Running With Scissors…

In May, I borrowed the Bareback set to make a birthday card (here) and, when finished, I had a little scrap of the Saffron Flannel Plaid left over.  I’m terrible about discarding any scrap which may be the least bit usable so I thought I’d try to manage another card with that scrap while I still had Bareback in my possession.  I got as far as black embossing the horses and then the scrap went back into the scrap basket.  Today, I have a finished card.

I wonder if he’ll notice it’s a leftover from his wife’s card?  I rather expect not, but she’ll probably notice right away.  Nevertheless, I’m glad I saved that scrap.  As with the May card, I used no designer paper.  Instead, I stamped Paisley Print in black on Close to Cocoa and added textured cardstocks and copper brads for a masculine look.  I hope he likes it.  I hope you like it, too.

It’s been a busy stamping week — much more than my usual.  I’ll be back tomorrow with something pretty from Flourishes.  Take care!

Stamps:  Bareback, It’s Your Birthday, Flannel Plaid, Paisley Print (all Stampin’ Up!)  Paper:  Basic Black, Close to Cocoa smooth and textured, Old Olive textured, So Saffron textured, Whisper White  Ink:  So Saffron, Adirondack Pitch Black, Versamark  Accessories:  Copper brads, black embossing powder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape 

Well, here’s a set that retired a while back and I rushed to purchase it before it was gone for good.  I’ve just now made my first card with it.  I guess you could call me a slow starter.  I needed a masculine birthday card, and this set fit the bill perfectly.  I could have used it many times before, but I was intimidated by the prospect of coloring the deer.  There I go again… just as with the birds, I want the rendition to be accurate.  I had a good model for these deer, though — if the big guy in the foreground were a three point in velvet, he’d look exactly like the garden visitor I found dining on my Lady’s Mantle the other day.

This is two stamps from the set which I put together to make a scene.  I used an old Posh Impressions grass stamp for a little filler, as well.  The manly plaid is from, of all things, my BasicGrey June Bug pad.  The image is watercolored with SU! inks.  I think every other detail is apparent at a glance, and supplies are listed in the recipe, below.

Have a good Monday and a great week!  I’ll be posting daily Wednesday through Saturday so I hope we can get together again then.  I’ve been stamping a lot in my spare time, and staying off the computer in an effort to catch up on a few things.  Consequently, I haven’t been out visiting all the wonderful stamping blogs I find so inspiring.  It’s time to do a little catching up on that now!  See you soon!

Stamps:  Noble Deer (retired Stampin’ Up!), Warmest Regards  Paper:  Always Artichoke, Kraft, watercolor, BasicGrey June Bug designer paper  Ink:  Palette Umber, various SU! inks for watercoloring  Accessories:  Twine, linen thread, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

I was out shopping for shoes the other day, and I came home with this Our Craft Lounge Nailed It set instead.  Well, I had to order the shoes…and the scrapbook store is just a few steps away from the shoe store, so…  It thrills me no end that the scrapbook store is stocking more stamps these days.  How wonderful it is to actually be able to drive home with stamps in the bag!  They have a nice collection of OCL stamps.  Gee, could that be because the awesome Cambria (OCL co-owner) lives in my very own town?

I made these cards for Father’s Day but I just didn’t have time to post them.  They don’t have to be specifically for Father’s Day, though, so I don’t feel too bad about waiting till now to share them.

The first card is for my husband.  It seems to me Father’s Day is a good time to say “thanks for your hard work”, especially since he’ll understand the significance of this card.  His big summer project is to build a deck in place of our small kitchen patio.  It’s half done, and he’ll finish it after our vacation trip.  I’m looking forward to barbeques and lunches in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot.  Our summers here, so near the ocean (Oregon coast), are cooler than in most parts of the country and we appreciate shelter from the chill wind, which can be quite vicious at times — but only when it’s sunny.  Many days are absolutely exquisite, but you can never know if the day you’re planning a barbeque will find everyone huddled inside looking out.

All the stamps are from the Nailed It set, except for the simulated wood “deck”, made with 1/2″ strips of Really Rust on which I’d stamped SU!’s retired Weathered background.  The “boards” are glued to black cardstock with minute spaces between them.

The second card is self-explanatory, I’m sure, save to say it’s for a friend’s dad.  It’s actually my favorite of the two, being somewhat clean and simple, and it qualifies for One Stamp Wednesday, and this is Wednesday, after all.  All the coloring was done with Prismacolor markers on Whisper White cardstock.

