Rainbow Stripes

Hi everybody! Here comes a fun card using various cute Mama Elephant sets on a striped rainbow watercolor background:

For the background, I applied Distress Oxide Inks with an ink blending tool and blended everything with water. After it was dried, I stamped and heat-embossed the bubbles with clear glitter embossing powder. Then I stamped the sentiment and adhered the panel to the card.

Now I stamped all the fun images, colored them with Copics, die-cut the elements with the matching dies and adhered everything to the card, popping up some parts with foam tape.

Finally, I added these tiny iridescent sequins.

Making this card was incredibly fun! All those adorable critters make me smile :)
Because of the stripes, I'll enter this to the SSS Wednesday Challenge.

Thank you for visiting today!

Vanessa

Mama Elephant sets used:

Ella & Friends

Purrfect Pair

Rowdy Raccoons

Tandem Extras

Love Quotes

Best Nine 2016

Hi everybody! This is a photo-heavy post, because on the last day of the year, I wanted to share my Best Nine 2016 from Instagram with you. These cards had the most likes:

I'll share the full pic again, with the link to the original post.

A fun panda birthday card using Mama Elephant and My Favorite Things from April. Find the post here.

A card made for Sunny Studio in September that can be found here.

I loved playing with watercolors for this MFT card I made in June. This was the original post.

In September, I created this watercolor butterfly for Penny Black.

Another September card features this adorable MFT dragon with a "Embossing with dies" technique.

One of the first cards of 2016, a love themed shaker card using MFT.

In September, I dreamed of fame and made this card for the MFT Card Design Superstar Contest.

In June, I had this card on the Penny Black Simplicity Blog.

And the last one was made in June for a MFT Sketch Challenge.

I enjoyed creating every single one of these using various techniques, playing with colors and telling little stories.

Thank you so much for your love and support this year! I hope you have a fabulous start into a Happy New Year!!!

Vanessa

Last Minute

Hey everybody! I have a last minute entry for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Happy Birthday. The third time is the charm!

Here I played with the Mama Elephant pandas. I applied blue and turquoise ink onto a panel of watercolor paper that I had trimmed slightly smaller than a turquoise card base and added spritzes of the same ink to the area. After I had adhered the panel to the card, I stamped and heat-embossed the sentiment onto a strip of black cardstock, trimmed it and adhered it. Then I stamped, die-cut and colored the pandas and their accessories and adhered everything with foam tape. Finally, I finished the card off with sequins. These pandas always make me smile :)

I hope they made you smile today, too! Thanks for visiting!

Vanessa

   

   

   

Sparkle & Shine Challenge: Watercolor Dots

*second post of the day. for the winnie & walter rerun, please go here*

Hello everybody! It's time for a new Sparkle & Shine Challenge. This time we had this pretty image to work with:

So many possibilities, don't you think? I love the watercolors and here is what I came up with:

I created the stripes on a panel of watercolor paper, using a wet brush to pick up color from Derwent Inktense Pencils and simply painting a stripe of every color, creating a rainbow. Then I trimmed the panel, layered it with a strip of black card stock and adhered it to my card base. I stamped and colored the cute panda, cut it out and adhered it with foam tape. Then I die-cut the word from card stock and fun foam and adhered it, too. Finally I added matching sequins.

I hope you'll join us this time for your chance to win a gift card to Pretty Pink Posh!

Thanks for stopping by!

Vanessa

   

   

   

Sparkle & Shine Challenge Eleven: Photo Inspiration sponsored by Pretty Pink Posh

Hey everyone! It's time for the new Sparkle & Shine Challenge, sponsored by Pretty Pink Posh. I just love this photo inspiration:

Isn't it beautiful? Although I thought it very tempting to create something with gorgeous flowers, I chose a cute card for this challenge:

I wanted to play with my new Mama Elephant set for this. I never thought I would like that much orange, but I actually do! I hope you'll join us for this challenge!

Thanks for visiting today!

Vanessa

   

   

   

Elefriend

Hello! Today's card is for three challenges. The Mama Elephant June Flickr Challenge "White Space", the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Friends/Superhero" and the Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Challenge "Rainbow". Here comes my little Elefriend:

I started with a panel of cardstock and embossed the sunrays with clear embossing powder. Then I inked the spaces between with Distress Inks. After I had stamped the sentiment, I adhered the panel to the card. Now I stamped the elephant and the heart and colored them with Copics. After I had die-cut them with the matching dies, I adhered them to the card with foam tape. Finally I applied Glossy Accents to the heart.

Thanks for visiting today!

