Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Cute fellow!

I wanted to make a masculine birthday card today and those are always a challenge for me! I think the turtle from the Natures' Nest stamp set is a really cute fellow! I especially like the details and texture that comes when this image is embossed. I stamped in Always Artichoke craft ink onto Certainly Celery card stock, then embossed with clear powder.

When I first saw this set in the new catty, I really wanted to have it because it's so different from what I already have. But I just wasn't sure what to DO with it! We've had a saying at my house this week - not sure where it originated - but it is "tackle the live frogs first." Meaning, do the thing you LEAST like to do first!  Sometimes it will turn out to surprise you when it's more pleasant than you expected. That's how I feel about this card. Not what I usually gravitate to, but I LIKE it. :D

Is there some part of stamping that is a challenge for you? Here's my advice: start with it. Let's encourage each other!

Hope you like it. Even though it's still a work in progress...how do you like my NEW blog look?

Supplies~
Stamps: Nature's Nest, Inspired by Nature, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: dusty durango, soft suede, certainly celery, very vanilla
Ink: soft suede, always artichoke craft, old olive, dusty durango

Accessories: twill tape, 1/2" circle punch, jumbo brads

 

HELLO

Hello! Here's a card I made before I left - just had to ink up the new Pendant Park set!  I love that it's not flowers and has such classic bold lines.  I inked the stamp in versamark, then used my Soft Suede marker directly on the stamp to draw over some of the tree  limbs to add definition, and then stamped the image. I embossed using silver  and copper powders. The silver has a sheen and the copper has a glittery look and I love the effect!  I used soft suede, whisper white, and more mustard card stock, as well as our new Autumn DP.  Hope you like it!
I'll be off to the Momento Mall this morning, can't wait!

Circles::The Alter-Ego

It's Thursday, and Emily is here!

...with another circles card! I'm telling you, circles are so fun and (for lack of a better word) addicting. I can't get enough of them!

I love that, with this card, the circles took on a different personality. Instead of bright and playful, they are dark and sophisticated. And yet there is still a little funky side to them!

So, if you're stuck in the box today, try taking a set and using it in the exact opposite way than you normally do. Sometimes it works wonders!

Card Recipe: (all supplies are by Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: circle circus, teeny tiny wishes
Paper: soft suede, basic black, sahara sand
Ink: creamy caramel, soft suede, dusty durango
Other: large corner rounder punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, vintage brads, orchard ribbon originals, and stampin' dimensionals

Trendy Apple Trees

First time I've inked up the Trendy Trees set, it is sure to be one of my go to sets especially for masculine cards. The stripes of patterned paper were assembled and in my stash - for about a year now! When I saw the red dots , I just knew the trees for this card had to be apple trees. :D  Making this was a delight because of the way it just came together. That is not usually how it happens for me - LOL!  It was great getting my thread tension adjusted on my sewing machine too - now I'll have to sew on my cards more often. The tiny apples were punched and glued on. Even though I didn't intend it this way, does anybody else think the grommet looks like a tire swing? Be watching for this NEW accessory in the Occasions mini.

Today is the last day to order for Sale-A-Bration!  Place an online order HERE or send me an e-mail if you'd like to order anytime.

Supplies~
Stamps: Trendy Trees
Paper: kraft, whisper white, bashful blue, chocolate chip, real red, Summer Picnic DP (retired)
Ink: chocolate chip, old olive

Accessories: Crafters' Tool Kit, Jumbo Grommet, red grosgrain, 1/8" hole punch

In the Rough

It's Thursday, Emily's Day! Here she is...

January is the month of the men's birthdays in our house - that calls for masculine cards! To me that means pretty simple, clean cut, no frills. Like these deer.

I'm excited about all the neat new things in Stampin' Up!'s newly unveiled catalog, I can't wait until you all get a chance to see it and be excited, too!

Stamps: Noble Deer, Sanded, All Holidays
Paper: sage shadow, always artichoke, sahara sand, pacific point, whisper white
Ink: close to cocoa, chocolate chip, sage shadow
Other: pastels, vintage brads

Journeys

I love holidays but afterward it feels like a long journey getting back to stamping and blogging! I hope your holiday was happy ~ours was busy as could be and has stayed that way! I haven't stamped much but on Saturday I needed a card congratulating a young man on the achievement of Eagle Scout. He loves sailing and wants to pursue that, so I dug out my Set Sail set and made a quick card on Saturday morning. The Define Your Life set was perfect for this theme. I can't wait to get back to more stamping soon and I have lots of ideas for what's to come!

I did snap a quick photo before I left, here's the inside too. 

