Bulldog Stare

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for this fun, masculine birthday card. 

I just love the Crazy Dogs & Cats stamps and dies!

The inside

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

~Hugs,

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Love is Patient

I used the Viva la Verve February Sketch, turned sideways, for this masculine Valentine card.

The colors are a little unconventional for Valentine's Day, but I love how it turned out--especially with the heat embossed text on acetate over the heart. I had some trouble with the acetate softening, then warping after it cooled, when I heated the embossing powder, but I found that if I left it lying on the table while heating it, rather than holding it in my hand, it didn't warp nearly as much.

I thought about using the same leather print paper for the inside of the card, too, then heat embossing the Valentine sentiment in white, and, later, personalizing it with a white gel pen, but it didn't seem very interesting or creative, so I went with the white heart, instead.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
VLV February Week 1 Sketch Challenge

TCP Tuesday 307: Anything Goes

Pink & Main Challenge #6: Love

~Hugs,

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Mean Green Flying Machine

(For my Paper Sweeties September Inspiration Challenge post, scroll to the next post, or click here.)

My very favorite color ever is green, or to be more precise, Pear--hex #d1e231. Seriously, it is that specific. But, I love all shades of green. At Christmas every year, I decorate with pear green and dark brown, most of the interior of my house is sage green, and much of my wardrobe, including my bowling shoes, is green. It is nature's neutral--everywhere, and beautiful in any setting. Shoot, if God has a favorite color, I wouldn't be surprised one bit, if it was green! So, in honor of my favorite color, I decided to make a green card today.

I colored the balloon and cloud images with Copics, adding some white Sharpie and gel pen highlights. The Green Apple straw originally was green and white. After flattening it in my Vagabond, I used Champagne Inka Gold, to turn the white stripes yellow, then I sprinkled Watermelon mix, Sugar Sprinkles, and Gold sequins around the card. The centers of the sequins and random pearl dots are made with a gold Pearl pen. The distressed sentiment layer was stamped with a Crackle Background, and the sentiment is a retired Taylored Expressions stamp.

On the inside, I used the same Crackle Background stamp for the sentiment panel, and cut a patterned strip out of scrap from the front of the card. 

So, what about you? Are you a fan of green? What's your favorite color palette? 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a colorful week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve August 2015 Week 4 Sketch Challenge (Turned sideways)
Simon Says Monday Challenge: Trio of Colors (Green/Brown/Yellow Copics)
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create Challenge #139: Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #98: Use a Sentiment
Pink and Main Challenge #1: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Party!

Today is the day! The Paper Sweeties New Releases are available now! Here's a card featuring the new stamp set, MVP.

Jake is ready for the game in his baseball uniform from the new MVP stamp set. I cut Jake out with the coordinating Jake Sweet Cuts die, then fussy cut all the other images. The uniform was colored with a fine point Sharpie. Jake's face and hair, along with the other images were colored with Copics. (The eyes were added with a Micron pen). I created the brick background with a stencil and Distress Inks, then used my Copic airbrush to add a "#1" graffiti image. The blue strip behind Jake was airbrushed first, for a gradient look, then, using a stencil I made from a Simon Says Stamp Star Border die, I added stars with molding paste.

On the inside, I placed the sentiment panel as a baseball "diamond," added the sentiment from the MVP set, then heat embossed the ball and bat on the blue layer. 

You're going to want to check out the rest of the DT for more ideas for these awesome new sets:

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Julie Tucker-Wolek
Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Have you played along with us in the Paper Sweeties 'Celebrate Mom' Inspiration Challenge yet? You could win a shopping spree in the boutique along with a Guest Designer invitation to join us for the next challenge! And, we're also hosting a COMMENT CONTEST--just leave us a little love on the challenge post for a chance to win a $100 SHOPPING SPREE! Two chances to WIN BIG in May!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Viva la Verve May 2015 Week 2 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Simon Brand Products (Star Border die)
Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge: Cut it Out
613 Avenue Create #123: Anything Goes w/optional Let's Celebrate!
Sugar Pea Designs SPD15: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: Let's Get This Party Star-ted and Par-ty Heart-y with SugarPea Designs
Lia Stamps Challenge #88: Embossing (dry or heat)

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Sneak Peeks!

