When the right stamp is just not there...

I'm often requested to create a card not only for a certain person but also with a certain motive. But what to do when your collection lacks a stamp appropriate for what you want to create?

Well, of course the best source for almost anything is the Internet. There are so many digital stamps you can find online. And a great number of them is free. All you need to do is search. And if digital stamps are not enough you can always try to find a free coloring book. It is such a beautiful source of simple b&w images you could use as a sort of digi stamp.

The cards I want to show you today were all made using such images.
Take a look.

This card was for 14th birthday of a girl whose everyday life is based on every possible kind of sport. The card needed to be sport related too, but of course I don't own any appropriate stamps so I've found the roller girl image online - free coloring page.

The pattern papers used here as well as the brads are from one of the Back To Basic collection. 

The sentiment stamps comes form polish store Agateria.

This one was for a 5th birthday of a boy whose love are numbers. Of course all stamps in my collection are basically meant for girls. I've found a coloring page of a boy with a skateboard and changed that part with a number five.

For the background I've used stamp from another polish store Lemonade.

The above card is one of my favourites. I just love how bright and colorful the rainbow turned out. I've used probably every button and sequin I have in my stash :-) 

The images from this three cards above were all colored using Letraset Promarkers.

Don't you think this one is cute? Made especially for my "work-brother". We both love The Despicable Me movies so the obvious choice was to use minions for his card. You know were they come from? I've found a free activity page on McDonald's website. Printed it several times and colored with colored pencils and mineral spirit. Googly eyes were a must :-D 

The last card I have for today is probably my all time favorite. The train image is once again a coloring page I've found online. But both cake and presents are actual clear stamps. Present stamp is from G-studio and the cake is an amazing stamp from Agateria (love it!!!) Also the wood texture stamps is from Agateria. All the images and and the background were colored using Distress inks.

Wow. That's a long post, isn't it?

Love,

elleth

A little bit more love

Well, guess I should be posting here a bit more frequently...

But... don't you sometimes have a feeling that there's just too little days in a week? Time seems to be flying so fast lately. I mean...didn't we had summer like a few days ago?

But, getting back to cards.

I want to share with you another three wedding cards I've made.

First of them was made specially for a couple which share a passion for motorcycles.

The image you see is a Precious Moments coloring page. And when you pull the card you can see the couples photo: 

The next one is more simple.

Bitterly die I've got in my BigShot starter kit. And the embossing folder was a free gift with Docrafts Creativity Magazine.

To add a bit more interest I've added white sequin's under the die cuts.

Now, for the last one I've used two stamps from the great polish store Agateria. I absolutely love this little car image. It can be so versatile. You can use it in so many ways.

That's it for today. Have a great evening.

elleth

Sto Lat Agaterio!

Dziś Agaterii są urodziny, więc je hucznie obchodzimy. Będą konkursy i zabawa. Stempelków darmowa dostawa. To nie koniec przyjemności. Będzie niespodzianka dla naszych gości. W nowym miejscu się spotkamy. Do STEMPLOMANII zapraszamy!

Dziś wspaniałe święto!
Mój ulubiony sklep ze stemplami właśnie skończył dwa latka :-D
Jeśli jeszcze nie znacie tego miejsca to zapraszam do odwiedzin!

Po wspaniałe inspiracje zapraszam natomiast na bloga oraz w nowe miesjce - STEMPLOMANIA.

Wszystkiego najlepszego Agaterio! Dziękujemy, że jesteś.

Daddy

Some time ago I was requested to make a card for Father's Day.
The card was supposed to from a little boy to his daddy.
This is what I came up with:

The main image comes from Precious Moments coloring pages. Don't you just think their images are ever so cute?

I colored it with Promarkers.

Letters for the sentiment and papers are from First Edition Up Up & Away 6x6 paper pad.

And the little blue trimming is from The girls' peperie market trims.

Take care, 

elleth

Weddings

It seems that lately all I've been doing were wedding cards.
To tell the truth this is my least favourite subject. I always struggle to come up with new designs.

The design for the first one was actually inspired by my friend's idea to make a card using iris folding technique.

As at the time of making this card I did not own a diecutting machine I needed to find a design simple enough to be cut by hand. Hearts seemed to be perfect idea but I wanted something special. The idea of transforming hearts into couple I found on the Internet (where else? ;-) ) and turned it into a card that I'm actually super proud of!

Next was the card inspired by couple's wedding invitation - golden and glittery. To give a card some delicacy I embossed a little doily stamp from Sunrise and Sunset Prima stamp set in Enchanted gold embossing powder. Added ribbons and a lot of shiny crystals.

Last but not least is the card that uses a gorgeous stamp from Agateria. This stamp is so versatile. Goes for wedding, birthdays, can be subtle or bright. I truly love love love it!

Now, look closely on the cake itself. I've stamped it several times, colored with Promarkers, cut out and layered. That gave the cake a dimensional look. Do you like it? I truly do :-) 

Tell me what you think,

elleth

Bicycle

This card was made as a gift for my colleague who decided to continue his career outside our factory.

