbowen.blogspot.com
sylvia-syllie.blogspot.com
kathysknook.blogspot.com
I hope that you enjoy my card!  My camera choose today to act up so the colors may not be as vibrant as they are in person.  Feel free to use your imagination!

Angels

For those of you who read my blog you know that my father passed away this time last year.  Monday is his birthday and next Saturday is the anniversary of his funeral.  My mom has had many challenges this past year but has held her head high with grace and dignity.  This is the card I have sent to her.  For some reason I didn't get a picture of the FULL card but you can see all of the details in this one.  The beautiful flower was received in a swap with the group Art For The Creative Mind.  A wonderful online Mixed Media art group.  I used some of my Vintage lace trim for accent.  This is the first time I tried stampingthen coloring on patterned paper.  I think it was perfect for the feel of the card and the Angel image that I used.  I hope you enjoy! Love, Elle (There are Angels amongst us.)

Just Hangin With My Peeps!

Hi!  It is Easter time again.  Remember when you were a child and time took so long?  Whew!  Is it flying by now that I'm older!  (how old I will never tell lol).  Seems like yesterday we were celebrating Christmas. 
Today I wanted to share with you an Easter card I made for my family.  Tilda sure does look adorable peeping out of her egg, doesn't she?  I love this image.  I colored her with Copic Markers, cut her out, and based her on paper I cut out using my Circle Nestabilities.  After adding trim around her and a feather to boot I was ready to go.  On to a few embellishments.  The paper scrap I had in my bin had the cutest sayings and I had purched the carrot from The InkSpot, a store in Kirkwood, Missouri USA.  I punched out my edge with a pretty border punch and voila'.  I hope you enjoy my Easter card!  Love, Elle