Masculine Birthday card for Adult or older child

This is a Masculine Birthday card I made for one of the gentlemen in the church while I was still making their cards.  It's a pretty simple card and I find that is what most men like.  Clean and simple.  I think that's the reason us card makers struggle so with masculine cards, its because the majority of us are female and love to load our cards down w flowers and bling and lace and fussy cutting ,,,, the list goes on and on.  When you find yourself in the situation of having to make a masculine card just try to pump your brakes and take it down a notch or two.   You don't have to put all that stuff on a card for them to love it.  Or for them to even be impressed by it.  If you know the person well enough to know what kinds of things they are interested in even better, use that knowledge to give you a subject for the card.  Or a theme as it were.  Just a jumping off point..  I made this card for a very young hearted man who has worked hard all his life to make a living for himself and his family.  He raised two wonderful children and has been blessed with Grand children who in just a few short years may decide to bless him once again lol.  Point is that he's always been a pulp wooder and for those of you up north who don't know what that is its sometimes called logging.  It's cutting down trees and logging them out of the woods on transfer trucks.  I know you have all seen one or two of those trucks on the road with a load of wood on back.  Well this fellow owned one of those businesses.  So in this case I couldn't really take my own advice about using something they have interest in as a theme for your card so I fell back on some subjects I've come to think of as "Old faithfuls" .  They are subjects that are, for the lack of a better word, generic,  Here I used a basic patterned paper with muted designs and I did use a fancy rectangle die cut for the brown pattered paper and then I took two printables here that I got off of Pinterest and printed them  up on white card stock, roughened up the edges a bit.  The tag has a map printed onto it and the blue one of a plane is done like a blueprint drawing.  I don't know that Pinky Ward, who I made this card for, likes planes in particular  but hey, what boy doesn't right? and All people can identify with a map.  I just try and keep it simple when it comes to the Masculine cards.  I do have a man or two that I make cards for and they really seem to like the collage type stuff and I always try and remember and do that for them.  In other words, It helps to know your audience. lol 

I hope you have enjoyed today's card and like I've stated, I'm trying so hard to catch all these up from this year so you may be seeing alot of me for a while,  Till next time I wish you all much love and Hugs, Amy K,

Happy Birthday card for Mom

Wow, I can't believe it's been 6 months sense I last made a blog post.  I apologize for that to anyone  who is kind enough to keep up with the post I make and read them and comment.   You guys are awesome,  

When I left off making blog post in May, I was still trying to catch up all the cards I had made for 2014.  I know now that I will not be able to catch up and post all the cards I made from that time to now.  I had to step away for health reasons and I'm almost 100% but not quite there yet.  So, I'm still really slow about getting things done. I've decided to start off posting the cards I've made this year and hope that I can get most of them posted.  The church was kind enough to allow me to step down from my card making duties while I was getting better and now we still haven't decided if I will resume that part of life or if I do maybe we will have one style and deign card that is universal and can be used for any occasion.  We will see what the future holds,.  As of now I am not making cards for them and thus have more time on my hands to possibly get some post up so having said that, let me tell you about the card for today.

I made this card for Mom back in Jan.  I used several die cuts.  Both of the tags are from Sizzix and the scalloped dollie is a Spellbinders die. The sentiment stamp Is from Close to my Heart and the flowers are a combination of  Pettalo, Prima and The Paper Studio.  I removed the center that came with the teal flower and replaced it with one of my own bling pieces and I added twine from American Crafts to the tags .  To finish it off I placed a stick pin I had made in behind the teal flower and added vintage eyelet lace with a teal lace over that,  I ruffled the eyelet lace as I placed it on the flower to give some dimension to the card as well as popping the circle tag up on foam dots.  

