Tour de Craft 2014!!

Today, for the 101st time, some of the most amazing athletes on the planet will begin their 3,664km bicycle journey around the beautiful French countryside. And for the 2nd time, I will spend three weeks attempting to make cards inspired by the aforementioned boys on bikes. Tour de France. Tour de Craft. Both require massive amounts of strength, endurance, dedication, creativity...! How many will remain when the peloton rolls into Paris on July 27? And just how inky will my fingers be that day? Only time will tell...

And here's what I made to kick off my own Tour de Craft! This is a basic card idea I've used in the past - creating a mask, then stamping bikes inside. But I like it, and hey, I need to start off slow and pace myself with the creativity! (I hate to point these things out, but I'm jumping into this endurance event with very little training under my belt. This blog has been neglected since April. APRIL! And now suddenly there will be posts for 23 days straight?? WHAT? My creative muscle aches just thinking about it. I better go stretch...)

A couple card facts - the adorable little bicycle stamp I used is from a Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp and die set - On the Go Bike. I just adore that tiny little bicycle stamp! I have no doubt you'll be seeing it on more than one card this month. And the star die I used is from the fab new Stylish Stars frame cuts. I just secured the mask over my card with removable tape and stamped my little heart out.

I hope you'll tune in this month while I try to regain my crafty mojo, inspired by two of my favorite things - France, and BIKES! Actually, about 198 bikes. (Oh yes, and the guys sitting on those bikes!) Some of my bike-loving crafty friends are helping me out along the way, too. It's going to be FUN! Yay!

If you're curious to learn a bit more about the Tour de France, check out this fabulous little video. I love it! The animation is too funny, the explanations are great and the guy's French accent is just plain adorable. (Note: the video is from 2013 and shows last year's actual route.)

(If you can't see the video - click here to view it on YouTube.)

Vive le Tour!

Stamps: On the Go Bike from Hero Arts
Paper: Neenah Solar White, old Stampin' Up yellow
Ink: Hero Arts (Black & Green dye inks, Red Royal & Butter Bar mid-tone shadow inks)
Other: Stylish Stars Fancy Dies from Hero Arts, letter stickers from BasicGrey for Studio Calico, Doodlebug Designs Sprinkles - spring assortment