Just when you thought I was going all pretty-girly on you I’ve made another masculine card. When I started this card I intended to give it to my husband this evening for our Wedding Anniverary (13 years today!!!) but now I’m looking at it and wondering if it would make a better Father’s Day card or Birthday card. If I get a chance this afternoon then I might try to russell one up with hearts on it or something. I don’t know – I thought that “The One and Only” that’s on the stamp would suit… anyway, just rambling now.

So I actually started this card by stamping the “Genuine” stamp (from the Bronc Busters stamp set by Stampin’ Up!) onto some Brushed Silver cardstock with Versmark then silver embossing it, though you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at it. I altered the colour of the silver cardstock by swiping my Blue Bayou inkpad over the embossed silver card and then used a sponge to work the colour in – this changed the silver to a sort of metallic denim. I then used a sanding block to sand the edges of the card then edged the card with a bit of Night of Navy ink to give it some definition. Some paper piercing around the border of the card finished it off by adding some extra texture and interest.

The background is one of the sheets from the ‘Outlaw’ Double Sided Designer patterned paper by Stampin’ Up!, it’s a lovely pale green with a bit of a rustic feel to it. I was going to use the patterned paper on it’s own (it has a bit of a light print on it) but I do love the look of stamping on patterned paper so I overstamped it with the star and swirl motif (which has a real cowboy feel to it) using River Rock ink. To finish the background I lightly sponged some Blue Bayou ink around the edges to give it only a touch of colour and depth. I then adhered some twill to the right of the patterned paper and used the Crop-a-dile to punch three holes in it and set three jumbo pewter eyelets. Yes! the Crop-a-dile punched right through the twill and cardstock together. Granted it wasn’t the cleanest of holes but it certainly worked… I just had to trim a little bit of the excess twill on the back of the paper with some small sharp scissors to neaten it up so you wouldn’t be able to see stray bits of twill thread through the eyelet holes. This whole piece was then adhered to a piece of Blue Bayou cardstock folded in half and then I mounted the silver stamped piece on top using Stampin’ Dimensionals to give it some lift. By the way, I know in the photo it looks like that piece of metallic cardstock is cut crookedly, it’s very straight – it’s just an optical illusion because of the dark blue ink with which it’s edged with.

Well now I’m officially in love with Blue Bayou and River Rock. I’ve been using Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi to death and although I still love those, I really enjoyed using the Blue Bayou and River Rock – they’re awesome colours for masculine cards although I’m sure if I challenged myself I might be able to use them in a girly card too.

If you liked this card then you’ll want to sign up for my newsletter by entering your email address up the top right hand side of this page. My newsletters go out once a month and there’s always more cards, ideas and tips along with regular competitions.

As usual, if you have any questions please feel free to email me on angelasargeant@gmail.com. Of course I’m also happy to help you if you would like to purchase any of the Stampin’ Up! products I’ve used here:

Bronc Busters stamp set
Brushed Silver cardstock
Outlaw Double Sided Designer Patterned Paper
Blue Bayou cardstock
Blue Bayou inkpad
River Rock inkpad
Versamark inkpad
Night of Navy inkpad
Twill
Jumbo Pewter Eyelets
Crop-a-Dile (to make the holes and set the eyelets)
Paper piercer and template (to make holes around the centre piece)
Silver Embossing Powder
Heat gun
Sponges

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We’ve had so many people tell us they love our technique tutorials and it’s so exciting for us to get all this wonderful feedback. So here’s your chance to win a free copy of next month’s fabulous stamping tutorial just by telling the world what you think.

For those of you who have bought one or more of our Technique of the Month tutorials over the past several months, or have attended one of the hands-on classes featuring these technique tutorials, just leave a message here on this post telling us what you think of the Technique of the Month tutorial(s) you bought

Haven’t bought a tutorial yet? Don’t feel left out – tell us now why you’d like to win one and we’ll put you in the draw also.

One person will be selected at random to win a copy of the June Technique of the Month Tutorial. Here’s a sneek peek to whet your appetite.

This competition is open to anyone worldwide. Please note that the winner will be receiving the Technique of the Month Tutorial not the “Teach the Class” tutorial.

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I made this card for my Sister-In-Law’s Baby Shower. I’ve gone for an elegant and traditional yet pretty look so I stuck with the pink and green theme like the last baby card only this time I used Very Vanilla instead of white and whipped out the Cuttlebug and Nestabilities for the scalloped oval.

To make this card I randomly stamped the flourish stamp from Stampin’ Up!’s Priceless stamp set all over the textured Certainly Celery cardstock using Versamark ink and then clear embossed it. I did try stamping with the celery ink onto the celery cardstock but it didn’t give me the look I wanted. Here’s a close up of the clear embossing, I really love the look of this, especially on the textured cardstock.

