Countryside Pump

I can't think of a better stamp set to invest in if you're looking for wonderful masculine images!  Countryside stamp set has so much to offer!  The images look great simply stamped as a sketch, or have fun watercoloring all the detail.  I began with Whisper White card stock then added Marina Mist card stock and a thin strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock that's been run through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  This is also a "must have" tool for masculine card making!  A layer of Soft Suede card stock with three Gold Brads backs the main image which is stamped on Whisper White card stock with Early Espresso ink and also backed with an Early Espresso card stock border.  Main image is popped up with Dimensionals.

NOTE:  If you love this stamp set, check out my Card Kit of the Month and save 20% on Countryside!

That's it for the 4 masculine card choices for our next Card Ministry day – what's your favorite?  I'd love to hear from you!  Just click "Comment" below.  Here are the links for the other three choices:  Sailboat,  Lovely as a Tree, Old Truck.  Please let me know which of the four cards we should make this month!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 116998 Countryside wood mount $22.95 OR
Item No. 120495 Countryside clear mount $16.95
Item No. 113525 Thoughts & Prayers $25.95
Item No. 119976 Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 104337 Gold Brads (200) $6.95

Don't Forget!
To purchase your Card Kit of the Month featuring Countryside for 20% off – click HERE!

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Lovely as a Tree does it again!

Are we ever going to get tired of this stamp set?  It's been around as long as I can remember, and it's always a good choice for masculine cards.

I began with a Whisper White card stock base, then added Pear Pizzazz card stock.  Some Peach Parfait card stock gets a great look from the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The main image is bordered with Not Quite Navy card stock and the trees from Lovely as a Tree stamp set are stamped on Whisper White card stock with Early Espresso ink.  Simply ink up your stamp, stamp once, then without reinking your stamp, move it just a tad to one side and stamp again.  This makes the nice silhouette effect.  A handsome touch is a ribbon tab made with Peach Parfait 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon and an Antique Brass Brad.  "Praying for You" sentiment comes from Thoughts & Prayers, but you could easily substitute a different sentiment for a great Father's Day or masculine birthday card. 

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 115026 Lovely as a Tree $27.95
Item No. 113252 Thoughts & Prayers $25.95
Item No. 119976 Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95
Item No. 119264 Peach Parfait 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon (15 yds.) $8.95
Item No. 119741 Metallic Brads assortment (120) $6.95

Don't Forget!
To purchase your Playful Polka Dots Card Kit – click HERE!
Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

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Preparing for Card Ministry

I've been fortunate to be asked to help a local church begin a card ministry to serve the homebound people in their congregation.  This month, we want to create one masculine card and another card that would be a "happy" get well card – not too serious.  So I got to work to come up with some samples, and before I knew it, I had way too many!  Thought I'd share them with you.  Maybe you can help us decide which cards to make!  I'll post one each day for a while!

Here's one of the masculine cards:

We're going for "easy yet effective" so there aren't a lot of embellishments, but I still think this card has a lot of interest.  I began with Not Quite Navy – haven't used this color in years, and all of the sudden, it works for everything!  The old truck stamp comes from Countryside stamp set and is stamped in black on Whisper White card stock then mounted onto Poppy Parade card stock.  Old Olive card stock and some Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon held down with a Gold Brad give some pop.  Praying for you sentiment is from Thoughts & Prayers stamp set.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 116998 Countryside wood mount $22.95 OR
Item No. 120495 Countryside clear mount $16.95
Item No. 113252 Thoughts & Prayers wood mount $25.95
Item No. 119263 Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon $8.95
Item No. 104337 Gold Brads (200) $6.95

Don't Forget!
Sign up for the May Stamp Shoppe – Today's the LAST day! – click HERE!
Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

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Life’s Natural Rhythm

A couple of days ago, I got sad news that a good friend and fellow stamper had lost her mother-in-law.  On that very same day, I received the joyous news that another friend and stamper had given birth to her very first child–a little girl.  I'm reminded again of the rhythm of life – one life gone, a new life begins.

Today I'm honoring a life well lived by Kathleen “Peg” Christensen, who had a remarkable 93 years with her friends and family.  Here's a special card for her son Alan and daughter-in-law Judy.

Because it was Alan's mom, I wanted a decidedly masculine card and Splitcoast's color challenge offered just the right pallette.  I used Bravo Burgundy, Basic Gray and Whisper White, with just a touch of Crushed Curry.  Lovely as a Tree stamp set seems my "go-to" stamp set for masculine cards.  I never get tired of it!  The sentiment is from Thoughts and Prayers stamp set; it's stamped in Basic Gray Classic Ink, as are the trees, and punched out with the Large Oval Punch, layered with Bravo Burgundy card stock punched with a Scallop Oval Punch.  A piece of Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon knotted and wrapped around the Basic Gray card stock completes this simple card.

I'll get to work on a special card for that darling baby girl and share it with you soon!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Item No. 115026 Lovely as a Tree   $27.95
Item No. 113252 Thoughts & Prayers   $25.95
Item No. 114889 Scallop Oval Punch   $15.95
Item No. 107305 Large Oval Punch   $15.95
Item No. 109053 Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon   $7.95

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Stamping 101 Library Class

I've had so much fun teaching two sessions of a beginner rubber stamping class at both the Naples Library in Naples, NY, and the Wood Library in Canandaigua, NY.  Thought I'd share the projects from these classes with you.

This card got its "wow" from cutting the frame and oval from the Big Shot using the Scallop Frame Die.  We stamped a beautiful tree from the Thought & Prayers stamp set in Old Olive Classic Ink and added a sentiment from that same set.  We punched a few flowers using the 3 Flower Punch and Perfect Plum card stock and attached them to the card with some Gold Brads.  A piece of Old Olive 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon completes this easy yet effective card.

The next card is a bright, fun birthday card showcasing several of the In Colors — Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and a bit of Soft Suede.  We used the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and colored in the main image with Blender Pens and Stamp Pads.  A dash of Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon coordinates so beautifully!

It's the middle of November, so no card class this time of year would be complete without making a Christmas card.  We used several products from the Holiday Mini Catalog to create this card — Delightful Decorations stamp set and coordinating Ornament Punch, Four the Holidays sentiments stamp set and Silver Elastic Cord.  Colors used are Bordering Blue and Rose Red.  An extra bit of glitz comes from the 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter on both of the ornaments.  The Eyelet Border Punch was used to complete this elegant card.

I like to show my students that stamping isn't just for card making and scrapbooking, but you can make wonderful gift-giving items as well.  And 80% of the students voted this their favorite project out of the four the completed!  Here's a simple pouch with topper using our Small Cellophane Bags.  I showed how to ink up the rubber stamp from Holiday Best (Level 1 hostess exclusive stamp set) with markers to get a multi-colored image and brought in the colors from the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper that's wrapped around the chocolates.  A bit of Elegant Eggplant Rick-Rack from the Ribbon Originals Orchard packet gives an added bit of interest.

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