Rooted in Nature- Terrific Tuesdays

Greetings friends!

Today is another Terrific Tuesday here at Paper Dreams.
My card today is another masculine card- there are so many guys in my family that need lots of masculine cards. It’s simple and easy, but it isn't plain.

You may know that Stampin' Up is offering Bonus Days- for every $50 you spend you will receive a $5 coupon. What a great way to get ready for the new holiday supplies coming in August. Please visit my on-line store: https://marilynjones.stampinup.net/




Supplies: All SU
Stamps: Rooted in Nature
Paper: Early Espresso card stock, Crumb Cake cardstock, In Good Taste DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Nature's Roots dies, Braided Twine.

Masculine Card- CTS#378

This card was made last week but I haven’t had a chance to share it yet. I think the card fits perfectly for the CASE this Sketch challenge #378 even though I made it before seeing the sketch.  It was my original- weird, huh?!

Another masculine card similar to Tuesday’s card as I used the Tasteful Touches bundle & the same colors. I appreciate that you stopped here to take a look. 

Supplies: All SU

Card-stock: Thick Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Cinnamon Cider

DSP: In Good Taste

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: old World Paper & Tasteful Textile EF; Faux Suede Early Espresso ribbon, In Good Taste elements, Tasteful Labels dies. 

Tremendous Tuesday- Masculine Card

Hello Friends! Here’s my card for Tremendous Tuesdays here on PaperDreams.

This card uses a sketch that I’ve been using for years- it’s my “go to” sketch.

One third in one paper, two thirds in another paper. A strip between the two to “hide” the connection & and an element. The strip in between could be narrow or wide paper; it could be ribbon or twine; or even an embossed or die cut strip. The element could be an image or a sentiment.

I hope you like it! Come back on Friday for another card using this sketch.

Supplies: All SU
Card-stock; Thick Very Vanilla, Early Espresso.
DSP:  Cinnamon Cider In-Color, In Good Taste
Stamps: Tasteful Touches
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Tasteful Labels dies, In Good Taste elements

Fisherman’s Delight

Today’s card was made for the Splitcoaststampers “Mixability” challenge (MIX316). The challenge is to use the colors of the sky & mixed media, of course, to create a card. I chose to make the sky & water using distress & distress oxide ink to create the background and a little bit of pink gelato on the fish. Definetly outside my comfort zone but I had fun trying something new. I used the “Best Catch” stamp & die set in the SU Occasions catalog.

Masculine Birthday- SC652 & F4A384

Hi there! I hope my American friends enjoyed their 4th of July holiday. We celebrated with family on Saturday with BBQ- a true American 7/4 tradition. So yesterday was low key for us.

I made this card earlier today~ it took me forever! I'm not used to making original designs since the advent of Pinterest. For the past few years, I had been copying other designers because I was always in such a rush. Well, now that I've retired (woo-hoo!), I have time to make originals again and participate in the card challenges which I thoroughly enjoy.

This card is for my Brother-in-law's birthday. I used the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge (SC652) and the Free for All challenge (F4A384) to use a background stamp. I really like this retired DSP which has that wonderful retired color, River Rock. Great colors & paper for guy cards, don't you think?

My supplies are listed below:

Stamps	Guy Greetings, Weathered (SU); HB sentiment: (Stamping Sensations)
Paper	Cajun Craze, River Rock (retired); DSP:Well Worn (retired)- all SU
Paper Size	A2
Ink	Cajun Craze (SU)
Accessories	Duet Banner punch (SU), chestnut mini glitter brads (Amer.Crafts)

Thanks so much for stopping!
Marilyn

Star Birthday

Happy May, friends! This weekend, I had a little time in the studio. I'm sharing one of the cards I made for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SplitcoastStampers. Vicki, aka Basement Stamper, was our featured stamper FS482. She has a fabulous gallery & has been making cards for quite some time. I remember her work from before my hiatus & loved it then as I do now. I chose her Confetti Birthday card to case. As you might know with the FS Challenge, you change some elements & keep other elements. You can see her card here: I changed the confetti to stars by using a star stencil from Simon Says Stamp (SSS); I think it was in one of the monthly kits a while back but it hadn't seen ink. I also changed the colors to Real Red, Midnight Muse and Marina Mist. I punched three balloons; one in each color & popped up on dimensionals. I hand drew the balloon string. I kept Vicki's idea of a die cut happy but I used the "Express Edges" Happy from DieVersions in Midnight Muse & then stamped birthday in Midnight Muse using PTI's Everyday Happiness. Last I added a few wooden stars colored with a red marker. Have a great week!

