Continuing the Manly Theme

And another Julie Gearinger CASE! With my own twist, of course. I didn't want to attempt the straw technique, because I just know I'd pass out - I'm dizzy enough as it is!

So rather than blow the ink blobs with a straw, I opted for the baby-wipe technique, and to stamp the coral once with black StazOn, and then again with Midnight Muse (after stamping off once). It looks a little bit like more coral further away in the murky water, right? Right??

Other than the Midnight Muse mat under the image, everything else is pretty much the same, except I could NOT get the Fancy Fan folder to emboss the top part of the cardstock without getting wrinkles in the bottom, un-embossed part. Julie, what's your secret? I even tried embossing without Tab 1 - no luck.  So, I got out the Perfect Polka-Dots folder and it worked fine. We'll just pretend all those dots are bubbles, okay?

STAMPS: By the Tide, Lots of Thanks
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Glossy White (retired)
INK: Jet Black StazOn, VersaMark, plus Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, and Midnight Muse ink refills
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots folder, Heat Tool, Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, White Gel Pen, baby wipes (non-SU)

CASEing Julie

First of all, I have to say that I was so happy when Julie Gearinger was added as a SUO Challenges Design Team member! I've been an admirer of hers for a long time, so I knew she was going to fit in beautifully.

Okay, that disclaimer aside, I just had to CASE her Wetlands card, but change it up a little bit. In trying to simplify it for my Masculine Cards class, I opted to leave off the bow to make it more mailable (and easier on my bow-challenged stampers, lol). I probably should have left off the Antique Brad due to the thickness, and substituted a few Candy Dots, but I liked the little bit of classy bling that the brad added. Since we weren't using the Pool Party ribbon she used, I added some Coastal Cabana Core-dinations at the bottom, embossed and sanded for added dimension.

Since the scripty background is En Français, I guess that makes it a French Canadian Goose, 'eh?

Go check out the upcoming classes on my Events calendar. I just added a new card class for September 1st that covers all the bases!
 
STAMPS: Wetlands, En Français
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Coastal Cabana Core'dinations, Watercolor Paper
INK: StazOn Jet Black, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate, Whisper White Craft, Basic Gray Stampin' Write Marker (Neutrals collection)
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Antique Brads, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Sanding Block, Basic Black 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Stampin' Spritzer (retired)

Grad Card

How do you make a graduation card? If you have the announcement, it's super easy to incorporate the components and the school colors into a beautiful, personalized congratulations card!

I am lucky enough to be the "personal card designer" for my dentist's office manager. It's positively awesome to get paid for playing my creations, and she's thrilled to get unique, one-of-a-kind cards that knock the socks off the recipients! It's a win-win situation!

I forgot to take a picture of the other grad card I made for her (kicking myself), but not this one.  That purty tassel was made by yours truly!  I didn't have any silk thread to make it, so I unraveled some Basic Black and Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon that's retired but I'm hoarding saving for a rainy day.  After unraveling, I made the tassel, remembering my rope-tying skills from Girl Scouts a million years ago. I can't even remember what that finish is called, but I remember how to do it!

Do you have any dormant skills you learned as a kid, that occasionally pop out and surprise you?

STAMP: Non-SU
CARDSTOCK: Sahara Sand, Real Red, Basic Black, gold foil (non-SU)
INK: Basic Black
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque folder, Basic Black and Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon (retired)