Happy 4th of July Happy Summer with Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set – Pig & Pickles card

Here's the second of my Porky BBQ themed 4th of July/Happy Summer cards made from one of the eight images in Digi Web Studio's Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set (on sale for just $1!). The Porky grilling stamp was used on my first card.

Paper is Tactile Studio Wendy digital paper pack (also on sale for $0.99). I paper pieced the pickles and jar label. The perfect for a pickle sentiment 'Have a dill-icious summer' is from my own sheet I created for the images.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Tactile Studio Wendy digital paper pack
Digital stamp – Digi Web Studio Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle and square stax
Embellishments – enamel dots
Font – Apple Boy BTN

I'm linking up with: Crafty Sentiments Designs 20/06 – Add a Sentiment, Create and Makes #12 – ATG, Inky Chicks #84 – Use 3 Pattern Paper, Artistic Inspirations #181 – ATG, and The Crazy Challenge #251 – Summer Love.

Happy Father's Day 3D Decoupage Foot (soccer) card idea

Here's my father-in-law's Father's Day card this year and like last year's card, it's a foot (soccer) themed one. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree in that family; my father-in-law and husband both are big foot fans.

This Anita's Foiled Decoupage Football Fan sheet has been languishing in a drawer for a while now. I thought it was about time I got it out and used it.

Foot ball paper is retired digital Tactile Studio Go Team and the green grass paper is from Folia's Motivblock Strukturen (surfaces) pad. The sentiment was created with a circular frame and Bruce Old Style font. A foot ball charm and some twine dress it up.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Anita's Foiled Decoupage Football Fan sheet, digital Tactile Studio Go Team, Folia's Motivblock Strukturen paper pad.
Embellishments – twine, soccer charm

Happy 4th of July Happy Summer with Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set – Pig BBQ card

I decided to combine 4th of July and Happy Summer cards this year and wanted something different than the traditional 4th of July cards I usually send (like this Eagle card from last year).

Surfing the net, I found this Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set on sale at Digi Web Studio for just $1.00. With eight stamps in the set I could use a different one for everyone on my list – guy or gal – and at that price how could I resist (as of today's date it's still on sale)?! This one is going to my brother.

I admit, when I looked at this stamp the first time I couldn't figure out what the heck Porky was holding in his hand – a taco shell, half a pita maybe? I asked my husband.

'What's that thing he's holding in his hand? A taco shell or something?'

My husband rolled his eyes and patted my shoulder. 'Chérie, it's the top of the barbecue cooker.'

I guess grilling really is a guy thing; sometimes he does come in handy.

Using round frames from Pixel Scrapper and Apple Boy BTN font, I made my own sentiment sheet to use with the images. Patterned paper is outlet shop discounted no-name. For a flat easy mail card I kept embellishments simple – enamel dots and crinkled paper ribbon. So that it was clear to everyone the cooker top was not a taco shell, I paper pieced it to match the base.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp – Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle and square stax
Embellishments – enamel dots, crinkled paper ribbon
Font – Apple Boy BTN

I'm linking up with: Star Stampz 08/06 – Mit for a Man, Hanna & Friends #275 – Summer, Craft Rocket Challenges #38 – For the Men, Cards in Envy 05/06 – You're the Man, and 4 Crafty Chicks #355 – Summer Fun Activities.

Delightful Thursday at Digital Delights – Tipsy Mouse birthday step card – and how to make your own enamel dots tutorial

It's another Delightful Thursday at Digital Delights; click on over to see what projects DT members have to share with you today. My card features the Tipsy Mouse stamp and Cheers sentiment set.

I've used Crafts-too Presscut step card die as the base. An enlarged, fussy cut stamp makes the perfect center piece for this card design (as on this LUV U Teddy Valentine's Day card).

Paper is from the long retired Artemio Firenze paper pack; appropriate, I thought, for a masculine card, which this is. Embellishments are my own homemade enamel dots. See quick tutorial below for the how-to.