I have to run off now.  I’m sure I’m doing something fun as you read this, because I’m on VACATION!  I’ll bet I’m having the time of my life!  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Nailed It (OCL), Weathered (retired SU!)  Paper:  Really Rust, White, So Saffron, Basic Black, unknown designer paper, Chocolate Chip  Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Palette Noir, Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Going Gray, Prismacolor markers for coloring  Accessories:  Screw brads, 3/4″ circle punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Hello, again!  Today’s card uses an old Inkadinkado stamp I added to my collection a long time ago in an effort to gain variety in the “guy” category.  It came in handy to fulfill this Father’s Day card request when I ran down my list of options and nothing seemed to satisfy the requester’s needs until I said, “how about billiards?”.

I made this to loosely resemble the lid of a cigar box, including the distressed tab on the lower edge which is supposed to be the broken seal.  The image is colored on Whisper White with Prismacolor markers.  It’s cut out and glued to the Spellbinders Labels Four die cut, and everything is put together with Cosmo Cricket Wanted designer paper (two years old and I’m using it for the first time).  The Spellbinders mat is cut from Very Vanilla cardstock, which I sponged in CTMH Parchment ink, using wadded toilet paper.

Oh, and it’s also a mail-friendly card.  I’m still thinking “no extra postage” for Wednesdays.  Well, I must run.  I don’t know what happened to all my leisure time, but I wish some of it would come back.  I hope you’re having a very fine day!

Stamps:  Inkadinkado El Fumadero, SU! Carte Postate  Paper:  Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Cosmo Cricket Wanted designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, CTMH Parchment, Prismacolor markers for coloring  Accessories:  Brads, Spellbinders Labels Four dies

Day 3 of Flourishes’ previews is all for the guys with this set called A Man’s View, created by Lauren Pope.

The set has images and sentiments appropriate for Father’s Day, but this card wound up going to a friend’s dad for his birthday.  Isn’t that a familiar pose?  Actually, it could be me at this very moment but, rather than a TV in front of me, I’ve got my computer in my lap.

I colored this with Prismacolor markers and kept it relatively unadorned — just a little bit of hardware and some masculine papers to coordinate with the colors in the image.  To get a look at some of the other features of the set, please visit:    Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Laura, and Stacy.

Remember:  

• Check out the His & Her’s Challenge.  There’s still time to participate, if you play today, and have a chance at winning all three of Flourishes’ May releases.
• Join us for the Release Party Friday night, May 15, 8 - 10 pm central.
• Visit the Flourishes Newsletter today if you’d like to win this set.  Leave a comment here to get your name in the drawing.
• Now through May 21 everything in the Flourishes store is 10% off.  Use this promotional code at checkout:  rsc99
• All the new releases will be available in the store after the release party.

Thank you so much for your interest and the time you took to visit with me this week.  Are you ready for the weekend?  I hope you find some time to kick back and relax.  Enjoy!

Stamps:  A Man’s View  Paper:  Buckaroo Blue, white cardstock, retired Stampin’ Up! Treehouse designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Prismacolor markers for coloring  Accessories:  Hardware, ribbon, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Day 2 of Flourishes’ previews brings my favorite of this month’s releases — DIY Topiaries.  I feel as drawn to the warmth and comfort of this set as I do the gaiety and charm of Sweet Peas, Sweet Violets, and our latest floral, Nasturtiums.  I like a lot of green in the garden for the way it sets off the flower colors and creates a tranquil, calming sanctuary…a cushion into which I sink gratefully to ease the weight of everyday concerns.

You can do it yourself any number of ways with the many beautifully illustrated pots and topiaries this set provides.  It’s extremely versatile, with both foliage and floral images.  I needed a masculine thank you so I went all foliage with this card.  I struggle with masculine cards, but the His & Her’s challenge brought about an epiphany for me:  Just set out to make a feminine card, but exchange every feminine element with a masculine element.  I know that sounds almost too elementary, but I’ll be darned if it doesn’t work.  Why did I have such a mental block about that till now?  Picture this card exactly as is, but with a floral image, sweet and delicate designer papers, a filigree brad, silk, satin, or organdy ribbon tied in a bow — see it?

Important info:  If you get a chance, please do check out the His & Her’s Challenge.  There’s still time to participate and have a chance at winning all three of Flourishes’ May releases.  The winner will be announced at the Release Party Friday night, May 15.  The party starts at 8 pm central and winds up around 10 pm.  And please, see the DIY Topiaries post on the Flourishes Newsletter.  Leave a comment there to enter a drawing for the Topiaries set.  A winner for each set is drawn daily.

