Oo, excellent challenge at this week's The Male Room #113 - a cooking or baking theme!  I know my sweetie is a master griller - that boy can cook!
This card is kind of a joke about something that happened here recently - a neighbor had a little trouble with a grill fire next door while we were out in the pool, and hubby ran over to help calm the inferno real quick - I've been teasing him ever since, lol.  I figured I would use the Apron of Love for this card, but then I got the idea to use the Everyday Hero set, and gave him a grill toll instead, lol.  We all need a grill hero sometimes!
Everyday Hero & Calling All Heroes Stamp Sets (both retired); Whisper White, Silver Foil, Crumb Cake & Night of Navy CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Smoky Slate & Crushed Curry Inks; Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Nude & Cajun Craze Blends Markers; Apron Builder Framelits; #TMR113.

With their usual perfect timing, SU Only #201 has a masculine/Father's Day challenge for us this week - excellent!
For this one, I couldn't resist grabbing my Everyday Hero set off the shelf when I was working on yesterday's Retro Rubber card - another fun guy set that just didn't get enough catty-time, so far as I'm concerned, lol.  And I LOVE that this set has male AND female heroes, lol.  Today, though, it's all about the dude!  I wanted to take a few of our new colors out for a spin, too - surprisingly, Balmy Blue is growing on me, how about that! 
Yay, Daddy (that's a our daddy pep rally cry around here, lol), you're the best - always! 
Everyday Hero Stamp Set (retired-2017); Balmy Blue, Merry Merlot, Gray Granite & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue & Merry Merlot Inks; #SUO201.

2018 New Catty Intro Class June 16!
Woo hoo!  It's new catalog time!  Come on out for an introduction to fun new products and colors, and new toys to boot!  This class will focus on 5 new suites of products from our just released 2018-19 Idea Book and Catalog, with all-occasion cards you will love!  Class includes all your supplies (bring your own snips and fave adhesive), plus snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your purchase of $30 or more!  RSVP today to save your spot! Class is still on for Saturday, June 16 at 3 pm - let me know if you can make it, or need to make it up now that summer's here!

Super excited by another collection challenge at As You See It #177 - this one for the guys!
With the tree part of the collection, it just seemed natural to pull out our awesome new Rooted in Nature set, and some Wood Texture DSP to go with, lol.  I tried to sneak in the other elements, and play with shapes and layering a little.  Last of all, the UPS man came and brought my last order for me, which had my new Basics Adhesive Sequins - I thought these looked kind of Crumb Cake-y, so I added a few of those, too!  Woo hoo!
Rooted in Nature & Thoughtful Banners Stamp Sets; Wood Textures DSP; Whisper White, Night of Navy & Crumb Cake CS; Night of Navy & Crumb Cake Inks; Nature's Roots & Stitched Shapes Framelits; Linen Thread; Basics Adhesive Sequins; #AYSI177.

2018 New Catty Intro Class June 14 & 16!
Woo hoo!  It's new catalog time!  Come on out for an introduction to fun new products and colors, and new toys to boot!  This class will focus on 5 new suites of products from our just released 2018-19 Idea Book and Catalog, with all-occasion cards you will love!  Class includes all your supplies (bring your own snips and fave adhesive), plus snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your purchase of $30 or more!  RSVP today to save your spot! Class is on for Thursday, June 14 at 630 pm, or Saturday, June 16 at 3 pm - let me know if you can make it, or need to make it up now that summer's here!

We're trying something a little new over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday today - just in time to kick off June, we're doing a little "man card" blog hop for you to enjoy!  I've repeated the links list below, so you can hop along and celebrate the guys with us!
For mine, I decided to show off an alternative card for the latest Paper Pumpkin kit - Manly Moments.  How could I not go for it with a title like that??  I ruthlessly scavenged some parts from the kit to make this new set of layers on my own card base, and used some of the leavings to create a stencil for my envelope front (even manly cards can't have naked envelopes, lol.)  I added some old Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, and some old dark gray sequins to go with the touches of silver from the kit.  Pretty, but manly, too, lol.  The Pumpkin lives!  Now hop along to Sara for some more dude-ness!
Manly Moments Paper Pumpkin; plus, Gray Granite CS; Mossy Meadow Ink; Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon (retired); Dark Gray Sequins; #TSOTMasculineHop.

Love the simple elegance of this layout from Case This Sketch #270!  I think it'll be great for In{k}spire Me #349's Mothers' or Fathers' Day challenge!
I decided to take on Father's Day for this one, and I wanted to try something punny that's been brewing in my mind for a bit, lol.  One of my fave sheets in the gorgeous Tutt-Frutti DSP pack is the rich and yummy papaya sheet - YUM!  And hey, "papaya" has "papa" in it, hmmm.  Thus this card was born.  Sorry, blame it on Dad Jokes!  Happy Father's Day, baby!
Labeler Alphabet & Dad Jokes (inside); Stamp Sets; Tutti Frutti DSP; Whisper White, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie & Sahara Sand CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Black Sequins; #CTS270; #IM349.

Picnic With You & Barn Door Class May 10 & 12
For the month of May, we're thinking picnics and farm trips with our gorgeous Picnic With You & Barn Door bundles!  These sets really made me think of summer days to come, so I figured we could get ready now!  This class will feature three picnic cards and two barn door cards, and will include all your supplies, drinks, snacks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  Class is on for Thursday, May 10 at 630 pm, or Saturday, May 12 at 3 pm.  RSVP today to save your spot!

