Man Oh Man Monday No. 9 | Father's Day Edition 01

Today is the first MOMM focusing on Father's Day. Today's card is traditional in color, design and pattern so it can easily be given to a grandpa too.  I have a thing for travel related anything.  I can't seem to pass up maps, planes, air mail iconography on fabric, stamps, papers and elements.  Perhaps this has to do with so many good memories travelling in the car.  I still love car rides, plane trips, boat expeditions and travel excursions.  I think travel themes are a natural fit with guys too.  I know the male members of my family all have affection for one type of vehicle or other or just in travel in itself.  You will see this theme come up time and time again from me.  I just can't help it!

 

When I thought about making a Father's Day card I pulled out some of my travel themed stamps from Tim Holtz.  Nearly all Tim Holtz products are a crafty gal's best friend when you need to make some testosterone enriched cards.  In particular I grabbed the Travel Labels stamp set.

 

 

I really love creating backgrounds with stamps.  Using the larger Fiskars stamp press and all of the stamps from the stamp set I created a pattern that I stamped in Versamark upon a piece of patterned paper from the He Said She Said He Said 6x6 paper pad.  I then heat embossed the images with clear embossing powder.  

This is when I pulled out my Distress Inks.  You can't go wrong with some Distress Inks and ink blending tool.  There is fun to be had (I don't get out much obviously) in seeing the images being revealed as more and more ink is placed on the paper and the embossing powder resists the ink. 

I wrapped some ecru crochet cotton around the resist panel and attached a round tag that I stamped with a sentiment from Fillable Frames #4 using some Hero Arts pool ink.

I finished off the card by adhering the resist panel with dimensional adhesive to a piece of patterned paper from the same 6x6 paper pad and then a kraft card base.

MOMM Tips:
MOMM Tip No. 1: Go with Tim Holtz.  Products designed by a man with a man's sensibility.

MOMM Tip No. 2: Customize pattern paper.  Heat emboss on patterned paper for a new look that is perfect for your project.

So there you have our first MOMM Father's Day card.  I'll be back next week with another card to inspire you to tackle your father's day cards.

Happy creating,
Shay.

Supplies:

Stamps: Travel Labels, Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous; Fillable Frames #4, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Versamark, Tsukineko; tumbled glass, shabby shutters, stormy sky, faded jeans, black soot, Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger; pool, Shadow Ink by Hero Arts

Cardstock: kraft, Papertrey Ink; white, Georgia Pacific

Patterned Paper: He Said She Said He Said 6x6 paper pad, Teresa Collins

Other: Inkssentials non-stick craft sheet, Ranger; Inkssentials ink blending tool, Ranger; large stamp press, Fiskars; clear embossing powder, Ranger; heat gun; Tag Its Kits cutting dies, Lifestyle Crafts; Cuttlebug, Provo Craft; dimensional adhesive; ecru crochet cotton, DMC

Up, Up & Away

Dear Reader,

How is your April shaping up so far?  Spring is in full bloom here and this year the lawns are actually a delightful green rather than the sad browning yellow of last year due to a wet winter this year.   Rain has become something of a sacred happening around these parts no matter the disruptions or mess (like mud-heavy paws leaving their imprint on floors, furniture and people alike).

March was a busy birthday month...some are even stacked up on the same day.  I especially enjoy making cards for my uncle, his wife and children because they express joy in receiving them.

Today's card I made for this same uncle.  I had bought a slew of Tim Holtz's new stamps earlier because they are so wonderful for masculine cards (I was thrilled with the train stamp set especially...thank you so much, Mr. Holtz!).  The hot air balloon and map are from Tim Holtz.  I paired these stamps with some from Papertrey Ink in particular a favorite set of mine--Half & Half.  The patterned paper is all from Basic Grey.  I have been really loving my 6x6 paper pads and these Basic Grey paper pads from the Oxford and Wander collections are no exception and they actually work well with each other.

Here is a little dimensional shot.  I decided to pop up just the top panel of the hot air balloon to give it extra interest.

Inside (using one of my favorite "happy birthday" sentiments from the Botanical Silhouettes stamp set (limited edition) by Papertrey Ink):

I hope you have an uplifting day!

Happy creating,
Shay.

Lace for Men? Why Not.

I created a birthday card last night for another male relative of mine.  In January I took a Basic Grey card class at a local scrapbooking store using the Origins line.  To be honest at first I was skeptical about the line, but within a few minutes I was sold...really sold on the glorious yellows, greens, browns and black.  This was a set which was gender neutral I suddenly realized with giddiness.  For all those doubters saying: "But there is floral and lace" not to worry!  I used one of the cards I made in the class as a base for this particular card (I haven't used any of the cards exactly as they were designed by Basic Grey as I feel I need to customize them, but they make an excellent jumping off point) which used the black lace patterned paper and it works for a man (hetrosexual no less!).

It is all about the images and accessories.  I went with a lovely tree by Papertrey Ink and the tickets are from Tim Holtz.  Add a little Distress Ink, some text background stamping and mini brads and what man can claim it is girlie?

Close up of the text background.  The card was flexing his [admittedly small] muscles for the camera:

I hope you enjoyed this card.  My thanks for checking out this lacy bad-boy.

Lacy Birthday
Supplies
Stamps: Tree and Sentiment (from the Father Knows Best set) and Text (from Background Basics: Text Style), Papertrey Ink; Tickets, Tim Holtz by Stampers' Anonymous
Inks: Scattered Straw, Shabby Shutters and Vintage Photo, Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger Industries
Patterned Paper: Origins line, Basic Grey
Punch: Modern Label, Stampin' Up!
Other: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, We R Memory Keepers; stampin' dimensionals, Stampin' Up!; mini brads

The Easier Route

One of my favorite easy cards for guys involves Tim Holtz's compass mini mask and Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash in one of my favorite colors: lettuce.  I am addicted to this color.  If you had told me a few years ago that I would reach for green over and over again and especially a green with a touch of acid I would have thought you crazy, but tastes change. 

I don't know about any of you, but I am a slow cardmaker.  I can easily whittle away an hour or two (or more sadly enough) on a single card.  I think it is because I don't usually plan the card in advance.  I start rummaging through my studio trying to find images or materials that I think appropriate for the person I am making the card for..their favorite colors, style, images, etc.  I often will have made many elements only to put them away for another day as they do not work.  It drives me a little crazy how I can agonize over a card.  It is a relief to have some cards that can be produced in a short time.

Navigated Path
Supplies:
Cardstock: Kraft, Papertrey Ink
Color Wash: Lettuce, Tim Holtz Adirondack by Ranger
Mask: Compass mini mask, Tim Holtz Idea-ology (Advantus)
Border punch: Upper Crust, Fiskars
Other: antique copper mini brads;Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, We R Memory Keepers