Easy Boys Cards

I had a friend from church contact me about having her 3 boys (ages 6, 11 & 13) come over to make Thank you cards. I designed 3 very simple ones that they would be making by themselves. So these are the ones I came up with. I tried to keep it to 2 colors with a neutral, one stamp set each and one ink pad each. She wanted to keep the cost to a minimal so I left out the embellishments. My little kids always try to do the "wow" cards and get carried away. I wish sometimes they would take a step back to just do the simple.

edited to add: I was not happy with the first one so I took a redo and used the photo corner punch.

Stamps: Prehistoric Pals, Spot On Jumbo Wheel, Short and Sweet

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal, Whisper White

Ink: Taken with Teal Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch

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Stamps: Bronc Buster, Four Square

Paper: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

Ink: Handsome Hunter Accessories: Scallop Square Punch

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Stamps: Winds of Grace, Think Happy Thoughts

Paper: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink: Baja Breeze Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Shabby Cowboy

Well, today I woke up in a shabby mood. After hardly any sleep for the last few days. Hubby's surgery went well and now he is home and I need to keep him still, not an easy task for him! So I decided to use a set and do some things that I haven't done in a very long time. I really had the faux leather look in mind first. My boys love browns and blues together so that was my next decision. I then took a look at my sets and saw my poor Bronc Buster on the lower half of the pile. Which meant it hadn't been played with for a very long time. I thought it wold be great with the leather look.

I ran the creamy caramel through the crimper a dozen or so times and then just wrinkled it up in a ball. Before I crimped it I had already done my faux stitching around the edge. After it was all wrinkled I sponged around the edged and across the raised areas.

The cowboy was stamped in Baja Breeze and I used the marker to do the swooshes. Then I just rolled the edges with my fingers. I separated the one corner and then sponged around the edges I used my piecing tool an made 2 holes to run the twine through. I tied it off in a knot and frayed the edges of the twine. I sponged Chocolate Chip around the edge of the Baja Breeze and rounded the edges of the Chocolate Chip with the Cutter Kit.

To do the Happy Birthday I stamped it in Baja Breeze and rolled the edged in Chocolate chip before stamping. I cut it out with the paper scissors. I punched the frame out with the Scalloped Square Punch and then roughed the edges up with the Cutter Kit.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Four Square, Sanded Background

Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Hemp Twine, Scallop Square Punch, Mat Pack for Piercing, Cutter kit for distressing

Full Size Bronco

I wanted to use two aspects in this card. Since the Hodge Podge Hardware in the current catalog will be retiring when this catalog goes in august I think it is time I stop hoarding it and use it. The other thing I want to show case is the envelopes. I make a few full size cards (8.5" x 11" folded in half) for our Home Educators's group to send as Thank Yous etc. I use to make my own envelopes until I actually sat down and read the sizes of envelopes we sell....I can get 20 of them for $5.50. That is quite a bit cheaper than what I was making them for and a much better quality.
To do the main image of the card I punched out a 1 3/8" circle put in on the Very Vanilla cardstock with temporary adhesive. I then ran my brayer with Certainly Celery Ink over it until it was covered, then stamped the bronc on it.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Happy Happy Birthday Jumbo Wheel

Paper: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Ink: Certainly Celery, Basic Brown, Old Olive

Accessories: Brayer, Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Hodge Podge Hardware Buckle

Bronc Ribbons

So today was the Technique Challenge. The challenge was to Stack Your Ribbons. As I was blurfing (surfing blogs, for those who do not know the term) this weekend I saw a card that used the wide twill. I cannot remember whose blog it was on so if it was you, speak up! I have so much of it as I tend to just use the two other sizes. So this challenge fit perfect for one of the many things I need to use/do more often. Since I started with such large twill I decide that I would layer 3 different ribbon. as I was cleaning my room this weekend I found that my Old Olive Twill had fallen behind the ribbon containers. I just had to use it so that it where my color theme came from today. I also wanted to do more than just layer so that is how I came up with the idea to put the last layer through the Jumbo Eyelets.

I included the second picture because it was hard to see that I stamped the background twice. I stamped it the first time with the Basic brown and the second time with the Vanilla Craft ink. The main image I stamped in the Basic Brown, wiped off the parts I wanted Old olive with a tissue and colored those with the marker. I roughed the edges with the Cutter Kit. I also sponged around the edges of the outside Chocolate Chip with the Very Vanilla Craft ink. I also used the Naturals Ivory paper, which is another thing I forget I have.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Short & Sweet, Sanded Background

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Very Vanilla Craft Ink, Basic Brown, Old Olive Marker

Accessories: Cutter Kit, Large Oval, Small Oval, Jumbo Eyelets, Wide Twill, Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Old Olive Twill

Chalked Bronco

Today's challenge was to do the Chalkboard Technique. I have not used my chalk in a very long time. I saw someone use the markers last week to color this image and thought that it was a wonderful idea. When I saw this challenge and needed a solid image I thought I wold give it a try with the chalk. I used 2 different color browns on the horse.