I hope you like this card for today and I hope to be back making post on a regular basis now that I'm feeling better.  I also want to thank the church and friends and family (both mine and Brian's) for holding me up in prayer during the most difficult of times for me.  You all know who you are and you are such a blessing to me.. So, till next time, Much love and Hugs, Amy k

Masculine card made for UMC member, Joe Lanham

Joe is a longstanding member of Fisher's Methodist church and not only Joe but his whole family are very active members of the church.  They are pillars of the church community.   I'm only a first year member of the church myself so I don't exactly know the details of the role(s) Joe plays in the church I just know what I see and from where we (Brian & I ) sit, it appears that he's one of the ones that keeps the activities flowing thru the church.  But, like I said, that's not limited to just Joe, his whole family are very active members.  I've known Joe and his wife Annette for about 17 years.  That's when Brian and I first started dating and the twins were about a year old.  They were still babies to me.  Now those babies are grown and graduated high school this past Saturday.   I know Joe and Annette couldn't be prouder.  They have raised two good young men and are now raising their God Daughter, Chloe, and time flies so she'll be grown in a minute.

Making this card was a breeze, and a joy to make.  I have nothing but respect for Joe as he has never treated me with anything less.  He's one of the good ones, as they say.

The card base is made from a navy sheet of Bazzill basics card stock.  It's heavyweight makes it ideal for card bases.. I used a printed sheet of 6x6" Bazzill layering paper for the first layer then used my Hexagon Spellbinders dies to cut out the patterned papers and inked around all the edges with Stormy Sky distress ink (It's a dark navy blue color).  I got those patterned papers from a 7 gypsies 6x6" pad. I like to use the smaller papers for my cards because the print is smaller and looks more pleasing to the eye on something as small as a card or tag.  In the middle right of the card I've added a couple strips of washi tape.  FYI if you didn't know, washi tape is a technically a Japanese masking tape.  It's low tack and comes in a multitude of patterns and colors.  Love the stuff. For the sentiment die cut I used the cricut and cut the shadow cut too out of the navy to give it a layer.  I stamped the sentiment from a Close to my Heart stamp set. On the inside it has a matching sentiment that says, "wondering what happened" lol I just love that sentiment and I have to be careful who I use it on but usually the men are tough enough to take it all in fun and no one gets their feelings hurt.  I knew Joe would get a laugh out of it.  Hoped he would anyway lol. I just added two brads on each side of the sentiment because that die cut out with holes there.  I didn't want to leave them bare.

That's all for today, I hope you enjoyed the post today.  I'll be back soon with another card for you. I sure wish I could figure out how to schedule post on blogger then i would have  a card for you every day but when I tried it and thought I had it figured out and my post never showed up so I gave up on it. Maybe I'll give it another try lol Might be worth it even if I have to do a little research. Till next time, be good to one another and have a blessed Memorial Day.   Don't forget those who've fallen fighting for our freedoms,  much love and hugs, Amy K.

Feminine Birthday Card for a Lovely Member of the UMC

Pat Tudor is such a lovely, sweet lady and we are proud to have her as a member of the church.  I wanted to make a really feminine, floral, girlie card for her.  One that only women love.  I used a pink floral patterned paper from a stack from the Paper Studio on a complimenting green card stock.  I placed a white paper dollie in the background then built the rest of the card around it. The Ivory ruffled and beaded trim is from Recollections by Micheal's.  The paper flowers are also made by the Paper Studio.  I just changed the center of the little flower on the bottom to a button in gold and white that I had removed the shank from.  That big, lovely green leaf is from a Recollections pack.  You will have to forgive me, I make so many cards using so many supplies and I don't get them posted right away because I am trying to get them posted in the order they were made, so from time to time I forget what products I used on that particular card by the time I get around to posting it online.  So, true to form, I have forgotten where I got the birthday sentiment stamp and I apologize for that. I do know that I used a punch by McGill to punch out both the sentiment and the green patterned paper in the top label shape.  The one punch punches out the label shape and the oval shape all at the same time.  That's all I've done to this card.  Sometimes the ones you love the most are the simplest of all. I do love this card and I love it for Pat. I just hope she enjoyed getting it. 

