Beautiful Father's Day - Stampin' Up!® Beautiful Motifs

   I've been using the Beautiful Gallery Suite a lot lately because it works for so many kinds of cards.  I made this card for one of my father-in-laws for Father's Day.  I was going for a peaceful nature-y/outdoors/plant kind of card since that's his vibe.  I think it turned out just right! What do you think?

I started with a piece of Beautiful Gallery DSP adhered to the card base.  The paper is so beautiful I didn't wanted to cover it all up so I made an open frame with the Textured Notes dies as I could make it thinner than the frames in the coordinating Gallery Blooms die set.  I used Basic Beige for a nice neutral cardstock.

Next I brushed some Mossy Meadow ink onto a piece of Basic White and cut out the fern.  Then the flower stalk is die cut in Crumb Cake cardstock.  I blended a little bit of Peach Pie ink onto the flower.  I adhered these along the side of the frame.

A Spotlight on Nature die circle in Mossy Meadow is stamped with the damask stamp and is then popped on dimensionals over a bit of Basic Beige Classic ribbon.

The retired sentiment is stamped in Mossy Meadow and trimmed to fit on the circle. A few adhesive backed texture dots are the perfect embellishment to finish this design.  Swap out the sentiment for anything you need as this works as an all occasion card too!

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Stamps: Beautiful Motifs, Something to Celebrate (retired)

Ink: Mossy Meadow, Peach Pie

Paper: Beautiful Gallery DSP, Basic Beige, Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow, Basic White

Accessories: Textured Notes Dies (Online Exclusive), Gallery Blooms dies, Spotlight on Nature dies, Basic Beige Classic Ribbon, Adhesive-backed Texture Dots

Poppin' Father's Day - Stampin' Up!® Poppin' By

   After preparing for my my last 2 events I realized that I had A LOT of new floral stamp sets and not a whole lot else.  Stampin' Up! carries quite a variety when it comes to styles and themes but not much of that variety made it's way into my shopping cart recently so I had to do what any good Stampin' Up! demonstrator does for the good of her customers (wink wink) and buy some more stamping supplies!!  I got the new Poppin' By bundle for something very much non-floral!  Father's Day was the perfect time to get it inky especially with the dad joke puns!

 I used a bit of retired Pattern Party DSP for the fun background and then added a band of Real Red embossed with the Glass & Garden embossing folder.

 Next I stamped the popcorn box twice, once in Real Red and a second time in Daffodil Delight and fussy cut the top and bottom and put them together on a Stitched Shape circle adhering them with dimensionals.  Some fun die cut glasses are added.

  I die cut a few pieces of popcorn in Basic White then lightly brushed the edges with Daffodil Delight ink to make them buttery.  They are adhered to the card front with dimensionals.

  The sentiment is stamped in Memento Black and die cut with the smallest Party Banners dies.  A black baker's twine bow is the final touch for the front of this card.  On the inside I stamped a Father's Day greeting.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used for this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Stamps: Poppin' By (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Memento Black

Paper: Real Red, Basic White, Basic Black, Flowers and More DSP (retired)

Accessories: Poppin' By dies (Online Exclusive), Garden & Glass embossing folders, dimensionals, black baker's twine

Striped Scrap Background - Stampin' Up!® Sharing Loving Crafting

   I'm getting in under the wire to enter this card into the challenge gallery.  The Inspired By challenge has this lovely inspiration photo (see the end of my post) with just gorgeous colors and/or a fun layout.  I didn't stray at all from either the colors or layout, just flipped the stripes to the other side of the card.  I thought it makes for a fun scrappy background and the colors seem to lend themselves to a guy card so that's what I'm going for.

  Nothing to this one but scraps torn to different lengths, a white embossed sentiment on a black circle and a few sparkly black gems.

  One thing I would do differently is to check to make sure all my scraps are squared up before adhering them to the card front.  Somewhere along the way one of the layers isn't quite square and then the rest just send up a little slanted.

