Manly cards – Extreme Guitar

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I don’t know why I’ve allowed myself to believe that masculine cards are difficult to create.  I love ribbons and flowers and lace as much as the next girl, but once I shifted my mind set I discovered I liked making Manly Cards:

Manly birthday guitar

  • Extreme Elements, Friends Rock and Extreme Guitar stamp sets
  • More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Night of Navy and Whisper White card stock
  • More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Night of Navy Classic ink pads
  • Oval punch; Metallic eyelets; Hemp twine; Stampin’ Sponge

I borrowed Extreme Elements from Kellie for my Manly 2-5-10 class and I was shocked.  How have I overlooked this stamp set?  These fabulous images work incredibly well together!!  Oh.  Well, duh.  It’s a Stampin’ Up! stamp set.  But still…how did I miss this?

You could emboss the Guitar Guy and stamp right on top of him…or change him to Skateboard Guy…or get out some markers and draw a moustache on him!  That would be kind of mean, wouldn’t it?  Maybe we should just stick to changing the color scheme, because there are dozens of combinations that would work.  This one came straight from the new Color Coach.

Perseverance

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Bless you all for your perseverance!  Over the past few weeks, as I’ve found a minute or two to sit in front of the computer, I’ve been amazed to see the stats that tell me you are STILL checking in on the Maui Stamper!  Of course, I’ve gotten some odd spam-comments during the same time period.  My favorite was “check it out, Bro”.  Gotta love it.

How about we get straight to the card?

Birthday Owl

  • Sock Monkey accessories and Vintage Vogue stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Real Red, Early Espresso, So Saffron and Crumb Cake card stock
  • Real Red patterns Designer Series Paper
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad; Real Red Stampin’ Write marker
  • Two Step Owl XL and 2 1/2 inch circle punches
  • Big Shot, Petal Cone Bigz die, Backgrounds Texturz plates
  • Piercing tool and mat; Linen thread

I’ve been on a Manly Card kick lately.  You’ll see more over the next week or so, as we did Manly cards at this month’s 2-5-10 card class.  This particular card was for my son’s birthday, and the owl was meant to convey wisdom as he was taking the SAT for the first time a couple of days after his birthday.   I decided to hand write the sentiment because I wanted it to fit Just So.  And yes, I pierced holes for the linen thread so I could tie the bow directly on the card.  And if you like the “DSP” on the center pennant, it’s the leaves from Vintage Vogue with little red berries added with my Stampin’ Write marker.

Renovation has been just short of complete insanity but I think we’re finally on the road back to normalcy (or what passes for normal in my life).  Perseverance in the face of adversity is one of my headstrong traits – some people might call it stubbornnes..

Builder Dan started making “I think we’re gonna wrap up this week” noises on Wednesday but I told him I’d heard that before.  Was I ever surprised on Friday when they packed up all their stuff and moved out!  I have to say that Dan, Les and Rick were truly a Dream Team.  They did a beautiful job and if you can believe it, I never heard a bad word from any of them!

Mr. Maui Stamper and I still have a lot of rearranging to do before everything will be 100% but it’s lookin’ good around here.  We have a new family room – although the guys were referring to it as the Media and Entertainment room.  Truth is, it’s a Man Cave, but it won’t be finished until the GINORMOUS flat screen TV arrives.  We are going to have life sized NFL players bashing their heads together in the Media and Entertainment room this fall; won’t that be exciting?!

I’ve started to move into the Maui Stamper Studio (please, help me find a better name than that) but it’s taking longer than I thought.  I’ve discovered that I keep way too much junk, so as I move across the hall from the Room Formerly Known as Carol’s Bedroom into the Room Formerly Known as Sara’s Bedroom I am getting rid of ridiculous stuff I am embarassed to admit I have kept (and I have no intention of embarassing myself by telling you!).  The space is luscious, though:

Big Shot storage

A Cupboard of its Own.  Can you believe it?  I’m going to need a different system for storing those dies, and fortunately the Stampin’ Up! catalog has just the thing.

Time to get going…there’s still work to do.

 

 

We are safe…

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Just a quick post, no photos, no drama.  We are all fine – even Captain Stupidhead – and feel blessed to have been spared the effects of a huge tsunami.  From what I’ve seen and heard, the harbor area (Kahului) experienced water coming a fair distance inland but I have yet to hear of serious personal injury.

