Hello Spring

Today I've made a card for the following challenges:
Love to Scrap Challenge #120 - Male Call
(Pin)spirational Challenge #235 - 
  
Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Lovely as a Tree
The Male Room Challenge #108 - Spring 
Southern Girls Challenge - Frame It 
Moving Along With The Times Challenge #94 -  For a Man
DL.ART: Thankful Thursday Challenge #242 - Anything Spring
Craft Rocket Challenge #58 - For men/boys 
Aud Sentiments Challenge #224 - Easter/Spring Sentiment

Here's the card:

The background patterned paper was random stamped with a little bird's nest.  The tree and frame dies are by intricutz dies.  The tree was sponged with several shades of green and brown.  The textured paper behind it was lightly brushed with water colors.  Hello die is by Simon Says Stamps.  Sentiment stamp, wood birds and waxy flax nest are CTMH retired items;  Sentiment die by ODBD; Glitter paper from MFT.

Thanks for stopping by on this lovely spring day.

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Card #2

When I get a chance, I try to make 2 cards for the Double Trouble Challenge, one for each week.  Today I am sharing my second card for Challenge #24.

I picked up some gold foil for the cards in the post before this one and had enough to add something metallic to this card.

I love this car die, which I borrowed from a friend, cutting it in gold and also black and then off setting the two just a tiny bit.  The die for the gold foil corner is by Tim Holtz.  The "CELEBRATE" stamp is by CTMH.  And, if you squint a bit, you may be able to see the Happy Birthday embossing folder I used on the red background.

 

CHALLENGES:

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Metallic + Transportation + enter the Brown Sugar Challenge

Brown Sugar March Challenge #288 -  Transportation

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #213 - Masculine 

Simply Create Too Challenge #147 - AG twist for a male

Die Cut Divas March Challenge -  AG

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge March 18-30 - For the Men or Boys 

 

Need some Fresh Air?

To be more specific, do you need some of the  

new Close to My Heart Fresh Air patterned paper?

That's where I got the paper I used on the front of this 

birthday card.

This diagonal fold card was super simple to make.

There is an easy to follow video here.

If you only glue the bottom edge of the left triangle when you fold it over, as I did on this card, it forms a pocket for cash or a gift card. 

What are you busy creating right now?

I hope you'll enter it in the

heARTful stamping challenge.

Anything Goes! 

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Patterned Paper

CRAFT Challenge #469 - Father's Day/Male  

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #404 - Masculine Birthday

Brown Sugar Challenge # 278- Father's Day/Masculine 

Great Impressions Stamps Wednesday Hello

Here's a super simple card I made using Great Impressions Stamps Handy Mouse(320S) and Happy Dad's Day(D389). 

First, I stamped the sentiment on the white card base.  That way I could change up the layout if I messed it up.

Next I stamped the image with black momento ink.

Sometimes it's nice to work with images that don't require a lot of work when it comes to coloring.  This is one of those images.  A few quick marker strokes, using the colors from the papers I had chosen, and I was finished.  Matching patterned papers always make life easier.  These were from a DCWV Basics Stack.  Again picking up the colors in the paper, I cut mats and a die cut frame and glued everything on place.  

The only thing remaining, is entering this card in a few challenge, which you'll find at the bottom of this post.

Last week I posted a card for Great Impressions Stamps.  It, actually, wasn't quite finished yet.  I was waiting for a stamp to arrive.  Yesterday it did.  Now I can show you the inside of the card.

(using Great Impressions Stamps Thoughtful Cow E727 and Udderly C469)

 

 

 

  And, in case you missed it, here is the card front.

(using Great Impressions Stamps Farm Tractor F497 and Happy Dad's Day D389)

Challenges:
Always Fun Challenge #10 - For a Male or Boy 
Cards in Envy Challenge - You're the Man
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #190 - For a Special Man or Boy/Father's Day
Cutie Pie Challenge #112 - All Creatures Great or Small
Pattie's Creations Challenge #135 - For the Boys
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #118 - Anything Goes option Father's Day
QKR Stampede Challenge #247 - For the Guys
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #3 - Anything with a Critter Goes
Connie Can Crop Challenge #59 - It's a Guy Thing
Delicious Doodles Challenge - All Creatures Great or Small
Craft Rocket Challenge #38 - For the Men/Boys 
Star Stampz Challenge - Make It for a Man

Thanks for looking.

