Why do I always leave it to the last minute?

Hello again, by the time you read this, the recipient of this card will already have had his birthday. Goodness, how time flies, my son will be 28 the day before Valentines Day. Seems like just a few short years ago that he was so eager to enter the world at 10 weeks early! If only I'd been able to see into the future to know he wouldn't have had the issues expected and that he'd grow into a strong, tall young man.

Anyway, Adam is a tyre fitter, working at a garage in the next village. When he isn't working he still tinkers on friends cars but I guess it keeps him out of mischief. It was with this in mind that I thought I'd try my hand at my first stepper card. I know there are dies out there but honestly, save yourself the expense; they are so easy to make using a paper trimmer and scoring board.

Real Red

Basic Black

Silver Foil

Whisper White

I had seen a fabulous card by Lisa Ann Bernard on Pinterest that was perfect. Click on her name to go to her blog post. Adam, like many mechanics, has a large red upright toolbox that takes up a considerable amount of shed space. I remember it being at the top of his wish list for a long time until he was able to acquire one. So, it was obvious the stepper card would replicate that in some way.

I was able to create tyres by diecutting a circle in black and then using a round button die - not a Stampin Up one - cut in silver foil for the hub cap. Ok, it isn't perfect but it does show that necessity is the mother of invention! It also saved me a little money as I didn't need to buy any extra dies. I don't know about you but I love it when I can find other uses for my crafty stash. I added some small tools and a creeper board, made from the hardwood stamp on a piece of crumb cake card stock. I also wrote Happy Birthday on a "drawer" front with a silver pen to like like it had been scratched onto the chest of drawers.

It's Been a While...

Hello again, I've talked before about finding Stampin' Up because I went to a Coffee and Cards group in my nearest local town. Well, due to recent work commitments I haven't been able to join everyone recently.

Luckily I was available to go last Tuesday. It's being held in a new venue and I'm so pleased the lighting is better. It was lovely to see some familiar faces and catch up with the news as well as meet what I hope will become new friends.

Susan had been asked if she could design some cards that were suitable for men; they never seem to be an easy subject to cater for but the new bundle Nailed It fits the bill perfectly. We made a smaller notecard size one as well as the usual A6.

I love the nail die, the ruler is embossed!

So often men's cards are very dull colourwise so it made a refreshing change to use Delightful Dijon from the In Colours 2015 - 2017. This colour will be retiring at the end of May so if you haven't got it yet and want it, don't delay. It certainly went into my shopping basket this week; I have all of the ink pads in the colour families but so far have only got the In Colours I know I'll use alot.

Delightful Dijon

Basic Gray

Smoky Slate

Whisper White

The first card we made was suitable for a novice to undertake. Both Louise and I decided to go a little off piste with the Father's Day stamp which meant slightly altering the placement of the screwdriver. Once home I also decided to stamp the grey background card to add more interest. I love that we all start with the same basic premise and adapt it to suit our requirements.

The second card used Gorgeous Grunge to enhance the background. It was a stamp set I had passed by several times but once bought,  it makes an appearance in so many cards I make. This time, we used the Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. It gives amazing depth to any project it's used on. At the moment if you buy the stamp set and coordinating dies as a bundle you can save 10% on the retail price.

Men Going Global

Hello, do you find it more difficult to make cards for men? I certainly do! I'm lucky in that when I first discovered SU through a Coffee and Cards group, the stamp set used that afternoon was Going Global; it was one of the first SU stamp sets I ever bought and seems such a long time ago now.

Mint Macaron

Crumb Cake

I chose to use light colours and Pool Party and Crumb Cake seemed to tick the right boxes. I teamed them up with some balsa wood, bought from my local model shop. I know that might appear to be an odd choice, but using a thin gauge balsa definitely adds to the effect and it can be coloured using the inkpads and a sponge or dauber. It cuts very easily and can even go through the Big Shot too.

I decided to use the compass from the set as the feature whilst by using the same colour ink as cardstock, the Ursa Major constellation formed a quite subtle background.


I didn't want a "fussy" card so put a band of Mint Macaron ribbon around and then wound some Linen Thread around my fingers before placing behind the compass. To complete the look I used a simple sentiment and 3 Perfect Accents, strategically placed. Did you know that the White Perfect Accents can be coloured using Promarkers? This makes them so handy to keep in stock!