Less is More - Week 7 - For the Guys

This is week seven for the Less is More Challenge.  I was confident that I could whip out a CAS card in no time at all.  I mean, really, all we're doing is a masculine card.  I can do that.  Well, after four completed cards, I finally got one I like.  I think I stated at blah for this first card:

I used a Flourishes map stamp for this card and a sentiment from the same set.

My second card is not much better...still a little blah....

For this one I used another Flourishes stamp - the leaves.  The green square is just stamped with a distress ink pad.  The sentiment if from Papertrey Ink.  Added a couple of mats and tied a knot with some green ribbon.

Moving on to the the third card.....Once again I used a Flourishes stamp.  I stamped the silhouette in versamark and memento black, then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I brayered the sunset and the water (first time I've tried to use my brayer).  When I finished this card, I loved it...only after looking at it for a bit, I decided it wasn't CAS enough...so, moving forward, I gave it ONE. MORE. TRY.

You guessed it...another Flourishes stamp.  I sure hope this is CAS enough.  I stamped the image in memento black and colored it with a combination of Copics and Prisma pencils.  I cut the shape with my new nestabilities wonky rectangles (and I tried to used the tutorial, but for this shape, it just wouldn't work!).  I matted the stamped image with a dark blue and adhered the white to the blue with four "screw" brads.  I also drew a line behind the mug to help ground it.

On the plus side, I now have four new birthday cards for the guys in my family! So.....which card is YOUR favorite? 

I also finished a layout the other evening, and thought I go ahead and post it too.  I posted a layout  last week of the grandkids rolling down the hill...this time it's ME rolling down the hill.

I used a combination of several papers...I believe the red check is American Crafts, the green is MME, and a sheet of red card stock.  I cut the tree on my Silhouette from white card stock and colored it with my Copic markers.  The leaves were also cut with the Silhouette.  I added a bit of doodled grass on the bottom, then stamped a few flowers, colored them with Copics, cut them out and pop dotted them on the bottom.  Small title letters are some old sticker letters from my stash and the "Roll" is foam letters.  I didn't really leave anywhere on the front to add journaling, but I did add it to the back of the layout.  The journaling reads:

At 58 years old, I actually rolled down the hill by the pool! I still can’t believe that I actually let you all talk me into it! This lapse of judgment on my part and my awkward rolling was definitely not one of my most elegant moments. For some reason, the hill didn’t look all that steep when I was helping you all roll down the hill, but the minute I lay down at the top of the hill, I knew it was probably a mistake. When I finally stopped rolling, I realized that I had almost rolled over Allen. Your Grandpa came running out of the house in a panic because he was afraid I would break a bone. I did it without breaking a bone, but I paid dearly for it the next day. I was so sore I could barely move! I must admit, it was kind of fun…but I don’t think I’ll be trying it again! You kids probably won’t remember this day, so I’m glad we have the photos as proof!  October 11, 2008

That's it for today....Thanks so much for stopping by! I truly appreciate all the wonderful comments! Until next time....

Hugs!