Hope your day is udderly moovelous, too!

Great Impressions Stamps June Challenge

It's time for you to link up all those masculine cards and projects at the June Great Impressions Stamp Challenge.

This Dog Wearing Sunglasses stamp (E896) 

is perfect for a guy card. 

Although, with pink sunglasses frames, earrings, and maybe a bow,
this cute pooch could also be used for a dudette.
I like stamps that can be used either way.

Here is the prize the winner of the June Challenge will receive:

We're hoping you will join us for this "Masculine" challenge.

I am submitting this card to the following Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #149 - Animals 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #126 - Animal 

Craft Rocket Challenge #38 - For the Men/Boys 

Love to Scrap Challenge #98 - Boyz Rule 

Connie Can Crop Challenge #59 - It's a Guy Thing

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #3 - Anything featuring a Critter Goes

Sweet Stampin Challenge - For Dads or Special Men 

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Boys will be Boys 

Crazy 4 Challenges #388 - Repeat something 3 times (3 pair of glasses across the top) 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids

Time to Hit the Road

Next week my grandson turns sixteen.  I'm sure he'll be itching to get his driver's license.  That will probably require getting a job, which might relieve that itch quicker than Gold Bond Medicated Lotion!

Here's his card:

(Stamps are from Sparkle n Sprinkle; numbers are cut from a magazine.)

Challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #176 - Anything  Goes 

Gem of a Challenge #163 - Boy's Birthday 

Allsorts Challenge Week 351 - Birthday Wishes 

Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #51 - Birthday Card 

Fab n Funky Challenge #292 - Male Birthday

Sparkles Forum Challenge #77 - Something for the Males

Shopping Our Stash #239 - Fantastic Plastic (I used a piece of acetate for the windshield)

 

Birthday Card for a Beer Collector

I refuse to mess up the dining room (aka craft) table, which is so very easy to do.  This card (cased from one on pinterest) just took a bit of cutting, distressing, a sticker at the top right, and the stamp on the mug and another inside which simply says "its your birthday".  

Tell me, fellow stampers, did I stamp the 'celebrate' correctly or should the word face down?  Too late now!

This card would certainly work for New Year's, or any other event worth celebrating with a cold one.

Challenges: 

Allsorts Challenge Week 342/343 - Anything but Christmas

Sweet Stampin Challenge #26 - Food & Drink 

The Male Room Challenge #25 - Christmas or Seasonal

The Crafty Addicts  Challenge #5 - Celebration

 That's it for today.  

I have a 'To Do' list a mile long to get through today!

 

Autumn Jar

Didn't know what I would do with it, but printed up the Autumn Jar from Bugaboo Digi Stamps, anyway.  (It's one of my favorites.) Then I colored it, die cut it, added some clear Wink of Stella glitter here and there and some liquid glass to make the jar look like glass, and there it sat.  Now what?  I tied a knot in the last piece of some orange crinkle ribbon that was just hanging out on my table.  Discovered a small piece of some fancy pumpkin paper in the stash, but it wasn't quite right.  Just happened to flip it over to discover this great plaid.  Threw it in a leaf embossing folder and Cuttlebugged it.  The card was starting to come together.  Back to the scrap box for the orange cs, the CTMH stamp box for a sentiment, and a little rummaging through the embellishments for some sequins to finish off this card.

Sometimes you just have to 'go with the flow' .

Challenges:

Scrap & Craft Challenge #14 - Colors of Autumn
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #111 - Autumnal Hues
Crafty Creations Challenge #299 - Falling for You  (Image & Autumn Colors)
Creative Moments Challenge #78 - Anything Goes/Autumn Colors
Crafting by Designs October Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Challenge #247 - Anything Goes
Catch the Bug Challenge - Color Challenge

Color Dare

Last week I just didn't have the new colors needed to join in the weekly Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge.  This week, I'm good to go with this card:

(CTMH paper, glitter tape & stamps)

 

Here's a close up of the tiny ornament bling I made.  Stamped on goldrush paper twice and ruby once, then fussy cut, paper pieced, coated with clear Wink of Stella brush glitter and then covered with Liquid Glass.

