for the guys swap cards

for the guys swap cards

Usually once a year in our demonstrator swap we do a guys swap and last month was our time to think of masculine ideas for cards. This is always one of the most challenging swaps for me to design for and it is a challenge for many of you as well! You are not alone so be comforted that we are all challenged on these designs and that I have several fun ideas for you to use for your future guy card needs!

My first card is from Veronica S and is for your male dog lover and is a simple stamped card using the single Doggone Friendly background stamp and a sentiment, stamped on Basic White with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Mounted on a Basic Black card stock base and a few Iridescent pearls and Gingham ribbon for some embellishments!

My next guy swap card is for your outdoorsman! This card from Kathi D features a Mossy Meadow base and layer die cut from the In The Grove die set over the gorgeous new Thoughtful Journey 6″ x 6″ scenic DSP to create a lovely and easy card!
Using Copper Clay DSP lends a masculine feel for this guy swap card from Andrea U. She used the retired Circle Sayings stamp set for this Book Bind fun fold swap card!
This fun guy swap card was designed by swap organizer, Denise W and features the Online exclusive Heartfelt Hexagon punch bundle with the carryover DSP Countryside Inn for a great masculine birthday card!
Do you have a motorcycle guy that you know and love? This great guy card from Lori V features the Legendary Ride dies with the Grassy Grove stamp set and dies in the background using Basic Beige ink and mounted on Basic Beige cardstock base.
Marcy W’s guy swap card features the Quiet Reflections and Notes of Nature stamp sets, the retired Foursquare Masks, Petic Expressions and Meadering Meadows DSPs and Thoughtful Expressions dies.
Trusty Tools stamp set and dies make this detailed Love you card such a creative and masculine way to say the four letter word, designed by Marie W for our guy swap.
Do you have a guy in your life that loves to fish?
I do my brother-in-law and this will be the perfect Father’s Day card fro him! Lyn L’s guy swap card used a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Gone Fishing DSP sliced down the middle about 1 1/2″ and bent on a diagonal to form a collar – so easy and cute! Just pay attention to the direction of the DSP if there is one – OOPS!
Hopefully Keith will not notice – LOL!
Judith P’s guy swap card is such a fun birthday card featuring the retired Hey Chuck bundle!
The Online Exclusives bundle Fluffiest Friends and the Grove Dies for the background creates a woodland scene for the out of doors guy in your life from Vickie G. Use the edge of your Stampin’ Snips to create that distressed edge on the Crumb Cake layer!
This last swap card reminds me of my childhood summers growing up near Presque Isle park in Erie, Pennsylvania! This will make a perfect birthday card for my father – whose birthday is today! Thanks to Susan W for this great swap card idea using the Beside Me stamp set which is awesome for all types of masculine cards and Under the Moon new in this current catalog!
My card for this swap I highlighted back on More Color Mondays April 22nd post featured the awesome new suite Take to the Sky Suite which is the best new masculine set in my opinion!
So when you sit down to create those precious works of art do not forget about those special guys in your life – they love to be appreciated and thought about! Now go create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Grove Dies
[157844]
$39.00
sale-a-bration last chance  – don’t miss out! trusty tools father’s day double z fold card

sale-a-bration last chance – don’t miss out! trusty tools father’s day double z fold card

Just today and tomorrow folks that is all that is left of this year’s Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-bration sales event!!! The rewards are so fun this year and this paper and all the rest of the great Sale-a-bration rewards will be leaving after Leap Day is over!!! So if you want any of these great products order before tomorrow is over! Current hostess code is TA6ANURK place that on your online order and get a surprise in the mail from me!

Today’s card is a peak at the Father’s Day card I made for my boys to give to their father. My mother-in-law teases my husband that he married up but truth be told I believe it is the other way round, in the husband and father department! He is the best father to our four boys and I could not have gotten a better one so I wanted the card to be as fun and special as he is! The Trusty Toolbox DSP is a Level One Sale-a-bration reward that coordinates with the Trusty Tools bundle from the current Mini Catalog! If you like it you’ll need to place that order today!

