Best of friends

First I want to apologize for missing the remaining Inventory Challenge cards.  There was a MAJOR family crisis that has incompassed several months of my life.  Hopefully the storm has passed so to speak and I can get on with the business of life.  I made a few of the cards for the challenge but have yet to post them. Enough of that! 
Today I wanted to focus on friendship.  You really find out who your true friends are when life gets in the way and those are the friendships to value.  Thank you Carol, Carole and Cynthia for being there for me all of this time.  Your friendships warm my heart.
The card I made to share with you shows two sweet little Tilda's holding hands.  How beautiful is that?  Hold on to those friends.  Nurture your relationships.  I know I will.
Oh yeah!  I colored my images with Copic markers and bought my stamp at Magolia-liscious.  I love that place.  I also had purchased a new Nestability set from Spellbinders.  Isn't the shape pretty?  Added some little embellishments by way of lace and flowers to add just the right touches to my card. Enjoy!  Love, Elle

 

Inventory Challenge #90 will be a day late!

I had unexpected grans visiting yesterday and today (4 of them) so I will be a day late posting this weeks Inventory Challenge card.  Stay tuned for Saturday's post!  Love, Elle

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #89-Altered Object

Today I have choosen to alter a brown paper lunchbag, making it into a pretty little giftbag.  I have been dying (excuse the pun!) to use this die ever since I bought it from Papertrey, Inc.!  I can just see a favorite piece of jewelry, some candy, and a giftcard for spa treatment inside, can't you? 
The papers that I used are from a pad called Carolina Breeze by Theresa Collins.  I love how they coordinate so well together.  I first stamped my pathway and carefully lined Tilda up just at the edge of the walkway.   These images are new to me and I LOVE THEM!!!!  Can you just here my excitement? lol.  I broke my foot and have been running around with a HUGE boot on up to my knee this summer.  Talk about being hot and awkward so taking the time to create a new project for the inventory challenges has done a great job keeping my mind off of my pain and discomfort.  The flowere die is from an old Sizzix die, one of the chuncky ones, with a button center from another die that I found in my stash.  I colored her with my Copic markers matching the colors up to the paper that I was using for my bag.  I hope you enjoy today's project.  Check out Kathy's blog to see what she came up with this week!  (http://kathysknook.blogspot.com )  Love, Elle

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #88-Tag card; or a card with a tag

Good morning!  Welcome to the Inventory Challenge.  Today we had to make a tag card or a card with a tag.  I choose to use the yummy new Tilda stamp from the newest collection, I believe it is called "Ships Ahoy Tilda".   First I set in the clouds using my new cloud kit I bought from a shop here in St. Louis, Missouri called The InkSpot.  The dp and accessories are from the Oceanside collection by Creative Imaginations.  The shells are something I found at my local Archiever's store and the tag was cut out using a die from Papertrey, Inc.  I bought the trim at a local fabric store and the twine was purchesed at another local store called The Checkered Cottage in Kirkwood, Missouri.  Boy do I love to shop! lol.   What I like most about this card is that it brings you to the beach.  I can just feel the sand in my toes and the hear the waves gently lapping against the shore.  I like the saying "Live in the Moment" because it is something I feel all of us should be doing more of.  Slow down.  Savor this moment-you will never get it back! 
Check out Kathy's blog while you are surfing the web to see her entry!  Love, Elle www.kathysknook.blogspot.ca

Here is a picture of the tag.  I love how it turned out!  The simpilicty is what I like the most. 

Inventory Challenge #88-4th of July

I went another direction for my 4th of July card this time.  I wanted it to reflect more on what I will be doing this holiday.  One of my oldest and dearest friends has a special birthday that we will be celebrating with a suprise party.  Her favorite thing in the whole wide world is flowers.  Gardening of any kind really.  She is such a joyful person!  I celebrated using red, white, and blue papers and coloring with lots of flowers in her hair and special flowers on the card.  I had to pull out some of my favorite MFT dies to make my flowers and accents with.  I love how kraft paper looks with these colors, don't you? 