And now I have one more Christmas card ready!

Additional challenges I am entering before going to my grandson's baseball game: 

52 Christmas Card Throwdown September Theme Challenge - For a Man 

Allsorts Challenge Week 329 - Sparkle

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge #247 - something beginning with "p"  (The best I can do is paper.) 

Great ball game.  Nick got 2 good hits and made an awesome catch to help the team to a win.
Now I have a cake in the oven, dinner on the stove, and a few minutes to finish this blog post.

Challenges I am entering after going to my grandson's baseball game:

Jingle Bells Challenge - Shopping our stash for items more than a year old. (This stamp set from CTMH is several years old, but I love it.)

Just Add Ink Challenge #280 - Glimmer 

Simply Create Too Challenge #94 - Early Holiday Wishes

A Snowflakes Promise Challenge #5 - Winter or Christmas themed

Fashionable Stamping Challenge # 103 - Words

 

Life is a Highway

Sometimes it's clear sailing on the Highway of Life...

Card #1

And occasionally you hit a pothole. 

Card #2

Card #2 inside

Both cards use mostly all CTMH products.   I can't believe I have no vehicle stamps, other than a sleigh if that even counts as a vehicle, from CTMH.  So I've used cars from a Sparkle N Sprinkle stamp set and one of their sentiments stamps on the front of the second card.  I also used a Fiskars corner punch on the inside of the get well card.

Challenges for Card #2:

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Life is a Highway 

Inspiration Destination Challenge #43 - Anything Goes 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #193 - Anything Family Friendly Goes 

Inky Chicks Challenge #54 - Use a Metal Embellishment (Blue corner pieces) 

Through the Craft Room Door Week of 7/21 - Anything Goes 

Vintage Stamping Challenge #34 - Travel 

Eclectic Ellapu July Challenge - Travel (Pink Team)

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #101 - All About the Men 

 

Travel safely.

Splashing Around!

That's the best thing to be doing on a hot summer day.  (But don't be drinking out of a garden hose.  It's a guy thing and it's just plain nasty!)  And it's probably just what Deedee Anderson had in mind, splashing around NOT drinking out of a nasty hose, when she designed the June 2015 Digi Set of the Month, Diver Daniel, for her Monthly Progressive Challenge.  Here I've used the colored version of Diver Daniel to make a fun card for Dad:

Since Deedee is sponsoring a few current challenges, I am going to also submit this card there:
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #63- Anything Goes
Creative Moments, Challenge # 70 - Anything Goes/Man in your Life/Father's Day
Pinspirational Challenge #142 -
 

And I am also entering this card here:

CAS on Kraft

Today I have a very simple card to share with you.  Prickles Says Hello is the free digi set this month for the From the Heart Progressive Challenge.  And here is Prickles saying Hello:

I printed him on white twice and kraft once, fussy cut the cute little guy and paper pieced him onto the white.  Also, I colored the white banner and butterfly, fussy cut them and paper pieced them.  I added couple of nice globs of liquid glass on his spectacles, colored the flowers and sponged around the white base with blue and green.  After embossing just the bottom of the green background paper, I did a bit of sanding.  Finally I wrapped a bit of bakers twine around the image 3 times before mounting it on the kraft card base.  I always think the simpler design lends itself to a more masculine card, as does the knot instead of a bow and absence of a lot of bling.

Challenges:
From the Heart June Progressive Challenge - use Prickles Says Hello set
Splendiferous Creations - For the Guys Bloggers Challenge
Crafty Catz Challenge #283 - Clean and Simple
Creative Knockouts Challenge #92 - Use Your Stash (It all came from my stash with the exception of the new digi set.)

Can't Decide

Should I finish this card with a Birthday sentiment or a Father's Day sentiment?  The digital image by Deedee's Digis certainly works well for either occasion.  

Dad Gets a Day Off  is the digi set for Deedee's Digis May Progressive Challenge. 