Measurements:

Card base – 4¼” x 11″, scored at 2¾” and 5½”
Inside card – 3″ x 9″, scored at 3″ and 6″
Designer Series Paper
1 – 4″ x 5¼”
2 – 2½” x 4″
3 – 2¾” x 2¾”
Matte sizes for the Designer Series Paper are 1/8″ larger
1 – 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
2 – 2 5/8″ x 4 1/8″
3 – 2 7/8″ x 2 7/8″
My base card and inside card are cut from Gray Granite cardstock and the DSP mattes are Basic White

Adhere all the Basic White square mattes to the Designer Series paper squares. and score the 3″ x 9″ paper at 3″ and 6″
Mount the DSP matted squares in the desired order – I stamped the gray Granite square with Happy Father’s Day sentiment from the Trusty Tools stamp set in Copper Clay ink and placed it in the center position.
I took a scrap of Basic White cardstock and stamped DAD is Crushed Curry in and then stamped you’re the most awesome in Copper Clay ink over the left hand side.
I mounted that sentiment piece on a Real Red cardstock matte.
I mounted the two rectangular DSP pieces on their white mattes and the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece on it’s matte.
I scored the base card at 2 3/4″ and 5 1/2″.
I adhered the matted DSP to the card base.
Fold the 3″ x 9″ piece into and accordian and place the back side in the middle of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ DSP. Open the top fold and fold over the front card panel.
Adhere the left hand side only to the front panel of the card.
Then adhere the back of the square panel and fold the card closed to adhere the back pieces together.
I adhered the sentiment piece to the front of the card across both the front panel and the front 3″ piece.
One of the best things about this suite is that the dies coordinate with some of the tools on the DSP so I die cut some of them for embellishments for this fun double Z fold card!
I added some of the new cork embellishments around the sentiment to finish off this sweet card! I love the way it turned out – now I have to wait until JUNE to give it to him! LOL!

If you have masculine cards to make this is such a great set! Make sure if you want any Sale-a-bration rewards that you get your order in before the end of Leap Day and Happy Leap Day tomorrow! Now go and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

out of the box stamping

out of the box stamping

Using a stamp in an unexpected way is so much fun. Many times the abstract stamps in a stamp set can be used in multiple ways! Today I am using the “hill” stamp as a swath of color being “painted” from the paint brush from the Trusty Tools stamp set.

Measurements:
Bases: Azure Afternoon 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Lemon Lime Twist 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Crushed Curry 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Layer: Basic Black 4 1/8″ X 5 3/8″
Azure Afternoon 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
Berry Burst 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White (3) 4″ x 5 1/4″
3 3/4″ x 5″

On a 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer stamp multiple paint brushes in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Using the hill image from the Hills of Tuscany stamp set I stamped in colors of Rainbow order:
Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Blueberry Bushel and Gorgeous Grape ink. Cleaning the stamp in between colors.
Using tghe light version of the corresponding Stampin’ Blends and Highland Heather for the Gorgeous Grape color, I colored the tips of the paint brush to make the brush look as if it was just dipped into that color paint.
Using eh Pecan Pie Light and Dark stampin’ Blends markers I first colored the brush handle with the Light marker, highlighted with the Dark marker and filled in with the Light marker again to blends the shading.
I stamp ed the words Hip Hip Hooray from the Good Feelings stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and mounted on a 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ layer of Basic Black card stock.
I added some Tinsel Gems three pack around the sentiment.
I mounted this layer onto a Basic White cardfront.

Here are some other samples using slightly different colors and backgrounds.

Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry make a background with a sunset vibe!

