Gentlemen, Let's Offer Our Congratulations...

That's what I think Tim's stately gents are saying on this card.  J

We're letting you choose your own theme this week at Card A Day Blog, so as today's featured designer, I'm sharing a card created for my nephew's high school graduation in June.  It needed to be masculine, yet celebratory, so I turned to a bold yellow, black and grey color scheme and a Tim Holtz stamp.  His school colors are gold and brown, so I thought this was a nice nod in that direction as well.

Some Details:

• The bright yellow base was toned down just a touch with my new favorite technique of swiping white acrylic paint along the edges.
• I love the combination of the modern graphic polka dot paper with the vintage gentlemen stamped in black on soft grey stock.  To give the grey a little pop and dimension, I dragged a black ink pad along the edges.  This gave it just the thinnest black edge.

• The bold banner diecut adds to add to that celebratory feel.  This was a straight border diecut that I gently curved and glued into place.  Some black and white baker's twine finishes  off the banner / bunting look.

Although I find I only make them when necessary, I really enjoy the challenge of creating masculine cards.  It's a great re-set to the creative juices!

Challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu: Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations: April Challenge - Special Occasions

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Yo-Yo Yellow', ‘Sahara Sand’, ‘Confetti White’
Patterned Paper:	Authentique ‘Blissful’ 6x6
Stamps:	Tim Holtz ‘Curious Possibility’; SU! ‘Warmest Regards’
Inks:	Archival ‘Jet Black’; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’
Embellishments:	Bazzill Just the Edge cardstock strip ‘Beetle Black’; Darice baker’s twine ‘Black / White’
Tools:	Stamp-a-ma-jig; Memory Maker’s ribbon glue; decorative edge scissors

CCC # 15: Engaged!

What perfect timing!  The two-week theme at Creative Cutting Challenge is "Weddings".  Another opportunity to finish up some projects for my own wedding day that is fast approaching.  (Yikes!)

I decided to take a step back and document our engagement story with this scrapbook layout.  I never scrapbook by myself, so this was a real challenge for me.  I had no one here to offer opinion!  That was tough, but I pushed through and am pretty pleased with the result.

(sorry, this story is just for us! J)

The Details:

• The diamond ring SVG from The Creative Pointe's "Wedding Set" made a perfect frame for our photo.  

• I cut the base from dark grey stock and the "setting" from a lighter grey, delicately patterned paper.  The "diamond" was cut from white stock.  I drew a few facet lines with a pencil and then covered it in a thick coat of Rock Candy Distress Stickles for the appropriate sparkle.

• I layered a large version of The Creative Pointe's "Bracket Element" SVG to break up the background a bit and bring in some more pink.  Since it was the whole story, I typed it out on grey-ish stock, formatting it into three columns and adjusting so that it would be the right size for my page.
• "Engaged!" was cut using "English" font and colored with a touch of Worn Lipstick Distress Stain to up the pink tone a bit.

• The rest was adding embellishments:  a strip of crocheted lace, suede leaf ribbon and some flowers.  An extra special touch is the corsage pin and beads stuck in beneath the silk flower petals..."inheritance" from my paternal grandmother's impressive stash, recently passed along from my mom.

I can't wait to see how the other designers have outdone themselves on their "Weddings" projects!  Click here to check out all the Creative Cutting Challenge Design Team projects and join the challenge.  Even if you don't use SVG files yet, it's definitely worth the visit for some great ideas!

Other Challenges:
Fairy Tale Challenges: A Very Special Occasion
Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenges: #164 - Flowers and Lace
Allsorts: Week 204 - Anything But a Card
Creative Creations Challenges: #9 - Weddings
Make My Monday: Anything But a Card
UnstampaBelles: Challenge #22 - Anything But a Card (papercraft no stamping)

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Sahara Sand’, ‘Ultrasmooth Vanilla’, ‘Ultrasmooth White’; Papertrey Ink ‘Smokey Shadow’
Patterned Paper:	Authentique ‘Blissful’ 6x6, unknown
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Wedding Set’, ‘Bracket Element’; font ‘English’
Inks:	Distress Stain ‘Worn Lipstick’; Le Pen ‘Grey’; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’
Embellishments:	Lace ribbon; leaf ribbon; paper flowers; silk flowers; Tim Holtz button; vintage corsage pin; vintage pearls; Distress Stickles ‘Rock Candy’
Tools:	SCAL; Cricut Expression; Fiskars punch ‘Corner Rounder’; glue dots; foam ink blender; TH paper distresser

Creative Spirit

My niece definitely has the creative spirit, so for her birthday this year, I wanted an extra-fun card that embodies the artsy and vintage-y things she loves.

