Distressed Patterns...

Hi there!

The sun has been MIA today - at least I can't feel like I've missed out as I've been invigilating this afternoon. Now I'm home, changed and ready to do a bit of blogging, crafting and photo taking! What have you been up to this afternoon?

Creative inspiration today comes in the form of another masculine card. Switch up the sentiment and you could easily make it into a card for Dad! 

Stamp Set: Best Dad Ever

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Marina Mist

DSP: Parker's Patterns

Did you check out that video I made a couple weeks ago of the distressed edges? If you missed it you can catch it here. Its simple really, just some blocks of pattern paper, distressed and then adhered to the card - I left the edges free so they could be roughed up a bit and have some form.

This is the kind of card that switch out the pattern paper, choose a coordinating card base and you can make lots of super quick cards with very little material! What a great way to use up all that pretty paper you've got stashed away, right?

If you're lacking in the paper department, Stampin' Up! have some paper half price at the moment in their last chance sale -

Here's the retiring Stamps List and the Accessories List.

Items are while stocks last so to grab a bargain you need to be quick!

Stampin' Hugs,

Amanda x

Tie It, Bow Tie It!

Hi!! 

Just thought I'd post an extra helping of creativeness for you this evening.

I've been at school all day invigillating - lots of long exams. Few things I've learnt:

1. 2 hour exams go SO slow when you have nothing to do but stand and stare! 

2. My feet hurt from standing, and my back...

3. Doing hardly anything but stand and stare is VERY tiring! I am seriously tired! 

Anyway, I curled up on the couch, vegging out, watching How I Met Your Mother and thought since I didn't have the energy to craft, I'd blog instead.

Here's some more creative inspiration for those upcoming masculine cards you need to get making for Father's day! (Its only a couple weeks away!!)

Stamp Set: Best Dad Ever

Ink: Midnight Muse

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse

DSP: Parker's Patterns

Punch: Petite Pennant, 3/4" Circle

So this is a bit of a fun and different card. I saw several like this on Pinterest so I thought it would be cool to do my own version! Its also a great way to get more use out of that pennant punch!! Its as easy as that! 

Hope you enjoyed! 

Stampin' Hugs,

Amanda xo

May Card Club - Masculine

Good afternoon! 

Isn't it just a gloriously weekend?! Right now I'm sitting next to my beloved on our sofa outside, enjoying sun and warmth and drinking in all the beautiful spring smells, mingles with BBQs. I'm guessing quite a lot of my readers will be enjoying a nice long relaxed weekend, being a Bank Holiday in the UK and for my American friends, Memorial Day! I hope wherever you are you are enjoying good weather and spending some time with your dear friends and family. 

Stuart and I are trying our first ever proper BBQ - not like a grill out where you burn charcoal and then stick burgers and sausages on the grill to cook. I'm taking about proper American style BBQ - it involves sticking wet wood chips on the coals to smoke the meat to cook it over hours. I've watched it so many times on the Food Network - love Guy Fieri! So after watching it so many times, doing a bit of research, watching some you tube videos, I've made a dry rub for my beef brisket, made my own BBQ sauce, and got the wood smoking the meat. Now my tummy is grumbling with anticipation. Its going to be epic - if I can remember in my excitement I'll snap a few pics for you guys. 

Anyway, onto some card love for y'all. I thought you'd like to see the Masculine collection of cards my lovely card club ladies made last weekend. All were designed so the sentiments could be swapped out - its great to have choice isn't it!? 

With Father's day less than a month away its time to start thinking about making some cards for those special men! 

Aren't these cards fun!?! Do you struggle for inspiration when it comes to masculine cards? They're difficult aren't they!

Stamp Set: Need For Speed, Best Dad Ever, French Foliage

Ink: Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Grey

Big Shot: Labels Framelits

Extras: Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, Festive Piercing Pack

This card is a bit messy but it looks great and so its well worth getting a little sparkly for! 

A mask was cut from printer paper and temporarily adhered with my awesome two way glue pen to the white cardstock, then spritz with the fab Smooch Spritz (its ready made sparkly spritz that you can mist your projects with - amazing stuff!!). Let it dry a moment while you spritz the background and stamp it with the water blot stamp from French Foliage. By that time it should be dry so peel off the mask and cut with the next size up framelit, pierce with the piercing pack for some extra detail and then stamp the car and sentiment. I thought it looked cool chopping off part of the label. What do you think? Do you like this monochrome card? 

So what are you up to this beautiful bonus weekend day? Have a great day and stop by again soon for more on the other fun man cards we made! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x