I knew I couldn't color this and make it look nearly as great as the precolored version I used.  (Although, I think I need to recalibrate our printer.)  The precolored images come in various skin tones and hair colors.   The papers were unearthed in my recent organizing frenzy.  And the little wood trinkets are CTMH, which I colored to match.

Here are a few more challenges I'm entering today:

Always Something Creative Challenge #99 - Men

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesdays Challenge #198 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #184 - Anything Goes

Wonderful Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge May 18-25 - Always Anything Goes

Cards in Envy Challenge- Masculine

Ooh La La Creations Challenge #180 - Use a Precolored Image

Today's Agenda:  Gardening at my Mother's; a stop for some milk and fruit; baking a cake; and watching a baseball game with my grandson pitching (wish them luck; it's a playoff game and so far they are undefeated)

I better get going.

Boy's Birthday

My grandson has reached double digits this year, celebrating his 10th birthday today.  Although baseball is his first love, right now he's in the middle of basketball season. 

Here I've coupled a basketball word art digi image from Digi Darla with some sports DP and added a computer generated sentiment.

This simple card is going to find it's way into the following challenges:

Sassy Studio Designs Challenge #265 - It's Raining Men

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #3 - Let's Hear It For the Boys 

Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #96 - Male Birthday

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - For a Man 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids

Gem of a Challenge #136- Birthday Card for a Boy

Dream It Up January Challenge - Birthday

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #54- Anything Goes

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #135 - Items starting with "b" (ball, basket, birthday)

 

 

Happy Birthday, Nick!

Good luck in the Pinewood Derby, Matthew! 

Miss you both!

Happy Birthday, Bob!

Birthdays have a way of just creeping up and surprising us, especially when they end in a zero.
Hope you have a great day, Bob!

Just Ink Lined is the designer of this cat digi named Mojo. You can find it free right here.

This card has been submitted to the following challenges:

Cards in Envy Challenge - Going Gray 

Crazy 4 Challenges #270 - Opposites 

Alphabet Challenge - Y for Years 

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge #210 - Numbers 

Sassy Studio Designs Challenge #265 - It's Raining Men

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #3 - Let's Hear It For the Boys 

Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #96 - Male Birthday

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - For a Man 

Perfectly Rustic Challenge # 39- Animals

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #54 - Anything Goes 

 

Stanley ...

 ...is a digi image found at Beccy's Place.  

I just adore this chubby little fellow.

I started out coloring the Christmas ball.  I chose this color of aqua green because I had never used this particular pencil in the box.  (That's all well and good until you need to find paper to match.  Luckily I did, in a MS paper pad I got on clearance last year. )  I gave the ball a good coat of liquid glass and then a sprinkle of fine glitter to make it look good and sparkly.  The gold on the top also has a clear liquid glass coating.  The DP and kraft paper underneath were embossed with a fun ornament folder, before I added the fussy cut image and computer generated sentiment on top.

My mother's neighbor is always quick to lend a hand and brings my mom's paper to her back door everyday.  Last week he even came over and removed a very dead, unidentifiable, half eaten critter that a hawk had dropped in her yard.  This will be a perfect card for him.

I am also sending Stanley to the following challenges:
Beccy's Place Challenge - A Month of Holiday Cards
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Make It Sparkle
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesday Challenge #188 - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal Challenge #196 - Critters
Sparkle N Sprinkle November Challenge - Anything Goes with Glitter, Flocking or Embossing Powder
613 Avenue Create Challenge - Anything Goes with optional Holiday Thanks
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #231 - Anything Goes with a sentiment

Flip Fold Friendship Card + Create with TLC Image #6

I'm really loving the Scrapbook Blessings Blog because they spotlight a lot of different card folds, and I love card folds.  The current challenge is featuring a Flip Fold Card.

I cut a flower from the DP, popped it and tucked the top portion of the card behind it to keep it closed.)

The DP is dry embossed.  That's washi tape across the top.

Inside of card when unfold

Back of card when unfolded.

The owl stamps belong to a friend who graciously let me use them.  I'm not sure of the brand.

