MOJO Monday Shaker Card

I haven't done a Mojo Monday sketch for ages, but when I went in search of inspiration for a masculine valentine card, I figured the Mojo Monday Challenge #329 would be perfect for it.  I went to work and what I ended up with is a card that I think would do for either genders - a gender neutral Valentine card.  I'll let you be the judge.

First, here is the Mojo Monday sketch:

And this is my take on the sketch:

• I've been seeing a lot of "Shaker Cards" on Pinterest lately and I've had Stampin' Up!'s Shaker Frames for ages without using them, so I thought I would add some Valentine confetti to a shaker frame, as you can see in the photo.
• It was also my first time using the Hardwood Background stamp.  It's definitely a keeper.  The image contributes to the masculine characteristics of my card.  Here it is stamped in Crumb Cake ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.
• The small piece of DSP you see here is from the Kaleidoscope DSP collection, again a masculine component of the card.

• The familiar 1 1/4" Burlap ribbon used here was first seen in our Holiday Catalogue and has been continued in the Occasions Catalogue.  I'm so happy because I love the look and texture of burlap.  (Uh...but only on cards.  I wouldn't want to have to wear burlap underwear!!  Let's be perfectly clear about that!)  On top of it, you see a new ribbon from the Occasions cattie.  It's Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon.  It has the same optical illusion found in the larger chevron ribbons, but that disappears when you interrupt the length of ribbon with an object such as the shaker frame.
• I used the Circle Collection Framelit Dies to create the Shaker Frame.  I cut the 2 3/4" circle, which is the fifth largest die, from Strawberry Slush cardstock.  I cut two of the next smallest circles (2 3/8") and adhered one to the Strawberry Slush circle and punched out the center of the other with the 1 3/4" Circle punch.  I used that one to place on top of the Shaker frame to hide the foam from the frame.
• I used the 1 7/8" circle framelit die to cut out a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, which I stamped in Strawberry Slush with the Hearts a Flutter image, and a piece of Window Sheet.  These formed the front and the back of the Shaker Frame.  Before adding the window sheet on the front, I filled the frame with confetti, punched using the Small Heart punch and the even smaller heart from the Owl Builder punch.

• The love sentiment is one of the Expressions Thinlit dies and it cut the word out so easily, I didn't even need to use wax paper between the die and the cardstock.  The Strawberry Slush colour is the one part that makes the card more gender neutral but it is a shade that most guys would like and feel comfortable with, I think.

So, lots involved in that card.  Hope you got it all straight.  Leave me a comment if you have any questions. I'm thinking I will need to do a video on Shaker Frames soon.

To purchase the following products, used in today's sample just click on the product which will take you directly to my On-Line Store, available 24/7.

• Hearts A Flutter Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Hearts A Flutter
• Hardwood [wood]
• Hardwood [clear]
• Early Espresso 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper
• Strawberry Slush 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Crumb Cake 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Window Sheets
• Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
• Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad
• Shaker Frames
• 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon
• Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon
• Circles Collection Framelits Dies
• 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch
• Small Heart Punch
• Owl Punch
• Expressions Thinlits Dies

Here Comes the Bride

Last night I went to a bridal shower for the bride of my friend's son!  We had a great time with the lady who was demonstrating Pampered Chef products for us.

There is something magical about that time in a woman's life.  I have to confess that one of my guilty pleasures is watching "Say Yes to the Dress."  No matter how plain a woman is, she gets into the right wedding gown and she is transformed into a princess!  And maybe for the first time in her life, she feels beautiful.  If only we could hang on to that perception of ourselves!

Of course, I had to create a card for the event, and I had this vision of white on white, with embossed layers and maybe the Expressions Thinlet die that reads "love"!  I also wanted to include a white umbrella, for a shower.  That's where I had difficulty.  I had no stamps with umbrellas, so I thought I'd die cut one, no problem.  But the challenge lay with the handle.  What on earth would I use for that?  Here's the card:

• I used exclusively Whisper White cardstock, but used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on one layer and the retired Lacy Brocade folder on the umbrella.
• The center panel was edged using the Scallop Trim Border punch and then adding some Whisper White Organza Ribbon layered with some of the 1/8" Silver Ribbon.  I used the same ribbon to make 2 little "fork" bows.
• I used the Expressions Thinlets "love" die.  Just a tip for those - I find if I run in back and forth in the Big Shot several times, the paper is then cut all the way through and it removes easily from the die.

• Now, about that umbrella handle - it's a toothpick!  I used an ordinary round toothpick and rolled it in some Versamark ink and dropped it in my container of White Stampin' Emboss powder.  Then I picked it out with a pair of tweezers and heat embossed it, using the Stampin' Up Heat Tool.  That gave me a white handle and I tied a little fork bow and attached it to the handle.
• The umbrella itself is punched out with a 2 1/2" Circle punch from embossed paper and cut in two, a little lower than half way and edged with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  It is then adhered to the handle using glue dots.

I really like the way it turned out.  The different textures and the shiny, silver ribbon adds some contrast. Have a great week!

Stamps:  (Inside) Love and Laughter (w128433; c125477)

Paper:  Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink:  StazOn Jet Black (101406) (inside); VersaMark (102283)

Accessories:  White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132); 5/8" Organza Ribbon in Whisper White  (114319); Silver 1/8" Ribbon (132137); 1 round toothpick

Tools:  Heat Tool (129053); Textured Impressions Embossing Folders: Perfect Polka Dots (117335) and Lacy Brocade (retired); Expressions Thinlits Die (132171);  Big Shot (113439); 2 1/2 " Circle Punch (120906); Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402)

2 1/2" Circle Punch

Expressions Thinlits

Heat Tool

Love & Laughter

5/8" Organza Ribbon

Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Scallop Trim Border Punch

Silver 1/8" Ribbon

StazOn Jet Black Ink