Masculine cards with Guy Greetings from Stampin' Up

I know that many people struggle with masculine cards and find them harder to make than feminine cards but there's no need to panic! Come and have a look at a simple but fun card I made with Guy Greetings, a set designed to make those male occasions easier!

There are lots of classic images in this set but I couldn't wait to play with these dapper shoes! I stamped two rows of them using a stamp-a-majig to make sure all the shoes were exactly where I wanted them, then popped up one extra pair over the top.

You can see that better in this photo. The shoes were stamped, cut out with my sharp paper snips and then laces sewn on with Tangerine Tango thread unravelled from the two-tone trim. Isn't that fun?!

This card could be used for a male birthday...

 ... but with this sentiment from the same stamp set it makes a perfect anniversary card for your beloved other half, or a great Fathers' Day card for a special dad!

• You'll find Guy Greetings on p.41 of the spring/summer catalogue and don't forget that these items will only be available until 2nd June.
• Stamp sets and accessories on the Stampin' Up 2015 retirement list will also only be available until 2nd June.

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS CARD NOW!
Click on any item to be transported to my online shop!

Guy Greetings Wood Stamp Set £45.95	Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock £6.25	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad £5.50
White & Tangerine Tango Two-Tone Trim £4.50	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig £10.95	Paper Snips Scissors £8.95

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products from me any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

Talking of Guy Greetings, has anyone else noticed that young men these days have the loveliest manners? I watch my eldest son and his friends shaking hands and saying 'how are you?' in a way that reminds me of those old black and white films! Young lads certainly weren't like that in my day (or perhaps I was just mixing with the wrong types!)

If you're intrigued by the Guy Greetings stamp set, why not come back and join me on the weekly Stampin' Up Artisan blog hop tomorrow? The whole of the Artisan Design Team will be using this set and I know you'll be knocked out by all the inspiration!

Happy Fathers Day using Papaya Collage from Stampin' Up

Did you enjoy yesterday's sneak peek at some of the exciting new products Stampin' Up will be releasing in the 2014 annual catalogue next month? There'll be more previews next week but first, I wanted to show you the CAS Fathers Day card I've sent off to my own father. Come and see:

The 'happy Father's Day' is one of twelve beautifully designed sentiments in Delightful Dozen, a set on the Stampin' Up Retirement list (the cling mount version is a bargain at only £14.37, 40% off !)

I've coloured in the 'Father' bit with my new Tangelo Twist marker (that's one of five gorgeous new colours coming soon!) and stamped this leafy image from Papaya Collage in Pear Pizzazz, stamping off first. Papaya Collage is also on Stampin' Up's Retirement List - available in cling mount only as the wood mount version has already sold out!

This card will be my second entry at the Male Room, where the theme is Father's Day, and Make My Monday where the challenge is Male-themed cards; I'll also be linking up with ATSAM where the lovely ladies have a Clean and Simple challenge going on.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS CARD
(Click on each item to find it quickly in my shop) 

Stamps: Delightful Dozen wood or cling, Papaya Collage (retiring) cling

Ink: Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz classic ink,
plus Tangelo Twist marker (available 1st July)

Card stock: Whisper White

Other: Stamp-a-majig

Click above to place an order any time, day or night,

but if you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm always happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

Some of the items in the annual Stampin' Up catalogue are retiring to make way for new products. Don't miss out on your favourites! Some of these items have been discounted too - check the lists by clicking on the banners below:

The leafy image on today's card reminds me of parsley and parsley reminds me of the huge vegetable garden my father used to work in after putting in a full day's work as a farmer. The garden was amazing - even as a child I recognised that! - with an astonishing variety of well-tended fruits and vegetables. I loved playing in the garden, but there was one job I hated: picking the gooseberries! Each gooseberry bush was festooned in spiders' webs with bloated, evil-looking spiders lurking amongst them...

Somehow I survived!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend won't you. I'll be back on Monday with something bright and cheerful so I'll hope to see you then.

Stampin' Up catalogue 2014 sneak peek!