Hello Sweet Friends!  It's Paper Sweeties' New Release Week and I am loving the newest stamps and dies! For my first sneak peek, I decided to go CAS and masculine.

The new Happy Sweet Cuts die set is going to be one of my favs! Sometimes nothing will do but big, bold text, and the best way to get that is with a die cut. I love that Paper Sweeties dies cut super clean and release from the die easily, especially with word dies. If you can't tell from the photo, the "Happy" sentiment is actually peeking through from the inside of the card. 

On the inside, I added the "Birthday" stamp from the new Happy Stamp Set. To add just a little more color to the inside, I used a tan Sharpie and doodled around the oval and inside some of the birthday letters. I think of this as a Happy, Happy Birthday card, since you read "Happy" on the front of the card, then again when you open it. 

Ready for more new goodies? Here's what's in the new release this week:

WHAT'S NEW...

Life is a Picnic

MVP

Happy

Happy Sweet Cuts

Over the next 3 days, I'll have cards using all of these sets, but you can see them in action now on my Teamies' blogs:

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Julie Tucker-Wolek
Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

And, don't forget, you've still got time to link up in the Paper Sweeties 'Celebrate Mom' Inspiration Challenge for a chance to win a Paper Sweeties Gift Certificate!

Speaking of winning, I have to give a shout out to The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Blog and to Patricia at Paper Temptress. I recently won a Shabby Tea Room challenge and received a generous gift certificate to PaperTemptress.com. The blue cardstock on this card is from Paper Temptress (link below), and it is fabulous! It's 100# cardstock that is a seriously heavy weight cs--perfect for card bases. Thank you, Debbie, for choosing my card in the challenge, and Patricia, for the gift certificate! 

I hope you'll be back tomorrow for my next sneak peek--it's a "Sweet" one!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday Week #360 with Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Let's Get Sentimental
613 Avenue Create #123: Anything Goes w/optional Let's Celebrate!
Sugar Pea Designs SPD15: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: Let's Get This Party Star-ted and Par-ty Heart-y with SugarPea Designs

~Hugs,

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Faux Leather Blank Book & Slipcase

I'm back with another blank book, and this one has its own slipcase.

I needed a masculine thank you gift, and while I'm not sure how many men use blank journals, I thought it might work if it was made of leather. Unfortunately, I don't have any leather, nor do I even know how to cover a book with it, but I did have some paper with a nice leather design on it. Visually, it really does look like leather! 

This is what the book looks like inside the sleeve. The sleeve measures about 5" x 6", so it's fairly small. The book slides out easily if you turn the slipcase upside down, but I added a ribbon pull to make it easier. When you pull the ribbon, the book comes right out.

I also added a ribbon bookmark.

When you buy a book nowadays, the endbands along the top and bottom of the book are just pieces of twill tape with a border on one side that is glued to the ends of the book. On this book, I made my own endbands by sewing them onto the pages, over a strip of leather. This helps hold the book together, protects the spine if the book is on a shelf and gets pulled out by tugging on the top of the spine, and it looks good, too.

I lined the inside of the slipcase and the inside of the front and back covers of the book with a nice bargello patterned paper, then used turquoise colored paper for the pages. There is a piece of thin brown cardstock on the outside of each signature (folded group of pages).

On each of the brown pages, I stamped various designs and inspirational sayings in Rich Cocoa ink.

I hope it's "manly" enough, but if it isn't, perhaps the recipient's wife will enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Valentine's Day!

~Hugs,

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Remembrance/Honor Challenge at Tiddly Inks!

