Masculine Monday with a Touch of Sparkle

Sparkle and masculine aren't often used in the same sentence, but I think it works on today's card.  Mostly because I kept it clean and simple (CAS) and used the colors blue, silver & white.  I wanted the sentiment to be the star of the show and I think it is.

I stamped the outside sentiment on a Project Life journal tag with a light grid on it. It's a little difficult to see in the picture.  I took these pics back in November with my phone after my camera broke and before I got my new camera.  The tag is the perfect size to use on our cards!  I bought them specifically to use on my cards for the guys, but I keep forgetting I have them.  Can anyone else relate?  Here's a better picture of what they look like, stolen borrowed from the SU website.

The inside has a punchline from a famous phrase in the show How I Met Your Mother.  We love the character Barney, so when Michele Gross of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps told me about this stamp set, I had to order it for my husband's birthday card.

Isn't that fun?  Even if you haven't seen show, the sentiment works!  If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to watch it on Netflix.  ;)

 Speaking of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, did you know they are having a design team call right now?  I'm seriously considering throwing my name in the hat.  Their team would be a blast to work with.  The only thing holding me back is fear of not being accepted.  What a silly reason not to try!  Will you join me in the call?

Stamps: Wait For It (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Navy (Hero Arts Shadow Inks)
Paper: Project Life Grid Cards, Whisper White (Stampin' Up) Chevron Glitter Paper (???? bought at JoAnn's)
Accessories: Blueprints 24 (My Favorite Things)

Sew Sunday ~ Sew Expo ~ OMG Link-up

It has been such a fun sewing weekend for me, starting on Thursday with a trip to Sew Expo in Puyallup, WA and continuing on to the In Stitches quilt show in Centralia, WA on Friday and ending with an inspired weekend of sewing at home.  Yesterday I even had 4 hours alone at home to sew.  I should have cleaned house or worked on taxes, but it was good for the soul to spend quality time with my sewing machine watching videos on Bible Art Journaling. 

I have loads of pictures to share with you over the coming weeks, but for today I have just a quick post so I can get back in the sewing room before a sniper (kids, dogs, hubby, chores) gets me.  ;) 

Today is the last day of Sew Expo at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA.  If you are local, it is definitely worth the trip, especially today.  Many vendors offer deep discounts on the last day so that they won't have to pack and ship their merchandise home.  Especially for furniture, sewing machines and bolts of fabric.  

  

Time to link up my February finish for the One Monthly Goal challenge and I am happy to say that yesterday I finally finished sewing together the blocks that have been on my design wall since last summer!  Nice to finally have that goal complete.

It was only 10 blocks, but it was just taking the time to work on them.  Now I can put them away until I am ready to do a little more work on Michael's quilt.

I also completed the 2 February blocks for the SSMQG Patchwork City QAL.  If you remember getting caught up with that QAL was my January goal, and my personal sewing goal is to stay caught up.

I'm heading back to my sewing room to see what else I can accomplish this weekend.  I finished a super secret block project yesterday and started on the binding for a guild quilt.  I like to sew the binding on onto the front and hand tack it down in back.  It's a relaxing thing for me to do in the evening while watching TV with the hubs.  I'm seriously considering starting something new today after I finish the binding.  We shall see what happens.

Pretty Poppies are Rocking and Rolling ~ Video

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here in the Pacific Northwest.  The mountain (Mt. Rainier) was out in all her glory.  I even had the windows rolled down as I drove home.  For those who don't live here, let me tell you, the mountain hides in all the rain we get, but when the sun comes out we get to behold her around in all her glory.   I was driving up to Puyallup for the Sew Expo and got glimpes of her all the way there and back.  I wish someone else had been driving so I could take a better picture, but I was on a mission and traffic was bad.  I got these shots at the gas station somewhere near Tacoma.

Yesterday's weather reminded me of springtime in California, where I was born and raised.  Did you know the golden poppy is California's state flower?  I loved seeing them bloom along the side of the highway.  Such a delicate pretty wildflower.  Now whenever I see a poppy I think of my CA home.  Ally probably didn't know that they held such a special place in my heart when she sent me this stamp set.  Thank you, Ally! 

This basic card design can be easily tweeked to make a collection of cards perfect for gift giving.  Here is a video showing you how I conquered (sort-of) the rock-n-roll technique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZXELFJkaRQ

My poppies today turned out a bit more red than the bright orange I am used to, but I still like them.