I'm off to finish a wedding card that has to go to Chicago with my sister tomarrow morning.  I will post pictures later in the week.  Join Kathy at http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca for her July 4th card.  It's a beaut!  Love, Elle

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #87

Welcome to another Inventory Challenge.  Today the theme is Celebrate Summer-butterflies, flowers and a touch of yellow.  I had alot of fun with this card.  Everytime I see a butterfly I say "hi" to my dad up in heaven.  Silly, isn't it?  To me it is God's way of sending me an Angel when I need one the most.  Heck, right now I could use a field full of butterflies! lol
My image was choosen because I use to spend all of my Summer days riding my bicycle.  Everywhere.  From dawn to dusk.  My friends and I would strap on our water bottles and our sack lunches and go on the greatest adventures!  I kept my card simple and let the paper speak for itself.  I die cut my flower, leaves, and butterfly, adding pearls and buttons for accents.  "Have a Sunny day" was the perfect stamp for my sentiment.  The soft, serene colors reminded me of a Summer breeze.  Simple and sweet.  I hope your Sunny days bring you lots of adventures, too.  Love, Elle.  (please join my friend Kathy for her entry in this week's Inventory Challenge at http://kathysknook.blogspot.ca

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #86-Fathers Day

Good morning/afternoon/evening!  Today is what was suppose to be Inventory Challenge #86.  Remember, I'm continuing with the challenges without the rest of my team.  Today is a Fathers Day card.  Now, that presented me with a dilemma.  My dad passed away last year.  I miss him terribly.  I didn't even think I could make a card except for my husband.  But I wanted to honor my dad in some way.  When I saw Ducky in the just before last group of Magnolia-liscious stamps I just KNEW I was on to something. 
I have a story to tell.
When we were really little my mom worked nights and my father took care of us after he got home from work and on the weekends.  It must of been a really special occasion because Pam (5), Me (4), and Cynthia (2) were all dressed up in our Sunday best dresses, lacy socks, and Mary Janes.  He took us out to a fancy restaurant that evening.  WHAT HE DIDN'T KNOW is that when we were walking in Pam, myself, and my little sister (one after another) would waddle like ducks, flapping our arms every time dad looked away while the hostess was escorting us across the restaurant to our table.  All of the patrons at the other tables were chuckling as we passed by.  Pam must have had a quick eye because every time dad would turn around to see what was going on we would stop.  Perfect little angels that we were.  Pam was quite the instigator, wasn't she?  Hence the duck. 
Without further hesitation I would like to share with you my HAPPY FATHERS DAY MEMORIES card.  (I apologize for this being a day late.  For some reason I could not get on the internet to post it.  It crashed right when I was ready to add the picture) Love, Elle

INVENTORY CHALLENGE #85

Today's challenge is to do an Easel card-something that I have never attempted.  While I was on the subject I thought I would try something else that is new to me-coloring with Distress Inks.  Don't laugh!  It is my first try lol.  I have a gorgeous paper pack called AVALON from Bazzill Basics Paper that I used for my card along with Sunflower Tilda.  I wanted to make this card for my sister Cynthia.  She has been here for me like no other during these trying times.  (Except Charlie, of course).  In case my photography does not pick it up the saying says "Thank you for being there when I need you".  I just love this paper.  I needed something bright and cheery, don't you think? 
I added a die cut swirrly leaf and some flowers along with a bright red polk-a-dot bow and my card was complete. 
I want to take a minute to thank everyone out there who has offered up prayers for me and my family.  It means more than you will ever know.  Love, Elle

Prayers Needed

I wouldn't normally ask this of my readers but I am in desperate need of some prayers.  I won't go into detail because it is so personal but my family is in shreads.  It is only love that is holding things together (and God, of course).  The stress level and pain that everyone is dealing with has and is taking it's toll in so many different ways.  I am hanging on by a thin thread.  If a tiny prayer could be said I would so appreciate it.  My family needs it.  I NEED IT.  I will return the favor if ever needed.  Thanks so much for listening.  Love, Elle

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