Bikes are his true passion. Always were. Now he has a bike shop or something like that.

I hope his new business will be a success. Though he will be missed here....

The main image for the card is a bicycle coloring page I've found online. 

Take care,

elleth

Keep on shining!

The card below is made for one brave girl - Maddy. You can check her story on Simon Says Stamp blog.

This is the second card drive for her and I was participating in the previous one too.

I've made this card using my brand new stamp from Agateria. Isn't the girl adorable?

Patterned papers come form Dovecraft Tea House 6x6 paper pad.

And the layout for this one is a sketch no 72 from Deconstructing Jen.

Now, beside just making and sending a card I wanted to add something special. I've came up with the idea to gather as much signatures as I can from people from my work. And guess what....? I needed to add another A4 piece of paper so many of my colleagues wanted to sign. They were all touched by Maddy's story.

I've sent the card today. Hope it reaches you soon, sweet Maddy. KEEP ON SHINING!

elleth

Hospital can bring something good too

Some time ago I've spent several days at the hospital.
It was my first time. To tell the truth I was scared as hell and almost cried when I've found out I had to stay not for one or two days but for six.

Fortunately I've met there someone who made this whole hospital stay quite pleasant.
In the same room as me was this remarkable girl. Chatty, happy, optimistic. Don't think I've ever met anyone like her.
Always smiling. Always finding words to cheer others up.

She had to stay at the hospital longer than I did. And she's getting back there tomorrow.

This time I wanted to cheer her up. I've made this cute card especially for her.

I've chose to go with colors and patterns as colorful, bright and cheerful as she is. These came from Simple Stories Fabulous 6x6 paper pad.

For the main image I've used a small Me too you stamp ('cos I know she loves these grey teddies).

The 'get well soon' sentiment was stamped with Prima Marketing Sunrise Sunset stamp set.

I really hope she'll like this and she will recover very soon.

elleth

Mother's day

This is the card that is going to be a gift for my Mom on Mother's Day (26th May here).
Right when I've noticed this stamp from Agateria I knew it has to be a focal image of my card for Mom. It kind of reminds me of me and my kitty.

The rest of the card is made with three colors of washi tape that went well with the main image, eyelets and a ribbon.

Here's the inside.

This stamp comes from Agateria as well.

I'm putting this card for two challenges:
May challenge at Agateria
And Mother's Day challenge at The Pink Elephant

Have a nice weekend
elleth

Simply gorjuss

If you haven't noticed yet I'm in love with Santoro's Gorjuss stamp sets. Every single girl is so cute and I just love to color them with Promarkers and/or paper piece them.
For this card I've used stamp set called You brought me love. The paper pad is Basic Grey Sugar Rush 6x6 pad.

This time I've wanted to make something different than usual rectangular card. Decided to go with a circle.
To make it very girly I've added couple of rhinestones and pink glitter.

Here's how the inside looks like.

Hope you like it.
Take care,
elleth

Gorjuss hi

Hey there,

This card was made simply to try out a new paper pad I've got  from my cousin from Holland - Marianne design Fancy Flowers.

The designs in this pad are so delicate and girly. Almost all papers in the set make a great backgrounds. So all I've done is add a little bling to the flourishes.
This paper pad goes amazing with the girl stamp from Santoro's Gorjuss Little Heart stamp set.
I've paper pieced her dress and socks and rest is colored with Promarkers.

Putting this all together resulted in a cute little card.

Love,
elleth

Kid's card

It's the last of the cards from my little male-boy cards series.
This one is ment for a six year old boy.
Wanted to keep it simple, funny and interesting for a little boy. That's when I thought of making a little shaker-balloon.

Both robot pictures are digital stamps from Shery K Design.  

The first one just begged for googly-eyes. 

This is also my last entry for Simon Says Stamp birthday challenge.

Wish me luck,
elleth

Male card

This is another card using cute car stamp from Agateria.
Because it's a card for my father this time I've just colored the image with Promarkers and went with more 'grown-up' look.

The papers I've used came from two different packs - Papermania Bexley Black and some Me Too You set.

This is another card I'm entering into Simon Says Stamp birthday challenge.

elleth

Boy's card

This cute card I've made for My Sweet Boyfriend. It was a part of his birthday gift.
It's more boyish than masculine, but after all every guy is still a little boy inside.

The car image is a stamp from Agateria. I've stamped it several time on pieces of blue-colored cardstock, cut it out and mounted it using 3D glue dots to give the image a bit dimension. Also covered it with Glossy Accents to give it a shiny car look.
Pennants and sentiment also come from Agateria.
And the papers come from My Mind's Eye Away We Go paper pack.

Also I'm putting this card for a challenge at Simon Says Stamp blog and at Agateria blog :)

Have a great evening,
elleth

Easter

I wasn't exactly in making-holiday-cards mood this year but I have to made at least two ;-)
Actually it's just one design but the main image was done in two different techniques.