 But I love cards that use up the skinny scraps that I just can't seem to part with and this one is as easy as can be!  I added a birthday sentiment on the inside as I'm always low on guy birthday cards.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Stamps: Sharing Loving Crafting

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic Black, Blueberry Bushel, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Pie

Accessories: Spotlight on Nature dies, dimensionals, Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems

Retro Birthday Message - Stampin' Up! Tune In

   The Tune In bundle is for you if you need a stamp set that has fun vibes for birthday cards and that works well for those hard to create for guys in your life! And that wide open TV screen can accommodate so many other sentiments so you can make a variety of cards not just birthdays!

  This one starts with a neutral card base in Basic Beige, then a layer of Pretty Peacock embossed with the Dotted Circles embossing folder.

  2 narrow strips of Crushed Curry cardstock create and anchor for the TV placement as well as bring in another color to add to the retro palette.  The TV is stamped in Copper Clay onto Copper Clay cardstock and is then die cut.  

  The sentiment and antennae are stamped in Pretty Peacock on Basic Beige and the electricity bolts are stamped in Crushed Curry on Basic Beige as well.  All of these are die cut and added to the card front.  The antennae is colored in with a Copper Clay blends marker.  Various elements are popped up on dimensionals so no flat screen TVs here lol!

  The final detail are the 2 adhesive-backed texture dots that are added to the TV knobs.

  All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Tune In

Ink: Pretty Peacock, Copper Clay, Crushed Curry

Blends: Copper Clay light

Paper: Basic Beige, Pretty Peacock, Crushed Curry, Copper Clay

Accessories: Tune In dies, dimensionals, Dotted Circles embossing folders, adhesive-backed texture dots

Retro Vibe Father's Day - Stampin' Up! Tune In

   I needed to get a variety of Father's Day cards made before I left for my trip last week and I hadn't used my Tune In bundle yet and it was high time it saw some ink (this bundle is on sale for an extra 10% off until June 30.  Don't wait to order your set!!).

  I pulled out what I thought worked for a masculine color combination; Azure Afternoon, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray and Smoky Slate.  The card front is covered in a piece of Country Lace DSP in a very non-lacy almost twill like pattern in Smoky Slate.

  I used one of the Tune In dies to cut out the accent shapes along the side.  The die cuts out 5 of the shapes so I just cut several times in each color then mixed and matched as I went down the line.

  The tv is stamped in Azure Afternoon ink onto the same paper.  I used my Blends marker to highlight around the screen and fill in the legs for extra detail.  I stamped the antennae in Basic Gray and cut it and the knobs out and added them to the tv.  The screen is cut out and replaced with another one on which I stamped off some of the retro stars from the set.  I stamped the sentiment in Pumpkin Pie right over the top.  The whole piece is then popped up on the card front with dimensionals.

  I like the way you can add a lot of different sentiments to the screen and not just the ones that came with the stamp set; it's a decent size so you probably have a lot in your stash that would work for many different looks.  I didn't really have any embellishments that looked right so I kept it clean; it was for a guy after all!

  All of the products used to make this can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Tune In

Ink: Azure Afternoon, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray

Blends: Smoky Slate Dark, Azure Afternoon light

Paper: Country Lace DSP, Azure Afternoon, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Basic White

Accessories: Tune In dies, dimensionals

Father's Day Gatefold - Stampin' Up! Gone Fishing

   I was out of town all last week on a family girls trip so I didn't get any new projects stamped but luckily I have a few that I made before I left.  Today's is a Father's Day card but you could easily change out the sentiment and it can be a card for any occasion.  

  I wanted to do a nature themed card for one of my fathers-in-law since he's a big plant and tree guy.  The Thoughtful Journey DSP seemed like a perfect match and I looked around for a fun fold that I could use to really show off a large chunk of one sheet and came across this really easy gatefold that has a large main panel and a skinnier side panel.

  This one takes just 2 scores on the 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" card base.  Score at 1 1/2" and 5 3/4".  That's it!  I cut the panels to match leaving a small border around the edges.  My card base here is Mossy Meadow.

