Masculine Cards, You Totally ROCK!!

Today I am showing you one of many options when making a Masculine Card. Perfect for Father's Day!

I have made this tutorial easy, and you can tailor the cards to suit your needs. If you're anything like me, you likely have many supplies right at your fingertips that you can easily substitute for the ones I've used. 

I began with a primary-color palette. This is always the easiest route to take when making masculine cards. Save the frilly colors and textures for the girls! 

For the front of my card, I first stamped the Guitar image in Ranger Archival ink in Black, followed by heat embossing in Green embossing powder. 

If you can't bring yourself to use dark colors, or simply don't have them, don't fear. Give those light-colored papers some masculine touches by either adding a wood-grain, or cutting shapes that can be interpreted as having a masculine touch on your cards.

This gorgeous guy got all his coloring from Tim Holtz Distress-Oxide Inks. He is also embossed in an awesome copper tone!

I used Cricut Pearl paper, which is shimmery and soft in color. The difference: I cut it with my Tonic Memory Book dies, in a shape that echoes the shape of my stamp. Graphics can change everything!

These cards also have a touch of fun, but it's not the focal image. I used Sheena Douglass stamps, and the dancers are stamped in a matte black. The only shine here are the added enamel dots. This still allowed me to keep my card classy and elegant. Not dainty. 

I added other touches on the inside, and made sure to leave room for a message. What sets these cards apart: Triple matted inside layers, which echo the textures the front of the card has as well.

Follow my Video instructions if you like, and let me know what you like about these cards, or if there's any other type of card you feel challenged with. I am happy to show you what I have learned along the way!!

Be inspired, Be blessed! Raquel 

DT Project for Crafter's Castle with Tonic Studios Bouquets and Banners Wonderfall Dies

Hi crafty friends,

This month I am collaborating as a Design Team Member with Crafter's Castle. Please stop by this blog and participate in monthly challenges. All craft levels as well as craft types are welcome, and every month there is a random winner selected to receive a prize. International entries are welcome!

This month's challenge Prize is Another Cup of Coffee Digital Kit from Taylormadecards4u.

 Today, you will see a sampling of projects I have made with this Digital Paper Collection, as well as my Tonic Studios and Tim Holtz products.

My first project was a masculine Waterfall Card, made this using the Tonic Studios Bouquets and Banners Wonderfall Dies This allowed me to place several images from the collection on the front of this interactive card.

I also used the beautifully masculine coffee-themed paper that I cut using a beveled edge die from Tonic Studios.

Here you can see the mechanism at work, and how I used one of the many images to decorate the waterfall created by the dies. The papers have a lovely vintage feel that I layered with other cream and copper colored papers from my stash.

Inside the card, I also used the sentiment: Just for You, on a banner cut with the same dies. All of the edges were distressed using Tim Holtz Distress ink from Ranger in Ground Espresso. I love the masculine feel of this card, and it's perfect for Father's Day!

One of the fun things about using Digital papers, is the ability to manipulate the size of the images. For this, all you need is a basic home printer. This is what I did to make this very feminine card, using one of the images featuring a young girl carrying a tray of coffee cups and carafe.

I used flowers from my stash, as well as a pink ribbon to emulate the one worn by the small girl. I also topped off her hair with s tiny flower embellishment, and created a coffee cup that I painted to match using Tim Holtz Iced Spruce ink and Nuvo Creative Pens in Pink colors. The sentiment is a stamp that reads: Brewed with Love. The doily shape is reminiscent of a place setting, and I used a Crafter's Companion die to cut this out of a latte colored paper.

For my last, and favorite card, I used images from the collection as a mixed-media collage on a triptych style card. This was a lot of fun to do, as I was able to incorporate lots of textures and layers, giving me a very dimensional result with beautiful elements interspersed throughout.

On the front, I increased the image size, and for fun, I also incorporated the smaller version of the girl with roses, as it originally appeared in the collection. The added tags with coffee plant motifs and vintage ads are all from the same paper collection.

