For the Boys

Masculine cards normally very difficult to create. Most of the "bits and bobs" that are available for paper crafting have a more feminine flair (flowers, ribbon, gems, pearls). However, you can create striking masculine cards with a bit of cardstock and some stamps!

1. Cut ColorMates Smooth and Silky Cocoa cardstock to 11 x 4 1/4 inches. Score at 5 1/2 inches and make into a top-fold card.

2. Trim Kraft cardstock to 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 inches. Using dark brown ink, stamp a wood grain image onto the kraft cardstock. Attach the wood grain panel to the card front.

3. Use a die cut template to trim a sentiment strip from Original ColorMates Light Totally Tan cardstock  (or trim a 1/2 x 3 inch strip of cardstock). Stamp the sentiment onto the cardstock strip with dark brown ink.

4. Attach brads to the ends of the cardstock strip as shown. Attach the strip to the bottom of the card front. Use foam tape for extra dimension.

5. Using glue, attach a length of twine to the left center of the card.

6. Cut an inverted scallop circle from  ColorMates Smooth and Silky Cocoa cardstock. Attach the circle to the card with foam tape, overlapping the twine.

7. Using dark brown ink, stamp the main image onto Original ColorMates Light Totally Tan cardstock. Die cut the image with a circle template. Lightly sponge vintage photo ink around the image as shown.

8. Attach the image to the inverted scallop circle with foam tape.

9. Using strong glue, attach three metal gears to the upper right corner of the card as shown.

10. Trim Original ColorMates Light Totally Tan cardstock to 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 inches and line the inside of the card.

Thanks for looking!

~ Gloria (Scraps of Life)

Supplies used:

WorldWin Papers:
ColorMates Smooth and Silky Cocoa
Original ColorMates Light Totally Tan
Kraft

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa; Ranger Distress Vintage Photo
Stamps: My Favorite Things Wood Plank Background; Stampin' Up Harvest Blessings; Hero Arts Everyday Sayings
Die cut templates: Spellbinders Standard Circles Large, Large Classic Inverted Scallop Circles; My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips
Twine: May Arts
Gears: Tim Holtz Idea-ology; 7 Gypsies
Brads: unknown
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Aleene's Tacky Glue; Beacon Fabri-Tac

Layering a Design

I'm sharing a layout that I did for CHA that has a good bit of dimension on it. I wanted to show how easy it is to get this look. I apologize for not having closeup photos, but when I did the page it was to show at CHA, so I didn't take the closeup shots. But it's pretty simple.

I started off with ColorMates Smooth & Silky Offwhite and Sapphire Blue. I stamped two 12x12 pieces with a floral stamp using a blue ink. I then put a solid piece of the sapphire blue across the center of the stamped background page. I matted my photo with the same blue. 

Next, I cut squares of the stamped offwhite paper. 10 smaller and 4 larger. I think they were about 2 1/2" for the smaller ones, you can play around and get the right size. I matted the 4 larger ones with the blue. Then I used foam pop dots and placed the smaller squares diagonally. Then placed the four larger ones adding a double layer of foam dots! So you really have 3 layers, it is hard to see in the photo but looks really nice up close!

The last thing was just adding my embellies, which was a few yellow and blue flowers with gemstone centers. I used an Anna Griffin journaling tag  and title and that was it!!! Super easy page, but has a really nice look! I hope you enjoyed seeing it! And, by the way, this is our youngest son and his fiance!! They're so cute!!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by!!!
Patti