It's November 11th, Veteran's Day in the United States, the day America has rightly set aside to honor all veterans who have served honorably in the military, whether in wartime or peacetime. (And, if you are in the U.K., you just observed Remembrance Sunday). If you know a veteran, be sure to take time today to thank them for their service to your country! 

And, in keeping with the holiday, over at Tiddly Inks, the theme for the current challenge is Remembrance or Honor: Create something in memory or in honor of someone. So, create a card or project for a veteran, or for anyone whom you want to honor or remember, for any reason.

I used the Light My Life digital image, colored completely in Earth-colored Copics, to make a card for my brother, whose birthday happens to be today, November 11th. I wrote the "Remembering You" sentiment by hand, and obviously need some practice on hand-lettering. The suede "ribbon" was a waist tie from an old jacket. I love it when something I've saved "just in case" I might need it some day, finally comes in handy. ;~)

Did some hand-lettering inside the card, too, with a little doodling on the top and bottom of the sentiment panel. 

So, who will you honor? Check out the beautiful creations from the Tiddly Inks Design Team for ideas and inspiration, then create your own card or project and link up for a chance to win! 

I hope you have a great week. And, if you are a Veteran, THANK YOU! Your service to our country is greatly appreciated today, and every day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge 201
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Thinking of You
613 Avenue Create Challenge #97: Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room-Week #239: Just Neutrals
TSC Challenge #54: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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Two Littles--Tiddly Inks Fabulous Friday!

Hi Everyone! Today is Fabulous Friday at Tiddly Inks, and I have used two of the cutest "Little" guys to make gift tags for a friend's twin boys, who have birthdays coming up soon: Little So and So & Little Hopper-Toadally Amazing.

After printing them onto X-Press It Blending Card, I simply die cut them, colored with Copics, drew in their mouths, added a little transparent Paper Pen to the eyes, including the big froggy eyes, and added random dots with Paper Pens to the backgrounds, leaving enough clean space to be able to write the names of the recipients to the cards. The images are backed with layers of die cut cardstock, and I used foam tape to separate the top two layers from the bottom two. Easy peasy! 

I'm actually in Virgina right now, visiting with my sweet friend, Deborah Anton! It's her boys who have birthdays next week. Happy Birthday, Boys!!!

Be sure to visit the rest of the Tiddly Inks Design Team to see their beautiful creations! I'm still pinching myself over being on the team with all those talented ladies! And, there's still time to enter the current Tiddly Inks Pop of Color Challenge, too! 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Fabby Friday!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create Challenge #88: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: Tell Me Dies, Tell Me Sweet Little Dies
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #228: Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge # 207 - Let's Hear It For The Boys

~Hugs,

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Top Hat Days

Last month, I made a Mother's Day card with a vintage feel to it. With Father's Day around the corner, I used that design and made a more masculine version. Even though they are very much alike, they look completely different! The only major differences between this and the previous card are the backgrounds (embossed vs. stamped), and an added element (the doily die cut).

On this card, I embossed the background, then added some Inka Gold to the embossed areas. The doily was cut from kraft cs, colored with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink, then spritzed with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist. The image is colored with Copics, and I add some highlights with a white gel pen. The round "metallic" embellie, just to the left of the hat is made from clay, then I used Inka Gold to give it a nice finish.

The inside is the same as the Mother's Day card, just in a different color palette.

Slowly, but surely, I'm getting caught up, posting my cards! :D

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Father's Day/Masculine
TCP Tuesday #267: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #66: Embossing
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge R#179: For the Boys
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 23: Men On Our Minds
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #96: Masculine with Ribbon or Trims

~Hugs,

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Father's Day Metal

Ever since I made my Faux Metal Art project, I have been looking for ways to incorporate Inka Gold into my creations. (Eventually, I'll get around to posting those creations.) ;) Well, Father's Day is almost here, so a manly card is in order, and what better time to add a little faux metal, right? ;-)