The scalloped oval was made by embossing a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock using the Cuttlebug and the beautiful Swiss Dots embossing folder. I then placed that same embossed piece back into the Cuttlebug and cut out the scalloped oval using my Nestabilities. Behind the scalloped oval I’ve adhered a piece of Blush Blossom textured cardstock and onto that I’ve used some Making Memories rub-ons to print the word “BABY”. I just didn’t have the font I wanted in stamps which is why I chose these rub-ons. And just as an aside “yay me!”… it’s probably been about 4 years since I’ve last used these rub-ons and I’m always so pleased to use something that’s been sitting around forever . Back to the instructions! The scalloped piece was adhered to the embossed cardstock and then I quite simply added some gorgeous green rhinestone brads (by Stampin’ Up!) in each corner then mounted the card onto some textured Blush Blossom cardstock using Stampin’ Dimensionals. Actually I used about 10 Stampin’ Dimensionals behind this piece as the card is quite large (6″x 4.5″ for the green part) and I wanted it to stand up without drooping in the centre of the card or the edges.

So that’s it. I hope you liked this card – I’m really pleased with the way it turned out because I had an idea in my mind and I managed to construct the card exactly the way I imagined it to be.

Here’s a comprehensive list of products I’ve used. All products are by Stampin’ Up! unless stated otherwise. Of course if there’s any questions you’d like to ask me about this card or if you’d like to purchase any of these products then please feel free to email me on angelasargeant@gmail.com.

Priceless stamp set
Blush Blossom textured cardstock
Certainly Celery textured cardstock
Versamark ink
Clear embossing powder
Heat Gun
Green Rhinestone Brads
Cuttlebug (ProvoCraft)
Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provocraft)
Nestabilities Oval Scallops (Spellbinders)
SNAIL adhesive
Stampin’ Dimensionals
1 1/16″ hole punch (for making the holes for the rhinestone brads)
Simply Stated Rub-On Letters (Making Memories)

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Welcome to my blog, whether it’s your first visit or if you are a return visitor.

Be sure to take a good look around and please don’t forget to sign-up for my free newsletter on the top right hand side of this page.  My newsletter is delivered to your email box once a month and it’s always packed with great new ideas, tips & hints and easy competitions.

If you have any questions about stamping or cardmaking or scrapbooking or any papercrafts in general then please feel free to email me on angelasargeant@gmail.com.  Of course if there’s anything you’d like to know about Stampin’ Up! or if you wish to purchase Stampin’ Up! products then I’m also happy to have a chat with you.

Angela

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Here’s a card I’ve made for the Christening of our friends’ baby girl. The initials are really sparkly in real life but any photo I took which really showed off the sparkle then put shadows on the rest of the card, so here’s the best I could manage:

Here’s a close-up of the embossed background.

I wanted to keep this card simple and elegant looking so I kept the colours pale and to a minimum. Only two colours used here other than white and they are Certainly Celery and Blush Blossom. The white card has been stamped with the flourish stamp from Stampin’ Up!’s Baroque Motifs stamp set using Versamark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. The letters SNM are the baby’s initials and they have been made using the On Board Lots of Letters Stampin’ Up! chipboard. To get the chipboard coloured and sparkly I simply used a sponge dauber to apply Blush Blossom chalk onto the letters, then I covered the letters with glue using the 2-way Glue Pen then pressed the letters into the Dazzling Diamonds pot of glitter. The letters were then adhered to the embossed white card using glue dots. The flower above the letter ‘S’ is from the Pretties Kit – I decided not to colour it this time and instead used it as it is in white but just adhered a flat-backed white pearl to the centre of the flower using a glue dot. Why is it despite the amount of ribbons one has one still can’t find the right ribbon to use??? I did want to use some of the pretty taffeta ribbon I have but I didn’t have the exact colour I wanted so instead I used the Celery Wide Grosgrain ribbon. I do love the Grosgrain ribbon, I just had ‘taffeta’ on my mind. Oh well. The ribbon was tied in a simple knot and then a hat-pin with pearls and a teardrop bead threaded through it was inserted through the knot.

Any comments are gratefully accepted.

Here’s a list of products – if you have any questions or if there’s anything you’d like to purchase then please email me on angelasargeant@gmail.com

Baroque Motifs stamp set
Certainly Celery textured cardstock
Blush Blossom textured cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Versamark inkpad
White Embossing Powder
Celery Wide Grosgrain Ribbon
Pretties Kit (White flower, pearls, teardrop bead, hatpin)
On Board Lots of Letters (Chipboard)
2-way Glue Pen
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
SNAIL Adhesive
Glue Dots

All images copyright to Stampin’ Up! 1990-2008. Card designed by Angela Sargeant.

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Looking for an easy masculine card to make? I made this card for my Uncle’s birthday today:

It was quick, easy and looks really cool in real life. I decided since my uncle isn’t used to receiving handmade cards (yes I know, I’m slack) that I’d keep the edges nice and straight and not do anything ‘too weird’ looking.