  I used a larger and smaller circle from the new Spotlight on Nature dies.  The larger circle is adhered to the skinny side panel only and then I used some of the Textured Floral dies to add some sprigs.  I used Mossy Meadow, Wild Wheat and Lost Lagoon cardstock as those are colors that are in the Thoughtful Journey DSP.  After adhering the sprigs I topped them with the sentiment circle which is adhered with dimensionals for a nice raised look.

  The only father's day sentiment I had is in the Gone Fishing stamp set so I used that with Mossy meadow ink.

  I dug deep in my retired embellishment stash and came out with a few candy dots from long ago which I added to the edge of the larger circle.

  This is the card opened up.  I added more of the DSP panels to the inside as well as a little stamped flower from the Wildflower Designs stamp set.

  All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Gone Fishing, Wildflower Designs

Ink: Mossy Meadow

Paper: Mossy Meadow, Basic White, Thoughtful Journeys DSP, Wild Wheat, Lost Lagoon

Accessories: Spotlight on Nature dies, Textured Floral dies, dimensionals, candy dots (retired)

Heartfelt Journey - Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Hexagons

   In this busy season I have completely been slacking on posting projects!  I haven't even finished sharing the projects that we made at a private class a customer hosted a few weeks back!  The class was held just a few days before the new annual catalog went live so it was hard to decide what to use on the class projects!  I went with a mix of carryover items and new products.

  The new Thoughtful Journey designer series paper is gorgeous and I paired it with the carryover set Heartfelt Hexagons for a design that shows off the paper and lets the fun hexagon punch shine.

  The card base is Basic White thick, then a strip of Misty Moonlight cardstock topped with a strip of the Thoughtful Journey DSP. 

  The sentiment is stamped in Boho Blue ink and then the frame is stamped in Misty Moonlight and punched out.  A length of retired Boho Blue textured ribbon is adhered to the back and then adhered to the card front with dimensionals.

  A few 2024-2026 In Color shimmer gems are added to the side of the sentiment for a small bit of sparkle.

  This is a great design to use if you need to make multiples and any designer series paper would work.  It's especially good for 6x6 paper because you get 3 panels for 3 card with just a small 1/2" x 6" strip of scrap.  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Heartfelt Hexagons

Ink: Boho Blue, Misty Moonlight

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Misty Moonlight, Thoughtful Journey DSP

Accessories: Heartfelt Hexagon punch, dimensionals, 2024-2026 In Color shimmer gems, Boho Blue textured ribbon (retired)

Toolbox Birthday - Stampin' Up! Trusty Toolbox Designer Series Paper

   I was in need of a masculine birthday card and it just so happened that the Paper Players challenge is having a birthday theme.  It was meant to be!  My birthday card stash is a bit low but my masculine birthday cards are pretty much non-existent so it was high time to get going!  I ended up making 2 versions of this design and just used different tools on the peg board. One to mail out right away and one to keep in the stash.

  The Trusty Tool bundle is a new mini catalog product and has a coordinating Sale-A-Bration item which is the Trusty Toolbox DSP.  Both are really cute and perfect for all those DIYers in your life.  I only used the DSP to make this card and the only stamping is the sentiment.  

  I started with a Copper Clay base and then layered 2 different designs onto the card front.  The top is a plain Copper Clay piece with a dot grid but once you add some tools cut out from the DSP you get a neat peg board look!  So cute right?  I just picked a few tools that would fit in the the space and fussy cut away!

  A Poppy Parade strip covers the seam between the patterns.  The sentiment is another Sale-a-Bration reward called Heartfelt Hellos and is stamped in Lost Lagoon.  I stamped one of the outlines from Heartfelt Hexagons stamp set (found in the mini catalog) in Basic Gray around the words then punched it out with the Heartfelt Hexagon punch. 

  The sentiment is popped up on dimensionals and accented with 2 Copper Clay 2023-2025 In Color dots.