Here you can also see how I layered machine stitching, corrugated paper and ephemera from Tim Holtz. A double bow made of twine topped with a vintage button finished the front of my card nicely. 

Here you see the rest of the card, with several playful layers of the lovely images in this collection, wooden butterflies and hummingbird. The entire scene is like a garden. Just like the one in which my own grandmother used to grow her own coffee.

Here is a closed look at the piecing. All papers are distressed and inked with Gesso and Espresso Ink.

Materials Used:

Another Cup of Coffee Digital Kit

Tonic Studios Bouquets and Banners Wonderfall Dies 

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Ground Espresso

Tim Holtz Distress OXIDE Ink Pad - Iced Spruce

Nuvo - Creative Pens - Rosy Pinks

Prima - Art Basics - Heavy Gesso - White - 17 Ounces

I hope that you have enjoyed this project share, and appreciate your time today as I have shown you some versatile examples of projects you can make as well.

My fellow Crafty Design Team members have made some wonderful projects here:

Priya (Creative Motifs) https://youtu.be/Cx9FdEq1FB8 L J (Create With Squdge Craft) https://youtu.be/2ZMcVNZ4r9g Jeanie Ellis https://youtu.be/Rmqvn-ITJC0 Taylormadecards4: https://youtu.be/KaNGZAqwD_4 Deborah Jenkins - https://youtu.be/UXr4wvcs2KU

Feel free to watch the video, and please use the links added for your convenience to help this channel grow and bring you future giveaways!

As always, I hope that you can

 Be inspired, Be Blessed!

~Raquel

Disclosure: Affiliate links are provided in this post.  As an affiliate for Paints and Glitter , Paints and Glitter receives a small commission whenever these links are used.  Note: These links are FREE for you to use.  All opinions and reviews are that of my own.  I only recommend products that I use for both business and personal reasons, and from reputable companies that I trust.  Thanks for your support!

Masculine Cards in Fall Colors

Hi friends,

One of the greatest challenges people ask me about is: "How to make masculine themed cards?"

Well, I have to confess that I absolutely love creating masculine cards, so I have gathered some quick tips fror you that might help!

I like to follow basic rules of design, but above all, I love to add texture!! 

These are created using Graphic45 papers, with rich yet subtle colors...

My recommendation is that you look at the papers as if you were selecting an outfit for the "Man in your life"...all kidding aside, this works!

Above, you see I selected a "pin-stripe shirt" base paper, followed by a music sheet embossed "tie".

A black "slacks" paper is embossed in wood grain, and the olive green burlap ribbon could very well be a belt. Now do you see it?

Then it's time to accessorize! 

I topped this card with two elements that had to convey my message. This card is for a pastor and worship leader, so the microphone and Bible were must-haves. In order to make sure these elements were not competing against each other, I added the microphone on a shaped tag, and topped it off with a metal brad (can you see a cuff link there?) and a black floss bow. 

Here is a closeup of that microphone and Bible. Both were stamped with black ink. The Microphone was also heat-embossed. This changed it to a copper finish, and oxide ink was used throughout.

The Praise stamp finished my card.

This card was a bit easier, but the same elements are at play. I wanted to incorporate the same Bible stamp, but this time I placed it on a flat surface. (As if on a desk). Once I had this element, I created the background as I would decorate a festive wall display.

Again, adding texture is key, so I used banner dies with a stitched edge, and also embossed the background paper with a honey-comb shape. Oxide ink helped to make this stand out. To repeat the same element in the card and still keep it subtle,  I added the banner tag pieces in the same honey-comb shape. 

The sentiment was the centerpiece of this card, so I added it with two small button brads at the center of my card, and used the same olive burlap ribbon. 

I was quite pleased with both of these cards. The neutral color pallete made it easier to concentrate on adding texture, and I loved using the inks and embossing to give them special touches here and there.

