A Masculine Mixed Media Card for Sweet Stampin' Challenge

If I’m honest, masculine cards are probably one of the hardest things for me to make. I always seem to drift toward flowers, pretty layers, and all the softer details, so coming up with something for a guy usually takes me a bit longer! But this fortnight’s Sweet Stampin’ Challenge gave me the perfect excuse to step out of my comfort zone and have a play with a more textured, mixed media look.

I’ve been watching quite a few mixed media videos on YouTube lately, and they’ve inspired me. All those grungy layers, bits of texture and slightly industrial details had me wanting to try something a little different. It also gave me the chance to use one of my newer buys—an All & Create stamp set called Dynamics—which felt just right for this kind of project.

So here’s how the finished card came together.

I started with a mid-grey square card base and blended Evergreen Bough and Lost Shadow Distress Oxide inks over the background. From there, I built up the texture by stamping with the Dynamics set in black ink, Lost Shadow, and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide, which gave it that nicely worn, layered look without making it feel too busy. After that, I added some texture paste through Tim Holtz’s Clockwork stencil, and I loved how it picked up hints of the green and brown underneath. To finish it all off I added a dark grey die-cut clocks (another new purchase from my local bookstore) and splattered on some grey and white Dina Wakely acrylic paint for a bit more grunge, then added a pre-printed sentiment from Paper Roses.

I’m really happy with how this one turned out, and it’ll soon be heading off to a friend for his birthday. It’s always nice when a challenge pushes me to try a style I wouldn’t normally go for, and this card certainly did that. I’m sure it won’t be my last.

Friday Fun

Today was my first Friday of not working - started 4 days a week from this week.   So after a bit of a sleep in, I breakfasted and got onto the house work - dusting, vacuuming, floor washing, clothes washing and hanging out - so by lunch time a nice clean house.   Sat outside in the sunshine for a lovely salmon salad for lunch and then - into the craft room for some play time.  

I finished off a card that I had initially started with the idea it would be for hubby's birthday yesterday, but ran out of time to get it done and gave him one I already had in my box of cards.  

   The patterned papers is from a Couture Creations paper pack called Sea Breeze.   I used Gina K Master Layout 1 to cut the paper and matting layer.  Stamped a sentiment from Gina k Birthday Sparkle set and cut it with the matching die.  Quick in the end. 

I've got the VIP bundle for the latest Stress Free Card Summit - 5 items or less - and have watched a few of the tutorials.   Today I Case'd Ardyth's card - using Post It notes to make a stencil.   Ardyth provided a template to use to cut out the shapes - I used it but my printer made it a bit bigger so my card looks quite different from hers. 

I cut out my stencils from Post It and then used two different greens, reds and blues of Catherine Pooler inks.   I die cut 2 Post It note with the side of a rectangle scalloped die - it had holes so loved how the two toned ornaments turned out.   I added sparkle pen to the bottom half of ornament.  Looks really sparkly in real life.   Used a gold pen to make the toppers.  The sentiment is from an older Hero Arts set called Color Layering Wreath.  Matted the panel onto some glittery gold card stock before adding to my top folding white card base. 

Spend an hour or so watching some more of the tutorials and other crafty videos.   Lots of ideas in my head for projects.   Should have a bit more time over the weekend, now all the house work is done!

Happy Birthday Dad

 It's my Dad's birthday today... 88 years young!  He is incredible.   Still very active. 

Used more of Uniquely Creative digi images - mainly from the Father's Day images.   Cut out some tags, added a  Best Dad Ever circle and a matted birthday sentiment.   A few little kraft dots to finish.

Golden Anniversary card and a Masculine Thanks card

 Our friend's Michael and Yvonne are celebrating their 50th Anniversary next Saturday.  They had a big celebratory luncheon this past weekend.   Around 80 family and friends gathered to celebrate with them.  It's was an amazing weekend with lots of the family and friends going back to their place for a bit of a party in the evening.   

I made them a Golden Wedding Anniversary card 

I used some rose-gold card to die cut the Couture Creations Lace die and the numbers from a Mama Elephant numbers die.  The wine glasses are a freebie set from many years ago.  I cut them from white card and some gold glitter card. I trimmed bits and pieces to make the top and bottom white.   The sentiments are from Altenew's Ambridge Rose stamp set.  

And hubby wanted a Thanks card for his friend, Brian, whose holiday house we used for the weekend. 

I used some Franchville cardstock in ombre greens and blues.  I cut some angled stripes and glued them onto my panel.  I used Altenew Thanks die to cut from each of the colours and glued them onto the shadow layer.  Hubby was pleased that I had managed a masculine thanks card.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

Happy Father's Day to my Dad

 Today is Father's Day here in NZ.  I rang my Dad (for our usual Sunday chat) and he confirmed his Father's Day card had arrived.   

The can and sentiment stamps are by Montago - a NZ based company.  For this one, I've cased their gallery sample - just slightly different colours.   This one was coloured with my Spectrum Noir Tri-blends.  I have the extended colours which are a bit more muted, but looked good on this one. 

