Masculine vintage look birthday card

I needed a masculine birthday card for a friend recently and decided to use up some of my vintage look embellishments languishing in my stash. I used to make these types of cards more often, like this Masculine Wine Tag, or this Paris Eiffel Tower Birthday card.

But, as my tastes have changed I make them less and less. And too, postage prices have been a deciding factor. These type of cards need more protection than just a flat envelope thus rendering them much more expensive to mail. This card was a hand delivery and since postage was not an issue, I thought it would be nice to use up some goodies.

There's a mix of real and 'wanna-be' vintage on this card. The button and Happy Birthday tag are the real thing, as is the paper behind the frame; the rest are stash bits and pieces.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Rubber stamp – Inspired by Stamping Happy Birthday sentiment
Ink – Versacolor Ultimate Pigment Ink black
Miscellaneous embellishments

I'm linking up with: Little Red Wagon #488.

A magic birthday card featuring QKR Stampede digital Magic stamps

I whipped this card up for a friend's birthday recently and although my friend is a woman, I do think these stamps would work equally well for a guy. Notice the plural there – stamps? That's because you really need two stamps to get this card's full magical effect. You have the stamp for the card front – shown above – and then you have this inside one below:

The front of the card uses QKR Stampede Magic Card digital stamp, while the inside uses the One Year Older stamp.

My paper is of the magazine freebie variety. I've framed my little magician with my favorite Toga Polaroid die. I've used this die so much that if you google Toga Polaroid Die, some of my cards come up. It just seems to make whatever I use it on look good, be it cut from wood on this get well card or colorfully decorated on this Halloween card.

Star embellishments mimic the paper design.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  freebie paper
Digital stamps – QKR Stampede Magic Card and One Year Older
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Toga polaroid die
Embellishments – star stickers

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede Challenge #338 – ATG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #101 – AATG, The Corrosive Challenge #3 – AATG, Colour Crazy Challenge Week 9 – ATG, and Creative Fingers #159 – ATG.

Western Mediterranean Cruise mini-album

My husband and I went on a western Mediterranean cruise this autumn and I wanted to make a album of the trip. I like making albums and as I mentioned with this London trip mini, I think it's very important to at least print out a few of our favorite photos and store them in a way that will best preserve them for future generations (i.e. out of the sun!), especially those of you with children.

When I bought my last printer I did a bit of research into which inkjet has the best hypothetical photo longevity (they haven't been around that long so how do we really know?) and settled on a Canon Pixma. I use only Canon inks and the most expensive Canon Pro Platinum photo paper. I notice a big difference with the expensive paper and if I'm going to all that effort of printing out photos and making an album, it's worth the extra expense. If I have uniform sizing for all the pictures I want to use, I order prints on Snapfish. This type of photo print is your best archival quality and really, when you factor in ink, paper and time, they're about the same price as doing it yourself.

I guess I have a freestyle kind of mini style. I create the inner pages as I go (paper, embellishments, placement), working with the photos I've chosen. I see some gorgeous mini-albums out there, but the inner pages are void of photos and I often wonder where you'd actually put the pictures. I add pertinent information to the front of the photo before printing, and also to the inner pages. Sometimes I'll write by hand (as on this Positano, Italy album).

On one of our previous cruises the cruise line provided albums free in a scrapbooking class, which I put to good use on this cruise album of the voyage, but for this trip no such luck. Since I didn't have a freebie, I chose to alter an inexpensive outlet shop album base.

At 20.3 x 20.3 cm (8 x 8 inches), this is a slightly larger format than I have used in the past (a sort of mini+). I printed out 65 photos to include in the album, but as I didn't use all the 20 pages in the album, I removed some. Paper is from two kits picked up at the same outlet. I thought at the time their blue theme would make them perfect for cruise photos (and I was right). 

And here's the 'before' of the album.

Supply List
Album base
Patterned paper
Miscellaneous embellishments – chipboard shapes, buttons, washi tape, pearls, ribbons, etc.

I'm linking up with: Mini Album Makers Challenge March – ATG album/book and Brown Sugar Challenge Blog #288 – Transportation.

Di's Digi Stamps Maurice the Mouse get well card

I whipped up this get well card for a friend using Di's Digi Stamps Maurice the Mouse digi.  The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly Barbara Anne Williams Sweet Kitchen Sentiments sheet. These sentiment sheets go perfectly with Di's images (I pair them often), as on this Some Bunny Loves You Easter card.

