Foolproof tips for masculine cardmaking

 

Lots of crafters tell me they really struggle to make masculine cards. While there are lots of images in the current Stampin’ Up!® catalogues designed specifically with men and boys in mind, they can’t cover every hobby and interest. And, let’s be honest here, sometimes you don’t want to invest in a stamp set for just one card.

Rant warning: But first I’d like to get something off my chest about shirt and tie cards. I know they are really popular but does the man even like wearing a shirt and tie? Or will it symbolise discomfort or, worse, dressing for a job he hates?

So what’s the alternative and where do you start? In this blog post I have some very easy masculine projects to show you, all using the new He’s the Man Suite. Most of them just use the He’s the Man Designer Series Paper as it contains a sheet of pop-out images and elements which make cardmaking and scrapbooking really easy.

Take a look at the projects then read on for my top tips for making cards for men and boys, many of which use your existing Stampin’ Up!® stash. 

 

I love this camper van from He’s the Man Designer Series Paper. It comes from a sheet of pop-out images and greetings – and you get two in the pack so you use the other camper van for a gift label or scrapbook page. There’s absolutely no stamping on this card so it was made in a matter of moments. 

This card, too, features a main image from that sheet of die-cuts. I’ve added a stamped greeting and some die-cut flags and that’s it. 

This one involved actual effort! I die-cut the greeting and the argyle patterns using the new All That Dies from the He’s The Man Suite. Some Designer Series Paper and a bit of linen thread finish it off. Oh, and the words are stamped using that really useful stamp set from For The Guys cardmaking kit. (Tip: It’s worth buying this kit just for that stamp set!) 

 

Adhesive sheets are really useful when using intricate dies like these. Adhere your cardstock to the sheet, then run it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Your die-cut will be sticky all over so you won’t have to mess around trying to apply glue to tiny areas and getting it all over yourself (or is that just me?).

 

Finally, I have this card, which is my least favourite of today’s makes. I feel it needs some ribbon but the ribbon I want to use is on its way and won’t arrive until later today. 

But it’s a good principle for masculine cardmaking; a few strips of Designer Series Paper and a label with a greeting. Very quick and easy and can be made with any papers.  

Five tips for making masculine cards

1. Tap into their interests

This is the most obvious way of tackling a masculine card and is the reason I buy so many stamps with trees and mountains. But if you don’t have anything suitable, don’t despair: read on.

2. Serve up some food or drink

Beer, wine, cake, cookies... one of those has to float your fellow’s boat. Food and drink are perfect for masculine cards.

3. Spell it out

Still stuck? No relevant images or food and drink images? How about using words as your focal point? You could use alphabet dies or stamps to spell out their name, a greeting, a private joke or even something cheeky that you’d NEVER find in a Stampin’ Up!® catalogue. 🙈

4. Keep it simple

This is SO easy... just use a birthday greeting as a focal point on some patterned paper. One panel, two, three, four... the choice is yours.

5. Go geometric

A variation on the simple theme above... use shapes as your image, or create a patchwork of shapes using a punch. You can use Designer Series Paper or just plain cardstock if you don’t have anything suitable. Tip: If using lots of different patterned papers on a patchwork design, adding something subdued or even plain into the mix will make it easier on the eye.

Want more masculine cardmaking tips? Please follow me on Facebook or Instagram for lots more all week.

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