Masculine Birthday Card - Easy Peasy!

I am hanging out in my craft space today to get a few things straightened up, sorted out, and put away. As I was doing that, I came across this card I meant to post a few weeks back. Better late than never, I guess. 

I know a lot of us struggle with masculine birthday cards. This classy card is both masculine and simple.

I had been wanting to do some old page backgrounds, so I went to my local book resaler and bought an old yellowed dictionary for a quarter. I snagged a page out of there and went to town distressing. It was a thin paper so I had to be a little tender with it. I first crumpled the stank out of it. Before flattening it out, I gently swiped some ink over the top of it. I kept with browns and grays for this project. I flattened out the paper and recrumpled it. After gently smoothing it out (just a bit) I added a little darker shade of ink, just gently swiping over the raised areas. Using a light tan, I further aged the paper by brushing a little ink across the edges of the paper. 

Once I was satisfied with the grunge-level, I attached it to a piece of kraft colored cardstock cut slightly larger than my page panel. That was attached to a black A2 card base. I added a sprig I cut from the Taylored Expressions Branch Out die set. I embossed the sentiment with white powder on black cardstock, trimmed it down, and attached it to a piece of kraft cardstock the width of the card.

For the inside of the card, I kept it basic and simple (most masculine cards don't have a lot of flare it seems).

I just stamped a simple sentiment on kraft cardstock and attached it to the inside of the card. The kraft paper is light enough that a personal note can easily be added with any type of pen.

Well, now that I've shared this card with you, I think I am less inspired to finish my craft room straightening/sorting and focus on some more craft (minus the room) projects.

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

IN THE ABSTRACT: PLAYING WITH A NEW KIT FROM TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS

I got this kit recently and I am absolutely smitten with it. I kept looking at it when it first came out and telling myself that I certainly did not need another set of stamps, dies or stencils. But I kept being drawn to it and thinking about it and, every time I saw it, couldn't believe how much I really liked it. So....yeah, no will power for creative things that move me. I ordered it.

And I am so happy I did.

I have been playing with the stencils (which includes both the stencil AND the masks), dies (yes, I had to order the add-on because they are so awesome), and stamps (some with abstract designs and some with the sweetest sentiments). Also included in the kit were some beautiful envelopes, seals, and tiny little gems. All packaged in a cool zippered pouch for storage. (And, no, I am not selling them, nor do I get any kind of benefit from this post...I just simply love this set and felt the need to share my enthusiasm.)

So are you ready to see my first 4 cards?

All background inks used were Distress Oxides applied with a brush. The sentiments were stamped with Gina K Amalgam Ink. The cardstock I used was heavyweight white and black (Recollections). Glue used was Gina K Connect. 

I had so much creative fun putting these together. My mind just went free. I only glued close to the stem on the dies so that there was a little movement in them when attached. They create a lot of depth and dimension.

I had a difficult time picking a favorite, but it may be last one. Do you have a favorite? I'd love to hear in the comments. 

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky.

#tayloredexpressions

#intheabstract

Tone it Down with Vellum

 I've been playing in my craft room again. I'm trying to use up some of the massive quantities of paper I've collected over the years. I love this delightfully sunny paper pack I used today, but one of the patterns was just a little too bold. So I toned it down with vellum.

You see those blue roses? They were just a bit too busy. But the colors were perfect. To tone it down, I cut a piece of vellum the same width but lightly longer than the patterned paper panel. I scored fold lines at the top and bottom, wrapped the vellum to the back and secured it with tape. That way there is no glue or tape spots showing through the vellum.

I followed one of my favorite card sketches for the inspiration for this card. Here are all the supplies I used:

This card was made for a very dear friend. So I needed something a little snarky on the inside. The sentiments from this Technique Tuesday set are awesome!

(BTW, she loved the card)

I'll be back later with another set of cards I created with a new stamp set I just got. But for now,

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

Birthday Cards from Card Sketches

Hi, again, stamping friends! I have a couple more cards to share with you today. I've been playing around with card sketches and, since I always need birthday cards, I decided to make a couple more from the two sketches I selected.

The first one I am kind of in love with. It's nearly monochromatic and it just pops. 

I used Sketch 51 from Jules Always With A Heart. While this is a square card sketch, I reimagined into an A2 card. I. used papers from the Recollections Fashionably Chic paper pad. The outside sentiment is from Hampton Art SC0730.

For the inside of the card I used my favorite birthday sentiment (so far) from a set that remains unknown to me.

Even though there is a floral paper on the front, I think this card could be used for either a guy or a gal. And I will definitely be using this sketch again!

My second card uses the same paper pack but tones of brown. This sketch is from Try Stamping on Tuesday (TSOT 489).

This card is also gender-neutral and can even be fitted with a gift card for some yummy coffee!

For the inside of the card, I kept it simple with just "Happy Birthday".

I found a few more sketches that I am excited to try. I am just waiting for a couple of new stamp sets I ordered to arrive (hurry up!!!!). So stay tuned for my next post!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!

I'm Baaaaack - Creating Again

Did you miss me? Well, I missed me...the creative me, the crafty me, the card-making me. I needed a hiatus. Life throws curve-balls sometimes and one needs to get out the catcher's mitt. But I've caught all the balls and can start tossing some back now. 

It's been over 6 months since I stepped into my craft room. I stepped out back in late January. It's August. Yikes. I finally got a twinge of my mojo back and started cleaning out my craft room, purging things that weighed me down. I still have more to get rid of, but at least it's back in working order now, freshly organized and clean, and I actually spent some creative time in there yesterday.

I needed to make a birthday card for a co-worker (got a new job the end of March) so I used that to urge myself on. And I felt so much better afterward.

I wasn't exactly sure how to start back up again (left a DT because of political drama). So I went to my go-to trick....card templates. I have tons of them. A while back I printed off a bunch and keep them with my card blanks in case I need a jumping off point. I grabbed one from Try Stamping On Tuesday (TSOT Design #485) and found some coordinating papers. This is the result:

I cut all my pieces from the Fashionably Chic paper pad (Recollections) and assembled the base of the card. On a white layer of cardstock, I stamped the floral image from the Simply Soft set (Stampin' Up!) using Gina K Amalgam Black Ink. I used Distress Oxide Ink in Worn Lipstick to add the filler stamp. I matted that piece and added it to the card base. The sentiment is from a Hampton Art set (SC0730) that I had picked up at a Dollar Tree a while back. Then I whipped up the inside of the card:

I used the same paper as on the front and added a sentiment (stamp set unknown). I've had this set forever and have used this particular stamp from it a multitude of times. I just like it.

Once my card was finished, I used a scrap of leftover paper and lined the envelope, stamped the same floral image on the front of the envelope, signed and sent my card on it's merry way (happy birthday, Deb).

I can't tell you how good it feels to be creating again! I hope you enjoyed this and found a little inspiration of your own!

Til next time,

Keepin' it inky!