What I used: 

Graphic45, Making Memories, 7Gypsies, Ranger Oxide ink, Sheena Douglass, Dove Art Studios for C.C. Designs, BoBunny, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, & others

I hope that this post has been helpful to you. If so, don't forget to leave a comment and visit my youtube page for more inspiration!

Be inspired, Be Blessed!

Raquel

Tim Holtz Oxide Inks Review, and project share! Girly, and Masculine!!

Thank you for stopping by!
Today I am sharing some mixed media cards I have recently made with my new collection of
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks.

The recipe for these cards is:

 Cricut Explore Air 2, Distress Inks, Distress Oxides, Distress Crayons, Sennelier Watercolors, Prismacolor pencils, Santoro London Gorguss Girl stamps: You Brought Me love, and On Top of the World (buttons), Stampers Anonymous Hipster stamps CMS288, Canson Mixed Media 98lb paper, Recollections Washi tape and 110lb card stock, Neenah Creative Collection Premium Extra-heavy A2 Cards, Simplicity cord, sewing machine,  Spellbinders dies, rub-ons, patience & love!

For this adorable Gorguss girl, heart, and surrounding scene I used Sennelier watercolors, Prismacolor Pencils, Distress ink and Oxide inks. The sentiment was written on the heart with the Cricut Explore Air 2 after being fussy cut, and I finished it with the buttons and cord.

 I used my Cricut Explore Air2 to cut the intricate lace borders, the sentiment insert, small flowers, and the water-can scene complete with snail and grass!
To make the entire card shabby, I distressed all edges, and used inks on all borders, as well as Distress Crayons.

For this little delicate card, I used Oxide inks in three colors, then splattered water to combine for a soft watercolor-like effect.

I added delicate white borders,a white flower cut with my Cricut Explore Air 2, and finished it with the Thank you sentiment and sequins.

For these cards I began with a black Neenah Card base, added washi tape, rub-ons, and Distress Oxide inks on top of Distress inks, The Hipster CMS collection for Stampers Anonymous is complete with sentiments such as "Yeah", and "Sweet" used here, I masked the images after stamping them onto Recollections cardstock. They were so much fun to make!!
Please watch my video, follow, and subscribe for more fun creations!
Be inspired, Be Blessed!-
Raquel

Masculine Birthday Card/ Graphically Speaking.

This cart is a Gem!! First of all, I haven't yet taken advantage of all this cart has to offer, but I highly recommend this oldie-but-goody to anyone who doesn't have it. It's especially appropriate for teens, since it's not so childish. This is a birthday card I made for my son's friend. It was very last-minute, as they always are, but I liked the finished product, and it fit a gift card perfectly! The gear stamp is one of my favorites, from Technique Tuesday. It's also an old set that I love to play with. I welcome comments, so let me know if you like, or if you don't!

Extreme 16

Happy Creative Friday!

I think you can say I'm tearin' it up! ( Pun intended!)
This card was made as a special request, and I was happy to oblige. As it is titled, it is for an Extreme 16, and I was happy to be able to easily design and make the entire thing with my Cricut Explore Air 2!

I used Ranger Distress ink in Vintage Photo, a WeRMemory Keepers embossing folder from the Geo collection, and metal numbers from my stash. The distressing in white that left "Treads" all over the outside of my card were made using a tread cutout as a stencil and white gesso. I also drew the small details of the tread on the exterior with a black sharpie for contrast.

I was also able to make the inside banner with my Cricut's Write and Cut feature. I love how easy it is to attach words to images and let the machine do the writing! 

The papers made this card very easy to put together they are from the Fancy Free collection by Pink Paiselee, as well as Kraft cardstock and black paper from Recollections.

