Happy Father's Day | A Balloon Shaker Card | Mama Elephant

Hello everyone!

Hope you're enjoying the summer heat.  Here in Los Angeles, we're supposed to have a 100+ degree heat wave these next few days.  Thank goodness for air-conditioning!

I have a very special Father's Day card to share with all of you.  For the past three weeks, my father (I call him "Ba") has been visiting me in Los Angeles.  It's been a few years since he's visited LA.  Usually he goes to the Bay Area to see my brother's family and I fly up there, or I head home to Boston to see my parents.  But this trip was special.  He came out here to spend time with me and help me get through some health stuff.  I had multiple visits to the doctor/hospital and he helped with a lot of the driving... which is never fun in LA.  He told me fun stories of the past, packed my lunch, cooked dinner -- it was as if we traveled back in time to my middle school days!

At the very young age of 79, Baba still isn't fully retired and he is constantly staying sharp learning new things.  He keeps me posted on new developments in fields like artificial intelligence or robotics.  He can keep himself busy with tons of hobbies from building robots to cooking to e-learning to calligraphy!  Yup, Baba crafts too!  So, here's the card I made for him.  The video tutorial is a "must-see" video too because it features Baba opening the card and some other fun antics!  Hope you enjoy it!

Materials:

• Mama Elephant: Girlfriends stamps and dies
• Mama Elephant: Carried Away stamps and dies
• Mama Elephant: Ella & Friends stamps and dies
• Mama Elephant: Hello Everything stamps
• Mama Elephant: Sew Fancy dies
• Simon Says Stamp: Happy and Smile
• Copic Markers:
• Skin: E00, E11, E13, R20
• Hair: C3, C5, C7
• Dress: BG11, BG13, BG15, RV21, RV23, RV25
• Mouse: R20, C00, C1, C3
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Ranger Embossing Powder: Liquid Platinum
• Versamark Ink
• Distress Ink: Squeezed Lemonade and Spun Sugar
• Foam Adhesive
• Adhesive Tape Runner
• Acetate sheet

Directions:

• Watch my YouTube video here to see the card come to life:

Click the image to watch me make this card on YouTube

Here's a picture of my father with the card!

Happy Father's Day, Ba!

Love,
Christina

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up: New Challenge #18 - Silver & Gold

Hi everyone!  I can't believe it's already June and the first day of summer is just a week away!

Welcome to the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Design Challenge.  This month we're featuring some really images from Lunagirl.

Here are the challenge details:

• Blog link: The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up 
• Challenge dates: June 1-30, 2016
• Optional theme: "Silver & Gold" - if you would like to participate in the optional theme for the month, create a card that features a silver & gold palette. You must use Silver AND Gold somewhere in your card. Also add "FT" after your name, so we can include it in the prize drawing. This theme is optional.  You only need to follow the theme if you are interested in winning a the prize from Lunagirl.com (a $15 gift certificate).
• As always: All card submissions (with or without optional theme) will be eligible to earn a free paper each month and some extra digital goodies.
• Guest Sponsor: Lunagirl (see info below).
• Additional Sponsor: Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Prize Info: 
• From Lunagirl: A $15 Gift Certificate for one random winner chosen from those who participate in the optional theme.
• From Décosse's Dynamite Doodles: 
• Prize 1: one free digital paper to EVERYONE who links up a minimum of two cards. The theme for these cards is optional.

For some inspiration, here is the card I designed using the Christmas Minis 2 (1"Circles) Digital Collage Sheet.

Materials:

• Lunagirl: Christmas Mini 2 (1" Circles) Digital Collage Sheet stamp
• Red card stock for card base: 4.5"W x 9"H, scored at 4.5" mark
• Silver and Gold patterned paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• We R Memory Keepers Scalloped Punch
• Adhesive Tape Runner and Foam Adhesive
• Gold Ribbon

Directions:

• Cut the patterned paper to the 4.25" square
• Print the mini circles and cut 8 out with a circle punch or die
• Cut the scalloped circle from red card stock using the punch
• Glue the circle image to the scalloped circles
• Adhere foam adhesive on the back
• Embellish with gold ribbon

SPONSOR INFO:

As I mentioned above, this month's challenge is brought to you by our Guest Sponsor, Lunagirl.

