Mr Cardmaker Is Concise (to a Fault)

So, cancer sucks.  Yeah.
Someone close to us was just diagnosed, and that also sucks.

Not only for him, but for those in the house who take care of him, the family, friends....everyone around him.  Mostly for him.  Luckily, meds are working pretty well, so that's a good thing.

I sent him a card a while ago, and forgot to take any photos.  Rats.

But for the lady of the house, who I am sure can also use some extra support, I made this--
(avert the children's eyes, please)--

This card started with the flowers I made from a scrap when I first bought this Sizzlit die.  They sat around for a good while, until I saw the other papers that you see, and decided they were good for each other.  The flowers are super simple, just curled around a pencil, and centered with some My Mind's Eye brads that I've had for a bit.  The leaves have a fun treatment though.

You can see them better here--

Well, somewhat better, anyway.  I trimmed two leaves from the remainder of the paper, curled them a bit, and adhered them with glue to keep the curl.  The one with the sequin is less obvious, but it's done the same way as the one on the quatrefoil paper.

I don't usually do the simple paper panel thing, especially not without a mat behind it, but I like the simplicity here.  I also almost never have such a big border of card base showing.  Hey, you gotta mix it up sometimes; am I right?

I hope you don't think of me as a potty mouth now.  Or is that a potty card(maker)?  In this instance, I do find this to be the perfect sentiment.  I think it's good for a laugh, too.  It says, "BIG HUG" inside. 


Thanks for stopping by!
Big Hugs to you.
All Best--
Richard

Sunshine-y Day With Mr Cardmaker

I have been playing a bit with my Claudine Helmuth stamp set called "So Retro" a bit lately.

I guess I have been wanting more sunshine, too.  We've had weird up and down temperature changes for the past several weeks, and LOTS of rain came with all the changes.  I need SUN!

So, I made my own.
I made this--

Now, that'll wake you up, right?  Lots of sunny colors here, and some requisite "shades" to go along with.

This couldn't be easier to do.  One image, two inks, and some Glossy Accents to make my orange sunglasses have "lenses".  Add a triple flag, with a sentiment from Avery Elle done in white embossing powder.  Sketch some stitch lines and add some sequins.  Oh yeah, and a tiny snip of ribbon.  BOOM.  Hot and juicy.

Your turn!

Thanks for stopping by!  That makes me feel warmer than any sunshine could.
All Best--
Richard

Friday Fix: Guts

Don't you love it when you get a new toy tool, and have to play work with it the second you unwrap it?

Well, when I got my hearts trio punch from Stampin' Up a year or so ago, I punched up a storm!  Then I gathered up all my little hearts, and I made this--

Aw.  How trite cute.  No, this is nice, really.  But there's no ka-boom.  I NEED my ka-boom!

So, I revisited this card.  Not so much to do on the outside, really.  Let's see about the inside.

Oh yeah--

Ka-boom!  I added a die cut from Papertrey Ink's Movers and Shakers die set, and attached white hearts to it.  I like the colorless contrast to the front with all the colors.

Now, if a big old heart-laden spring thing isn't some ka-boom factor, I just don't know from ka-boom (and I think I DO know something about ka-boom, ya'll.  Just sayin'...).

Go make yourself some ka-boom, now.  Go on!
Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Yup, I'm Going With Quirky.

Sometimes, things just work out.  And sometimes, weird works.  And sometimes, you just go on with your bad self.

I had that kind of day, recently.

On that day, I made this--

I bought a bunch of sequins.  Can you tell?

I love this stamp set by Claudine Helmuth Studio.  It's called "So Retro", and has great glasses, a suitcase, a phone, and other stuff.  It's great, really.

Anyway, things just sort of fell into place on this card.  The weirdness of the typewriter in the lovely floral context is weird, right?  BUT!!!  Because of the letter paper, it really works!
(Hey, it's MY card!)

I remembered, somewhere in the windmills of my mind, that once upon a time the qwerty keys on a typewriter (AKA the home row, I believe) were sometimes done in red keys, so I went for it here.  Anything for more color!  I DO wish my happy birthday sentiment was a teensy bit smaller so it would fit just perfectly, but it'll do as is.

Quirky.  That's what I'm calling this one.  Yup, quirky.  I like it!

Thanks for stopping by!  Come back and see me.
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker's Nephew is a Graduating Guy (2013!! 2013!!)

Well, the nephew Jason is a graduating kind of guy.  He's finishing up, having a last summer at home, then off to college in the fall.  Lordy Bees, that happened fast.

To help celebrate, I made him a card.  Then I stuck a check into it.  Because that's what we do, the uncles.

I made this--

 

The school colors are navy and orange, so that's where I went with this card.  The background to the numbers is actually navy, not black, but you know how navy photographs....

I absolutely LOVE, no LURVE hot air balloons and clouds.  Always have.  One day, I will go up in a balloon (if Charlie lets me.  He's a scaredy cat).  In France, please.

oh, but I digress.  So....yeah! Balloons, and clouds.  So pleasant.  So hopeful.  So peaceful.

(yeah, I KNOW all about the loud fire thing part.  Shhh...)

I always smile about the way a graduating class thinks they OWN the year.  The way the guys scream it at each others' faces after the ceremony.....good times.  I figured it would do well on the card, big and orange.  And, why not stamped with a hounds tooth pattern?  Oh yeah, I coated the card stock with clear embossing powder before cutting the numbers.  Shiny is good!

