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January 2012 Design Team Creative Challenge: Masculine
Welcome to the January Design Team Creative Challenge where we challenge our design team to explore their creative side using a specific theme, product or technique.
This month,we've asked our designers to create masculine cards and projects. I don't know about you, but this is always a tricky one for me!
So many of our designers have jumped on board to share projects made for all the special guys in our life! The MFT Blog has a full list of participating designers for you today!
I did two cards for this challenge. Right now my struggle is tween-age boys, so that's what I focused on with my post for this challenge. I used the new At the Movies stamp set and die-namics for one of my cards and then paired up a mix of die-namics for my second one. TFL.
Some go to products I almost always use on masculine/boy cards:
-kraft cs
-twine
-basic shapes with clean, sharp edges (I take out all the rounded, frilliness!)-stars, zig zag, circles, and argyle prints.
I especially love my Stacking Stars die-namic, open zig zag die-namic, notebook edge, Tag You're it, and the mix and match banner die-namics for my guy cards.
Location: was Ontario Canada, then Massachusetts, now Ohio.
Posts: 3,208
The manly card I made is for hubby's birthday later this month. I used Just the Ticket stamps and die-namics set and the little candles from Birthday Flopsey.
I like to follow a few guidelines when making masculine cards:
1. I usually reach for darker colours for men, but I definitely gravitate to brighter colours for kids.
2. Most embellishments/hardware are appropriate for a manly card as long as they don't sparkle (buttons, brads, eyelets, etc.). But no flowers.
3. Ribbons and twines are fine, but not tied in a bow.
4. I like to add texture to help bump up the interest factor.
5. Definitely nothing scalloped, (IMHO). LOL!!
6. Most of all, just have fun with it!
My card tonight could technically work for both a guy, or a girl, depending on the girl, LOL!! I made a birthday card using the new At the Movies set, and I think it works!!
Here are some rules I follow: for me, making guy cards is so restrictive, so I bend the rules ever so slightly with LOTS of metal embellishments. Guys see metal, and they don't see pretty, they see manly, I still see pretty...so I win, lol!! I always go for darker colors, and nothing frilly. I rarely color for a guy card, as well. They are almost ALWAYS reliant on die cuts and sentiments. Other things you can use to dress up a guy card would be: twine, natural fibers and cloths, and hardware.
I use lots of the same "rules" as the other designers for masculine cards. I like to keep layouts simple, focus on texture and cut out the scallops! On this card I've used hemp twine and cork for texture, and some jumbo eyelets for metal embellishment.
When making masculine cards I go for dark or neutral gender friendly patterns. I don't use ribbon, or make bows from twine. I like to keep it simple. I also love texture!
Ooh such great tips. I use the same thought process for my male cards. My rule of thumb is texture, texture, and more texture. In this case I've used denim and woodgrain. I also added some manly twill and metal brads.
I find it so funny that we all struggle with masculine cards! Too bad half the population is male! LOL
I follow many of the same rules as the other ladies, darker colors, no scallops, no ribbon, no bows and definitely no glitter! LOL Sports is always a good theme!
For masculine cards, I like to keep the layout simple, use simple patterns, add some texture, and not too many embellishments I avoid bows, frill, bling Here's mine using Well Worn Greetings, plaid, and some denim on a ledger paper background.
(card front and inside) My blog post is here.
I follow the same rules as the rest of the designers for masculine cards: texture, darker colors, no ribbon or flowers. Stitching, twine, twill, and even buttons with no bows work great.
I'm using Thanks a Bunch for my card. The timing on this was awesome--I needed to make a thank you card for the administrators at my former employer. Since they're both guys, this was perfect!
Here is my card for this challenge!
When I create a masculine or "boy" card, I usually follow these "rules":
masculine colors
star die cuts
twine
boyish patterned paper
With all of the handsomeness going on in here you all inspired me to dive back in and FINALLY (only 5.5 years later!) get moving on my darling son's baby book!
I did this layout using this week's sketch and this Creative Challenge as my muse!
Thanks for the beautiful inspiration as always ladies!!
Crafty Hugs!
Meredith
__________________ Meredith Winston Signature Site:Paper Canteen
Proud SCS Fan Club member!
Lover of All Things MFT!
With all of the handsomeness going on in here you all inspired me to dive back in and FINALLY (only 5.5 years later!) get moving on my darling son's baby book!
I did this layout using this week's sketch and this Creative Challenge as my muse!
Thanks for the beautiful inspiration as always ladies!!
Here is a card I made recently for my FIL. I was really pleased with it. The stamp is from Clear Dollar Stamps Smooth Sailing. I hope the thumbnail attaches ok, otherwise you will need to look for the blue sailing ship card in my Gallery.
Hugs from sunny (and hot) South Australia.
__________________
~Tanja~ My gallery
'A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.'
Prov. 11:25
January 2012 Design Team Creative Challenge: Masculine
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