My son and his eldest daughter (4 yr old) came around for lunch today... DIL and little one stayed home as she was trying to get the little one to sleep in her cot during the day.  Lovely to see them anyway.  

I'm now got three of Snowy's made into cards.   I've had lots of fun doing these.  

Masculine Birthday card

 I had to make a male birthday card for my son-in-law whose birthday isn't for another  10 days but as it needs to make it's way to Perth, I did it early.    I struggle with masculine cards but thank goodness for Pinterest.   My card is a combo of a couple of different ideas I saw there.  

I used some grey card and embossed it for a textured background.  Cut some flags and a circle for the Hero Arts sentiment.  It's a great one for a focal sentiment.    I die cut a few little stars to add as embellishments.

I've been making a few cards but as they are for swaps and upcoming design work, my blog has been a bit quiet.   Hoping this weekend to get a couple of cards done for challenges.   

Take care and happy crafting 

It's birthday time at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

Yes it's our birthday at Sweet Stampin' Challenge... so what better for our challenge.... BIRTHDAYS 

 I'm sharing the card I made for my son who's birthday was last Sunday (13th November) He's my baby and turned 34.  Where did the time go? 

It seems a perfect card as we got him a mixture of different beers for his gift.   My card is quite simple.  I used an embossing folder that was a freebie a long time ago.  I used white card and embossed the card then used a few different inks from Altenew to cover the entire card.   I trimmed it a little and added to a black base.  The sentiment is a pre-printed one from Creative Expressions.  After trimming it, I added some of the green inks over it.  

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge with your Birthday projects. 

Happy Birthday Peter.

Today is my Hubby, Peter's Birthday.   I'm taking him out for brunch this morning.   And the kids are coming for an early dinner this evening.  

I decided to make a graphic card to celebrate.  

I started by taking a set of Spellbinder square nestibilities.  I layered three squares the four smallest dies one inside another and cut from brown, black and blue card.  This ended up giving me three sizes of square frames.   I added them onto the card, snipping some so that the while lot is flat.   I used a sentiment from  Altenew's Birthday Builder set.    A simple card but I'm so pleased how it turned out.  

Hubby asked me on Tuesday..."have you got me anything yet? "  And when I said not yet... he promptly showed me a Leaf Blower he wants.   "I'll buy it and you can transfer the money to my credit card!"  Well that was easy!

Have a great weekend all.   

WWC #329- Cathy's Challenge - All Things Masculine

 Hi.  It's time for a new challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.  Cathy's our hostess with an All Things Masculine Challenge.  

My son's birthday was last Saturday - 13th November.  He turned 33 this year... where does the time go?  This is the card I made for him. 

I pulled out my all time favourite card magazine - Cardmaking in Easy Steps "For the Boys" - It has a stamp set and some patterned papers.  I'm getting down to mostly scrappy bits now.  I took inspiration from a card in the magazine.  My card is smaller in size and uses a different focal point but I did like the design elements.  I used a piece of the patterned papaer matted onto some brown card.  The panel beside it was white card embossed with a 3D We Are Memory Keepers folder which was ink blended with some Altenew Sea Forest ink.  I also added some of the ink around the edge of the white focal panel.  The Ute was die cut with a Craft Creations Holden Kingswood die from dark blue card and inlaid with some silver card.  There's a little bit of vellum for the windows.  My son had a Holden Kingswood when he was in his mid- 20s.  His was red though.  I finished with the birthday sentiment.  

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday 29 November at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time) to link up your project.

WWC 325 Heidi's Challenge: All Things Masculine

 It's time for our challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.  Heidi is our hostess and it's an All Things Masculine Challenge. 

 My Dad's birthday was earlier this month.  I made this card for him.  It's a copy of one I made a while ago - using the last of the patterned paper pack I had from Graphic 45.

I embossed a Happy Birthday sentiment (from a magazine freebie) and added some gems.  A very simple card but Dad loved it.  He used to play golf back when I was a child - but not in plus4's like these!  

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time ) to link up your project.

 

WWC 317 - Heidi's Challenge: All Things Masculine

 Hi there.  Time for a new challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.  Heidi is our hostess with an All Things Masculine challenge.

Today I'm sharing a geometric masculine card.

I used Altenew "Sohcahtoa Stamp Set" in a variety of Altenew blue inks. A very CAS card.  I used Gina K master layout dies to add my panels.  

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday 14th at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

WWC 313: Tristan's Challenge - All Things Masculine

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Tristan is our hostess this week with All Things Masculine challenge.

My card today is a Birthday card.  

This is a mini slim line - just a little bit smaller.  Mini's are usually 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" - but I accidently cut this one to 3 1/2" x 6" -  Just perfect to showcase this cute Tim Holtz Blueprint stamp.  It was part of Simon Says Stamp Stamptember - way back in 2015 and believe it or not... this is the first time this one has been inked up!  I stamped it directly on the case base and used Copic markers to colour it.  The sentiment is from another Tim Holtz set.   A truly CAS card. 

WWC - Dawns Challenge: Anything Masculine Goes

 Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I'm the hostess this week with an Anything Goes Masculine Challenge.

