I like my coffee how I like my men...

Irish! Actually, I take my coffee strong and black, but my Irish/Mexican husband will be reading this, so I think I'll let that one go... :) Speaking of my good-humored & ever-patient husband, he inspired this card by pointing out that the color combo for my recent wedding card was reminiscent of coffee. Just the inspiration I needed for a card for the It's a Guy Thing Freshly Brewed Challenge.

Since this post is already a little racey, I'll go ahead and share my theory on cards for men: it's all about texture, because men like to rub things! Seriously, I've noticed that the men in my life respond most to cards with texture (such as heat- and paper-embossing, popped-up details, and anything interactive), regardless of color & cuteness. My husband is a big fan of flocking, which I used to consider ultra-cutesy. And now that I have a Sizzix embossing machine, it's so easy to add awesome texture.

Three or so years ago, Mom collected a bunch of coffee cup sleeves (to make mini books) and of course gave me a bagful, which I've never used until I pulled out a printed one for the background embellishment on this card. I stamped and embossed the round "Made with Love" sentiment directly onto the card, which was risky and artsy, but I like the effect. I stamped a more readable version onto the inside.

Inspiration:
Freshly Brewed Challenge #49: It's a Guy Thing
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #170: Sketch

Stamps: Round Sentiments I set by SP & Company, Mug digi by Freshly Brewed Designs
Paper: Recollections, DCWV, handmade paper from Mom's stash
Tools: HP printer & ink, Sizzix Texture Boutique, Tim Holtz embossing folder, Marvy heat tool, plastic templates from stash, Fiskars papercutter, MS detail scissors & border/corner punch set (for inside card)
Other: ZipDry glue, ZING embossing powder, Versamark ink, brocade ribbon from Simplicity, clear Sakura GellyRoll pen, corrugated cardboard cup holder
Copics: E51, E17

Shroomin'

As a personal celebration for my Pink Hedgehog card winning Freshly Brewed Designs Challenge #32 (Thanks so much!), I decided to make something really wild with the image I chose as my prize. I love all of FBD's stamps, but I just had to get my hands on the groovy Mirror Mushroom digi from their "Alice in Wonderland" series. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I'd be making little clay mushrooms!

I was inspired by the current Delicious Doodle, and the Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge to use "something you add water to, or water has been added," and I hardly need an excuse to pull out my spray inks and watercolor pencils! I wanted to play with the green made by mixing yellow and blue inks again, so I cut a couple of borders with a PaperFacesDesign cut file and used them as masks to make some patterned paper. I went ahead and used the well-coated borders so the front and inside. While my tiny clay mushrooms were cooking, I threw together a little "Groovy" sentiment.
Digi stamp: Mirror Mushroom by Freshly Brewed Designs
Cut file: Flower Border by PaperFacesDesigns

Inspiration:
Delicious Doodles Challenge #11
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight: Water

Supplies: Hammermill, ColorBok, and Recollections cardstocks, Tattered Angels glitter mist, Inkadinkado spray ink, Fiskars papercutter, corner punch, and scallop scissors, Loew-Cornell watercolor pencils, MS detailing scissors, Sculpey polymer clay, Cricut & SCAL, HP printer & ink, Adobe InDesign, Frosty font (all caps)