Masculine? Not so much.

This isn't as masculine as I intended. I selected the papers and inks, I liked the color combination, and I started working. As often happens, to me at least, sometimes things don't work out as planned. In this case, I love the results. And I see that blue and brown doesn't always equal "masculine." So...I end my masculine series with this card.

 

 

Enjoy Labor Day Weekend!

 

 



Masculine Birthday

I love the Bo Bunny Timepiece Collection for masculine cards. I used several scrap pieces on this one, cut to various widths, added the vertical strip with a button and baker's twine. I have to admit, I don't have many brown buttons. For this one, I coated it in VersaMark and heat embossed it with Terra Cotta  embossing powder from The Stamp Addict.

 

 

Retirement Congratulations

This 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 card is for my brother-in-law who is retiring. The paper is from the Timepiece Collection by Bo Bunny.

I love this style--lots of layers, some ribbon and a button. It's a quick card that looks fabulous. With so much patterned paper available, the possibilities are endless!

A Contest!!!

You could win a handmade card from any of the cards I have posted on this blog, my Facebook page (facebook.com/ACreativeCook) or that are currently in my store (zibbet.com/ACreativeCook).

Simply post a comment (no anonymous posts). You will get an entry for each post you comment on. And get an extra entry for Liking my Facebook page!

A winner will be chosen randomly from the Comments and Likes received by midnight (Pacific Daylight Time) on Sunday, September 1, 2013.


This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, BlogSpot or Google. Must be at least 18 years old to enter and a resident of the United States. Family members are not eligible.

Electrifying card!

I had no idea electrical tape came in so many colors! The red and blue tape is adhered to cardstock and embossed with Cuttlebug Seeing Spots. The banner outlines were stamped with Hero Arts Friendly Flags. I used red, white and blue baker's twine for the bows.

The inside is the other half of the sentiment. (Sorry...I don't know the stamp set details on this one.)

Using various colors of electrical tape and embossing folders could give this such a different look. Have fun experimenting!

Masculine series

I love pink, hearts and flowers. These don't typically make good masculine cards, so this week I'm doing a short series of cards that are less feminine.

The three squares on top are made with Cuttlebug Mesh, Diamond Plate and Tiny Bubbles embossing folders. The rectangle on the bottom is drywall tape which I've colored with Tim Holtz alcohol ink. I used Butterscotch, Caramel, Stream and Wild Plum. I put a little bit of Copper Mixative on my applicator during the last few pounces. Just adhere the tape to your cardstock and trim. The "Celebrate" tag is held in place by two screws (brads) from Eyelet Outlet.

Baby Card

I like to have two baby cards ready -- one for a girl and one for a boy. I used white cardstock and embossed it with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots. The papers are scraps and the giraffe stamp is from Stampendous Baby Invite. The banner of hearts is from Simon Says Stamp. And, of course, every baby card needs a bow.

Thank You card...another in my stash

There's a few cards I like to keep on hand. Today's card is a simple thank you card made from cream cardstock. The orange cardstock was embossed with Darice Scrolls and the flowers with the versatile Cuttlebug Swiss Dots. The stamp is from Technique Tuesday's Thank You set.

Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards are difficult for me to make when they're needed, so I try to keep one on hand. This one uses the triple stamp technique, which I love for many occasions. The flower and butterfly stamps are from Inkadinkado Meadow.

And I found my favorite quote for sympathy cards in a Verses stamp.
 

Inside and Out

This 5x5 card was made for a friend who is starting a new job. The printed paper is from Stowaway by Quick Quotes Scrapbook Company. I love blues and browns for masculine cards.

The sentiments are from Inside & Out Sayings by Simon Says Stamp.

I left lots of room inside since several of us will be signing the card.

Cupcake Party!

I made this card with Simon Says Stamp's Cupcake Party. There is not a candle in the set, so this one is from Hero Arts Cupcake.

The card base was stamped with Encore ultimate metallic Champagne. I used Teal for the cupcake paper and Pink for the swirly part of the frosting. The remaining parts of the stamp use Color Box chalk and Memento dye inks. The cupcake panel is on pop dots.

I love this stamp set, again thanks to Kristina Werner (http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/).

Dress your envelopes!

I love making envelopes to coordinate with each card. Using the Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers makes it super easy. Now that I am the proud winner of three Simon Says Stamp stamp sets, it got even better. Thanks to Kristina Werner (http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/) for the inspiration for today's project and for the giveaway. I'll be using the three sets this week for my projects.

 

Making a label allows me to use patterns and dark paper for envelopes. The label is made from pale pink lightweight cardstock which I ran through the Xyron sticker maker. A little distressing with Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink, stamps from Simon Says Stamp Cupcake Party and Envelope Sentiments...and this project is done!

 

 

 

 

I loved Kristina's idea to wrap the label around the envelope for the return address, as I have done here. Just be careful not to interfere with the flap!

 

 

 

Who wouldn't love opening their mailbox to see this fun envelope waiting?!

 



 

Jar of Hearts

I used my Lawn Fawn "Summertime Charm" stamp set for this 3-1/2 x 8-1/2 one-layer card. I used lots of colors of ink to stamp the hearts and added some glitter to the blue hearts with my Wink of Stella brush.

Pennants & Heart

Using DCWV paper from the Winter Holiday Collection, I cut three pennants with Nestabilities and one heart, threaded baker's twine through each and added bows on the end. Super simple card.

Hearts as a border



I liked the light orange print paper with bold purple heart border. The hearts on this 5x5 card could be more obvious if I used foam dots on some of them. These are more subtle.

 

 

Black & Yellow

I love yellow! Bright, cheery and sunny. The black polka dot and white papers allow just enough of the yellow to show.

Hearts galore

This card was made using various heart dies with American Crafts "My Girl" paper. I wanted to use small patterns for these eight small hearts. Each heart is on foam dots, as is the center circle which was stamped and cut with the Sizzix "Flowers & Vase" set.

It's Heart Week!

I'm in a heart-istic mood. This week I'll be paper crafting using hearts in some way...and not always with reds and pinks.

Today's card has small hearts punched from Memory Box "Viola" paper, combining purple with olive green.

New things

Today I'm using "new" items. The olive green cardstock, sentiment stamp, wood grain embossing folder, and the ribbon.  The stamp is by Verses and they have so many great sentiment stamps. 

Summer scraps

I'm using scraps again today. These are from Doodlebug Design "Stars & Stripes." I love the Americana colors and summer feel. And glittery blue stars.

Lunchbox notes

Using only my scraps, I made some lunchbox notes. These could also be backpack or briefcase notes :)  Each one is blank, with plenty of room to write a short message.

Celebrate

Using a stamp and Candi I recently picked up in Las Vegas, I am reminded that we always have reason to celebrate. Today I'm celebrating...well...I'm celebrating today!

Road trip!

My Cosmo Cricket "Joy Ride" paper reminded me of the car trips we took when I was a kid. Roadside diners, fighting with siblings in the backseat, driving from pre-dawn to get there in one day.

Inspired by summer

The warm days of summer inspired this card using red, orange and yellow watercolor pencils with an aqua pen. The stamps and dies are from my Lawn Fawn collection. Of course, I had to do the matching envelope! (Love the Envelope Punch Board.)

My new blog!

I've just started my blog, and I'll be posting updates regularly and often.