CARD FOR MY DAD

This month's So Shelli Creative Challenge is focussed on Father's Day, which is observed in the US and Canada next month.  Down here in the southern hemisphere, Dads have to wait until September for this celebration of them ..... but I figured I could be super-organised, and get a card ready for my father!

I pulled out my favourite masculine papers, Stampin' Up!'s Well Worn collection, and chose one of the sheets that I hadn't even cut into yet.  I tend to favour the earthy, brown-toned papers, but decided to show some love to the blue piece that has some River Rock and Cajun Craze touches.  I then reached for my "go to" male stamp set of the moment - Up, Up & Away.

Here's what I came up with:

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Wonderfully Worn; For My Family; Texture stampin' around wheel

Card: River Rock textured and smooth, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy

DSP: Well Worn Designer Series Paper

Ink: River Rock, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy stampin' pads

Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, stamp-a-ma-jig, Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon, Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder, Regals brads, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, sponge daubers

COLOR ROUND UP COLOR CHALLENGE #34

This weekend Ethan, my youngest, is going to the 11th birthday party of one of his friends.  Of course,  a card is needed .... although Ethan's a pretty great cardmaker himself, he'd much rather spend his time watching WWE on tv (heaven help us), or playing PS3 with his brother (in those moments when they decide they really do love one another).

The colour combination put forward by Holly at Rubber Redneck this week is, I think, perfect for a boy's card.

I got out my Extreme Elements stamp set (I haven't used that for a while, have I?  Been getting too busy with butterflies on my cards, I think!).  It's THE best set for a masculine card.  I've also made use of my fabulous new Stampin' Up! crimper (that thing is seriously heavy-duty - love it!), and trusty Square Lattice embossing folder, to add a bit of texture.  The lightly distressed edges on the cardstock mats were achieved by running my fingernail along the edges.

Here's the birthday boy's card:

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Wonderfully Worn, Bring on the Cake

Card: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Sponge daubers, Star punch, Small star punch (retired), Neutrals brad, Crimper, Square Lattice embossing folder

CURTAIN CALL COLOUR CHALLENGE #54

Take a look at this gorgeous colour combination that Stacey has come up with this week:




Here is the card I made (which is NOTHING like the original ideas I started out with!). 

Stamps: Wonderfully Worn, Bella Toile, Tiny Tags, A to Z

Card: Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla

Ink: More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Beautiful Wings embosslits, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, sponge dauber, Antique Brad, Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, stampin' dimensionals

This is just a very quick post, as I have to go to work (darn it - really interrupts my stamping time!).  I hope that, wherever you are, you have a lovely day!

"EXTREME ELEMENTS" Earthy Series - part 2

I love my recently-used colour combo of Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla, so decided to apply it to some cards using "Extreme Elements".  Are you sick of seeing this stamp set yet??  Hubby is - he says "I really don't like this set as much as you do, you know".  Hmph.  I am still having a heap of fun with it, so I'll continue to share what I make!

Here are two 'boy' cards that I came up with, to make use of a panel that I'd stamped with several stamps from  Extreme Elements.  I cut the panel in half, so I could make two different designs. 

Stamps: Extreme Elements, On Your Birthday, Wonderfully Worn

Card: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Colour Spritzer tool, Buttons #5 die, Jumbo brads neutral, Linen Thread, Modern Label punch, sponge dauber, edge distresser

Stamps: Extreme Elements, On Your Birthday

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

DSP: Crumb Cake Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker

Other: Mat Pack and paper-piercing tool, Neutrals brad, Modern Label Punch, sponge daubers,         1 3/8" circle punch, Scallop Circle Punch, stampin' dimensionals

"JUST ADD INK" CHALLENGE 36

This week's challenge over at the wonderful Just Add Ink site is to make a card, scrapbook page, or other papercraft item, using this sketch as a starting point:

As tempted as I was to make a pretty, girly, butterfly card (I'm quite a literal person!), I decided to use the sketch to come up with a male card - suitable particularly for a boy.  There are a few special young men in our lives who have birthdays coming up, so I need to get organised.  This was a good kick-along for me.  I just LOVE the colour combination of Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso and Tangerine Tango.   

Look at how well these colours go together:



.... and a close-up of the balloons, so you can see the 'strings' I added using Linen Thread.  See what a beautiful crisp image the balloon stamp (from the "Party This Way" set) gives?  I love it.

Stamps: Wonderfully Worn, Party This Way

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

DSP: Tangerine Tango Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Tangerine Tango stampin' pads

Other: Sponge daubers, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Linen Thread, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Tombow Multi liquid glue

"EXTREME ELEMENTS" Earthy series ... part 1

I have no doubt that my new "Extreme Elements" stamp set will get a very solid workout.  I can envisage making a lot of masculine cards with it, and probably mostly in 'earthy' tones.  Hence the title ... stay tuned for further instalments!

Here's a little something I whipped up this morning before meeting some friends for coffee.  The Soft Suede background panel has been stamped with the new "Wonderfully Worn" background stamp, which I can also see becoming a staple item for male cards (particularly now that my old faithful "Weathered" stamp has been retired, and has gone to another home).

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Perfect Punches, Wonderfully Worn

Card: Naturals Ivory, Soft Suede, River Rock, Not Quite Navy

Ink: Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Not Quite Navy stampin' pad, River Rock marker

Other: Colour Spritzer tool, mat pack and paper piercer, Neutrals button assortment, Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, Linen Thread, sponge daubers, Wide Oval Punch, paper snips

Back later, with more!