Here's the rest~
Stamps:  Set Sail (retired), Define Your Life
Paper: chocolate chip, very vanilla, pacific point
Ink: chocolate chip, pacific point
Accessories: chocolate grosgrain ribbon, twill, jumbo eyelets, Crop-A-Dile, sponges

 

Noble Thoughts

I received the Noble Deer stamp set for free from Stampin' Up! because they sent the wrong set for a customer order.  Now, how did they know this is a set I had been wanting for masculine cards? Not only did they let me keep it, they expedited the shipping on the set for the customer. That's what I call a great company to work for. :)

This will be a sympathy card for a dear friend who recently lost his father and best hunting buddy. I chose soft colors and softly rounded angles for the corners. A touch of watercolor was added to highlight the image.

Thanks for looking! Do you know that I am past 66,00 hits to my blog?  I appreciate your taking the time to stop by.  Almost time for more blog candy!

Here's a glimpse of the finished inside.

The supplies are all Stampin' Up! They may be purchased at any time through me. I'd love to be your SU! demonstrator if you don't have one yet.

Supplies -
 Stamps: Noble Deer, Warmest Regards (ret.)
Paper: not quite navy, chocoloate chip, very vanilla, baja breeze and baja breeze designer prints
Ink: Basic brown, chocolate chip, others for watercolor
Accessories: brads, striped baja ribbon, pocket corner and corner rounder punch

Wish Big

Wish big as in big brown bear! I needed a masculine birthday card for my brother-in-law who is an avid outdoors-man. This set was the first on my must-have list when the new catalog came out in July. I love flowers but after all, it is nice to have something else to create with once in awhile!

This card also meets the Twice is Nice criteria for my category where there are two or more takes on the same layout. You'll find the autumn card I designed using the same layout  and DP here. I challenge you to not re-invent the wheel each time you make a card. Having a few layouts you love and use often helps speed the thought process of creating tremendously! If you'd like to host a workshop, I'd be happy to show you a few of my favorites.

I was inspired by this adorable card of Kelly Jean's and I loved her idea of having the bear hold something. My star punches came to the rescue!  Several layers of watercolor wonder crayons blended together to make this guy look especially furry, don't ya think?

And don't forget to make the inside of your card as pretty as the outside. Here's a peek.....

Here's the recipe -

Stamps: Under the Stars, Simple Serif Alphabet and Numbers, Everyday Flexible Phrases
Paper: Autumn Vines, chocolate chip, confetti white, really rust, creamy caramel, so saffron
Ink: Basic Brown, chocolate chip

Accessories: Hodge Podge Hardware Styled Silver, twine, linen thread, large and small star punches, watercolor wonder crayons, marker

Great grads

Well, I finally bought Stampin' Up! 's graduation set called Great Grads.  With 7 cards to make this year I thought it was time! I love the set. Just a quick sidetrack - a friend of mine assembled a 12x12 album as a very very special graduation gift - and filled 46 pages using this set! We also included the In the Stars set and star and circle punches - with really fab results!
Instead of making cards this week I"ll be cleaning, baking, arranging and preparing for our own daughter's special graduation party. I love planning parties and what a special privilege this occasion will be to celebrate!
Now,just so you can feel part of the party spirit here - here's grad card number one. This black ribbon from the Jersey Shore originals adds dignity to this young man's card, don't you think?
 

Here's the rest -
Stamps: Great Grads
Paper: apricot appeal,  pumpkin pie, whisper white, apricot appeal designer prints
Ink: black, versamark, apricot appeal
Other: clear EP, Hodge Podge Hardware, Jersey Shore ribbon originals, sponge, piercing tool and mat
large oval punch

Stamping is so versatile!

I love the fact that with stamps I can change the colors, images and layout and get an entirely different look each time.  Today's card uses the same colors as yesterday's post, but it is a completely different style, this one is perfect  to use for a masculine birthday.  I knew that the bold image from Lovely as a Tree would be so pretty to use with this color combo.  I think yesterday's card was cheery and playful, today's is serene and classic, nothing mixed up about it!  I tore the edge at the bottom to add a bit of texture and to break up the symmetry just a bit.  I also used my new punch.  I had held off from buying the ticket corner punch, and I used the 1/4" circle punch to get the same effect.  Except that my corners were never exactly the same.  Now that I have this punch I think it will be the one I use most often because it adds so much to a clean design. Because this layout is simple the details make a huge difference, like the Sanded background stamp and the bold text stamp. Thanks for looking!

Come back tomorrow and see another Twice is Nice layout with this card.
Happy stamping and I hope you find something joyful to celebrate today.

Here's the recipe -
Stamps: Lovely as a tree, sweet serendipity, sanded
Paper: white, black, river rock
Ink: black
Other: ticket corner punch, vintage brads, stitched ribbon