Masculine Birthdays

Happy Wednesday!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week, it's a nice easy one: Anything Goes!  We know how much everyone loves those!  A couple months ago, I started sending out cards to people at our church for birthdays, get well, etc.  I figured I had LOTS of cards sitting around that I had made and this would be a great way to use them AND brighten some days at the same time.  Which is great for the women as I have lots of girly cards, but now I also have a lot of men that I need cards for and I don't have so many of them hanging around.  This week, I had several male birthdays to make cards for.  This first one is for my husband's grandfather.

 I stamped the image in versamark and heat embossed it with white powder.  Then I sponged on some blue ink; love how it turned out!  After I dry embossed the blue panel, I sponged on some darker blue ink to really bring out the texture.

 Since this is a square card, I needed to create an envelope with my envelope punch board and I finished it off by stamping the same image from the card.
And here is card #2:

I've had this hot air balloon stamp (yes, all three balloons are part of one stamp, I just cut them apart after stamping) for quite a while and had yet to ink it up.  This seemed the perfect opportunity and I knew they would look fabulous paper pieced.  And they do!!  (It's also a great way to use small scraps)  I had the clouds already cut out in my bits and pieces stash and they were the perfect embellishments.  I really love how this one turned out, too.
I hope you will get a chance to play along with us this week, I can't wait to see what you have created.  And remember if you "need" any of the stamps I have used, I have a 10% off your entire order coupon in my left sidebar.

Card #1:
Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Bass Harbor Light (lg.)" and "Birthday"
Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Darice "Damask" embossing folder
Card Stock  and Ink: SU! "Brocade Blue" and "Night of Navy"

Challenges:
Come And Get It--embossing (both heat AND dry)
Cardz TV #2-anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #44--anything goes
Crafty Catz #371--anything goes with twist: more than 2 layers
Cute Card Thursday #478--brads (star brads)
Little Miss Muffet #163--anything goes
Crafter's Cafe #173--birthday
Scrapper's Delights #66--anything goes
Love To Craft Challenge Blog#10--anything goes
Cheerful Sketches--sketch


Card #2:
Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Hot Air Balloon Cluster" and "Birthday"
Dies: Spellbinders banner and border die; Paper Smooches "Cute Clouds"

Challenges:
Hiding In My Craft Room #301--masculine
Creative Fingers #130--anything goes
Aud Sentiments #180--anything goes with a sentiment
Inspiration Destination #128--anything goes
Creative Inspirations #275--anything goes
Stamplorations theme and sketch--theme: stamps & alphabets AND sketch

Open-Minded Challenge #11--Mighty Men in May
Tuesday Throwdown #304--anything goes