Here's another view for depth, and possibly a little better color--

Yes, that IS a better view, I think.

Thanks for stopping by.
Do me a favor and stop the clock for a while, would ya?  Or at least slow it down?

All Best--
Richard

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Well, I was given some stamps recently, by a Ms. Windy Ellard.  I made THESE cards with them, and I LOVE the stamps so much. 
She included the sweetest little mini card with them, with the nicest message. 
Oh, I just have this bad photo, but you can get the idea...

So cute, yes?  Sweet punches, a little stamping, some brads, badaboom.
Love this.

But mini cards?  Whaddat?  I have heard little mumblings about these things, but I had not known their virtues until now.  Small. Good to stick into or onto things.  You could even stick them onto a full-sized card (Hey, let's not get all crazy, now!).

So I had to make a couple, just to give it a go.
Yeah.
Let me be the first to admit that a 3"x3" card kicked my prodigious butt.
Hours.  It took HOURS to combine the right shapes, colors, inks, whathaveyous to get this thing designed.  I swear, sometimes my brain forgets to release the emergency break.

Anyway, I ended up happy with these, with one reservation.
I made this--

Whew.  Well, there it is.  Not too bad.  I stamped a little, punched some, embossed a bit, die cut some stuff.  Cute.  THIS SHOULD NOT TAKE HOURS, I'm thinking.....
This is all Stampin' Up supplies here, by the way.  I'm still a demo for a few more weeks, unless y'all need to buy something.  I'm no salesman, it seems.  No biggie.  But seriously, if y'all need something, I can order it for you.....*sigh*

Anyway, I made a small set of them--

Now, you can't make 3x3 envelopes and mail these.  The USPS won't take them, so don't try it. 
You could stick them in a regular envelope, but then why not just make a regular sized card?
Make the envelopes, and use them as enclosures, or put them with a thank you gift (which I really don't do too, too much).Or, hey!  You could leave them on your pillow for your host(ess) to find at your next overnight with friends!  Cute, right?
Try these things!  You can put the components (and some adhesive) into your bag, and assemble them at the coffee shop.  Think of all the conversations that'll start!  Being a guy, I think I'd get more weird looks than interested conversation, but you gotta be you, you know?

Hey, Happy Monday, and thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is a Team Player (Woo Hoo!!)

Well, as of 9am EDT, today marks the OFFICIAL start of my tenure as a DESIGN TEAM MEMBER at Oozak.com Challenge Blog!  Uh, excited much?!  Uh, YEAH!

This is me---- Click on my Blinky to check it all out!

Yup, that little sucker is MINE.  Check it out on my sidebar.

Here's the sneak peek from yesterday, just to whet your whistle--

In keeping with the challenge at Oozak, I have a second card that fits the theme. Once I get my star punches out, there's no stopping me, it seems.

I made this--

This was really fun, getting the stars to align, so to speak.  I worked at getting some movement happening, both from the swirl of stars, AND the depth I was able to achieve.

You can see more of the depth in this shot--

The teal stars are actually the card base peeking out from where I punched the striped background piece.  I stamped my sentiment (Stampin' Up!), and colored in some letters with a Copic marker (BG15).  I popped that piece up on foam adhesive so you could see the stars better.  There are also stamped stars in a few instances, so you're not going to get any flatter than that.

Then the stars get layered in, some flat, some on foam, some glued flat on TOP of the ones on foam.  I really am loving the vellum stars here, because you can mostly see under them to the level below.

Add some pearls, just to fill in and help with the idea of movement, and that's that!

I'm also entering this card into A Blog Named Hero's "It's a man's man's man's world" challenge.
You can play too, by going HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a safe, fun weekend.
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker---Team Member!

Well, a milestone has been reached in my card making career--

I am on a DESIGN TEAM! 

Now, I have been a "featured Gallery" owner at GinaK Designs, a "Guest Designer" for my friend Melanie Meunchinger's stamp set release, but today, I am TEAM MEMBER. 

I am working with the very talented team at the Oozak.com Challenge Blog.  We do two challenges a month, and it looks like there's a great amount of inspiration to be had with this crew.  I am very much looking forward to working with them over the next 4 months.

I'm hosting the first challenge that we'll be doing together, and it goes live at 9am EDT TOMORROW!  Check us out, and have a look at Oozak.com.  My first contact with Oozak was years ago when I was looking for a good deal on Copic markers.  These were the cheapest on the market at that moment, and SO MUCH of what they sell is a good deal below MSRP, so definitely check it out!

I want to leave you a sneak peek of my card that will be seen tomorrow.

I made this--

Come see the rest tomorrow!  I'm on the DESIGN TEAM!!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--

Richard

Mr Cardmaker Gets Negative (And Feels Really Positive About That)

You know how sometimes you get an idea in your head, and it just won't leave you alone until you do something about it? 

I bought these Labels Twenty-two dies from Spellbinders, and while making a die cut with one of them, it came to me that if I centered it just so, I could use the negative to make a card.  So I did. Oh, the card I could make with this!!
And it sat.
And sat.
I kept looking at it, putting it aside, contemplating just tossing it....and THEN!

 

I made this--

 



So, the problem with wanting to use a die negative to make a card is that there's a big hole in your card. uh, Hello!

 I decided to go Springy and bright, so I got out the Lucky Limeade card stock, and filled that sucker in, nice and tight, making sure it would NEVER fall apart.

Then, I decided to stamp. After. Wop, wop......