This next sample uses Azure Afternoon, Lemon Lime Twist, Gorgeous Grape and Berry Burst. and is accented with the Adhesive Backed Glitter Sequins.
This last sample uses the same colors as the previous sample with a different sentiment and different colors and sizes of cardstock. Isn’t it amazing how the look of the card changes with just those simple changes!

Try to look through your stamps and see what stamps you have that can be used for some out of the box stamping! Go and create some unique projects of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Just a reminder 2 of the 3 stamp sets used on these projects are sneak peaks and will not be available until the mini and Sale-a-bration catalogs go live on January 4th! Therefore they will not be shown on the picture links below!

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00
more color mondays – swing and sway in poppy parade, crushed curry and copper clay

more color mondays – swing and sway in poppy parade, crushed curry and copper clay

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope you had a great morning filled with lots of fun and I’m glad you are able to sneak away for a little crafting time!

Today’s More Color Monday Color Challenge is a very fun movement card as well!

This Swing and Sway card is inspired by fellow demonstrator Susan C. and I loved her card so i decided to make my own version with the upcoming Trusty Tools bundle in the 2024 January to April Mini Catalog and the coordinating DSP is something you can EARN FOR FREE during Sale-a-bration coming in January and February!

Measurements:
BASE: Poppy Parade CS 5 1/2″ x 10 1/4″
scored at 4 1/4″, 7 1/4″ and 9″
embossed layer: 1″ x 5 1/4″
mechanism piece: 1/2″ x 2″
DSP layers: 2 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ and 2″ x 5 1/4″
scraps for tool cut outs
Basic White layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap for sentiment
Holographic Trio scrap for wrench die cut
Oxidized Copper Specialty paper: scrap for peg
board die cut

Score the 5 1/2″ x 10 1/4″ card at 4 1/4″, 7 1/4″ and 9″. Fold into a mountain fold at the 4 1/4″ score line and the 9″ score line. Fold into a valley fold at the 7 1/4″ score line.
Place the Basic White layer on the inside of the card. Fussy cut a small tool and adhere to the bottom right corner of the Basic White cardstock layer.
On the inside of the card, adhere the 2″ x 5 1/4″ piece of DSP in the second panel from the left edge.
Adhere the 3″ x 5 1/4″ piece of DSP on the outside of the card just to the left of the center 4 1/4″ fold.
Run the 1″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Poppy Parade cardstock through the Geometric Patterns embossing folder in the triangular pattern andadhere to the outside 1 1/4″ edge of the card.
Place a small Stampin’ Dimensional about 3/4″ from the top edge.
Die cut the 1/2″ x 2″ mechanism piece with the reinforcer circles from the Tailor Made Tags Dies set. Place the mechanism over the Stampin’ Dimensional.
Die cut the peg board out of the Oxidized Copper Specialty paper and fussy cut two tools from the DSP. Die cut the wrench out of the Holographic trio specialty paper to look like metal.
Adhere the tools to the peg board die and adhere the mechanism to the back of the peg board with the circle sticking out above the top end about 3/4 of an inch.
Peel the backing paper off of the Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.

Stamp the sentiment in Copper Clay ink on a 1/2″ strip of Basic White paper.

Punch the sentiment piece with the Banners pick a punch and adhere to the Stampin’ Dimensional.
Because the sentiment piece is only adhered to the Stampin’ Dimensional and the peg board die piece hangs freely around the Stampin’ Dimensional inbetween the peg board piece and the card it hands and swings and sways with ease!
Such a fun and interactive card!

Try this fun fold movement card with what you have in your stampin’ stash!

Now go and create a fun card of your very own – one stamp at a time!

happy stampin’
Natalie

Just a reminder that some of these products are sneak peaks and not available until the new catalogs go live on january 4th, 2024 so the photo links below will not contain the new items.

Here is a bonus photo of a scrapbook page I did in the color challenge colors with the same products!
Remember to upload a picture of your creation to my Facebook post for December 25th, 2023 to share and inspire others with your More Color Monday color challenge entry!