Maurice was fussy cut and mounted against a second colored print out of the image for a 3D effect. Well, I say that – yes, it does give a 3D effect, but that's not why I decided to do it. When I colored Maurice the first time I forgot he was a mouse and thought his tail was ribbon and colored it pink. Ditto for the rose stalk ends. Only when I thought I was done did I realize my error. Rather than color the whole thing all over again I just reprinted the digi and colored the flowers and tail. Then fussy cut the main-Maurice and placed him against the corrected flowers and tail. Card Save 101.

Paper is a mix of discount store types. Embellishments are a simple wooden flower and pearl.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp – Di's Digi Stamps Maurice the Mouse, Barbara Anne Williams Sweet Kitchen sentiments
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 and Fantasia pencils
Die – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – wooden flower, pearl

I'm linking up with: Di's Digi Challenge 22/02/19 – Include an animal, Through the Craft Room Door 26/02/19 – ATG, Papercraft Challenge #31 – All the Critters, Lemon Shortbread #88 – ATG, and Crafty Sentiments 26/02/19 – ATG.

3D-decoupage Docrafts Forever Friends Classic Decadence birthday card

I've had this Docrafts Forever Friends Classic Decadence decoupage pack awhile now and haven't got around to making anything with it. I needed a quick birthday card recently, and as I didn't have time to color, I dug this kit out and put it to good use.

For tips on making your decoupage card's layers look their best see this decoupage (3D) card tutorial. I coordinated elements from the kit with papers from Folia Motivblock's black and white paper pack.

Embellishments are simple silver dots and some crinkled paper ribbon.

Supply List
Paper – card base, cardstock, Docrafts Papermania Forever Friends Classic Decadence A5 decoupage pack, Folia Motivblock's black and white paper pack
Embellishments – silver dots, crinkled paper ribbon

I'm linking up with: Aud Sentiments #221 – Bingo (pattern paper, 3D item, ribbon) + a sentiment, Polkadoodles Wk 8 – ATG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #270 – AATG, Crafting with Friends #80 – ATG, and Creative Fingers #158 – ATG.

Gingerbread Man Christmas – Meilleurs Voeux – card

The digital stamp on this card is a freebie from now defunct Whimsie Doodles (thus, no link). It is a great stamp and this is the second time I've used it (if you're curious you can see it in its first incarnation here). Now in case you're wondering what's the connection between Meilleurs Voeux and Christmas, let me explain that many people in France send out cards around the holidays that say only this, no Merry Christmas or the like. It means best wishes, but it's really just a way to wrap up the whole Merry Christmas/Happy New Year/Happy Holidays thing in one phrase and is applicable to anyone no matter their religious affiliation.

Paper is Bringmann Folia's Motifblock Christmas paper pad. I don't know if you can find this brand easily in the States (it's German), but it's the one I find most easily here. I quite like them; the pads are large (24 x 34cm) and the paper is very good quality.

The rectangle postage stamp die and circle border die are some of the no-brand Amazon/eBay type. I have to admit, these cut very well and the price can't be beat. I created the sentiment with Candy Round BTN font. The gingerbread man embellishment is the final touch.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Folia's Motifblock Christmas paper pad
Digital stamp – Whimsie Doodles
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – no-brand postage stamp & circular border, Die-namics rectangle stax
Embellishments – gingerbread man
Font – Candy Round BTN

I'm linking up with: Sweet Stampin' Christmas February – ATG Christmas, ABC Christmas Challenge – C is for Candy/D is for Decoration, Addicted to Stamps #328 – Holiday, The Crafty Addicts #57 – ATG, The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #44 – ATG Christmas, Merry Little Christmas Challenge #7 – ATG Christmas, and The 12 Months of Christmas #50 Link-up – ATG Christmas.

Banana birthday card featuring QKR Stampede Banana digital stamp

I just love this banana digital stamp from QKR Stampede. You could use it with so many different sentiments, such as 'Hope you're peeling better!', or how about 'It's your birthday, go bananas!', or I know 'I'm going bananas over you!'. If I google it, I'm sure I'll come up with more. To complete my front sentiment 'We've got a peeling...' my inside sentiment says '...it's your birthday!'. I originally designed this for a guy, but it would work for anyone.

Some of my favorite stamps are from QKR Stampede. They're just that little bit of quirky I like; an example of which is this Sunbathing Potato Happy Summer card.

The digital paper is Monkey from Design Bundles.

I didn't think this paper needed much help so I kept embellishments simple with some CANDi and enamel dots.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  Monkey Design Bundles digital paper
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede Banana
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle and rectangle stax
Embellishments – CANDi and enamel dots
Font – Candy Round BTN

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede Challenge #332 – ATG, TTCRD week of January 29 – ATG, Tuesday Throwndown #424 – ATG, Use Your Stuff #345 – Enamel Dots, and Crafty Sentiments 29/01/19 – ATG.

