Valentine Themed Stamp Club

Last night our stamp club met and we made items for Valentine's Day. Since I have all ladies in my group, I wanted to make a masculine Valentine Card. As you can see, these are not traditional Valentine colors but I did get a heart in there. This is another My Digitial Studio Hybrid. The upper right panel and sentiment were printed using MDS.

I have such a hard time choosing accessories for masculine cards and find that I use the same items over and over. What is your favorite masculine accessory? I would love to hear what you use  - so please leave me a comment.

Stamps - Sense of Time, French Foliage, My Digital Studio Stamps
Paper - Well Worn DSP, basic gray, early espresso, crumb cake, not quite nave card stock
Ink - early espresso, crumb cake, chocolate chip
Accessories - vintage brads, mini vintage tags, linen thread, dimensionals

Here are the other 2 quick Valentine Treat Projects We Created

Lollipop Flower
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Real Red
Paper - Soft Subtles, Bold Brights DSP, pear pizzaz ( on bottom of flower) whisper white card stock
Accessories - Flower Folds Die, Blossom Punch ( on bottom of flower to create "leaves")

Smarties Butterfly
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Real Red
Paper - Everyday Enchantment DSP, whisper white card stock
Accessories - Beautiful Butterflies die, Word Window Punch, Glue Dots

Masculine - Simple Card

I needed another masculine birthday card and was inspired to create this one from a card in Paper Crafts magazine. I used basically the same layout as my inspiration piece, but changed the image. I stamped the leaf using Gently Falling and dug out my glass glitter to do a little broken glass technique. Clean and Simple but with a little bling.

Paper - chocolate chip, pacific point, crumb cake whisper white card stock
Ink - chocolate chip, pacific point, more mustard
Stamps - Gently Falling, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories - square lattice embossing folder, linen thread, button, glass glitter

Sympathy Cards

I love to make cards but absolutely do not enjoy making sympathy cards and these are for a very sad occasion. My husband is the coach of my son's flag football team and yesterday one of our boy's father passed away. He was such an involved father and a constant at every practice and game. It is heartbreaking and we are all shocked and saddened. I made the first card for the team to give to their team mate who is now without his dad. I think the sentiments are just perfect for how the boys feel. I wanted to post these for you so you can see how great the Petite Pairs set is and how apropos the sentiments are. 

The second card is for his mother.

1st Card

Paper - Spice Cake DSP, early espresso and more mustard card stock, watercolor paper

Ink - Stazon black, crumb cake, soft suede, chocolate chip, more mustard, pear pizzazz

Stamps - Petite Pairs, Furry Folk

Accessories - Heart punch, linen thread, button

2nd Card

Paper - Websters Pages DSP, basic black card stock

Ink - basic black

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes

Accessories - dotted scallop ribbon border, rosette,  hand-dyed ribbon

The Paper Players Sketch Challenge #65- Not Spice Cake

This week Ann Marie provided a beautiful sketch challenge for The Paper Players. I have Spice Cake DSP on the brain and love the paper but need to design without it.  OK, but I really love Spice Cake and thought of it first thing when I saw this sketch - (step away from the Spice Cake  and think of something else).  This sketch is so versatile that I created 2 cards for the challenge. I had a Thanksgiving theme in mind for my original concept with lots of distressing and layers and yummmy Spice Cake DSP - need to let it go.  SO,  I picked up Paisley Petals - such a beautiful paper. Once I started working with the pretty Paisley Petals paper, I liked the clean look and decided not to distress all the edges as planned. I cut out the pretty leaves for dimension and a coordinating accessory per the sketch and liked the overall look of the card. -  AND THEN I realized that our dear friend's birthday was this week. I needed a masculine card. I started working with the GO TO sketch and created a vintage balloon card using the Up Up and Away  stamp set and Well Worn DSP  . Up Up and Away may be considered a juvenile set but when I first saw it in the catalog, I envisioned it as a vintage set. The images are stamped on our Halloween DSP, Pick Your Poison. This paper has a great distressed look for the vintage feeling I was trying to create - but no Spice Cake.