What followed was a lengthy series of masks and cursing, with a (finally) decent medallion motif at the end of it all. I sponged some white into the center of the medallions, and onto the edges of the sentiment tag.  I was sort of looking for an early morning mist kind of feel, despite my use of really bold colors.

 

The flowers started with Melon Mambo card stock, which I sponged with white ink to texture things up.  I crumpled them up in my hand (a good thing to do after the aforementioned stamping debacle) before assembling them with a white mini brad.  The leaves are more medallions, punched out, cut into sections, and crumpled up.  After adding the flowers to the card, I added tiny dots of Glossy Accents to make it look like dewdrops.

 

The sentiment tag is just a strip that I gave an edge to by slipping it into Modern Label punch from SU.  The punch itself would have been too small, so this works.  The sentiment is from GinaK Designs' Enjoy the Sunshine set.

 

A few green rhinestones, and that's that.  Oh, I will need to make a big envelope for this one, since it's about 1/2" thick.  No biggie. (Famous last words)

 

So that's my story, and I'm sticking with it.  Uh, PLANNING would be the watchword for today.  I would probably have been able to pump this baby out TONS faster, if only I had thought the whole thing through first.  Live and learn. 

 

 We're off to Chicago for the holiday weekend.  Any plans for you??

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

Mr Cardmaker Tries to MishMash Up the Joint

Well, it was a good long week of gardening, from carting and laying down much, to planting a new cherry tree, to filling the window boxes and planters with lots and lots of lovely things.  Now, I just have to water and enjoy.  Looks so nice, so far!

I made some cards that were inspired by Michelle Wooderson's cardmaking style. Her blog is called MishMash, and is really worth checking out at length.  She does cards, and LOTS of Project Life stuff, and she makes awesome card elements and kits which she has available at her Etsy shop.  She is SO great at doing collage cards, and the way she makes many elements come together is such a great way really had me wanting to CASE her style.

I actually showed you one of the cards HERE.  I did a few others, and I really found that it all takes some practice.  Some of these are better than others.  Let's see why.

This was the one I already showed you--



I think the reason this works so well (for me) is that you really have a hard time deciding where one layer stars and another ends.  The name of the game here is print paper and tags.  The patterns and shapes really keep your eye moving, with that one sweet resting spot which happens to hold the sentiment. 

 

Then there's this one--

Here, too, lots of movement, but fewer shapes this time.  I am late to the table, but can I just say I LOVE me some washi tape?  It took me a while to figure out what to do with it, but I love that it's semi-transparent, and works in so many places!

 

Then there's this one--

 

This one is a bit simpler, using the motif of the paper as a guide.  That little banner on the tag is paper pieced.  Of course, I love my stars.  I think we lose something here with the text paper NOT being aged down a bit, and the blue dot paper needs an edge treatment, I think.

Here's where things break down a bit, for me--

So, it's hard (read, impossible) to see in this photo, but the big dark paper has text on it.  I was trying to continue the idea of text being the watchword.  Again, I think the cream text sheet should have been aged down , and WHAT was I thinking cutting things off just short of the edge of the card?  Does the bottom left corner make you as crazy as it does me? 
The dark piece is too wide, the text sheet is wicked crooked (which is why everything else is on an angle, btw), and the folder tabs just don't really add so much, IMHO.
This was my first try in this series; can you tell?  In fact as I remember, I made each of these in direct opposition to how I show them here. 

Like I said, new ideas take practice.
Let me know what you think.  (Be kind.)

What are you trying, lately?  Who's inspiring you?

Oh, yes, update on my Mega Meet experience.  I SAW Tim Holtz, but no photo with him, or even OF him.  Oh, well.  I got some good stuff, and I am proud of my powers of restraint.

And, HEY!--Do you know that your local TJMaxx often has craft supplies in their stationary and book stuff?  I just got a BIG cluster of 6x6 paper pads for $2.99 EACH.  There are also often stamps and punches to be had, as well as ribbon packs.  You gotta have a look!

Thanks for stopping by. 
All Best-
Richard

 

 

 

 





It SERIOUSLY Doesn't Get Any CASimpler....

One of the lovely ladies in my Stampin'Up! group is Windy Ellard.  I was interested in a small group of stamps that came with the Paper Pumpkin set for April, and she wasn't using hers.  So she SENT them to me!  Just like that!  Well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, crafters are about the NICEST, MOST GENEROUS group in all the land!  What a doll, our Windy!

I had to make something with them the second I saw them.
I made these--

Sorry about the photo.  I wanted to get these up on the blog, and the iPhone was there....
Two stamps.  Two inks.  Three pieces of washi tape. Corner rounder punch.
CARD!
I am NOT known for my CAS cards, as you know.  (If you don't know, read my crazy entry HERE)
Sometimes the muse is with you. 
I hope you like!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--
Richard

Mr Cardmaker Has Been At It For TWO YEARS!!!

Well, who'da thunk it?  Two years!!!  It all started HERE , and two years later, here I am, having the time of my life, and just so happy about all the friends I made along the way.

If I could send each and every one of you a card to say thanks for your constant support and bloggy love, I'd probably send something like this--

 

The sentiment says it all.  Truth.

 

Today I am off to the Mega Meet in Novi, MI to buy me some good good stuff!!  Tim Holtz is rumored to be coming, so it will be cool if I get a pic with a real "famous" crafter MAN.  So few of us out there, you know!  (Not that I am famous...yet!  Infamous, maybe...)

