Wednesday 24 February 2016

One For the Guys - Mediterranean Achiever's Blog Hop


Hello My Friends

I'm glad you've decided to join me and some of my very talented friends as we all pitch in to give you One For the Guys.  Many of us struggle a bit more when it's time to create a masculine card.  Not everyone has this hang-up, but it certainly is one of the most common hang-ups I hear my friends say they encounter. So hop along with us and get some ideas to get your masculine mojo going!

You may just be starting the blog hop here (I'm Cynthia Millan) - or may have come from the person previous to me in the list. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup is listed at the bottom.


Now onto my card!


I tried to observe my personal man-rules:
 
No butterflies
No blossoms
No bling
No bows
And no glitter.  

In general, I try to observe these little guidelines and today I definitely did, because this card is all about the designer paper.

The Going Places DSP is PERFECT for masculine cards.  The colours and implied textures are divine!  And the font in the Party With Cake stamp set is just perfect for a guy.  Not fussy.  Not frou frou.  I'd say it works!






The Tiny Triangles embossing folder breaks up the 'white space' on the card and some visual interest is added by raising the vertical banners on dimensionals, but adhering both horizontal banners directly to the layer beneath.   

Tip:  Don't forget, when you are hand-cutting banner pieces that will be layered on top of one another, lay the pieces on top of each other and cut them at the same time so that the angles of the edges match up when you lay them out.  (sounds obvious, I know, but you'd be amazed how often I forget to do this then have to fuss to make my banners match afterwards....)




And did you know what I did - *intentionally* - for the very first time?  I did NOT obsess about using an embossing buddy or clearing all stray bits of embossing powder from the stamped sentiments.  


To be honest, at first I added sentiments onto these cards that were cleaner.  But when I went back and looked at my fuzzier, first attempt, I liked the effect better.  I mean, this card has its own level of pseudo-grunge happening.  So the stray flecks of black embossing powder, along with the vintage font, really works.

I hope you've enjoyed my card.  And don't forget to visit everyone else on the list below.  Hopping is fun and I guarantee you will be inspired by these projects!  And feel free to leave comments whenever and wherever you want.  I can tell you this - bloggers *LIKE* comments!     :)

Have a wonderful, afternoon, evening, morning or whatever!

God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Sunday 21 February 2016

A *Very* Special Birthday Card!!

Hello My Friends

Friday morning my boss sent me a text and told me it was the Archbishop's birthday and said "Might you have a card you could bring for the staff to sign that we could give to him?"   And I very blithely answered....Sure.  Then raced downstairs to my Craft Cave to make a card for him.

I mean, I have birthday cards in my stash....but for the Archbishop????

I needed something not too frou frou.  No butterflies or flowers or ribbons or bows.  No glitter no nonsense.  Our Archbishop is a wonderful man.  Very solid.  Very learned.  And a fantastic shepherd to his people.  But it was still intimidating to think of making a card for him.




So I borrowed an idea from a Pin I have and altered it a bit and this is what I came up with.  Awesomely Artistic and Gorgeous Grunge to the rescue.  Along with the You've Got This background splotch.  Wink of Stella on the dragonfly wings to give a hint of translucence.   A retired sentiment that is exactly what I need in these sorts of situations!! And voila!

Hope he was blessed by it!  Although I signed the card I didn't get to say it in person so a much belated.....Happy Birthday your Grace.

Hope everyone's weekend has been wonderful. God Bless,   ~Cynthia    <><  


Product List