Vintage Masculine Card + Free Tips

Hello there, how are you doing today? I hope very well. Have you ever felt so blessed that it's almost overwhelming? I did last week. It was my birthday, and my friends, extended family, husband, and son just poured their love on me. I received so many amazing messages that truly blessed my weekend. God is awesome like that. He places people in our lives who can do and/or say things to make us feel really special, doesn't He? So I decided that I wanted to be a blessing in someone's life too. One way I can do that is to make some greeting cards, put in a cute box and give to someone just because. The card I'm posting today is one of them.

Supplies I used for this card
Paper: White, wood brown, cream cardstock, sand cream silk paper ("accordion"folded)
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine, gift tag die, wood embossing folder, brown fine point marker, 3D adhesive foam (for clock sticker)
Stamps: text background (The Journey- Tim Holtz), Happy Birthday (Stampabilities)
Ink: Espresso, black
Embellishments: Fabric self-adhesive patterned tape, brown and withe twine, gift tag, antique clock sticker, chain used in mini key-chains.

Tips: 
1. use an ink pad to distress the sides and corners of card and tag
2. when stamping the background on tag, stamp a paper first then stamp the tag. You want to have that 'fading' effect.
3. with fine point marker, write over a couple of words of the background stamp

Thank you so much for stopping by. You too make me feel special when you take time to read my blog.

Vanías Reed  

Father's Day Card with Free Tutorial

Father's Day 2015 is almost here, which means that half of the year is gone. Wow!  Hobby Lobby even has Fall and Christmas crafts items out already. Can someone please slow down the time? Hahahahaha. I wish. Anyway, jokes aside, I wanted to make a card for someone really special: my sister's father-in-law. He and his wife embraced my husband, my son, and me as if we were part of their family. They call our son grandson, and he calls them Nanny and Papa. So here is the card I made for Papa for Father's Day, and the link to the video with measurements to make a s-shaped card. 

 Supplies used for this card
Paper: Brown and white cardstock
Tools: Embossing machine, deep stripes embossing folder (The Paper Studios), computer, and printer
Embellishments: "screws" - I used black and silver fine tip gel pens to draw the screws holding the signs 'Papa you are a classic'

Card completely open

Find the video-tutorial for the s-shaped card here

My Dad went to heaven 22 years ago, but my family and I have been blessed enough having someone like my sister's father-in-law to celebrate Father's Day with. If you have your father still, make sure to let him know how important and special he is. If not, make a card for a father who doesn't have his kids anymore.

Thank you for stopping by, and may God bless you and yours.

Vanías Reed   

Gifts or gift cards? (Part 2)

Yesterday I talked about how I prefer to get a gift card over a gift that has no meaning to me. By the way, what do you write on a thank you note when you get a gift that you don't like? Feel free to answer to that in the comment space below(smile). The gift card holder idea I'm posting today is for a masculine one, which can be used as a greeting card too. How clever is that? Here it is.

 As you can see, I used the same technique for the card holder itself.

Here you can see I stamped a birthday message to turn my gift card holder into a Birthday card.

Supplies Used

Paper: Dark blue, black and white cardstock paper

Tools: Embossing/cutting machine, top note die, large and medium oval punches, 1/16in circle punch, scorer board

Stamp: Birthday sentiment phrase (cover), Birthday message

Ink: black

Embellishment: white and black ribbon

Thank you for stopping by. I wish you a wonderfully blessed day.

Vanías Reed   

Fathers Day

I cannot believe it's almost June, and Fathers Day is just around the corner. Amazing how time has flown by. Fathers day is a bittersweet day for me. I enjoy celebrating it because of my husband and the wonderful relationship he has with our son, but I miss my Dad a lot too. The good news is that one day I will see him again. Not because I deserve it or because I'm a good person. But because my Heavenly Father sent His only Son to die on the cross for me. Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay. You see, sin created this huge gap between God, who is holy and perfect, and us - sinners and therefore imperfect. Jesus is the bridge that covers that gap, and ONLY THROUGH HIM we can reach God again. When I was 13, I accepted this amazing gift God offered me - a relationship with him through Jesus. On that day I was adopted by Him, and He became my heavenly Father. Now I can have the certainty of seeing my Dad again because he made that decision too. We both have Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We both are going to be in our heavenly Father's presence one day, and we are going to enjoy each other again too. Meanwhile, I'll keep celebrating Fathers Day with my husband, and making cards for him like this one.

