Saturday, April 25, 2009

May Workshop: Cards for the Guys.....(and "Home Sweet Home" Challenge Card)



Masculine cards always seems to be scarce...even when I make cards..I find that most of them are on the feminine side...the cutesy side...the girly side...

Some days,I make a conscious choice to make "guy cards" only...and actually..I just swapped out and mailed the cards for a Masculine Card Swap that I hosted on SCS... which, by the way..were all fantastic..and inspiring!

For my May "Cards Only" Workshop..I thought I'd have everyone give "guy cards" a try....afterall..Father's Day is getting near..and there's always a need for guy-ish birthday cards...

At the Workshops..we always make 2 variations..using the same materials/supplies/stamp set)

The challenge is that most of the people coming are beginner card makers..and haven't yet tried precise matting,...coloring..2-step stamping...so we are at the beginning stages of learning card making...

Yet..it is my desire and focus..to have them leave each Workshop, having made cards that are NOT easily identifiable as being "beginner" cards...and having them WOW themselves with what they have created and accomlpished..

In May...I wanted to
*make "guy cards" with an ink only" image
*not induce frustration with techniques that are too complex....and keep it all very basic and simple..
*use the SU "Backwoods" stamp set
*create a "background" paper by using a stamp and ink
*incorporate paper tearing (and distressing) ....a simple new technique for the group
*introduce shading using ink and daubers
*use a small asst of materials..also to minimize being overwhelmed with things like color combos...embellishments
*enjoy using the Cuttlebug..(hard to see here.. but the base layer of choc chip cs is embossed with leafy branch)

and so...these are the "guy cards" that we will be making at the May Cards only Workshop..

*I'm double dipping with the log cabin card and will also use it as my entry for the Cuttlebugchallenge Blog weekly challenge #28.......because it was inspired by the blogs Wednesday "Home Sweet Home" challenge...

*Tomorrow I will share the optional "feminine" version..using the same basic materials...but a different stamp/sentiment..which will be offered for those who might not have a need for masculine cards..

PS...If you like using natural hemp like it do...you MUST look for a ball/spool of Natural Hungarian Hemp in your local hardware store or in the odds and ends aisle of your supermarket!
This hemp is fantastic...and one spool will last you a lifetime....and the cost is under $2...

19 comments:

  1. Great masculine cards! This is truly a trouble spot for me...tfs!!!

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  2. Michelle, this is perfect for a man for Fathers day , or even a Birthday!! I do need to work harder on making more man cards...lol I always seem to make girly cards, and only make cards for men when I have to...lol I love the stamps you used!!! Also with the digi printing, just make sure to use good paper, and you can heat set the images. I did use copics on my last digi image, and I notice with watercolor paper it makes it much nicer. You can resize the images to, that is nice :) Anyways hun have a wonderful weekend!!!

    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  3. Like both cards but REALLY like the cabin one, and the tips you have given are great. Thanks so much.

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  4. Great 'guy' cards! I really like the first one with the 'torn' trees...TFS!

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  5. You're so right! Guy cards are scarce! I love yours though! Great job!

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  6. lovely masculine cards, something I am not too good at, always running out of ideas. The are lovely stamps.

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  7. These are great guy cards! I really like the added dimension and colors! nicely done!

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  8. Great cards. I like how you have torn the trees in the first card.

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  9. Great cards! Bravo for doing more masculine cards. I'm terrible at them...

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  10. what fab guy cards, i think they're a problem for most of us..lol

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  11. What awesome guy cards!! We all need to see more guy cards being done!! TFS!

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  12. Beautiful cards! I love the colors, and the torn paper!!

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  13. 2 great guy cards Michelle, so glad that we inspired you with this weeks Home Sweet Home challenge! Love the log cabin and all of the texture you have added with the embossed background and tearing! Thanks for playing along with us this week at www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com
    Hugs Mrs Jx

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  14. lovely cards and colours
    Thanks for joining us this week
    Cuttlehugs
    AllisonX

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  15. oooh!! Love those guy cards!! I have that cabin stamp too!!!! I must try making those trees!!!!

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  16. Great masculine cards! I love the woodsy stamps! Thanks for joining us at the Cuttlebug Challenge this week!

    ~Lea

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  17. You have done a great job with these cards!
    Thank you for joining this challenge at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog Meda

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  18. Nice cards!
    Thank you for participating, you will be featured on Thursday at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com
    Thanks
    Maggie

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  19. great cards, love how you did the trees.

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