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

Bees and Blossoms

Mom sent me this cute Bee Girl image she picked up at one of Jennifer Dove's classes at Crop Girls in Arizona. I used it to practice with my brand-new Florescent Yellow Copic marker, and was so taken with the result that I decided to build a card around it.

Happily, I had my eyes on the Signs of Spring challenge at Cute Card Thursday. I just knew that I wanted to use this cherry blossom photograph paper for the background, even though I wasn't sure how well it would work. I love this paper, but never find quite the right place for it...except this time, me thinks.

I decided to make a Sliding Pop-Out card, because it makes layering really easy. I stamped some flowers in lightest pink onto vellum, and them stamped a brighter pink onto the back to make the lighter stamp pop. I used the same stamp for the brown border on the sliding-out message portion.

One of my favorite parts of this image is that she's made to sit on something; the artist's example showed using a ribbon, which I love, but I decided to make a little cherry blossom branch for her. I'm loving stamping multiple colors on one stamp!

Thanks for the inspiration, I had tons of fun with this challenge!

Inspiration:
Cute Card Thursday Challenge 154: Signs of Spring

Sliding Pop-Out Card Tutorial: Kim Score for Splitcoaststampers

Supplies: Stamp from Magnolia series, Core'dinations, X-Press Copic, and DCWV cardstocks, SCAL & Cricut, Recollections vellum, stash scrapbooking paper, MS detailing scissors, ZipDry glue, Fiskars papercutter, Inkadinkado spray ink, emery board, Versamark and ColorBox inks, stash eyelet, Elmer's gel pens, Offray ribbon, sentiment stamp by gstudio, flower stamps from Inkadinkado Asian by Design set
Copic markers:
skin: E50, E51, YR00, E02, RV21
hair: Y02, FY1, E50
dress: Y02, FY1
turtle: G07, YG41, G02