Happy Monday! Today’s project is a double-peek project. Not only is it another close-up study of one of the cards I made for my board at Convention, but it’s also a sneak peek at Sweater Weather, a Designer Series Paper available in the Holiday Catalog – available Thursday, August 1! Before we jump into the project, I want to remind you of two things:
- Swatch Books and Product Shares. In case you are a “during the week” kind of visitor, I announced my Holiday Catalog Designer Series Paper Swatch Books and Product Shares on Saturday. Check them out here. I am also still selling Designer Series Paper Swatch Books from the Annual Catalog. Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested.
- Buy-Three-Get-One-Free Designer Series Paper. I know you’ve got your eye on the Holiday Catalog out this week because you are thrilled about all the wonderful products inside. Got your list ready yet? I don’t want you, though, to forget about the Buy-Three-Get-One-Free special on Designer Series Paper from the Annual Catalog (11 great papers to choose from) that only runs through the end of July. If you plan to take advantage of this deal, don’t wait! Click here to order now.
…Back to our regularly scheduled blog post. I’ve already shown you projects with Sweater Weather (I can’t deny that I absolutely love it!), but this card is (in my estimation) the epitome of clean and simple, and it maintains a very masculine look in texture and sentiment – still, I think it’s very pretty. Here’s my card:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders:
- Blocking. Sometimes the simplest way to create an awesome background is to cover it with a great DSP. Better yet, alternate pieces of DSP in blocks. This combination with a centered and raised sentiment allows the eye to focus on the sentiment while remaining keenly aware of the background. I particularly love these papers in a block style because they have such rich texture.
- Coloring the stamps with markers. This technique has been around since the inception of stamping, but I know some of my readers are new to stamping, so I have to cater to all. The stamped sentiment in the center of the card has one sentiment with two colors. Rather than mask off the stamp and ink it up and stamp it down twice (what a pain!), I used the brush side of my Stampin’ Write Markers to brush ink onto the stamp. I then gave the stamp a “huff” of mouth-air and stamped down. Is that the technical term? Mouth-air?
- The sentiment. I chose this sentiment for my masculine card because it reminds me of the Real Men of Genius beer commercials where the announcer man makes broad congratulations to ordinary men: “Here’s to you, Mr. Giant Foam Finger Maker…”. The sentiment has a certain whimsy that I like, and that whimsy pairs well with a masculine card.
Stamp sets: Lots of Thanks Papers: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper Inks: Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango Stampin’ Write Markers Accessories: Stampin’ Dimensionals
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Are you looking to join a club? Do you want to have fun with a group and earn hostess benefits at the same time? My Stampin’ Clubhouse has a new club starting September 1, and we need new members. Please drop me a quick email at [email protected] if you are interested in joining or interested in learning more. We’ve had so much fun in the clubs, and we don’t want to leave you out. 🙂
Lovely card, Brian. Can you provide the measurements for the blocks? I am certianly lovin that sweater weather paper! The texture…oh la la!
Mary, Eeek! The card was submitted to Stampin’ Up!, and I don’t get it back. 🙁 I didn’t take measurements, but I can refer you to an earlier post with a similar layout: https://stampwithbrian.com/2013/07/06/a-clean-and-simple-layout/. All you have to do differently to recreate this card is to fill in the blank spaces with additional paper. 🙂 Sorry I don’t have the exact measurements.
If my math is correct Mary : The TT block is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 and the black background is 1 3/4 x 1 3/4. Long DSP is 1 1/2 x 3 and Black border is 1 3/4 x 3 1/4. Didn’t check it though. I am upstairs cleaning (yeah, that’s why I am on the computer…getting lots of cleaning done.) and my supplies are downstairs. Think it is probably right though using the info from Brian’s link and some fraction subtraction. I like that alliteration. Thanks for all you do Brian. But we do need measurements to CASE your wonderful designs. (Especially if we are reading at night when the old brain is slower.)
