Masculine Grunge #2

Hello everyone!!  Welcome to my blog and thank you for dropping by.

As you could see from my Title, I have the second of my grungy masculine cards to share with you today.

If you haven't seen the first one and you would like to, you can find the post HERE.
As I said in that previous post, this one is similar to #1 but I've used different papers and different elements too.

These papers are from Bobunny's Weekend Market Collection.  Distressed the edges with Ingvild Bolme's Distress Tool and then inked them with 'Gathered Twigs' Distress Ink.  Added a little bit of background stamping with KC's Crackle stamp and Bobunny's 'Stained Textures' stamp.  The Word Band is, of course, Tim Holtz (available from Meg's Garden).    The Spellbinders Nestaboard 'Fancy Tag' was cut in half and embossed with a mix of gold, silver and bronze embossing powder.


The little piece of red chippie is a scrap of 2Crafty's Chicken Barb Wire which was left over from another project.  It was simply coloured with acrylic paint and then randomly swiped with Glossy Accents.  In this photo you can also see I've added some spots of 'Clear Rock Candy' Distress Crackle.  The 'Radio' label is from G45's 'Communique' papers.

Added a little bulldog clip ... just because!!

The inside was lined with the same papers and also stamped with the Bobunny 'Stained Textures' stamp. The labels are from KC's Art of Life Collection.  Made a little pocket and a tag as well and stamped over the top of them again with the 'Stained Textures' stamp.

I made this card for my brother who lives in Victoria and apparently he was a bit puzzled because he couldn't find a sentiment or Birthday greeting on this card.  Then he finally noticed the piece of string, pulled it out, and, voila, there it was.  LOL ... Men!!  There is also a handwritten message on the back of the tag.  I am pleased to say he loved his card.

Well, there you have it, the second of my masculine 'grungy' cards as promised.  I do hope you like it and that I have inspired you a little today.

Thank you so much for visiting and a huge thank you to those of you who are kind enough to leave me a little message.  I love to read them and really  appreciate you taking the time.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!
Take care and God Bless.

Masculine Grunge #1

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.

I hope, wherever you are, that you are experiencing some lovely weather.  Adelaide has been cold and overcast for weeks but, today, we finally have some sun!!  It's still pretty cold though so all I can say is "Bring on the summer"!!!!

OK, down to business  ... I have another card to share with you.  A very masculine and quite 'grungy' card as my title suggests.
I distressed all the edges with my Ingvild Bolme Distressy Tool and inked them with 'Gathered Twigs' Distress Ink.

 A bit of Heather Jacob influence here I think, but still with my own stamp on it!!  If you don't know Heather (Can't really imagine that, but) HERE is the link to her blog if you'd like to take a look!!  You won't be sorry, as she creates the most gorgeous and inspiring projects!  Looooveeee her work!!
The papers used are from Prima's 'Engraver' Collection.  The tickets were fussy cut from the papers then I crumpled them a little, inked the edges and slipped them in between the layers.

Used a spatula to add some 'Clear Rock Candy' Distress Crackle and, when that was dry, I went over it with 'Gathered Twigs' Distress Ink to bring out the cracks.  I then just used my finger to swipe some gesso around the edge.  I love how the gesso also 'cracked' when it dried.

Used the same technique on the belly band as you can see.  I've had the metal key and the clock in my stash for a little while and am not sure where I got those but I really love that key.  Was a bit sorry to use it as it is the only one I have but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet don't you??

Here's another closie of the 'crackle' effect.  I really love it and you'll be seeing a lot more of this in my work!!!

Decorated the inside with wide bands of the paper which were border punched with the 'Optic Dot' Punch by Martha Stewart.  Then I added a bit more texture with Tim Holtz 'Latticework' Stencil and 'Frayed Burlap' Distress Ink and, again, wiped a little gesso around the edge on one side.

A different view ... lying down ...

... and standing up!!

This is the first of two 'grungy' masculine cards I created.   The second is similar to this but of course a bit different as well and I will show you that one further down the track.

Thank you so much for visiting today and I do hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Take care and God Bless.

Meg's Garden - Birthday Card with 'Bike Cogs'

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.

Today I'd like to share my DT reveal for Meg's Garden.  It is a Birthday Card made with the Bike Cogs Mini Paper Pack.

These papers are awesome and absolutely perfect to create a card for my Grandson's Birthday as his favourite colours are green and black.