Caroling Penguins Christmas card

These cute caroling penguins (Three B digital stamp) are from Scribbles Designs. The paper they're placed against is a digital paper sheet music freebie from Free Vintage Digital Stamps.

If your crafting pocketbook is suffering post Christmas blues, but you're itching to try something new, consider giving Free Vintage Digital Stamps a look-see. You can get your fix for free! In addition to cute papers, there are also stamps, as seen on this male golfer card I did a while back.

The sentiment was created with Footlight MT Light font. The stitched square dies are more of my inexpensive no-brand Amazon/eBay variety. These metal note embellishments I picked up recently for not even a euro echo perfectly the notes shown in the stamp (is that not a stroke of luck or what?).

Supply List

Paper – cardstock,  free sheet music digital paper

Digital stamp – Scribbles Designs Three B 

Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils

Dies – no-brand stitched squares

Embellishments – musical notes

Font – Footlight MT Light

I'm linking up with: Unicorn Challenge #39 – Things with Wings, The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #43 – ATG Christmas, Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #205 – All About Holidays, Fab 'n' Funky #424 – Creating for Christmas, Cute N' Crafty Christmas #5 – Christmas/Winter, Cute Card Thursday #566 – Critters, Crimbo Crackers #176 – ATG Christmas, and Aud Sentiments #219 – ATG + a sentiment.

Happy National Handwriting Day! in support of cursive handwriting

Happy National Handwriting Day! If you're a regular follower of Paperesse, you know I strongly support cursive handwriting instruction in schools, which the implementation of Common Core Standards in the United States has negatively impacted. As CCS do not require cursive handwriting instruction, less and less schools are teaching it. There are exceptions to this, however. Many states have bypassed standards to create their own guidelines. You can read more about this in my post from last year and my first post on this subject, Cursive Writing – It's important! 10 reasons to teach and use it.

My previous posts have focused on elementary school, but the benefits of cursive writing extend far beyond that. Studies continue to prove that university students who take notes by hand – rather than laptop – retain more of what they learn and score higher on exams. In researching this post, I read a interesting Wall Street Journal article on just this subject – I’d Be an ‘A’ Student if I Could Just Read My Notes.  As more and more professors ban distracting laptops from their classrooms (a move I heartily applaud), many students who have not been taught effective handwriting skills are struggling.

More research on this subject led me to Education Next's website and their post, Should Professors Ban Laptops?. It thoroughly addresses this question with in-depth research, proving beyond any doubt that students learn more and score higher on exams in classrooms without laptops. Another interesting post on their site Laptops in the Classroom: An Open and Closed Case, interviewed three professors who have implemented no laptop policies and the results they have had. It was interesting to read their take on addressing a sea of laptops and the omnipresent click-click of taping keyboards; I can only imagine how unpleasant that must be.

The benefits of handwriting are universal and applicable to us all, no matter our age. As Forbe's Three Ways That Handwriting With A Pen Positively Affects Your Brain points out, the act of writing something by hand can have a meditative type effect on our brains, releasing hidden creativity. It can also sharpen our minds, helping us to think more positively. It helps with mindfulness, too, forcing us to slow down a bit and 'enjoy the moment'.

What's not to like? Pick up a pen and get writing!

Masculine birthday card featuring Scribbles Brr Bday Chef digital stamp

I like to have birthday cards on hand so that if I've forgotten someone and need one right away (or I'm not feeling crafty) I'm covered. This card is one of those. I designed it as a masculine card, but now that I look at it, I figure it will work for either a man or a woman.

The digi is Scribbles Brr Bday Chef. The sentiment was created with Smarty Pants font. Patterned paper is of the off brand discount store type (like the majority of what I have). I paper pieced the towel and bow tie. Red and black seem to be my go-to color scheme for chef images (like this other male birthday card – Chef with Cake). The red and white reminds me of table cloths and Italian restaurants. I don't know why. These could be French chefs, in which case that wouldn't apply, but hey, it works so I go with it.

Embellishments are...embellishment is...a simple pearl on the bow tie. I didn't think this one needed much.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  patterned digital paper
Digital stamp – Scribbles Brr Bday Chef
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics oval and rectangle stax
Embellishment – pearl
Font – Smarty Pants

I'm linking up with: Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog #73 – It's Birthday Time Again!, Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #204 – Masculine Anything Goes, A Bit More Time to Craft #84 – ATG, The Male Room #102 – ATG option Beverages, and Crafty Creations #382 – ATG.