Woodgrain Birthday

I'm so excited for tonight!  I'll have a house full of people making birthday cards with me this evening!  I was sick last week and was so disappointed that I had to cancel the birthday card event I had planned for last Friday night.  Fortunately, everyone was so kind and understanding...and able to reschedule.  This is one of the cards we'll be making, and I think it's perfect for a masculine card.

Tips & Tricks

• It's no secret that I love Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock AND the woodgrain embossing folder, especially when they're used together.  And I do like to lightly sand the embossed card stock to really make the woodgrain pop.  It's important to GENTLY sand with the grain, rather than across it, or the card stock will tear.

• Some light distressing adds the perfect touch to this woodgrain card.  I simply sponged a bit of Crumb Cake ink around the edge of the center piece.

Supplies

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude (retired), Best Dad Ever (retired), Woodgrain
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, and Crushed Curry Classic Ink
Paper:  Crumb Cake and Naturals Ivory card stock, Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock
Accessories:   Big Shot, Label Card Thinlit Die, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Paper Snips, Sponge

Circle Circus Inspiration

 

Who would think that hotel artwork would inspire a card?  When I was in Orlando for the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference, this artwork was in the hallway in our hotel.  As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of Circle Circus.   I had to make a card as soon as I got home (and then promptly forgot to post it!)

I made this one just relying on memory, which didn't prove to be very good, since I got the colors all wrong.  But that's OK, because inspiration is just that, inspiration.  It's a jumping off point to creativity, not something that needs to be replicated exactly.  But it is kind of bugging me that the colors aren't the same, so I may have to try again. :)

Stamps:  Circle Circus (115778), Best Dad Ever (120399)
Ink:  VersaMark (102283), Early Espresso (126974), More Mustard (126964), Soft Suede (126978)
Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Early Espresso (119686), More Mustard (100946), and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock
Accessories:  Early Espresso Embossing Powder (128980), Heat Tool (129053), 1" Circle Punch (119868), Sponge Daubers (102892), Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon (122332)

Happy Father's Day!

This is the perfect card to send to my dad, because I really think he's the best!  Of course I also think that my husband is an amazing father, but since he's not my dad, I'm not giving him this card :)  Seriously, though, I am incredibly thankful for my dad.  He has set such an example of love and commitment, especially in circumstances where most people wouldn't have.  He's always been so proud of his kids, and wasn't afraid to let us or anyone else know it (he's screamed "That's my kid!!!!!" from the sidelines on more than one occasion!)  Growing up, my friends always used to tell me how cool my dad was.  I don't know about cool, but he was, and still is, pretty great.

On to the card...another super-simple one, and this time, it features one of the new In Colors, Midnight Muse.  I crumpled up that piece of card stock, smoothed it out, and adhered it to the front of my card, after I sponged the edges of the base with a bit of soft suede ink.  I carried the distressed look to the piece of soft suede, which was the recipient of the scissors distressing method I used on the card in the last post.  The hardest part of this card was cutting out the ties!

Stamps:  Best Dad Ever

Ink:  Midnight Muse, River Rock, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads, VersaMark

Paper:  Naturals White, Midnight Muse, and Soft Suede card stock

Accessories:  linen thread, sponge, clear embossing powder and heat tool (it's hard to see, but the River Rock tie has been embossed)

Happy Card

So yeah, have you noticed there's a lot more stamping going on here than stitching?  I can't even get into the room where my sewing machine is right now.  It's become the room where everything gets stashed, including lots of yard sale stuff.  Hopefully I'll be sewing again soon.  In the mean time, I'm having lots of fun playing with my goodies from new catalog.

I know I've been stamping in Brights a lot lately, but they just make me happy!  I'm so glad that there are so many bright new DSP choices...Brights = happy (to me, at least!) and that's what I need right now.  And since my favorite color is blue, this is definitely a happy card for me!

Stamps:  Bright Blossoms, Best Dad Ever (sentiment)

Ink:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, VersaMark

Paper:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White card stock, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories:  White embossing powder, Old Olive taffeta ribbon, Brights Buttons, White Baker's Twine, Labels Collection Framelits, Paper Piercer