STAMPIN' UP! BLOG HOP : MASCULINE THEME

Today I'm taking part in a blog hop, with 7 other friends who are also Stampin' Up! demonstrators in Australia.  The theme of our blog hop this time is "masculine projects" - right up my alley!

You may have come from Sue Madex's blog, but if not, you can catch up with Sue's creation once you've 'hopped' around the circuit (list of participants is at the end of my post).

I've made a couple of cards using Stampin' Up!'s Frightful Sight Designer Series Papers.  I love the colours in these papers - Basic Black, Basic Grey, Cajun Craze and Old Olive.  They get me out of my usual habit of gravitating towards browns and blues for male cards.

First up is a card I made for hubby's nephew, whose birthday was last week.

To make the 'medallion' for around the sentiment, I used my Scallop Circle punch, rotated the punched shape and punched again (to 'sharpen' the rounded scalloped edges), then snipped the edges by hand to give the shape a less uniform look.

Stamps: Up,Up & Away

Card: Basic Gray, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive

DSP: Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cajun Craze and Old Olive stampin' pads, Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker, Sahara Sand stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Timeless Type Alphabet dies, 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, paper snips, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Color Spritzer tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig

My second card is perhaps suited to an older male - I think the background paper makes it look a bit conservative (despite my use of the ever-cool Extreme Elements stamp set!).

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Texture jumbo Stampin' Around wheel, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Basic Black, Whisper White

DSP: Cheerful Treat Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Basic Black and Basic Gray stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: 2 1/2" Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz die, Top Note die, Basics Glimmer brads, sponge daubers, Mat pack and Paper Piercing tool

Next on the blog hop today is Kathryn Mangelsdorf - you must check out what she has made, and continue on to visit all 8 of us.  We'd love some "comment love", so we know you've been to visit!

Here's a complete list of everyone taking part in the blog hop today:

Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Sue Madex http://www.madexcreations.com

Christine Blain http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com (you're here!)

Kathryn Mangelsdorf: http://klm55.blogspot.com

Nikki Sadler http://www.inkyart.com.au

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

Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com

Tina Gillespie http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com

We hope you get some inspiration for cards for the boys and men in your life!

HAPPY HALF-CENTURY, MUM AND DAD!

I'd like to share with you today the card I made for my parents, who on the weekend celebrated 50 years of marriage.  What a milestone, hey? 

I have only recently bought Stampin' Up!'s Baroque Motifs stamp set (yes, I do think I'm one of the last demonstrators in the known universe to own it!) .... so I inked that up for this special occasion.  First I stamped, in Crumb Cake ink (stamped off, to give a subtle effect), an En Francais background on Very Vanilla Card.  The Baroque Motifs flourish was stamped over the script, and the whole panel run through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, before being sponged around the edges.

I love how the Crumb Cake ink on the main sentiment panel co-ordinates so well with Stampin' Up!'s Brushed Gold cardstock.  I used my aquapainter, and Crumb Cake ink refill, to colour the flowers, and the outer frame of the Framelits die cut.

Here's a closer look at the background, which I finished off with some Champagne Mist shimmer spray:

Stamps: Apothecary Art, En Francais, Baroque Motifs, For My Family

Card: Naturals Ivory, Brushed Gold, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Crumb Cake ink refill

Other: Gold embossing powder, Labels Collection Framelits die, Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, aquapainter, stamping sponge, stampin' dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Champagne Mist shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits dies

JAI #114: JUST ADD ...... JODENE TRIPP

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to create a papercraft project, inspired by the beautiful work of Jodene.   Jodene has a beautiful, clean style, and is AWESOME at colouring - you must look through her blog, if you're not already a follower.  I struggle with keeping cards 'clean', so this is a good challenge for me.

I have chosen to CASE this card of Jodene's.  I have added a couple of extra layers (just because that's "how I roll"!), and have put to use a poinsettia that I made this past Christmas, and that didn't make it onto a card in time for December 2011!  In lieu of an embossed or textured background, I've chosen to subtly stamp on the Designer Series Paper panel.  It feels a little odd to be making a Christmas card this early in the year, but now that I've done it, I feel kind of virtuous, for having one made already! LOL.   Here's my version:

Stamps: Season of Joy

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Black marker, Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad

Other: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits dies, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Edge border punch, Basics Glimmer Brad, Blossom Petals builder punch, Champagne shimmer mist sponge daubers, mat pack, Tombow liquid glue

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's samples at Just Add Ink, and we hope you'll play along with us this week!

SC 0029/12: EXTREME ELEMENTS/GRUNGE ROCK - BLUE VERSION

This week's challenge at Sunny Challenges & Creations, is to use this colour combo on a papercraft project:

I had to make a birthday card for a special young man, and, rather than re-invent the wheel, thought I'd CASE myself - since I was rather pleased with this card I made in recent days.

Here's the version I've come up with, to fit in with the colour challenge:

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock

Card: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla

Ink: Night of Navy and Bashful Blue stampin' pads, Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker

Other: Blue Denim ribbon, Silver mini brads, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, edge distressing tool, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, Color Spritzer tool, sponge daubers, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits die, Square Lattice embossing folder

STAMPIN' UP! EXTREME ELEMENTS & GRUNGE ROCK FOR A 5OTH

Stampin' Up!'s Extreme Elements stamp set has long been a favourite of mine, for male cards especially.  I've combined stamps from that set, with Grunge Rock (a new-to-me stamp set, that I am loving) - how great does the sentiment look?  This card is for my brother-in-law, who recently celebrated his half-century.

My trusty Color Coach suggested I combine Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake and (would you believe it?) Bashful Blue.  I must say I rather like how these colours work together.

