Happy Fathers Day, aka NOT Woman of the Year day!

Hello and for all of you in the US, Happy Fathers Day!  Today I will be sharing the two cards I made for this special day, one for my dad and one for DH (from the girls, of course).  If you were intrigued by the lovely title of my post, let me enlighten you (if not intrigued...well, you'll just have to scroll down, I guess!).  

I feel like I always struggle to make cards for guys.  Pretty flowers and cute kiddie papers are naturally more my thing and I can whip things up in a snap when I'm going that route.  Masculine is a completely different situation... like embellishing...  Most ribbons are quite feminine and then there's flowers, pearls, and rhinestones... Yeah... not very manly...  Don't get me wrong, I know there are men who would enjoy a beautiful card (and to be quite honest, my Dad would probably love the card anyway), but I always try to add a bit of a personal touch to my cards to fit the people receiving them.  Did I mention both my father and DH are meat and potatoes, truck driving, getting dirty, fixing/making kind of guys? So...no flowers, no pretty ribbon, and no bling!  Instead they always end up with a truck or tool type of card.  

While my card this year is still in the 'tool' genre, it's not covered with saws and hammers.  Instead I pulled out a wonderful background stamp and got to work.  I was moving right along, found some great twine in my stash that looked manly enough and was symbolically patting myself on the back and giving myself all kinds of praise when I went to put the sentiments on the cards.  You will notice that the card on the right is horizontal...yeah...they were both planned to be that way, but there was one little problem...can you spot it??

In my excitement of having such a great guy card design, I did not pay attention to the numbers on the rulers and they were stamped upside down...Might have been kind of witty to have a Man of the Year badge on a backwards card, but then again, maybe not so much... Woman of the Year, I am not!  So now there are two differently oriented cards of the same design!  All things considered, I think they turned out OK and I know both guys will feel loved no matter what their cards look like.

I will leave you today of a slightly aged photo of my first favorite guy-the one responsible for my snarky, sarcastic, quick wit and stubborn streak (just ask my mother, she'll tell you it's ALL him!).  I hope you have a wonderful day and if you still have your dad nearby, be sure to give him a big ol' hug!

Dad and I, just a few years ago! 

Card Recipe:  Paper-basic black, kraft, Stamps-Backgrounds Rule (SU), Sentiment stamp by Inkadinkado, Ink-Tuxedo Black (memento), Soft Suede, Accessories-twine from stash

One Manly Birthday Card!

Hello! I am so glad you stopped by to visit today!  I think I am finally ready to move on from all of the Christmas and winter inspiration.  Nothing like a few days stuck inside as the wind howls, and negative double digits try to nip at your nose and toes to change your inspirations!  On the positive side, two extra days added to my weekend not only gave me time to pack up all of my Christmas decorations, it also provided time to create.  

I was in a minor state of panic a few days ago when I went to my card binder to prepare my nephew's birthday card for mailing and realized I had no card!  Fortunately, there was a gender neutral card in my birthday stash that worked out ok, but I quickly moved making masculine cards to the top of my list.

The inspiration for today's card came from France Martin.  I had saved a copy of one of her cards on my computer (pre-Pinterest) and when I went back to her blog to link to it, I couldn't find it...  Her card was quite similar but with a different embossing, sentiment, and she added some brads.

Now, doesn't the testosterone just ooze off of this one?  I don't think there is one girly thing on this card!!  I used the retired Packed for Dad stamp and colored a few items to add interest without being too colorful.  My favorite part is the silver foil paper embossing. Nothing says man card like a little diamond plating! 

I enjoyed this design so much I even made a few extra to stick back for Father's day!  Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit and things aren't too frosty where you live.  I know my friends in southern Florida and Australia are nice and warm...  Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

Card Recipe: Paper-crumb cake, always artichoke, whisper white, silver foil paper, Stamp Sets-Teeny Tiny Wishes, Packed for Dad (ret), Ink-black stazon, crumb cake, always artichoke, bashful blue (ret), silver pen, Accessories-word window and modern label punches, non SU diamond plate embossing folder

Happy Father's Day and 'I told ya...'

A rather odd post title, right?!  There is a little bit of a story (and proving a point) in the card I am sharing today.

I know I am not alone in my hoarding using everyday items in craft projects, so this is the perfect place to share this story...especially when I know you will completely agree with me!  

The story begins in Florida... While we were at Epcot, I bought the cutest BIG coffee cup.  (It has Goofy dressed in traditional German clothing on one side and 'Guten Morgen, Kaffee!' (Good morning, coffee!) on the back.  With both my love of coffee and my heritage, I couldn't pass it up.)  Since it was fragile, the gentleman in the store wrapped it in the coolest packing paper.  It resembled corrugated cardboard, but was thinner like craft paper and had this funky cut pattern as well.  Fast forward a few days to us returning home.  When we were unpacking everything from our trip, I carefully unwrapped my mug, folded the paper, and put it on the table by my crafting things.  This is where the story really kicks in...

DH-Hand that to me and I'll put it in the recycling.
Me- No, I'm going to keep it.
DH- Why? (insert completely confused expression here)
Me- It's kinda cool.  I'm going to hang onto it and use it for crafting.
DH-Oh... OK... (insert knowing eye roll here)
Me-What? (with complete understanding that he doesn't approve and the knowledge that it really doesn't matter if he understands)
DH- I was just thinking that you still have the other brown paper stuff (craft paper) you saved from the last shipping package and all of that gift wrap from my Mom (imagine hand made paper with embroidery...) and you haven't used any of that yet.
Me- Well, eventually I will come up with a great idea for them and then I will use them and it will be fabulous.
DH- Silent but with that all knowing look on his face...
Me- Silent but with that 'I'll show you...' look

Does this sound at all familiar to any of you?  Please tell me I'm not alone...  Anyway, as I was crafting last night I decided I was going to make my Father's day card for my Dad.  I don't usually make one for my husband because the girls love making their own and I think that means more to him anyway.  But, as I was going through supplies and deciding on a card for my Dad, I saw the crinkly packing paper.  It was calling my name and I swear I heard it say "Let's show him!  Make him a card using me and he'll HAVE to admit you were right in saving me from recycling!"  After that, it was a piece of cake to put a card together, and I loved the manly edge the paper added to the card.  I ended up making one for my Dad just like his.

 

close up showing detail of the packing paper (sorry it's a little blurry...)

So now I am patiently waiting for Father's Day to see if my DH notices the special paper on his card.  I'm hoping I won't have to point it out to him and ruin the moment that he realizes that his wife is brilliant and frugal and most of all...right!  And I won't think this is mean at all, because he was smart enough to marry me! (insert wink and smile here)

Have a great rest of the week and happy crafting!!

Card recipe: Cardstock-soft suede, crumb cake, Ink-soft suede, pastels, Stamp Set-Tool Shed background stamp, Accessories- artichoke denim ribbon (ret), Fabulous Packing Paper

Father's Day

The ladies at Hand Stamped Sentiments have a Father's Day card challenge this week.  So I pulled out my trusty Sail Away stamp and got busy.  Masculine cards are not normally my thing. Especially since the females in my home outnumber the lone male!  But I do have  brothers, nephews, and of course my Dad to make cards for as well, so I often have to step out of the comfort zone and make 'manly' cards.  Other supplies on this card are brilliant blue (ret.), real red, and very vanilla card stock, black Stazon  and brilliant blue inks, pastels, linen thread, and some retired star brads. I also used my 'go to' square lattice embossing folder.  Since I already had the paper cut, I went ahead with a birthday card too. I'm pretty sure none of my male family members will view this before receiving their card!  :-) TFL!

Both card images were colored with chalks.