A Touch From the Heart

No Frills Masculine Card

Do you know a guy that doesn't want anything frilly?  Yup, the manly man who doesn't want to see any ribbon, shiny things or extranneaous do-dads on their cards.  I personally don't have a man like that in my family (thank goodness....I love to play with embellishments), but if you do, today's card might be the perfect card for that manly man!!!

This card is a Z-fold card!  A manly man will play with the accordian fold to see how this works!  You know exactly what I'm talking about!  ha ha

Card Recipe

stamps:  Sincere Salutations
paper:  Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Well Worn dsp
ink:  Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake
accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Designer Frames embossing folder 

The Well Worn designer series paper pack is part of this month's Buy 3, Get 1 FREE promotion.  Check it out HERE.

If you've fallen in love with today's project and would like to make it for yourself, all the supplies needed to make it can be ordered through my ONLINE STORE.  Thanks for choosing me as your demonstrator!!!!  I truly appreciate it!

Go Forth, Young Man!!!

Today is a major milestone in my son's life.  It is his first day of college!  I cannot believe how fast time has gone by.  Where is that little boy that was climbing onto the kindergarten bus?  Now, he's hopping into his car for his first day of classes.  

Today's card seems to fit today's milestone.  Christopher is truly starting a new chapter in the book called Life!  

Let's talk about this card, shall we?

This is a square card.  The Cajun Craze base card measures 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" and then fold in half.

Layer #2 is some gorgeous geometric patterned paper from the Well Worn dsp pack.  By far, I think this is my favorite designer series paper pack from the new catalog.  I love the masculine patterns and neutral tones.  I used my fingernail to distress the edges a bit.  

Did you know that when you purchase 3 packs of designer series paper (priced at $10.95), you get to select another pack for FREE?  Love this!!!  It's a great time to stock up on your favorite packs!!!

Okay, back to the card.  I added a 4" x 1 1/2" strip of Not Quite Navy cardstock to the bottom of the card.  The seam where the cardstock meets the dsp is covered with some Not Quite Navy Taffeta ribbon.  Oh, this new taffeta color is so luscious!!!

Now, onto my globe.  This classic image comes from The Open Sea stamp set.  This stamp set is in the Summer Mini, and since it wasn't carried over into the big catty, we're expecting it to retire at the end of this month.  This makes me really sad because this stamp set is one of my all time faves for guy cards.  

I stamped the globe with Not Quite Navy ink and punched it out with the 2 1/2" circle punch.  I lightly sponged the edges with some Chocolate Chip ink.  In fact, my Chocolate Chip sponge never leaves my desk.....so I just used what was left in the sponge to give this subtle effect!!!

All that's left is the sentiment.  I used my well-loved Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  I inked it up with some Not Quite Navy ink, stamped it onto some Crumb Cake and punched with the Word Window punch.  As you can see I trimmed the right side off, sponged the edges with the Chocolate Chip ink and added it to my card.  

What do I love about stamping?  Well, I can make a special card that's personalized for my special someone.  In this case, this card is going to a special young man who is embarking on a journey.  I don't have to rely on a card store to try to find the perfect card only to find the words don't match my feelings.  I can make whatever I want.....to say whatever I want it to see.  Love that!!!!!

If you've fallen in love with this card and would like to make one for yourself, all you have to do is visit my ONLINE STORE.  While you are there, I encourage you to check out the Buy 3, Get 1 FREE designer series paper special.  

Thanks for stopping by.......

For My Dad

This is the card I made for my Dad's birthday, and I used this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch challenge.  Yesterday, he celebrated another anniversary of his 50th birthday!  LOL!!!

We celebrated his birthday on Monday at our annual Memorial Day pool party, but the family got together last night at Dairy Queen for some yummy ice cream.  I don't do this very often, but I worked my Weight Watcher daily point allowance carefully so I could treat myself to a strawberry sundae.  Hey, it's got fruit in it!!!!  LOL!!!  It was delish!!!  

Let's talk about this card, okay?  If I talk to much about food, I get hungry.  Drooling on my laptop would not be pretty!

My base card is Cherry Cobbler.  I know what you're thinking......again?  I can't help myself.  It's just a wonderful red to work with.  

Layer #2 is a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Nautical Expedition dsp.  It's a map with a wonderful muted shade of Marina Mist.  

