Mama Elephant

CAS Christmas Reindeer

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Hi there. I have finally found time to play with my Mama Elephant ‘Little Reindeer Agenda’. Finally! I bought this set and the Santa set a few weeks ago from Seven Hills Crafts, and just haven’t been in the mood to play with them. Today, that changed. No idea why, but it means I have a couple of cards to share with you.

I stamped eight of the little reindeer in black Versafine, and coloured them with my Zigs. I added some shading to the reindeer, even though they are very small, but used a flesh colour, and a light tan colour – just a little dimension. I used the matching dies to cut them out and then tried to decide the lay-out.

That problem was solved by the current challenge from AAA Cards. The sketch they have – I thought – was ideal for a lay-out using all my reindeer. I then decided not to put them straight, but the put them a little ‘wonky’, which could mean movement, but it actually means you don’t have to line things up perfectly. 🙂

One sentiment is from the Little Santa Agenda set, and the other sentiment is from Avery Elle ‘Brring on the Joy’ – a set with penguins I may use very soon – now I’m feeling I need to make some more Christmas cards.

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I covered the reindeer with my glitter pen, and added some Nuvo Drops to noses – they are all Rudolph (artistic license), and another three drops for some added colour. Can you see the little ‘personal’ touch on the second card? The larger drop wasn’t quite dried when I stood the card up to photograph it, and it started to droop just as I took the photo……slightly less than round now…….

 

I will be entering the following challenges:

AAA Cards – sketch

Christmas at Sweet Stampin’ – anything Christmas

Crimbo Crackers – Reindeer

Addicted to Stamps and More – make your mark

Winter Wonderland Challenge – anything goes Christmas

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a creature/critter

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas 

 

Cat agenda

Hello again everyone. I have two cards to share with you today – cards which I am not exactly happy with, but took me ages to sort out. I don’t know whether my eye isn’t suited to seeing such clean cards, or I have made them too big – there is just something about them I am not liking……..

I started with the inspiration from CASology with the theme of ‘square’ and combined with the them from Aud Sentiments and As You Like it. I had in my head the ‘Little Cat Agenda‘ from Mama Elephant, as I am definitely a cat person, having two gorgeous big black cats, and that I wanted them to be on a square, and wanted to use the sentiment from Lawn Fawn, but I just couldn’t get the layout right.

Do I die cut a square on the card and inlay the cat? Do I stamp the cat flat to the card? How would I colour the cat? Such conundrums that I struggled with for ages. I ended up stamping the cat on water-colour card, colouring them with my Zigs, then die-cutting a small square from Lawn Fawn wonky squares.

The sentiment I die cut from black card which had double sided sticky sheet on the back, so it would be easier to adhere to the card base, but played with the layout time after time.

In the end, I went for a long and thin card, and used a white base card and a biscuit colour card, juts so I could see which one I preferred – and actually didn’t like either of them that much.

Maybe the card is too deep or too long……..

In any event, I am posting them and wonder of there are some hints and tips you could give me? Or maybe it’s just that I am not getting the Clean and Simple look right at the moment….please tell my mojo to come back!!

CASology – square

Aud Sentiments – thinking of you

As You Like It – fur or feathers and why

three more colours

Good evening all. I have been playing – just a little – with my new purchase from Seven Hills Crafts – Mama Elephant ‘Little Girl Agenda’. I have so many ideas on how to use this set, and this is the first one come to fruition.

This card was inspired by the colours from CAS Colours and Sketches. I don’t have the exact colours mentioned – dapper denim, metallic copper, peekaboo peach – but I raided my Stampin Up markers to see what would come nearest. I hope they are kinda the same colours.

I started with a blue base card – from Creative Expressions. I find their foundations card is lovely to work with, whether it is die-cutting or stamping. I stamped and heat embossed a little saying from an Altenew stamp set, obviously that is the copper part of the challenge. Who knew when I did my recent copper embossing card that this colour would come up again so soon? It was still sat on my craft table!

The little girl I stamped with Versafine black onyx, let it dry, then coloured with me markers, and used the matching die-set to cut her out.

Now – it was my choice to only colour the balloons. Here’s my thought process……As the card base is so dark, and I had coloured the balloons already, I wanted the little girl to stand out. If I used the same challenge colours, I think she would have ended up a lost little girl. So – kept her white, no colouring. I think she stands out more by doing this? Do you agree? Let me know, I’ll be interested in what you think…..

I did try to photograph her outside, and tried my utmost to show the embossing on the words, but it didn’t quite work out well, but it was the best I could do…..It also decided to throw some rain down. It is still very warm, but dull and quite muggy here in Chesterfield, UK. Don’t tell anyone – but I think we need a ‘right good’ storm.

On another note, I see there are people playing along with the Inkspirational Challenge, for which I was guest designer for current challenge. Head along and have a go. It’s a gorgeous colourful inspirational photo…..

Here are the challenges I will be entering with this card:

CAS Colours and Sketches – dapper denim, metallic copper, peekaboo peach 

Inspiration Destination – anything goes

Creates and Makes – anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft – anything goes