 

I have some other versions of this card idea to show you, but I gotta get dressed and outta here.  Those supplies won't buy themselves, you know! 

 

A million "thank you"s to you, my friends.

You've given me a million smiles.

 

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--

Richard

 

Mr Cardmaker has No Control, Whatsoever

Well, I seem to have lost control of myself on these cards.  More, MORE, MORE seems to be the watchword here, and it just has GOT to quit!  I mean, for REALS.

Take, for instance, Charlie's birthday card. 
I made this-

I mean, is this just LUNACY? 
Now, I DO like the little cupcake.  I used my crimper to make the liner.  Yes, my crimper.  That thing I use mostly to make padding for hefty cards.  You know you have one hiding in the dusty back part of your closet somewhere. 
Oh yeah, and that's a cloud die making the frosting.  That, and some Stickles.
I used paper to "thread" that button.  Seems much easier than doing the whole needle thing.
I was pretty happy with the whole cupcake thing.

Then I think I took about an hour to do those fussy cut banner flags.  Oh, and I fussy cut the sun. And that cherry. I am SUPER glad that maraschino cherries are ALL red.

Did you notice that little banner paper pieced into the sentiment there?  Who does that?  Me, that's who.

Gave the Cuttlebug a workout too, with all the die cutting and dry embossing.  Oh, and can't leave the punches alone either.  Had to grab one for that top piece. 

And washi.  See those red dots along the bottom?  Washi.

Ridiculous.  Hoo boy.

He liked it.  A lot.  I guess I do too. 
.....................................................................

But, it's really getting out of hand.  Really.
But, trust me, it ain't getting any saner around here any time soon!
Stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

And a Happy Sunday Was Had By All

Wow, what a beautiful weekend here in Michigan.  The sun is shining, the temps are WONDERFUL, and we were able to get out and do some much needed garden and yard tending.  I hope your weekend is going well, too!

Today, I am sharing Ms. Lillian's 88th birthday card.  Nana, as she is known by the family, is the lady I call mother-in-law, even though the law isn't quite ready to comply with that assessment.  She just turned 88 (!), and is feisty as ever!  She still drives, though mostly during daylight hours. She lives in an Independent Living community, which means she has her own apartment, but gets fed twice a day, and has somebody around 24 hours a day, just in case.  Oh, and somebody comes to clean the apartment, too.  I need to move into one of these places, asap.

I made her this--

Who doesn't love a little va-voom?  Or a lot, as the case may be....
So, I went a little overboard.  So, shoot me.

The papers, cardstock, and embossing folder are all new stuff from Stampin' Up, as is the happy birthday banner with matching die. The glitter paper is from Michael's.  The edge punches are EK Tools, and the other stamps and the pull tab die and number die are from Papertrey Ink.  Oh, the coral medallion stamp and punch are also SU, and the letters on the envelope are PTI.  Man, I used a BUNCH of stuff on this thing!

When you pull the tab, (which she did NOT want to do) it finishes the sentiment, and says, "it's a matter of making your years count."  Awwwww...
Well, she loved it.

Nana keeps ALL of the cards, calendars, banners, EVERYTHING that I make for her, and every once in a while we pull them out and I am reminded of where my card making journey has led me.  THAT is a cool thing to do, for sure.

What would you see if you went back to your early crafting days?  What would you love, and what would you cringe at?  I have my share of cringe-worthy moments, let me tell you!  But you do things, you learn things, you make more things, and you get better.  And you create, you relax, and along the way you get to meet some remarkable people like you.  And you have fun.

Go have some fun, will ya?  Get OUTTA here!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  That makes me so happy!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker Walks the Walk (Since He's ALREADY Talked the Talk)

Well, after my tirade (tirade, rant, whatever...) last Friday about using bright, saturated colors on masculine cards, I decided to put my money where my (BIG) mouth was, and come up with some cards that are LOADED with color. 
These are cards that are suitable for anyone, really, but they're ones that I am planning to use for guys' birthdays. You will notice, not a HINT of dusty blue (uck! Pheew!) in the bunch!

I made this--

 

Clean, simple, bold, bright, active. 

 

Then there's this--

 

 





Same idea. Sharp, crisp, colorful, with movement.  Oh yeah, I did that flag edge with a scalloped square die, turned on the diagonal.  Fun, right?  And that's SKY blue in there, not dusty blue, btw...

 

Look at this one--

 

 

Even with the bling, I think this is fine for a man.  Yes, I do.  (Uh, Baja Breeze, thank you...)

 

Look at THIS one--

(Is anybody thinking of Scarlett Johanson doing this "marble columns" skit from SNL, like I am?)

 

 

 

Ohmygawd, who is THIS card for, the POPE?! (uh, see afore mentioned video clip....)

Nope, this is for my Uncle Rich's 60th.  Looks masculine to me! (Yet still workable for anyone!)

 

So, you see?  I CAN do more than just run my mouth.  Fooled you, didn't I?  (Hey, I fooled myself...)

Oh yeah, and a decidedly more feminine one for you--

 

Look at THIS one--

 

And while the shapes and movement are similar to the other cards, clearly the colors take it in a more feminine direction, especially when you come to the abundance of pink !

 

Don't be afraid of COLOR COLOR COLOR when you are doing cards for men!   (We like colors, really!!)

 

Happy Weekend!  I have some exciting news to share, but I am under orders to keep it on the QT for now.  Stay tuned!

