Handsomely Suited For Dad

 Happy Tuesday! I hope you are having a good week so far. Here we are well into our third lockdown of the pandemic and I have to admit, it is getting OLD. I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever be able to gather to stamp again.

As I plan for the launch of the new catalogue, I am once again looking at virtual ways to connect and create together. If you are in Canada, I would invite you to check out my Virtual Catalogue Launch and Bingo event...it will be TONS of fun. You can read all about the details on my Upcoming Events tab in the right sidebar.

I am also launching a new Cross-border Crafters online class featuring, coincidentally enough, the Handsomely Suited Bundle...

Again, you can read all about the details on my Events page.

Now for today's project. I needed a Father's Day card for my son to give his dad that included a gift card holder (he's getting an Amazon gift card because he's addicted!), so I designed this...

My hubby is a golf shirt kinda guy...definitely NOT a suit-and-tie one, so I had to get a bit creative with the Suit and Tie dies. I have to say, I am pleased with the result! I used some of the Well Suited Designer Paper (he actually has a golf shirt in almost this exact print!) and then cut a small V at the top using the dies. Then I added a collar, buttons, placket and pocket in Smokey Slate. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Grey ink, punched withe the 1-1/2" circle punch and then layered on a Smokey Slate Tailored Tag label. 

The best part is that there is a pocket in behind to hold a gift card...it slides in and out easily. The second-best part is that this is an easel card, so the open card stands on a desk, giving easy access to the gift card like this...

On the inside I added a Stitched Nested Label (SO going to miss those dies when they retire!) and stamped another sentiment from the Handsomely Suited stamp set. The label is popped up with dimensionals to catch the easel and keep it standing. 

I'll be demonstrating this card and two others using this bundle in today's Live @ Five video at 5 pm ET over on my Facebook business page. I hope you'll join me live, but if you miss me you can always catch the replay on my YouTube channel shortly afterwards. As always, I will include all of the measurements for all three projects in the video description.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a safe and healthy week!

Product List

Handsomely Suited Bundle (English) [156240] $65.50	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $10.25	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $13.25	Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131202] $12.00
Well Suited 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [154562] $15.75	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $163.00	Stitched Nested Labels Dies [149638] $48.00	1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch [138299] $22.00
Tailored Tag Punch [145667] $24.00

A Fun Fold for Dad and a Blog Hop

Happy Friday!! I hope you've had a good week. This weekend is typically the unofficial start of summer here in Southern Ontario, as we celebrate Victoria Day with a long weekend and fireworks; however it would seem Covid-19 and Mother Nature have other plans. While some businesses are beginning to open up (which is GREAT news!) there will be no fireworks and the weather is most definitely UN-summer-like with cold temperatures and rain in the forecast. It sure would be nice if we could catch a some warmth and sunshine sometime before June! I can't remember the last time it was THIS cold on Victoria Day long weekend! Perfect weather to stay inside and craft, right? Well, my Stamping Symphony team has some inspiration to get your mojo working...it's time for our monthly Blog Hop!

Among the good news announced today is that golf courses will be allowed to open this weekend. I know that is cause for celebration for many...not only for the golfers among us, but also for the spouses of golfers who can't wait to get them out of the house for a few hours ;) Here is a golf-themed fun-fold featuring the Country Club Designer Series Paper...

Now, I am not a golfer and no one in my family really is into it either, so I didn't purchase the other products from the Country Club Suite, but even with just the Designer Paper, it is possible to create a fun golf-themed project! One of the patterns in the DSP features beautiful line-art images of golf scenes. They are sized to cut perfectly in to 12 3"x 4" pieces from each sheet. I used one of the Stitched Rectangle dies to give mine a decorative border and it is absolutely perfect, even without adding a stitch of colour.

Now, can you spot the sneak peek of a new product from the upcoming catalogue? Check out those die-cut labels! They are from the new Tasteful Labels dies and the are AWSOME! Each new catalogue I seem to gravitate to one new die set and for this cataloge, these label dies are it! They are a great size for larger images and sentiments and have lovely detail on the borders. Here I die-cut one from Garden Green card stock and one from the same Designer Series Paper I used for the base of my fun fold.  I used the Well Written stamp set and coordinating Word Wishes dies to create my sentiment.

What I love about this fold is that it holds a little secret pocket for a gift card! Check this out...

I love when I can sneak a little treat in my cards that I send out. What dad wouldn't love a Timmie's gift card in his Father's Day card??

This fold is super-easy to make and uses up that gorgeous DSP you've been hoarding! It's time to cut it to make room for all of the NEW, beautiful papers in the upcoming catalogue. Believe me, you'll thank me for easing your guilt about buying the new papers ;)

To learn how to make this card and two others that feature beautiful Designer Paper, check out the video below. Then, while you're on my YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a thing!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure to hop on over to the other blogs in our hop to see what amazing things our talented team has come up with:

1. Leena (You are here)

2. Sandy

3. Barb

4. Jennifer

5. Leigh

Have a great weekend!

