Check You Out for the Be Inspired Blog Hop

It’s time for another Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop – what fun! The Be Inspired Design Team is a group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators from all over the world who are excited to share our themed projects with you. I’m so honored to be a part of this group of talented stampers!

For today’s Be Inspired Blog Hop, we are sharing fun ideas for Happy Mail. There’s always a reason behind special mail – sometimes it’s just to let the recipient know how much we care. We’re sharing a huge variety of projects on today’s hop – and you’re going to want to see all of it. If you aren’t starting the hop here, then you probably just popped over from the amazing project shared by my talented Canadian friend Carolynn Sander.


Check You Out with Library Humor

Who doesn’t love Happy Mail? How about a library-themed card that says, “check you out” with a super-cute book worm. Here’s a look at my Happy Mail card that features Stampin’ Up!’s new Check You Out stamp set:

Check You Out, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingThere may be people reading this blog who are much younger than I am, so I want to answer a few questions you might have before we move on:

  • What’s that brown thing on the front of your card? When we used to check out from the library, the books would have a pouch with a card in the front of each book. The librarian would stamp the date and write our name on the card (the librarian would keep the card and stamp the return date again inside the book). This tracked who checked out the book (“check out” – get it?) and when it. This has mostly been replaced with a barcode.
  • What is a library? A library is a place where you can check out books to borrow them for a short period of time. Libraries house lots of information – but mostly books.
  • What is a book? A book is a collection of printed words on paper that is bound together with many pages. A book can tell a story, provide information or serve to record history. Book worms love books.
  • What is a book worm? A book worm is a friendly term for people who like to read.

    Tips, Tricks and Reminders

    • Check You Out. With my extensive opening, I’ve already explained all of the library humor in Check You Out. I love books, learning and scholarly humor, so this set really appeals to me. Here’s a look at Check You Out:Check You Out, Stampin' Up!, 149462Since the set does not come with dies or a punch (and I wanted to position my book work “just so” on my card), I traced around him with a pencil, cut him out my paper snips and then erased any leftover marks from the pencil. Much easier than eyeballing the border around this little guy:Use a pencil to draw and outline before cutting with scissors, Stampin' Up!, Brian King
    • Build-a-Background of Books. I built a fun background of books with the three book images in this set – but I didn’t stamp each book, one after the other. Instead, I lined up each of the stamps on my grid paper and picked them all up on one block:Place multiple stamps on one block to build a fun background pattern, Check You Out, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingI wanted a red-on-red tone but didn’t want to ink these up with red ink (it stains photopolymers more than other colors), so I inked the stamps with Versamark ink to give a watermarked look to the background.
    • Colors. While the Call Me Clover book worm is a standout on this card, its the combination of Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Real Red that makes me so happy. This is a classic combination I will always love.Check You Out, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingIf you like this combination of Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Real Red as much as I do, please save this for future reference:Stampin' Up! Color Inspiration - Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Real Red

    Stamp Sets: Check You Out Papers: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, real Red, Thick Whisper White Inks: Call Me Clover, Real Red, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Tuxedo Black Memento, Versamark Accessories: 1″ Circle punch, Stitched Shapes Dies, Stampin’ Dimensionals

    I’m so glad you stopped by and hope you like my project. I also hope you’ll continue the Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop to see more projects that I’m sure you’ll love. The next stop is my lovely friend from the UK, Emma Goddard. Click on the banner below to continue through the hop:

    Thanks for stopping by today!

    Brian

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    In case you get off-track at any point during the hop, here’s a listing of all the participants in this hop:


    Here are links to the products I used on today’s card:

     

    50 Comments

    1. Adorable card and a true “Brian post” laced with your inimitable humor! Best start to my day this week!? Love the watermark background–one of my favorite tone-on-tone methods. TFS

      • I’m so happy you like it, Linda! I try my best to entertain AND educate. The more I explained with this one, the more needed to be explained. Thanks for your sweet comments – appreciate you!

