Traveller Birthday

Happy Thursday...just one more day till the weekend...woohoo!
Today I have another of the projects I had on offer at my Birthday Blitz card buffet last week.  It was inspired by a card I saw on pinterest designed by Bonnie Klass.

Masculine birthday card featuring the Open Sea and Traveller stamp sets with sentiment from Petite Pairs.

I simplified Bonnie's design a little bit, eliminating some of the paper piercing, and adding embossing to the background layer.  I used the Pretty Print TIEF (retired) to add texture to the Naturals Ivory card stock.  The globe image, from the Open Sea stamp set, is stamped in Early Espresso ink and die-cut using the Circles Framelits.  I added colour with a sponge dauber and Pool Party ink and then pierced a border using the Essentials Paper Piercing template and a piercing tool.  I layered it on a circle, also cut with the Circles Framelits from Early Espresso card stock.  The suitcase, from the Traveller stamp set, is stamped in Early Espresso and coloured with a sponge dauber and Crumb Cake ink.  It is punched using the 1-3/4" circle punch and layered on a 2" circle in Early Espresso.  The compass, which is from the Open Sea set, is heat embossed in gold, punched with the 1-1/4" circle punch and then layered of a 1-3/8" Early Espresso circle.

The sentiment, from the Petite Pairs stamp set, is heat embossed in gold and die-cut using the Banners Framelits.

Inside view with sentiment from the World of Dreams stamp set.

On the inside I stamped the globe image again using Early Espresso ink, stamping off twice to ensure a very faded image.  The sentiment, from the World of Dreams set, is stamped full-strength in Early Espresso ink.
Have a thrilling Thursday!!

Another Monday Man-card

I have to admit that I love making Man-cards.  I know many struggle with them, but I guess being the only female in my household has made it easier for me to design projects for the boys in my life.  Here is a retirement card I did recently using the new Traveller stamp set:

Maculine retirement card featuring the Traveller, Work of Art and Really Good Greetings stamp sets.

I started with a piece of Typeset specialty DSP which I mounted on a Basic Black mat and then adhered to a Lost Lagoon card base.  On some scrap Very Vanilla card stock I stamped one of the brush stroke images from the Work of Art stamp set three times in Lost Lagoon ink.  Then I stamped the globe, suitcase and camera images over top in black ink.  I punched each one with the 1-3/4" circle punch and then matted each one with a 2" black circle. 

The sentiment is stamped in black, cut into a pennant and embellished with some black twine from my stash as well as a silver button.  I adhered it to the card with dimensionals.

Inside view with sentiment from the And Many More stamp set.

On the inside I stamped the brush stroke image in Lost Lagoon and the sentiment from the Any Many More stamp set in black over top.  I thought it was the perfect sentiment for a retirement card!

Monday Man-card

Happy Monday!!  The end is near...just three more weeks till I'm finished at school for another year!  My son is finished this Friday (Mommy's just a weeeee bit jealous!!)...I can't believe he's done grade one!
Today I have a Man-card for you.  Father's Day is coming up next weekend and I've been busy creating cards for the men in my life.  This one will be for my dad, who will be spending the weekend with us!  This will be the first Father's Day in 10 years I've been able to spend with my dad...so special!  Here is the card I made for him:

Masculine card featuring the World Map background stamp, Traveller stamp set and the new Alphabet Rotary stamp

I pulled out my new Alphabet Rotary stamp for the sentiment on this one...I love how easy is it to create any sentiment I want.  I think this may well become one of my favourite new products.
To create the background I stamped the World Map using Staz-On ink and then sponged the land masses with Hello Honey ink and the bodies of water with Lost Lagoon.  Then I sponged the entire thing with Soft Suede....I love the way it antiques those vibrant shades!  The best part is that I didn't have to try to be super-precise with my sponging.  I cut the background panel into four parts and matted them on a piece of Lost Lagoon card stock.

The focal image, from the Traveller stamp set, is stamped in Staz-on and sponged very lightly with the same shades I used on the background to add just a hint of colour.  I used a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker to ink the letters on the Alphabet Rotary stamp and then cut the whole thing out with the Circles Collection Framelits.  The frame is cut from Early Espresso card stock.  I added some Burlap Trim and an Antique Brad by way of embellishment.

Inside view with sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes

On the inside I stamped the globe again, this time in Early Espresso ink.  I stamped the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Lost Lagoon ink and trimmed it into a banner, leaving me lots of space to write and tell my dad just how special he is!

Courage & Strength

Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was as gorgeous and sunny as ours was.  The weather was simply perfect...long may it last!!
Today I have a project I made a couple of weeks ago using some new products from the upcoming Annual 2014/15 Catalogue.  Check it out:

Masculine card featuring the World Map background stamp and The Open Sea stamp set, the Traveller stamp set with sentiment from the new Something to Say set (both available June 2nd)

I made this as a graduation or retirement card...some occasion that leads to a major change in life.  I used the new Lost Lagoon In-Colour...I love that tranquil shade of blue!  I also use some of the new Moonlight DSP pack, which includes Lost Lagoon in it's colour palette. 

The stamped images on the grid-patterned paper are from the new Traveller stamp set...I love the vintage images in that set...so perfect for masculine cards.  The sentiment is from the new Something to Say set, which includes several paired sentiments...one for the front of the card and one for the inside.  Speaking of the inside, I used another of the sentiments from that set as well as one of the images from the Traveller set.

As we draw closer to the end of yet another school year I know I'll be saying good-bye to some very special students as they head off for bigger and better things.  One of them will leave with a little piece of me when I give them this card! 

Imagine the world

Happy Victoria Day!  Today is a holiday for us here in Canada and I couldn't be happier to have a day at home with my family.  We're planning to spend time outdoors and just enjoy the warmer weather - finally!!
Today I'm taking a break from flowers...don't worry there'll be more tomorrow...to bring you a masculine card I made.  Check it out:

Masculine card featuring the World Map background stamp, the Open Sea stamp set and sentiment from Loving Thoughts.

 First let me say this was NOT a quick and easy one!  It has been a very long time since I  had time to just create without a specific purpose in mind.  When I do, I tend to make projects that are very involved...this is one of those times.  Can you believe that background panel started out as a plain piece of Whisper White card stock??  I started by stamping the World Map background stamp using the Memento Black ink pad (available June 2nd).  Then I pulled out my Blendabilities and started colouring.  I used the Old Olive set for the land and the Coastal Cabana set for the water.  It took a while to colour that whole map, let me tell you!  Then I sponged the entire thing in Soft Suede ink to antique it.  The colours started out quite vibrant but the layering of the Soft Suede gives the whole thing an aged, faded look.  Then, and it was hard to do this after I'd spent an hour colouring, I crumpled the whole thing up!  I also tore the edges and sponged them with Early Espresso ink.

The focal image also started out as a Whisper White die cut on which I stamped the ship from the Open Sea set using Early Espresso ink.  I sponged the entire thing with Crumb Cake ink and then sponged the edges with Early Espresso.  I created the seal using the faux wax seal technique with gold embossing powder.

Inside view featuring the Traveler stamp set with sentiment from Something To Say (both available June 2nd)

 On the inside I stamped both the globe and the sentiment in Early Espresso ink on Naturals Ivory card stock.  Both of these images are from new sets which will be available on June 2nd when the new Annual Catalogue goes live...I can't wait!!
Stay tuned for more fun with Blendabilities tomorrow ;)