 

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--

Richard

 

 



Mr Cardmaker Figures it Out





 

 

Do you ever find, in your stamp collection, that sentiment stamp that you look at and say, "WHAT am I going to do with you?"   Well, I bought Stampin Up's Smarty Pants set ages ago.  I really had just about signed off on it as a "what was I thinking?" moment when I ran across it, and decided to challenge myself.

 

I made this-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am NEVER one to feel obligated to stick to one stamp set when I'm making something (uh, unless somebody's gifting me the set and asking for samples to show).  If the image works, I'm pulling it out!  The clouds and the orange sun rays that are peeking out from behind the vellum are from two Papertrey Ink sets, (Up, Up and Away, and Funky Florals) and the birds are from Melanie Meunchinger's Gifts from the Sea set at GinaK Designs.

 

Doing the clouds was an interesting exercise.  The darkest ones are actually done with pink ink, not orange, and after stamping the first row, I just kept going up and up, letting the ink get softer as I went along.  I did the same pink with a flower stamp to make the sun's rays.  Totally reads orange.

 

The grass die is from Amuse Studio.  That bugger is tough to work with, because it almost always makes a mark on the bottom of the cardstock you're cutting.  Putting it through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder fixes that problem!  That's a green ribbon, darker than the one in front, separating the layers of grass, btw.

 

It's pretty hard to see in this photo,but the yellow circle living under the vellum has also been dry embossed, Swiss dots this time, and that little yellow brad holds it all together.  Foam adhesive pops it off the surface.

 

I think it looks like some scene from the Serengeti or something, minus the rhinoceros.  Sooooo...for what occasion is this appropriate?  And for whom? 

 

Is this suitable as a graduation card?  I guess the sentiment could be one of those things you'd shout after someone, before adding, "...and don't let the door hit you in the ass!"

Graduation card, it is!!!  ( I promise I WON'T put that on the inside.  Wouldn't that make a GREAT stamp, though?)

 

Now that I think about it, it could be a good card for someone starting a new job, or even, HEY!  How about your local doc who's about to do a Doctors Without Borders stint?  Or a teacher? Ok, so this is pretty applicable, after all.  Cool.

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

All Best-

Richard

 

 

 





Friday Fix: Don't Be Hassling Me With your Dusty Blue, Man....A Rant for a Sunny Friday

So, it has come to my attention that too many "masculine" cards are prisoners.  Prisoners of drab color.  I cannot TELL you how very tiresome it is to see a card that someone has dubbed "masculine", only to see it is made with the most mundane and dreary colors of brown (tan/beige/whatever) and "dusty blue", with absolutely NO FUN INVOLVED. While, yes, these Browns and many blues can be used in really wonderful, beautiful ways, merely slapping them onto a card with an image of a lawnmower or a beer can does not make a work of art worthy of the man/men in your life.

 

I know I hear from many crafters that making masculine cards is a tough thing for them.  I think that too often it is because they feel limited in what colors they can choose from.  Well, for this FRIDAY FIX, I am going to try to fix some peoples way of thinking when it comes to making cards for men.

Look, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret--Men LIKE color!  LOTS of colors.  Don't you ever see those loud, crazy-intense colors their sports teams wear?  (uh, wait, let's not venture into that area.  That's another rant, entirely--trust me.)

Case in point:

I made this --

Now, you are certainly welcome to disagree with me, but I would DEFINITELY have no issue sending this to my dad or to one of my brothers, or to most men.  This is a card that any man or woman should be able to appreciate, but I actually think it's MORE suitable for a man.

Here's why--

This card has my 3 criteria for being "male suitable".
1) BOLD shapes and textures.  Strong geometrics, chunky die cuts, distinct lack of flowers and swirly things.  You can also look to patterns from fabrics like houndstooth, argyle, and plaids (oh, the varied and happy world of PLAID!)
2) STRONG, saturated COLOR. EVERY color in different shades can work. Honestly, I think you can even make pink work on a man's card, if it's something rich and bold, like a fuscia, or the exact color of his pink oxford button-down.  It's all about what it gets paired with.
3) ACTION.  If you have a son, you KNOW they like nothing more than MOVING.  Their eyes like to move as well.  Give them lots to look at, either all over the card, or in that very specific sweet spot you've chosen.

Now specific to this card-- I have to admit that that button walks a very fine line.  HOWEVER!  It is BIG, it is BRIGHT, and I think the little flag tucked in there turns it into more of an idea of a "medal."  This works with the star (think General, sir!)and the tiny flags with the braided cord, more "medals."
Then there's the argyle pattern.  A MANLY pattern, yes?  I managed to pop the vellum circle up by hiding the foam adhesive under the medals and the button. That was a tricky one!
Yes, I see you looking at that lime green polka dot flag and raising your eyebrow...Again, feel free to disagree, but I TOTALLY think that works because the dots are HUGE and graphic. Plus, I think it makes yet another medal, when paired with the center square.

Well, this Friday Fix has turned into a Friday RANT.  I  just saw a perfectly good card that was suitable for anyone get "redone" in a "masculine" way, and all those browns just sucked the life out of the whole idea. Hair-trigger, anyone?
But, you know what?  I actually make cards with browns and blues.  Not dusty blue, though.  Yuck.   ( I had a friend who used to get flowers from his parents, and they actually spray painted FLOWERS brown and dusty blue.  It was called a "Male Mix" arrangement. It was so sweet of them to send flowers, yes, but...really?  REALLY?)  My browns though, usually have gotten purples and golds, and the blues get reds and oranges and greens with them.  I use the force of COLOR to convey the force of my FEELINGS.