I am pleased with both cards due to Ann Marie's FABULOUS sketch. Visit the rest of the Paper Players design team blogs and leave a sweet comment on their BRILLIANT creations - and some of them use Spice Cake - MMMMMM , I really like Spice Cake:)

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao 
Sandra Conner (September GD)

UP UP And AWAY CARD

Paper - Pick Your Poison, Well Worn, soft suede, very vanilla, not quite navy, crumb cake card stock

Stamps - Up Up and AWAY, Teeny Tiny wishes, Established Elegance

Ink - Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze

Accessories - circle dies, modern label punch, word window punch, dimensionals, linen thread, button

THANKSGIVING CARD

Paper - Paisley Prints, very vanilla, early espresso, always artichoke card stock

Ink - early espresso

Stamps - Seasonal Sentiments

Accessories - Circle dies, Fancy Scallop dies, dimensionals, button, linen thread

Back and Stamping

We are back from vacation! - After sorting through mounds of mail and emails, and getting settled back in - I couldn't wait to stamp. Ohhh, where to start? It has been so long since I have stamped and created any paper projects so of course I looked to my favorite challenges to get inspired. This week the Paper Players have a sketch challenge. I have been anxious to pair the new stamp set " Up Up and Away" with the new Simply Scrappin' Kit -" Tea Time". Don't you just love these yummy colors together? 

Paper - Simply Scrappin' - Tea Time

Ink - basic black, lucky limeade, pool party

Stamps - Up Up and Away, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Accessories - Top Note die, corner rounder, whisper white taffeta ribbon, pink button, dimensionals

A Silly Card for a Silly Guy

Megan had another birthday party to attend so I went out of the box and made this card for her friend. He is such a goofy, nice boy so I wanted the card to reflect that. I used Picnik to create the special colors and effects of the photos then imported them into my publishing program. If you want to edit photos quickly check out the Picnik site.

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - basic gray, black, whisper white card stock
Ink - basic black
Accessories - black brads, dimensionals

Bright Birthday

Here is another birthday card for this weekend. This time I looked to Sweet Sketch Wednesday for inspiration. My card was for a pre-teen girl and I thought immediately of the Pawsitively Prints DSP. It is one of my favorites this year for bright, cheerful projects. I paired it with another favorite, A Flower for all Seasons stamp set.

Just one more card and one more party to go.

Stamps - A Flower for all Seasons, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Staz-On black, old olive, tempting turquoise, daffodil delight, poppy parade
Paper - Pawsitively Prints DSP, poppy parade, whisper white card stock
Accessories - oval and label die, basic pearl jewels, poppy parade poly-stitched ribbon, white button, Itty Bitty shapes punch, scallop punch, dimensionals

Here are some other pictures of what we have been doing this weekend.

Jake Playing Lacrosse

Megan at Beach Volleyball Tournament

Back from Vacation - Mother's Day Card

We are back from vacation and I finally had a moment to stamp. Re-entry in to the atmosphere was quite rough after such a lovely Spring Break. Back to making breakfasts, lunches, dinners, grocery shopping, homework, practices etc. I can't believe we just got home Saturday it seems like a month ago. (sigh) 

I think I left my mojo at the beach sipping cocktails, because it has left me. I  can't seem to get my brain to come up with new designs. Luckily while I was away, my order of Webster's Pages paper came in. It is so beautiful and just perfect for a quick card since the paper is so lovely, there is not need to do much. I just added a quick sentiment and a few accessories. Now I better get this in the mail!

Paper - Stampin' Up! peach parfait and very vanilla card stock, Webster's Pages Ladies and Gents/Trendsetter

Stamps - SU Teeny tiny Wishes, Taylored Expressions Labels of Love

Ink - SU basic black

Accessories - Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio dies, SU pearls, dimensionals, very vanilla seam binding

Ahh, to be back on the beach......

Now for the Feminine Card

I have many cards to make this month among them are lots of birthday cards. I wanted a very feminine card for a girl friends birthday and turned to the new elegant Soiree DSP. I love the beautiful lines and muted colors of this paper.