Vanessa

 

   

   

Another One

I am back with another one. Another super girl. I can't help it, they are adorable and fun to color! So I'll enter this one to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge again…

A little redhead:

I used the exclusive Simon Says Stamp/Mama Elephant set (I linked to the alternative from ME below, the SSS set isn't available any more…). First, I stamped the skyline onto a panel of pp. Then I adhered a strip of cardstock and stamped the "super". Now I stamped the girl, colored her with Copics and die-cut her with the matching die. She was adhered to the card with foam tape. Finally, I adhered some die-cut stars to the panel and adhered everything to the card.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Vanessa

   

   

   

Super Hero

Hey everybody! I have another card featuring a little super hero. This time it's a cute girl from Mama Elephant for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Friends or Superhero.

Here she is:

I wanted to get inky and created a fun watercolor/bokeh background for the girl. She is colored with Copics and die-cut with the matching dies. I adhered her with foam tape and finished the card off with sequins and die-cut stars.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Vanessa

   

   

   

A Fun & Cute Card

Hello! I am just popping in quickly with a fun & cute card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Happy Birthday" and the Mama Elephant Stamp With Me Flickr Challenge "Make me Laugh".

I used the cute little creatures from Ella and Friends and combined them with the Simon Says Stamp exclusive set Surprise. I first stamped the critters onto a panel of cardstock and colored them with Copics. Then I drew a string for the balloon with a black marker and adhered the panel to my card. I inked another piece of cardstock creating an ombre effect and die-cut the balloon from it. I adhered the balloon with foam tape and applied Wink of Stella. Now I stamped the celebrate banner and cut it out to adhere it to the string.
Thanks for visiting!

 Vanessa

   

   

   

Light It Up Blue For Autism Awareness Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Light It Up Blue For Autism Awareness Blog Hop! I, personally, have no experience with autism at all. But looking at what friends on Facebook write about their struggles in daily life made me want to help with this cause. Even if it is just a little card I made.
We have so many fantastic sponsors that have shown their support for Autism Awareness and you can see the complete list here:  http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/…/the-light-it-up-blue-for-…. If you would like a chance to win a prize from one of these fabulous companies leave a comment on this blog, and any of the other blogs participating in today's hop! Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced on Monday April 6. Now here is the card I created for today's hop:

I  created my panel, die-cutting a stitched circle from the bottom right part. Then I stamped and heat-embossed the sentiment and adhered the panel to the card with foam tape. Now I stamped the cupcake and the bear and colored everything with Distress Inks and water. I die-cut the elements with the matching dies and adhered them with foam tape. Finally I added sequins. 
I hope you like it!
Now, I suggest starting here on Veronica's blog for all the details. She is the sweet girl who organized this all. Happy hopping and thanks for visiting!

Vanessa

   

   

   

Galaxy

Hey everybody! I wanted to make a card for my husband's 40th birthday and loved the galaxy cards I saw from various cardmakers. Here comes my take on the galaxy:

I inked a panel of watercolor paper using various Distress Inks and an ink blending tool. Then I added drops of pearlescent spray ink. After everything was dried, I stamped and foiled the stars and the hearts. (find a video on how I foil my stamped images here) 

Then I adhered the panel to a blue cardbase. I stamped the little aries onto another piece of cardstock, colored him with Copics an cut him out. Then I applied Wink of Stella to his horns and adhered him to the card with foam-tape.
I think the card was too cute for him. Considering it afterwards, it would have been better to just create the galaxy. But I couldn't help it :o)
I'll enter this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes".
Have a great Sunday everybody and thanks for visiting!

Vanessa

   

   

   

Sparkle & Shine Challenge #1

Hey everybody! It's time for the very first Sparkle & Shine Challenge!! We are so excited and hope you'll play! The first challenge is a photo inspiration challenge. Here comes the image:

I have a thing for these lovelies. I don't know why, but I have this ability to find four-leaved clovers without looking for them. I walk through our garden, something catches my eye, I stop in my tracks, bend down and pick the four-leaved clover. It drives my family crazy. They always try to find one without success. Not that this ability would help for anything, but it is fun. But you are not here to read about my oddities! Here is the card I created for the challenge:

I started my card with die-cutting the large stitched rectangle from the Winnie & Walter Essentials: Katharine Cutaways from green cardstock. Then I adhered it to the card. Now I die-cut the smaller stitched rectangle from white cardstock. I masked a hill on the right bottom corner with masking tape and applied Mowed Lawn Distress Ink with an ink blending tool. I stamped my sentiment (it says: good luck) and adhered the panel to the card. Then I stamped and colored the little girl, die-cut her and adhered her with foam tape. Using heart-shaped balloon dies from Simon Says Stamp, I created the four-leaved clover. After I had adhered it to the card, I drew a string with a black marker. To finish the card off, I adhered the light green Pretty Pink Posh sequins from the Winnie & Walter 1st Birthday Bash Mix.
Now it's time for you to play for your chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate from Pretty Pink Posh! Can't wait to see you take!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Vanessa

supplies:
Mama Elephant In My Heart stamp set + dies - Inkystamps sentiment - Winnie & Walter Essentials: Katharine Cutaways - Simon Says Stamp Celebration Time dies - Ranger Distress Ink - Tsukineko ink - Copic Markers - Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Miss You

Hey there! I have a little "Miss You" card to enter to this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Add a Little Texture".

