A Valentine for Him

This is a masculine Valentine that we will be making this weekend in my Valentine class. Since all my stampers are women I wanted to focus on a Valentine for their husband or boyfriend. We will also be making some cute and fun Valentines for the kids or other sweeties as well.

This is actually a layout from a Stampin' 411 challenge last year. I like the clean, simple look and just updated it with this year's papers and stamps. I also used a circle "window" and popped up the heart to give the card some depth and a little somethin' somethin'.

Paper - Love Letter (of course!), basic black, cherry cobbler and very vanilla card stock
Stamps - Artistic Etchings, Tiny Tags
Ink - basic black
Accessories - vintage brads, cherry cobbler seam binding, 1 3/4" circle punch, heart to heart punch, dimensionals, black floss

Paper Players Birthday Card

I thought I would use this week's Paper Players challenge for my husband's birthday card. His birthday is this Friday . I tried a new color combo and don't know if the combo is appropriate for a masculine card. - mmmm.  I like the combination and am definitely going to use it again in the future, but may try something a little more "manly" for my man. I love, love this simple and fabulous layout provided by the Paper Players Challenge. This is definitely one for the file.

Stamps - Bring on the Cake, Birthday Bakery (hostess)
Ink - marina mist, pumpkin pie, concord crush, old olive and basic black
Paper - Play Date DSP, concord crush, old olive, marina mist, pumpkin pie and whisper white card stock
Accessories - pumpkin pie brads, curly label punch, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration with some Mojo

I have found a new challenge this week, Stampin' Celebration. The inspiration picture was so lush and yummy "chocolate and flowers" - a perfect theme for Valentine's Day. AND on Valentine's day a little bling doesn't hurt. I used the layout from this week's Mojo Monday challenge , which always has FABULOUS sketches, to create this chocolatey, flowery card. 

Stamps - Full of Life, Artistic Etchings

Ink - pink pirouette, chocolate chip

Paper - Botanical Gazette DSP, early espresso, pink pirouette, whisper white card stock

Accessories - Finial Press embossing folder, 1" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, rhinestone jewels, sticky strip, quilling tool, circle die, scallop die

PPA77 - Au Naturale

Yesterday was a tough day for Chicago Bears fans. Da Bears were shut out of the Superbowl by the Green Bay Packers within the first half of the game. I took my sorrows to my craft closet and they were quickly forgotten after immersing myself in stamping.

I turned to this weeks PPA sketch challenge for inspiration - a fabulous sketch by Margret Moody. Using the papers from Botanical Gazette, featured in the Spring mini-catalog, I created the card above. I wanted to keep the card feeling organic and natural so I kept to an earthy color palette. I colored in the flower that is featured on the paper to give it a little more life. I finished the card with a green rosette and of course the bee on the sentiment. I actually purchased the stamp set almost exclusively for this beautiful bee - >>>>>Tara Bee Ink.

On Superbowl Sunday I will, unfortunately, not be cheering on Da Bears. I think it will be the Steelers -but, there is always next year. - Go Bears!

Stamps - Nature Walk, Silhouette Sentiments
Ink - real red, old olive, marina mist, crumb cake
Paper - Botanical Gazette DSP, Play Date DSP, crumb cake, cherry cobbler, old olive card stock
Accessories- texture plate, crumb cake seam binding, dimensionals

Color Throwdown 125

This week's Color Throwdown challenge really appealed to me. I love these soft neutrals even though I usually prefer brighter colors. The flowers were made after I separated the two layers of blushing bride card stock which made them easier to scrunch. I am really enjoying the seam binding ribbon. I love the texture which has a bit of a weave and just a hint of sheen.  This can be used on a variety of projects, masculine, feminine romantic or clean and modern. The layout was inspired by Windy Robinson's layout in this month's Papercrafts magazine - a very clean yet romantic card. 

Stamps - Bella Toile, Short and Sweet

Paper - blushing bride, very vanilla and crumb cake card stock

Ink - crumb cake, pear pizzazz, blushing bride

Accessories - scallop circle punch, 1" circle punch, crumb cake seam binding, lots of tags die cut, dimensionals, small brads.

Masculine Simple Thank You

My husband needed some thank you cards and this is a quick design I came up with. I think it is elegant yet still masculine.

Stamp - Medallion
Ink - basic black, versamark
Paper - crumb cake and basic black card stock
Accessories - black embossing powder, black satin ribbon, word window punch, dimensionals

Our Old Guy

Our old guy, Dempsey, has lost his right eye due to a degenerative eye condition. He has slowly been going blind and has recently lost all sight. On Friday his right eye ulcerated and we had to have it removed. He is recovering at home and is rather pitiful. This is a picture from the vet but at home he is wearing the cone of shame - poor little guy. We are hoping he adapts quickly without site but know he has a rough road ahead.