Totally Tools Swap Card

Next Saturday (4/18) I'll be attending an event hosted by my up-up-upline. It's her annual Spring Fling.....a really great, fun-filled event. The day will be packed with stamping, ideas, loads of information and business tips, stamping friends, and of course, swaps! Since I really needed to get started on the swaps for this event, and I had a brand new set, Totally Tools sitting on my desk top, that's what I reached for. Naturally, that meant I needed to design a masculine card....not the easiest to be sure!

Just this week I joined in an awesome on-line group that has tons of amazing talent, AND quite a few challenges. The first one I saw for the week was a color challenge: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, and Vanilla. These colors work so well together! So, that color combo, along with the set, were the inspiration for my swap card....and my entry for the Challenge!

Now, mind you, man cards need to be fairly simple.....the plainer, the better! No bows. No frills. So, what to do?!! After trying various layouts, this first card is what I came up with.....it features a pretty basic, old-tried-and-true layout, dressed up. Not sure if you can see it on screen, but the bottom portion, the Baja Breeze section was run through my Textuz plates, and kind of resembles the old Weathered Bkgrd stamp. After fiddling and playing I was kind of happy with it....but, boy! I was having a very tough time coming up with this "man card!" You see, it was kind of like a "limited supply" swap....I don't have enough DSP, OR enough embellishments to add in for the number of swaps I'm planning to make....Not many this time around, just about 40ish.

So, Sample #1 features 3 punches, the blender pen, some ribbon, some stamping, and that luscious wide ribbon....and lots of layers! Hmmm.....a bit too labor intensive for a general swap! So, this 2nd photo is the finished swap idea. Plain and simple, with some sponging.....and something I think my husband might actually really enjoy!

In view of the amazing talent in the new group I've joined, I'm almost embarassed to link them to this post! BUT, this is truly a very easily duplicate-able card; and in view of the limited amount of time I have left, this has to do double duty. Now I just hope they won't decide to ask me to leave!! Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Totally Tools, Sanded

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa (for sponging)

CS: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Natural Ivory

Misc: Blender Pen, Wide Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Staples (local office supply), Sponge

Version #1 uses all the above. Additional items used:

Hoizontal Slot Punch, Ticket Punch