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - Elegant Soiree, baja breeze and very vanilla card stock
Ink - early espresso
Accessories - Beautiful wings embosslit die, Pretties pin and pearls, button latte,  baja breeze stiched  ribbon ( discontinued), scallop trim border punch

Boys to Men Card Class

This is a card we will be making this weekend for our Boy's to Men class which focuses on masculine cards. I CASE'd this card from Tanis Giesbrecht's design in Papercrafts Magazine and adapted SU products. I love the simplicity of the design.

Paper - Island Oasis DSP, basic gray, black, kraft, baja breeze, whisper white card stock
Ink - basic black
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories - Stars #2 sizzix die, star designer brads, dimensionals, staple gun

Masculine Birthday

Here is a card I created using the new Travel Journal Paper - Not only is it perfect for travel scrapbooks, but it also has great masculine colors. I put a rather goofy photo in the center of the 0 and don't think my dear friend would appreciate others seeing it on my blog so I have blurred the image. I love including a photo in a birthday card and think it makes a very personalized, one of a kind greeting.

Paper - Travel Journal DSP, kraft, always artichoke, night of navy, whisper white card stock.

Ink - night of navy

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Happy Everything

Accessories - circle dies, On Board Timeless Type, linen thread, kraft corduroy button, dimensionals, Billboard Sizzix die, corner rounder punch. 

Mojo Monday 138 - Faja's Day Card

I created this Father's Day card from the Mojo Monday sketch. The new Travel Journal DSP reminds me of tie fabric and button down shirts so I created some ties and an element of a shirt sleeve complete with shirt buttons. I am so excited about this new Travel DSP. It really gives one a great pallet for masculine cards.

Papers - Travel Journal DSP, whisper white, night of navy, pumpkin pie card stock
Stamps - Birthday Bliss, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - Bordering Blue
Accessories - Square Lattice impressions folder, word window punch, dimensionals, shirt buttons, glue dots

PPA38 - Sketch Challenge - Inspiration Contact Case?

This weeks PPA challenge is a sketch challenge provided by Margaret Moody, whose work I adore. She has such a wonderful sense of color and her designs are crisp, bold and clean. Visit Margaret's blog at
http://margaretmoody.typepad.com.

Anywhoo, I look at my contact case every morning and love the bright colors and design. I have been working it out in my head how to transfer this inspiration to paper and this sketch challenge helped me realize my idea. The flowers from the pretties kit nearly match the flowers from my contact case. I just added a small punched circle and a black brad. I created my own background paper by simultaneously cutting four sheets of coordinating colored card stock in my design. I then glued alternating colored pieces to white card stock leaving a narrow gap between pieces. Just trim and you have your own unique background paper! I am definitely going to implement this method again soon since I am quite pleased with how it turned out.

Paper - black, whisper white, certainly celery, old olive, taken with teal and tempting turquoise card stock.
Ink - basic black
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories - Pretties Kit, brads, whisper white ribbon, square - modern label - word window, standard hole punches, dimensionals

Spring Theme Card Class

Here is a sneak peek at one of the cards will will be making for this weekend's Spring Card Class. We will be celebrating Mothers and Flowers. I CASE'd the layout of this card from Marianne Lamb who showed us this amazing flower technique at our last stamping group meeting.

Paper - Cottage Wall DSP, old olive, certainly celery, orchid opulence, whisper white card stock, white printer paper

Stamps - Lovely Letters Alphabet, Baroque Motifs, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink - old olive, rich razzleberry

Accessories - Finial Press texture folder, scallop punch, brad, old olive satin ribbon, dimensionals, daubers

Sometimes a Chick Has to Get Dirty - PPA34 Sketch Challenge

This week's PPA challenge is a sketch challenge. I was feeling a bit chickish and thought I would take out  Country Morning. I had to give my chicken a proper rustic treatment and I couldn't find the right elements without diving back into Autumn Meadows. I am hoarding that now (yes the papercrafter's sickness) so I needed to use something different. That is when I decided to take the leap and ink my texture plates. I know, I know! Get my plates dirty? ... but it's my sacred crafting equipment! Well, I held my breath, turned the crank and immediately ran for the sink to wash my plates. When I actually looked at the outcome I was pleasantly surprised at the results. I am glad I took the leap because the paper turned out perfectly for my chicken and now that I have conquered that fear, I can create an endless number of background papers. 