I used vellum to add texture here:

Using textured watercolor paper, I lightly painted a sky with Distress Ink. Then I stamped the sentiment and adhered the panel to the card. Now I die-cut clouds from vellum and adhered them. Finally, I stamped the girl onto cardstock, colored her with Copics, cut her out and adhered her with foam tape.
Have a great day everybody and thanks for stopping by!

Vanessa

supplies:
Mama Elephant In My Heart stamp set - Lanw Fawn cloud dies - Tsukineko ink - Ranger Distress Ink - Copic markers

Another One

I have another card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "all creatures great and small". And because I used a new-to-me color combo and some new stamps and dies I purchased, I'll also enter it to the Simon Says Stamp Work-it-Wednesday "new".

First, I created my stripes with the Winnie & Walter Scenery: Classic Diagonal Creative Screenings mask and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink. Then I stamped and die-cut the images and colored them with Copics. I die-cut a black tag and arranged everything on my card. Now I die-cut the "happy", adhered it and stamped the "birthday". Finally I added small black enamel dots.
Happy Sunday and thanks for stopping by!

Vanessa

supplies:
Winnie & Walter The Big, the Bold and the Happy stamps + cutaways, Scenery: Classic Diagonal Creative Screenings - Lawn Fawn blissful botanicals stamps + dies - Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes stamps + dies - Penny Black tag die - Tsukineko ink - Ranger Distress ink - Copic Markers - Hero Arts enamel dots

New Baby

I made a card for the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #9 "Anything New". Mine is for a new baby. I'll also enter it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes".
Here it is:

Time for happy spring colors! I used the Simon Says Stamp exclusive set "Celebrate". First, I stamped all the fun balloons and the dots on the background. Then the sentiment. I added soft strings to the balloons with a pencil. Finally I adhered the panel to my cardbase and finished the card off with some sequins. I love stamping balloons, just can't get enough of them. In this case, I used pigment inks, starting with the lightest colors and ending with the darkest. They make the balloons look translucent, don't you think? I hope you like it!
Thanks for stopping by!

Vanessa

supplies:
Simon Says Stamp Celebrate stamp set - Mama Elephant inks - Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Color Coordinates

Here I am, back with a card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Color Coordinates". I've been busy creating projects I can't show yet, although you might get a sneak on Instagram :o)
However, today I took a break and created this card.

These colors scream for a Halloween card, but I wanted to play with my Super Duo set and made this one:

I don't think I'll ever get enough of this set. The supergirl is colored with Copics, the background behind the negative die-cut is, too. I hope you like it!
Thanks for visiting!

Vanessa

supplies:
Simon Says Stamp With Mama Elephant Stamptember Exclusive Super Duo stamp set + dies - Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle die - Copic markers - Stylefile markers

Playing With My Stamps

A very happy day to you from sunny Germany! I have another Mama Elephant card to share. I've been enjoying playing with my new stamps, this time it was the set Carnival Cupcakes. I don't think I'll ever get enough of the cute images! Here is the card:

I created this watercolor wash with Tombow markers and water. The bear and the cupcake were colored with Copics. To finish the card off, I die-cut sequins from another piece of watercolored paper and combined them with real sequins. This card will be entered to the Mama Elephant and me challenge "Anything Goes" and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Watercolors".

Thanks for visiting!

Vanessa

supplies:
Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes stamp set, Confetti Creative Cuts - Tombow Marker - Copic Marker - Stylefile Marker - Tsukineko ink - Stempelküche stamp - Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Superboy

Oh, I couldn't resist the adorable Simon Says Stamp StampTember Exclusive with Mama Elephant stamp set "Super Duo"! Here comes superboy:

It was so fun to color him with Copics. I used the ray stamp from the ME set "My Sunshine", and stamped it onto watercolor paper with light blue Distress Ink. Then I used a blue Tombow marker and drew lines to the outer edges of the rays. Afterwards, I applied water with a brush and created this watercolor look on the rays. The orange background was created with a Tombow marker and some water, too. I'll enter this card to the Mama Elephant an me "Anything Goes" Challenge again. I think it won't be my last entry :o)

Thanks for visiting!

Vanessa

supplies:

Mama Elephant My Sunshine stamp set, Confetti Creative Cuts - Simon Says Stamp/Mama Elephant Exclusive stamp set Super Duo - Tombow markers - Copic markers - Tsukineko ink - Pretty Pink Posh sequins