My greatest loss is sleep – I was up til about 1 am listening to news, civil defense sirens, helicopters, and the police on bullhorns warning us to be prepared.  My daughter in Spain called about 2 am, my daughter in Australia called about 3 am, and my son’s high school called at 5:30 am to say there would be no school.  I can catch up on sleep later…everyone is safe.

The people of Japan were not as fortunate and that is where we need to focus our prayers.

Aloha,

Anne

 

Insult to injury

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Builder Dan is working hard to get everything finished, but in the meantime, this is what I must endure:

The Captain Hogs the Bed

This is my bed, the one I share with Mr. Maui Stamper – NOT with Captain Stupidhead, although he tries his best.  See the red towel on the couch?  That’s for the Captain.  And yes, this is my living room.  It’s crammed with my bed,  artwork, the contents of the family room closet, and the Big Stupid TV that started this whole mess.

Please note how comfortable he has made himself.   He’s right up there on the pillows, and he didn’t twitch when I took this photo.

Builder Dan had better get a move on, because this is completely unacceptable.  Hmph.

 

Soft and simple

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Cheryl sent me a thank you note the other day and as soon as I pulled it out of the envelope I knew I would be making a bunch of these for my own use:

Cheryls thank you in Blush Blossom

  • Sincere Salutations stamp set
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blushing Bride, Whisper White and Pear Pizazz card stock
  • Prints Pack Designer Series Paper (Hostess Level I) and Vellum cardstock
  • Scallop Trim Border and 5 petal flower punches
  • Jewel pearls and Stampin’ Dimensionals

This card is simple but oh, so elegant.  When I see a card like this I always do a headpalm because really, I could have thought of that!!  Coulda woulda shoulda.  I’m going to go make some of these Right Now.

 

Shabby Chic two ways

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It’s funny…as much as I’m not a “Brights” kind of person, I’m not really a Shabby Chic girl either.  I like elements of the look, but the rough, unfinished edges look kind of, well, unfinished to me.  I’m an organizer at heart, so unfinished makes me a little uneasy.  Here’s as close as I get to Shabby Chic:

Vintage Bliss

  • Bliss (SAB) stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze and Rose Red card stock
  • First Edition Specialty and Springtime Vintage Designer Series Papers
  • Baja Breeze and Pear Pizazz Classic ink pads
  • Blender pen and Rose Red Stampin’ Write marker
  • Springtime Vintage Designer Buttons
  • Vintage Lace and Linen Thread
  • Big Shot and Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die
  • Log Cabin Smooch Spritz

The Vintage Suite products from the Occasions mini are a perfect compliment to the Bliss stamp set – and you would love that “Bliss” image if you could see it.    I must have been in la la land when I put that  button on the front of this card!  I made a second card, changed up the colors, and flipped the papers just because I could:

Vintage Newlyweds

I used a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes for this card, and squeezed in the script words from Charming with some Soft Suede ink, but best of all I didn’t cover up the sentiment with the doggone button!  Sometimes I amaze myself.

Look on the bright side

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When I first opened the 2011 Sale-a-bration catalog, I wasn’t quite sure how I might use the Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper.  I like bright colors, but I don’t generally put a whole bunch of them together – I use them as accents with more neutral colors.  Here’s my compromise:

Ice Cream Parlor DSP birthday

  • So Happy for You (SAB) stamp set
  • Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo Classic ink pads
  • Natural Ivory, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight card stock
  • Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper and Ribbon and Button pack (SAB)
  • Scallop Trim Border, Blossom Petals, 1 inch circle and Boho Blossoms punches
  • Linen Thread, Bone Folder and Tombo the Wonder Adhesive

The 1 inch circle is underneath all of those Daffodil Delight petals creating a platform so that theoretically I could avoid having my fingers covered with Tombo the Wonder Adhesive.  A great theory but in practice, it needs work.  Maybe if I paid more attention to what I was doing I wouldn’t make such a mess, but like Popeye , I Yam What I Yam.

The petals are given a little bend with a bone folder to round them so they stand up a little.  You don’t have to bend each one perfectly, because once you break down the fibers in the paper you can re-shape the petals when the flower is assembled.  And yes, I do sew the button through all the layers because I hate buttons that fall off, but if you prefer Glue Dots then suit yourself!  And you know who I’m talking to here…

Enjoy your weekend!  Saturday means Builder Dan gets a weekend too, so things will be quiet today.  One of the guys told me there was a rumor that Monday would be move-in day for the Family Room – which they have renamed the Media and Entertainment room.   I’m crossing my fingers.