My friend, Carol, stamped off some Tim Holtz Snarky cats stamps for me -  I haven't been able to get my hands on the stamp set yet!  

I coloured the kitty with some Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut it.  I used Gina K Master Layouts 2 to cut my PP and the centre panel.  I used an Altenew mini stamp "Coffee Ring" with some Hazelnut ink to add to the white panel.  I trimmed out the sentiment and added it and the kitty to the centre panel. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the projects from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time) to link up your project.

WWC 289 Heidi's Challenge: Anything Goes With a Masculine Twist

 Welcome back to another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.  This week Heidi is our hostess with an Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist.  

I do struggle with Masculine cards at times.  This is a very simple card using a background I recently made with my Gelli Plate and some stencils.  I forgot to note which inks I used.  I know they are Distress Oxides.  I made the base layer with a pale green, used the stencil to remove some colour and then use the stencil in the normal way.  

I cut my panel into three pieces and added to a dark green card base.  I then took the Altenew Apothecary label stamp set and used some Mountain Pine ink.  I used my MISTI as I inked the stamp 4 times to get a good dark coverage.  I then took an Altenew sentiment and white embossed it onto the label. 

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00 am NZ time ) to link up your project.

WW 276 Marsha's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Marsha is our hostess with an Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist challenge.

Another card using the Faux Metal Paper technique that Jennifer McGuire did back in 2015.  This time I used Smoked Hickory Distress Ink and added Perfect Pearls in the white colour to give a silver look.  I used a WRMK 3D basket weave die to provide some texture.  I stamped the tool box from "For the Boys" which was free with a magazine and coloured with Copic markers.  I then fussy cut it out and added it on the panel.  The sentiment is a sticker I found a while back.  The little stars were from the sticker set too.

Come and join in the fun at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and  check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project  to the challenge post.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project.

WWC 267 Karen's Challenge: Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist

Hi there - time for another challenge at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Karen is our hostess with an Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist.  

I have a very simple card to share today - using some very old Patterned Paper from Graphic 45 

 This paper is really fabulous for masculine cards.  I added a simple embossed sentiment to finish the card.

Come and join in the fun at  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the project from the other designers.  Then take our challenge and link up your project to the challenge post.    We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 12.00 noon NZ time ) to link up your project.

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WWC#248 Kath's "Masculine Anything Goes" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Kath is our hostess this week with a Masculine Anything Goes  challenge.

I had fun making this card....

I had two little helpers who turned my Cuttlebug handle to help die cut the car.  It's made from Dark Blue and Yellow card.  The die came with a Magazine I got a few weeks ago.  I die cut a brown circle for the background and some brown woodgrain paper.   I added a happy birthday sentiment as a finishing touch.

Come and join the fun.  Check out the projects that the other artists at Watercooler Wednesday

Challenge have created.  Then take our challenge ant link your creation to the challenge post.  We'd love to have you join us.  You have until Monday at 5 pm Mountain Standard Time (Tuesday at 11.00am NZ time ) to link up your project.

WWC 230 Kath's Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Kath is our hostess this week with a Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge.

Here's my card for today

Isn't this just lovely.  I brought a magazine a few weeks ago and these stamps were the free gift.  It's called British Garden.  There are lots of lovely birds and bits and pieces.  I CASE'd a card from the Magazine.  I stamped the leaves around the edge, added the sentiment, stamped the shovel and then on a separate scrap of card I stamped the bird.  I used a variety of alcohol markers to colour in the images.  I fussy cut the bird and added it to the top of the shovel.  I kept the card relatively simple with no other embellishments... it is a guy card after all!

 
Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 11.00am NZ time) to link up your project

WWC#221 Tristan's Masculine "Anything Goes" challenge

Hello there, it’s time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Tristan is our hostess this week with a masculine "Anything Goes" challenge.

My card today uses a Stampin' Up set called "Wetlands" together with some masking and sponging.

I started by stamping the geese... one and then masking it to stamp the other.  While I left the masks on, I used Altenew inks - Rocky Shore, Caribbean Sky and Frosty pink to blend over the background.

I removed the masks and coloured my geese with Zig Marker (Light Green) Copic (light gray) and pencil (orange)   Not sure what made me choose green geese!  What was I thinking!!!! Added the sentiment and it was ready to be matted onto some brown then maroon card before adding to a cream card base. 

Come join in the fun.  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at midday NZ time) to link up your project.

WWC#209 Marsha's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Hello there, it’s tie for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Marsha is our hostess this week with an Anything Goes masculine challenge.

I've gone for a Monochromatic card today.  I used some Altenew triangle stamps from the "Sohcohtoa" set and four Altenew inks (Limestone, Silver Stone, Industrial Diamonds, Pure Graphite).  I added two lines of silver pen above and below the triangles.  Added the happy birthday sentiment from the Sohchtoa set.   I used a mini splatter stamp from Your Next Stamp in each corner



Come join in the fun and make a Masculine project .  Check out the projects that the artists at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges have created then take the challenge and link your creation to the challenge post. We’d love to have you join us.  You have until Mondays at 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (Tuesdays at 1pm NZ time) to link up your project.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.