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock, Texture jumbo Stampin' Around wheel

Card: Always Artichoke and Bashful Blue textured card, Crumb Cake

Ink: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue and Always Artichoke stampin' pads

Other: Timeless Type alphabet dies, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, edge distressing tool, sponge daubers, Linen Thread, Artichoke denim ribbon

STAMPIN' UP!'S BROADSHEET ALPHABET FOR A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG MAN!

Today my eldest boy, Jack, turns 16.  He is such a beautiful young man, and I look forward to seeing what his exciting future holds.  So many opportunities await ..... oh, to be young again!  (I don't really wish for that, but it is great watching our kids grow and develop, isn't it?)

Jack lives and breathes cricket.  He is so passionate about it, and is striving to play at a high level (hoping to one day wear "the baggy green" for the Australian cricket team).  I was determined to not make a cricket-themed birthday card, as I thought after three years in a row the idea might grow a bit tired!  I did, however, manage to sneak a little cricket ball onto the tag, for a pop of colour against all the neutrals.  That, in turn, inspired me to highlight one of the "16s" in Cherry Cobbler (my original idea of all Crumb Cake numbers made for a bit of a bland background).

Here's the card that the birthday boy is receiving, along with a super-duper set of headphones that are apparently a "must have" item.

Stamps: Broadsheet Alphabet, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Just Cricket (retired)

Card: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad, Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Cherry Cobbler marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits die, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Large Tag punch, sponge dauber, Silver Mini Brad, Tombow liquid glue, black adhesive dots (not SU!)

JUST ADD INK #90

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to create a card, or other papercraft project, based on this sketch:

I have HEAPS of birthday cards to make this month, and am behind on a few.  This sketch was a great starting point for a card for a special young person in our lives.

I knew I wanted to make the birthday girl a card in earthy colours, and using my trusty Owl Builder Punch.  In place of an oval panel, I've fussy-cut a frame from Stampin' Up!'s Beau Chateau paper, masked off the outer edges and stamped a Woodgrain background in the centre.  Colour was added with my Riding Hood Red and Soft Suede markers, before sponging around the edges in Soft Suede ink.  Both the owl's body, and the left-hand panel on the card, have been stamped using my Elegance Stampin' Around wheel.  Having felt like my creative juices had almost dried up lately, I'm really pleased with the way this card turned out.

Stamps: Elegance Stampin' Around Wheel, Woodgrain

Card: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla

DSP: Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Riding Hood Red stampin' pad and marker

Other: Owl Builder Punch, paper snips, sponge daubers, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits die, XL Oval Punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Bird Builder Punch, Tombow liquid glue, stampin' dimensionals

BLACK AND WHITE FAREWELL CARD

One of Ethan's mates from school is about to return to New Zealand to live, and Ethan asked me to make a farewell card.  My brief was to use black and white.

It's a simple card, but I love it, and hope the young man (who will be sorely missed) does too.  I've used Stampin' Up!'s new silver mini brads on this card, and they are FABULOUS - they're not much bigger than pin heads, and are great, low-profile, embellishments for cards.  I can see I'll be using lots of these!

Stamps: Extreme Elements, For My Family

Card: Basic Black and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Stripes embossing folder, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits dies, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Silver Mini Brads, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Tombow multi liquid glue

21st BIRTHDAY CARD

Jack (my eldest) has gone to a friend's 21st birthday party tonight, looking rather sharp!  The dress code for the evening is "cocktail black with a touch of red".  I've used this theme for the birthday girl's card, coming up with a simple but elegant creation thanks to Stampin' Up!'s fabulous products!!  I have used no stamps or inks at all on this card, it was very quick to make, and I love the end result.

Card: Basic Black, Whisper White smooth & textured, Cherry Cobbler

Other: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits die, Big Shot, Fancy Flower punch, 5 Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, metallic brad, Basic Rhinestone, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi liquid glue

SC002/11 & CTD #154

I used to get a bit confused when I saw abbreviations like those I've used in my post title ..... thought it was some kind of secret code.  That is, until I entered the world of online challenges with my cardmaking - now it makes perfect sense!  Read on, and you too will understand (if you're a little confounded).

I have made a card for a very special friend of mine, who turned 80 a little while ago.  I only just found out that she'd passed this milestone birthday (I thought she was 5 years younger!), and couldn't let it go without marking the occasion.

There is a new Australian challenge site that has caught my eye - Sunny Challenges & Creations.  The challenges are a 'double-edged sword', in that a sketch is provided ...... but you also have to use a certain Stampin' Up! stamp set when making your creation.  I'd planned to take part in their inaugural challenge, but completely forgot the second part of the challenge (really, two things is not that hard to remember?!), and the card I made didn't fit the bill.  This time I've been more careful!

Here's this week's sketch, that is to be used with the Friends 24-7 stamp set - a favourite of mine, that I'm sad to see retire from Stampin' Up!'s range at the end of this month.

This challenge relates to the SC002/11 in my title - Sunny Challenges' 2nd challenge for 2011.

When I saw this week's colour combo at The Color Throwdown, I knew it'd work perfectly for the card I had in mind.  Here's challenge #154 at The Color Throwdown (hence the reference to CTD #154 - makes perfect sense now, doesn't it?!).

..... and here is the card I made tonight (and photographed late, so apologies for the colours - in real life it looks so much nicer!):

Stamps: Friends 24-7

Card: So Saffron smooth and textured, Basic Gray, Whisper White

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive stampin' pads

Other: Blender pen, Boho Blossoms punch, Curly Label punch, Neutrals brads, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Timeless Type alphabet sizzlits die, oval Nestabilities