Till next time, I hope you have a good day.  Be good to your fellow man and do something nice for someone today.  You'll feel better for it.  I'll talk to you again soon.. Till then much love and hugs, Amy K.

Masculine Birthday card for UMC member using Tim Holtz

I made this card for an awesome member of  UMC named Darin Smith.  He's great with the youth of the church and one of the people you see every Sunday with his family. After as many cards that I've made, I still struggle with the masculine cards.  It's so easy for me to make a "Pretty" card for a female but to make a masculine card it takes some skill, practice and some fancy tools. lol.

I used a lot of Tim Holtz products on this card so we'll just say, for the sake of time, that every thing is Tim Holtz product unless otherwise noted. Ok. now that we've got that out of the way, let me tell you how I made this card.....  

I forget what Tim calls the technique that I used but basically what I did was use my non stick craft mat and put some distress ink down in colors of red, blue and grey.  I then sprayed the ink with water, (We all know that distress inks react with water), If you didn't know that, what it does to the ink is make it act more like a water color. The ink just moves around the paper so easily. It's great for making backgrounds.  So once I sprayed the ink with water I gave it a minute to puddle up then placed a sheet of watercolor paper cut to the size of my card, face down into the ink and water and just picked up the color. Notice how it all blends together nicely.  You can then heat dry it and continue picking up more color in layers as many times as you like or until you run out of ink. I then used a labels die to cut out the piece for the sentiment and stamped the blueprint present in red and the "make a wish" in blue to match the background I had created.  I added some ribbon from my stash tied in a bow and a flower from the Paper Studio and some black enamel dots that I made.  I also did some stenciling with modeling paste on the background.  You can see it good to the top and right of the present stamp on the red.  The modeling paste is white so I went over it with some silver Inka Gold Metallic Rub.  It's a waxy water based product that I just love to use.  It covers quite nicely. The only other thing I did to the card was I changed the flower center and added one of my vintage buttons for the center.

That's all for this card.  I hope you enjoyed it. I will try not to be so long between post from now on.  I've just been having some personal issues to deal with but they are being taken care of so maybe I will be back on track soon,  Till then much Hugs and Love, amy K

Birthday card made for Teen girl UMC

I've made another birthday card for UMC, my church family.  I've explained before that my Pastor asked me to make all the cards for the church to give.  That includes but is not limited to, all birthdays, get wells, thank you for visiting, and we've been missing you at church cards.   That is precisely the reason that you see so many birthday cards here on my blog.  I love making the cards for the church even tho I must admit at times I struggle to keep up they are pretty forgiving if I'm a little late with a card or two from time to time :).  I love my church family and I love that the Pastor gives me a birthday list and Its up to me what kind of card I want to make for each person so to say, each card is individually made just for that person,  I guess you could put it simply and say, they are personalized.  

The thing about my small country church is most of the members is that they are either kin to my husband and I or he grew up with or at least knowing them.   They mostly all live in the same area of the county and they all love one another.  I tell you all this just to simply say that this card is made for a special young lady who was born to my Husband's cousin, Jason and his wife at the time Joan, just about the time that Brian and I started dating and this young lady is now almost grown.  Her name is Jordan Ray and she's beautiful and just the sweetest thing you could ever know.  Let's see, Brian and I met in 1998 so I guess she was born in 1999 or 2000 so that now makes her 15 or 16,  It's been a real honor to watch Jordan and a couple more of these children grow from babies to the young adults they have now become.  I love each of these kids.  One important thing they all share is their love for our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.  I see every one of these kids at church every Sunday and they even do better than Brian and I because they are each in Sunday school too each week. 

