Struggling to make masculine cards.....

Unlike my friend Monika I struggle to make masculine cards.  She is very good at it.... but I struggle a bit, so when I got asked to make a 21st card for a male.... I really pondered on what to do.  So off to visit Pinterest for some ideas.   I took inspiration from a couple of cards to come up with my final idea (can I tell you that there are three aborted cards and scraps on my desk!)

For this card I started with some washi tape stripes in black and mustard colour, including a sparkly black one - I know it's a masculine card but hey - who doesn't like a little sparkle!  The die cut circle is a dark dark grey cut with a Simon Says Stamp stitched circle die.  I die cut the numbers (Couture Creations die) from some yellow card stock and stamped the "st" onto a scrap of the yellow and hand cut it.  The birthday sentiment was from a freebie set sitting on my desk.  And finally some Liquid Pearls in Onyx Black to finish.  I am entering this into the "Anything Goes" at Simon Says Stamp.

I was away for the long Labour Day weekend and didn't get any crafting done, so have been itching to get back into it.  A few Design team cards have been made.... 3 in fact - so look out for some reveals and sneak peeks coming over the next few weeks.   Trying to get myself ahead now!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment so I know you've been. 

Cards for the Boys....

are always so difficult.... no frills and frippery, not flowers or butterflies...
So when I saw some lovely male orientated cards in an Australian Simply Cards magazine, I knew I had to get some of the Graphic 45 papers they had used and make some cards....
So far 4 cards done.... sneaked off this afternoon to stamping at Helen's place.  Knew I couldn't do all day but got a couple of hours in....

This one is for my Dad ( don't look Dad).  I had seen this one by Lucy - which inspired me to computer generate the sentiment.  I used PP from the pad and cut and matted the car from one of the pages.  Used Old French writing for the background.

Again used papers from the pad or this.  The stamp is by Stamp-It.  Lots of distressing to give it a vintage look, added some brads and layered everything.

 this whole pad of papers is great for male cards... the car on this one is at the bottom of the page because I stamped the Fleur de lis first and noticed it was crooked.  So covered it up with the car and put the sentiment at the top.  I borrowed the sentiment stamp from Sandie - it's by Stampin' Up!
And finally

another quick and simple one again using the car and PP from the pad.  Added little black gems to the corners of the car and added the sentiment and all done.  I'm going to do more the same to stock up on male cards- I often get requests for male orientated cards so having a few on hand will be good.

Thanks for visiting... hope your weekend is going well.  I'm off to watch the 2nd half of the All Blacks versus Wales... ( rugby)  AB's winning so far!!!
Cheers from me...