Masculine Monday

Hmm… masculine Monday. Could this be the start of something? It might be. Either that or it sounds good for tonight. LOL. As you can see, I used some paper scraps that were on my desk from yesterday’s project. I used stamps I bought last year but hadn’t gotten around to using yet (shame on me), which means my card meets the criteria for PIO#1 – this week’s “Brand Spankin’ New” theme on the Pile It On blog.

There isn’t much to say about the card construction.  I like the sentiment. The inside of the card holds a birthday greeting.

Materials & Tools: Black and Stampin’ Up Crumb Cake cardstock; Graphic 45 Shutter Speed from the Communiqué Collection; Black Tim Holtz/Ranger Antique Linen Distressing Ink ink pads;  Mint Motif What a Card and I’ve Got Your Number stamp sets; Black Bigger Brads; EK Success corner rounder; Sponge distressing tool.

A Slice of Life: This is going to be a tough week with a lot going on at work in the way of stuff to do and feelings to be sorted out. After making a difficult decision a few years ago, Husband told me I was the most resilient person he has ever known. I was younger then. Change was easier to accept. Still, thinking way back, I remember how fearful I was when encountering something new. Unless I am worried about someone I care about, there isn’t much that frightens me anymore.

Enough of the serious stuff. It will all be good. A week from now, I will be telling you how I spent my day either at home or out and about having had some fun – maybe both!

How was your day? I hope your week got off to a great start. If you want to pity me, it’s COLD here at -10° F. If you want to envy me, sweet Husband, who put all of the Christmas decorations up, took them all down and put them away today – a job I was dreading. Sweet guy.

Finally, thanks for your comments on my posts. They mean the world to me.

P.S. Husband just caught sight of my card and is impressed – a rare occasion. He informed me, however, that while my choice of numbers/suits was good, the worst cards one can be dealt in poker are a seven and a two of different suits. I will retain that information for future reference. LOL.

A Slow Start ...

Have I told you lately that I'm not loving Blogger. I had this post half done, and all of a sudden the whole darned thing disappeared - photos, text, all of it. I shouldn't bitch (oops ... complain) about a service that's free. However...

With that out of my system, my first card would most definitely qualify for a "Simple Saturday" offering. The focal point image was cut from patterned paper, conveniently from the same Studio 45 paper I used for the background. Pretty, isn't it? The Stamp Simply challenge this week on the No Time to Stamp? blog is "Lovely Lace." I mounted the paper image on a piece of chipboard and attached it to my card with foam tape to accommodate the bulk of the ribbon and crocheted lace. With hopes of coordinating the paper I used for the sentiment with the patterned paper, I distressed it with Desert Sand and Brown Bag ink. I could have added a brad or two but instead, asked the Why? question and left it as it.

Materials & Tools: Vanilla Cream and Desert Sand cardstock; Studio 45 Botanicals Collection Antiquity paper; Cocoa, Desert Sand, and Brown Bag ink pads; Stampendous Flexible Friendship Wishes stamp set; Crocheted lace from Wal-Mart; Cocoa grosgrain ribbon; Chipboard; Sponge daubers; Stampin' Up Word Window punch; 3M foam mounting tape.

My next card is my take on Weekend Sketch Challenge #91, hosted this week on the Fresh & Fun blog. Again, I used paper from Studio 45's Botanicals Collection. I will have to admit that the finished product is not what I originally had in mind. Once I stamped the sentiment, I found the larger stamped butterfly I had planned wasn't going to work. Lucky for me, I came across a paper flower that I'd colored with my Creme Brule marker I while back (that obviously didn't work for whatever I intended it for). The little butterfly in its center was cute from the patterned paper. One more thing. The texture on the Autumn Terracotta cardstock (if you can see it) was created using the Saran Wrap technique. That's wadding up a piece of plastic wrap and using it like a stamp. It's a favorite of mine, especially when I want to make my paper look like suede or denim. I like it when cards that evolve turn out as well as this one did.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Autumn Terracotta cardstock; Studio 45 Botanicals Collection Ode to a Butterfly paper; Black, Bamboo, and Autumn Terracotta ink pads; Creme Brule marker; CTMH Butterfly Kiss stamp set; Big Pinks paper flower; Antiqued Copper mini brads; Stampin' Up Photo Corner punch; Piercing tool: Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat; Sponge dauber; Sanding block; 3M foam mounting tape.