Retro Golfer in Green

Hey there Blogger Friends!
I hope you all are having a great week! I certainly am & when things aren't going my way, I still say I'm having a great week. LOL!

This card was one I made last week for my Father in Law (FIL) for this past Father's Day. He is frail now but he was quite the golfer in his day. The sketch is one of my own & I really like how it turned out. The central image is from Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman. This double-sided paper has an assortment of retro images & the other side is this green argyle print that I used on the panels. Also perfect for FIL as his favorite color is green. The cardstock is SU! Old Olive and Very Vanilla. It is actually a 6 X 6 card which accommodated the image quite well. The jumbo sized brads are Brazzill's artichoke. I found envelopes at my local printer where I get my Neenah paper and regular A2 envelopes.

Have a great rest of your day! Hugs, Marilyn

Giraffe Birthday

Happy Father's Day!
We had a nice and easy lunch with my FIL (father-in-law) and step-MIL (mother-in-law). They are elderly & although they still get out, it really takes a lot out of my FIL. So to keep it easy on them, we brought to their home a BBQ lunch from one of our local restaurants to them. I am so thankful to have them both in our lives and just a short drive away. I made a German chocolate cake which is my husband's and FIL's favorite. Tonight I will give my husband a little gift from me & he'll open the cards that our daughters sent.

This card wasn't a Father's Day card but rather it was made for my youngest daughter's best friend whose birthday is upcoming. She has a thing for giraffes and anything with animal prints. The sketch I used is from Freshly Made Sketches. Love that sketch challenge and their sketches.

Thanks for stopping, Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies: 
Image: Zoo Review, Sentiment (SU)
Papers: More Mustard, Close to Cocoa (retired), WHite (Neenah), Dsp- Safari Kids Matstack (DCWV) 
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Momento), Barely Banana (retired), Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery markers (SU)
Accessories: Scallop Oval, Extra large Oval punches (SU), Extra Long Rectangles Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Stamp Club Swap for July

Happy Sunday, friends! I'm starting on my swap cards for next month's stamp club. My typical process is to design one card, a template. Then I cut the pieces for the 12 cards, stamp for 12 & then assemble. This process works good for me; I can assemble the cards while watching ballgames on TV with DH. That way I don't spend all my time alone in the studio & away from my sweetheart.

I used the sketch from Freshly made Sketches but I flipped it. This is really quite a versatile sketch & I'm sure I use it again and again.

I used the new SU! in-color "Midnight Muse" for the ship image. I double {Heart} love these new ink pads from SU! SO easy to get the stamp inked & it gives such a crisp image. The DP is retired Nautical Expedition that I got on sale in the SU! clearance section. I didn't purchase it the first time around & was thrilled when it was on sale. My red is SU! Cherry Cobbler that is embossed with the Square Lattice folder & the twine is from my local dollar store.  Easy peasy! Hope the stamp club ladies like it!

Have a great day! Hugs, Marilyn

Masculine Birthday

Happy Memorial Day to my American friends! A special Thank You to all who do serve & those who have honorably served in our military &  their families who have made their own sacrifices for their loved one to do so.

My card today is for two challenges. The sketch is from Card Patterns #167 (see below) and the theme from Hand Stamped Sentiments to make a masculine card. This card also fits the Simon Says card challenge to make a 'special male card'.

I used the "Just My Type" stamp set from SU! This one didn't make it to the new catalog so I am glad I purchased it. I used my black pigment ink for the typewriter and embossed it with black embossing powder. I distressed the edges with black ink. The paper is basic gray and poppy parade with white. The DP is from Basic Grey. The ribbon and brads are also SU! supplies. Even though there is ribbon on the card, I don't think it looks girly. Hope you like it!

Have a great week!  Hugs, Marilyn

Another Ship card

Hey friends! I have another ship card for your today. It is so similar to one I posted earlier in June that I almost decided to not post at all. But I really liked the sketch of this card so I thought I'd share. I also was trying out the camera on my new phone so my picture isn't my usual quality. On top of it, I gave the card to my Father-in Law & didn't get another shot. Anyway enough excuses...here it is. I hope you like it!

I have lots to post over the weekend as I my holiday plans include almost nothing but stamping. Yahoo!! Have a great Thursday!
Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies: please follow link to previous card

Cajun Seas

Here's another card using the Stampin' Up Summer Catalog's "The Open Sea" stamp set. I am having so much fun with this set. And since Father's Day and several male family members birthdays are coming up, this set came at the perfect time for me! I made this card for several challenges. First, the Color Dare 104 (CD104) to use Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze, and Not Quite Navy. When I saw these challenge colors, I knew right away which stamp set I'd be using.

The next challenge is Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA97) where you are to show your signature style. My natural style is along the lines of classical, but I do like to create vintage and CAS. Trying new things is one of my favorite parts of stamping so that includes branching outside my comfort zone. Anyway, I almost always use some sort of designer paper & most of my cards have several layers, but not usually more than 2-4 embellishments. I love ribbon and flowers but rarely use it on male cards; thus the reason you don't see them here.

The last challenge is for the Crazy 4 Challenges (C4C91) to make a masculine card. 

Everything is pretty self explanatory except the background, designer paper. I started with an indigo colored paisley DP by daisyd. I used the ledger stamp in Not Quite Navy and covered the background both horizontally & vertically & then a couple of random stamps for good measure. (LOL!) Then I used the anchor stamp inked up in Cajun Craze and stamped angled lines of the anchors. So in essence, I created my own DP. Well, that's it for me...

Thanks so much for stopping! Hugs,

Marilyn

Stamps:  The Open Sea (SU)

Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze, Vanilla (SU); DP- Gypsy Paisley(DasiyD)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze (SU!)

Accessories: Copper loop brads (Oriental Trading), Jute twine (local hardware store)

Father's Day card

Here's a simple card I made for my FIL for Father's Day & for the Splitcoaststamper's Featured Stamper challenge (FS227) where Mary, aka StamperCamper, was selected as the featured artist. I really enjoy Mary's blog and viewing her gallery; so, when the challenge was posted I made this quick card before heading to bed. I cased this card of Mary's.

I kept her boat theme and her sketch; I changed the stamp, colors and papers. I really wanted to more to this card, but kept it simple. It strikes me as too plain though, but I left it alone...We'll see what tomorrow brings. :)

Thanks for stopping! 

Marilyn

Supplies: All Stampin Up

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Early Expresso, Vanilla, DSP- Outlaw (retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow

Accessories: Spritzer Tool

Virtual Stamp Night

Happy Weekend, friends! Over on Splitcoaststampers, it's Virtual Stamp Night! I LOVE VSN!! Every hour a challenge is posted; you have 45 minutes to create. The theme this VSN is "Pirate Party". But you don't have to have a loads of pirate stuff; mostly your imagination will do. There were 5 challenges posted last night and another 10 will be posted today starting at 11am CST (12pm EST). I made this card for the MAY11VSNE or the "E' challenge called Sea Dogs and Land Lubbers. Make a project with boat or beach images! 

I just got the new SU! stamp set called "The Open Sea" from the new Summer Mini catalog. Love it- great for guy cards!! My card is all SUO except for the DP which I picked up at a discount store as part of a package of 20 double sided papers for $2. I just couldn't pass that up. For the Soft Suede panel, I wadded & crumpled & distressed using the distress tool on the cutter kit; then I stamped it in Soft suede with the background stamp in the new set. I distressed the twill tape with Soft Suede ink directly on the twill. Flag cut the ends and added a couple of retired vintage brads & called it done. Hope you like it!

I won't be able to play all the VSN challenges as we are still busy putting the house back together including my studio. {will this ever be done?!??} But I am sure to play a few more challenges this weekend so please stop by again. I'll be e-around in the evenings with my laptop in my favorite chair with a cup of tea enjoying your blogs.

Have a great weekend, 

Marilyn

All Supplies by Stampin’ Up unless noted

Stamps: The Open Sea

Paper: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede; DP- Dead Men Don’t Tell Lies (Creative Imaginations)

Ink: Night of navy, Soft Suede

Accessories: 3/8” Twill tape, Vintage brads (retired)

Masculine Birthday

Today over on SCS, the Featured Stamper is Neva (FS213). Neva is one of the nicest folks around and she has an amazing ability to combine numerous challenges. Big shout out for Neva! Since DH needed a card for a friend, I chose one of Neva's masculine cards and cased it. I changed the orientation, the theme from tools to baseball, colors, and background; kept the same layout with sentiment in the middle and cutout around it. Hope you like it!
Supplies:
Paper: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Soft Suede (SU)
Stamps: Sporting Goods (SU), sentiment- SU
Ink: Real Red, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Long Rectangles, Spritzer tool.

Gray isn't always gloomy....

Gray isn't always gloomy especially when it is the theme of a card challenge. I had a very fun evening last night despite the fact that DH didn't make it home from his business trip due to air-flight delays. Thankfully he will be home this morning. Anyway...last night I spent the evening in the studio. This card was one of many & made for two Splitcoaststamper's challenges. Friday's Ways to Use It (WT311) to use gray as a neutral. The second challenge was today's Inspirational Challenge (IC273) which I chose this bed from Serena & Lily as my inspiration. I scored my tile scored my background & then sanded it. Gina K has an easy to follow video on the scoring technique. Added two Not Quite Navy circles & topped one with a More Mustard inked chipboard star with a smaller More Mustard star. The other circle was topped with More Mustard DP from a retired SU! Patterns Pack. The Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment was punched out using the Word Window punch. Have a great weekend!!
Supplies all from SU:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: More Mustard, Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, DP-retired Pattern Packs
Ink: More Mustard, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: chipboard star, sanding block, star punch, circle punch, word window punch.

Inspiration Challenge

Happy Saturday, friends! Hope you are having a good weekend. My oldest daughter left this morning to go back to college. So my youngest daughter (who goes back next week) took me shopping to the craft stores to cheer me up. We bought some fun things with 40% off coupons, but I haven't started playing with the new stuff because I wanted to finish up this IC challenge card for my nephew who is turning sixteen soon. I chose this lunchbox as my inspiration. Please come back tomorrow when I'll have some fun new Valentine toys to share.

Supplies:
Stamps: Classic Convertibles (SU)
Paper: Black, Real Red, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise (SU), White (Pure Luxury-Gina K)
Ink: Black craft, Red (SU)
Accessories: Black embossing powder (SU), Large and Small Label nestablities (Spellbinders)

Vintage Car

Hello friends! I created this CAS card for the SCS CAS challenge to use the colors kraft, red, vanilla, and brown. Also created for the QFTD challenge where Darla was honored. Here is the card I cased. For the car's background I used the vintage dictionary I purchased recently from an estate sale ($0.50). The hardware is SU! silver star brads which I copic colored in brown and a touch of red.

Have a great day!

Supplies:
Image: The Journey (Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous)
Paper: Real Red, Kraft DP, Chocolate Chip (SU); Vintage dictionary
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU), Copic markers
Accessories: Star brad (SU), Scor-Pal

VSN Challenge Cards

Here are my cards for tonight's Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) Challenges over on SplitcoastStampers. I am so excited to play as I haven't been able to play for several years. I have this evening and all day tomorrow open. Nothing better than stamping all day!

