Four-Legged Friends at DYSU

So, check out this sweet as pie prompt photo:

I KNOW, right? And I knew I had the perfect little elephant to go with. How did I know? Because I was a crafting machine last week & did a big baby card blitz, and had just seen it in my stash of baby-related die cuts. I'm crafting like crazy (when I can stand the heat at my desk) because I'm leaving for Vancouver on September 5th, and need to be all stocked up to bring lots with me! (It's only just starting to hit that OMG my sister is getting MARRIED in less than a MONTH!) And let's not underestimate the excitement of going sans kids....ok, anyhow, onto my cards for the DYSU Four Legged Friends challenge (which ends Tuesday, that would be today!) The first is just so directly inspired by the prompt photo:

Supplies: all die cuts from K&Co;
foam tape; corner rounder

And for a teeny peek into how my crafty brain works - I of course had to dump out the whole package of die-cuts to get to the elephant I wanted. It's the same size as the purple elephant below, and originally I thought I'd have them face each other on the same card. AND THEN, ding ding ding! I thought "hey, wait a sec! I have a card to make for Ellie, who's going to be 3, and SHE'S a sweet girl. Hmmm..."

Supplies: 5x7 card base;
Die cuts from K&Co;
chipboard banner & heart from Martha Stewart;
lacy circle Nesties;
letter & number stickers from Echo Park

I gathered all the animals together & clapped my hands with glee...
and then couldn't fit them on a regular sized card. Boo. But I would not
be discouraged - because I HAD A PLAN, darn it.

More of that 'white' space - it's getting a little spooky around here. Like a pod-person has taken over my desk. So here's a more normal Jessi card: 

Supplies: Miscellaneous papers (blue dots);
yellow & green from Simple Stories "Summer Fresh;"
stamps & twine from Paper Smooches;
Palette Noir ink;
Cotton Ball white Fun Flock from Stampendous

The sheep is paper-pieced with white cardstock,
and his/her head popped up on foam tape for dimension.
I pierced & stitched around the sun using the Outline Stitch &
a full 6 strands of thread. The 'rays' are done with 3 strands.
The 'hills of frolicking' are cut free-hand, the top one popped up
on foam tape.

I had planned to post these sooner, but my arm is only just now not killing me - I got a new tattoo on Friday, and it's much larger than any of the others. I really truly underestimated how much it was going to hurt. It's roughly the size of my palm (a bit larger). I don't have pictures to share yet & won't for a while, because it's covering up another tattoo, and with all the swelling & so on it does NOT look its best yet. I can show you the design, though. It's an amaryllis, and I chose it for two of its meanings: strength in adversity, and success in the arts. (I've linked up the design - just to be sure of not violating the copyright). 

Photo source

OK, enough blathering on for now! Check back in later for my Tuesday Morning Sketches card!

xoxo,

Jessi