  All of the products used to make this card can be purchased or earned in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Heartfelt Hexagons, Heartfelt Hellos (SAB)

Ink: Basic Gray, Lost Lagoon

Paper: Copper Clay, Poppy Parade, Basic White, Trusty Toolbox DSP (SAB)

Accessories: Heartfelt Hexagon punch, dimensionals, 2023-2025 In Color dots

Inspired by Step - Stampin' Up! Sentimental Park

   I was recently in Asheville, NC and visited the Asheville Art Museum and enjoyed a few hours taking in all kinds of art.  I'm always in awe of people who can paint and sculpt and carve and I'm so glad they share those talents with the world!  One of the paintings that caught my eye was Step by Kenneth Noland with its chevrons and rich colors.  I snapped a quick photo as I thought it might provide me with some stamping inspiration in the future.  The current CAS Colours & Sketches challenge popped up and I figured why not?

  The challenge shared 2 of the 3 painting colors so I went with it and did my version in card form.  I started with a Very Vanilla thick card base, then a layer of Very Vanilla.  I die cut 3 squares with the largest of the Stylish Shapes square dies and then cut out the centers with a smaller square die so I got the stitchd details on the inside and the outside of the frame.  I adhered each point getting smaller as I got to the Wild Wheat (if you know, you know!).

  I trimmed off the excess portions of the squares to make them chevrons then ran the whole panel through my die cutter using the retired Subtle embossing folder.  I love this texture and especially for this design it's almost like a canvas.

  The final bit is the sentiment from Sentimental Park stamp set stamped in Pecan Pie.  I wanted something very small and subtle in a clean font as anything else wouldn't have complemented the style.

  Here is my inspiration:

Step, 1965 - Kenneth Noland - Asheville Art Museum

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sentimental Park

Ink: Pecan Pie

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla, Pecan Pie, Cajun Craze, Wild Wheat

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Subtle embossing folder (retired)

Fishing Vest - Stampin' Up! Gone Fishing

   I'm always on the lookout for fun folds to teach at my monthly classes and I came across a fishing vest card that I tweaked a bit and made it my own to use in class this month.  The Gone Fishing bundle has been fun to use and making this card is no exception!

  And I was so happy to find a use for Wild Wheat!  It's not my favorite In Color but definitely works for this outdoorsy fishing vest look!  And the plaid pockets!!?  I'm just waiting for LL Bean or Orvis to want to use this card as inspiration for a line of gear!  

  Check out the video tutorial for all the details and watch me make the card, bumbles, goofs and all!  It's real life stamping for sure!

  

  Here are the step by step instructions as well if you prefer.

• Score 8 ½” x 5 ½” card base at 2 ⅛” & 6 ⅜”

• Fold score lines in to make 2 flaps

• With flaps closed - At the bottom corner of the card measure in ¾” from the corner and up from the corner ¾”, mark with a pencil

• Repeat with the other bottom corner

• Line up pencil marks in paper trimmer and trim off bottom corners 

• At the top of the card measure from the opening over 1”  onto the flap and mark with a pencil

• Repeat with on the other side

• At the opening, measure down the flap 1 ½” and mark with a pencil

• Repeat on the other side

• Open flaps and line up the pencil marks in the paper trimmer and trim of corner of the flap. Repeat on other side

• Use Arm Hole template to trace half circles onto your card front

• Use scissors to trim armhole openings

Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Gone Fishing

Ink: Wild Wheat, Pebbled Path, Boho Blue

Paper: Wild Wheat, Very Vanilla, Let's Go Fishing DSP, Boho Blue, Mossy Meadow, Pebbled Path

Accessories: Gone Fishing dies, Countryside Corners dies, linen thread

Masculine Leaves - Stampin' Up! Layering Leaves

   I've fallen off track with trying to post a masculine card each Tuesday and calling it Testosterone Tuesday but it's not too late for today.  Hopefully these colors or layout will inspire you when you need to make a guy card and just don't know where to start!

  I used the new Layering Leaves stamp set which is a great mix of sentiment stamps and some leaf/branch images that coordinate with the Bough punch.  I loved the font on the sentiments and you can't go wrong with some elegant and classic leaves.