Stamps: Twill Background, Bronc Buster, Think Happy Thoughts

Paper: Ballet Blue, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Craft White

Accessories: Chalks, Jumbo Eyelets, Striped Grosgrain

Techniques: Chalkboard

Good Times

So today I used the Sketch Challenge as my guide. I know I put the #4 slightly higher than the sketch but I believe we are allowed a little creative license. The cowboy is stamped on the textured paper to give it just a little more. I love that I can punch out the "one and only" from the Genuine stamp to make it say whatever I want. It is great that the stamps for the Celebrate Everything fits in there perfect!

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Starstruck, Celebrate Everything

Paper: Wild Wasabi, River Rock Textured and not, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Wide Choclate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Corner Rounder, Small Star Punch

Bleached Bronco

Today for the Limited Supplies Challenge the challenge was to use a background stamp. It seems the trend is going away from background and more are using designer paper. I think it is the quick and easy thought. I do love my backgrounds. One of my favorite things to do is use them with bleach. With this one I did not choose my second color until after the bleach has set. You never know what color may come through.

So here was our limitations:
Stamps: 1 or 2 background stamps, a main image set, sentiment optional

Paper & Ink: 2 colors plus a neutral

Tools: anything quick (no Cuttlebug)

Embellishments: any kind (keep it simple)

What I used:

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Short & Sweet

Paper: Sahara Sand, Blue Bayou

Ink: Blue Bayou, Bleach

Accessories: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon,Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

Embossed Cowboy

Sorry, schedules have been full and time to stamp has been not available. Today I tried to combine the 3 challenges I missed. As the card progressed certain challenges were eliminated. So I was only left with the Sketch challenge so that is where is stands. The cowboy was actually stamped 3 times until I got him the way I liked it. I started with the Basic Gray. It was not dark enough, so I stamped over it with the Black Stazon. That still was not enough to over power the designer paper. So I decided to emboss it. Boy, am I thankful for my Stamp-a-ma-jig!!! I pierced a trail before and after the Happy Birthday and put brads in the center of the main circles. Today is the last day for the Designer paper special. I've had a great time using so much of it and have found some favorites I would not of tried if it weren't for the sale.

Stamps: It's Your Birthday, Bronc Buster

Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Carbon DSP

Ink: Basic Gray, Stazon

Accessories: Small Oval Punch, Black Brads, Tool kit for Piercing

Birthday Clip Board

This was made for yesterday's Ways to Use it Challenge. The challenge was to make something using wood. I am trying to only make things that I will put to use. So I looked around and found an unused case of clipboards in my cabinet. I decided to make one. Then I thought "What am I going to make it for?" I thought they would be nice guest gifts for my 8 yr old's birthday party tomorrow. (Only a month late, life is busy!) So then I had to get out 5 more for all the boys coming.I decided to stamp right on the wood to keep the western look. The paper is the Soft Sky Print paper stamped over with Sanded in Close to Cocoa. The scallops were made with the corner rounder. It is cover over (all but the ribbon) with Mod Podge. I hope the boys like them!

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Starstruck, Headline alphabet, Sanded

Paper: Soft Sky Print DSP, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Craft Inks - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Punches- Corner Rounder, Snow Blossom, Star, Ribbons- Twill, Tape, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Soft Sky Double Stitched, Mod Podge

Bronc Wheel

Today's Sketch Challenge was another great one! This card is nothing near what I had intended. I had planned on making a card today with lot of cutting, layers and embellishments. I had started cutting and thought "Oh, I want to try this with embossed resist" Well, that changed the whole card. Once I had finished the main image I wanted it more simple. I embossed the image with versamark and clear embossing powder. I then stamped the Sanded Background over it and wiped off the image. I sponged some Chocolate Chip ink around the edges.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Bronco Wheel, Sanded Background

Paper: Creamy Carmel, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Creamy Carmel, Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Accessories: Tool Kit for Piercing, Vintage Brads,

Re-do card

Today's Technique challenge on SCS was to take an already designed card and just change the stamp set. I had designed the cowboy one for last month's stamp night. I have the bad habit of over cutting and had a lot of extra left over. This was a great challenge for me.

Stamps: 1st-Baroque Motifs, 2nd-Sanded BG, Bronc Buster, Define Your Life

Paper: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou textured and non, River Rock, Soft Sky Prints DSP

Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Jumbo Eyelets, Twine, Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Double Stitched Blue Bayou Ribbon

Double Sanded

Well, today has been a busy one! I had used this idea of stamping the Sanded background in 2 different colors. I turned the stamp the opposite way before I stamped it the second time. Once again I am trying to keep my cards simple so they can easily be duplicated.

