{YNS meets iSpy Sketches} Boating Boy

Whoo Hoo!! Are you as excited about today as I am?? Not only is it Your Next Stamp's Fun Friday, where YNS designers show off some cute cards and share great card-making tips....but.......it's also THE FIRST EVER SKETCH CHALLENGE from the newest sketch challenge on the block, iSpy Sketches!
I am so excited to be on the inaugeral design team! The fabulous Kim Teasdale has put together a fun and diverse bunch of stampers, and the best part about this challenge, is that we take our inspiration from YOU! We scope the online galleries and all of blogland for card layouts that inspire us to CREATE! So you never know who we will 'spy' next;) It could be you, or you, or even you (picture me pointing, here;)!
Our very first sketch was inspired by a card made by Loretta Lock spyed on SCS over a year ago! You can see that card on the ISSC blog, as well as Kim's sketch based on Loretta's card:)

Here is my card, using YNS's Ethan out on the Pond....

And a close up of cute lil' Ethan.....

 TCP's waves and button Cutups and some loop de loop bakers twine:

Here's a little tip from me on how to add embellishments to masculine cards....Since I have three boys, I tend to gravitate towards 'little boy' stamps and paper....I love making boyish cards, and I also love to pile on the embellies (one follower said I have a 'junk-it-up' style and I think that describes me perfectly;) Sometimes people think that just because you are making a card for a male, that you can't add alot, but I think thats not the case! Some great ways to add 'personality' and interest to masculine cards are: buttons (either traditional buttons or paper ones created with dies, such as the ones I added to this card), twine, thread, twill, metal accents, glaze, geomatric shapes (think stars, circles, squares), border dies, texture (i.e. cardboard, felt, cork, wood)...See- there are so many choices out there to add some character to your masculine cards!!! Embellishments aren't limited to paper flowers, rhinestones and pearls!

Are you inspired? Want to join us in iSSC's first ever challenge? Here's the info you need:

Here's how to play:

• Create a paper crafting project (card, scrap book page or 3D item), based on the sketch provided.
• Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery (using a code ISSC01), and link it here with the inlinkz widget below. Please provide a direct link to your post - not the generic link to your blog.
• A new challenge will be posted every Friday at 12.01 AM EST, and you have until noon on Wednesday EST to submit your entry.
• You may enter as many times as you like, but please provide a newly designed project with a new link for each additional project.
• We will choose the top 2 creations to be featured in our "Top 2 Thursday" post where we will announce who we have picked :) The winners will receive their very own iSpy Sketches blog badge!
• Don't forget that you may combine our challenges with others and use supplies from any company that you wish :)
• Have fun and we look forward to "spying:" your creations!

And don't forget to check out the YNS blog for more eye candy and fun tips....you might just learn something fun that you can put to use on your iSSC card;)