  I decided to put some of the new/returning colors together for a nice masculine look.  The card base is Early Espresso.  The next layer is a piece of Very Vanilla cut with the Countryside Corners dies and then embossed with the Twisted Rope embossing folder.

  I then used a piece of Very Vanilla to create a base for my the color blocks.  I stamped each one with the same color ink and then adhered the strip to the base and then die cut the panel with the next smallest Countryside corner die.

  Each color was then used with the open leaf branch stamp and stamped in Versamark then embossed in gold.  I punched them out with the Bough punch then tucked them behind the sentiment circle.  Swap out the sentiment for birthday or thank you or whatever you might need. The circle is popped on dimensionals as is the the whole shaped panel. The Father's Day sentiment is in the Gone Fishing stamp set.

  For embellishments I used some linen thread tied with a bit of retired Misty Moonlight twill ribbon and added it with a glue dot.  A few gold sequins tie in with the gold embossing.

  My father in law is a nature lover so I hope he liked this card!

  All the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Layering Leaves, Gone Fishing

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight, Pecan Pie, Early Espresso, Versamark

Paper: Very Vanilla, Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight, Pecan Pie, Early Espresso

Accessories: Countryside Corners dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Bough punch, gold embossing powder, Twisted Rope embossing folder, gold sequins, linen thread, dimensionals, twill ribbon (retired)

Masculine Celebration - Stampin' Up! Layering Leaves

   I was making my way through creating the Father's Day cards I needed and the layout at Hand Stamped Sentiments was a great one to show off some texture and DSP!

  I knew that I wasn't going to do too much stamping but wanted to highlight some of the Let's Go Fishing DSP.  The card base is Boho Blue, then a layer of Pecan Pie.  Next is a piece of Very Vanilla cut with the Deckled Rectangle dies and then embossed with the Twisted Rope embossing folder.  

  I cut two lengths of card stock (Boho Blue and Misty Moonlight) with the long narrow waters edge die from Gone Fishing dies and layered them across the Very Vanilla panel.

  A bit of Night of Navy baker's twine is tied around this layer before adding the sentiment circles.  The larger circle is piece of Let's Go Fishing DSP cut with the Stylish Shapes dies and topped with the sentiment from Layering Leaves stamped in Misty Moonlight.

  I fussy cut a few of the fish from another piece of the Let's Go Fishing DSP and popped them up on dimensionals next to the sentiment.

  In Color Dots in Boho Blue accent the sentiment.

  All current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Layering Leaves

Ink: Misty Moonlight

Paper: Boho Blue, Pecan Pie, Very Vanilla, Let's Go Fishing DSP, Misty Moonlight

Accessories: Gone Fishing dies, Twisted Rope embossing folder, In Color Dots, dimensionals, Night of Navy Baker's twine (retired)

Bird's Eye Celebration - Stampin' Up! Birds's Eye View

   I'm trying my hand at a set of masculine colors for the Global Design Project sketch challenge this week.  That wide open panel has a lot of possibilities.  I thought another sweet little bird from the Bird's Eye View would look cute.

  I'm trying to give Wild Wheat a chance and have used it a little bit on this card but it's still giving me Delightful Dijon flashbacks!  I might be traumatized!  I'm just going to focus more on the Boho Blue and Pebbled Path that are also both new In Colors.  I like them a lot!

  This card starts with a Very Vanilla thick base then a layer of Let's Go Fishing DSP tilted on an angle like the sketch.

  Then I cut a piece of Very Vanilla with the Deckled Rectangle dies.  I blended a very light amount of Pebbled Path ink onto one corner and placed my stamped, colored and fussy cut images over it.  I think the bird came out cute but I think the books would look better if I had left some parts uncolored.

  To continue to follow the sketch I stamped an old sentiment on a narrow piece of Boho Blue in Misty Moonlight ink and adhered it to strip of Wild Wheat Textured ribbon and then popped it on dimensionals.