*Quick Tutorial* Enamel dots have become one of my favorite embellishments. Their light weight and flat shape make them perfect for decorating cards that will be sent through the mail. My only problem is that I can't easily find them so I'm forced to order them on the internet, which can be pricey.

I mentioned this to my talented crafty friend Ginny, of RubberMAD blog fame, who had this to write about making her own enamel dots:

'One of my fave techniques is to use a hole punch - [I have 1/16, 1/8 & 1/4" hole punches] to punch dots out of my primary CS or my mat CS - glue those to my card and then put a drop of Glossy Accents on top.  That gives me a perfectly matched, shiny, faux enamel dot to bling up my project!  I can also use  gold foil or other colors on them. Cheap and effective!'

None of the enamel dot colors I had coordinated well with this Tipsy Mouse card, and since I wanted to use a lot, even if one had, I'd have had to use a whole pack! I was scratching my head, wondering what else would do, when I remembered what Ginny had said.

I thought of this recently purchased hollow circle die (sold under various names on eBay and Amazon) and of all the little bits left over when it cuts – perfect for enamel dots! I cut the die with a piece of the same color cardstock used on the card. Not having Ginny's experience, I decided not to risk gluing them down before using my Diamond Glaze (I didn't have any Glossy Accents), so I put the cut bits on a Ranger Non-Stick craft sheet and then put a drop of Diamond Glaze on each, spreading with a toothpick to break up bubbles and cover the dot. I let them dry over night, then glued to the card the next day. In the photo below, you can see the 'before' with two of the larger circles I didn't want to use.

I was very pleased with how they turned out. Thanks, Ginny, for such a thrifty idea!

I'm linking up with: Addicted to Stamps & More #246 – ATG, Crafty Creations #343 – ATG, Inspiration Destination #130 – ATG, The Sisterhood of Crafters 14/06 – Use Your Imagination/ATG, and The Crafty Addicts #37 – ATG.

La Provence French themed 3D decoupage Anniversary card

This is a special request anniversary card for a friend's wife. They live in the States, but are big France fans, so I thought I'd go with a Provence look.

I used ingredients from Studio Light's La Provence Diorama card pack. Note, I said ingredients because it really isn't the card as they'd have you construct it. I elected not to use the card base that comes with the pack and mounted the focal image onto cardstock. I also changed around some of the 3D elements as I didn't like the way they looked. It's very rare I create from a kit and don't change something. I also added some of my own patterned paper – Tactile Studio's Chasing Dreams – and some pearls.

You can create from one of these kits and everything look fine, but there are some tricks to make them look even better. For more on that see my 3D decoupage tutorial.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Studio Light La Provence Diorama card pack, Tactile Studio Chasing Dreams digital paper
Embelishments – pearls

Masculine – Unisex – 2 Cute Ink Graduation Apple digital stamp graduation card

I sent this graduation card featuring 2 Cute Ink's Graduation Apple digital stamp to a young male cousin of mine who just graduated high school.

Admittedly, it's not as masculine as this vintage look graduation card I made back in 2014 (has my style changed or what?!), but I truly think it's gender neutral and works equally well for a guy or gal. And really, what's with the stereotyping anyway? Who's to say what's masculine or feminine? I colored the apple and mortarboard and paper pieced the apple's leaf to match the Tactile Studio Teacher digital paper used.

The sentiment was created with the free Apple Boy BTN font. Embellishments are a simple brad (with the prongs cut off) and twine.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Tactile Studio Teacher digital paper pack
Digital stamp – 2 Cute Ink Graduation Apple
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Embellishments – brad (de-pronged), twine
Font – Apple Boy BTN

I'm linking up with: A Gem of a Challenge #195 – For the Boys/Men, Crafting with Dragonflies #82 – ATG, Crafty Calendar Challenge June – Boys Will be Boys, Scrap & Craft Inspiration #4 – ATG with string/twine or ribbon, and Craftaholics R Us June – Graduation.

A sad day for the planet

The Hotel de Ville in Paris turned its facade green last night, a sign of France's commitment to the Paris Agreement on combating climate change. The United States now joins only two other countries in the world – Syria and Nicaragua – who will not participate in the agreement.

