Welcome Ella

My cousin welcomed a beautiful little girl, Ella, into the world a few weeks ago - a tad early so I wasn't quite expecting the text. My cousin isn't a girly-girl, so I didn't want to make a full-on pink card. Leah's latest Colour Wheel Challenge fit the bill: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, So Saffron and Mellow Moss. I also used the most recent Mojo Monday challenge as inspiration...

I stamped the adorable elephant from Animal Stories in Pretty in Pink, then rock'n rolled it in Perfect Plum before popping her up with dimensionals on layered Whisper White and Mellow Moss circles. I felt the square 'bit' on the sketch was a bit sharp for a baby card, so adapted it to a circle. The Whisper White scallop circle has been sponged in Pretty in Pink around the edges to soften it. A few Pretty in Pink brads added the finishing touch I was looking for.

I think my cousin will get a kick out of this! I'm looking forward to meeting darling Ella next visit home.

Stamps: Animal Stories (Summer Mini), Jumbo Bold Alphabet, Short & Sweet

Card: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Whisper White

DSP: Afternoon Tea

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum

Punches: 1 3/4 " circle (Summer Mini), Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle

Other: So Saffron 3/8" Grosgrain ribbon (from Ribbon Bundle, retired), Prety in Pink Grosgrain ribbon, Soft Subtles brads

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Luana and myself ventured out to Carols by Candlelight tonight, which she had a ball at, so I thought I'd spread a little more Christmas Cheer.

This little cutie was inspired by Leah's latest Monthly Challenge:

This card is actually a little larger than a Love Note - 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" and I've use a very non-Christmas set, Trendy Trees, for my reindeer; the antlers are tree trunks. The larger hole punch on the crop-o-dile was used for the eyes and nose, and I think the brushed gold adds a special Christmas touch.

I think this little stripey reindeer lends itself to so much inspiration! Have a go!

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Best Yet (Level 1 Hostess)

Card: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, Crop-o-dile

Other: Basic Black Journalling Pen

Here Comes the Stegosaurus

I think dinosaurs are pretty cool and the stegosaurus is my favourite. When I was pregnant I found a shop that sold plush dinos, but no stegosaurus :( I'm quite happy Luana has got into 'Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs' - she was actually telling me all their names today! So, I was a bit excited about Leah's July Challenge and had planned what I was going to make weeks ago, but it was left 'til today to actually make the card - oops! And Luana was having a velcro day, so not much time for stamping...

Leah pulled the colours Pacific Point. Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White. I (of course) had to run with the dinosaur theme too!

I know there are some very talented paper crafters out there, and using punches to create critters is not one of my strong points, so I did a bit of a search and found this cute little fellow on Kristen's Kreations and as an added bonus, it was a stegosaurus!! I tried really hard to think how I could do a triceratops using the scallop circle punch too, but creativity eluded me... If you know, could you please leave a comment!! Thanks!
I've made a couple of little adjustments to Kristen's original - I added in an extra layer of spine plates to emulate the double row, and I've added in tail spikes too which I just cut free hand. The reason Luana was telling me all about Harry's Dinosaurs is because I went on-line to double check Steggy's colours - he's a light blue with purple spine plates, so my little fella became Baja Breeze with Pacific Point spine plates! (I made an all Kiwi Kiss one as a prototype, so I'll pop him on a card and show you all at some stage). The rest of the card is quite straight forward - many thanks to my brother for humouring me and giving me suggestions on the layout!!

Thanks again Leah - this was a lot of fun!!

Stamps: Birthday Wish

Card: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Paper: Urban Oasis, Washington Apple, Hand Drawn (from the Level 3 Hostess Bundle Hand Drawn)

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Punches: word window, 1 3/8" circle, small oval, large oval, 5 petal flower, Crop-o-dile, 1 1/4" square, 1 3/8" square

Other: paper piercer, Basic Black Stampin' Write Journaller