Wow! Gail! Thank you. I can neither approve nor deny those calculations because I don’t have the card in front of me, but how lovely of you to take a stab at it and share with the rest. I really appreciate that! Crafters are wonderful people – it is true.
Thank you so much Gail! You made my day with those measurements. Keep inspiring us Brian 🙂
Anytime, Mary. It’s a good thing I read this in the MORNING! My mind goes downhill as the day goes on. Still upstairs and supplies are downstairs, but it should be right. Brian, crafters are good people and you are good to us with all your help, thanks! I love the following phrase. It explains a lot about my brain. 😉 I have finally discovered what’s wrong with my brain:
On the left side, there is nothing right,
and on the right side there is nothing left!
The MRI was conclusive! LOL!
Gail,
I had the same results on my MRI!
I agree the sentiment brings to mind the very same voice in my head! Love it! Sweater Weather, oooh, This set is going to go far!
Hi Brian, I love the layering of this card, so subtle, but very impacting. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks a bunch.
LOVE It! Want to make it! Need another stamp set!
I too love the layering on this card!! and the colors of this DSP. I can’t wait till my DSP shares get here, thanks for another great masculine card.
My first thought when I saw this card was “what a perfect thank you host/hostess” card this would make for any fall gathering. I love fall so of course I love the browns, oranges, yellows and reds that mimic the color of the turning leaves. I also love the fact Brian that you combined rectangles with squares on the front of the card. Now that was a real eye grabber.
Grace said just what I was thinking! I could only add that I was thinking that it would be so easy make it feminine by adding just a little ribbon or bling. LOVE this card!
Great looking card. Congratulations on all your accomplishments this past year!
I like this dsp pattern . It reminds me of the skirts I wore in grade school. It also shouts the upcoming Fall season . The card layout is so versatile and I really like that sentiment . Another good creativity prodder ! Good way to start the week , Mr. Club President !!
LOVE it Brian!
What a great card! I’m trying it today.
When I read the sentiment, it makes me think of something the Wizard of Oz would say when he’s passing out those awards near the end of the movie. I keep hearing him say it in my head every time I read it! Lovely card and I agree that you should start sharing measurements so we can CASE these! I’ve been CASE-ing your cards for a while and the hardest part is figuring out the measurements.
Perfect timing for a sweater weather card! Not even making 70 degree in NW Ohio this weekend this card screams warmth. Brings back memories of Gramma’s old wool blankets that I curled up into. Love it!
Mouth air. Hmmm, I think we call it BREATH! Haha, you are such a wonderful kook, Brian. Love these fall colors. Terrific masculine/fall card. And I love all the layers you include. It makes my day to read you each day; thanks for your dedication.
Yes, I too love the squares & rectangles! Nice & crisp CAS card Brian!! These 2 DSP patterns both look great with the Houndstooth TIEF BTW!!
Love this card! It’ a great way to use scraps of DSP too. TFS!
I have been enjoying your posts. Love your sense of humor and sense of style. Thanks for using and describing techniques that may be familiar to many, but new to others. Even for those who know these techniques, a reminder of all the options available to us can spark creativity.
Thank you, Barbara, I really try to structure my tips as “Tips, Tricks and Reminders” to capture folks at all points on the spectrum of learning. I’m still somewhere in the middle and have lots to learn. Sometimes things are brand new, and sometimes they are reminders of techniques we have forgotten about. I’m always surprise by how many times I get positive feedback from tried-and-true techniques that are new to someone.
Hello Brian,
I just found your blog through the Pals Paper Atrts blog, The card you picked for ppa165 is the one I liked tooo. So I clicked on the sidebar on your name and voila.
Liked the photo’s and all you showed of the 25th convention and kept scrolling.
You make lovely cards…I’ll be back….to have a look again.
The Netherlands is a part of Stampin’ Up since october 2012 year and I was so pleased that the stamps and every thing else finaly is availble here toooo. I have been to several workshops now and have become ‘addidcted’ to Stampin’ Up tooo ;o)
Groetjes from Holland