Blogaversary and Mail for a Male!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday. It's my ONE YEAR Blogaversary!! Can you believe it??? I cannot believe that one year ago today I sat down with my computer and decided to jump into this thing called blogging. Wow has it changed my life and my stamping (all for the better)!

First I have a special project to share with you for My Time Made Easy - THEN I'll share a special "sweet treat" that YOU have a chance to win so stay with me....

Do you ever struggle to make cards for the males in your life  - be they husbands, sons, dads, brothers, nephews, uncles, grandpas or even male co-workers or bosses? Well I am always on the look out for good male ideas and decided to challenge myself to make this particular gift set with a male recipient in mind... so I am pleased to present You've Got Mail for a Male :-) *giggle*

Do you love argyle? Argyle reminds me of my grandpa's sweater... I started out with Lauren's new fabulous stamp set called Argyle Amazement. I love background stamp sets where I can build an unlimited number of backgrounds and patterns. We've been so busy with this release that I have not had time to play with this set as much as I want but I know it will be a set I reach for over and over. I used it extensively in this gift set - how fun it was to coordinate all my pieces. :-)

I started with the card - I picked a couple of favorite colors I use when making a male card - blue and brown and green. I created my pattern and stamped up a sheet of CS. I assembled a pretty basic card layout because I wanted to use the mailbox stamps from the MTME set called You've Got Mail. The post office box stamp became my focal point and all I needed was a snippet of ribbon and a few buttons to complete the card. (oh yes and a little vintage ink for the edges.)

 

Here's the inside - it was every bit as much fun to make as the outside!

Once my card was done I started on the You've Got Mail template. I cut the template on solid cardstocks with my Cricut using my Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) Software. If you own a Cricut you will WANT AND NEED the SCAL software - you can get it from Canda Crafts and this week she has a coupon for 10% off your entire purchase - the code is Feb14 so check it out! Next I stamped the same patterns from my card onto the mat layers and the front layer. I assembled the You've Got Mail box but kept the embellishments pretty simple. I keep trying to get a reading on this from my DH - he thinks less is more... so that's what I went with for this template. Just a little bit of ribbon and a button (on top).

This template is pretty generous inside - I was able to tuck in a cellophane gift bag with some tea bags and chocolates along with some small but matching note cards - This gift set was designed with my boss in mind - a nice cuppa tea when the job stress is too much and a bite of chocolate at the end of a long day... and he loves to leave small notes of encouragement for each of us from time to time so these tiny notes are just right for him... and they match the rest of the "Just a Note" theme...

Here's a close up of the note cards - not a lot of space but enough to write a few words of encouragement or kudos.

SO - what do you think? Would this work as a gift set for a special male in your life? My DH really likes this gift set and he thought the argyle was a great masculine touch. I hope he's not just saying that to be agreeable LOL.

NOW  - I mentioned that it's my blogaversary.... there are so many aspects of this that humble and amaze me - over over 170 posts written, 117 followers !!!! *thank you**, more than 32,000 hits on my blog (since I actually started keeping track). In honor of this occasion I would like to offer up a special treat for one lucky someone. To qualify for my random drawing please leave me a comment telling me what you like best about "blurfing" (blog surfing) stampin' blogs.  You do not have to be a follower of mine to qualify to win BUT as a special thank you to those of you who ARE my followers already - I will enter your name a second time into the drawing if you leave me a comment. If you like what you see on my blog I hope you'll continue to come back. :-)

I still remember when I got my first comment and I still remember the feeling when I got my first follower! I try to visit as many of your blogs as I can when as well. THANK YOU for your support, your interest and your encouragement! You are all winners in my book. SO - here's my blogaversary gift to ONE of you...

PLUS

A few items from some of my favorite companies -  Gina K Designs, Spellbinders, Verve, and Tim Holtz AND one I am also including a $25 gift certificate to Lauren Meader's My Time Made Easy store so you can choose something special for yourself!

You have until Saturday, February 13th 11:00 PM CST to leave your comment then I will draw the lucky winner on Sunday, February 14th first thing in the morning.  Thank you again for helping this year be memorable and amazing. The people I have met (yes some in real life now), the growth I have seen in my own stamping, and the inspiration I receive in return...
well, it's all good! :-)

Hugs n smiles and good luck,