On to the card,  I made the shaped card from one of my cricut cartridges.  I forget which one but It's one that I've used for a while now. To cut the patterned paper to size to fit the front of the card and not cover the back, I had to place the cut on my gypsy device in such a way that the back side was hanging off the cut area and then once it was cut with the circut I cleaned up the cut with an xacto knife.  It's really simple to do you just have to keep in mind which side is going to be the front and which is the back on the gypsy. Please forgive me as I've forgotten what paper line I used it's been so long and I've made so many cards sense this one.  I know I used that same die cut from yesterday the one from Anna Griffin and another die cut from Memory Box called dizzy doily.  I used a flower from ek success and some washi tape with colorful crosses on it.   The label die with the sentiment on it is from Spellbinders. 

Here's a shot of the inside.  For the layer of circles I used a Sizzix die and on the left side I cut that die cut from the designer paper and the layered some strips of designer paper that I used my boarder punches on then a piece of lace.  On the right side I die cut a piece of cream card stock and just distressed the edges with my brown chalk ink.  I like the soft look of the chalk ink. I also used that chalk ink in a  darker shade of brown to stamp the sentiment  on the left.

That's all for today.  Sorry if you don't really like long post.  I just had the children in my heart this morning and wanted to share with you all.  I hope you like my card.  I may be back later today or maybe in the morning as I want to share my Brother's birthday card I just made.  His birthday was yesterday.  Till then,  I hope you all have a very blessed day.  Much love and hugs, Amy K.

Baby banner for little girl, Baby shower

This a banner that my cousin, Nicole asked me to make for her step daughter inlaw's upcoming baby shower.  I'm sorry that I didn't get any pictures made, silly me!  But I wanted to share it with you now that the baby shower has come and gone.  I did use the cricut to cut out both bunting shapes and Bazzill card stock in purples and for the die cut owls and then My Minds Eye designer paper for the background.  I used chipboard letter that I painted very light lavender with Martha Stewart satin paint. and for the rest of the information, just check out the video, I think I explain everything there.  Thanks for watching, Have a Blessed Day!

Shabby Chic Female Birthday Card by request

This is another of the cards that Sylvia, the Pastor's wife has asked me to make for her.  This card is for her Daughter.  I wanted it to be really shabby chic and feminine for her.  Sylvia told me that she really loves butterflies and all things pretty so I tried to hook her up with this card. :)

I started with a 6x6 card base then using designer paper by Pink Paisley (I think this is Butterfly Garden) I just layered that on top of the card base,  I made it in a peachy color out of Bazzill card stock so It already matched the designer paper.  Then I layered a few different die cuts.  The redish/Pink colored die cut is from Anna Griffin for Provo Craft.  I got it in a bundle of die cuts and embossing folders from HSN a while back.  Love all the pieces tho.  It was a good purchase.  The next die cut is also a piece of the designer paper and I cut it with a Spellbinders die and then took my Prima chalk edger in Pastel Pink and stenciled thru the die.  You know Spellbinders makes dies that you can cut, emboss and stencil.  I added it on top of the first layers with pop dots.  The sentiment is also a die cut but it comes from the cricut.  It's one of the Close to my Heart cartridges that have matching stamps so I die cut the shape then used Hero Arts shadow inks in a green color to stamp the sentiment with the coordinating stamp.  I also added that piece on dimensional foam.  I added matching flowers from The Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby and then to finish off the front I layered a couple of laces and then that brown trim to the top of the lace, Oh I can't forget the butterfly, I used a Martha Stewart butterfly punch and punched it from some of the designer paper and added it as a finishing touch.

This is a shot of the inside of the card.  I just took a piece of that designer paper and I've inked all the edges using my Prima chalk edger then layered the designer paper first then the cream layer next.  I stamped the birthday sentiment in that same Hero Arts Green ink that I had used on the front of the card.  I think you guys have all seen me use this stamp before, It's not new and I've surely gotten my money's worth out of that little stamp. lol.  I use it alot, so to say.   I made sure to leave plenty of room at the bottom for Sylvia and Art to have space to sign.