Clearly, not every card is for every person, and there are probably some guys who might think that brown and dusty blue are all they're worthy of, or, yes they may even just LIKE them (though, that dusty blue...does someone LIKE that color, really?).  USE those colors, if it's a seasonal choice, or if your guy REALLY loves those colors. 
But remember--It is our job as artists (and yes, you ARE an artist) to break down creative walls for both ourselves and the people we make things for.  That's why we want to know all the latest and greatest products and techniques, and why we want inspiration from all of our bloggy friends!

Thanks for being my Bloggy Friend.
And, thanks for stopping by!
All Best--
Richard

Papertrey Blog Hop Challenge

Well, my computer SEEMS to be back to normal, now, but I am treading lightly.
Today I made a card for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge.  Their challenge this time was to do a "tilted" card.  "Design on an Angle", they said. 

So I did. 
I made this--

This card  is a design I used on several cards I made last Christmas, actually.  There's something about making this sledding kid airborne that just cracks me up!  The sentiment says it all!  I had to CASE myself on this one.

I made this with PTI's In the Meadow stamp set and dies, and their cursive alphabet dies, as well as some other snowflake punches.  I tore some PTI shimmer paper for the snowbank, and added some Stickles for some extra sparkle.  I just smeared it with my finger.

Adding these letters was no mean feat, let me tell you.  I have never had to cut such teensy-tiny-itsy-bitsy
pieces of foam adhesive in my life.  I really think it makes a huge difference, though, so I guess it was really worth it, after all.

This will NOT be made en masse for my Christmas cards this year.  Too fussy.  Plus, I have a big ol' stock of fun papers I plan to haul out.  I thought this one really fit the theme of the challenge though, so I will save it for one lucky(ish) person.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and a special thanks to those of you who had advice for fixing my computer situation.  I'd tell you to enter this challenge, but I think I am kinda under the wire myself, so unless you can do it all "Speedy Gonzales-style", you may have to wait until the next go around!

All Best!
Richard

Oh Woe.....

My server won't let me upload pictures.  I have no idea why, or even what that means, but I am NOT a happy camper. 

Anyone out there with computer savvy that can help me out???

Mr Cardmaker has a Thing for Coffee.....

This week I'm finally playing along with Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger.  Somehow, I have been missing the fact that there is a CHALLENGE involved with the pretty inspiration pictures....Oy, am I brain-dead sometimes!

Anyway, now that I am up to speed (ish!), here's the inspiration for this challenge-

 

I am a great lover of coffee. So much, in fact, that I think Juan Valdez should be cannonized.  You remember him, the guy from the coffee can....oh, never mind.  I'm rattling around in the windmills of my mind again...

 

ANYway!  I made a card!

It looks like this--

 

Clearly, I went with the theme of the card, rather than the colors.  I actually panicked about that for a split second, before I saw others had done the same thing. 

 

SO, I stamped my coffee cups, and just did little swipes of color with sponge daubers, then did the red swirl and steam parts with markers.  Then, I pulled out a trick I saw a million years ago, where you actually use real coffee to make "mug marks" in strategic places.  I drink my coffee with milk, so it ended up more on the subtle side, but the idea is definitely there.

 

The banner came together with those bits of washi, and my hearts and stars kind of remind me of cookies.  (cookies, mmm...)  What better to go with coffee?  A bit of foam tape, some twine, some pearls, and there you go.

 

I am very glad I placed the banner OVER one of the coffee rings, so that it really looks purposely done, and not like I just jammed some ruined card into an envelope and rushed it off.  Some people are so touchy about stuff looking good...

 

Well, that's the card.  Going back over this post, it seems I clearly have had too much coffee this morning.  Either that, or I am a bit wiki in the waki woo....who can say?  I need more coffee...

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard



Mr. Cardmaker is an Esoteric Kinda Guy

Also known as a weirdo.  Ok, maybe that's harsh.  Uh, let's say, "I march to the beat of my very own drummer."

               Note:  This is my second post for today!  Scroll down for the other one!

Anyway, when it came to creating a card for the Simon Says Stamp Travel /Cityscape Challenge, I pulled out some stamps and stuff, and decided I could also make this work at the Moxie Fab World's Wonders of Watercolor Challenge.  I am a big fan of my water brush.  This thing takes ink or paint or whatever, and lets you squish out just the right amount of water from the handle to make some cool looking stuff. 

I actually ended up using three different stamp sets to create this one.
I made this-

This is waaaaaaaay out of my normal comfort zone, but I went with it.  I think it took me about 20 times running back and forth to my heat gun to dry layers of ink, but in the end I sort of like this. 

I wish photos were truer to real life.  There's pink in the background of the cityscape, and it is actually quite pretty. 

Anyway--Who do you send this one to?  I am thinking I would probably make and send this for somebody just out of college and off to make their way in the big city, or just somebody leaving home for the first time, maybe.  Or, you could give it to your kid as you kick him and his stuff out of your house, finally.  (Oh, come ON, he's 43!!)  A simple "get out, love Mom" would work on the inside, probably, in that case.

But anyway, this was a fun experiment.  Not for everyone, probably, but I learned a  long time ago that there is no way to be everything to everybody.  So what if this is only for three or four somebodies? 

