Trying My Hand At Making A Masculine Card ...

At work, each month we celebrate that month's birthday people. I've notice, though, that there are as many, if not more, males in the office than there are females. So it got me to thinking that I might need to try making a variety of cards that are more gender specific. Oh my creative juice flow somewhat easily to allow me to make the girly, fru-fru or kiddie-type cards without too much problem. And the same is true with event or holiday cards. However, masculine cards that have the masculine feel even without words like "dad" or "boy" on them have given me a bit more trouble. Guess I need to try and think more like a guy ... well, in this case at least. Hahahaha

Well, lately I've been amassing Cricut cartridges and actually studying the manuals to learn how to more effectively use them. I've also been purchasing quite a few Cuttlebug folders and learning how to more effectively use them also, all in combination with rubber and digital stamping.

Soooooo, night before last, realizing that it was the birthday of one of the attorneys I'd assisted for the past 8+ years, I decided to make him a card. Armed with all my new goodies and an idea or two, I rushed home from work - didn't get home until about 10:00pm EST - to create a card. After a deviation or two from my original brainstorm at work, this is what I came up with.

Here's the front ...



And here's the inside ...



I apologize that the picture is a little blurry. (That's another goal: to learn to take better pictures.) All-in-all, I like the way this card turned out. (I think this is the first time I've said that publicly.) It was a lot of work, but really was more like a labor of love. There's a lot of small pieces and a lot of popping-up making it necessary to cut really small pieces of dimensional tape. But, as much as it took to create this card, I loved every minute of it. I remained excited with each step of the process, even though I kind of witched and moaned a few times.

I not only had much fun doing this card, but now I know I can. And as an added bonus, the compliments I received from my co-workers who saw the card before (and after) I gave it to him, just gave me more incentive. Plus the fact that he really appreciated that I still remembered his birthday.

Have a Great Day! and thanks for stopping by ...
demarys

Life Happens ...

Quite a few "life" things have kept my plate quite full these past few weeks and I've been quite busy just trying to sort through it all. It's been so crazy that I've rarely been able to steal-away to my "special place" just to sit and take it all in -- what I do on those times when it feels like the regular world is beating up on me and I need to feel centered. Most times, just being in my craft room surrounded by all the various papers and fabrics and embellishments and tools makes the outside world go away and puts me at peace. Guess this time the plate was just a wee bit too full and I'm sad to admit that it really has affected my "mojo" but I'm slowly getting back on track. I've been creating, but sporadically, so I hope I'm not losing it.

I figured I'd better try getting back on track. Challenges always seem to inspire me, and where better to start than with a blog challenge. So off I went to find a challenge or 2 to get me started. I decided to work on the latest sketches from the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge (see the sketch below) and the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge where the challenge was to "Bling it On" by creating a project with use embellishments, jewels and glitter, etc. to give your project some glimmer, glitz and shine ... (Hope y'all over at Fantabulous Cricut don't mind that I paraphrazed a little.)

This is Mojo Monday Sketch #131. and here's what I created from it for my submission to the challenge.

And this is the inside of the card.
It's intended for you to read: "It just wouldn't be Easter, without a chocolate bunny and you."

In the past, I usually left the inside of the cards "undecorated" and without any sentiment so that the giver can write their own sentiment. Then after a while, if I put anything at all on the inside of the card, it would most likely be a plain or "mildly" decorated piece of matching paper, however still without sentiment.

It was kind of funny though because everytime I showed one of the cards I'd created, the person would flip it open to see what was inside and seemed rather disappointed at the blank page. I would explain of course, and I believe the reasoning was understood, but there was still that disappointed look. So, I decided that at least on occasion and more often as I'd become more comfortable with doing so, that I would try adding a phrase or two.

Have a Great Day! and thanks for stopping by ...
demarys

Mojo Monday #129 Submission

This is the sketch for Mojo Monday #129.

Here is my submission for this sketch.



I am out of town right now. Had to make an unexpected trip to North Carolina for family reason. I'm very grateful to be able to say that everything is fine (or at least will be) ... that's the good thing. The bad thing is that I don't have access to my craftroom hence no acess to my card making products and supplies and unfortunately therefore unable to give a full or better yet, an accurate descriptions of the various things I used to create this card. Even though I know many/most who look closely at my card will have no problem picking out what this or that is and maybe even who's product it is, I had decided to begin adding a "supply" list simply because i think it's a nice justure and it's helpful to have. [Side note: I think I miss my craftroom more than I miss my bed, when I have to be away from home -- even for short periods of time. LOL]

I almost wasn't able to upload this picture, but just before I had to leave to head back home, I got a break. You see, I had brought with me on the trip this bag I usually tote with me back and forth, to and from work everyday (mainly, because I'm not completely sure what's in it -- I sometimes tend to carry a few cardmaking supplies in it so that if I find myself with some free time during lunch break, I can work on a card element or two). Well, fortunately, I hadn't fully unpack it and that turned out to be a good thing. Although there was nothing in the bag to help me with the descriptions, my camera was in there and I was able to take pictures of the cards I had made for various challenges and upload them unto my daughter's computer. So this go round, once again, I'm posting just the picture ... but, I've heard it said that a picture can speak a thousand words. I hope my card is speaking to you right now. LOL In any event, the picture by itself will suffice until I am back at home -- probably sometime around 2:00am -- where all my "stuff" is.

I so apologize, but I'll probably not be able to post that info until some time tomorrow -- most likely during my lunch break at work.

De

Have a Great Day! and thanks for stopping by ...
demarys

My First Crafty Creations Challenge Card - Challenge #57

This week, I've found a few new challenges to participate in. This submission is for Challenge #57 over at Crafty Creations. No sketch or photo, just instructions:

"... to use all one color on your creations. You can use as many different shades of the color and the images [could] be colored any way you like."

I recently made this card and when I saw this challenge, I thought "Ummm, it could work ... so here it is.

To make this card I've used varying shades of Teal cardstock and a designer paper in a muted shade of teal with white accents. (I'm not in my craftroom right now and the name of the paper escapes me, but I'll check when I get home and update this link tomorrow. To compliment the white in the designer paper, I added very minor bits of white in the form of embellies, ribbon, etc. to allow the card to "pop". The cardstock has been dry-embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder, lightly "sponged" with a combination of colors I mixed together to create a "teal" compatible with the cardstock and popped-up with pop dots to give it dimension. The white ribbon is grosgrain ribbon by Offray. The sentiment is a clear stamp by Studio G that once stamped (with that same color combination) I highlighted with Dazzling Diamonds by Stampin' Up. I just love the sparkliness (is that a word ... oh, well now it is ... lol) of Dazzling Diamonds. I attached a flower also from Stampin' Up and in the center of the flower added a brad that -- you got it -- I colored with my same color concoction and then added Dazzling Diamonds. Did I mention, I love the sparklies.

If this card looks familiar, it's because I've also submitted this card for Mojo Monday Challenge #126.

Have a Great Day! and thanks for stopping by ...
Demarys