That finishes this post for this card,  I hope you enjoyed it.  I heard back from Sylvia later that her Daughter just loved the card and just that alone makes it all worth wild for me.  I love what I do even if I stress out about the blog post and you tube videos lol.  I'll try to be back tomorrow with another card, this next one will be a shaped card.  I will try to get in as many post this week as I can b/c I may not be able to post much the rest of the month.  I've got a lot going on, I'm taking prom pictures this Saturday and then my birthday will be Monday and my Anniversary will be the next day and then I will have Chloe coming over on Thursday and Friday (she'll be spending the night)  and I have two Dr's apt next week and a butt load of crafty projects due.  So just hang in there, I'll post as often as I can.  Today is my dear Brother's bday and I want to wish him a happy birthday and I want to post his card one day this week..  I may make two post in one day to make room for it.  we'll see.  I also will be wanting to post my anniversary card.   So lots more to come!  Stay tuned!

Till next time, I hope you all have a very blessed day.  Much hugs and love, Amy K.

Fishing themed Birthday card for teen boy

I was asked to make this card by my Pastor's wife, Sylvia.  She wanted it made for her grandson who was turning 15 and loves everything to do with fishing.   I just love Sylvia to death, she's such a kind soul and a supreme example of just the kind of Christian woman I would like to be so of course when she asked me to make a few cards I was happy to do so.  Making the card was easy, I just found the card I wanted to make on the "Just Because" cards cricut cartridge.  I picked some Tim Holtz patterned paper and also used some red Bazzill card stock for the layers and lettering and card base.  I stamped the 15 onto a die cut circle and added it to the card front with pop dots. To finish the card off I added some faux stitching with my white gel pen.

Here's a shot of the inside of the card.  I stamped the sentiment with an Hot off the Press stamp set called "Birthday Greetings".  I stamped it with Versa Fine in Onyx Black and stamped the candle to finish it off.  Sense this card is coming from Art and Sylvia and not the church I didn't mat both sides of the inside of the card and leave one side just for a signature.  I just stamped the sentiment and left room at the bottom to sign the card. 

That's all for today.  Hope you enjoyed today's card.  I will try to be back in the morning with another card.  The next one is another card for Sylvia.  It's for her Daughter this time.   I have really enjoyed making cards for her, she truly seems to enjoy my cards and always showers me with praise, and who wouldn't love that?!   I'm glad that I can create something that brings another great pleasure and something that they are proud to give to someone they love.  That's the greatest gift of all.

Till next time, I hope you have a very Blessed day.  Much love and hugs, Amy K.

Masculine Birthday card

Here's another birthday card made for a UMC member.  This card was made for member Bill Smith.  I tried to keep this card on the simpler side like I do with all my masculine cards. I used some K & Co. 12x12 patterned paper and Bazzill Basics card stock.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz stamp set.  I used die cuts from Spellbinders.  The gold cross comes from Hobby Lobby.

Above is a picture of the inside of the card. For these cards for UMC I try to include an uplifting sentiment on the inside and not necessarily a birthday sentiment.  I always place the sentiment on the left hand side panel and make a place for the Pastor to sign on the right and for these top folding cards I place the sentiment on the top side and leave the bottom panel for the Pastor to sign.  I placed some designer paper along the bottom edge of both halves and for the top panel I added a few rows of blue mesh bling and on the bottom I layered the designer paper after punching it with a boarder punch. I layered all the panels on top of the bazzill card stock in light brown and I had inked the edges of the cream card stock with light brown chalk ink.

That's all for today's card.  I hope you like it.  I am still trying to catch up these blog post so keep bearing with me.  If you haven't seen your card yet I promise it's coming.  It's hard to sit down and make a blog post and find time to craft each day too. lol.  I do my best most days. lol.  Till next time I hope you have a blessed day.  Much love and hugs, Amy K.