Two Utopiary Masculine Cards

What a gloomy, windy, thoroughly horrible day today!  It made me feel quite miserable so some stamping therapy was in order.  I went to check out today's Splitcoast Stampers F4A50 Free For All challenge and it seemed perfect for me to ink up some new stamps.  It's an Almost Monochrome challenge - we were to use white or vanilla CS, one other neutral colour CS, one other colour of CS and any stamping had to be done in the same colour ink.  It has only just occurred to me that I've actually added two other neutrals, not  just one 'cos I've used Chocolate Chip as my one other colour, d'oh! 

I got this Inkadinkado Utopiary clear set recently.  The large tree image struck me as a great image to use on masculine cards.  Closer inspection reveals this is quite a curious image - at the bottom there are butterflies which are not terribly masculine.  Also, they look like they're heading underground, how odd!  You can click the photo to see a larger view of the card.  Anyway, it's still a fabulous image despite this oddity.

My card measures 15cms square (approx. 4 3/4") and was made with Crumb Cake CS.  All stamping and sponging was done with Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  I stamped the woodgrain as a background.  I had to stamp it twice to cover the entire card front - using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig with a large background stamp is a tad challenging!  I used plain and lacey square Nestie dies for the layers and added brads to the corners.  Circle punches were used for my sentiment and I added a button threaded with linen thread.

I also used the Utopiary set and lacey square dies to make this thank you card a couple of days ago.  Hmmm, lacey squares are not terribly masculine I suppose, but you've got to use any new goodies immediately - right?!  To make the card, I die cut two of the largest lacey squares, added a score line to the one for the back and glued the two die cuts together.  I love this bird bath image, all those flourishes lend a real sense of movement.  I stamped it with Gingerbread ink and then added Jumbo Java just around the edges.  I stamped the sentiment in Old Olive ink and sponged the panel with olive ink too.  I added vintage brads and popped up the brown layer.  I gave this to hubby 'cos he helped me hugely when I cleared out, tidied, reorganised and cleaned my craft room, bless his heart.   

Supplies for tree card:
Stamps: Inkadinkado Utopiary clear set, Hero Arts Design Block Designer Woodgrain background stamp, SU! Best Yet set
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Tools: Square & Lacey Square Nestabilities dies, SU! 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle punches, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Embellishments & accessories: Brads, button, SU! Linen Thread

Supplies for bird bath card:
Stamps: Inkadinkado Utopiary clear set, SU! Thank You Kindly set
CS: SU! Confetti White & Old Olive, Core'dinations Chocolate Mousse
Ink: VersaMagic Gingerbread & Jumbo Java chalk inks, SU! Old Olive
Tools: Square & Lacey Square Nestabilities dies
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Vintage brads, 3d foam tape