321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Manly yes...but I like it, too!

I'm dating myself but I remember growing up when some advertising campaign for Old Spice or something was the title of this post. Masculine cards can be some of the toughest cards we make as paper crafters and that's why I love The Open Sea stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog -- only available through August 31. It's so easy to make beautiful cards. I combined that set with a greeting from the fun set Word Play for a card that would be great for graduation, retirement or a birthday. This idea was inspired by my friend Dawn Olchefske a few months back -- then I changed it up with no layers for a flat, very "mailable" card as I like to day. Plus I loved the way this greeting that I used just went with the nautical feel of the card and the compass.

See that Crumb Cake rectangle layer that ties the whole collage together? Easy to do by inking up SU's size D clear block with ink -- and then stamping right on the Vanilla card stock. Then I added the ship in Not Quite Navy; the globe in Cherry Cobbler; and the compass in Early Espresso (be sure your compass is pointing north!) The greeting was inked using markers for the two-tone look. Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine is my idea of a masculine-friendly "bow" -- just make a simple knot and you can get away with it.

Be sure to add this great nautical set to your stamp stash before it's gone at the end of this month!

Shelli's Great Father's Day idea

 

I love the fact that Stampin' Up! Co-founder Shelli Gardner is a blogger and of course she's a great stamper who designs some beautiful projects. This photo is from her blog and I want you to run not walk right over there to see her great idea! (But read just a little more first then I'll have the link). These are made from chipboard On Board book pages shaped like briefcases that are in the Summer Mini Catalog right now. Each package of 8 chipboard pages already have two holes and there are rings so you can make them into a book. Shelli's great idea was to use just two of the pages as covers for an envelope accordion album. How cool that our standard card size envelopes fit perfectly inside so you can make an album for dad with lots of pockets to slip photo pages and notes about how great he is!

Click here to see Shelli's photos of the steps so you can make your own. If you need the briefcase album pages, just click on my Order Online button (they are only $4.95 in the U.S. for a set of 8 nice size pages!) -- or order from me when I see you. I just love this idea! Thanks Shelli for the great project.

A Fun Fold Father's Day Card

This is a card style that was shared with Stampin' Up! demonstrators on the Bermuda reward cruise back in 2008! I loved how the outside was a "wrap" made from pretty Designer Series Paper. For my version I used the heavier weight designer paper called To the Nines -- it always reminds me of fancy menswear -- thus the name I guess for "dressed to the nines."

Here is size info:
• To the Nines Specialty DSP: 4” by 12”; score at 1¼” & 6¾” from one short end
• Sahara Sand Card Stock inside panel: 3¾” by 5¼”
• 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon or Medium Twill Tape: 18”  

I used an SU slot punch to make the little hole in the flap that the ribbon goes through. Tie a pretty knot and leave some ease in your ribbon band and it slides on and off without having to be untied. You can also easily attach a gift card to the inside on the left panel.

The stamps used are Sense of Time from the Occasions mini catalog and then Wonderful Favorites for the tag on the front and the inside -- the word DAD was stamped with the new Jumble alphabet which will be available in the new SU Catalog due out July 1.