Freshly Made Sketches has a fabulous sketch this week which is just perfect for several masculine thank-you cards that I need to have completed by this weekend.  Because of the time constraint, this was also the perfect scenario for another episode of “From Me to You”, where I design a card which can be completed in less than forty-five minutes! Today’s prototype was completed in thirty-two minutes.  I am confident that I will be able to mass produce several more in less time than that, since it is the design process which takes me so much time.  As with all “From Me to You” posts, I will provide you with the step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy “You’re My Type, Thank You”!

Finished dimensions:  5-1/2″ wide by 4-1/4″ long.

• Cut one 5-1/8″ wide and 3-7/8″ long piece of First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper and mat onto Basic Black card stock, leaving a 1/16″ border all the way around.  Adhere this to a card base created from Naturals Ivory card stock.
• Ink the Typewriter from Just My Type with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto a 2-5/8″ wide by 3″ piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  Mat this onto Basic Black card stock, leaving a 1/16″ border on all four sides.
• Ink the Typewriter again, and stamp onto a snippet of First Edition DSP.  Paper snip out the sheet of paper section, and adhere onto the first stamped image.

• Run a strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Cut it into a 5-1/8″ x 1-1/4″ strip. Adhere to the card.
• Using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, punch a 5-1/8″ strip from Basic Black card stock.  Adhere to the Cherry Cobbler embossed piece.
• Ink the “thank you” stamp from You’re My Type with Cherry Cobbler and stamp a strip of  “thank yous” onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  Cut to 5-1/8″ long by 1/4″ wide.  Adhere to the Basic Black scalloped ribbon border.

• As your final step, adhere the Typewriter mat using Stampin’ Dimensionals. 

I did keep today’s card quick and easy! And did you notice…no pearls were used in the making of this card!  I would have loved to add some distressing, but in keeping with the spirit of the Freshly Made Sketches challenge, I kept it fresh and “clean”!  These “Thank You” cards will be heading off to school with Brady to give to the professors who wrote letters of recommendation for him to submit with his graduate school applications.  And speaking of Brady…he received an Honorable Mention in last weekend’s competition. He played beautifully, and I am so happy that I was able to hear him compete…even if it did set me behind three days.  But you know what…I would not trade that experience for anything!  He is now waiting to hear if he advanced in the National Trumpet Competition. 


Let me know what you thought of today’s “From Me to You” card in your comment today.  And of course, I am always available to answer any questions about the cards that I make and the techniques that I use.  I am only an email away! Until next time…

(And thank all of you who emailed me the past two days, checking to see if I was OK.  That was so sweet of you, and I truly appreciate it! Of course, the truth is I am fine.  I am just trying to get caught up after my trip to Michigan, and trying to get my design team cards and blog posts written before I leave for Leadership next week.  Yikes! Will I get everything done???)

 

Love is in the air at The Paper Players! For our first challenge of  2012, Lesley has selected a very fitting theme,  All You Need is Love.  You can create a card for a spouse, a romantic friend, a best friend, a co-worker, a family friend, a neighbor, a family member…or even a family pet! Love comes in all forms. We can’t wait to see what you create.  And tell me…is that old Beatle song playing in your head yet?  If not, just sing this, and you will be humming it all day:  “All you need love…da da da da da da! All you need is love…da da da da da da! All you need is love, Love! Love is all you need!”

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Vintage and Feminine
This finished card measure 5-1/4″ square.

• Color me softly! If you wish to create a feminine flair with the colors you choose, Attic Boutique is the Designer Paper for you! A softly patterned Daffodil Delight heart highlights this card, along with a subtle script and floral patterned heart in Pool Party and Soft Suede.  Add these to a beautiful Soft Suede ornate patterned paper, and you have the recipe for femininity!

• Double the bow and double the wow! A double Pool Party Seam Binding bow adds another feminine touch, especially when paired with Stampin’ Up!’s new Trinket Hearts!  

• Sweet heart! Doesn’t your sweetheart deserve a sweet heart? Simply outline the heart with Basic Pearl strips and add a Basic Pearl center.

• A lovely sentiment! Flag one end and curl the other for a lovely touch to any sentiment…and don’t forget the Basic Pearls! As for me, I free hand the snip, and use the round file from the Distressing Essentials Kit to create my curls.

• Classy Cupid! Colored with Blush Blossom, our little Roman god of Love sports Dazzling Diamond wings and pearl ends on his bow!

For the “Down Home” play-by-play, click on the video below: 

I hope you enjoyed today’s card as much as I enjoyed creating it! Won’t you let me know what you think in today’s comment?  And of course, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away!  Until next time…


(And help us wish Brady the Boy luck as he performs at 10:50 this morning in the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) competition in Kalamazoo, MI.  For those of you who love classical trumpet music, he is performing 30 minutes of selections from Hummel, Bach and Jolivet.  Regardless of the outcome, we are very proud that he is representing the state of Illinois in the Brass section of the competition.)

Stamp Set:  Valentine Love (W 122695, C 122697); Inks:  Soft Suede (115657), Blush Blossom Stampin’ Write Marker (100037), Daffodil Delight (119667); Designer Series Paper:  Attic Boutique (125407 Occasions Mini);  Card Stock:  Very Vanilla (101650);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Hearts Collection Framelits (125599 Occasions Mini), Two Way Glue Pen (100425), Paper Snips (103579);  Glitz and Glam:  Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter (102023), Basic Pearls (119247), Large Basic Pearls (125577), Trinket Hearts (125605 Occasions Mini), Pool Party Seam Binding (125582 Occasions Mini), Pool Party Baker’s Twine (125574 Occasions Mini), Twitterpated Designer Buttons (125579 Occasions Mini)

The Paper Players are back after our holiday break…and we can’t wait to share our first challenge of 2012 with you.  To get you in the challenge mood, here is a peek at my card which will be revealed in its entirety on Sunday! I can’t wait to read what you think of it! So please…make a date to join me on Sunday!  There are new products from the Occasions Mini on it!

I LOVE everything in the new Occasions Mini, but several of you have asked me for a shorter listing of my top favorite things.  So here we go…in no particular order:

1.  The Framelits Dies…both collections
2.  The Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folders…super for making custom edges
3.  3/8″ Pleated Satin Ribbon in all colors…instant “Wow” factor
4.  Twitterpated and Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper
5.  Rue Des Fleurs Stamp Set…vintage to the max!
6.  Apothecary Art Stamp Set…oh so elegant!
7.  You’re My Type Stamp Set…so many clean and simple options
8.  Loving Thoughts Stamp Set…perfect sentiments for both scrapbooking and card making
9.  Sweet Cake Stamp Set…cute and versatile
10.  Large Pearls…you know me and my pearls

OK…now it is your turn!  What are YOUR favorite products from the Occasions Mini?  Let me know in today’s comment!  And if you need a paper copy,  just email me! Until next time…