Thanks for putting up with my wild ravings.  As Dr.Sheldon Cooper says, "I'm not crazy.  My mother had me tested." 
Oh yeah, check out my other challenge entry from today, too!  It's for Runway Inspired!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr. Cardmaker is a Run(a)way

Well, Papa (aka Mr. Cardmaker) needs some new toys, so I'm entering a few challenges this week.  I was drawn in by the subject of this week's Runway Inspired Challenge , and I decided to hop on in.

Oh, yeah I am also doing CASology's "Word" challenge with this one, too.

This is the lovely fashion piece that we are to work from-  


I really like the graphic black and white scheme, the silky look as it moves, and that little hit of red in the lipstick.  Great ideas to incorporate into this card.
So, I got an idea, and I got to work.
Tried once.  Messed up with the tape. Rats.
Tried again.  Goofed on the inking. Poop.
Try #3.  Ribbon issues, then smeared in ink.  #%@!!!
Walk away from the project......
About an hour later, Try #4.  I think we're okay.

It turned out looking like this--

The black is all embossed, except for the edges of the card.  I could've pounded that thing with embossing buddy dust all day, and I was STILL going to get a fleck or two of black somewhere. 

I manipulated the ribbon to give it some movement.  Big help here from my Scor-tape and glue dots.

How about that little red "glow" going on there?  Can you guess how I did it? 
Nope, I did NOT ink the edges of the cardstock. Guess again.  Can you guess?

I inked the BACK of the cardstock!  What you're seeing there is the reflection onto the white card base, as it sits up on the adhesive foam pieces!  Man, I was so happy about coming up with that idea!  I'm SURE it's not really new, but I NEVER see it being used, myself, so it's new to me!

BTW, on one of my many tries to get this right, I attempted doing it by adhering red cardstock to the back.  NO DICE.  It was simply not as reflective as the ink.  Not sure why, but you have to go with whatever works.  The ink was key!

You have to see it in another view to see the edges are not inked...

And yet, STILL that little "hint of red lipstick" glow.  I am actually pulling a muscle in my back at this moment, trying to reach around and pat myself!

Head on over to RIC, and try out this challenge!  I hope you'll have as much fun as I did!
Oh yeah, I'll have TWO more challenge posts coming up.  Check them out, if you get a sec.

Thanks so much for dropping by!
All Best-
Richard

Wop Wop....

This week has been too crazy.  Two birthdays, some very bad news for the family members, a new furnace in about 20 minutes, and I'll be going out of town all next week, with no computer.  I will be back with some cards and more Friday Fix ASAP, I promise.

I sense your disappointment....

Ok, here's a quick one.  But only because it's YOU--

I would probably never normally post this, because it is not perfect, and never will be, bit I love the shapes and colors, so...

 

I stamped this with various colors, then stamped a few onto scraps, and trimmed them out. A little foam adhesive, and there it is.  Oh yeah, and a little dashed line there on the top and bottom. 

I have to use a ruler to do that.  I can't draw a straight line to save my life.  Even the ruler does only so much. The dashes are all over the place....

 

The stamps are from Pretty Patterns by my friend Melanie Muenchinger for GinaK Designs, and the sentiment is from the dollar bin, so I'm thinking it's Studio G.  The pink/orange inks are Memento, and the black is Versafine.

 

Have a great weekend/week ahead!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

 

 

 

Friday Fix 3

Wow, we have the nicest morning here in Michigan, beautiful clear sky and the SUN!  I am going outside! 

Well, today's Fix was a tough one for me.  Honestly, I should've could've just pitched this one, mostly because of the spacing, but once I put an hour into something, I will spend another to make it all happen (apparently).  You tell me whether it worked this time, or not!

So, I made this--

This was made with SU's Pennant Parade, and my new Celebrate set from Avery Elle, as well as Hero Arts' Birthday Messages set.  I paper pieced the cake, and I used that two sided mustard paper for the banners to bring out the mustard color in the background paper.  I was starting to feel the undertow of "card FAIL" starting to happen, so I tossed the glitter paper strip and the pearls on at the last minute.  The twine I used for the bows immediately unraveled upon snipping, and I just sort of hated the whole thing.    Why?  Well, the die cut is way too big, and the sentiment is not in a sweet spot at all.  If I had been thinking, I would have placed it lower, and trimmed off the bottom, at least.  *SIGH*

So, I went with the world's greatest fix-all--GLITTER!  Or, in this case, MORE GLITTER!

I did this--

 

 

Well, nothing a little bling won't cure  help!!  I decided that there was WAY too much mustard going on, so I punched some glitter flags and adhered them to the existing ones. 

Then I added some red rhinestones to the corners, and got rid of those sad, sad blue and white bows, and replaced them with some happy happy (er) red and white ones. 

Since I had the rhinestones out, I added them to some of the little asterisks on the die cut, and while I was at it, I stamped more of them too.  Just because I thought it would help fill some unwanted negative space, I also added that tiny strip of glitter to the sentiment piece, as well.  Hey, in for a penny...

 

The last thing was to add some red Stickles to the red card stock piece, to help bring together all the red shiny stuff. 

 

And that's that.  Like I said, This is STILL not the greatest, but at least I won't be embarrassed to sent it to somebody at this point.

 

So, I guess the question is, when do you decide whether or not to even BOTHER with doing a fix on something?  I think, for me, it all depends on whether or not I get the thing put away in the card stash fast enough, or if it's sitting there staring at me, shaming me for doing "that" to it!

