Boy Birthday

Today's card is one I think is really fun.

I love this stamp set, and I love to use it for little boy birthday cards. (and big boy too...mine is not so little anymore...) One of the things I'm doing with this card is showing different images to use, and different ways of coloring it.

So here's the sample, using the latest from the TGIF Challenge blog. And for this one, I used the robot image.

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Memento Black, Tangelo Twist marker, Bermuda Bay marker, Cucumber Crush marker
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Tangelo Twist, Whisper White card stocks, Wildflower Fields DP (SAB)
Accessories: Bermuda Bay stitched ribbon

However, I'm going to allow the stampers to choose their own boyish image, to suit their needs. (there is also blocks, a yoyo and a parachute guy) I know legos are a huge favorite- which is why I still use it, haha! So I'm including a sample of three different ways to color the images.
- First the pen side of the marker, which is the same way I colored the above robot.
- Second, the marker end of the marker, and the bold colors are very fun for a little boy, but maybe too bold for some people's taste.
- Third, using the markers to color each lego separately, directly on the stamp, which is a great way to color just about anything!

December 2015 Paper Pumpkin

Today I'm going to show off my alternative plan for December's Paper Pumpkin! And as soon as the My Pumpkin Challenge blog is ready for this kit, I'll link it there! (they give you plenty of time to enjoy the surprise of your kit and have a chance to create!)

Usually the Paper Pumpkin kits are available for a while so that subscribers can order more of their favorite kits, or kits they missed. This one sold out before December 23rd- and they only start shipping on the 10th! So, I'm very sorry, but you can't order a refill, or an original kit.

Here is the video of how the kit was designed so you can see the original plan.

 Can I be honest here? I have no use for a desk calendar. And the two people in my life I might give one too certainly don't want a flowery one. My husband and I have a tradition that he gets a Dilbert Daily calendar with his stocking, haha....
So. How could I use it instead....?
I actually had two great ideas but only one I could do today....
The first idea was to use the DP and the flowery pieces and the calendars in scrapbooking. Maybe some Project Life albums, maybe traditional, but the calendars would be a fun way to feature each month in 2016!
but.....I don't have photos printed from 2016....and I'm not doing that kind of an album unless it's digital, HA. (see HERE)

So, plan #2- birthday cards made very specifically for the birthday girls!
I went thru month by month and thought of specific people and I created six birthday cards ready to be mailed to each of these!
annnd soooo the ones I made for people who check this blog have to stay hidden! HA!

This one is for January...

 This one is for March....

Here is April...

 And here is May!

Supplies:
Stamps: Dec 2015 Paper Pumpkin, Boys Will Be Boys,
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Soft Sky, Soft Suede
Paper: Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Blackberry Bliss card stocks, Dec 2015 Paper Pumpkin
Accessories: Dimensionals

It's hard to tell, but the circle, and the little flower image I stamped on the person's birthdate are part of the stamp set. The birthday greetings I used came from the new Sale-A-Bration set Sky Is the Limit, and the Boys Will Be Boys set.
The other funny thing is that for being a person who really can't stand gold, I used it on every single one of these cards!
...the only trick will be remembering that I already have a card ready to go for 6 people...!

Boys & Toys!

Today I have a two-fer! I wanted to play with the stamp set Boys Will Be Boys and a I thought few of the sketches worked for it! Since I couldn't decide, I used both, haha!

First up, the robot, which I've never used! I chose the Mojo Monday sketch for this guy, and some very bright, little-boy colors!

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Memento Black, Real Red, Pacific Point, Cucumber Crush
Paper: Pacific Point, Real Red, Cucumber Crush & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Oval Punch, Stars Dies, Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Blender Pens

Next, I've got this fun lego card, using the same sketch as yesterday, from the Clean & Simple blog, and I used some of the same colors, throwing in a few more bright shades! You know the legos is why I bought this set, right? haha.... This card is super simple except for the fussy cutting "outside the box", which I love the look of much more than the doing.... hee hee....

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Cucumber Crush & Whisper White card stocks

Blog Hop: April Showers..!

That's right- another month has come and gone and it is once again time for our fun blog hop! This time we're celebrating April Showers!

First, I went with baby showers! I made this sweet card, in shades of blue, using the current Retro Sketch.

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Memento Black, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White craft, Markers: Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Lost Lagoon
Paper: Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Subtles Candy Dots, Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Paper Piercing Pack Essentials

Next up, as I was looking thru my stash I noticed that the Paper Pumpkin kit from August of 2014 has this fun 'congrats' piece, AND the kit, and the refill is still available to order if you (or already are!) become a Paper Pumpkin subscriber! (check it out HERE) I couldn't pass the opportunity to share that fact!!
So I used the heart piece, flipped over to sponge gray hearts all over it, added some Strawberry Slush sequins, and I think it's perfect for a bridal shower card!

Supplies:
Ink: Smoky Slate
Paper: Strawberry Slush card stock
Accessories: Aug 2014 Paper Pumpkin Kit

That's just two ideas I had for your spring weddings and baby showers...Go check out what everyone else came up with and leave your thoughts too! We love hearing (reading?) what you think!

A Baby Card

Today I have the last card from the classes this week! Again, for this class, I wanted to focus on all new products. I have the Boys Will Be Boys stamp set, but I was stuck for a while as to how "everyone" can use it, since I like my classes to be as universally applicable as possible! And then I figured it out- a baby card with the blocks! Yeay! And the In Colors from last year work perfectly for this sweet card! What do you think?

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar markers
Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Big Shot, Arrows Embossing Folder, Neutral Buttons, White Baker's Twine

Boy Birthdays!

This weekend my son has a combined birthday party to attend. That means I needed to make two boy birthday cards!
First up, I used the current Clean & Simple sketch, and! I got to play with my Blendabilities again! Check out the parachute!

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: Pacific Point, Memento Black, Pumpkin Pie marker, Old Olive Blendabilities
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots

And then I used the current Nacho Average Sketch for this card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point
Paper: Marina Mist & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Dimensionals

So instead of added three things across the side of the card (since I turned the sketch) I punched holes, and stamped on the card base! I started by punching the holes out, then using a pencil to lightly mark the corners of the hexagons. Then I used a 'frame' punched out of a post-it note to make sure I didn't stamp where I didn't want it showing, and erased the pencil marks. Then I put the card stock on Dimensionals!

Pretty handy, huh?

Birthday for a Boy

Today is my son's birthday. There's a friend party today, and more family celebrations this weekend... while I smile and ignore the fact that he is growing up entirely too quickly and it's kind of freaking me out...

The first thing I *knew I was getting from this catalog was this stamp set, because the instant I saw it, I knew I could use the lego image for yeeeeears. And, as expected, this was the first image I used from the set once I got it! And I happen to know he's going to love it!
I used the July #1 sketch from Viva La Verve for the layout.

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Tangelo Twist & Baked Brown Sugar markers, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Retro Fresh Washi Tape, Decorative Label Punch

And just to reiterate my earlier point about legos for yeeears....here's the invite from a previous birthday party...

and here is a scrapbook page in the first digi book I made- which! he got as a birthday gift a few years ago!

...legos and birthdays apparently go hand-in-hand for this one. And that is FINE with me!