The one on the left is colored with Promarkes and the one on the right is done with watercolor pencils.

Now, the main image id not just a one stamp. I decided to try and make a scene using different stamp images and a masking technique. My first try with these but it turned out quite nice.

The stamps I've used were:

- "Some Bunny" by We R Memory Keepers

- a set from studio G that I do not know the name (a spring one)

- "Butterfly with flowers" by cArt-Us

- eggs are from Agateria and the sentiment is from Lemonade.

The pattern paper is from ScrapPasja.

Here's the inside

This is also going to be my second entry for Anything Goes Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

Have a happy holiday,

elleth

Anything goes challenge

This card was made for The Bestest Godfather in the whole wide world! I love you!

Lately I'm so into hexagons and I've bought two stamps from the 3rd Eye - one with full hexagons the other with the outlines. Both of them are sooooo cool to use.

For this card I decided to stamp the outline version both on cardstock and some patterned papers.
I've added a bit of dimension by using foam tape on some hexagon and cardstock, putting some under the cardstock and directly on it.

I must admit - I love how it turned out.

The pattern paper I've used is Away We Go by My Mind's Eye.

Also I'm putting this card for a Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.

Wish me luck

elleth

SSS challenge - choose a sketch

Hi,
Today I want to show you a card I've made for Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

I've decided to go with a sketch no 1 and here is what I came up with.

The papers for this card came from Up Up & Away First Edition 6x6 paper pack.

The main image and sentimet came from Bazoo Chill Out stamp set.

I've used them also to decorate the inside a bit.

All images were colored with Promarkers.

Have a good day.

elleth

Pink & gray

Hi,
This time I decided to make a square card. This one is for my cousin's daughter.
Didn't want it to be totaly pink so I've added a bit of grey.

The pink paper is from Me too you collection. The gray ones came from Papermania Bexley Black.
Of course I needed to add a bit of bling - it's for a 15 year old girl. It needs to shine, right?

Take care,
elleth

Birthday party

Hi!
Yes, I do have another birthday card for you.
This one is for my collegue and a dear friend. It was inspired mainly by the dress I saw my friend wearing on a New Year's party. Based on that dress I wanted this card to be ellegant, sort of party related and shiny.

For the main image I've used a stamp that came free with Creativity magazine and the sentiment is from an awsome polish store Agateria.
The stripped paper came from Papermania Bexley Black paper collection pack.
Next birthday card comming very soon :)
elleth

For my dear friend

Welcome back.

Birthday cards are probably the ones I've made most often. And I truly adore making those.

This one was created especially for a friend of mine I haven't seen for such a long time (miss you girl!)

It uses papers form Prima Marketing Reflections collection.

I've used three stamps, two of with came form online store with polish stamps LEMONADE (http://store.lemonadestamps.com/) the third one is from Prima Marketing.

Take care,

elleth

You mean the world to me

Hi,

Late as usually, but it's still February so it counts, right? :)

My this year idea for a Valentine's Day gift for my (most amazing) bf was to make him a bunch of tickets for various other "gifts". Sweets and coffee being some of them. Others...well...they must remain secret.

To make those I've used Maya Road Create a ticket stamps (love love love that one!)
Wanted to make a card that could hold them so I've used Papermania Mini aperture box card kit.

The background is made with My Mind's Eye Dilly Dally "Adventures" Stamps. And the main image is a gorgeous digital stamp from MelonHeadz (MelonHeadz illustrating) colored with Promarkers.

Have a great evening
elleth

This and that

As I promised, here's a bunch of cards I've made in the last couple of months.

Firstly a wedding card. 

Made to match couple's invitation with a pocket for a little gift :)

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Next a pretty simple card for Father's Day.

The idea and basic templates came from DoCrafts Creativity magazine, the design slightly modified by me.

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Here's a little gift I've made for my cousin birthday. Didn't want to send her just a simple card (she was sending me so many pretty things from Holland, I just couldn't :)). The idea and tutorial for a little notebook came from this blog http://starlitstudio.typepad.com/, I just modified it a bit to suit my project.

Here's how the inside looks like:

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This was a card for my boyfriend's name's day. This croissant-things are something special eaten here for Saint Martin's Day. Wasn't able to buy him one (as the best I've ever eaten can be bought quite a long distance from where we live) so I decided to make him some. From paper and ink :)

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And this is a card I'm quite proud of. 

It was my for my colleague's birthday. He's hobby is fishing and so I've made him a fishy card. Wanted to be special and funny and so I came up with an idea to give him a goldfish, so that he can make his three wishes.

The woody background was made thanks to the tutorial on StampTV. (http://stamptv.ning.com/)

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Quite similar idea I've used on another two cards. Though this time I've cut the background into little pieces and arranged it so they look a bit like a wooden floor. The idea for that came from this video http://youtu.be/vbXiPTUSgZ0

 This set of card will be going to my other to colleagues that made an amazing job in making my apartment pretty. They've work really hard for month or two so I guess they need a little thank you from me.

And that's all for now.

Till next time

elleth