It’s Masculine Week – The Open Sea and Word Play

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night.  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend – and a fabulous Mother's Day!

A couple of weeks ago I was having dinner with Brenda and Cherie.  We were talking about how difficult masculine cards are and how many of our supplies just weren't geared to creating them.  Well, that conversation stuck in my mind and I decided that the fabulous layout across at cleanandsimplestamping just seemed like an ideal one to use to make a masculine card.  That led to… well another one… and another one… and another one.

Then I decided to go one step further and make a box to put them in.  Then, of course, that meant the four I had created just weren't enough to fill the box, so I had to make a couple more!  Guess what?  That's all I made this week.  No feminine cards, no pretty cards, no pearls….. so… you are left with masculine week this week.  Which, considering Father's Day is coming up next month, is quite appropriate.

Almost all of my supplies are SU.  I do have some sentiments that are none-SU… I can never have enough sentiments.  I do have a couple of image stamps that are non-SU.  Probably about 10 in total.  This week you will see two of them.  Generally, though, they are mixed with SU sentiments and, of course, all the card stock, DSP and other accoutrement are SU.

So… let's get the guy party started.

I decided to start off focusing on the sentiment.  I so rarely have masculine thank you card on hand.  I hadn't inked up this great sentiment from the Word Play set, and decided it was time it saw a little ink love.  I combined it with my favorite Nautical Expeditions and The Open Sea.

Card supplies all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Early Espresso
• DSP: Nautical Expedition
• Stamps:  sentiment:  Word Play.  compass: The Open Sea
• Accessories:  Early Espresso satin ribbon (yep.  shudder… ribbon on a guy card… it's the only one though! and I really thought that done this way it wasn't too offensive 🙂 ).  Then, of course, I had to add some hardware.  The hardware on the compass is from the Game Spinner Hands set.  I love this with these with the compass
• Inks:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

I apologize for the photo.  It was well after 6pm when I was trying to photograph them and  
wasn't too scuccessful.  So, I will photograph the other ones again tomorrow.

However, I do have a sneak peek for you on tomorrow's card.  Promise… no ribbon on tomorrow's card!  I can't tell you how much fun I had just working on masculine cards.  There were no frilly, flowery, blingy things to distract me.  Also, this layout is awesome!  So, don't forget to come back tomorrow for the full view of guy card #2 in Masculine Week.  I will be posting a new card every night.

So, what do you think?  Lou wasn't here for me to check whether it ticked the "masculine" box or not, but I was hoping the hardware and masculine paper made up for the little bit of ribbon!

On a personal note:

Lou and I discovered a new chef.  A guy called Yotam Ottolenghi.  We had seen him on a British TV show called Master Chef.  I, must admit, I had never heard of him.  However, I am SO glad that we did.  His piece on the TV show was to challenge the contestants to make rockin' vegetarian food.  Most chefs (professional or not) get horrified at the thought.  Apparently, his column in the Guardian newspaper in Britain has caused a sensation and he has become the guru of vegetarian food.  The funny thing?  He's not even vegetarian.  However, he does have a strong mediterranean background and I decided I really needed his book.  I ordered it on amazon.co.uk and it arrived on Friday.

RACH… this is for you…. on Saturday we made a dish from the book.  The recipe was Polenta al Funghi – or Polenta with mushrooms.  I had read that his recipes were uncomplicated but delicious.  Oh, boy!  Is that the truth.  This recipe was not particularly difficult.  In fact, it was about 20 minutes from starting to prep to plating.  However, the end result was YUMMY.   Brenda… it was a Brenda chocolate cake moment!  Here's a link to the recipe online.  Unfortunately there is no pic… but it really is gorgeous.  Here's a link to a page that someone has translated the quantities into US and included the pic of the finished dish.   I doubled the mushroom quantity and used Shitake and portabellos.  I really think adding some reconstituted dried Porcini mushrooms would add an even earthier flavor.   Lou is traveling for the next two weeks, so I won't have an reason to try something special… however, I might do it this weekend – just because! 

Talking of weekends, this one was nice and relaxing.  Time in the garden watching the newly arrived birds and enjoying what was great weather on Saturday.  It really has been a very long winter and spring is certainly taking her time taking hold.  It's wonderful to see green things appearing though.  Our bleeding hearts and ferns are on their way back.  The grasses that were planted at the end of the year are starting to take hold.  There are a few plants that were planted at the end of the year when we landscaped the side of the deck that I don't think have made it through winter.  The next couple of weeks will tell us whether they have or not. 

Prayers tonight for those still being affected around the country by the rains and storms.  Also, for those of you who need a little lift or a warm hug.

Have a fabulous Tuesday everyone.  You know I appreciate your visit – and your comments.

Hugs

Jaydee