The Details:

• I started with a kraft stock base and layered on some re-purposed Tim Holtz tissue paper that had been colored and used as wrapping paper (waste not!).  I tore the edges to roughly fit my card size and used spray adhesive to attach it in all its tattered and wrinkled glory.  Several swipes with a Snow Cap paint dabber lighten it and blend it into the kraft base a bit.
• Next up, some beautiful butterfly patterned paper from My Mind's Eye.  I tattered the edges with Tim's paper distresser and attached it with my tiny attacher.  A touch of lace adorns the top edge.
• A girly subway-type sign was cut from a 6x6 My Mind's Eye collage paper.  Again, the edges were tattered and colored with Tumbled Glass Distress Stain to stand out from the background.  

• Butterflies cut from the patterned paper flutter around the sentiment.  I also layered a couple on top of the patterned paper section to make it look like they were coming to life and then flying away.

• Finally, our collage-y girl.  This was fussy-cut from a postcard I've had in the stash.  I loved the image and always had it in my mind that I would use it for my niece.

This card was fun to make.  It was one of those times where I just let myself go and added elements as the mood and inspiration struck.  Ahh...creativity feels so good when it flows!

Challenges:
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations Challenge: Insects or Animals
Oldie But a Goodie Challenge: Make It Girly (postcard)
Gingerloft Challenge: GL Torn and Distressed
ABC Challenges: ABC25 - Recycle
Cards in Envy: Things with Wings!
Make It Monday: MIM #137
The Kraft Journal: Make It Monday with Kraft Outlet - Recycle or Re-Use
Three Scrappy Gals: April is Earthy!

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline ‘Dolled Up’ 6x6, ‘Fiddlesticks’ 6x6; Tim Holtz tissue paper (re-purposed)
Inks:	Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’; Distress Stain ‘Tumbled Glass’
Embellishments:	Postcard; lace trim; pearl stickers
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; 3M foam tape; Glossy Accents; tweezers

CCC #14: Flowers for Mom

We’re celebrating Moms today at Creative Cutting Challenge with our two-week “Mother’s Day Cards” theme.  That special day to say “thank you” to mom for everything she’s done for us is not too far away, so get out those electronic cutters and join the challenge!

For my own mom, I wanted a bright and cheerful card…with flowers…my mom LOVES flowers!

The Details:

• The basic layout of this card is very simple, with the star being the potted posy cut from My Mind’s Eye patterned papers using The Creative Pointe’s “MOM Flowers” SVG. 

• Since I was only using the one flower, I removed the letter from the flower center and added a matching button and some sunny white and yellow Twinery baker’s twine (thank you to Can You Dig It for the gift certificate prize…it definitely pays to enter challenges…hint! hint!)

• I swiped the edges of my lemon tart card base with Snow Cap paint dabber.  I know you can barely see it in the photo, but it adds just a little something.  It's like cheerful distressing.  J

• On top of the base, we have three additional strips of paper:   a thin border of pink polka dots, a wider strip of ledger paper, and solid cream cut with fancy scissors.
• Doesn’t that ledger paper have just the most perfectly matching floral accent?  Love it!  And this was the perfect place to stamp “Happy Mother’s Day” in Coffee Archival Ink (with a little help from a brown Le Pen).

Fresh, fun, and flowery…perfect for mom!

I'm sure the other designers have outdone themselves on their "Mother's Day Cards" projects.  Click here to check out all the Creative Cutting Challenge Design Team projects and join the challenge.  Even if you don't use SVG files yet, it's definitely worth the visit for some great ideas!

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Lemon Tart’; Stampin’ Up! ‘Ultrasmooth Vanilla’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline ‘Howdy Doody’ 6x6
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘MOM Flowers’
Stamps:	SU! ‘All Year Cheer’
Inks:	Adironack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’; Archival ‘Coffee’; Le Pen ‘Brown’
Embellishments:	Close to My Heart button; The Twinery baker’s twine “Buttercream”
Tools:	SCAL; Cricut Expression; decorative scissors; glue dots; Tim Holtz paper distresser; Stamp-a-ma-jig

Plan B

Oh my, I can’t believe we’re just about halfway through April already!!  We’re getting a jump on those Mother’s Day cards at Card A Day Blog this week and will be bringing you lots of inspiration.

