Masculine Mosaic Madness

Since we're anxious for spring around here, it's been easy to make lots of cards with bright colors and flowers.  But I thought it was time to attempt some masculine cards. 

Tips & Tricks

• This card could just as easily be a more feminine card...it's all about the color scheme.  Choosing these dark, earthy colors makes this card seem like it's appropriate for any man.  But choosing softer colors would definitely make it work for a girl or woman.

• Did you know that you don't need to use an ink cartridge with a wheel when using it on a card?  Just run the wheel over any ink pad and push it across the card front.  This time I used VersaMark.

Supplies

Stamps:  Mosaic Madness, Friendly Phrases, Alhambra Wheel
Ink:  Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Night of Navy, and VersaMark
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Sahara Sand, and Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Angled Tag Topper Punch, Mosaic Punch

{Retiring} Friendly Phrases

I swear, me buying a stamp set is pretty much the kiss of death.  I bought Friendly Phrases a couple of months ago, certain that it would stick around for a while.  I agonized over which set to get, too, looking in past catalogs to see how old each one was.  As a demonstrator, I hesitate to purchase anything that is more than a year or two old.  I was SURE this one was here to stay for a while.  I should have known better.  But it's such a great set, and I know I'll continue to use it a lot in the future.

This card uses almost exclusively retiring products.  From the Designer Series Papers to the Lucky Limeade card stock and ink, it's pretty much all headed out the door.  So if you see something you like, the time to order is NOW!  Several items from the retiring lists have already sold out, so let me know if you'd like to order any of the great products used in this card!

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Lucky Limeade (126984)
Paper:  Floral District (126919)), Lucky Limeade (122926), Daffodil Delight (119683), and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Accessories:  Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon (119254), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (119854), 1-3/8" Circle (119860) and 1-1/4" Circle (119861) Punches, Brights Designer Buttons (119747), Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189) and Mat (126199)

 

Friendly Phrases

I think Friendly Phrases might be my new favorite set.  Sentiment stamp sets aren't always that exciting, but they are so necessary.  I have tons of them, and I use them, but sadly most of my favorites are retired, and I needed a newer, more updated set.  And let me tell you, this is the one.  It's fun, it's versatile, and it's perfect for so many cards!

I'm also loving that cute little pinwheel Sizzlet.  The pinwheels are fairly easy to put together, and they are adorable!  If you don't have it, you NEED to get it!  (and I can help you do that...just call or email me!)

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Island Indigo (126983)
Paper:  Tangerine Tango (111349), Island Indigo (122923), and Naturals White (102316) card stock, Summer Smooches DSP (125409)
Accessories: Pinwheel Sizzlits S Die (129411), Big Shot (113439), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (126187), Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), Brights Designer Buttons (119747), 3/16" Neutrals Brads (119736), Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262), Tangerine Tango 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon (124144)

Quint-Essential Flower

This is one of the cards we made at club last night.  I really like this color combination...it's another one I found just by looking though the catalog.  Believe it or not, I think my favorite part of this card is the layering of the Island Indigo.  The card base is made of this color, but there is a second piece that has been sponged around the edges that's layered right on top of that.  The flower is fun, as well, because it can be used with five different punches!  There are so many punch combinations and choices to use with this flower, so there really is no fear of running out of creative ways to use it.  The center of this flower uses the retired Build-a-Brad.  The only reason I used this was because I didn't have enough of the brand new Designer Build-a-Brads for everyone to use if I also used them on the samples.  So, please, please, please...if you make this card, use the Designer Build-a-Brad as the center.  It looks so much better!