    2. Bahaha. I love your guide for younger readers. Your card is so awesome too. That bookworm is the cutest

    3. Very cool card, dear Brian! Such a clever background and I love this worm!
      xxManuela

    4. Cute card, Brian! That’s how we checked out books when I was growing up!

    5. Love it ! People may laugh ,but your definitions are spot on !!
      I loved libraries and now I use Kindle Unlimited Library .
      This is a cute stamp set that is one of those hidden ones that get overlooked sometimes when all those Magnolias are center stage .
      Your card is a combination of creative ideas . Really like how you cut out Mr. Book Worm ! Great card !

      • Thanks so much, Sonny! I often say that I want to entertain AND educate. Mark this write-up on the “educate” side of things. 🙂 So glad you like my card, Sonny! Thanks!

    6. What is a library? What is a book? ? Great card!

    7. I totally hadn’t seen this set in the new catalogue! Love your card and the background stamping and particularly the guide for young people to understand the library concept of yesteryear!

      • 🙂 Thanks so much, Louise! It’s a fun set, so I tried my best to have fun with it. Glad you like what I made – thanks for your comments. ♥

    8. Cutest bookworm dude ever! You tickled the heart of an English major with your definitions!

    9. How did I not see this set in the catalog??? I’m a librarian!

    10. Really like how you created the background of books. I also giggled when you answered the questions the younger generation might have on your card.

    11. I remember library cards! That card is a cutie! The bookworm is great. I haven’t even noticed that stamp set! Thank you for highlighting it!

    12. I to missed it, I’m sure I saw it however; with a glance…not registering the potential. Your adorable card brings back childhood memories. Thank you for your education with humor.

      • 🙂 Thanks so much, Katrina! That’s what makes this time of year so exciting – we start seeing things we’d not noticed before. I’m so glad you like my card. ♥

    13. This is a great idea, Brian! I love the little green bookworm!

    14. Thanks for the giggles this morning! Your bookworm, and the weird thing by him, is so fun! Great colors too!

    15. Beyond adorable! Bookworms are my favorite kind of worm…lol…..

    16. Such a fun card full of clever tricks. What a perfect idea to use the book stamps for the background . And the worm – too cute!! On another note, enjoy the cruise and come back with lots of tales of fun!

      • Thanks so much, my friend! I had fun with these images – such a fun set. Will be sure to fill you in on all the cruise antics. 🙂

    17. I love books – I cannot get into the new thing of reading on your notebook or ipad or whatever. I want to hold them in my hand and absorb every word. My daughter loves them so much she just added a library of her personal collection to her house so I think I’ll HAVE TO get this set just to make cards for her. I’m another one who just passed by this set and now know I will have to have it. I really love your card today Brian. Enjoy your trip – you have certainly earned it.

      • You will 100% love this set, Grace! Thanks so much for your comments and your well-wishes about the cruise! We will have fun – because you’ve asked us to. ♥

    18. As a die-hard book worm, I love this card! I couldn’t wait to find out how you achieved the background. Ah, another stamp set on my wish list. Nicely done, my bookish friend!

    19. Being a fellow book worm, I love the pun- and cute card! Your explanation made me laugh! I STILL love libraries, even though I miss the cards. Thanks for brightening my day, Brian 🙂

    20. I love, love, love this card!!!

    21. Super cute card Brian, you gotta love a book worm.

    22. I hadn’t noticed this stamp set in the catty at all until now Brian! And I adore your fussy cutting to create a perfect border tip! The OCD in me is smiling at this simple pencil and eraser idea! So Clever! OXO

    23. Love and appreciate the VesaMark Tip! Don’t know why stained stamps bother me so much, but they do!

      • Only works for tone-on-tone stamping. The new stamp cleaner (#147047) really removes the stains on photopolymers – but you have to immediately wash the stamp with water. I’ve used mine a couple of times and LOVE it!

    24. Loved the tracing tip, very good idea!! thanks x

    25. I totally missed this set in the catalog. Love, love, love your card and now I NEED this set. I am also a book lover. And that worm reminds me of Richard’s Scarry’s Lowly Worm character from a book I would read to my son over and over.

    26. Brian! I just adore your cards and I giggled at the thought of you saying the little brown thing on the card….because it’s TRUE, the younger generation has no idea what those are, but I remember them fondly!!! Thank you for the giggle and the great card. Denise~

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