We have a lovely iconic sketch from In{k}spire Me #334 today!
I decided to yuk it up today, and Dad Jokes was just right for it, lol.  I can't decide which is funnier - the "cheesiness" of the jokes, or the fact that I've heard every single one of these from my own Dad.  Or that our daughter now gets to enjoy them from her own father (Love you, hungry!)  I tried to go with pizza colors, kinda, but in general, I kept it pretty low-key.  I think I pulled it off - this is not an image heavy set, as it rightly focuses on the corn-ball, lol...
Dad Jokes Stamp Set; Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, So Saffron & Crumb Cake CS; Misc Garden Green DSP Scrap; Early Espresso, So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler & Garden Green Inks; Layering Ovals Framelits; Cherry Cobbler Sequins; #IM334.

Stamp Ink Paper #102's masculine challenge is perfect timing for Father's Day!  I bet I can make it manly with this layout from Freshly Made Sketch #291, too!
Today I settled on a little blend of old and new - my trusty Guy Greetings hasn't seen ink in a bit, and my new Tree Rings background stamp was giving me the hairy eyeball from my desk.  So it just had to be, lol!  I'm not sure that I've ever stamped this car from Guy Greetings, and while I initially planned to use the awesome truck from Country Livin', it was just too big.  But it turns out I love this car, too!  This will be a great Father's Day card for my Dad, and that's the greeting I put inside!  Note:  do I get strokes for refraining from adding sparkle or frippery?  I better!
Guy Greetings & Tree Rings Stamp Sets; Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White CS; Early Espresso, Cajun Craze & Crumb Cake Inks; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Blender Pen (on the Tree Rings); #SIP102; #FMS291.

At last!  I have a chance to play at What Would You Stamp #118 - Urban District!  Yay!!  I think I'll try it with this fun new sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday #324!
It was totally a natural fit to bring in my Urban Underground DSP to go with this card - which will be perfect for my own Dad, of course!  I love the patterns and embellies for this suite, but it's a pretty narrow color array!  It's hardly noticeable that I snuck in Smoky Slate, too, is it?  Still, I'm so sorry we didn't get to keep this suite in the new catty - between this and Nailed It, we finally had some solid "man-stamps!"
Urban District (retired) Stamp Set; Urban Underground DSP (retired); Delightful Dijon (retired), Smoky Slate & Very Vanilla CS; Basic Gray Ink; Layering Circles & Build It (retired) Framelits; Urban Embellishments (retired); #WWYS118; #TSOT324.

New Catty Preview Class June 8 & 10!
Can you believe it's that time of year again?!  Our new 2017 Idea Book & Catalog is HERE and LIVE, and this is your chance to sample some of our wonderful new goodies right out of the gate!  $25 will cover all the supplies you need for our exciting new projects (bring your own snips and adhesive!), plus drinks and snacks, and a special gift from me!  This class could also be FREE with an order of $30 or more!  RSVP today!
So, class will be held Thursday, June 8 at 630 pm, or Saturday, June 10 at 3 pm - can't wait to see you!

Here's a pretty bubbly sketch from In{k}spire Me #294!  I'm going to toss in this manly color challenge from Global Design Project #81, too!
Since I was already thing "manly" colors, I hit up my manly stamp sets, lol.  Nailed It rose to the top, yuck, yuck, and also gave me the chance to go rogue on the suggested shapes, one of my fave sketch things to do, right?  My layering is a little out of order, but I still had a blast coloring away, and then using the awesome framelits that go with this set.  I've also finally learned to not go crazy with the glue on the "ruler" diecuts, just dot it on the solid spots, since that die DOES actually cut all the way through for the markings, sigh.  That only took me three or four tries, lol.
Nailed It Stamp Set; Smoky Slate, Night of Navy & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Night of Navy & Smoky Slate Inks; Build It Framelits; Night of Navy & Smoky Slate Candy Dots (retired); #IM294; #GDP81.

Dragonfly Dreams Class April 13 & 15!
Finally!  Time to play with the gorgeous new Dragonfly Dreams suite from our 2017 Occasions Catalog - have you seen those amazing thinlits??  We'll be making five all-occasion cards, and using some fun techniques while we're at it!  $25 will cover all your supplies (bring your own snips and adhesive!), plus drinks and snacks, and a bonus treat from me, or class can be FREE with an order of $30 or more!  Class will be held Thursday, April 13 at 630 pm, or Saturday , April 15 at 3 pm.   RSVP today to save your spot!

Yay - it's time for Pumpkin Day again over at MPC0616-All About the Guys!  This week I'm also using this sketch from TGIF #59!
I can't seem to get enough of this new In Color, Dapper Denim!  I think it's perfectly named, because I think of it as a very comfortable blue, lol.  Today it seemed just right for a little stenciling background for my Layered Letters "Dad" - another comfie word, lol.
Make sure to stop by My Pumpkin Challenge - we love seeing your ideas!
Many Manly Occasions Paper Pumpkin; plus, Layered Letters Stamp Set; Crumb Cake, Dapper Denim & Whisper White CS; Dapper Denim & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; White Jute & Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbons; Dapper Denim Enamel Shapes.