I really need a lift too. This past week I started meeting with my career coach since my position at work was eliminated with a restructure. Last Friday, 8/20, was my last day. I received a good severance package so I won't have to worry about income for a while which is quite reassuring. I'm optimistic that I'll find a rewarding position. Keep me in your thoughts, please.

Back to the cards. I missed the first challenge, but hopefully I can start early tomorrow and make a card for it too. My first pictured was for the "B" challenge ( AUG10VSNB); the challenge was to incorporate a window. The second card was for the 'C" challenge (AUG10VSNC); we were to use the wax paper cuttlebug resist technique.

Our challenge on the third card, "D" (AUG10VSND), was to be inspired by the camping theme. I don't really care for camping. Here in the midwest, I get eaten alive by mosquitoes if I stay out past dusk. Plus I'm not a big fan of all the other creepy, crawly things. But I do love nature, the outdoors & I love to stay in the cabins or lodges at the state & national parks. We took our daughters on a 'western states" vacation & one of our stops was the Grand Canyon. How beautiful! We stayed in a cabin there. Each morning right outside our cabin was an Elk grazing on the tree's foliage. That is one HUGE animal; downright intimadating when you are only six feet away. Thus the inspiration for this card.

My last card was for the last challenge for the evening ( AUG10VSNE) and we were to be inspired by summer vacations. We took some vacations when I was a kid, but mostly we stayed home. We rode our bikes everywhere. One of my best girlfriend's family had a tandem bicycle which is what inspired my card.

That's it for tonight! I'll post the rest of the VSN cards on Sunday. Hugs!

AUG10VSNB supplies:
Image: Sweet of You (SU-retired) {I still love this set}
Paper: Pear Pizazz, Rich Razzleberry, White (SU), DSP- Green at Heart (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento), Pear Pizazz, Rich Razzleberry,Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: 1/2" Pear Pizazz poly ribbon (SU), Cha Ching brad (Brazzill), Velvet flower (7 Gypsies)

AUG10VSNC supplies:
Image: A Little Bit of Happiness (SU-retired)
Paper: Barely Banana, Soft Suede, Glossy (SU)
Ink: Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz-Distressed-Ranger)
Accessories: Wax paper, Iron, Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Cuttlebug, Twine.

AUG10VSND supplies:
Image: Yukon (SU-retired)
Paper: Mellow Moss, River Rock, Vanilla, DSP-Fall Traditions (SU)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Accessories: Thread, Twine, eyelets (SU!), oval punches (SU), Zipdry glue.
Info:

AUG10VSNE supplies:
Image: Pedaling Past (SU)
Paper: Ballet Blue, Old Olive, DSP-The Paper Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Old Olive (SU)
Accessories: Bling Flourish (Want2Scrap)

Route 66

Hello friends!

We just returned from a wonderful week of vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks. Lots of fun in the water and sun~ amazingly HOT like most everywhere else in the US. Since I don't have anything new, I thought I'd post the card that I made in late July for my BIL. He is my DH's twin so I always spend a lot of time trying to make his cards extra special. He is a car nut ~ he builds stock cars for races & he has completely restored several cars. He loves it like we love our paper artistry.

I am crazy about this Classic Convertible set from Stampin' Up, but I seem to have a hard time with sketches for it. So I turned to my friends at Splitcoaststampers and stalked the SU! Classic Convertible gallery. Well it wasn't hard, I fell in love with the newest one from July. It is from a fabulous artist~ Wanda, aka cullenwr on SCS . You can view her card here on her website. As you can also see, I changed up the colors, but otherwise, I made very little changes to her card. (why mess with wonderful?!) I even had the same DP in my stash which I bought some time ago to match this stamp set.

I'll be back soon with a new creation, a few photos from vacation, and a little bit of personal news. {{{Hugs}}} Marilyn

Supplies:
Images: Car - Classic Convertibles (SU!), Route 66 (free image from internet), Gear - It's About Time (SU!), Rough Texture jumbo wheel (SU!), Happy Birthday (SU!)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, White, Black (SU), DP- Roadmap (paper Pizzaz)
Ink: Black (Momento), Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories: Red brads (SU!)