Our additional sponsor is Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.

Now it's your turn!  Create a holiday card and be sure to add it to the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge blog!  Look forward to seeing your amazing designs!

Happy Card Making!

A Birthday Bouquet | WPlus9 Freehand Florals

Hello friends,

Today is my Aunt Grace's birthday.  I call her I-E-Yu.  She lives on the other side of the country, but when we were kids, we spent plenty of summers at their house. My mom has two younger sisters, I-E-Yu and I-E-Lu. Together, the three sisters essentially keep our family connected.  My mom's the oldest and growing up, her advice for me and focus was on getting good grades, studying hard, etc...  My youngest aunt, I-E-Lu, always gave me advice on career, investing and cooking lessons (and eating lessons). So what was I-E-Yu's area of expertise?  Fashion and dating!  Yes, she always gave me tips on what to wear, she knew designers and trends before I even knew them.  She introduced me to Swatch Watches in the 80s... (my swatch had pink fish on it).  And when I started dating, she was more than willing to share her two cents!

I-E-Yu also has a green thumb and knows all about plants and flowers.  Yes, I have two very talented horticultural (is that a word?) aunts.  So, I thought this awesome Freehand Florals stamp set from WPlus9 would be the best one to use for her birthday card.

Materials:

• WPlus9: Freehand Florals Stamps and Dies
• Simon Says Stamp: Birthday Florals Stamps
• Mama Elephant: Happy Script Die
• Teresa Collins patterned paper
• Pretty Pink Posh Sequins (Sparkling Clear)
• Hero Arts (HA) Shadow Inks & Simon Says Stamp (SSS) Hybrid Inks (see image below for the ink colors used)
• Foam Adhesive, Adhesive Tape Runner, Glue Dots
• Heidi Swap Color Shine in Gold

Directions:

• Watch this video to see how I made the card.

Click image to watch me make this card on YouTube

Here are the ink pads I used:

And another close-up of the card:

Happy Birthday, I-E-Yu!

Love,

Christina

A Spinning Ice Cream Card | Lawn Fawn

Hi everyone!

The other day, I was driving home from work behind a local ice cream truck and I suddenly wanted to eat ice cream.  Granted, I love ice cream.  I know it's not something you can eat EVERYDAY... and technically it's not the healthiest treat, but every now and then... ice cream makes everything better, right?  So, I picked up a pint of the yummiest Sea Salt Cream & Cookies ice cream from McConnell's a local Santa Barbara ice cream shop that opened a store in LA.  I actually purchased this pint at Whole Foods on my way home from work.

I decided to make a card that was inspired by McConnell's iconic black and red packaging:

Materials:

• Lawn Fawn: Treat Yourself Stamps and Dies
• Lawn Fawn: Here's the Scoop Stamps and Dies
• Simon Says Stamp: Big Birthday Wishes Stamp Set
• Simon Says Stamp: Stitched Rectangle Dies
• Lawn Fawn: Scalloped Rectangle Stackables
• Copic Markers:
• C00, C1, C3, C5, C7
• R12, R20, R22, R24, R29
• E50, E53, E55
• Red Card Stock
• White A2 Card Base
• Teresa Collins: Patterned Paper

Directions:

• Watch this video on YouTube to see how I made this card or click on the image below:

Click the image to watch me make this card

Challenge Entry:

• I am also entering this card into the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge Sketch #175.  You can read all about the challenge here.
• This is what the sketch looks like:

Enjoy and now... it's time for some ICE CREAM!

Have a great week!

Christina