 So, all the papers used are from this collection, I haven't mixed it with anything else at all.  I have added a bit of doodling and some of that mesh tape that is all the rage at the moment.  I've also lightly brushed some gesso here and there and did a bit of stamping as well.  The cogs border is from Scrapbookncraft and I've added some die cut cogs and gears as well.  Some were cut from black cardstock and some from brown.  Brushed them with Versacolor in Silver and green to give them a bit of a rustic look.

The card style is one I saw at Astrid Maclean's Blog and I've used it quite a bit since, I really love it as it gives you so much  scope for decorating.

 Here you can see some of the crackle stamping.  Added some washi tape and wooden hinges  which were coloured with Versacolor 'Lapislazuli' and Kaisercraft 'Red gum'.

 The clocks are from Meg's Garden.   I've simply layered them together with an eyelet.  You can also see I've placed some cogs in between the paper layers.

 Just a closie of the cogs border ... the black and the white cogs peeking through underneath are all part of the pattern on the papers.

 The inside is lined with the same papers and I've added some doodling here as well and brushed on some more gesso.  The quotes are die cuts from KC.

Did just a small amount of stencilling on the front of the pocket which was made to hold a small envelope and card.

 The envelope will hold a gift voucher or perhaps some cash and the double fold card has a written sentiment inside.

The other inside flap also has some doodling and brushed gesso.

Full view of the inside ...

... and another full frontal view.
These papers are awesome and, although this card is obviously masculine, there are also designs  which could be used in a more feminine creation.  I loved working with them.
Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you enjoyed my Bike Cogs Birthday Card.
oxox Marg

Meg's Garden products used -
Bike cogs Mini Paper Pack - S121
Old World Time Ephemera Sheet - 1037
Old World Time Transparency - Tr 1037

A Simply Masculine Card

Hello everyone!!  Hope you have all recovered from the New Year Celebrations!!!  

We just had a quiet night at home.  Sounds very boring doesn't it, but it was nice actually.  Hubby and I  just watched a movie and had a couple of drinks together.  He actually went to bed early but I stayed up till after midnight as I usually do.  Luckily this year we didn't have anyone letting off fireworks near us  so our dogs weren't scared out of their wits and that was a big relief.

Anyhow, I'm here of course to share another card with you.  I have got a few other projects to share as well but they will be for another day.  This time it's a masculine card.

It's a fairly simple one but I like it which is a good thing I guess seeing as how I'm the one who  made it. 

Anyway ... on with the show!!!

 As I said it is fairly simple.  I trimmed a bit of cardboard to size and then tore off one side of the paper to expose the corrugation underneath and used that as my base paper.  Really like how that looks gives it a bit of a grunge feel.  I then wound some twine around one end for a bit of interest.

 The clock is from a sheet which is available at Meg's Garden called Old World Time.  There are some fabulous clock images on these sheets, this is only one of them.

The papers I've used here are actually some leftover Christmas papers also from Meg's Garden.  I simply tore the paper to the size I wanted leaving the edges raw and then  just curled the corners.   The small chippie is from Scrapbookncraft.  It is actually a corner piece which I cut in half and placed on opposite sides of the card.  The two pieces were coloured with Versa Color 'Lapislazuli' and Kaisercraft 'Red Gum' and then I swiped them lightly with Versa Color 'Silver'.

The light bulb is from Prima and the label plate might also be from them but I am really not sure.  I cut the packaging apart and didn't take note of the manufacturer.  I've really go to stop doing that, but I get enthusiastic about using the product and forget to take note of who made it.  

Lined the inside with a couple of strips of Kaisercraft paper which was edged with Martha Stewart's Optic Dot Border Punch.  

I've had a few questions about how I write the sentiment when I decorate the inside of my cards like this.  What I usually do is print out a sentiment on my computer, use a die (in this case the Victorian Square from Couture Creations) to cut it out and then simply sign it.  

This one is just to demonstrate so, of course, there is no actual sentiment.  I haven't yet decided who this card is for so I won't print out anything until I've made up my mind.   

And there it is.  A reasonably simple card which didn't take too long to make but, for all that, I really do like it.

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hope it brings you everything you wish for.

Thank you so much for visiting and, hopefully, leaving me a little comment, I really do appreciate it.

Please take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

A Birthday Card and some Happy News!!!

Hello everyone!!  A very warm welcome to my blog.