  All the current products used to make this card can be found in my ONLINE STORE.  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bird's Eye View, Itty Bitty Birthdays (retired)

Ink: Misty Moonlight, Pebbled Path

Blends: Boho Blue light & dark, Wild Wheat light & dark, Pebbled Path light & dark, Color Lifter

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla, Boho Blue, Let's Go Fishing DSP

Accessories: Deckled Rectangle dies, dimensionals, In Color Textured Ribbon

Father's Day Fisherman - Stampin' Up! Gone Fishing

   How fun is this new bundle??  The Gone Fishing bundle is so perfect for making those outdoors-y guy cards.  I have fishermen in the family so this will be a fun set to create with.  I designed this card to show it off to my local stampers at my last class.  All the lures and accessories are fun to mix and match inside the tackle box die!

  This is also a great color combination for guy cards.  I used Misty Moonlight, Gray Granite, Poppy Parade, Mossy Meadow and Crushed Curry.  It reminds me of those vintage wool camp blankets with the stripes!

  This one is a Misty Moonlight base, then the tackle box is die cut from Gray Granite.  We used one of the compartment off cuts to stamp the sentiment onto and then just adhered it back in place.  And a sentiment switch gets you a birthday card, retirement card or thank you card for that special fisherman!

  The lure and bobber outlines are stamped in Gray Granite and then filled in with the 2 step stamp in the colors.  The fun shiny lure is cut out of the new (returning) More Dazzle Specialty paper.  You might recognize this paper from 2022 Sale-a-Bration when it was called Be Dazzling.  If you loved it then and and want more or maybe missed out on it because it sold out super fast now is your second chance!

  Using another one of the tackle box of cuts we added some adhesive sheets to the back and then die cut the hooks.  It's so much easier doing it this way instead of having to adhere with glue; far less messy and frustrating.  The hooks are pretty thin and delicate so you want to be gentle getting them out of the die.

  The tackle bits are popped on dimensionals and then a few Tinsel Gems Three-pack at added to highlight the sentiment.

  All of the items used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Gone Fishing

Ink: Misty Moonlight, Gray Granite, Poppy Parade, Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Gray Granite, Basic White, More Dazzle Specialty Paper

Accessories: Gone Fishing Dies, dimensionals, adhesive sheets, Tinsel Gems Three-pack

Classic Tools - Stampin' Up! Vintage Tools

   I don't always get a guy card made for Testosterone Tuesday but I do try hard to come up with some masculine inspiration for you each week.  My card today was inspired by a long closed sketch challenge but I wanted to use it anyway since the layout is so easy you can re-create it at home with supplies you've already got making it even easier to design for those guys in your life.

  I used the retiring Vintage Tools stamp set.  As of right now it is still available but no guarantees as we get closer to the end of the annual catalog sales period.  Order sooner for best selection of retiring items.

  This idea has been in my head for a while and I finally got it down on cardstock.  Using the faux metal technique I made some tools for the focal point of this card.

  This card is not only classic with the stamp set it's also classic black & white.  I used a Basic White thick base, then a layer of Basic Black, then another layer in Basic White.  I topped that with 2 slightly different sized rectangles in black and white prints from the retired All Together DSP (it's currently on sale in the clearance rack!).

  I stamped the sentiment in Memento black on a strip of Basic White.  

  Now for making the tools!  The faux metal technique is so easy.  All you need is a metallic embossing powder (I used silver) and Versamark ink.  Just press your Versamark onto a piece of cardstock (I used a scrap of Basic White sized for the stamps I was using) and then cover it with embossing powder and heat it until it melts.  Then repeat the process again.  Don't touch the embossing while it's still hot or you'll get your fingerprints in it.  Do the process again but as soon as the embossing powder melts carefully press your stamp into the hot area. When you pull the stamp away you'll have a metallic image!

  Look at that cool detail!  I love the texture that transferred from the stamps!  I would recommend doing each image separately so you can make sure your last layer is evenly hot to accept the image.  I then fussy cut the tools and added them to my card front.