Other Challenges into which I am entering this card:
Scrapbook Blessings Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

Anything Goes with a Twist Challenge #1 - Anything Goes + Twist: Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe # 196- 3 of the same letter (Bow, Border Punch, Bird)
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge # 33- Fall Colors
Wags & Whiskers Challenge #149 - Fall Colors
Baffies Kreativladen Challenge - Friendship
Hobbybook Designer Challenge - Include an Animal
Emerald Faeries Challenge #60 - Things with Wings

********************

I'm still busy making cards for Create with TLC's Progressive Freebie Party for World Cardmaking Day.  Since my DH loves to play golf, I was excited to see this digi image.  

Here's the card I made:

I really like the new double-sided Paper Fundamentals from CTMH, same design on each side and one is glossy.  I won a few sheets at Joyce's CTMH Christmas Card Extravaganza (you can see the cards we made here) and thought this green went perfectly with the golf theme.  I have my eye on a few more packs of this paper.  I especially love the Whimsy (soft colors) and Basics (black and browns) assortments.

Since everything on this card is CTMH except the digi image, I am entering it in the Take Heart Ideas October Challenge.

This card has also been submitted to:

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #330 - Get Sporty

I know they say it never rains on the golf course but is that true of soccer fields too?  My 8 yr old grandson had a game at 8:30 this morning that apparently wasn't cancelled (since by DH has not returned yet) and it's been raining steadily since last evening.  I refused to go in the rain.  Those poor kids will be so soaked!  I certainly hope my other grandson's baseball game at 9:30 was cancelled or that white uniform will never be the same!

Create with TLC Image #4

For this card I've combined the digi image from TLC with a Penny Black stamp and some great Graphic 45 paper I was fortunate to win in one of the Pumpkin Spice Freebie Friday contests.  

Both die cuts were made using Spellbinders dies, then edged using an embossing pen and heat embossed with SNS Antiquities EP.  The sentiment was also heat embossed.  I colored the image with markers before fussy cutting and mounting on the die cut.  I left off the ribbons and bling to keep this card relatively masculine.

I'll be adding this card to the party in celebration of World Card Making Day at Create withTLC.

I'm also entering this card in the following:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Transport It

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #197 - 3 different DP

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 39 - Vintage

Sparkle n Sprinkle October Challenge - Anything Goes with glitter, flocking or embossing powder

So Artful Challenges - The Motor Car

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Just for Men

Fall?

My DH said it is supposed to go down to 46 degrees overnight tonight.  

Then he uttered the words electric blanket. 

 I'm just not ready for that yet.

But I am going to share a "Fall" card with you today.

I was fortunate to win a few digis from QKR Stampede recently and I thought this one was very timely.

It is called Scarecrow and Leaves (digi 18806)  and can be found here.

My friend, Mickey, was the inspiration for this card.

fall stamp is CTMH

inside sentiment computer generated

This is my entry for these wonderful challenges:

613 Avenue Create Challenge #89 - Anything Goes

Come and Get It Challenge - Use a Digi with an Autumn Theme 

The Corrosive Challenge #208 - Autumn/Fall

The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge #77 - For a Male

Creative Corner Challenge - Male

Simply Create Too Challenge #70 - Fall/Autumn

Milk Coffee Challenge - Colors of Autumn

The Male Room Challenge #18 - Autumn/Fall 

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Stitching (The paper was in my stash from last year.) 

PDE Linky Party - Puns

 I forgot to show you the cute little monster I won in the raffle at the Christmas Card Extravaganza yesterday (see previous post for the great cards we made).   Isn't he cute?

Sympathy with a man in mind

This card was not made for anyone in particular.  It is going in my stash.

However, today my sympathy and prayers are for my mother who is having a tooth pulled in about an hour. 

No one ever wants to have a tooth pulled.   And I am praying there are no complications because Mom is looking forward to Tuesday, Sept. 2 and the 30th Anniversary Celebration of an ELCA Bible Study that she helped to start in 1984. 

I tried to keep this simple and geared to a male recipient, with the tan distressing, and using a knot on the ribbon instead of a bow.  The photo doesn't really show that the top 2 layers are popped 1/8" off the card base. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Love to Create Challenge #130 - Mad About Plaid (I love this ribbon.  At first it appears gingham, but if you look closely there is a red line going through it for a very versatile plaid.)
Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes with a Sentiment