Product List

Well Said Cling Bundle [150609] $103.50	Country Club Designer Series Paper [151314] $15.75	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102584] $12.00	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867] $12.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089] $10.25	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $48.00	3/8" (1 Cm) Denim Ribbon [149590] $9.50
Designer Elements [149586] $9.50

New Catalogue Sneak Peek

Well, what a difference a week makes! The last time I posted we were in the midst of a horrible ice storm, feeling winter's wrath and being pounded with high winds and so much ice and snow. Now, seven days later, we are enjoying a gorgeous spring weekend with mild temperaturs and beautiful sunshine! Welcome to springtime in Canada!
Today I want to share with you a sneak peek of some new products you'll see in the upcoming 2018/19 Annual Catalogue, which goes live June 1st. This card features what I predict will be one of the best-selling suites in the catalogue called Nature's Poem. Check this out...

If you love Lovely As a Tree, this new suite will definitely appeal to you! It features a stamp set called Rooted in Nature which includes multiple tree, and leaf images as well as several sentiments AND a coordinating set of framelits. Here I stamped the large tree on Sahara Sand card stock using Soft Suede ink and then die-cut it using the framelits. So quick and easy! Did you notice those embossed leaves peeking out from behind the tree? Here's a closer look...

There are dies in this set that emboss the leaf images and then others that cut them out. I LOVE this look!! So many possibilities with these! And let's not overlook that beautiful DSP, which is also part of the suite. It is positively YUMMY!
I also used some tried and true current products on this card, including the Pinewood Planks TIEF, the Sitched Shapes Framelits and some burlap ribbon and linen thread. The sentiment is from the Thoughtful Banners stamp set.

On the inside I added a Whisper White card stock panel so that I could showcase more of the beautiful images in the stamp set. The leaves are stamped in Soft Suede and Tranquil Tide ink and the sentiment, also from the same stamp set, is stamped in Soft Suede ink.
I can't wait till I have more time to play with this suite. I have so many ideas swimming in my brain and so little time to make them a reality. I sooooo need summer vacation!

If you haven't yet reserved your copy of the new catalouge, be sure to contact me before April 30th to ensure you don't miss the mailing deadline. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram and like my Facebook page to ensure you don't miss all of the projects I post between blog posts. With my busy schedule, I'm posting here once a week, but still showcasing lots of projects on my social media accounts. You won't want to miss seeing all the exciting new products from the new catalogue!

Have a great week!

Product List

Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146482] $57.00	Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set [141614] $26.00	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115318] $10.00	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043] $10.00
Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144246] $10.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Nature's Poem Designer Series Paper [146338] $15.00	Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $5.25
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978] $8.50	Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad [144085] $8.50	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143708] $13.50
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $40.00	Nature's Roots Framelits Dies [146341] $53.00	5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon [141487] $9.25	Linen Thread [104199] $6.25

World's Greatest

Well, this is a surprise mid-week post! My life is gradually becoming less hectic as the school year begins to wind down and I'm finding I have a little bit more time to blog :) Now to find the time to actually do some STAMPING with my new catty goodies...that is definitely in the cards for this weekend!
Before I get to today's project, I have to give a shout out to my amazing students. Last week I took my senior concert band to perform at MusicFest Canada Nationals in Niagara Falls. They performed brilliantly and earned a gold award! I am so proud of each and every one of them for their hard work, dedication and commitment to making beautiful music. Anyone who wonders about the youth of today need only stop by my band room at 7:00 am some morning to see that we are in good hands. These are truly fabulous kids!

Now for some stamping...today I have a man-card for you. I know many people struggle designing projects for the men in their lives, so I thought I'd show you one that could work for Father's Day or a birthday, as I did here:

I used lots of retiring products on this project, so if you like what you see you'll want to act fast before they're gone for good. The background is a piece of DSP from the Urban Underground specialty pack. The word DAD is from the Urban District stamp set and is stamped in Basic Black Archival ink on Very Vanilla card stock. Then I used my Delightful Dijon marker to colour selected images from the stamped letters. I chose images that relate to my own dad to personalize it a little.

I stamped "world's greatest" on a strip of vellum card stock, punched one end into a banner using the Triple Banner punch and then adhered it to the stamped panel using a glue dot at one end so that I could hide it with the twine. One of the tricky things about using vellum is you always need to think ahead to how you're going to conceal the adhesive ;)
The only embellishments I used, besides some linen thread, were some metallic sequins, which I adhered using the Fine Tip Glue Pen.

 On the inside I added another Very Vanilla card stock panel and stamped a sentiment from the Super Duper stamp set in Basic Black. I added a hint of colour once again using the Delightful Dijon marker.

As I said earlier, this card could easily be transformed into a Father's Day card by simply changing the inside sentiment. Gotta love when projects can do double duty!

Have a wonderful week!

Product List

Urban District Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143071] $23.00	Super Duper Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142874] $23.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	2015-2017 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [138333] $20.50
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $11.25	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $10.00	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $10.00	Urban Underground Specialty Designer Series Paper [142783] $17.00
Linen Thread [104199] $6.25	Metallics Sequin Assortment [138390] $6.75	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $30.00