  If you're interested in any of the currently available products used to make this card you can find them in my ONLINE STORE

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Vintage Tools (retiring)

Ink: Versamark, Memento Black

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Basic Black, All Together DSP (retired - on Clearance Rack)

Accessories: silver embossing powder, dimensionals

Birthday Stripes - Stampin' Up! Greatest Journey

   For this week's Testosterone Tuesday card (aka A Guy Card!) I've got a really easy design that can be adapted to lots of color combos and themes depending on the guy you're designing for.  For my colors I was inspired by the mood board over at Just Us Girls Challenge.  I loved the photo with the green and yellow crayons laid out in a striped pattern and used that in paper form to make the background of my card.

  I pulled out all of my greens and a few yellows and played around for a few minutes to see which ones played nicely together.  I put away a few greens that just didn't jive and then got to work.  I dug through my scraps of each color and pulled out 1/2" wide pieces and then just began tearing them at different lengths and then adhering them to the card front repeating the pattern until I covered the whole edge. So not only do you end up with a cool guy card but you can feel virtuous by using up some smaller scraps!

  This color grouping made me think of summer with all the trees and other plants being green so I stamped a set of trees from Greatest Journey in Garden Green and then added them to a Stylish Shapes circle embossed with the birthday greeting from Best Day stamp set.  A quick change of sentiment and this would make a great Father's Day card as well. Both pieces are popped on dimensionals onto the card front.

  I added a few retired candy dots and a bakers twine bow to finish up the details.  I think this will be a great birthday card for the summer months for a guy who loves the outdoors.  And after finishing this design it really made me think of a vintage 70s t-shirt; you know the ones with the stripes across the chest?  Anyway.....it was a fun challenge and now my guy birthday card stash is plus one!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Best Day, Greatest Journey

Ink: Versamark, Garden Green

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Granny Apple Green, Garden Green, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Greatest Journey dies, dimensionals, Black embossing powder, candy dots (retired), baker's twine (retired)

Nature View Birthday - Stampin' Up! Picturesque

   I've held onto this card for a bit so that the recipient wouldn't see it before his birthday so now I can share it for Testosterone Tuesday.  Guy cards can be hard but you can never go wrong creating a card that is geared toward one of their particular interests.  My father-in-law loves nature and the outdoors and appreciates a good walk or hike so I decided to use the Picturesque stamp set and a few others to make an outdoors scene to celebrate his birthday.

  I started this card with a Basic White thick base, then used a piece of the Enjoy the Journey DSP as the next layer.  This paper pack is really adaptable for cards as well as scrap pages with the larger scale "mountain view" designs and smaller geometric patterns on the opposite sides.  I used a mountain view piece in greens and blues as it echoes the stamped panel in the forefront.

  To create the stamped panel I first blended Garden Green ink heavily onto the bottom of a Stitched Rectangle.  Then I stamped the "pine tree" frame, filled in the other trees with stamped off Garden Green.  The next step is adding the distant "river/mist" which I did using stamped off Coastal Cabana for a very light effect.  To blend the "sky" at the the top of the panel I very lightly blended Coastal Cabana ink so there wasn't any stark bit of white showing.  Finally, to complete the scene I added the distant mountains in stamped off Garden Green and a few die cut clouds from the Greatest Journey dies.

  To fill in the lower portion of the rectangle pattern I stamped 2 groups of pine trees from the Greatest Journey stamp set with one being stamped off for some variation and then layered them giving a nice spot to add the sentiment from Go To Greetings stamped on Coastal Cabana in Garden Green ink.  I flagged the ends, added some "man ribbon" aka linen thread and then popped it on dimensionals.  A few Elegant Faceted gems add just a hint of sparkle around the sentiment.

  Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Picturesque, Greatest Journey, Go To Greetings

Ink: Garden Green, Coastal Cabana

Paper: Basic White, thick, Basic White, Enjoy the Journey DSP, Coastal Cabana

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle dies, Greatest Journey dies, dimensionals, linen thread, Elegant Faceted gems

Fresh Look Tools - Stampin' Up! Vintage Tools

   Should I start a series of guy cards called Testosterone Tuesday?  At least for today it's all about the masculine card!  It can sometimes be hard to find creative ideas for guy cards with all the floral and cutesy stuff out there.  I admit that I also sometimes struggle to come up with what I think are well designed cards for the guys in my life.  Sometimes it all starts with a good color combination!

