Aloe from the Other Side

Here's my card for the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches.  This one is a super clean and simple design using an image I colored earlier in the month as part of March's Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge.  The image is from the Modern Succulents set from Ellen Hutson.  I colored the succulent image with Copic markers, then used my Scan 'n Cut machine to cut out the colored image.  It was adhered to the lower left corner of a green cardstock panel using foam tape.  I stamped the punny "aloe from the other side" sentiment just to the right of the image.  The finished panel was adhered to a coordinating teal card base.  The sentiment seems kind of appropriate for the current times, doesn't it?

Materials Used:
Modern Succulents stamp set (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Simply Chartreuse and Tropical Teal cardstock (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

Better Than Unicorns, Rainbows, and Sprinkles

Here's my card for the current challenge at The Paper Players.  I used the sketch for a super bright and cheery design.

My focal image is a unicorn from the Essentials by Ellen Unicorns 'n Rainbows stamp set.  The image was colored with Copic markers and cut out by hand.  I arranged it at the lower right corner of a bold rainbow patterned paper panel over a cluster of white shimmery stitched cloud die cuts.  After matting the rainbow panel on pale pink cardstock to match the unicorn, I adhered the panel to a pale blue card base over a wide strip of bright pink cardstock.  Once the panel was in place, I stamped the sentiment beneath it in pink ink to match the wide panel.  A trio of silver sequins arranged around the unicorn completed the design.

Materials Used:
Unicorns 'n Rainbows stamp set (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black and Rose Bud inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); clear Sparkle glitter brush pen (Spectrum Noir); Soft Sky, Pink Passion, and Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Crystal Stardream cardstock (The Paper Cut); Rainbow Brights 6x6 paper pad (Taylored Expressions); stitched clouds dies (Lil' Inker Designs); silver sequins; foam tape

Be Fabulous

Here's my card for the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches.  I flipped the sketch around a bit to create this encouraging design featuring stamps from Essentials by Ellen.

I colored up one of the unicorns from the Unicorns 'n Rainbows stamp set with Copic markers.  Soft colors are hard for me, but I think I did okay here!  I added a bit of sparkle with a glitter brush pen before cutting out the image.  I die cut a stitched cloud from shimmery white cardstock to go with the unicorn.  Both pieces were adhered to the lower left corner of a light purple card base. I used some foam tape on the unicorn to give it dimension.  A trio of silver glitter enamel dots were arranged around the images as an accent.  The "go forth and be fabulous" sentiment from the coordinating Pure Magic stamp set was stamped on the right side of the card, slightly higher than the images, to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Unicorns 'n Rainbows and Pure Magic stamp sets (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); clear Sparkle glitter brush pen (Spectrum Noir); Lilac Grace cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Crystal Stardream metallic cardstock (The Paper Cut); stitched clouds dies (Lil' Inker Designs); silver enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Mostly Monochromatic Make a Wish

Here's my card for the current Fusion challenge.  I paired the sketch with elements from the inspiration photo (hand theme, gray color tones) to create this simple birthday card.

My images are from the Essentials by Ellen Handful stamp set.  I stamped them at the bottom of a white cardstock panel, then used Copic markers to color in the arm/hand image.  It doesn't show in the photo, but I used a glitter brush pen to add a light coating of clear glitter over the dandelion image.  I matted the panel on a piece of silver cardstock, then adhered it to a gray card base.  To bring in a little interest, I cut an angled panel for the top of the card from striped gray cardstock using a stitched border die.  The shape of the die required a little creative cutting, but I think it worked out okay and ended up cutting the slanted sides pretty evenly. After backing the angled panel with foam tape, I adhered it to the top of the card to finish the design.

Materials Used:
Handful stamp set (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); clear Sparkle glitter brush pen (Spectrum Noir); Gravel Gray cardstock (My Favorite Things); Silver cardstock (Recollections); Hello Sunshine 6x6 paper pad (Pink Paislee); Stitched Basic Edges dies (My Favorite Things); foam tape

Could Be Worse

Here's my card for the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I had quite the week at work, so I am trying to take the sentiment on this design to heart!  It's from the Essentials by Ellen Voices in My Head stamp set--hope it doesn't offend anyone!  I paired it with the set's partial face image, colored with Copic markers.  I framed the face and text with scored lines, courtesy of my mini ScorPal, and narrow pale pink cardstock strips.  The stamped panel was matted on pink cardstock, then on white cardstock before it was layered on to a pink card base.

Materials Used:
Voices in my Head stamp set (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!)

You've Got This

Here's my card for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.  I used images from the Essentials by Ellen Handful stamp set for my focal image panel. The hand holding a coffee cup was stamped at the lower right side of a white round die cut panel.  I colored the stamped image with Copic markers.  There was just enough room at the top left of the round panel for the set's "you've got this" sentiment.  I matted the image panel on a pink cardstock circle to coordinate with the colored image, then layered the round panel on to a floral patterned paper panel with a strip of mint cardstock across it. The finished panel was adhered to a coordinating mint card base.  I stretched my version of the sketch to a standard A2 card instead of a square to make it easier to mail.

