Bloom

While floral themes may not always be thought of as being ideal for guy cards, in this case, there couldn't be a better choice . . .

This one is going to a local grower  who has been producing beautiful flowers and shrubs for decades.  As I'm a little backed up on my cards, I needed to come up with a rather quick layout.  So after white-embossing the clematis, I sprinkled on a few dried die ink powders and spritzed with water to hydrate the powders and spread out the colors. A little judicious mopping up here and there was followed by the heat gun. 

After framing, I stamped a randomly dotted image with VersaMark and sprinkled on some Heat and Stick powder.  Then after heating the powder, I sprinkled on some glitter for a little sparkly pizzazz.  DONE!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bling Puppy Love, Kachina, Strathmore

                        Watercolor paper 

Stamps:       PSX Clematis, Vippies Dotty Snow

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, VersaMark

Colorants:    Nuance Dried Dye Powders Bright Yellow, Jade, Purple

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Fine Detail White

Dies:            E-Scenery “Stitched Oval and Frame”, DieVersions font

                        Noodles                

Doo Dads:    Judikins Diamond Dust, Stamp Oasis Heat and Stick 

Happy Birthday

As we're right in the middle of a nasty spell of really cold weather, working with some hot orange cardstock really appealed to me . . .

 The brightly colored candles are glued down flat, while the candle flames have a smidge of foam tape behind them for a little realistic dimension.  A cheerful card for my 12 year old grandson, don't you think?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cutie, White

Colorants:    Inktense Chili Red, Tangerine, Sicilian Yellow, Apple

                        Green, Iris Blue, Dusky Purple

Watercolors:   Zig Real Brush Geranium Red, Orange, Yellow, May

                           Green, Cobalt Blue, Lilac

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Squares, Impress Candles,

                        Spellbinders Fleur de lis Squares, Paper Trey Ink

                        Swoosh “Birthday”, DieVersions Noodles “Happy”                

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll pen Clear Star           

Thank You

Our Orthodox priest and his wife have been assigned to another parish in Pennsylvania.  Since both were born and raised there, this is a happy move for them . . .

Their service to us was deeply loving and they will be greatly missed.

This card has a few natural elements added to it:  a raffia knot, a cluster of pine needles, and three heart-shaped eucalyptus leaves that I hope will convey a loving and heartfelt Thank You for their dedicated work on our behalf.  May God grant them many years . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Neenah Desert Storm,  PaperDirect Terra

                        Cotta      

Stamps:        Unknown “Thank You”, CC Rubber Stamps Fibers

Inks:               ColorBox Gold, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Powder:   BMuse Gold, WOW Ultra High Gold Rich

Punch:          Punch Bunch Scalloped Square             

Doo Dads:    Pine needles, Raffia, Eucalyptus leaves, Gold spacer

                        bead, Stampin’ Around Glitter Gold Dust        

Happy Birthday

This one was an experiment:  I stamped and embossed one leaf in white on black paper, and did the other in black on white paper.  I then cut them in half down the middle and glued the two opposing halves together, covering the joining with silver Mizuhiki cords . . .

I thought it would look neat having white-on-black paired with black-on-white.  But the effect isn't at all what was promised me by my capricious Lady Muse.  Sigh . . .

Cardstock:   Papers by Catherine White, Generic Black, Dull Silver           

Stamps:       Unknown Happy Birthday, Carved Stamps Striped Leaf,

                        Magenta Three Leaf Panel

Inks:             ColorBox Silver, Frost White

Emb Powder:   Delafield Silver, BMuse Detail White

Doo Dads:    Silver Mizuhiki cords          

Thighs

The image and sentiment on this card are favorites of mine to use on cards for women.  There isn't any female out there who doesn't identify with this . . .

 The sentiment reads, "85% of women hate their thighs in America."  The inside text says, "The rest hate their thighs in other countries."

I've made up this card in a variety of color schemes and had fun with it every time.  I hope I never run out of female friends to give it to . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jade, Generic Mustard, White      

Stamps:       Onyx “Thigh Woman” and text, Outlines Bits & Pieces

                        Set 4: Seeds, Alias Smith & Rowe Flowers & Swirls

                        Background

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Frost White

Colorants:    various watercolors Green, Mustard

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black, Sweet Stamps Detail White

Doo Dads:    Green, Black brads 

Be Strange

This rabbit image has been around for a long time and I think he's just as much fun today as he ever was . . .

The text reads:        Be a little strange

                               Make them wonder

Why ever not?  The predictable can be boring for everyone!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Julep, Blossom, Generic Tobacco, Beckett Iceberg    

Stamps:       Stamp Rosa Shingle Wall, Stamp La Jolla Reticent Rabbit,

                        Zettiology Text

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Designer Black

Colorants:    Various Copic markers, Prisma pencil Peach

Emb Powder:   B’Muse Detail Black

Dies:            Wizard Scalloped Rectangle

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Rose Metallic, Black brad, punched flower

                        centers           

Happy

Recently, Jennifer McGuire did some really beautiful cards featuring pearl embossing powder on vellum.  So I gave it a try . . .

I backed the vellum-covered flower panel with white cardstock to make the flower stand out more.  But I think it would also have looked nice with just the vellum providing a nice, misty look . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pomegranate, Vellum       

Stamps:       Anita’s Camellia, Stampers Anonymous Dotted Border

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White

Colorants:    Tombow markers Crimson, Leaf Green, Dark Green

Emb Powder:  Hero White Satin Pearl

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Recollections Word 

                        Fetti: “Happy”

Doo Dads:    Judikins Diamond Dust, Wink of Stella Clear   

Sparkle Heart

This was originally a card I did in a class.  I love the exuberant heart and have no idea why I did not take the opportunity to add it to my collection.  Would love to find out which company makes this image . . .

 This is one of the few cards I've made without a sentiment on the front.  I think the happy heart pretty much says it all, especially for the forty seventh anniversary celebration of my brother and sister-in-law . . . God grant them many years!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Beckett Iceberg, Generic Textured Red,

                        Dull Silver   

Stamps:       Unknown “Fantasy Heart”

Inks:             ColorBox Black

Colorants:    Zig Real Brush Carmine Red

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Doo Dads:    Judikins glitter Diamond Dust, Wilhold glitter Black,

                        nail heads Silver         

Celebrate

This is a Guy Card and I like it because the colors are masculine and the floral image is clean and simple . . .

 The flower centers are gold brads which provide some good looking dimension without a lot of fuss.  Easy to mail, too . . .

Cardstock:   Generic Textured Brown, Beckett Candlelight, Various

                        colored scraps

Stamps:       Unknown Flower, Alias Smith & Rowe Flowers & Swirls

                        Background, Stampin’ Up Celebrate

Inks:             Distress Walnut

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Doo Dads:    Gold brads