Supplies used
Paper: Brown, olive green, off white and black cardstock
Tools: round corner punch, computer, printer, precision scissors
Stamps: 'Moments in Time', and background text (Stampabilities)
Ink: Black
Embellishments: Medium and small brown pearls, pocket watch, light brown twine, man and boy silhouette (I found this online, printed it and pasted it on black cardstock), sticker letters.

I hope you can celebrate Fathers Day with your Dad, but most of all, I hope God has become your heavenly Father. If not, you can always go to him, ask him to forgive you for your wrong choices, accept that Jesus is His Son and only way to get to Him, and ask Him to be your Savior. If you have any questions, you can email me, or leave me a message on my Facebook page (same name as this blog). 

Happy Fathers Day. Many blessings unto you.

Vanias Reed  

Masculine Card with Tips

Today I'm posting a birthday card that I made for a dear friend of ours. If you want a masculine card, this is it. (wink and smile).

 Supplies used
Paper: White and aqua card stock, plaid wrapping paper
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine, scalloped and plain oval dies, computer, printer, bone folder, eyelet settler, 1/4" circle foam mounting
Embellishments: Burlap ribbon, twine, buttons, buck sticker, eyelets, sentiment phrase

 Tips

My tips for you today are:
1. Use different material on your card. On this one I used wrapping paper on the bottom,  and a bone folder to score the aqua card stock giving the impression of embossing.
2. Change the sentiment phrase and turn this card into a Father's Day card.

Thank you for stopping by. May God pour His blessing unto you. 

Vanias Reed  

Fathers Day 3 - Simple

Sometimes we think that we need a lot to make the ones we love happy. But actually, most of the times, a simple gesture will do. Spend time and effort doing something for your Dad. Take out the trash, get the mail, cook his favorite meal, make a card, write him a note telling him how much you appreciate everything he has done for you... The possibilities are endless. You can do something simple, as long as it has meaning. Here is a card that is easy to make, and you can use it to express your love to your Father.

 Supplies used:
Paper: Maroon, white, light blue card stock.
Tools: white and silver pens, hole punchers, eyelet settler, glue
Embellishments: eyelets, decorative sticker with the word Father

I'm hoping you checked my blog out to make a special Fathers Day card for your Dad. 

Thank you 

Vanias Reed   

Fathers Day 2- A family Man

I was blessed with a father who was a family man. My Dad enjoyed staying home with his family. I remember him playing with  my youngest sister and me  when we were children.  I also remember laughing, laughing a lot for several little funny things that he did or said. I am so thankful for everything I learned from my Dad. I'm from the time when parents didn't have to be afraid of disciplining their children. So I thank God for every single 'spanking' because they taught me that my Father loved me enough to correct me when I did something wrong, and to teach me what was right. My Dad also cooked. He would prepare from simple homemade meals to the weirdest smoothies ever, which my sister and I would drink early in the morning before going to school. My Dad was a man of God, a police officer, and definitely a family man. It was inspired my him that I made the card I'm posting today.

 Card 'Recipe'
Paper: Maroon, dark beige, white and black card stock, green paper and white quilling strips.
Tools: Embossing/cutting machine (Sizzix Bigkick), oval cutting die, 1" and 1/4"  circle punch, quilling tool, light blue colored pencil, precision scissors and craft glue.
Embellishment: 'Family Man' sticker, letters, silver pearl

I really hope you make a special card for your Dad and/or for your husband, if you have kids. You don't need to spend a ton of money to tell the people you love how special they are. Most of all, spend time with them. Memories are not made by what we have, but by those moments we spend with the special people God put in our lives.

Thank you so much for stopping by. God bless you.

Vanias Reed      

 

Fathers Day 1

While vacationing in Brazil, I could spend some time with my family and friends. One person I miss like crazy and can't spend time with is my Dad. He has been enjoying heaven since 1993. But because Jesus died for me on the cross, and I gave my life to him, I know for sure I will spend time with my Dad again someday. Meanwhile I'll treasure the memories I have, and I'll keep thanking God for my Dad and for my husband, who is a great Daddy to our son. So in celebration of Father's Day, I will post some cards here for you.

 Here is the list of material I used:
Paper: grey, black and white card stock (Paper Studio), leftover pieces of paper for the ties
Tools: a paper clip for the hanger, pliers, white thread, a needle, ruler, pencil, black fine point pen and glue
Embellishments: hanger, ties and sticker letters for the word Father

How to make a hanger from a paper clip

For this step you will need the pliers

Here is the template for the ties:

Just right click on the picture, print it and cut the little tie as a pattern

Celebrate Fathers Day. Treasure each moment with your Dad. Make him a special card.  

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed