Masculine Card for My Guy - Lori Whitlock Work Bench Pop Up Card

👉  A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in the machine shop.  Robert Hughes 

Hello everyone, 

I did it!  I actually made a masculine card with no bling, bows or lacy frames and my head didn't explode! And just in the nick of time for our late Father's Day celebration this weekend.  For years I took a class at The Stamp Art Shoppe near where I live and created all the guy cards I needed for a year's worth of occasions in one "Masculine Cards" class.  My friend, Susan, was an excellent teacher and knew how to use just the right mix of Tim Holtz paraphernalia to create classy male cards.  Since the shop closed a few years ago, I've been on my own to do the CAS, neutral color, limited embellishment thing...kinda boring for a "bling it up" girl like me. But lately I've been actually having some fun with it.

I found this adorable Lori Whitlock Work Bench Pop Up card in her SVG shop and I love it so much! It's absolutely perfect for my handyman hubby.  I resized it to 5 x 7 in Cricut Design Space and cut it out on my Cricut Explore Air.  The "My Guy" label image I used on the front was in the Cricut Design Space image library.  I cut out a couple of extra tools and enlarged them to make my card front a little spiffier. I originally put some red enamel dots in the corners on the front panel but I removed them because I thought they were too much.  I know, such restraint!  The Father's Day sentiment was easy to find in the image library and I cut it out in the same glossy silver card stock I used on my tools. I think the red octagon looks sort of like a rug...to keep the grease off the garage floor, of course.

These Lori Whitloc SVG pop ups are so easy to assemble and they are such a fun surprise for any type of card  Oh, and I managed to use all neutral DP's...nothing fancy at all.  I think I'm going to get the hang of this guy card thing.  Sometimes simple can be very zen.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Cards 4 Guyz - Challenge #197

        Crafters Castle - Challenge 6

        Just Us Girls - Challenge

        QKR Stampede - Challenge #302

        Aud Sentiments - Challenge #206

        Stars Stamps - Celebrations Challenge

        Addicted to Stamps - Challenge #298     

Cactus Garden Inspiration - Stamped Succulent Cards

👉   Once a year go someplace you’ve never been before.

Hi everyone,

Ever wonder why artists are so obsessed with succulents? I didn't appreciate their unique charm until I hiked through the desert hills (uphill both ways) on a fascinating adventure exploring the amazing landscapes of Southern Utah. These gorgeous creations pop up everywhere amid the colorful desert mesas adding texture and beauty to the magnificent scenery.  How their gorgeous blossoms survive in the hot arid climate is truly a mystery!

When I returned home I knew I had to use some of my cactus stamps to create some bright summer cards for friends.  Three small neglected potted cactus stamps (two from Hero Arts) called to me from my stamp shelf so I took them down  and colored them with copic markers.  I found directions for this Double Z Joy Fold Card here and created a pattern in Cricut Design Space.   

My plan was to use a bright  yellow, aqua and purple palette for all my cards but when I saw this patterned paper resembling a desert sunset, I had to experiment with it. Sometimes you gotta just go with your mojo.

My original  yellow and orange sunset, coupled with a more intense aqua sky,  created a bright card with  more contrast. I saw all shades, bright and subtle, in the desert sunsets I witnessed on my trip, so I couldn't go wrong here.

I still haven't decided which pallete I like best.    Got a fave?

Sitting in a lovely cactus garden in the warm sun is heaven.   Definitely a halcyon day.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

        Dream Valley Challenge #182 - All Things Bright and Beautiful
        Stamps + Fun = Creativity - #327 - Summer
        Heartful Stamping Challenge
        Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Challenge #84
        The Corrosive Challenge - Anything Goes
        Dare 2B Artzy Challenge - Bright Colors

Prima Princess Sydney - Copics and Prismacolors

👉    “I’ve done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by ‘the joy of strife’. Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.” Anne of Green Gables

Hi Everyone,

Celebrating  my birthday with my darling family last week was such a pleasure and I feel truly privileged and blessed.  Now I'm  eager for another year of creative fun.  Coloring has been my obsession since I was a very little girl so "adult coloring" is absolutely blissful for me. These gorgeous lady images call to me from my craft room, begging to be beautified with colorific brilliance and adorned with dazzling, glittery accents.  

I colored lovely Sydney with copics in bright primary shades and then added some detail touches with my Prismacolor pencils.  I've been watching some YouTube videos while on my treadmill lately and have learned some really good coloring tips from some of my favorite paper crafters.  I would highly recommend the YouTube/treadmill thing!  It's a very delightful twofer.

As a birthday gift from my husband, I ordered several Spellbinder frames in sizes that would fit these larger images.  If you don't already buy your own birthday gifts, why not???  I'd much rather have die cuts than jewelry or new shoes.  

So... Copics, Prismacolor pencils, silver Spellbinder frame, glittery bow and rhinestone...that's it!  This Prima Princess steals the show. 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Double "D" Challenge - Teal and Red

        Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #167 - Summer Colors

        The Crafty Addicts Challenge #49 - Anything Goes/Flowers

        Watercooler Wedmesday Challenge #173 - Anything Goes/Feminine

        Inspire. Create. Challenge #19 - Colour Challenge

        Try Stampin" on Tuesday

        Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - All Things Bright and Beautiful

        Little Red Wagon Challenge #449 - A Rose by Any Other Name