Saturday, August 7, 2010

"ART WITH HEART" TEAM BLOG HOP - MEN IN OUR LIVES

Hi all

Today is a very exciting day for me - not least of all because it's time for another blog hop with some of my wonderful Stampin' Up! team members.  IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!  21, again :)

As a Leo, it's a little difficult for me to accept that it's not "all about me", but I'll move on and talk about the blog hop, which is probably why you're visiting my blog today!

Being the first Saturday of the month, it's time for our "Art With Heart" team blog hop. This month our theme is "Men in our Lives". We hope to inspire you with our male-focussed projects, for Father's Day, birthdays, or just celebrating the males who are special to us.
The "Art With Heart" team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators comprises over 90 women, spread across Australia, and is led by Claire Daly (based in Melbourne). We have a very active online team forum, that is a great source of inspiration, support, and friendship. If you'd like to join us, whether it be as a hobby demonstrator (to receive great discounts, every day, on Stampin' Up! products), or to start up your own rewarding, home-based business, please email me; I'd love to have you join our friendly team!

As with each of our blog hops, we offer *blog candy* - a little prize for one person who visits all of the participating blogs, leaves a comment, then emails Nikki Sadler to confirm that all blog posts have been commented on. The offer for the blog candy is valid only for 72 hours from the launch of our blog hop; so, to be in to win, make sure you email Nikki by 6.00am AEST Tuesday 10th August. Blog candy cannot be won by Stampin' Up! demonstrators, but we would dearly love for you all to visit our blogs and leave comments anyway!

Today there are 9 of us taking part in the blog hop. You may have come from my talented friend Judy May's blog, or may be starting off here.  Either way, it's lovely to have you visit - thank you!  When you've finished looking at my blog post, just click on the link below to go on to Tina Gillespie's blog. You can start at any of the blogs along the way; you'll do a 'circuit', and cover all 9, as long as you follow the links on each blog.


Now, onto my projects. I have chosen to make a couple of Father's Day cards, using the wonderful sentiment from my Occasional Greetings stamp set, that's on page 112 of the Stampin' Up! catalogue.  This set contains a great variety of sentiments, including greetings for Mother's Day and Father's Day - I love it.

I really love the colours in this first card that I have to share with you.  Let me know which is your favourite!

Stamps: Occasional Greetings, Sanded, Party Hearty
Card: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Ink: Kiwi Kiss and Basic Gray stampin' pads
DSP: Urban Garden, Urban Oasis
Other: Basic Gray corduroy buttons (retired), dimensionals, White gel pen, sponge daubers, mini glue dots, edge distresser



Some of the things that I like to use often on male cards are Jumbo Eyelets, Weathered background stamp, and paper piercing/edge distressing.  Here's a simple card that incorporates all of these elements:


Stamps: Occasional Greetings, Weathered
Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze
Card: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze (smooth and textured), Whisper White
DSP: Urban Garden Designer Series Paper
Other: Mat pack and paper piercing tool, Jumbo Eyelets (set with a Crop-a-dile), Top Note die, sponge dauber, dimensionals
 


Finally, I'd like to share with you a project dedicated to a young man who is very special to me.  The scrapbook page below includes two of the most important males in my life - Andrew (hubby) and Jack (our eldest son).  In April, Jack went on his first overseas cricket tour, representing the Yarra Valley (in Melbourne's outer east).  Such an auspicious occasion - I had to scrap it! 



Here's a close-up of the journalling:



Hmm, now that I see it on screen, it's not exactly crystal clear - sorry!  The hand-written journalling reads:

"Jack, we were incredibly proud that you, at 14, were selected as part of the Yarra Valley under-17s team touring Sri Lanka and Malaysia.  This photo was taken just before you headed off to the airport.  You and Dad had a fantastic trip.  We're sure you will go on to great things with your cricket, son.  We're with you every step of the way!"

Another couple of close-up shots, so you can see the stamped background (the Just Cricket stamp set gets quite a work-out in my house!):








Here's a list of products used to make this layout:

Stamps: Just Cricket, Starring You
Card: Kraft 12x12, Summer Sun, Whisper White textured, Brilliant Blue
Ink: Versamark inkpad, Brilliant Blue stampin' pad and stampin' write marker
Other: Curly Label Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Mat pack and paper piercing tool, Brilliant Blue brads, title rub-ons (not SU!)


I hope you have enjoyed seeing my projects for this month's blog hop.  Next on the 'tour' is Tina Gillespie, who will no doubt have someting very creative to show you.  Please check out all 9 blogs on the hop, and leave some comment love!  Don't forget you can win a prize by emailing Nikki after you've commented on each blog.

I've included below a complete list of all the participants in today's hop, so that if you lose your way, you can refer back to it.





