TCP Tuesday-Mustaches for Movember

The theme for this month’s TCP Tuesday challenge is use what’s on your desk. Alma’s asking us to make a card, then use the same stamps and papers—and whatever else is on your desk--to make two more. My desk is pretty much always covered with lots of “goodies,” so there’s a lot to choose from there!

Here’s my first take on the challenge. As I was sitting down to start my project, I was watching a college hockey game on my iPad (also on my table—yes, it’s crowded!) and the announcer and assistant coach were talking about growing mustaches for “Movember,” the annual men’s health awareness campaign that gets its name from a mashup of mustache and November. If you're not familiar with it, you can read more about Movember here. So, from that came my idea for a mustache themed trio of cards using TCP’s The Mustache Set and coordinating CutUps Mustaches dies.

Here’s card number 1. It’s based on the current sketch at Seize the Sketch. The clean and simple layout was perfect for a masculine design.

I started out with several shades of blue cardstock and Echo Park’s A Boy’s Life patterned paper pad. For this card, I used a pair of blue cardstock panels along with a diagonal striped panel cut from one of the patterned papers. I stamped the “have a fun{tache} tic day” sentiment on the patterned paper in blue pigment ink—I find they work better on patterned papers than dye inks.

Once the sentiment was in place, I attached a strip of twill ribbon to the right of the words. It’s hard to see, but I machine stitched along the right side of the twill strip (I was too lazy—and my desk was too full—to change the thread to something darker). I topped the patterned paper and twill strip with a mustache die cut from brown felt. A trio of faux metal studs adds a final masculine touch to the cardfront. I used foam tape to layer the finished panel on a light blue cardfront.

Here’s card number 2. This one uses the same monochromatic blue cardstock colors along with a fun multicolored chevron paper from the same paper pad.

The chevron paper is matted on a navy panel, then set on a blue panel. I stamped the mustache sentiment in the same navy blue pigment ink on a strip of light blue cardstock and adhered the stamped strip over the chevron panel. It’s anchored on the left side with a little machine stitching, which you can actually see on the card. The felt mustache is adhered on top in the gap I purposely left when stamping the sentiment. I added a pair of the same faux metal stud embellishments to the opposite side of the patterned paper panel, covering up some machine stitching that was hard to see because I was too lazy to change the thread . . .

And, here’s card number 3. On this one, I used a stamped mustache instead of a die cut one. I stamped the mustache and sentiment on a light blue panel, then edged the panel with a narrow strip of navy cardstock. The stamped panel is set on a card base edged on the left side with a strip of the same patterned paper I used on my first card. I used some foam tape on the stamped panel for dimension. And, again, I finished the card with some faux metal stud embellishments.

Be sure to stop by Alma’s blog for all the details on this month’s TCP Tuesday challenge and how you could be our next Swanky Stamper here.

Materials Used:
The Mustache Set stamp set, CutUps Mustache dies (The Cat's Pajamas); Memento Luxe Nautical Blue and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko); Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, and Night of Navy cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); A Boy’s Life 6x6 paper pad (Echo Park); faux metal stud embellishments (Michaels); brown felt (Papertrey Ink); sewing machine; foam tape