  I designed this card for my last Quick & Easy card class.  It starts with this fresh set of colors; Starry Sky, Smoky Slate and Pumpkin Pie.  Paired up with the Vintage Tool set I think it ends up being a fun birthday or special day card for men.

  This design starts with a Starry Sky card base.  I arranged most of the tool stamps from the set onto an 'E' block to create a small collage background and then stamped it all over the card front in Starry Sky ink.

  To create the triangle I first cut a 3.5" square of Smoky Slate and then cut diagonally to end up with 2 triangles.  The long edge is covered with a length of Pumpkin Pie glitter washi tape.

  The tools are stamped again onto a Stylish Shapes circle and then popped up with dimensionals.  The sentiment is stamped in Pumpkin Pie and trimmed down to a flagged end and is also popped on dimensionals.  

  The final details are the Starry Sky twine bow and the Starry Sky Matte Decorative dot.

  I'm glad I made a few of these to keep for myself when my brain is stuck for the next guy card idea!  Maybe doing a Testosterone Tuesday isn't such a bad idea; it might help me build up my card stash a bit!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Vintage Tools

Ink: Starry Sky, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Starry Sky, Smoky Slate, Basic White

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Pumpkin Pie Glitter washi tape, dimensionals, Matte Decorative dots, baker's twine

Fish in Blues & Greens - Stampin' Up! A Fish & A Wish

    Yesterday after I had gotten through a few business-y things I had to do it was time to check out some challenges to play along with.  The Just Add Ink theme of "Under the Sea" and the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches seemed perfect to pair up.

  I used a lot of blues and greens for this birthday card and enjoyed using the retired Sea Bed embossing folder.  It's very detailed and blending the ink onto it with blending brushes really makes it stand out.

   I stamped and adhered the fish to vellum circle which I covered in clear Wink of Stella for a subtle shine.  The sentiment is from Vintage Tools and is cut apart and popped with dimensionals.  A few Fine Sparkle adhesive gems are sprinkles across the card front for some more subtle sparkle.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: A Fish & A Wish, Vintage Tools

Ink: Soft Sea Foam, Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Tahitian Tide, Bermuda Bay, Balmy Blue

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Vellum, Tahitian Tide, Bermuda Bay, Balmy Blue

Accessories: Circle dies, Wink of Stella, dimensionals, Fish Builder punch, Fine Sparkle adhesive gems, Sea Bed embossing folder (retired)

Amazing Father - Stampin' Up! Amazing Phrases

   I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I didn't do too much stamping but I did participate in the Stampin' Up! Creativity Now demonstrator event on Saturday evening!  It was a treat to stamp cards that I didn't design!  Hardly ever happens lol!  I got some lovely samples to show off using the Splendid Thoughts stamp set so that's always a bonus too!  I should find some time this week to share those projects.

  My card today is one I made for my husband for Father's Day.  I used the Sale-a-Bration set Amazing Phrases-- available to earn for free starting July 1!  I paired it up with the cool color combo from Just Add Ink.  At first I thought I would go in an autumn themed direction with the Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie but it turns out it was a great masculine color combo!

  I started with a Very Vanilla thick card base then a layer of Crushed Curry and finally a layer of Basic Gray cut with the Stitched Rectangle dies.  I stamped the word 'amazing' in a diagonal in Basic Gray ink for the background.  Then I stamped 'amazing' again 3 more times in the challenge colors and fussy cut them.  I popped them on dimensionals in the center of the card then added my other words.

  The 'you are' is a separate stamp in the set so I stamped it and fussy cut the words apart.  I used the 'an' from the 'to another year' stamp and just cut out the part I needed and added it to the card front.  The 'father' came from the retired set Something to Celebrate and I backed it with some Crushed Curry to help it stand out.

  I'm pleased with how this one came out especially not using any image stamps and just the words which I don't do very often!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Amazing Phrases (SAB), Something to Celebrate (retired)

Ink: Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Very Vanilla thick, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle dies, dimensionals