Surrounded by wreaths!

My dear friend Hayley from Smiling Circus asked me to join her at a Holiday Boutique in the beginning of Novemeber.  Seeing as I had only a couple weeks to prepare, I had to quickly hop to it.  I've been workin away every night after the regular 9-5 job on recreating a bunch of the favorites from the cards that I've done.  But this boutique needed something bigger...

So I hit the craft stores for some inspiration, and both Joann's and Michael's were having massive sales on the autumn silk flowers, so, wreaths it was. 

It took a little bit to find my grove since it's been amost over a year since I've made a wreath, but once I found my flow, it was like I knew exactly where every little piece belonged.

And this next one is my favorite.  Once it was done, I told the Hubster I didn't want to sell it because I felt like it fit so perfectly on our door.  But after some convincing, I was pursuaded and gave in.  If it is perfect for a door, then some one who can't make it should have it for her door.  I can always make myself another one.  

I love the mix of reds and greens and pops of yellow.  Something about it just seemed simple, yet intricate. 

Even though a SoCal autumn means temps in the low 70s in the day and at least in the mountain ish area that I live 40s over night, something about hanging these wreaths signifying the change in seasons just gets me ready for scarves and boots.  Although, it may not get that cold until January...  I'm excited non the less. 

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!  It's back to the craft cave for me.

~S. Elle Designs~

Bunches of Birthdays

Goodness I am behind...  I just scrolled through my posts, and I realized just how many cards I have to share with you all!!  With all the stuff still on my list to create, I felt I'll never catch up with blogging them all.  Here's some more birthday cards...

You'll have to excuse the lighting/shadows.  At the time I was still experimenting with lighting in the craft cave.

 I just noticed that both of these stamps have the same birthday sentiment on the front.  I just get a kick outta knowing how much I use those bargin bins.  Love me some $1 stamps from Michael's!

I saw this butterfly paper and I just had to have it, but it took me a while to find a project that had a good mix of texture to match.  The pattern was embossed, so I needed something where you could still see what was going on, but also not have it be too plain.  And that was the way I felt about the ribbon too.  Because it was orange and yellow, up against any plain paper it just didn't pop.  But up against most patterns the ribbon just faded into the back ground.  I was suuuuuuper stoked with this combo, they were both simple enough to mesh, but textured enough to stand out from each other. 

Also, this was one of the first cards I did after I found out how AWESOME using brads are!

I hope you all have had an amazing weekend, I know I have!!  I've been able to spend a lot of time with both sides of my family, and I am so thankful to say that I am so blessed!!!! 

I read on a plate in a trinket store once upon a time, that "Friends are the family we choose for ourselves" and I believe it!  We surround ourselves with those who love us and I am so apprectiative for those I was lucky to be born with already in my family, and those whom I have chosen to be part of my family as well.  I love you guys!

Enjoy Labor Day!  Eat some BBQ :]

Birthday Cake

Here's one I made for the Hubster's cousin for his birthday last month.  I find it more difficult to make cards for boys... I'm a big fan of girly-girly frilly and shimmer, most of which boys are NOT a fan of.  I decided to go with cake instead...  you can't go wrong with cake!

Graduations!

Grades submitted, transcripts sent, degree conferred, and yup, you guessed it, got my diploma in the mail!!  It took me a while, and there were lots of hurdles, long nights, and cram sessions, but I am officially a college graduate, with my degree in a fancy little frame.  So, in the spirit of celebrating me  gradutating, here's some graduation cards I've made for others. 

Celebrating a Fashionista

Here's a birthday card for a girly girl who loves fashion.

I was really exicted to use all the different shoe designs on some of my cartridges.  Seeing as I'm kinda a shoe fiend myself, this card was a lot of fun. 

Swirly pair of heels cut at 2 5/8 from the Wall Decor and More cart.

Slippers cut at 3 1/4 from Tie the Knot cart, attached on foam dots.

Striped glitter shoe cut at 1 3/4 from Tie the Knot cart.  Squiggles embellished with fuschia glitter.

Sentiment is embossed with black and silver glitter.  Stamp is from the dollar bin from Michaels.  

Insert sentiment is Fiskars Birthday Cheer Simple Stick stamps.

Pink swirlies stamp is from TPC clear stamps Flourish, stamped with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.

Destination: Paris

My in-laws love to travel.  They have a place out in Cabo, and they go visit all the time.  A few summers ago, and a few times since, they've been to places all over Europe.  This year, I sat down to make a sentimental Anniversary card since they've played a big part on our lives these last few years, but as soon as I sat down in my craft cave, I saw my Destinations cart and my whole plan changed.

Originally I had it on just the purple background, but it was definitely missing some Parisian flair.  So I used one of my cuttdle bug folders to emboss the swirly pattern.  I attached the Eiffel Tower centerpiece with some black square brads.

I had left the inside blank, with the exception of a swirl in the background, because I had a lot to say. 

There's nothing like family, and nothing like the love of family.  I am so thankful for the blessings of being with both sides of my family, and to have such an overwhelming support and love.  I realize I am so fortunate to have such an amazing family.  And I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Hope you all have a great start to the weekend!

The end of this year's Father's Day cards

This year was particularly special for some of my friends who became first-time fathers, one of whom was Harper's dad.  There were some especially difficult challenges just after Harper was born, but none of that changed that Harper was going to be destined to be a daddy's girl.  This little girl just melts the heart of her daddy, and they are so precious together.  I wanted to make something extra special for Harper's dad for his first Father's Day.

I used circle die cuts to cut a hole in the front of the card and a slightly larger circle for the hole in the top layer.  This was a little more difficult than I had expected, but through srom trial and error, I finally got it right.  I used black brads to secure two of the corners of the top layer.  The "Happy Father's Day" stamp is just an old rubber stamp from my collection. 

The inside of the card was actually my insirpation for the card.  I cut a heart shape out of a post-it note and used a stamping pad and pink ink tp dab around the heart to create the heart shape and to fade the color throughout the background of the inside of the card.  And finally, added two little footprints.