I’m kicking things off with this card that I made for my soon-to-be mother-in-law.  I’ve had these pieces and parts laying on my craft table for MONTHS…planned for a whole other project.  But I thought to myself:  obviously I’m not too captivated by said planned project, or I would have made it by now!  So I made this card instead.  As my fiancé recently told me “life is all about plan B”.  Now, granted, that was because he was throwing a wrench into some wedding stuff and he wanted me to adapt, but I digress!  J

The Details:

• Once I decided to repurpose the elements, this card went together in a snap!
• I distressed the edges of my kraft base with Snow Cap paint dabber, then layered on My Mind’s Eye patterned paper that had been unevenly torn along the bottom and distressed around the other edges
• Before gluing my patterned paper in place, I looped some ivory seam binding around the back and tied it in a big fluffy bow.
• The printed chipboard leaf sprig tucks in nicely behind the ribbon.  I gave the edges a few swipes of Snow Cap paint dabber, too.

• The finally touch was spelling out “MOM” with alpha stickers.   I had strategically cut my patterned paper so that the lovely frame area would be in just the right spot on my card.

Mom-in-law card done!  Tomorrow I’ll share the card I made for my own mom.

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found ‘Market Street’ 6x6
Inks:	Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’
Embellishments:	Kaisercraft printed chipboard ‘Secret Bird Society’; Hug Snug seam binding ‘ivory’; Bo Bunny combo stickers ‘Welcome Home’
Tools:	Tim Holtz paper distresser; tweezers

CCC #13: For Baby

Spring has sprung and it's the season of new life.  To celebrate, our two-week theme at Creative Cutting Challenge is "For Baby".

The Details:

• I had a lot of fun with the baby bottle SVG in The Creative Pointe's "Baby Set".  As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly how I wanted to use it.  I cut the base from neutral patterned paper and layered on lots of different sized pink hearts, then added the top layer, which is cut from vellum.  I wanted it to look as if the hearts were floating in the bottle.  The nipple is just blush cardstock with a little detail added with Distress Markers and a water pen.

• I am in love with The Creative Pointe's "Bracket Element" file!  I have found so many uses for it.  Here, I've used it to add interest to my background patterned paper.  Isn't that stripe delicious?  I scalloped the top edge with scissors for a delicate touch.
• Of course I wanted a big fluffy, crinkly bow and did not have ribbon to match my color scheme, so I dyed seam binding with acrylic paint and Distress Stain.  Such a soft color...just perfect.  A trinket pin and some glass beads dress it up nicely.

• Finally, a soft grey "baby" stamped in the corner and a few mother-of-pearl buttons finish things off.

I love this card and was so excited to present it to the mom-to-be.  But, sadly, the little one I made it for was born too soon and has joined the angels in heaven...rest in peace little Kayla Kathryn.  I pray that I'll have the chance to give this card to Amy and Ryan someday.

I can't wait to see what the other designers create for their "For Baby" project.  Click here to check out all the Creative Cutting Challenge Design Team projects and join the challenge. Even if you don't use SVG files yet, it's definitely worth the visit for some great ideas!

Other Challenges:
Make It Monday:  MIM #134
Simon Says Stamp & Show:  Anything Goes

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Sahara Sand’, ‘Blush Blossom’, vellum
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline ‘Howdy Doody’ 6x6, Lost & Found ‘Market Street’ 6x6
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Baby Set’, ‘Bracket Element’
Stamps:	SU! ‘All Year Cheer II”
Inks:	Momento ‘London Fog’; Distress Markers; Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; Distress Stain ‘Tumbled Glass’, ‘Pumice Stone’; Americana acrylic paint ‘Sea Aqua’
Embellishments:	Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’; Memory Makers trinket pin; glass beads; buttons
Tools:	Scallop scissors; foam ink blender; mister; heat tool; 3M foam tape; Sure-Cuts-A-Lot; Cricut Expression; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Tim Holtz paper distresser; vellum tape; water pen.