Layer #3 is a strip of Sahara Sand cardstock.  Shocked that I didn't grab Crumb Cake instead?  Yeah....me too!  But, Sahara Sand worked better for this card.   I stamped the manifest image using Night of Navy ink (stamped off once so it wouldn't be to bright). I used the Direct-to-Paper technique to dirty up this layer a bit.   I also used my Spiral Punch (retiring) along the right edge.  A strip of Night of Navy cardstock along the left edge helps make this layer stand out more!

The elegant ship is stamped onto some Whisper White cardstock using Black StazOn.  I used my Aquapainter and some ink pads to color in the card slightly (Sahara Sand on the sails.....and Marina Mist on the water).  The edges are sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.  The entire focal image is matted on a very so slightly larger piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock.  Just enough to make it "pop".

For my sentiment (from Bring on the Cake....which is returning in the new big catty), I stamped it onto a strip of Sahara Sand cardstock.  I then used my Photo Corner punch (retiring......noooooooo......say it isn't so......I love this punch) to create a perfect banner edge.  I sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink....and used my bone folder to curl it a bit (the same motion as if you were going to curl gift packaging ribbon with your scissor).  I popped it up with dimensionals.

Now to hide my bare banner edge, I stamped an anchor onto Whisper White cardstock using Black Staz On ink.  I colored it with my Aquapainter and ink pads.  I added some depth using matching color markers and cut it out with my paper snips.  Just use some dimensionals to pop it up, and it's perfect!

Well, that's about it for my daddy's card.  He loved it!  It's actually his second ship card.  I heard Mom made him one too!  I bet it's gorgeous.....she's an awesome stamper!!!

I am off to check out what my Stamping 411 sisters made this week.  Did they make ships too?  Care to check them out with me?  I hope you do!!!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  The Open Seas, Bring on the Cake (returning July 1st)
paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Nautical Expedition dsp
ink:  Black StazOn, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Marina Mist
accessories:  Photo Corner punch (retiring), Spiral Punch (retiring), Aquapainter,  

The Open Sea

This is one of the cards we made at last week's Just Cards class.

It's amazing what crumpling some paper, sponging and adding some white gel pen highlights can do to a card!

Card Recipe

stamps:  The Open Sea
paper:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Nautical Expedition dsp
ink:  Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso
accessories:  Cherry Cobbler baker's time, circle punches (1 1/4", 1 3/8"), sponges, Stampin' Write markers, Silver brad

Order your Stampin' Up! goodies from my ONLINE STORE. 

My Secret Stash

I admit it......I have two huge drawers in a dresser full of retired stamp sets.  These are my treasures.  Every six months, I go through these treasures and re-evaluate how I feel about them.  Most of the time, everything stays "as is".  Sometime, I do move a stamp set to my "for sale" pile.

For today's card, I used a retired stamp set I purchased from a fellow demo.  Did she "re-evaluate" her stash too?  Well, what she gave up, I will treasure for a long time.  This stamp set is called Schooner, and it retired before I was even introduced to Stampin' Up!  It's a great stamp set for the men in my life. 

This card actually uses some sneak peek items from the new catalog too!  Don't you just love how you can use everything in your stash (both old and new) to make a great project?   

Can you spot the new stuff?

Well, the patterned paper is new.  It's called Newprint, and it is fabulous!!!  There's all different black and white patterns.  There's patterns that look like newspaper, maps, ledgers and ones with letters on it (like the one I used here).

I dragged my Crumb Cake ink pad (also new) along the dsp to give it some texture and added color.  I matted it on some Basic Black cardstock and added two antique brass brads. 

The ship is inked with Versamark ink and stamped onto some Crumb Cake cardstock (formerly known as Kraft).  I sprinkled on some Black embossing powder and melted it with my heat tool.  I used my Aquapainter and Whisper White Craft ink to color in the clouds.  I sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink and used my Color Spritzer Tool and a Basic Black marker to add some splatter. 

Well, that's about it for the "deets" on this card!  It's for my father-in-law for Father's Day.  I sure hope he likes it!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!

Ordering from Stampin' Up! is easy.....place your order today through my demonstrator website

Card Recipe

stamps:  Schooner (retired)
paper:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake (aka Kraft), Newsprint dsp (available July 1st)
ink:  Crumb Cake, Versamark
accessories:  Black embossing powder, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, heat tool, Vintage Brads (retiring), sponge, Basic Black marker, Color Spritzer Tool

Stamping 411: Saturday Sketch Challenge

I would love to say that I had the best week, but I wouldn't be telling the truth.  Several people we know have either lost a family member or someone has been injured.  It's been a rough week.....so I am very thankful for the weekend!!!