Also:  Flourishes is having a Spring Sale!  Now through May 21 everything in the store is 10% off.  Use this promotional code at checkout:  rsc99

Now… If you’ve seen the work of my fellow Flourishes designers before, you know they’ve got some heart-stopping beauties to share with you.  I’m anxious for you to see what more can be done with this set!  I do have other cards ready to share later but, for now, please visit:    Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Laura, and Stacy.

I’d love for you to join me tomorrow for Preview Day 3.  Till then, have a happy day!

Stamps:  DIY Topiaries (to be released May 15 pm), sentiment from Thank You  Paper:  Really Rust card base, watercolor, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, retired Stampin’ Up! Apple Cider designer paper  Ink:  Palette Umber, various SU! inks for watercoloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, brad

Happy Friday!  You know the saying — TGIF!

It’s time for Flourishes’ monthly pre-release challenge, and this time we’re doing his and her cards.  The idea is to choose a layout — any layout — and make one masculine and one feminine card with that layout.  My two cards are very similar, using not only the same layout, but the same focal image stamp and many of the same papers.  This is not a requirement of the challenge; it’s just my personal challenge within  a challenge.  It looks like some of the other DT girls had the same idea, and if that’s what you’d like to do, then that’s okay, too.  All the details are on the Flourishes Newsletter.  If you choose to play, you’ll be eligible to win all three of Flourishes May release sets.

The tree I used is from Forest of Trees.  The birthday sentiment is from Sweet Violets, and the get well sentiment is from Many Sentiments.  The designer papers are BasicGrey Urban Prairie.

This first card is meant to be the masculine version.  It’s my attempt to escape the rather dull look I usually assign to masculine cards.  As it turns out, it’s my favorite of the two cards.  Gee, I hope that doesn’t mean it’s too feminine.  I planned it for a friend’s upcoming birthday.  He’s a very good friend, so I imagine he’ll forgive any gender-related indiscretion on my part.

The second card is perhaps not feminine enough, but I did add polka dots and a flower.  Also, of course, the guy’s tree is green, and the girl’s tree is pink.  I changed the center paper panel, too.  Honestly, I had something much more feminine and pretty in mind, but it just wouldn’t come together, and then…well…I ran out of time.  It’s not that I don’t like it well enough, but it doesn’t harmonize as sweetly as the first card.

There’s also an “oops” on the feminine card.  I dyed the flower with ink and, though I left it sitting quite a while, it obviously wasn’t dry when I layered the white center flower over top — the ink soaked through.  We’ll just pretend I meant for that to happen.  I was getting a little frustrated with this card when I finally said, “oh, for Heaven’s sake!  I can think of bigger things to worry about if I really want to worry about something!”

So, here they are, the yin and yang of my layout.  It started with the Flower Soft, which I’m just loving now that I’ve got the hang of using it.  The trick, for me, is to press the Flower Soft firmly into the glue, working a smallish area at a time.  Press and hold, tap off the excess, press and hold again.  It’s quite secure once dry, and mails very nicely.  I mixed up a batch of light and dark green for the masculine tree.  The pink tree is the Summer mixture, which comes variegated like this.  I have plans to create other mixtures, as well.  I like the more natural look of the mixed shades.  Oh, what fun stuff to play with!

This was a great challenge, and I think you’ll enjoy taking a look at the rest of the DT’s cards, too.  You’ll see some ultra-feminine and strongly masculine cards with a variety of Flourishes’ stamps, and maybe even pick up some layout ideas:  Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Stacy

Now…on to the weekend!  I hope your’s is a very enjoyable break from the routine.  Take care!

I made this card for an 11 year old boy who just received the pretty awesome news that he has won his battle with leukemia.  It doesn’t get much more awesome than that, does it?

Since I have no awesome stamps for a boy that age, I relied on my Stampin’ Up! Headline Alphabet to sum it up in a word.  Big news, big word.  The designer paper is Memory Box Glitterati.  The simple, no frills, boy-type design makes this a “no extra postage required” card, just right for sharing on One Stamp Wednesday, the day I devote to these Post Office friendly cards.

That’s it in a nutshell!  My goodness, these simple cards don’t require much explanation, do they?  I’ll be back with something pretty for Flourishes Friday Focus.  I hope to see you then.  Take care!

Stamps:  SU! retired Headline Alphabet  Paper:  Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Memory Box Glitterati designer paper  Ink:  Brilliant Blue  Accessories:  None

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a tag that says “Insert self here and enjoy”?