This card's design is from the Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 5 sketch, and I have to admit, when I saw that sketch, I almost decided to just skip it and let this month's VLV challenge go. But, then I saw a really cool die from MFT stamps that reminded me of riveted steel. Perfect! I cut the strips from kraft cs, added several colors of Inka Gold, gave them a good buff, and voila! Faux metal! For the Father's Day banner, I first covered a piece of kraft cs with Inka Gold, buffed it, then heat embossed the Father's Day sentiment with copper ep. To give it a little more dimension, I curved the center of the banner a little and attached it with Coll-All 3D glue. I used Coll-All to attach the "metal" strips, too. The bg was distressed by inking the edges of the paper, tearing it in a couple of places, and adding more age with a few splatters of watered down Inka Gold, and random stamping using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and a couple of pieces of wrapped candy. Yep, you read that right...wrapped candy. I had a square of Dove chocolate and a wrapped Jolly Rancher candy in a basket on my table, so I inked up the bottom of the chocolate piece and the crinkly twisted end of the Jolly Rancher and stamped just like using a regular stamp. 

The circular images were heat embossed in silver, onto paper that I had first watercolored with Inka Gold. To distress them, I tapped a little Versamark in a few places, then dipped them in Distress Embossing Powder.

I did minimal stamping on the inside of the card, and threw in another faux metal strip to "anchor" the white panel. This card was quite fun to make! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Viva la Verve May 2014 Week 5 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: The World is a Circle
The Paper Shelter Challenge #160: Make it Manly

~Hugs,

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Feathers

I've been busy the past couple of weeks, working on a project I've designed to teach at my local stamp store, Impressive Ideas, in May. It includes a box, notecards, tags, and a handbound mini book, and features a faux metal technique. It has been great fun to make, and I can hardly wait for classes to start! :)

In the meantime, I've got a masculine birthday card to share.  I'm loving all the feathers that are everywhere right now, and I finally got a small feather die set! Yay!

The blue feathers are Spellbinders Feathers on the Wind dies, and I just love the embossed detail in them. The third feather is one I made from an old dictionary page. Can you see the word, "feather" on it? The "f" got trimmed off just a little bit, but it's there. A closer shot of it is in the banner pic. The lattice element behind the feathers is a Tim Holtz die cut. To make it, I layered several die cuts, glued them to another piece of cardstock, then covered it with a piece of aluminum foil that I almost threw out! I was doing some experimenting, a couple of weeks ago, with different coloring mediums, and this piece wasn't doing much for me, so I sat it aside, figuring it was destined for the trash. Glad that didn't happen. ;) I love the forged metal look. The sentiment is from a new stamp set of Emily Dickinson quotes (I'm a sucker for just about anything literary), and it was heat embossed with copper embossing powder onto a piece of cardstock that I had colored with Inka Gold (my new favorite medium!).

On the inside, I used the same lattice die cut, cutting it in both the blue and orange colors, then pieced it back together with the contrasting colors. The sentiment is a companion stamp from the Dickenson set.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the weekend!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Issues: Pitch Perfect
The Paper Shelter #155: For the Boys
613 Avenue Create #68: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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It's A Boy!

 Hi there! I'm down to the wire on the Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge this month, and I still have another card to post for it, so I'll be very brief.

This is a new baby card for a boy. I used the colors of the dp to guide me in choosing all the other colors and elements. I colored the word, "boy," with Prismacolor pencils. The cluster of embellies is made up of a flattened bottle cap, some gears, flags, and a "baby" zipper pull. The "dirty" gear was die cut from kraft cs, then heat embossed with silver ep. To achieve the rusted/dirty look on the gear, I inked up just a portion of the silver embossed gear with Versamark, then I sprinkled Distress EP on one edge of the gear.

The inside.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Viva la Verve March 2014 Week 2 Sketch Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: The One With Lots of Rules (Anything Goes)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Happy Birthday

613 Avenue Create Challenge #65: Anything Goes

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Booties

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your week!

~Hugs,

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