Quite simply I stamped the Marlboro Man, as I call him, onto some patterned paper that has that ‘Western Cowboy look” using Versamark ink then gold embossed the image. The edges of the patterned paper were swiped with a gold inkpad to give some interest and to make the dark patterned paper blend better with the gold image and the cardstock that it’s been layered on. The stamped paper was adhered to a piece of River Rock card (nice natural colour with a slight tinge so it doesn’t look too cardboardy. I wanted some sort of masculine embellishement and was about to go for the usual brass brads when I remembered that I had some new Jumbo Eyelets. These are so cool! I wasn’t totally sure about them when I bought them but figured I’d find somewhere to use them. I must say that after I set the first one I could see how they along with the Crop-a-dile become very very addictive – I started having thoughts about cool scrapbooking layouts and altered items I could use them on. Aaaaanyway, I digress…. to set the jumbo eyelet I simply punched a hole down the bottom of my card using the Crop-a-dile’s large hole punch, placed the jumbo eyelet in the hole then set it with the Crop-a-dile. Let me now make a confession that I didn’t even check to see if my Crop-a-dile was on the correct setting – I just went for it and it set it so beautifully! To tie in with the Western cowboy theme, I wrapped a length of twine through the eyelet and around the card to emulate some lassoing (is that a word????). This piece was then mounted with Stampin’ Dimensionals (double-sided foam tape) onto another piece of Western-style patterned paper which I had swiped around the edges with Chocolate Chip ink. The whole piece was then adhered to a folded piece of Chocolate Chip card. I added the sentiment last – for those of you who can’t read Greek (no doubt most of you!), it says “Many Years” which translates to Happy Birthday in English. This sentiment (by Buzz and Bloom) was stamped with Versamark ink onto Chocolate Chip card, gold embossed then the edges swiped with a Gold inkpad. Then I did something I’ve not done before (yeah, daring aren’t I? LOL), I mounted the sentiment back onto Chocolate Chip card again. Having swiped the sentiment edges with the gold, I found that mounting it onto the exact same cardstock worked really well as it gave depth and a clear outline while still blending in and not looking too overpowering. The sentiment was adhered onto the top piece of card just with adhesive, no foam tape. That’s it! Sounds like a lot but it wasn’t – I just rambled on a bit too much in the instructions.

If you’re looking for some more ideas for masculine cards then click here: Masculine Birthday Card and Masculine Card Ideas.
Here’s a list of products I used in case you’d like to recreate this card:

Card created by Angela Sargeant, all images (except the Greek sentiment) copyright to Stampin’ Up! 1990-2008.

Bronc Busters stamp set (cowboy on horse stamp)
Grecian Elements Unmounted stamps by Buzz and Bloom
Outlaw Double-sided Designer Series Paper (seriously cool paper, perfect perfect perfect for masculine cards and scrapbooking)
River Rock cardstock
Chocolate Chip cardstock
Chocolate Chip inkpad
Gold Ultimate Metallic Encore inkpad
Versamark inkpad
Jumbo Antique Brass Eyelet
Hemp Twine
Crop-a-dile (to set the eyelet)
Stampin’ Dimensionals
SNAIL Adhesive

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Vintage style doesn’t have to mean only varying shades of brown. This month’s Technique of The Month Class is creating “Vintage Style” papercrafts using a series of simple steps to give you a rich and warm feel to your papercrafts. Never tried vintage before and don’t know where to start? It’s much easier than it looks, this tutorial delivered direct to your email in-box will show you step-by-step with over 70 full-colour photographs, how to create three beautiful Vintage Style cards along with a matching 6×6 scrapbooking page – a perfect brag book size.

This class uses 100% Stampin’ Up! product, however the projects can easily be adapted to be used with products that you may already have at home. If you are too busy to attend a stamping class or live too far away or just want to do your cardmaking in your own time at your own pace, then you are going to love our new Technique of the Month Class. Of course for those of you who can attend a hands-on class, you are catered for. So here are the three great options:

1. Attend a Class: you can attend a hands-on cardmaking class where you will create 3 cards. The workshop will be held at Lane Cove on Friday 16th May at 10:30am. All materials needed and morning tea are included. Class cost is $20 and bookings are essential as numbers are limited.

2. Buy the Tutorial: Can’t make the hands-on workshop but would still love to create these gorgeous projects? We are offering this workshop in PDF format, complete with over 70 photos taking you through the cardmaking and scrapbooking process step-by-step. Also included is 2 extra sample cards for your inspiration. All this for only AU$10, a link to the tutorial will be e-mailed to you upon payment either via Paypal, Credit Card payment by Paypal or phone, or by Direct Deposit (email for details).

3. Demos – Teach the Class: Are you already a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator who would love to try Vintage Style but don’t know where to start? Impress your customers with these publishing-quality projects at your next class while saving time and money by purchasing our Technique Class of the Month in a business format. This Vintage Style is easy for your customers to recreate with stunning results. Show your samples of these cards at your next workshop or class to get more class bookings – I showed these to my last class and they all booked for the Vintage Style class right away! All this for only AU$20. A link to the Business Tutorial will be e-mailed to you upon payment either via Paypal, Credit Card payment by Paypal or phone, or Direct Deposit (email for details).

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