You're The Man

He changes the oil and fixes any kind of motor. He trains the dog and makes his own fishing baits. He welds and he operates. He plays ball with the boys and makes killer pancakes. Hubby-you're the man.

Keeping this card very clean, simple and graphic, I was inspired by the sketch at Card Positioning Systems. (ETA: Natalie was absolutely right, after seeing her amazing scrapbook layout here, I was very much inspired to pull out my clean woodgrain stamp and create! Love how blog hopping does that to me!) I masked and stamped the woodgrain panel, stamped and kissed the dots with the woodgrain and added the sentiment. I also tried a new-to-me technique for adhering ribbon/twine/floss. The colors are bold, the design is bold, but I'm not a bold kind of person. My husband, however, is bold so you could say the choices were made with him in mind. I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

 Supplies Used: Cardstock: Natural White (Stampin' Up) Stamps: Woodgrain Background (Stampin' Up) For the Love of Dots (Practicing Creativity Designs) You're the Man (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: Lime Pastel Chalk (Colorbox) Onyx Black (VersaFine) Other: Black Floss (DMC), Thread Tools: Corner Round Punch (Fiskars)

The Leaf Pile

It was a daunting task with those two big maple trees standing tall, and bare in a fair sized yard. They worked hard raking the leaves into a big pile. It was worth the sweat and blisters to see their little son, with a hug smile on his face, run and jump with no fear into the leaves. It was worth it to hear the giggles and laughter.
I interpreted lovely fall-like and manly colors in the latest Embellish Magazine Challenge (color with dimension). I pulled out my newest stamp set and created a background pattern with an upward movement. The sentiment panel is adhered with regular foam adhesive and the directional brown arrow with taller foam adhesive. The overall sketch is based off the one at CPS.

Tip: Did you know that the end of a new pencil eraser fits perfectly inside the "bolts" of the sentiment panel from this stamp set? Just ink and stamp. Instant and perfect colored circles!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Natural White (SU) Brown (The Paper Company) Stamps: You're The Man and Look Up (Practicing Creativity Designs) Pigment Ink: Really Rust (SU) Chalk Ink: Lime Pastel, Chestnut Roan, Aquamarine (Colorbox) Other: Foam Adhesive

GG's Jewelry

When I was little I used to crawl up onto the lap of my GG (my great-grandma) and admire the jewelry she always wore, it didn't matter if she was going out that day or not. Oh how she looked so pretty and regal, sitting there in her big leather chair.
The colors for the Embellish Challenge with Stitching were so vintage to me and I used what I remember of GG's jewelry to inspire this card. The layout came from this week's CPS. The latest Creating Keepsakes Magazine was full of ideas this month and they shared that you really could stitch on chipboard-although my wrist and my Janome got quite a work out I really like the subtle results of the aqua thread on the kraft board. I colored around some gems with dark brown to age them a bit and distressed all edges as well. In my mind the flower coupled with the gems resembles a brooch or earring from days gone by. I'm so happy that I went this route for these challenges, and thankful that they triggered such fond memories.




Supplies Used: Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, CM DSP, SU Happy Harmony Stamp Set, Maya Road Chipboard, SU Pretty in Pink Ink and Colorbox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan, SU Chocolate Chip and Creamy Caramel Markers, SU Scallop Border Trim and Corner Rounder Punches, White Satin Ribbon from Offray, Thread

If It Ain't Broke...

Don't fix it. Although that simple little saying is full of grammatical errors, I still use it and apply it, such as the ribbon/button treatment and the dandelion image that I did in my card here. United Thread, the feature Etsy shop for Etsy Inspired Challenges, has some really neat hand drawn images, especially of bees and dandelions. The sketch is from CPS. I've never tried grey, purple and yellow before on a card...I kind of like it!

**This is my second post today, I'd love it if you have time to check out my first.**

Supplies Used: CTMH Smokey Gray Cardstock, SU Whisper White Cardstock, SU DSP, Practicing Creativity Designs You're Dandy Stamp Set, SU Basic Grey Ink, Colorbox Chalk Ink in Lavender, Fiskar's Scallop Border Punch, SU Basic Grey Satin Ribbon, Button, Thread

Bordered Butterfly

While I was visiting my folks, I cleaned out my old closet, where stuff was hidden from fifteen years ago! I found a roll of acetate leftover from my college days and that was the inspiration for this card, along with the current Embellish Color Challenge with Borders. Awesome spring colors, just what I need to use on this very very cold Wisconsin afternoon. I also based the layout on the current CPS Sketch. Both offer some fabulous design team cards and prizes. For the butterfly, I ran acetate through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots Folder then cut them with the SU Butterfly Die and placed it on top of the same die cut with white cardstock and distressed. The borders are made with the only two border punches I have, and I stitched and paper distressed around most of the edges. (There is a "thank you" stamped and embossed with white in the bottom corner for the sentiment.)




Supplies Used: Making Memories Just Chillin Girls Collection, SU Whisper White and Barely Banana Cardstock, SU Apricot Appeal DSP, SU Pink Satin Ribbon, Fiskars Scallop Border Punch, SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, Heidi Grace Thank You Stamp Set, VersaMark Ink, White Embossing Powder, Cloud 9 Buttons

Shabby Chic Treasury...

Back in college I worked in the library Preservation Department at North Carolina State University repairing old (and ancient) books. It was my most favorite job to date...And here I am, ripping those treasuries apart. But I had to, I had to try out Dawn's Flower Technique after I was inspired by a handcrafted flower from the Etsy Inspired Challenge spotlight shop Sweetie Pie Tutus! Really loved how the color graduated from the outside to in. Such an easy and quick embellishment to make, and "A Little Treasury of Modern Poetry", discarded by someone and picked up by me, came in quite handy. I attempted to conquer the colors from Color Throwdown and was inspired by the sketch at CPS. I say inspired because I had intended this card to be a bit more clean and simple, but I'm kind of liking the way it turned out. The flowers were punched from two sizes of circles, sponged with blue and purple inks and adhered with a rhinestone brad. The stems and leaves were stitched as well as a portion of the band behind the flowers. I also sponged the back panel with blue and purple. Thank you to Virginia for giving me the push to try out something I've never done before (and I think I will try them again). I know that I need to give my Janome Sew Mini a break, but sewing is so much fun-must be my mom coming out in me! (grin)

Supplies Used: SU Brocade Blue (didn't purchase the Baja Breeze) and Very Vanilla Cardstock, SU Elegant Eggplant and Brocade Blue Ink, SU Sincere Salutations Stamp Set, CM Circle Punches, Rhinestone Brads, Fiskars Scallop Edge Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, Green Thread