Stamps: Sanded Background,Bronc Buster

Paper: Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Gold Brad, Ticket Corner Punch

Teal Cowboy

Since today's schedule is pretty full, I went back and fixed the card I had made on Tuesday for the Color Challenge. The colors are Taken with Teal, Always Artichoke and Purely Pomegranate. At first I had more pomegranate but it just did not jive. So I toned it down and like it enough that it went in the mail yesterday to wish someone a Happy Birthday. I had put the jumbo eyelet in and thought it needed more color so I added the Rhinestone brad. I think it balanced very well. The 1 3/8" circle punch fits perfect as a highlight for the Designer label punch. The background is wheeled in both Artichoke and Teal. The cowboy is embossed and on Dimensionals. The HB is on Pop up glue dots.

Stamps: Rough Texture jumbo wheel, Bronc Buster, Party Punch

Paper: Always Artichoke, Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla

Ink: Always Artichoke, Taken with Teal craft Ink, Purely Pomegranate

Accessories: 1 3/8" circle Punch, Designer Label Punch, Twill Tape, Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon, Always Artichoke 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Jumbo Eyelet, Square Ice Rhinestone Brad, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, pop up glue dots, tool kit

Celery Bronco

Sorry I have had company for the last few days. As much as I missed stamping and blogging I really enjoyed spending time with my mother. It is very rare that she can get a few days to come and spend. So I took as much time with her as I could.

My son needed a card for a friends birthday next week. So off to check out the challenges I missed so far this week. Today's sketch challenge grabbed me (as it usually does) and I had to go with that. I did not notice that I had grabbed the wrong ink until I posted. It does not look too far off, so it will stay. The words and star are in Always Artichoke and I had intended them to be Old Olive. I had made it fast and had to shoot and run, my 6th grader had to be at band. I used the Prints designer paper on page 173 and stamped the Sanded background on it. I think I should just leave that background on my desk and stop putting it away! I used the 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain and put the 1/4" on each edge.

Stamps: Sanded Background, Bronc Buster, Define Your Life

Paper: Certainly Celery, Prints Designer Paper Celery, Old Olive, River Rock

Ink: Old Olive, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Old Olive

Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, Hemp Twine, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain, 1/4" Certainly Celery Grosgrain, Crop-a-dile, Designer Label Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Cowboy in the Woods

Ok, I just had to do one more today. I've had this idea for a while and finally had the time to do it today. Since a lot of my trees are pine trees (as you can see in the photo). I actually built my house around a certain Pine tree in the yard. I tried to do the sky in fall colors. I sponged the sun through a punched out 1" circle. I then masked the sun and did Soft Sky with a little of Cameo Coral. I sponge a little Blue Bayou around the edge. I originally made this to go in the Fall Theme Challenge. Just as I was going to upload I got an e-mail that a new submission had been loaded to the Clearly Fun Challenge. That challenge was to use a transparency, so it fit that one too!!!

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Lovely as a Tree

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Black Stazon

Accessories: Pewter Brads, Window Sheet

Starstruck

S0 this card was made for today's Sketch Challenge on SCS. I am not a snow person (and choose to live in Wisconsin...go figure). I am addicted to punches and just had to have the Snow Blossom punch. I am always looking for other ways to use it. I still am undecided if this card is too busy or not. The Snow Blossom star is popped up with a glue dot. I am always short on guy cards so this set will be great for that!

Stamps: Sanded Background, Bronc Buster, Starstruck, Short and Sweet

Paper: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Very Vanilla

Ink: Craft and Classic Chocolate Chip, More Mustard Classic

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Snow Blossom Punch, Star Punch,Ticket Corner Punch, Double Circle Punch for faux eyelets, More Mustard Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip Taffeta, Natural Hemp Twine, Hodgepodge Hardware

Cut Out Bronc

So today's Technique challenge on SCS was to do a cut out card. These are so fun to do. I love this new bronc set so just had to grab it again. The horse and words are embossed. The words I tapped off extra hard because I did not want a pure look. I wanted it to look a little roughed up.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Flannel Background, Define Your Life

Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray

Ink: Craft- Basic Black and Whisper White, Classic-Basic Gray

Accessories: Gray Taffeta, Silver Brad, Coluzzle Oval, clear Embossing Powder, White Embossing powder

Step it up!

So today I took a simple card and stepped it up a notch. This was fun to do. The first card is great for a beginner and for those who need to add "more" here is a great way to do it!

Left card:

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Flannel BG, Starstruck

Paper: Basic Black, River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Ink: River Rock, Very Vanilla (Craft), Wild Wasabi

Accessories: River Rock Dbl Stitched Ribbon, Pop up glue dot, 3/4" Circle Punch

Right Card:

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Flannel BG, Starstruck

Paper: Basic Black, River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Ink: River Rock, Very Vanilla (Craft), Wild Wasabi, White Stazon, Versamark, Clear Embossing powder

Accessories: River Rock Dbl Stitched Ribbon, Pop up glue dot, 3/4" Circle Punch, Black Brads, Window Sheet, Wild Wasabi Dbl Stitched Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Ticket Corner Punch