Christine Blain (that's me, the birthday girl!)http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com/


Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com


Kristine Thompson
http://inkspotcreations.typepad.com


Nikki Sadler
http://inkyart.com.au


Dianne Dunk
http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com


Alisha Watson
http://www.ratherbstampin.typepad.com


Sue Madex
http://www.madexcreations.com


Kathryn Ruddick http://www.katlodesigns.com


Judy May
http://www.judymay.typepad.com/

26 comments:

  1. OMG....Stunning. What great male cards. The colours are perfect....
    HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY :)

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  2. The Kiwi Kiss card is my favourite Christine. The banner and corduroy buttons look great. Fab layout of your men too. Hope you're starting the day with breakfast in bed!

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  3. They are all gorgeous Christine. By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Hope you have a great day. I love your second card - they are my colours. Your scrap book page is fantastic. What an achievement! Wonderful way to remember - bet there are many more to follow! Great blog.

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  4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CHRISTINE,
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
    My favourite was the scrapbook page, so difficult to see all the great stamping and accents on it, when looking at a blog picture, so thank you for the close ups. See you soon.

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  5. You have certainly been busy with all those projects Christine. I love your colour combinations.
    Mary

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  6. Have to love the blue one best-although I like the other too. Thanks for sharing the beautifully scrapped pics of those special guys in your life and...hope you have a great day!

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  7. Happy birthday Christine - many best wishes for a fantastic day!

    Also, now I know your secret to being an everready bunny when it comes to crafting - you are 21 again!

    Thanks for the inspiration again - male cards are hard LOL!

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  8. Happy birthday Christine! How handy of the cricket team to have Stampin Up coloured uniforms - Love the Brilliant Blue with Summer Sun. Gorgeous masculine cards too - love the distressing.

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  9. Huge Happy Birthday to you Christine..Your cards are gorgeous, the colours are perfect together..but the scrap page...who said you didnt like scrapping? You are a natural babe..fantastic!!!

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  10. Happy Birthday Christine!! The cards are great male cards and i love the colours!!
    Also, what a lovely page to commemorate such a huge occasion!!!

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  11. Lovely projects. The kiwi kiss one is my fave too. Those banners are popping up everywhere aren't they? Happy birthday (again!).

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  12. Absolutely LOVE your cards, Christine...what are we going to do without Kiwi Kiss?! And your scrapbook page is superb...definitely Australian Cricket Team potential there. Hope you are having a wonderful birthday and are being thoroughly spoiled. And remember...what you eat on your birthday doesn't count!!!

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  13. Happy Birthday. I love the cards and the scrap page you made. I also love the colour choices you used, you have such a talent in choosing colours and making your cards look amazing.

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  14. What a great layout Christine. You have some very handsome men in your life! I hope they thoroughly spoiled you today - it takes a big effort to spoil a Leo but you're totally worth it. Happy Birthday!

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  15. Why do we always have to choose a favourite?? They're all wonderful creations, although I do like the frivolity of the flag banner in the first one. Also, as Sue said, kudos to the cricket boys for having Stampin Up team colours :) As always, love your work; almost as much as I love you! Happy birthday big sis. Lynda xxx

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  16. I am totally in love with the grey and Kiwi Kiss card - but my, what a handsome young man your Jack is too!! No wonder you were so proud!! But I have to ask - did you have to pay excess luggage for all those giant suitcases??? Happy, happy, happy birthday - hope you had an awesome day!

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  17. The paper edge distressing is a great effect, thanks!! Oh, and Happy Birthday!!

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  18. Happy Birthday, Buon Compleanno and Hronia Polla (all of which mean the same in our household) Many happy returns, and hopefully many happy years of you sharing your wonderful cards with us. These are fantastic! and congratulation's to your boys :)

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  19. Happy Birthday - .
    I love the Kiwi kiss green card, they are both nice. Great card cheers

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  20. I love your scrapbooking Mrs B - hope you had a brilliant day yesterday .... your cards are brilliant too ... well done.

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  21. I adore the banner in the first card, so cute.....fabulous manly creations....great photos too...have a wonderful day!

    enjoy *~*

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  22. These are great Fathers Day cards - Kiwi Kiss and Basic Grey looks so good together. Fantastic Scrap Book page.

    Happy Birthday to you - hope you had a great day.

    xox

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  23. Now imagine this in my very special voice, usually reserved for kareoke
    "Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday dear Christine
    Happy birthday to you!"

    A fellow Leo, mine is on teh 6th, no wonder we are kindred spirits! lol!

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  24. PS, forgot to say that my fav was the green! Very special!

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  25. Janette and Sally B09 August, 2010 19:56

    Hi Christine!
    As usual hard to pick a favourite when they're both so good. We liked the colour combination of both.
    Nice pics of Andrew and Jack. Yes we are proud of Jack too.
    We're just doing the one blog comment for you as a special birthday treat.
    From Janette and Sally

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  26. Oops a few days late - but Happy 21 again :)
    Thought all your cards and the scrap page were fabulous!
    Kim

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