Cheers

Another in a series of Guy Cards . . . it's my nephew's birthday tomorrow and this is his card . . .

I know he'll be raising a celebratory mug of suds, so the "Cheers" sentiment should fit right in.  Happy birthday, Steve - here's to many more!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore Ultimate White 

Stamps:       Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Forest Moss,  Archival

                     Fern Green

Waterclrs:    Zig Real Brush Olive Green, Mid-Green

Dies:            Impression Obsession Deckled Tag, Dragonfly Set,

                     Spellbinders Cattails  

Emb Fldr:    Crafter’s Companion Ship Deck

Doo Dads:   Hemp Natural, Green, Nuvo Glitter Gloss           

Peace

My friend David is celebrating 33 years of incredible sobriety, so this card is in honor of that remarkable achievement . . .

Some evergreens in a tall, marble-patterned vase, an offset gold and green 'Peace', and my favorite new stitched frame die seems to cover his journey 

very well.

Happy Anniversary, David!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Marcos Jute, Hanko Echizen Gold

Stamps:       KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:             Hero Shadow Soft Brown, Ranger Archival Fern Green,

                     Gina K Charcoal Brown, ColorBox Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Altenew Under the

                     Cherry Blossom Tree, Papertrey Ink Mega Gracious Vases,

                     Avery Elle Peace, Memory Box Branching Out, E-Scenery

                     Idyllic (evergreen spray)

Emb Fldr:     Stampin Up Ruffled Dynamic

Doo Dads:    Viva Paper Pen Gold

With Sympathy

With the loss of my neighbor's brother, a quick sympathy card was needed . . .

I don't like rushing my card designs - especially those with condolence themes - but sometimes, it's just necessary.  I think the subtle coloring and the calming simplicity of this card conveys the message very well and it actually may not need anything further . . .

Cardstock:   Nicole 100 Bristol    

Stamps:       Endless Creations “With Sympathy”

Inks:             Hero Black

Waterclrs:    Distress Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw,

                     Squeezed Lemonade

Dies:            Simon Says Fresh Daisies, Impression Obsession

                     Mid-size Frame             

Doo Dads:   Viva Pearl Pen Ice White   

What Happened?

The sentiment on this one cracked me up and I had to get it immediately . . .

This birthday card goes to my brother Don who's undoubtedly as baffled as I am about having reached our Golden Years so quickly.  Along with my youngest brother Gordy, we were born and raised in sunny Southern California where youth is worshipped and growing up is pretty much considered an option.  It's a real shock to look in the mirror and realize that we didn't beat the rap . . . we're seniors now!

To tie in the passage of time, I used clock face images and embellished them with real clock and watch gears.   I have collected these over the years by cannibalizing cheap timepieces that have outlived their usefulness and aren't worth fixing.   I attach them with flat glue dots and then sprinkle glitter over them to cover the exposed stickiness.

Happy Birthday, dear Bro!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore  Ultimate White            

Stamps:       Treasure Cay “Time”, PSX Pocket Watch, Impression

                     Obsession Are We Adults?

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, Hero Black

Waterclrs:    FineTec Arabic Gold

Dies:            Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio                

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Perfect Pearls Mist Gold, Brass clock parts, ¼" black/gold

                     fiber, Stampin’ Around Glitter Gold Dust           

Bloom

Here's another version of the same two background stamps used in Monday's post . . .

Framing a part of the card front really changes the look and is an option I enjoy using often.  It's remarkable how well a frame can punch up a layout that just doesn't seem to be working

I think I'm gonna be stuck on this background stamp duo for awhile yet as I really love the results I've gotten so far . . . I hope they continue!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore Ultimate White  

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Watercolor Flowers, Travel Documents,

                     Memory Box Simple Columbine

Inks:             Distress Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Chipped

                     Sapphire, VersaFine Majestic Blue

Colorants:    Inktense Peacock Blue

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Impression Obsession

                     Mid-Size Frame, Memory Box Simple Columbine,               

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Burlap

Hugs

Pat Huntoon of Technique Junkies just introduced two new background stamps that look terrific when used together . . .

After stamping the text in a medium brown, I overstamped with the flowers inked in  light, medium, and dark versions of warm, compatible colors.  The focal point is from an adorable envelope die whose main appeal is an overlay that emphasizes the edges of the envelope's panels.  The die's designer cleverly provided a slit below the top flap that makes it easy to insert some die cut flowers and greenery in the envelope. 

I love all the elements used on this card and will be using all of them a lot  in future!

Cardstock:   Generic Burgundy, Strathmore Ultimate White  

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Travel Documents, Watercolor Flowers

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Rusty Hinge,

                     Aged Mahogany

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Mama Elephant

                     Botanic Envelope, Recollections Word Fetti: Hugs    

It's Your Day

On this card, I took the masking tape stripes and made a narrow strip to back the focal point.  I like the subtle color and texture it gives . . .

It's a guy card, so I decided to use leafy sprigs instead of flowers for the design.  Happy Birthday to my grandson Nick!

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White

Stamps:       Too Much Fun “It’s your day”

Inks:             Stampin Up Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard,

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            DieNamics Vertical Stitched Strip, Spellbinders Ribbon

                     Tags Trio, E-Scenery Idyllic                   

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents White        

Get Well

My neighbor Susan has just had both her knees AND kneecaps replaced.  This means that  a card with a couple of popped-up band aids on it would certainly be on-theme . . .

Susan is a golfer, so I gave her the closest thing to a golfing hat I could find in my stash.  The torso and head are propped up with pop dots but the arms and legs move freely.  To add a little femininity, I gave her patterned arms and legs, along with a sparkly necklace and earrings, both of which the camera has likely swallowed. 

A fun card to make, for sure - may it brighten up what I hope is a rapid and complete recovery.

Cardstock:  Bazzill Kachina, Strathmore Ultimate White, Nicole Black 

Stamps:       Limited Edition Spirit Doll Lg, Stampin Up Pin Dot Plaid,

                     Brutus & Monroe Watercolor Background, Tim Holtz

                     Crazy Things

Inks:             Vivid Aqua, Teal, Gina K Amalgam Black, Stampin Up

                     Going Grey

Colorants:   Copic T1 Toner Gray

Dies:            PinkFresh Slim Stitched Rectangles, Tim Holtz Crazy

                    Things, Paper Smooches Get Well Phrase, DieVersions

                    Noodles Font, DieNamics Band Aids

Doo Dads:  Nailene Nail Art Crystals    

America

With the horrific anti-American behavior raging in our beautiful country right now, I thought that the use of distressed imagery would be particularly appropriate . . .

Some of the red ink got smeared here and there - always a danger when using the color red, for some reason - and I decided to leave the smears where they were, as they are certainly theme-appropriate.

America may be battered and bloody at the moment, but we will not be beaten.  

May God strengthen and bless our beloved America and may her enemies be vanquished . . .

Cardstock:   Halcraft White, Generic Navy, Concord & 9^th Glitter

                     Paper Silver      

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Patriotic Fragments, Art Warehouse

                     Summer Pride

Inks:             Distress Candied Apple, Chipped Sapphire, ColorBox

                     Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            DieNamics Sentiment Strips, Our Daily Bread

                     Sparkling Stars, Frantic Stamper America