Blissin’ with the Big Shot

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Sometimes I feel guilty about how often I demonstrate the Big Shot at stamping events.  I mean, not everyone has one, and once you see it in action, well, not having one can be a little problem.  But as I tell my club members, it’s my job to mess with your minds!  You may think you don’t need something, but the way I see it, you come to see me to find out what you don’t know you’re missing.  That’s my story and I’m standing by it.

Here’s one of the Big Shot cards we did at club last month:

Bliss in Blue

  • Bliss (Sale-a-bration) stamp set
  • Whisper White and Marina Mist card stock
  • Marina Mist Classic ink pad
  • Marina Mist 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon
  • Vintage Flower adornments
  • Big Shot; Top Note Bigz die; Fun Flowers Bigz L die; Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing folder
  • Stampin Dimensionals and Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive

I’ve admired many predominantly white cards like this, but it’s taken me a while to come up with a design I felt happy with.  Have to admit I like with this card – the only challenge will be getting it into an envelope and mailing it.  I just know my buddies at the USPO are going to make me pay dearly for that Vintage Flower adornment, but sometimes you’ve just got to go for it.

Builder Dan keeps making promising noises, but my bed is still in the living room and there is a fine layer of construction dust on absolutely everything in the house – and the yard.  It’s gonna be worth it, I know it…I just need a little more patience.  Does it surprise you when I confess that patience isn’t one of my gifts?  I didn’t think it would.

Happy Girl’s Day

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Today is Girl’s Day – traditionally celebrated in Japan with elaborate displays of dolls, but adapted in Hawaii to  a day of priveledge and gift-giving.  It’s primarily celebrated in families with Japanese heritage, but what girl turns down the opportunity for something special?  I can remember the delight my oldest daughter expressed coming home from Kindergarten on March 3 many years ago to report that the boys all had to carry the girls’ lunches to the cafeteria tables for them!  Little did she realize that on May 5 (Boy’s Day) she would be returning the favor.

Since my girls are  far from home, international shipping is expensive – and we’re not Japanese – they are getting “Happy Girl’s Day” Facebook wishes from their mom.  I know.  What a grinch.  But Crystal designed a very cute Girl’s Day card for the Maui Stampers at our last team meeting, so I can share it with you – and come to think of it, with my girls.  Ah, the wonders of technology.

Happy Girl's Day

  • Kimono Kids stamp set
  • Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Naturals White card stock
  • Basic Black classic ink pad
  • Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point and Peach Parfait Stampin’ Write markers
  • Round tab and 1 3/8 inch square punches
  • Medium cello bags
  • Sticky Strip

There are a number of tutorials and videos detailing the steps for making this double slider card, but most of them involve cutting up plastic bags and then trying to stick them together with enough adhesive so that they won’t come apart.  It’s MUCH easier to slice off a section of the Medium flat cello bags (50 for $4.50, #102757).  It’s the perfect size…but of course, you’re wondering what on earth I might be talking about, aren’t you??  Look:

Girl's Day card open

Those little tabs can be pulled and this card magically reveals two darling girls, one on each side of the card!    Can you tell I was paying attention to my conversation  more than to coloring this card?  Honestly.

So Happy Girl’s Day to all you XX Chromosome types.  XY types, not to worry, your day is coming.

 

Thinking in blue and green

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There’s a color thread running through my days:

Bliss Circa Cover

  • Bliss (Sale-a-bration) stamp set
  • Old Olive, Whisper White, Marina Mist, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy card stock
  • Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper
  • Old Olive, Marina Mist and Night of Navy Classic ink pads
  • Old Olive taffeta 3/8 inch ribbon
  • Piercing tool, template and mat
  • Sticky Strip and Mini Glue Dots
  • Corner rounder punch

DANG!  I just noticed that I rounded the corners of the cover and not the DSP panel!!  I really don’t like it when I miss details like that.  Back to the drawing board!

Ah, but I still like this cover for my Circa Notebook.  I love shades of blue and green together.  Even the vivid tones seem restful to me, and using natural elements like flowers and butterflies enhance the peaceful feeling.  Good thing, because when I open those pages and see all the stuff on my list, I can use a little deep breathing!  Nothing ventured, nothing gained – so I put it all on my lists and put the pedal to the metal!

One little construction note for you…the Old Olive taffeta ribbon is laid down on Sticky Strip, with a little flap created above each butterfly panel.  After the panels were attached, I added a Mini Glue dot under the ribbon flap to make it stay down.  It’s more 3-dimensional in person.

I’m off to tackle my list!