Road Trip

I've said this before . . . I love getting the sketch challenges for cards. The sketches not only have the hard work taken care of (someone has done all the thinking for the creative part of the card layout), but they often take me out of my comfort zone or give me an "a-ha" moment with regard to something new to try or something "old" to revisit. Since today is QKR Monday, I thought it would be fun to use the latest Card Patterns Sketch 69 with one of my QKR Stampede images.

Here is the sketch:

My card today uses the Old Car (#20205) stamp by QKR Stampede. This stamp is such a fun image and perfect for summer-themed cards or vacation/travel scrapbook page layouts!! The papers that I used for the background are by Creative Imaginations and a Travel paper pad by Making Memories. As you can see, rather than floral accents, I chose eyelets, a metal gear (which looks like a steering wheel) and a key. Today is also my day to post on the QKR Stampede Blog. Here is a sneak peek at the project I am featuring there:

This project uses the Rocket Dog stamp image. Be sure to pop over there and check it out!! Thank you for stopping by today and visiting. Have a great day!!

Happy Father's Day!!

No card or other project today . . . just wishes that everyone who has someone to celebrate Father's Day with has a wonderful day! Dads are pretty terrific and deserve to be celebrated!! I'll be back tomorrow with another QKR Monday project. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your day!!

Celebrate!

It's Friday!!! Today's card is one for celebrating--Father's Day:

This card was stamped using stamp images from the following sets by Stampin' Up!: Canvas, Up In The Air, and Lexicon of Love. The Canvas background was stamped onto the blue paper, which was then overstamped with the Up In The Air images. A portion of the bottom of the blue piece was torn off, wrapped with white and navy twine, then layered onto the tan card base. The "pattern" along the bottom of the tan card base was created using the direct-to-paper technique with an ink pad. The focal image was stamped with a waterproof dye ink and colored with watercolor crayons and a blender pen, then adhered to the card with foam dots. The word "celebrate" was colored with a black marker and stamped onto the card base. Thanks, again, for stopping by today and having a visit! Have a wonderful day!!

Architectural Rainbow Strip Flip

Today's card was created using an older Technique Junkies technique called Rainbow Strip Flip. I used an older Stampin' Up! stamp set, Architectural Elements, to have a masculine theme for the card. There are other architectural-themed stamps used in this project, as well. The bold words that are seen are from a four-sided stamp entitled, "Building Slab" by Postmodern Design. The text on each side of the stamp is as follows: "Master", "not to scale", "Figure A", and "Architectural Rendering". I believe the focal image is one I picked up at a stamp convention from Stamp Francisco. It is an unmounted stamp and I did not note anywhere the manufacturer, but I do recall buying several images like this one from Stamp Francisco.

I brayered blue and grey inks on the background piece to imitate the look of blueprint paper and randomly stamped the many architectural details. The focal image was layered onto blue paper, and faux photo corners created. This card could be used for any masculine-themed celebration--birthday, Father's Day--and would also be perfect for use as a thank you to any contractor, designer, etc. Thanks for stopping by and visiting today. Have a great day!!

Happy Birthday, Old Dinosaur!

A friend had a 50th birthday party for her husband and "old dinosaur" was the theme of the party. This is the card that I made to help him celebrate:

The stamp images for this card were from the Toybox set by Stampin' Up! and Stampendous. A touch of ribbon was added beneath the stamped dinosaur for a bit of interest. This card was quick and simple . . . and the recipient loved it!

With Heartfelt Sympathy

Today's post is another Sympathy card . . . not that I am wallowing in self-pity . . . just that I had some of these cards already made and since my week has been anything but productive in the stamping sense. The stamps used for this card come for the Lovely As A Tree and Close As A Memory stamp sets by Stampin' Up!

This is a very simple, monochromatic Sympathy card that was dressed up with a couple of silver brads and a small piece of twill ribbon. This would be a perfect Sympathy card for any nature lover or for that special man in your life. As always, thank you for stopping by and visiting today! Have a wonderful day!!

It's a Boy Thing!!

The May QKR Stampede "masculine" Blog Hop is finally here! You should have come here from the QKR Stampede Blog; if you didn't, go there now, be sure to leave a comment, then come back here. Now that you're in the right place, sit back and get ready for some fabulous masculine card ideas. You should get a lot of inspiration for cards and projects for the men in your life, and just in time for Father's Day! I know some people have told me they struggle with masculine cards--from the images to the embellishments. They often fret over whether ribbon can be used on a masculine card. As you will see on two of my cards, I did use ribbon--I just tied it in a square knot, rather than a pretty bow.

My first card was made using the Golfing Bear stamp by QKR Stampede. I grew up in a family whose members played golf, we watched golf tournaments on television, . . . the whole shebang. I picked up this scrapbook paper from my local craft store a few years ago--it was sold in a sealed package of 25 sheets for $2.50 (original price), but was in their deals section -- fill a large shopping bag with as much as you can from the deals section and whatever you get in the bag, you get for $5. This paper has been waiting for its debut, and what a perfect stamp image to pair it with.

This second card was made using the Train and Happy Birthday stamps. The colors for this card were inspired by a Dresden China plate:

I really loved the vintage look of this plate and used that as my basis for this card:

And finally, I made this card using the Old Car stamp image.

I added a bit of bling in the form of metal gears. After all, what guy wouldn't love seeing that on a card???

Thanks for stopping by for the Hop! Did you leave a comment? Be sure to leave a comment here and at each Design Team Members' Blog. If you leave a comment at each Blog (including the QKR Stampede Blog), your name will be included in a random drawing and you will be eligible to win a $25 shopping spree and FREE shipping! That's a pretty fantastic prize!!!  Your next stop on the Hop is:

CHRIS DICKINSON

Chris always has fabulous projects . . . I know you will be in for a real treat! Enjoy the rest of the Hop and have a GREAT day!!!

It's A Boy Thing - Sneak Peek

One more sneak peek before the QKR Stampede Blog Hop tomorrow. Make sure to start the Hop at the QKR Stampede Blog. The theme of the Blog Hop is "masculine", so get ready to be inspired and get ideas for the men in your life--and just in time for Father's Day! So, without further adieu, here is one more sneak peek before tomorrow's Hop:

I hope that my sneak peeks have left you intrigued and looking forward to the Hop. Be sure to stop by tomorrow and leave a comment. There will be one prize rewarded--a $25 shopping spree and FREE shipping. Those individuals who leave a comment at each Design Team Members' blog will be eligible to win the prize and will be entered into a random drawing. Thanks for stopping by! Looking forward to seeing you here tomorrow!! Have a GREAT day!!

QKR Monday and Blog Hop

Today's QKR Stampede project share will be a little bit later in the day . . . it's currently undergoing reconstruction (what seemed like a good idea, just didn't transfer onto paper very well). But I wanted to be sure to get the word out . . . be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, May 14, for the next QKR Stampede Blog Hop. QKR Stampede is going to have a monthly blog hop--isn't that exciting??? Last month's Blog Hop went really well and there was a fantastic prize offered. I am really looking forward to this month's Hop because the theme for the Hop is MASCULINE. Is that cheering and applause I hear? I know many people say they struggle with masculine-themed cards. So, just think, you will get inspiration for at least 12 different projects--and just in time for Father's Day. As the week progresses, I will give you sneak peeks into what I will be posting for the Hop, as well as a few reminders about the Hop. Now for me to get back to today's project . . . I think I need to walk away for a little while and approach with a cleared head! Stay tuned . . .