I hope you enjoy this masculine birthday card. I am thrilled with the results!
Be inspired, Be blessed!-Raquel 

Thank you Card/ Mojo 214

I made this masculine Thank you card using several stamps and would like to enter it to Mojo Monday's contest. You can enter several times, so perhaps I'll make a feminine version too. I used green Recollections cardstock as the base, and layered a double sided paper on top that has a grungy grid pattern on it. The brown strip of paper has bits of glitter on the blue polkadots and I popped it using foam tape. It's placed on top of a medallion shape that I stamped and cut out of the same green base paper. I used a fiskars punch to cut out the brackets to the stamped "thank you" phrase, and I used Basic Grey stamps for the detail over the "thank you" and for the small blue bird. I also used a glimmer pen to give it a little sheen on the tail feathers, and parts of the medallion. TFL!

World's Best Dad - Monocle Steampunk Card

Thank you for joining me!
Father's Day is soon approaching, and I was inspired to make a Steampunk style card with a wonderful gear background image from Cricut's Design Space. This card was fun to make, and I hope that you also enjoy it!

This card features an elegant image of a man in a tall hat, wearing a bow tie, and monocle. 

The colors are masculine, with a black background full of gears. This adds to the Steampunk style of the card. 

The white background is also embossed with several mustache images. His monocle is made of vinyl, a long-lasting sturdy material. 

To finish the 6' square card, The title reads World's Best Dad, on movie tickets across the front.

You may gift this to dad with a set of movie tickets to complete the theme!

This card is made with high quality card stock, and the inside is blank to add your personal message. It also includes customized black matching envelope.

Be inspired, Be blessed!- Raquel 

Dude! Birthday Card

I'm really enjoying the Dude cart I just got and decided to use my favorite cut from it. This card will be for my older brother who is a former Marine and definitely has all the attitude to back up the boots. I designed it on my Gypsy, used he Cuttlebug for the dry embossing, distressed the papers and used Tim Holts Crushed Olive and Vintage photo inks to give it a more masculine look. I also added "screw" brads and twine. The sentiment is hand-written and I hope to have it available in the future as a stamp...Enjoy!

I used green because it's my favorite color. All elements of the card are from Dude!

Close-up of front.

Inside is also embossed, and layered. 

So you thought I was gone?

Well, technically I have been m.i.a. being sick is no fun, but I've been busy making a few little things. They are mostly for a fundraiser I'll be taking part in that will be for an amazing cause. I can't wait to see what the other artists will be doing. I'm donating the painting I recently made of a fairy in a meadow and I hope some lucky little girl gets o take it home! Hope you're in the mood for some pics!

I've had this stamp for a while now, and finally decided to use it for a thank you card. I added glossy accents to the hearts. It's colored with watercolors and I purposely tore the edges of the paper to add texture. 

I made some Mother's Day cards for the fund raiser using my Cricut, it sure made things a lot easier! This lovely card is from A Child's Year. The stamp is Hero Arts. 

The flower is stamped, chalked, an distressed. With a little gem center. 

The colors in this paper inspired the Iron gate style of the front. 

I also added flowers, and glossy accents to the centers.

The inside of all the cards are finished with little details.

This set has a lovely vintage lace border and I used the paper to decorate the front. The card base is also from A Child's Year.

This card was slightly more masculine, but I added a heart, and a flower with twine as well as  white ink on the border to soften it a bit.

Another heart is added on the inside.

This card has a Tag from Sweethearts, and a stamp with some added sparkle. It's very subtle and soft.

Another Mother's Day card, this time with lace, a flower, and a Martha Stewart Border.

Inside of Mom's Day card.

To house the raffle tickets on my table, I made this basket which I learned to make from Splitcoast Stampers. I thought it would help "dress up" the table. The flowers are from GYPSY wanderings, and the border is a MS punch.

I added a brown satin ribbon and a white organdy one to tie it up nicely.

This flower got a bit of lace treatment, so as not to waste any of it!

These little coupon books might come in handy for little ones to give their mommies.

I printed several promises on the tickets, and made them with the Mother's Day 2010 cart-I LOVE IT!!

Finally, some chocolate clad baskets, with a little bling and lace, 'cause chocolate is to blame for a lot of us being mommies in the first place, LOL! shhh! These will have tissue paper to finish them off. THANKS FOR LOOKING!!