Materials Used:
Handful stamp set (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); Pale Peony and Mint Julep cardstock (Papertrey Ink);Vintage Vogue 6x6 paper pad (Pink Paislee); circle dies (Spellbinders)

Unicorns and Rainbows

Here's my card for the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I used a cluster of images to represent the round element positioned at the bottom of the long panel on the left side of the layout, but I think my take still shows the bones of the sketch.

I used a unicorn from the Essentials by Ellen Unicorns n' Rainbows set and a pair of clouds in place of the round element.  The unicorn was colored with Copic markers, and though it's hard to see in the photo, a glitter brush pen.  I used my Scan 'n Cut machine to cut out the colored image, then die cut a pair of clouds from shimmery white cardstock using dies from Lil' Inker Designs.  The images were paired with a rainbow strip of patterned paper fished out of my scrap pile.  I positioned the rainbow strip at the left side of the pale blue cardfront, then added the unicorn and clouds on top using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the fun sentiment from the coordinating Pure Magic stamp set above the images in black ink.  A trio of silver sequins arranged around the clouds completed the whimsical design. 

Materials Used:
Unicorns 'n Rainbows and Pure Magic stamp sets (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); clear Sparkle glitter brush pen (Spectrum Noir); Soft Sky cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Crystal Stardream cardstock (The Paper Cut); Springtime 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); stitched cloud dies (Lil' Inker Designs); silver sequins; foam tape

You Are Brave

Here's my card for the current Fusion challenge.  I paired the sketch with elements from the inspiration photo (butterfly images, watercolor feel, and color scheme) to put together this simple design.

I made my butterfly with the Papillon stamps and dies from The Stamp Market.  The butterfly was stamped in purple ink, then I added the details in black and blue.  I die cut a second butterfly from white vellum.  The vellum was adhered just at the center of the stamped image (the butterfly's body), then the wings were folded up to give the appearance of motion. I used foam tape to place the butterfly image at the bottom of a rounded square panel.  The "be brave" sentiment from the Essentials By Ellen Be Strong stamp set was stamped in the upper right corner of the panel in pale purple ink.  After matting the panel on purple cardstock, I adhered it to a blue card base with a strip of soft blue, purple, and green patterned paper along the left side.

Materials Used:
Papillon stamp set, Papillon dies (The Stamp Market); Be Strong stamp set (Essentials by Ellen); Lulu Lavender, Bahama Blue, and Tuxedo Black inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Brocade Blue cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Winter Wisteria cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Silver cardstock (Recollections); white vellum (The Paper Company); Echo 6x6 paper pad (Memory Box); corner rounder; foam tape

Pure Magic

Here's my card for the current Ellen Hutson Essentials challenge.  I used the Pure Magic stamp set and some bold and vibrant rainbow patterned paper for this fun design based on the challenge layout.  I started out by cutting the patterned paper and arranging it on a coordinating turquoise card base.  Once the pieces were evenly spaced and secured in place, I added the round sentiment panel on top.  I stamped two of the set's sentiments on the panel--I thought they worked well together!  The turquoise mat beneath it sets it off from the stripes but ties all of the elements together.  I accented the sentiment panel with a small silver stitched star die cut and a bit of a clear crystal flourish.  I threw in a trio of silver silver glitter enamel dots for a final touch of "magic" to go with the sentiment.

Materials Used:
Pure Magic stamp set (Ellen Hutson); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); Tempting Turquoise cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Silver cardstock (Recollections); circle dies (Spellbinders); stitched star dies (Lil' Inker Designs); clear crystal flourish (Want2Scrap); silver glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet); foam tape

Your Sparkle Has Not Gone Unnoticed

I recently added the Essentials by Ellen Unicorns 'n Rainbows and Pure Magic stamp sets from Ellen Hutson to my collection, so I had to try them out for her July's Color Trend Challenge.  I colored up the unicorn image in shades of pink and purple, then used my Brother Scan 'n Cut to cut out the colored image.  It doesn't show in the photo, but I added a subtle sparkle to the unicorn's mane and tail using a glitter brush pen.  A unicorn's got to have some sparkle, right?

To make a background for the unicorn, I arranged a trio of stitched shimmery white die cut clouds on an aqua card base. The unicorn was positioned on top, using foam tape for dimension.  I stamped the "your sparkle has not gone unnoticed" sentiment just beneath the clouds in black ink, then sprinkled a few pink sequins around as an accent to finish the card.
 
Materials Used:
Unicorns 'n Rainbows and Pure Magic stamp sets (Essentials by Ellen); Memento Tuxedo Black and VersaFine Clair Nocturne inks (Tsukineko/IMAGINE Crafts); markers (Copic); clear Sparkle glitter brush pen (Spectrum Noir); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Crystal Stardream cardstock (The Paper Cut); Stitched Cloud dies (The Cat's Pajamas); pink sequins; foam tape