Masculine card share and free printables sites.

Just a quick post today to share a neat masculine card I made for my friend's son who just turned 18.

I used black cardstock for the card base. I wanted a sort of grunge look... you know how 18 year old young men are right? I wanted to have a card with the theme of dream, take a journey, and encourage him to "live an inspired life". 

I just love the hot air balloon I found on The Graphics Fairy.... isn't the image vintage and old looking? Look at that little man down there? The Graphics Fairy has over 4500 free images! I just love her mostly vintage images and her blog and gallery of ideas.

I used black ink to swipe all the edges for that vintage look... and used some free tickets that I printed off the internet from The 80's Me blog.  She has many other tickets for free printing. I have a stamp with the words Dream, Journey, etc. so I stamped on the tickets with black ink. 

I popped up the hot air balloon with some foam tape so it would stand out. My background paper was a piece I had leftover from some project, and for the life of me now, I can't remember what paper pack I got it from! Sorry............

I don't really have alot of "masculine" doo dads and blingy stuff (but what guy wants or needs blingly stuff anyway!), so for the inside of the card, I used a tag (another free one!) that I printed out from Sweetly Scrapped that says "Fly". I thought this was very appropriate for an 18 year old just graduating from high school.

I used another ticket with some stamping on it, and wrote the number "18" on a circle punch out. Of course, everything got a good swipe of black ink!

I hope this might give you an idea for a more masculine card.

Enjoy......

I have been busy making some Valentine's Day gifts for my ETSY SHOP. I think one of my most favorite things to make is canvas board art. Once I get started, I can't stop!

This is a 5x7 canvas board that I painted pink (I just LOVE pink - can you tell?) and adhered some scrapbook papers and a vintage image of a cherub on a dove that I printed on photo paper (from The Graphics Fairy - she has thousands of free graphic images), then decoupaged it all down. You get really messy and gooey when doing this, but after awhile, you just start feeling really creative, and you keep looking for more things to glue down!

I put ruffled fabric on the bottom, some lace, pearls, buttons, and ribbon. Across the top, I added a little tiny postcard banner (postcards were FREE downloads from  Sweetly Scrapped.)  I love Sweetly Scrapped! She always has free printables and they are most always vintage. The little postcards I used were larger, but I printed them out really tiny, and then cut the "V" out to make flags.

I crocheted the little pink heart!  I found the pattern on YouTube but right now, couldn't tell you where I got it. If you search for "crocheted hearts" you'll find a ton of YouTube videos.

Next, here's my really truly red Valentine's Day canvas board art. I wish you could see all the detail:

This 5x7 board I painted red with some gray streaks for a more vintage look, decoupaged on some papers, doilies (that I inked up with beige ink) and some red glitter paper. The vintage girl is printed onto fabric and the graphic also came from The Graphics Fairy website.  I printed out the little sayings (free from Sweetly Scrapped) on pink paper, and decoupaged those down, added some lace and fabric ruffle along the buttom, and voila!

Of course, I had to add some little gems and pearls and buttons!  It was hard to make myself stop. The teeny tiny bows are what are called "fork bows". You make them using a dinner fork! I found videos on YouTube on making fork bows. They are easy and for me, necessary, as I can't tie a bow (with my fingers) with ribbon, if my life depended on it!  I also crocheted the red heart. They are quick and easy, and very addictive. I have a big pile of little crocheted hearts and tiny doilies.

You can view more photos at my ETSY SHOP MyPinkPaperCottage.

I also managed to finish the canvas board I started before Christmas! (I was on a roll!)  It's in my shop too........on the last page with some other Christmas items.  I used the CTMH Frosted papers (which are now unfortunately retired).  I'm glad I got some extra packs.  Also used our red shimmer trim which I love so much.

The "Subway Art" tag I made myself and printed it out on our colonial white cardstock. I then cut the edges with some decorative edge scissors.  I may be selling some digital Subway Art in my Etsy shop (soon).

Just wanted to share my little works of art. Hope you are all having time for some crafting (amidst all of the snow!).

And don't forget, if you place an order with me through my CTMH Website, for Close to My Heart products, please be sure to "join" my February on-line blast" party going on now. For anyone who orders, I'll send you a FREE mini stamp of your choice.  For anyone who orders $50 and above, I'll send you 4 of my custom made cards!

EASTER FAVORITE VINTAGE GRAPHICS

HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY SPRING TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS, BLOG FOLLOWERS AND FAMILY!

The following graphics are some of my FAVORITES from Karen at The Graphics Fairy, a wonderful website for free clip art and vintage graphics.  So enjoy and Happy Easter!
 

The story of Easter 

is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise.

  ~Carl Knudsen~

 

Ye sleeping buds, break
Open your green cerements, and wake
To fragrant blossoming for His sweet sake. 

 ~Margaret French Patton~

I LOVE the sentiment on this one (above):

A Moral for Easter,

Thy Savior's meekness wouldst attain,

Climb not too high,

or climb in vain!

Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair

 to strength and beauty and happiness.

 ~Floyd W. Tomkins~

 

Isn't this just gorgeous???

'Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees
Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Spanish Student~

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!

  ~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"~

And my ALL TIME FAVORITE!

Miss Molly Cottontail inspired me to make a cute little Easter card! I transferred this graphic onto some fabric, and then placed it on the front of a card on top of some embossed paper, and a few gems.. very simple and sweet.

THANK YOU The Graphics Fairy for your beautiful antique and vintage graphics!  

Easter, to me, always marks a new beginning for the year. I know that Spring is on its way and Mother Earth is waking up from the long winter.

                         HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY SPRING!