I have another card to share with you but first I'd like to anounce that I WON one of the fabulous prizes in the Pion Design giveaway!!!!!!!  Their latest paper collection is on it's way to me as I write this!!!  I am so excited and cannot wait to receive them and start creating!!  Thank you so much Pion Design!!  If you'd like to check out their blog you can find it HERE.

Now that the excitement has died down (well, mine anyway! hehe), here is my card.

My oldest son celebrated his Birthday last week and this is the card I made for him.

 The base is black cardstock and the papers are from Kaisercraft's Attitude and Base Coat Range.

The design is based on Astrid Mclean's Booklet Tag Card.   I love the style of this card (you've probably noticed I've used it quite often) especially for male cards.  Not sure exactly why but I guess it just suits my 'masculine' style a bit better.

 The stamps I've used are BoBunny's Stained Textures.  The cracked paint and the paint splatters were done with Walnut Stain Distress Ink through templates from ScrapBook n Craft. 

The chipboard clock and the Cog Border are also from Scrapbook n Craft.  The single cog pieces are from Imaginarium.  All of the chippies were coloured with Versa Magic 'Midnight Black', Versa Color  in 'Silver', 'Bronze' and 'Lapislazuli' and Kaisercraft 'Red Gum'.

 The front of the card was decorated with some plaster tape (which is available from any Hardware Store) some of the 'Base Coat' paper cut into strips to resemble wood planks (an idea I 'lifted' from Adriana Bolzon .. you can find her blog and her wonderful creations HERE) and a piece of brick wall, a printable clock, a corrugated tag, some chippies from Imaginarium and even a metal washer.  I also wrapped a piece of Crafter's Cord around it and added a couple of brads as well.

A close-up to show the colouring on the chippies.

Sorry guys, didn't realise this post would be so long but, there it is.  My oldest son's Birthday Card.  Happy to say it was very well received.  Hope you liked it too.

Thank you so much for visiting and a huge thank you to all you lovely people who leave me such warm and encouraging comments.  I really, really appreciate them very much.  

I'd also like to wish all my American visitors a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Please take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Cogs and Clocks and a bit of Grunge!

Hello everybody, I hope you are having a lovely weekend!

I'd like to share with you a card I made for my youngest son's 40th Birthday.  I can't actually believe he's 40 because that would make me ...............  nah!! that can't be right!!  hehe!  Unfortunately for me, it is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Anyhow, this is the card I made for him.  I have to say, I really like how this one turned out ... and I think it suits him to a tee!!

This is a pocket tag card and I used black cardstock to make the base.  The papers are a mix of Prima Craftsman, Glitz French Kiss and Kaisercraft's Sears & Son.

Here you can see how it opens.

Small pieces of the papers were used to create the layers along with a piece of dry wall tape.  The ruler is from Prima"s Engraver Collection.  The large clock was cut with my Silhouette, coloured with Versa Color Charcoal and coated with Glossy Accents.  The chipboard clock is from Imaginarium and was left mainly raw except for a light edging of Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  The printed clock is an image from the net  which  I mounted on some pasteboard and also edged with the Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

 Here is a closer view of the tattered clock and also the chippie on the side which is from G45's Curiosity Shoppe Collection.

The base paper was stamped lightly with Kaisercraft's Sketchy Background Stamp in Memento's Tuxedo Black. 

 The inside wings of the card are lined with  Prima's Engraver Paper which was lightly stamped with another Kaisercraft Background Stamp and Versa Magic Cloud White.  The tags I used are a mix of self made tags with quotes found on the net and tags from Kaisercraft's Take Note Collection.  The chippie cogs are from Imaginarium which were lightly edged with Walnut Stain and Fired Brick Distress Ink.

 The inside centre of the card was lined with paper from Kaisercraft's Sears & Son  and the pocket was made with Prima Engraver paper.  Printed the sentiment on some DP from my stash which was mounted onto black cardstock and stamped with Kaisercraft's Arty Background Stamp.  The clock is Imaginarium and the Greeting was printed with Word Art and then made into a Banner.

I'm very pleased to say, it was well received.

I do believe I have said this before, but I love making these kinds of cards because there is so much you can do with them.  Lots of spaces to decorate.

Well that's all again from me I hope I have given someone some inspiration  here.

Thank you so much for visiting today.

Please take care and God's Blessings to you.

oxox Marg