 

Speaking of the card stash, I have to dig through it to see what the next Friday Fix will be.  I think there's some in there from about 4 years ago, and they'll certainly be in need of some love!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best--

Richard



Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

So, I am down to the wire to enter the Paper Crafts Connection's March Gallery Challenge , so I am whipping together this posting.  This time it was a country-themed challenge.  My country tends to be more French-based.  My apologies to my US Country fans.

My photos are not so great this time, since I used my phone to take them, and did them on an open watercolor paper pad.  Whew, talk about making do!

I made this--

Ok, this is from a TPC Studio set I got at JoAnn's for $3.00.  Yup. I also used eggs from a GinaK Designs set, and a single "merci" stamp from Avery Elle (which came free with my order, btw.  Mr. Cardmaker is not called CHEAP ,uh, FRUGAL for nothing!)

I also made this--

On this one, I was playing around with layering some stamps.  I thought the layered borders, ending up in the GRASS was really kind of funny, but as you know, I am weird that way.

When I was doing my stamping, I did it all, and then hit the whole panel with a water sprayer, which gave me that nice spotty effect.  I kinda dig it.

So, not to count my chicks before they hatch, but I am hoping these get me some shopping "scratch!"

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Friday Fix 2

So, it seems that I do indeed make enough "wop wop" cards to continue with this "Friday Fix" idea!
While I ponder whether that is really a good or bad thing, let's forge ahead!

Anyway, I made this--

 

This is done with Papertrey Ink's Up Up and Away stamps and dies, and A*Muse Studio's Cloud Duo dies.  I used the cloud stamps to make what should be treetops there on the bottom.  Really, not a bad card, but just nothing really special about it.  Yawn, even.

 

So, I got out some patterned papers, and the cloud dies and got to work making this more interesting.

Now, my grand scheme is to be able to make stuff better without having to rip stuff apart. Time will tell, as I go on, whether or not this will be possible.  Stay tuned.

 

Anyway, here's what I came up with-

 



Better, right?
There's just more "There" there. Why?

The patterned clouds give you a more eye-catching visual, not to mention that more clouds are just "more" to look at. 

The "treetops", whether your eye sees them as trees or just ground or bushes or whatever, have a stronger presence, and makes the whole "airborne" feeling of the balloons even stronger. I love that I got so much "landscaping" done from only two die cuts! (and the award for most quote marks in a single post goes to.....!)

No really huge changes here, and that, is my point.  Often, it doesn't take a huge amount of changes to improve your work.  Sometimes, it just wants a little "flair"!  (Yes, I used them again.  Keep on reading, I may do it yet again!)

So, dig out some of those cards you aren't sending because you just don't love them, and get your flair on.

More to come!

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Happy Weekend!
All Best-
"Richard"

The Many Layers that Are Mr Cardmaker

Ok, so there's two.  At least, in this instance.

So, I got this urge to make a project or two with some vellum.  I find vellum to be a tricky substance.  It warps if you look at it funny, and woe be unto you if you try to emboss it! 
Just stamp it, leave to dry (a looong time, just to be sure) and hope for the best. 

Anyway, I made these things--

One is note sized because I SMEARED it.  As one does. 

Anyway, see this lovely scene?  Flowers and leaves, and the sun, and a butterfly even.  Yeah, right, whatever.
But WAIT!  There's more to this than meets the eye!

Watch what happens when you lift the vellum--

 

Now go back and look at it the other way.  I'll wait here.  Go on....

 



Pretty cool, right?  I need to practice my sun's rays technique, I think, but isn't it kinda fun??
Like a "two-fer".  Sorta.

I thought this was fun.  I think if I go here again, I will try to avoid a huge flower over my sun and sentiment, but all in all, I kind of like this.

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker here, Reporting (and making stuff, too).

I have been asked about how this chipmunk card I made went over from Valentine's Day, and I finally have my report. 
Well, it was a BIG hit!  They BOTH loved it, and apparently, it is now living on an easel on a shelf at the lovely recipients home.  I would never boast about the payment, but I will say that the generosity was MIND BOGGLING. I am humbled, and I am shopping.

My friend, the very sweet Ms. B from Venice, FL, noticed that the background paper I used coordinated perfectly with some stamps she had, so she gifted me some wonderful stamped diecuts from her PTI Pretty Peonies stamp set.  This was a set that you were able to buy with customer points, and I can no longer find it on the website, so I assume it's gone.  You can still buy the dies, however, and there are some nice label shapes, and a great "happy" die.  I am currently LOVING diecut words.  I may have to buy these dies one day.

Anyway, using some of her handiwork, I made this--

The paper goes SO well, right??  This paper was from a Sale-a-Bration at Stampin'Up!. from two years ago, I believe.  I understand you can still get it, but I will have to check on that.  I love the diecuts with this! 
I layered up the "happy" diecuts, creating a shadow effect, and popped the brown one up with pieces of dimensionals; I did the same with the frame (This was NOT done with the PTI dies, btw.  Spellbinders Labels four). 
I also popped up the leaves and popped up the peony on top of those.  I added some Stickles to the frame, because I do like my sparkles, don'tcha know.

I am glad I did not designate exactly "what" we were being happy about.  It can be a birthday card, a congratulatory card, or even a happy-you-finally-booted-the sucker-out divorce card.  If I change my mind, I can always make a tiny banner strip with some sentiment and insert it into the frame under the "happy".  I doubt I will, though.  I like it as is.

Thanks, B., for the treats!  I love them!!  Isn't is NICE to have such wonderful friends out there?!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard