Masculine Monday - Schoolbook Serif monogram!

Good morning! Today on Masculine Monday I've gone with the fantastic Less is More challenge again - I really can't get enough of this site. For their eighth challenge, Chrissie and Mandi have asked us to create a card using this fantastic sketch.

The suggestion was to make the card a DL size, so that's what I did! It really was an absolute pleasure to use this sketch. Here's what I came up with:

I've been thinking for a little while about monograms and how classy they can look - and this sketch was perfect for trying it out! Always one for the quick and simple approach, I tried it with just the designer paper but it seemed a little plain - even for me! So I added the flourish from Baroque Motifs for a little extra interest. I didn't put a sentiment on the front of the card as it would've spoilt the simplicity of the design but it's easy to stamp one inside.

I embossed the initial too, because it seemed important to make it really stand out. It looks beautifully crisp in real life (in ACTUAL real life as my daughter would say!) I would have used 5/8" grosgrain ribbon in Basic Black but I didn't have any and the lush satin ribbon I did have wouldn't have been right for a masculine card, so I simply used card stock instead. I let it overlap the side of the card and trimmed it on the diagonal.

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut an 8cm x 20cm piece of Very Vanilla card stock. Score and fold in half to make a card base. Curve the top, right-hand corner with your corner rounder.
• Cut an 8cm square of black Patterns designer paper and stamp it with the swirl from Baroque Motifs using Basic Black ink. Glue it to the card front.
• Cut a piece of 1.5cm x 10cm grosgrain ribbon or card stock in Basic Black and adhere to the top of the designer paper. Make a feature of the overlap by trimming it on the diagonal.
• Stamp your initial onto a scrap of Very Vanilla card stock using Basic Black ink. Emboss it with clear embossing powder. (TIP: This ink stays wet very slightly longer than the other dye inks so, if you're quick, you can emboss it without using versamark!)
• Cut the initial out with the 1 1/4" circle punch. Using dimensionals, mount it onto a circle cut from Basic Black card stock using the 1 3/8" circle punch. Glue the monogram to the black ribbon or card stock strip.

Supplies
Stamps: Schoolbook Serif Alphabet, Baroque Motifs
Ink: Basic Black
Card stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Other: Patterns designer paper, clear embossing powder, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, corner rounder.

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. I've been beavering away getting things ready for my open house to celebrate the launch of Stampin' Up's new mini catalogue. If you're in the Buckingham area on Thursday, why not pop in? I'll be here in the daytime as well as the evening and there'll be a free prize draw, a great make and take, loads of gorgeous things to see and the best of company! Call me on 01280 820593 for directions.

Now, I must be off as I want to see what everyone else has made for the challenge! I'll have another male card for you tomorrow. Hope to see you then!