The Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Ideas Book & Catalogue has a great stamp set called "Best Dad Ever".  Now, I am not so sure I would ever find a use for a stamp with Best Dad Ever on it, but certainly there are three other VERY useful greeting stamps and a fantastic tie image stamp in this set of five from Stampin' Up!

Lots of male birthday's coming up, so last night, accompanied by my lovely mother who was making a very funky card for my nephew, I pulled out this stamp set and some warm masculine colours and made a batch of cards.

There are five tie images on the stamp, so I started by stamping the whole stamp five times, once each in Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso inks.  Then I hand cut each tie out individually to mix and match on each of the cards.

They are very simple images to cut out, no funny angles or awkward bits so it didn't take long at all.  I selected some current Designer Series Paper off-cuts from my left overs basket, and some scraps of Early Espresso and Old Olive ribbon, and stamped the Happy Birthday image also from the Best Ever Dad stamp set onto the DSP.

These were such simple cards to make, and so effective for their clean lines and uncluttered look.  You could easily whip up a batch of these in an afternoon to get you through all the male birthdays for the coming year!

Simple stamp set, lots of mileage! Woodmount set is just $34.95 or the clearmount set is $27.95.  A packet of Regals Collection card stock in A4 ($13.95) will get you 40 A6 cards in 10 very masculine colours.

If you're stuck for masculine card and scrapbook ideas, why don't you consider hosting a Masculine Themed FREE Stampin' Up! workshop where you and your friends can check out lots of inspiring ideas and even take home a finished project that you made there.

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