Masculine Birthday Cards

I have 3 birthdays in October and I need masculine themed cards.  Gosh, those are a challenge for me.  I like bling, bright colors, glitter, flowers - you get the idea.  Unfortunately, I don't have any masculine type rubber stamp images.  I'll make an effort to look out for some new rubber stamps with a masculine theme.

Here's the card I made for the Oct 2, 2015 Week-end Challenge for the SU Stampin Gals Gone Wild Facebook group.  I think the name for the group is a hoot!  Stampin Gals Gone Wild...most of ladies in this group are Seniors - as in Senior Citizens!!!  It just makes me laugh, but it's a fun bunch nonetheless.

Triple Square Direct to Paper Card

On 9/25/2015 The Stampin Gals Gone Wild Facebook group posted a color challenge to the group.  I've tried to participate every week-end.  Luckily, I almost had all the colors to participate except for Stampin Up's (SU) Rich Razzleberry card stock.  BUT, I had the ink pad in that color.  That's when I remembered the direct-to-paper technique I learned a long time ago.  So I inked up the white cardstock and viola - Rich Razzleberry card stock!

The Get Well Card quickly came together.  I used punches to cut the squares - no measuring.

MFT Shaker Card

I just love the new #MFTStamps Die-namics cover up dies.  They are large and are made to basically cover up an A2 card base.  I like this die because it makes an easy shaker card.  The flower is another MFT die called Plentiful Petals.  The stamps are from the Simon Says Stamp You die and stamp combo set and I used Pretty Pink Posh sequins.  Easily came together.

Funny Quick Card

This card makes me grin.  I just love that sentiment.  This is a quick card because I had a stash of pre-cut #MFTStamps die-namics Four Way Chevron die.  I also used another MFT die label to cut a white label to stamp the cute saying.  It was super quick.  Hope you like it!

I love the deep true red card stock from Simon Says Stamp.  I used that red to pop the white card stock with the sentiment.  I also add black enamel dots on the yellow flowers.

Does anyone make Halloween cards?  Somehow I've never made more than 1 or 2 but this year I found myself making quite a few for different card challenges.  This Halloween card was not a quick card.  The sponging took the most time to do, but it was fun.  I love sponging backgrounds.  I made my own cloud mask out of regular typing paper.  The little bats are from a paper punch I've had for years!

Watercolor Roses

I just love the My Favorite Things Roses Background.  This was fun to create and super quick to put together.  Used Ranger's Distress Inks to watercolor the white embossed rose background stamp.  I used the MFT Die-namics Stitched Basic Edges to cut the embossed and water-colored roses background.  I went back and used the same die to cut a strip of black card stock and another one in lime green. It's hard to see the lime green card stock strip.

Vertical Greetings

I have 2 sets of  My Favorite Things ( MFT) Vertical Greetings but one of them has been retired.  You can find these under the Die-namics companions at the MFT stamps website.  The Vertical Greetings set contains 4 inspiring sayings and you can purchase the die that is sized to fit the stamped greetings.   Lucky for me the Vertical Greetings I own is still available.  Then I used the cool background die called Die-namics Four Way Chevron Cover-Up to cut my background using black cardstock.  I then took some yellow card stock and cut out the MFT Die-namics Pierced Fancy Flourish.  It is fancy!  I used the same yellow card stock and die cut the LJD Scribble Flowers and layered that under the LJD Scribbles roses cut out of red card stock. I cut the rose leaves using the MFT die-namics Royal Leaves dies.  This set is a must have and is perfect for roses.  Can you imagine cutting these out in white or gold card stock?  Perfect for Wedding or Anniversary Cards.   All products are from MFT!  I love how this card looks so complicated, but it's not.

Since I work outside of my home I've had to device ways to get my "required for my sanity" creative card-making time.  I've had to device a time-saving strategy.  The best thing I did was to set a couple of hours out and just die-cut a bunch of backgrounds, flowers, leaves, butterflies, flourishes, and precut and score your base cards.  I also stamp a bunch of greetings at one time as well.  

Strategy #2 - Store all of these card elements and use a $1.00 bragbook to store them in.  Brag book?  Is that aging me.  I'm talking about those $1 photo albums you pick up at Michael's to store your 4"X 6" photos in.  BTW, Michael's $1 bins are up to $1.50.  It's still a good deal.  

Now when you need a quick card, just go to your photo album with the cut-out goodies and slap that card in no time!