Global warming is real and as the second greatest emitter of carbon emissions on the planet (China's the first) the United States' participation in the agreement and global leadership will be sorely missed.

Anyone doubting global warming and what is happening to our planet, need only look at the Weather Channel's current homepage. We're beginning to see the effects of global warming already; what planet will future generations inherit? So sad.

Digital Delights by Louby Loo June release – Paddling Scotty masculine birthday card

It's time for June new releases at Digital Delights by Louby Loo. My card for this month is a masculine birthday card, featuring the Paddling Scotty stamp.

The sentiment is part of the super cute Peggy Legz set. I cropped the sentiment and used it against a rectangle shape. You can see the entire set – stamp and sentiment – on this birthday card. Digital paper is Carta Bella Beach Boardwalk Paper Pack 2.

Click on over to the Digital Delights blog to see what other lovely creations DT members have to share with you today.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Carta Bella Beach Boardwalk digital paper pack 2
Digital Stamp – Digital Delights Paddling Scotty and Peggy Legz set sentiment
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics oval stax, Nellie's multi-frame stars
Embellishments – buttons, thread

I'm linking up with: Crafting by Designs June – ATG, Crafty Creations #342 – ATG, Creative Moments #119 – ATG/Birthday, The Male Room #61 – Die Cuts (masculine), and Die-Cuttin' Divas' #319 – ATG.

A handbag shaped birthday card

I used the Black & White Damask Handbag Card Mini Kit by Sandie Burchell to create this purse shaped birthday card for a friend.

Like almost all my kit cards, I sassed it up a bit; kind of like this Paris vintage look conertina card.

I added black pearl borders interspersed with red pearls for a bit 'o bling. For a 3D look, the layers on the purse flap and sentiment are propped up with doubled-sided mousse tape and the butterflies are duplified as well. A red button closure is the touche finale.

Supply List
Paper – Black & White Damask Handbag Card Mini Kit by Sandie Burchell
Embellishments – black pearl border, red pearls, red button

I'm linking up with the following challenges: Unstampabelles #68 – Layering and Borders, Crafty Creations #342 – ATG, Creative Moments #118 – ATG, Mod Squad 24/05/17 – Birthday Bash, and PaperMinutes #148 – Butterflies.

Delightful Thursday at Digital Delights – Alien theme birthday card

It's another Delightful Thursday at Digital Delights; click on over to see what projects DT members have to share with you today. My card features the Birthday Alien Andy and Happy Birthday sentiment stamps.

This card is for my brother. I thought he'd appreciate the Alien theme (just because it's different, okay, no reflection on him personally). For the card base I used Presscut's Scalloped Semi-circle die, although I don't believe I'm using the die the way it's originally intended. If you click on the photos for this link, it shows what I'm using as the back (where I've put my greetings), as the front. Personally, I think it's much more impressive reversed.

To give it more 'guy-ness' I added Sizzix gearhead dies for embellishment; they match the Bo Bunny On the Go Gears paper. I liked the way the Sizzix Drip Edge die looked the first time I used this card die (i.e. this Halloween card) so I decided to use it again here. Ribbon wouldn't really work with this design, so I used Tactile Studio's digital Striped Ribbons 2 instead. Enamel dots give some texture to the stamp, but in no way impede the card's flat folding design (once folded it fits in a normal card sized envelope and is no problem at all to mail).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Bo Bunny On the Go Gears, Tactile Studio's digital Striped Ribbons 2
Digital stamps – Digital Delights Birthday Alien Andy and Happy Birthday sentiment
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Presscut Scalloped Semi-circle card die, Die-namics circle and rectangle stax, Sizzix Gearhead and Drip Edge dies
Embellishments – enamel dots

I'm linking up with: The Crafty Addicts #36 – ATG/Use Diecuts, Inspiration Destination #128 – ATG, Creative Moments #118 – ATG, Crafty Creations #341 – ATG, and Addicted to Stamps and More #242 – Make Your Mark.