Stamps:  Quint-Essential Flower (126790), Friendly Phrases (126149)
Paper:  Island Indigo (122923), Crumb Cake (120953), More Mustard (100946), Chocolate Chip (102128), and Pool Party (122924) card stock
Ink:  Island Indigo (126986), More Mustard (126964), and Chocolate Chip (126979)
Accessories:  2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Designer Builder Brads (129329), Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder (129383), Big Shot (113439), and Stamping Sponge (101610)

Quint-Essential Flower

When the Annual Catalog came out last June, one of the first stamps that caught my eye was Quint-Essential Flower.  I loved that it coordinated with so many different punches, but I never got around to buying it.  Fast forward to SAB time...lucky me, it's one of the free products just waiting to be earned!  I was so excited and snatched that baby right up.  It hasn't disappointed!  I've been going through my list of color combinations, and this was the perfect stamp to use with a new combination of colors.  I love the layers that all the punches create.

This card also features the Designer Builder Brads from the Spring Catalog.  These were a gift I received at Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference in January, and they've just been sitting on my desk ever since (why haven't I been using them?!?)  It is the perfect center for this flower, and I was even able to punch out the center of the flower to use in the brad.  How fun is it to be able to put anything you want inside that brad?  I love being able to customize accessories!



Stamps:  Quint-Essential Flower (126790), Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip (126979), More Mustard (126964), Island Indigo (126986)
Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Chocolate Chip (102128), More Mustard (100946), Island Indigo (122923), and Pool Party (122924) card stock
Accessories:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Designer Builder Brads (129329), Stamping Sponge (101610)

Friendly Phrases Pinwheel

I promise that I really hadn't planned on making yet another square card but when I sat down to make this it's just what happened.  Do you ever have an idea in your head, but when you sit down to create, you end up with something completely different?  That's exactly what happened with this card.  I was originally going to use a frog stamp on this, which is why I chose these colors.  But as got further and further along, I knew I was going to need to save the frog for another card.  What I did want to do is use my clear blocks as stamps, and at least that part worked!

I definitely found that the new foam ink pads work much better with this technique than the old felt pads.  And it's simple...just ink up the block, then press down (hard).  I loved how the mosaic pattern turned out, although I was surprised at how light Daffodil Delight turned out compared to how dark Pumpkin Pie did (both of those were the old felt pads.)  The Lucky Limeade blocks turned out exactly as I hoped.

I also had fun using some new items from the Spring Catalog...the Pinwheel Sizzlet and the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder.  I love them both!  And the best part...they are both such an inexpensive way to add some pizazz to any card!

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Lucky Limeade (126984), Daffodil Delight (126944), and Pumpkin Pie (126945) Classic Ink
Paper:  Naturals White (102316),  Lucky Limeade (122926), and Daffodil Delight (119683) card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Pinwheel Sizzlet (129411), Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder (129383), 119683 (119741), Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Clear Block A (118487), and Clear Block D (118485)

Peekaboo...Happy Day to You!

This is a fun little card I made using the Peekaboo Frames die.  I bought these to make an advent calendar, but they aren't just for a single use.  This little circle makes a fun element on a card.  This would be great for a child's card, because what kid can't resist opening that little window?

Stamps: Friendly Phrases, Bright Blossoms

Ink:  Old Olive, Island Indigo, and Daffodil Delight Classic Ink

Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, and Island Indigo card stock, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories:  Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Chevron Embossing Folder

Happy Day

Remember this Christmas card?  I mentioned in that post that it could be varied to make a card for just about anything.  Here's one of those variations!  This was the card I made for my husband for his birthday last week.  We both have December birthdays, and since his is so close to Christmas, I needed a simple card.  This one fit the bill.  I cut the banners at an angle this time, and pushed the sentiment pieces up to the top, cutting off part of it.  Oh, and those five banners?  They were skinny scraps I had left over from the original Christmas card!  Since the paper is two sided, I just used the other side, which had more masculine (and non-Christmasy) colors.  Just some simple changes to a very simple card!

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases

Ink:  Whisper White

Paper:  Festival of Prints DSP pack, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso card stock

Accessories:  Window Frames Framelits, 7/8" cotton ribbon

I just wanted to mention that I'll be taking a short blogging break.  We're making an unexpected trip out of state and I won't have a chance to do any stamping for a while.  I'll see you 2013!