Not only can you apply ink and paint to your texture plates, you can also apply ink and paint to your embossing folders. Since they are plastic, they clean up beautifully. I am sure you will see more of my inked textured papers in the future.

Stamps - Country Morning, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - chocolate chip, not quite navy, ruby red, whisper white card cardstock
Ink - really rust, more mustard, going grey, basic black, sahara sand, old olive, not quite navy, real red, chocolate chip
Accessories- blender pen, chocolate chip corduroy buttons, antique brads, 1" double stitched chocolate chip ribbon, texture plates, Sizzix Big Shot.

PPA33 - Color Challenge - A Simple Thank You

This weeks PPA challenge is a color challenge. Quite a difficult one for me since it does not include Old Olive - my go-to green.  I thought I would keep it simple and use the layout we used this weekend for my Stamp-A-Stack class. I originally found the layout in Papercrafts magazine. I like the clean simple look and it's super quick to make. I used this simple layout with one of the most versatile stamp sets, Trendy Trees.  A little butterfly adds a bit of dimension to this simple, easy card.

Paper - kraft, whisper white, garden green card stock, certainly celery patterns designer series paper.
Stamps - Trendy Trees, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink - garden green, chocolate chip
Accessories - Beautiful Wings embosslit die ( love, love, love this), spiral and corner round punches

Little Dresses

Megan in her "Dorothy" dress.

Cutting out this little dress, I was reminded of all the dresses I used to make for Megan. I decided to sew and gather on this card like I used to do with her dresses. When Megan was little  she would ONLY wear dresses. - not just dresses, but frilly dresses. I used to sew her little dresses at night after she went to bed. I remember gathering yards and yards of fabric to make the full skirts and sewing on pearly buttons, trims and decorative ribbons. It was so fun to pick out the fabric, ribbons and buttons. Now my little girl is taller than I am and wears jeans, shirts and sports uniforms.  I now place buttons and ribbons on cards instead of little dresses.  - Where do the time go?

Paper - Sweet Pea DSP, bashful blue, pumpkin pie and whisper white card stock

Stamps - Humor in High Heels, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink - basic black

Accessories - whisper white satin ribbon, pretties, sewing machine

My Funny Valentine - A Birthday/Valentine Card

Isn't he cute!

On Valentine's Day 2001, we were blessed with a little Valentine boy, Jake ( although his sister may not agree at times). It seems like he arrived just a few months ago, but soon he will be 9. When he was born my doctor remarked " Finally there will be a boy that gets presents on Valentine's Day." He really enjoys the fact that his birthday is on this holiday.  Needless to say, Valentine's Day is always a day for celebration in our home. This is my birthday/valentine card for my funny Valentine, my love, Jake.

"My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine

You make me smile with my heart." 

from "My Funny Valentine"

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Paper - Holiday Lounge DSP, whisper white, black, kraft card stock
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Vintage Labels
Ink - black
Accessories - hearts and brackets, swirls scribbles dies, backgrounds texture plate, modern label and word window punches, staples

PPA24- Sketch Challenge - Masculine Valentine

"....'cause I don't have a wooden heart." The Elvis song kept running through my mind as I was making this card. I have had the wooden heart idea floating around in my head for a while so I thought I would use it for a Valentine's Day card.

Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper - Autumn Meadows, chocolate chip and taken with teal card stock

Ink - chocolate chip

Accessories - Big Shot hearts and brackets die, chocolate chip striped 1 1/4" ribbon, chocolate chip corduroy button, antique brads, twine

OK I've been using teal and brown quite a bit lately - but I love them, so I'll have to go on to other colors - maybe a color challenge is in order.