Manly Mondays Week #13

Does it have to be Valentine's Day to show your loved one "the love"? I've always thought "not".  This one is quite simple and took no time to put together.

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Cherrie DSP (I think??)

Stamp Set: Pendant Park

Ink: Basic Grey

Non SU Embossing Folder

Even though I found the way I layered the bench came out looking like a toaster I still went with it. It was probably due to the fact that it was raining along with quite a bit of thunder when this was in production and I wanted to get the heck out of Dodge (downstairs).  Quite often when there's thunder it sounds like a car door slamming and Frankii goes wild.  We've had rain almost everyday for the last month. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.  Forcast for this week is rain with more rain.

Three years ago today Frankii came to stay with us.  He was just 4 months old and we were getting ready to move to "the country".

Here he is relaxing in the shade at the old house after peeking in almost every box we were packing.  All I had to do to get him to follow me was have something in my hand.  He still does that! :)

A La Prochaine!

Manly Mondays Week #12

When I was trying to figure out what kind of card to make for this week's Manly Mondays I realized I already had one made. Gotta like that!  At this month's card class I demoed the soot stamping technique.  You can find the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers here.  

Cardstock colors used: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and Basic Black.

Stamp Sets: In The Wild (retired) and Define Your Life

Ink: Black StazOn

Brads were provided by the one and only Betty.

This would be perfect for a graduate or a young man leaving home for the first time.  

A La Prochaine!

Manly Mondays - Week #11

My friend Betty's Garry has taken up driving. Not everyone likes to drive. To mark this "I'm going to overcome my fear and just deal occasion" I made this card for him. I mapped out his route from home to work somewhat using MapQuest.

He is travelling from West to East. Since the truck from Loads of Love faces the other way I embossed it with Silver Powder on Vellum Cardstock and attached it to the card on the reverse side.  I knew that he had bought himself a truck although I did not know the color so it worked out perfectly. On the inside I wrote "Congratulations on putting on your big boy pants, they look good on you!" He got a good laugh out of it and that's all that matters.

A La Prochaine.

Faux Metal

Faux Metal - a technique I've been wanting to try for quite some time. For some reason I thought it would be more difficult which is probably why it caused some hesitation. Turn out better than I imagined.

Used Basic Black as the base of the card.  Made a layer using Brushed Gold and embossed that with Gold Powder and Versamark using the Bella Toile background stamp - one of my favorites.

On a small piece of Brushed Gold, covered it with Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder. While it was still hot, added more Embossing Powder. Repeated that about 4 times. Once I liked the thickness of all that embossing I put the bird image from Of The Earth while it was still hot and let it rest for a few minutes to cool.  Once the image has cooled completely I trimmed it and layered it to a piece of Basic Black.  Added Black Satin Ribbon and some Gold Cord.  I love the dramatic effect this created.

Frankii is already for Canada Day sportin' his new scarf.

He sure loves his new bone.  He's been carrying it around ever since he got it.  I'm surprised he's not sleeping with it.

A La Prochaine.

Manly Mondays Week #10

Every once in awhile I like to join a swap in one of the Yahoo groups that I am involved in.  I was looking for something a little different and came across a one card swap in the Scor-Pal group.  It just so happened that for the month of May the theme was "masculine".  This is the card that I made.

The fish was applied with Heat and Stick powder and green sand.  A really fun technique I learned a few years back. For the inside I simply stamped some branches from Embrace Life.

I was pleased that the recipient acknowledged receiving it and really liked it.

The swap that I received in return is absolutely amazing.  My jaw dropped when I opened the envelope.  The time and care that it took just pops out at you. 

Mary Sanchez created this and unfortunately my lighting for this picture does not do it justice.  I received it over a week ago and I can not stop looking at it.  It shimmers and glows in all the right places.  When you get a chance check out her blog at Odonata Creations  She has some amazing tutorials posted. She also sent this.

Once again the lighting fails to capture its true beauty.  The letters are embossed and a slight pink shimmer surrounds this incredible plaque. I will treasure this always and it will hold a special place in my craft room. I can not say thank you enough Mary!

A La Prochaine!

Manly Mondays Week #9

My Husband recently celebrated his 50th.  He's an avid hunter and this "fit the bill". 

You can't tell from the picture, unfortunately, the elk or caribou (I can never tell the difference) is embossed.  I used Basic Black Craft Ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. The white layer was ran through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.   The inside included a Huge gift certificate for yet more power tools.  Not sure which one, the card or the certificate, brought a bigger smile :)

We suffered yet another snow storm and a full day with no power!  At least Wesley was entertained watching the geese.

He sat there for quite awhile just watching not making a sound.  Not sure who was more intrigued, the goose or Wesley. Thankfully it kept him from digging under the fence which he has been doing a lot!

A La Prochaine!

Manly Mondays Week #8

Here's a rather simple masculine Birthday card yet with a touch of elegance. 

The base is Chocolate Chip with a layer of Brushed Copper using the Harlequin Texturz Plate.  Celebrate You, from the Party Hearty set,  is embossed in Copper on Very Vanilla punched out with the 1 3/4 Circle Punch.  The 2 inch Chocolate Chip circle was made with the Circle Scissor Plus. Before the circles were adhered to the Brushed Copper I layed a piece of Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (this version of the satin ribbon is retired). I like it better than the current version.

For the inside, I layered a piece of Very Vanilla, stamped a gift from the Birthday Whimsy set on each side in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Big Bold Birthday.

When I was preparing to insert this picture it looked a little pale so I increased the  brightness.  Looks like I went a little too far.  Sorry about that.  The cardstock really is Very Vanilla.

As promised last week here a picture of the kids watching geese from the property next door.

I took this from the kitchen window.  I didn't want to open the door and distract them as they have never been so quiet.   They were just standing there watching. It looks like geese have taken up permanent residence.  The kids are okay with that as long as they don't cross the property line.  They get a good "bark lashing" when they do.  Nothing like protecting your territory :).

A La Prochaine!