Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Scrapping Cottage- Happy Go Lucky Elephant

Greetings friends and bloggers.  Today I want to show you my first creations as a Design Team Member of The Scrapping Cottage.  This is purely a selfish reason that I chose this sweet elephant as my first creation.  Today is my son Wesley's 26th Birthday.  He loves elephants-always has.  He carried a stuff elephant around for as long as I can remember.  So Happy Birthday Wesley-this is in honor of YOU!

Isn't this fabulous.  You can find this elephant here or just click on the above picture and it will take you right to it.  If you adore paper piecing as much as I do you are going to love these dies.

So let's talk about this card a little and I will give you the deets.  The banner was made with the Spellbinders Scalloped Banner die, I free hand cut the straight edge banners that back the pretty pearl ones up.   I also used the banner die cut set for the Birthday sentiment.  The letters were done with the Cuttlebug Baby Face typeset dies.  The scalloped square is Spellbinders and the punched floral border is Matha Stewart.
Now about the image.  In this picture you can see that I have created some dimension.  I don't know about you but I love dimension in a card and look for ways to create it.  It brings the whole project alive.  And I bet you are wondering how I got the image to look exactly like the above picture of the die cut packaging.
It was easy!  Let me share that with you.  I cut out the image with gray card stock.  Then I carefully separated all the cut through areas the die produces when you cut with the die.  To color the image I used chalk-yes chalk!!!  I haven't taken my chalk out in ages.  This was so fun.  I ran the chalk along the edges following the die cut picture that the die came in.  I used my fingers to rub the blackgray (I dipped a cotton swab in both to mix) chalk in sort of creating a smudge effect.  I used pink chalk to touch upon the knees, cheeks, and ears and rubbed that with my finger too.  Before you stamp the eyes on the elephant you can use aerosol hairspray to set the chalk.  I cut the pink toe nails with the die and glued them on the hooves.  Then I ran a little black/gray chalk over the top to tone down my pink card stock a bit.
Here is a close up of the dimension created.  I used a 1/8" foam dot placed behind the elephants cheeks and the eyebrows.  I also placed one betweene the first two creases of his nose.  I then applied the image to the die cut base and actually glued his ears to the card stock.  I used 1/16" dots on the body and legs.
As you can see this is the natural way the trunk lays on the image.  You can also curl it a bit if you want it coming ou more.
So that's this project for today.  I hope you check out The Scrapping Cottage for more cute images and designs for your crafting needs.  This sure was fun to create!
Challenges Entered
Allstorts - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - A is for Animal Antics
Card Crafters Circle  -  Die Cuts
Card Making Momma's  - Birthday
Crafty Catz- Favorite Things (Mine is Banners)

17 comments:

Marisa said...

Congrats on the new DT :) Loved the elephant and I"m sure Wesley will too! Great shading with the chalks and fabulous Carol touches as always!

Love crafts forever said...

What a fun card. Love it. Congrats on your new DT. WTG!!!
Hugs Nataliya

Dr Sonia S V said...

Carol it is a beauty and if your son comes to my hometown in kerala he will be thrilled to see tame elephants walking on the road!!

Cheers
Sonia
cardsandschoolprojects.blogspot.com

JD/ Jill said...

This is another "WOW" card from you. So many creative details on this card! Congrats to you on the DT, and wish your son Happy birthday from me!

angelwhispers said...

Oh my word another "stunner" Carol I bet your son Wesley was thrilled with it!!! Chanelle xx

KarinsArtScrap said...

ooooooooooo this is a cutie and beautiful carol.

greetings karin

Fleur said...

Such a sweet card, the colours are striking. Thank you so much for entering our FREE & EASY challenge at ALLSORTS this week, good luck & hope you’ll join us again!
Hugz Fleur xXx

Nicola said...

Great card Carol with fab attention to detail and beautiful finishing touches!
Thanks for entering our Anything goes challenge this week at Allsorts and good luck!
Hugs Nicola xxx

Anne-Marie said...

What a fabulous card! I am in awe of all that detail....and what a great tip for chalking....I am so glad you joined us at Card Crafter's Circle!

Benzi said...

Carol, you made this elephant come alive! I love him and bet your son will, too. I really like the 'Happy' on the pennants. Great card!

I left you a message on the pnz group.

Benzi said...

I meant to say congrats on your new DT spot. You'll do them a fabulous job...no doubt about that.

paper fun said...

That is the best chalk coloring that I have ever seen! The effect is amazing. I have not used my chalks in ages. You have inspired me to drag them out.

Things for joking us at Alphabet Challenge Blog.

Mari

lindyloo said...

oh wow what a beautiful card and love all the embellishments thank you for joining us at crafty catz linda x

Trish and Treasure said...

Hi Carol,
Thanks for joining in the fun at Card Crafter’s Circle this week. This elephant is fabulous and I like how you created such a simple yet striking layout,really pretty card!I hope to see you again next week for our latest challenge and I love this die cut set you used!
Trish Munro
http://trishandtreasure.blogspot.com/
Card Crafter’s Circle Design Team

Colleen Dietrich said...

What a sweet elephant, for your sweet son. You did SUCH a good job paper piecing and coloring this one, Carol!

And congrats on being on a new DT! Wahoo!

Lesley said...

Great card, I love the elephant! Thank you for taking part in the Alphabet's Animal Antics challenge xx

Sara said...

That is amazing! I love the banner, thanks for playing along with CMM!