For this last card, I weaned myself away from the Studio 45 paper, and reached for Basic Grey's Lime Rickey. Man, there's some wild paper in that pad! This card meets the criteria of two challenges. The sketch is this week's A Sketch for You to Try on the i{heart}2stamp blog. And, the current Challenge #9 on the Pile it on! blog is to use at least three flowers on one's card and combine that challenge with another. I have to say this card satisfies my blue/green color combination yen, even though the Outdoor Denim cardstock and ribbon look black in the photo. Speaking of, I think my poor camera had a bit of a time with this card cuz' I took several shots and didn't get a single one that was clearly in focus. Too much goin' on, I suppose! We wouldn't want to blame it on the photographer or anything. LOL.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Citrus Leaf, and Outdoor Denim cardstock; Basic Grey Lime Rickey 6x6-inch paper pad; Black and Outdoor Denim ink pads; Penny Black Toadilly and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; Outdoor Denim grosgrain ribbon; Just Blooms White Daisy and Summer Posies paper flowers; White Daisy Bigger Brads; Mini brads from my stash; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; McGill Multi-tag punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; 3M foam mounting tape.

With all these cards and so much text, I won't bore you with too many details of my ordinary life. Besides, between stamping last night and then going to bed, there isn't much to say since my last "report."

Oh, one thing... So ya think I'm brave to shop for clothes on the Internet, huh? I've been lucky, I guess. I always check out a site's return policy before spending too much $$. The company from which I ordered my "wedding suit" guarantees satisfaction and provides a return service label with the order. Shipping it here was $14.95. If I need to return it, the postage will be $6.95. Thus, should it not work out, I will be "out" $21.90. Were I to physically "shop," I would have to travel 55, if not 120, miles to a town that has real stores. In my neck of the woods, gas isn't cheap. And so, for those of us who live in the boondocks, the Internet is a godsend. I'll let you know how my new duds work out. So long as I don't try it on while eating a slice of pizza, I should be OK. LOL.

Hope your day is a good one! Thanks for stopping by! Later...

Challenge Cards

This top card is my first-ever attempt at a card for the Unscripted Sketch challenge. I was inspired to give it a whirl by my friend Sarah of Sarah's Paper Tray, who is a member of the design team. Take a look at her box. It's so cute!

As for my card, it is very straightforward. In the mood for something Asian, I combined a couple of Verve Stamps sets. The vase is paper-pieced. The symbols on the side were attached to the card with foam mounting tape. I grounded my image with a colored pencil and Gamsol.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Desert Sand cardstock; 7Gypsies Sushi Journey 6x6-inch variety pack; Black, Desert Sand, and Olive ink pads; Verve Stamps Asian Flair and Floral Whimsy stamp sets; CTMH Say it in Style stamp set; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits; Blending stump; 3M foam mounting tape.

My second card is my take on this week's A Sketch for You to Try on the i{heart}2stamp blog. I colored my image with a blending pen, using ink from my Hollyhock and Blush stamp pads. After the flowers were colored, I went around the outside of the entire image with the blending pen and Heavenly blue ink. As to add without distracting, I kept the black matting to a minimum. I also used Black Distressing Ink to lightly go around the little tag - just enough to make it stand out. Finally, what you can't see are the Stardust Stickles I added to the centers of the three large flowers.

I think this card might qualify for another challenge, too. In her post today, my blogging buddy Alanna at Alanna's Spot in the World mentioned a new challenge blog, Pile it on! , and this week's challenge is to use three different types of embellishments. As simple as my cards usually are, it's not often I'd qualify for that one.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Retired CTMH Winter Cozy B&T paper; Black, Hollyhock, Blush, Chocolate, and Heavenly Blue ink pads; CTMH Black Distressing ink pad; Clear Dollar Stamps Little Blossoms and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; White Daisy Edge Anchors, Pink acrylic disks from Michael's; Stampin' Up Whisper White taffeta ribbon; Stardust Stickles; McGill Multi-tag punch; Dove blending pen.

Well, with all that, I'd better keep the rest of it short. I spent the day doing chores and then "rewarding" myself every so often with a little stamping session in my corner. Thus, it was a good day. I hope yours was, too! I suppose after the short workweek, the coming week will seem long - the price we pay for a day off! LOL. Until tomorrow night, take care, and thanks for stopping by!