Stamps: Pretty Poppies (My Favorite Things)

Ink: Cucumber Crush, Pumpkin Pie, Smoky Slate, Watermelon Wonder (Stampin' Up) Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Painted Prints Smitten (My Favorite Things) Whisper White (SU)
Accesories: Birthday Journal Die (Sugar Pea Designs for SOA Young at Heart Collection)

My Favorite Things Clear Stamps, Pretty Poppies by Lisa Johnson Designs

My Favorite Things Paper Pack, Painted Prints - Smitten

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle STAX

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 20

Lawn Cuts Dies, Large Stitched Rectangle Stackables

Sew Tuesday ~ Creative Day

Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to take a creative day and work on a bit of sewing.   There is a paper pieced pattern I have wanted to do since the first time I saw it, but paper piecing intimidates me.  For some unknown reason, yesterday was the day I finally tackled this block and I am so glad I did!

The free pattern can be found at the Piece by Number blog.  I would gladly have paid for this download.  It was easy to follow and everything came out perfectly in my first quadrant.  

Hopefully I will feel better soon and regain my energy, but it was nice to get a little something done in my sewing room.  Everyone should take a "Creative Day"  every once in awhile.  It's good for the soul.  Perhaps I will take another one today, just to be sure I am fully rested up and restored.  :) 

Totally Fabulous ~ CTS #160

Sorry this post is going up a little late today.  For some reason my computer wasn't playing nice with my camera and I had trouble getting the video loaded.  Thankfully a restart of both devices seemed to do the trick.  ;)

This totally fabulous card was inspired by the new challenge at CAS(E) this sketch.  As soon as I saw the sketch I wanted to try making some chevron stripes.  It would also look cute with solid stripe stamping or even large striped paper.  I would like to try this sketch again with a soft gray stripe and a trio of butterflies or flowers in place of a sentiment.  

There are few things I learned in the process of making this card that I share in the video below.  Clicky to watch on youtube.

Stamps: (mentioned, not used) Legendary (CASual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Wilted Violet (Distress)
Paper: Marshmallow (Bazzill)
Accessories: Totally Fabulous (Essentials by Ellen) Zigs and Zags Stencil (Penny Black)

Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies, Totally Fabulous by Julie Ebersole

Penny Black Stencils, Zigs & Zags

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Mermaid Lagoon

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Picked Raspberry

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte With Brush, 1 oz.

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

Calling All Sistahs

It's that time of the month.  Last month I forget, but this month I am back on track.  On the 17th of every month I am (striving to) join Michelle Gross, from CASual Fridays Stamps, in her Calling All Sistahs campaign to remind  you to do your monthly breast self-exams.   Early detection is so key and that is why I am committed to sharing this call out each month.  I also bring you a card so you can CASE it to send to one of your girlfriends reminding them to do their exams or to encourage them if they are battling cancer.

This month I have a very clean and simple card with lots of little details.  I used a Zig marker to color my white dazzling diamonds glitter paper, then layered the pink ribbons onto black glitter paper.  The mat for my ribbon parade was sponged with distress ink, then sponged again with a stencil covering it.   The sentiment was double stamped to match the ribbons, but I think I would like it better if it was just in black or pink.  

My card is based on the new StampNation challenge.  I flipped it on its side.  

Here is a sneak peek of my Design Team card.  You are going to want to check out what the rest of the amazing team has come up with.

Stamps: Calling All Sistahs (CASual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: 025 Clean Color Real Brush Marker (Zig) Ripe Raspberry Dye Ink (My Favorite Things) Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Black Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Scrolled BG Stencil (My Favorite Things) Ribbon Die (Verve)

Affiliate links used when possible.  This is at no cost to you.  Thank you for helping me buy more supplies to inspire you.

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte With Brush, 1 oz.

My Favorite Things Stencils, Scrolled Background

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 025, Pink

American Crafts Specialty Paper, Silver/Gold/Black Glitter, 6x6 Paper Pad

Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Picked Raspberry

Masculine Monday ~ Shadow Stenciling ~ Gears

My card today was inspired by StampNation dream team member, Ingrid Pagliocca's, card in the Double Stencil technique class.  She made a lovely tropical floral card, but I saw the potential for a cool masculine card using this gears stencil.

If you've never seen the ghosting technique, watch the video below to see how easy it is to accomplish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PP7X8Xhxs

Stamps: Bring on the Cake (SugarPea Designs for Stamp of Approval Young at Heart collection) Ring in the Celebration (Winnie & Walter for Stamp of Aprroval Young at Heart collection)
Ink: Paper White (Fresh Ink) Navy (Hero Arts) Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Gears Stencil (My Favorite Things) Jumbo Sponge Applicator (Tsukineko)

3M Post-It Adhesive Roll, White, 1x400 in

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte With Brush, 1 oz.

Avery Elle Ink Pad, Pure White

Hero Arts Pigment Ink Pad, Unicorn White

Sponge Applicator, Jumbo Dauber

Sponge Applicator, Ink Sweeper

Sponge Applicator, Sponge Dauber 3 pk

My Favorite Things Stencils, Bold Paisley

My Favorite Things Stencils, Cow Print

Prima Marketing Finnabair Stencils, Mechanics