The making of this card was quite a surprise for me because I didn’t expect to have such a good time with it.  I’m in the mood for fall cards and pretty cards but the Flourishes team is showcasing the Menswear set this week.  Men’s shirts and beer…I don’t know…I suppose this could be made into a woman’s shirt with some pretty fall leaves scattered around…gosh, there I go thinking again…I might have to try that…  But, in fact, my husband’s birthday is in October so this couldn’t have come along at a better time.  I’m good to go!

Okay, this shirt is fun.  It begs to be paper pieced.  Think of all the patterns and colors!  Prior to this I’ve used the tie and the beer mug from this set but this is my first time with the shirt.  The mug is colored with Prismacolor markers and the foam is made dimensional with liquid applique.  I colored over the mug with a clear Sakura glaze pen to give it a glassy look.  I had the best time with the shirt, though.

• I stamped the shirt on BasicGrey Ambrosia paper and cut it out.  The collar, cuffs and pocket trim were stamped on another sheet of Ambrosia and pieced over the first.  Even the label inside the neck was paper pieced separately.
• The buttons were dotted with my black Sakura glaze pen so they look more like real buttons.
• To make the bent sleeve I cut along the line to the elbow area.  I stamped that sleeve again on the back side of the paper and cut it out.  Now I had a mirror image of the sleeve.  I used a black marker to trace along the edges of the printed side so it would have the same outline as the rest of the shirt.  Then I glued the two sleeves together back to back.  The cuff was done in the same manner.  Fun!
• The bent sleeve and the mug are both held in place with foam mounting tape (dimensional) and the shirt, itself, is on foam mounting tape, too.

Now I’m looking forward to more shirt cards…I’m getting ideas…  Tomorrow is another day and another card, though.  I’ll see you then!  Have a great day!

• Stamps:  Menswear from Flourishes
• Paper:  Basic Gray from SU!, Ambrosia designer paper
• Ink:  Palette Noir
• Accessories:  SU! ribbon, hardware to hold the tag on, key tag punch, large oval punch, liquid applique, Prismacolor markers, Sakura glaze pens in clear and black

This card is so simple I hesitated to post it, but in the end I decided there was value in its sharing.  It was created at the request of a friend who wanted to send a hospitality thank you regarding some outdoor weekend activities.

Even though it’s a girlfriend who requested it, I categorized it under “masculine” because it’s just the sort of card a guy would be okay with.  So there’s one reason for sharing — an idea for a guy card.  We ladies love to see those many-layered, exquisitely sculpted, elaborately embellished cards but in real life we need one of these simple guy cards occasionally, too.

On the subject of simple…I know we all have times we need a card in an ultra-hurry and nothing in our stash is appropriate.  That’s the time to take a look at those designer papers that are too pretty, cute, cool or whatever to cover up.  I’m turning over a new leaf in that regard.  I wondered what I was going to do with this particular sheet from my Grove collection.  I love it but I did not want to cover it.  It should be viewed as a whole, like a primitive painting.  Papers with repeating patterns are a relatively painless proposition for backgrounds but some of those little 6×6 sheets are so gorgeous they should be framed and hung on the wall!  Or…we can allow them occasionally to play the starring role on a card.

Looking at this paper made me think, “gee, look how primitive the illustration is”.  It’s masterfully primitive and it’s an art form that’s widely admired and respected.  Hmmmm…the trees are kind of funky and there’s no grounding of the images, no shadows cast by the trees.  Yet it’s so darn artistic.  We can do this, can’t we?  Do you sometimes think maybe you try too hard?  We might not be able to draw or paint this but the artists provide the stamps.  For an outstanding example of primitive, yet totally fabulous, stamp art please see this card by Laura Fredrickson.  In fact, check out her whole blog.  The girl can stamp!  Wow!

One last thing…this card I made today is actually a stepped up version of a card I made the other day (if you can believe that!).  Yes, I was in an even bigger hurry when I made a very last minute card on my lunch hour to put in the mail to my son that day.  It was one layer of this same Grove paper on a blue card base with a sentiment stamped in black in the lower left corner of the card.  That’s all.  Very simple but cute.  My friend saw that card laying on my desk at work and exclaimed how she loved it and wondered if I’d make a similar one for her.  She said she’d been looking at cards in the store and couldn’t find one she was satisfied with.  The point is, when you find yourself undervaluing or growing tired of your own work, try to see it through someone else’s eyes, especially those of a non-stamper.  What you do is special and unique.  It can’t be found just anywhere.  A handmade card represents a special care and effort, whether in the making or the seeking out of that just-right card for giving.

Okay?  Now, let’s go stamp something!  Oh, wait…I have to go to work first…  Have an absolutely wonderful day!