Every Saturday, I participate in the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.  I am so proud to work with this group of women.  We're more than friends....we're stampin' sisters!!!

This week's sketch is one that should make a permanent place in any sketch journal.  It's a classic.

Would you like to see what I made with it?

I love to watercolor!  But, watercoloring isn't everyone's thing.  So, I wanted to show how you can use a line image stamp without coloring it in.

My base card is Always Artichoke cardstock. 

The next layer is Close to Cocoa.  I got a little crazy with the ink pad.  I really do love the Direct-to-Paper technique.  It adds texture to a plain piece of cardstock.  It almost looks like woodgrain on the Close to Cocoa, doesn't it?

The next layer is some fabulous patterned paper.  It's from the "To the Nines" Specialty paper pack.  I used a sponge to "dirty" it up with just a bit of Chocolate Chip ink.  

Following the sketch, I added a length of Twill Tape (also dirtied up with a sponge and some Chocolate Chip ink).  I used some twine to cinch the twill tape and tied it into a bow.  Do you see the toothpick?  It's perfect for the King of the Grill......especially if he's been gnawing on some yummy BBQ ribs.

The focal image was stamped onto Kraft cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink.  I sponged the edges and matted it onto some Chocolate Chip cardstock.

The finishing touch is the sentiment......because my man is the King of the Grill!!!!  I stamped it onto Kraft cardstock and punched it with the Word Window Punch. 

So, have I convinced you that line images are more than worthy without watercoloring them?  Play with your stamps......try new things.....it's only paper.......if you hate it, throw it out.  You never know......your next creation may be a masterpiece!!!!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!

Card Recipe

stamps:  King of the Grill
paper:  Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, To the Nines Specialty Paper
ink:  Chocolate Chip
accessories:  Word Window Punch, twine, Twill Tape, sponges, dimensionals, toothpick

Let's Hear it for the Boys

Guy cards are often the hardest to design.

Well, this week's class will help you with that dilemma.  It's called "Let's Hear it for the Boys". 

If you live in the Twin Cities area and have Friday night free, I'd love for you to attend.  The class starts at 7:00pm, and the class fee is $15.00. 

Here are the cards we'll be making:

 

If you would like to attend my class, send me an email to reserve your spot!!!!  There's only a few spot left!!!!

Hope to see you there!

Stamping 411: Color Inspiration

This is the 13th week of the Color Inspiration challenge.

The number 13 doesn't bother me at all. One of the greatest things in my life has to do with the number 13. My son, Christopher, was born on December 13th. Yup, it's a very good number.

For this week's challenge, I wanted to make another masculine color combination.

This week's color combination is Not Quite Navy (one of my faves), More Mustard, Old Olive and Close to Cocoa.

My stamping friends often mention how much they dread making "guy" cards.

Here's a very simply "guy" card.....not too many layers with basic shapes. Simply switch out the stamp set, and you're good to go!!!



I haven't played with the "Cheers to You" stamp set in a long time. It was time to pull it off the stamp set shelf and ink it up!!!

The base card is Close to Cocoa.

I love to create my own background papers. I've done it twice on this card.

On the Not Quite Navy layer I used a sponge dauber and Not Quite Navy ink to create large polka dots.

On the More Mustard layer, I dragged my More Mustard ink pad. This is called the direct-to-paper technique. It's a fabulous way to add texture without bulk!! Stamp the sentiment in the lower right corner with Basic Black ink.

I used my Circle Scissor Plus to cut a 2 3/4" Old Olive circle and a 2 1/2" Very Vanilla circle.

I stamped the beer mug in the center of the Very Vanilla circle....colored it with my ink pads and an aquapainter and then added Crystal Effects on the mug to make it look all shiny!!!

I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink and poked holes around the circumference of the circle.

The finishing touch was adding a photo corner......no ribbon for this card......it's too poofy foo-foo for a card with a beer on it. LOL!!!!!

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!.....Order them today through my demonstrator website

Card Recipe
stamps: Cheers to You

paper: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, More Mustard

ink: Basic Black, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy

accessories: Circle Scissor Plus, Paper Piercing Tool, Crystal Effects, Photo Corner Punch, sponge dauber, aquapainter