Masculine Card in Weathered Kraft, Red, White, and Blue

I'm celebrating and praising God that my son-in-law is getting a long-awaited promotion. God continually shows that He is working in his life, challenging, blessing, maturing. Phuilippians 1:8 is the perfect verse to share with him. Here's a card I made for him today that definitely has a masculine look. I used the sketch from Viva La Verve for February week 2 and the colors suggested bythe "Weathered" Ribbon Reel Challenge #22 - create a card /project that is WEATHERED/DISTRESSED using the colours KRAFT, WHITE, BLUE with touch of RED, NATURAL TWINE/TWILL and this inspiration photo

The different-sized blocks of paper in this sketch remind me of the beach houses in the inspiration photo. I used some blue patterned papers that I had from the Basic Grey "Boxer" collection, definitely masculine. I weathered the kraft and patterned papers by scissor distressing the edges then painting with white paint. 

I also used the challenge from The Kraft Journal Make it Monday to tell what your fabulous find is. Mine is the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge I used to make the white sentiment shape. I chose "Shape 7" and cut off one of the sides to make it fit the block of paper. I love using that cartridge because of the variety of shapes - over 700. Mine sits on a cabinet in my kitchen and I leave the cartridge in the machine, ready to go. I frequently turn it on, put in a scrap of paper, cut my shape, turn it off and go on to finish my card. I love how handy it is.

I stamped the bird with Desert Sand ink that is pretty close to the Kraft color. Then I lightly colored it and retraced some of the lines with the Desert Sand watercolor pencil. The directions from the ribbon reel were to use a touch of red, so I mounted the twill on Cranberry cardstock and colored 3 chipboard circles with Cranberry ink. Ordinarily I would have put brads or buttons there, but I thought this had a more masculine feel today.

6.5" x 5" Card recipe:

Paper - Basic Grey "Boxer;" Close To My Heart Cranberry, White Daisy CS, Kraft CS

Stamps - Verve "Philippians 1:6 Plain Jane; CTMH "Harmony" (bird and twig)

Other - twill from my stash, CTMH white paint, chipboard, Cricut Art Philosophy

MOJO Monday 223 with Pink Polka Dots

Today I made a birthday card for MOJO Monday 223 using the Pink and Polka Dot theme suggested by the Ribbon Reel Challenge #19. 

I used this inspiration photo to select the design with circles, the dotted paper, the flower (like the upper right photo), the net and ribbon (lower center photo) and a "wise" sentiment (owl on the lower right).
The lower half of my card's background was Kraft cardstock that I embossed with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots, then rubbed the raised surface with a CTMH Hollyhock inkpad. The upper half was French text in Kraft color that was part of My Mind's Eye "Union Square" collection. The large dotted paper and the pink flowered are both from My Mind's Eye "Blush" and the pink text paper that I cut into circles is from Prima's Botanical. It was great to have two circles on this design so I could try out my new Spellbinder's die that I was itching to try out! I love these colors with Kraft cardstock, so I'm posting them at the Kraft Journal's Make It Monday Challenge #53.

Other Materials:
Stamp - Verve "Joy for the Journey"
Ink - CTMH Hollyhock, Memento Black
CTMH Pink ribbon collection (net ribbon flower), pearl, white satin edged organdy: Martha Stewart scalloped lace border punch; Spellbinders "Lacy Circles" die; Cricut Art Philosophy (circles)

Vintage New Year

I didn't have more than a couple of New Year's stamps, so I found a digital image from a wonderful resource, Clearly Vintage. I needed a round clock depicting midnight and used one from her New Year's image 22. I used Card Patterns Sketch #146 and the inspiration photo and color scheme from The Ribbon Reel Challenge #18, white, cream, gray or silver, and black and the clock and lace idea from their photo.  The papers are from the BoBunny Enchanted collection. The cardstock, ribbon, clear sparkles, and Rhinestone Designer Brad are from Close to my Heart. The silver doily is from Wilton.