Masculine challenge winners...

Sorry to disappear on you all in the midst of all of our guy themed projects!  I really didn't mean to leave you all in suspense.  It seems I'm having the hardest time adjusting to summer and all of the busyness that comes with having all three kids home, running them to and fro, watching ball games and taking them for dips in the pool.  Add that on to some extra special activities this week... like getting my wisdom teeth pulled, having some crazy bad storms and getting water in our basement.  Yeah...fun stuff like that.

BUT, anyways.  Ready to move on.  A big THANK YOU to all of you who played along with my challenges last week!  I said I would pick a favorite project from my Men's Wear challenge and send them a copy of the newest Card Creations Vol 8.  Well....this was really tough, but I think I'm gonna have to go with Colleen's beautiful card...

I just love the grey and black with the kraft...such a COOL combo.  And the way she made floral masculine?  Just plain inspiring!  And the label shape trimmed in half to create a pocket?  Well, that's just too clever.  Awesome card, Colleen!  E-mail me your address using the link on the left and I'll get your free issue on its way to you!

Now, for the color inspiration shout-outs!  I mentioned that I would feature my three favorite projects from my color inspiration post here on the blog...so here they are!

I loved Carla G's card...she was the only one who worked with this color combo and I just love the way her card turned out!  That white woodgrain embossing is just fabulous and she add just the right touches to make this card a stand out!

 

Next is Julie with this simple and striking card (do you suppose I have a thing for embossed woodgrain???).  The blue mats really set off the green and I love the way everything is so clean and clear and striking!  

 

And last, but certainly not least is Marueen.  This is just plain and simply a great masculine card!  The twine add just that perfect little touch and I love the way she even used the strips of color in the color sample as the inspiration for her card's design.  way cool! 

And I can't leave you without a project!  My grandma asked me to make some thank you cards for her...and since her name is Violet, how could I resist using Papertrey's Year of Flowers: Violet?  I actually made two different sets and let her choose...I'll share the other set another time, but this is the one that I really felt was more her style and of course, was the set she chose. 

 

I stamped the violets in Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, and Spring Rain inks.  The leaves were stamped with Spring Moss.  The chose assorted tone-on-tone cream patterned papers as the backgrounds.

The sentiment is from Friends til the End and that pretty frame is Recipe Box label...it's always been one of my favorites.

 

I made a dozen of them and they look so pretty all tied together in a bundle.  Sometimes it is soothing to create in bulk, isn't it?  It's so satisfying to see them all stacked up and pretty.  It even inspired me to do a little blog make-over.  Not sure I'm sold on it yet, but I'll do a little more tweaking...pardon my mess as I work on a few things! 

 

Stamps:  Year of Flowers: Violet, Recipe Box Label, Friends til the End
Ink:  Dark Chocolate, Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, Spring Rain
Cardstock:  Rustic Cream
Other:  Rustic buttons, Rustic Cream button twine, Basic Grey Wisteria patterned papers, Fiskars border punch