If you love Stampin' Up products, I really do encourage you to join Stampin' Up this month: There's a special offer until the end of June where you pay just £50 for your starter kit and get to choose £55 worth of products, with stationery, catalogues and postage included free! It's a great, no-risk way of seeing what it's like to join the Stampin' Up family and you're welcome to join as a hobby demonstrator or as a business demonstrator. Interested? Click here to find out more.

There are many perks to enjoy when you become a Stampin' Up demonstrator and just one of them is that you get your hands on new products before they're released! I've been playing with lots of gorgeous goodies from the upcoming new catalogue. See if you can spot any on this Fathers Day card:

Did you get them all?

There's this fabulous wavy paper. It's from a new paper stack called Moonlight, which features the five new in-colours. These stacks are always such brilliant value for card makers and for Project Life fans too (click here for details!) I've teamed the new paper with a contrasting piece from the Retro Fresh range in the summer catalogue.

The word 'DAD' is spelled out with a gorgeous new photopolymer alphabet called Metro Type. I wanted this for Project Life but I can see it's going to be pretty handy for personalising cards as well. The star and the sentiment are in a bright, zingy new orange called Tangelo Twist. I'll be doing a whole post on the new colours soon so don't miss that!

The star itself has been cut using one of the new punches from the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack. There's a new style of heart in the pack as well as the prettiest little flower ever! You'll definitely be seeing a lot of these punches on my blog!

I'll be linking this card up with the Male Room where the theme is Father's Day and Make My Monday where the ladies are looking for male-themed cards.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS CARD
(Click on each item to find it quickly in my shop) 

Stamps: Metro Type Alphabet (available 1st July) photopolymer,
A Dozen Thoughts wood or cling

Ink: Island Indigo, Tangelo Twist (available 1st July)

Card stock: Whisper White, Tangelo Twist (available 1st July)

Other: Apothecary Accents framelits, Big Shot, Retro Fresh designer paper (retiring), Moonlight designer paper stack (available 1st July), Itty Bitty Accents punch pack (available 1st July), stamp-a-majig

Click above to place an order any time, day or night,

but if you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm always happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

Some of the items in the annual catalogue are retiring to make way for new products. Don't miss out on your favourites! Some of these items have been discounted too - check the lists by clicking on the banners below:

So, the football World Cup has started and I joined my husband to watch a match yesterday evening:
Me: It's not so much fun this year - I don't know who they are any more.
DH: Well that's the Croatian manager. He's in a Roxy Music tribute band.
Me: REALLY?!
DH: No, I just made that up. I'm trying to make it more interesting for you.
Me: ?!
I continued to watch for a while but secretly I was thinking that it would be fun to make a card in the zingy colours of the Brazilian flag...

I have the quickest, simplest Father's Day card for you tomorrow - perfect for those (like me) that suddenly needs a card right now!

See you tomorrow,

Washi tape and hexagons for fathers day

It's a bright and breezy day in Buckingham today - perfect for getting up early and sneaking in a Less is More card before the chores begin. The challenge there today is Hexagons - and there's certainly no lack of those among my Stampin' Up stash! Come and see what I made:

I started by partially embossing a white panel with my Honeycomb embossing folder and added a strip of hexagonish (!) Epic Day washi tape where the embossing met the smooth card stock.

It needed something more... oh I know, MORE hexagons! I like the shape this fathers day sentiment from Delightful Dozen makes so I emphasised it by adding these fabulous map-patterned hexagons snipped out from a gorgeous design in the Epic Day designer paper pack. An accent of contrasting washi tape adds a bit of interest.

All the hexagons I used are different sizes  - but I didn't let that stop me!

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Ink: Black stazon
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Epic Day washi tape and designer paper, Honeycomb embossing folder, Big Shot, paper snips, stamp-a-majig
I CAN ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• To make way for new items some of our favourites are retiring. Click the links to see STAMPS and ACCESSORIES available, while stocks last, until 30th June.

Notice that I might get the card made early but posting it takes a bit more ingenuity! Have been up to all sorts of mischief this morning, including this game:

I called it 'Pin The Hem on the Donkey' which was VERY rude but which caused me to cackle like a hen!

See you soon,

The Open Sea - three minute male card

Good morning! It's Thursday already and time for a quick card here. I've come up with a quick fathers day card (just in case anyone might have forgotten that it's this Sunday!) but the design would be suitable for lots of other occasions too. Come and see:

It's a sort of stained glass window look! I made a mask by punching a 1 3/4" circle out of a post it note, placing it over Whisper White card stock and daubing Marina Mist and Lucky Limeade ink inside. This is supposed to be pretty random but the green should be vaguely over land and the blue over sea. When the mask was removed, the globe image from The Open Sea was inked up in Basic Black and stamped over the top of the sponging using a stamp-a-majig for accurate positioning.

I added this sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes, which I love for its simplicity, and attached the panel to a card base using dimensionals.
Here's what you'll need to make today's card:

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Basic Black

Card stock: Whisper White

Other: 1 3/4" circle punch, sponge daubers, stamp-a-majig

I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593.

My daughter's revision continues... "Did you know," she said to me yesterday, looking up from her chemistry book, "that acids can be strong or weak depending on whether they ionise or not?" I shook my head. "No, but that reminds me, " I said. "I need to ionise some shirts!" We shrieked with laughter over this but I don't think I'd better give up the day job just yet!

I've been using my Simply Scored diagonal plate today and I'll have the results here tomorrow if you'd like to see.

Hugs,

Little Additions fathers day card

It's Masculine Monday on my blog as usual and today I've made a fathers day card using a baby set! No, please don't edge away - I haven't gone completely mad! Come and have a look:

The Little Additions stamp set features this lovely squashy-looking chair which I thought was perfect for a fathers day card. My father is 86 now and has lost the feeling in his fingers and toes, so he can't walk far and can't do fiddly things with his hands and is most often found reading in his armchair. I do think of armchairs as being quite male as my husband is obsessed with 'his' armchair! I paper pieced the chair on my card using polka dot paper from the Patterns stack, and I made it for this week's CASual Fridays challenge where the ladies are calling for spotty cards, and for Make My Monday where a fathers day card is required.

I do love combining sentiments from various sets to make new, unique ones and it's easy with my stamp-a-majig positioner. The 'it's your day' on this one is from Happiest Birthday Wishes and the 'dad' is from For My Family which contains sentiment stamps for every member of the family and teacher too! This is a slightly different version of the card which was made for Technique Tuesday where Mynnette show-cased a fabulous velveteen technique. I thought it would make an excellent armchair cover! It's hard to see though - let's zoom in:

I'm not sure if I was very good at this technique (you stamp a design in white craft ink, allow it to dry, then overstamp it with a solid image and wipe with a soft cloth.) My version is rather too subtle - Mynnette's is more pronounced - do pop over and have a look.

EDITED TO ADD: A weird thing has happened - I scheduled this post on Sunday morning and on Sunday evening I was having a browse online (something I rarely do) when I came upon a card on Mary Fish's blog that is almost identical to this one! Mary made hers first and I promise faithfully that I hadn't seen it before making mine - this is a completely inadvertent CASE and how bizarre that they are SO similar! Do go and check out Mary's wonderful blog where you'll find lots of tips and fabulous card designs.

Here's what you'll need to make today's card:

Stamps: Little Additions, Happiest Birthday Wishes, For My Family

Ink: Pacific Point, Basic Grey, Whisper White craft ink

Card stock: Whisper White, Real Red

Other:  Patterns designer paper, Heart to Heart punch, stamp-a-majig

I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593.

Do you remember me posting this card at the end of May? I'd made it for my husband's birthday in July and thought I was quite safe to post it considering that crafting isn't really his thing. It was only when he collared me, demanding to know what I meant by saying that he bored the children about historical issues, that I realised that he is in fact a secret reader of my blog! After I'd got over my astonishment, I spent an enjoyable few moments trying to convince him that half an hour lectures on political reform aren't really top of the children's list of favourite entertainments!

I'll be back tomorrow with something more feminine so do come and have a look if you have a minute.
Hope to see you then,

Three Minute Thursday - Using Growing Green

Good morning! Welcome to Three Minute Thursday - my weekly inspiration spot for people who want to be able to whip up cards in minutes. Now, people keep telling me that the cards they find most difficult to  think about are male cards - and when they're pressed for time it becomes even more difficult! So I've compiled a list of my own dos and don'ts for making them:

Avoid:
Fussy: frilly borders are best left to the girls; grosgrain ribbon in a manly colour might work but I prefer to use linen thread and a knot is preferable to a bow. Lace is definitely out!
Shiny finishes: satin ribbon, glitter, jewels are all pretty feminine. The only exception is that Crystal Effects can work for male cards.
Anything cute: unless it's a private joke between you (okay so you call him your ickle bickle teddy bear!) I really would leave the cute images to children and to those ladies that appreciate them.
Pastel shades aren't usually a guy's first choice.
Florals and polka dots tend to be quite girlie.

Go for:
Sports images (if appropriate).
Realistic or graphic nature images such as plants, trees, leaves, birds and animals.
Sentiments as focal points can deal with many a tricky situation.
Darker colours, regals, or neutrals tend to appeal to men and flashes of bright colours or bright, graphic colours on their own can work too.
Patterns such as stripes or checks/plaids work well for male cards.
Metal embellishments seem to go down well along with scored or pierced lines.
One layer and clean and simple cards are a good choice!

Of course this little list is a personal one based on my own male friends and relatives, so I'll stop wittering on now! After all, you've probably come here because you're a bit short of time! Here's my nippy little one-layer card for the day:

I am so pleased with this design - it was one of those things that started as a vague idea and when I tried it out it worked straight away! It started with me wondering if water-colouring would work on my favourite card stock of the moment Confetti Cream and Confetti White. And it SO does! I love the extra interest the speckles give to a simple project like this one.

If you haven't tried this gorgeous, heavier weight, slightly speckled card stock, I absolutely urge you to do so - it's fab! And at only £8.25 for 40 sheets - it's almost rude not to!

I thought this design would come in very handy so I made a birthday one too.

The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black over the top of the leaf, which dried in seconds, and I curved the corner of the card to add a little interest.

It was only after I made this that I realised it fits this week's Less is More challenge! Chrissie and Mandi have a habit of putting these things into my mind! Thanks ladies - I LOVE your challenges! EDITED TO ADD: Thanks Jenny for also pointing out that it's perfect for this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge too - I've been wanting to join in with that for ages!

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut a 9cm x18cm piece of Confetti Cream card stock. Score and fold in half to make a card base.
• Ink up the leaf image from Growing Green with Always Artichoke ink and stamp several times in the bottom right-hand corner.
• Squash the lid of your Old Olive ink pad hard. This will make a pool of ink in the lid when you open it. Use this pool and an aqua painter to colour in the leaves. Be quite haphazard with this!
• Curve the top right-hand corner with a corner rounder.
• Use a stamp-a-majig to stamp a sentiment across the leaves using Basic Black ink.

Supplies
Stamps: Growing Green, Plane and Simple (sentiment)
Ink: Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Basic Black
Card stock: Confetti Cream
Other: Corner rounder

I didn't need to have a birthday this week to know that time flies by and here's another example of it:
My youngest son went round to a friends house a few days ago. When he got back, I asked him how it went and he told me enthusiastically how he'd really enjoyed playing with his friend's giant teddy bear. I was rather surprised to hear this as I thought he'd outgrown teddies but when he went on to describe what a brilliant time they'd had, sliding down the stairs on the teddy, clutching its ears, I began to see the attraction...

Thank you for coming to see me today. Are you around tomorrow? I have a simple gift project to show you, so do pop in if you have a minute. Hope to see you then,