A Class Act Sketch For You To Try...

(I'll explain the title in a sec...)
This is going to be my Father's Day card for DH -- I kind of owe him a good one seeing as he didn't get one for his birthday.  You know, the cobbler's children have no shoes and the stamper's family gets no cards... Before you start to feel too sorry for him, let me tell you where he is this fine Mother's Day weekend: Las Vegas.  On a guys' trip.  He and one of his traveling companions, Brad (who is the husband of my pal Kristi, who accompanied me to the Arlington swap last weekend; I'll talk more about Brad later, too) justify being gone this weekend because we were gone stamping last weekend.  And you know what I say to that?  Whatever.  Actually, I don't mind.  He'll be home by 4 p.m. on Sunday, and so long as he cooks me dinner and brings me back something fabulous, all will be right with the world.  Besides, Kristi and I are going to see Bill Cosby tomorrow night, and it'll give me a few more hours to stamp.  Lemonade -- it does a marriage good!

This card is made with Jen's Sketch For You To Try for this week, as well as the new Verve Visual Father Figure set.   I wanted to use as many of the Father Figure words and sentiments as I could on one card, so I came up with a color-blocky main image panel.  To give it a little texture, I straight stitched around everything on the main panel with my sewing machine, and then zig-zagged around the right-side details. I think the result is homespun but masculine at the same time.  (And yes, I think ribbon can be masculine!  Ribbon, like color, has no gender.  I like a man who is sure enough of himself that he can wear pink and appreciate a card with ribbon.)  That big panel gives this sketch so many possibilites -- be sure to visit Jen's blog to see if for yourself, and to check out her and her Guest Designer, Toni Whitnell's samples.  Then, blurf around to see what Amy, Shannan and Susan created.  They're sure to make you want to get inky!  And if you do so using this sketch, use SFYTT as one of your keywords when you upload to your SCS gallery so we can be sure to check you out and leave you a glowing comment.

As I was making this card I got to pondering what a fantastic job Julee does creating the Verve Visual stamp sets, which led to thoughts about the companies I have the pleasure and privilege of designing for.

I am so lucky to be affiliated with three stamp companies, each of which has images I love, and each of which are very different.  My Favorite Things stamps are just downright cute and so very sweet, and I especially love playing with That Girl (my name for the character often referred to as “the headless woman” – that sounds too Sleepy Hollow for me, and That Girl deserves better).  The Cat’s Pajamas are just ME all over, you know what I mean?  Sprinkle and the rest of the TCP gang are fun mixed with a generous helping of attitude; I don’t even have to think when I use my TCP stamps – they just spring to life on their own whenever I ink them up.

My most recent company to start designing for is Verve Visual, and in some ways, it’s my most challenging.  I call my Verve stamps my “Class Act stamps.”  And because there’s only one person who regularly reads this blog (the aforementioned Kristi) who will have any idea what “Class Act” is shorthand for, I’ll explain what I mean.

My husband and Brad have been best friends since they met in first grade.  They were roommates in college; Sean and I met because Brad talked Sean into helping him coach his then-girlfriend’s sorority flag football team (I played center); Brad is also one of Sean’s law partners.  In short, Brad is family, through and through.

But until fairly recently, Brad was a bit of a dog.  I have always loved him dearly, but I would never in a million years have set him up with any girl that I actually liked.  A woman in the town in which we live once inquired about him, clearly interested.  My response was “Run like the wind.  You want absolutely nothing to do with him.”  I never got very attached to his girlfriends because I knew they were short-lived even if they weren’t aware of that fact themselves.  Whenever Brad was in the phase of reeling them in he’d tell us that “Class Act Brad” was in the house, meaning that he was on his best behavior, being thoughtful and charming.  You know what I mean – remember those halcyon days when your husband wouldn’t break wind in front of you? 

Anyway, my Verve stamps are my “Class Act Stamps” – they’re very elegant, and they make me think.  They push me out of my comfort zone (no cartoon characters!) and make me want to be a better stamper in order to do them justice.

And Brad?  Since he’s been with Kristi (his wife of almost three years), he’s become one with Class Act Brad.  I’m hoping that by designing with Verve and continually challenging myself to use Verve's stamps in ways that are true to my playful style and yet complementary to Verve's sophisticated essence, that I might become one with the Class Act stamper in me.

Supplies used -- Stamps: Father Figure by Verve Visual; Paper: Old Olive(SU!), Barn Red, Bamboo (Close To My Heart), striped patterned paper by Adornit by Carolee's Creations; Ink: Old Olive (SU!), Barn Red (CTMH); Accessories: sewing machine, brads, Dimensionals, sanding block for distressing, ribbon (SU!)

And if you've read this far?  You deserve something special, so I'm going to give a head's up on an opportunity I know you won't want to miss: my pal Jody is having a Sticky Sale that I promise you is to die for.  She showed me some of these amazing... thing-ys last weekend, and I fell in love.  If there's one thing I've learned since getting to know Jody, if she tells me "This is cool.  You want this," I'm there. 
She has never, ever steered me wrong, though there have been times when I've ignored her good advice to my later chagrin.  For example, I asked her on a past ribbon share what I needed to order.  She recommended the wide satin ribbon.  I said "Um, no, too fancy for me."  Then she sent me a RAK with a little tin using some, and I 're-purposed' it on a card and LOVED it.  I've ordered two shares of it since then and learned the lesson that when Jody speaks, I listen.  As for the stickies, I'm ordering the whole shebang myself, so I am definitely putting my money where my big fat mouth is!  Go there now and thank me later -- Jody's shares are always  da bomb diggity.

 

Comments

[Julee Tilman]

This is totally awesome! Love the blocking, and your Class Act story was most amusing! ;) I think you do fabulous work for all three of your DT's.

[Dawn Easton]

Love the card Carole! I'm adoring those Verve Visual stamps too! The stamp blocking you did was a fantastic idea to showcase them all!
LOL @ your stories...they always make me smile!
Have yourself a fabulous Mother's Day!

[Shannan Teubner]

Love this and the "Class Act" story. LOL

[Kathleen]

I really love this one---and I must say, I love how your stamping world and personal world collide on your blog. I feel like a know you a bit and we may likely never meet. Thanks for the time it takes to share your creations!

[jenn]

I love this - and can totally *hear* you . . . and wish MY husband was off in Vegas, too! I could use some me time! :)

[Janine]

This is a wonderful card Carole. The layout and ribbon is fantastic!!

[Jessie/Knightrone]

Super cute card and I hope you have fun tomorrow night!!Happy Mother's Day!

[Carolyn King]

this is totally a class act card--i love it.

Happy Mother's Day! Off to check out jody's fabulous finds!

[joslyn]

i also love a guy that appreciates a card with ribbon. i have trained my DH to eww and aww on the ribbon.

[Viv (VivLyn)]

Great card and I love your stories!! They are well worth the read! I agree with you on Jody's shares! I just ordered bunches from her sticky share! I love her ribbon shares too! Hope you got a nice surprise from Vegas and you enjoyed your evening with Bill Cosby! Sounds like fun!!

[shel9999]

This card is indeed a Class Act! LOVE the blocks, the stitching, the brads...and I love your stories. :)

[Libby]

This card is fantastic - I can agree that ribbon has no gender, but I can't seem to help but make it look girlie - you used it perfectly on this card! I love all you've done with Verve stamps, so I guess you're already a Class Act in my book. ;-) Ok off to check out the stickies on Jody's blog now, since I do whatever Carole tells me......! ;-)