Happy Friday, everyone.  Today we wrap up our “Man Week” by focusing on teen and young adult guys. I find this to be the toughest type of card to make.  But I hope today inspires you!

We’ll start off with Shari Carroll who has two BIG sons, Brooks 22 (next week), and Scooter 20.  They have watched her stamp for most of their lifetime. In fact, Shari started stamping on her due date with Scooter.  She asked both boys to tell her what stamps they like most and to make something with them.

Brooks is a naturalist so he chose stamps related to his passions which include the environment, composting, recycling, gardening, etc. He chose the Antique Brocade, Scattered Leaves and Bird Branch Alphabet.

And here’s what Brooks came up with using his choice of stamps.  I love how he mixed his ink colors on the Antique Brocade image.  Shari said he cleaned up after himself when he was done, impressive!!!

Supplies

• Antique Brocade Cling
• Scattered Leaves
• Bird Branch Alphabet
• Chocolates and Blueberries Chalk Queue
• Pumpkin Patch Chalk Queue
• Kraft Notecards
• Other: cardstock

And now we have Scooter who is actually part of the Hero Arts team - he creates the brush files for Shari’s digital kits so they are compatible with most software programs.  A digital kit is not complete without his help!  It was only natural for Scooter to choose digital stamping, and when asked for his favorites, the first thing out of his mouth was “Those Owls!”, along with the Friends Definition and Pinstripes and Dots.

Scooter usually works in Photoshop Elements but jumped onto his mom’s laptop to check out Photoshop CS3 and to create his card.  He used all the images as is from the kits except for resizing a bit.

Check it out! I think he did an awesome job!

Supplies

• Woodcut Owls Digital Kit
• FREE Friends Definition Digital Kit
• Pinstripes and Dots Digital Kit
• Other: Photoshop CS3

Next, Aaron (our CEO) asked some of his family friends about their favorite stamps.  It is interesting to hear what these young guys like! First, Grant, who is 15, said he liked the Cling stamps Cupcakes, Striped Circle, Antique Brocade.  I decided to create a card with the Antique Brocade in a masculine style.  I know finding gift ideas for guys in this age range can be tough, but money always works!  This card incorporates some cash into the card design. It is held in place with paperclips.  Easy to do…

Supplies:

• Big Candles
• Elegant Brocade
• Artprint Brown and Black Memories Ink
• Fired Brick and Peeled Paint Distress Ink
• Kraft Notecards
• Black Pearls
• Other: Money :), Ink Blending Tool from Ranger, Copic Markers (for flame), Distress Stickles Rock Candy (for flames)

Next, Aaron asked Ian, who is 18.  He said he likes the Three Winter Trees, Winter Pine and Warm Wishes To You because they remind him of “family Christmas in the snow and winter skiing.”  Here is a card I did inspired by his choices.  White colored pencil really is great for adding snow on kraft paper.  And the snowflakes? I did those by twisting the tip of the white pencil on the card.  (You can check out the video HERE for details on doing this.)

Supplies:

• Winter Pine
  
• Holiday Sayings
  
• Black Memories Ink
• Clear Gemstones
  
• Old Paper Distress Ink
• Kraft Notecards
• Other: Prismacolor colored pencils (including white), Ink Blending Tool from Ranger

We also have some fun news for you today. Many of you know the talented Lucy Abrams.  She has been a Hero Hostess and active in our Flickr group. Well, Lucy has agreed to create some cards for us!  We are very excited.  She is going to help demonstrate how Hero Arts digital elements work so well with our stamps. I asked if she could do a card for this blog week and her creation is amazing.  Lucy, we are so happy to have you creating for us - you are a gem!

Supplies:

• Vintage Travel Digital Kit
  
• Everyday Sayings
  
• Chocolate Notecards
  
• Walnut Stain Distress Ink
  
• Other: Kraft cardstock (Bazzill), twine

I hope this week has you ready to create some cards for the men in your life.  Remember that you have until Sunday night to enter our challenge.  It is SO easy to do and we have LOTS of prizes to give out!  Click HERE for the information.

Happy Friday,

Filed under: manweek

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 4:07 am and is filed under Fun Fridays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.