The Hoppers Masculine Blog Hop Starts Today

Today begins the Hoppers Blog Hop for May.  The theme is Masculine cards! That's right - no pink or flowers today - these are all cards that would be great for the men in your life.  So if you are one of the many that struggles when you have to make a "man" card this is the perfect hop for you.

Visit each blog in the hop and leave a comment.   This will automatically enter you in a random drawing.  We will announce the winner on May 28, 2012.  A list of links to the other blogs in the hop are at the bottom of my post.  Have fun and good luck!

Lovely As A Tree is a great stamp set for a masculine card.   This is just one of the trees in the set.  Using markers the tree was colored with Certainly Celery and then thumped with Old Olive and Lucky Limeade before stamping. 

Isn't this a fun Father's Day Card?  It's a good thing I had boys and a husband who travelled or I would have never been able tie this tie.  I saw this idea years ago on Mary Fish's blog and thought it would be a great card for our hop.  My version is definitely clean and simple.

Now for the prize.  Look at all these great Stampin' Up! products in our Prize Pack this month.  Remember all you have to do is leave a comment on each blog in the hop.  I hope you enjoy the hop and come away with some great ideas the next time you need a "man" card!

Shop For Stampin' Up! Products In My Online Store

Inspired By Nature

Hey Stampers!

Wow it's freezing in the North Georgia mountains today!  I didn't mind when it got a little cooler and breezy the other day but this feels too much like winter again for me.  Looks like the temps will be going back up later this week...yes!

Today's card is one I created for one of our make and takes at yesterday's downline meeting.  It uses a stamp set that I am sad to say is on the retired list and will only be available until 5/31/2012.  Click Here to view all the stamp sets that are heading for retirement on that date.  View Inspired By Nature has two great large images.  These gorgeous flowers and then the grasses that can be used in so many ways.

• The image was colored with Stampin' Write Markers.  I find that it is much easier when I am coloring on a stamp this size to put the stamp on the table, rubber side up, ink with markers and lay the paper on top of the stamp.  Then press down.
• The Early Espresso layer was run thought the Square Lattice Embossing Folder before tearing.  It gives great texture to that layer.  To get a controlled tear hold the paper with your thumb and index finger (I use my left) and tear forward with your dominant hand (my right) keeping it very close to the paper.
• The word "beautiful" is from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set.  On the inside I stamped the word "you" (also from the set) on Very Vanilla and then punched it with a 1" Circle Punch.  I layered a 1-1/4" Daffodil Delight Circle behind it and mounted it on the bottom right.

Recipe:

Stamp Sets:  Inspired by Nature (W111656), Fabulous Phrases inside of card (not shown) (C 120501) 

(W 117002)

Ink:  Early Espresso (119670)

Markers:  Daffodil Delight (119677), Old Olive (100079), More Mustard (100076)

Card Stock:  Daffodil Delight (119683), Olive Olive (100702), Early Espresso (119686) Very Vanilla (101650)

Tools & Accessories:  1/8" Early Espresso Ribbon (119959) 

SHOP FOR 2012 RETIRED STAMP SETS IN MY ONLINE STORE