Cards as Gifts - A Masculine Set for the Guys -

As promised, I’m back with another gift set but with a masculine vibe. I think many of us feel a bit uninspired when we try to approach a masculine card. Hopefully after reading this post, you will come away with some tips to spark your creativity when it comes to creating a card for the guys. Then you can give it away to someone who may also struggle creating cards for guys. Sharing is caring. Final photos of the cards will be at the end of this post.

This is part two of my Level 1 Educator Program final challenge. I was required to create a set of cards using techniques from three different Level 1 classes as well as using a recycled element which, in this case, was my card packaging. I will have complete list of the products and supplies used at the end of this post. A list of the classes and techniques that inspired these cards is listed below.

Level 1 Class Inspo:

For the Guys
- I incorporated geometric elements in the background using cover dies
Easy Die Cutting Techniques
- I used the negative pieces from my cover die cuts to create an additional card background
Let It Shine
- Something a little unexpected for a masculine card but I used metallic copper cardstock for the sentiment and some of the die cut elements

So, where did I even start with this? Well, when it comes to masculine cards, the first thing that comes to mind for me is colors. I like to start with a color palette and let that guide me through the rest of the process. For these cards, I pulled out my trusty Color Cube again and flipped through until a color combo spoke to me. Come on down color card 111! When I saw these colors, I immediately thought “woodsy” and “nature”. I knew I wanted a more clean look so, for me, that meant die cutting. I grabbed some cardstock colors that closely resembled the colors in the palette I chose. I swapped out the Crimson color for a metallic copper cardstock to add a hint of shine.

I knew I wanted to use a geometric element but the color palette just really said “nature” to me. So, taking an idea from my floral card set, I chose a couple cover dies to use for interesting backgrounds. The Cozy Flannel and Simple Shapes cover dies were perfect. Since there were two blues in my color palette, I chose the darkest one to use as my background and card base color. I wanted my background pattern to be the same color as my card base to make it less of a feature of the card but still add some texture.

As I was looking at the cover dies, I realized I could get a two backgrounds with one cut by using the negative pieces. I would just need to treat it like a puzzle. Now, for the cards using the Simple Shapes cover die, I wasn’t smart about it. I ran the cardstock and die through my die cutting machine and then used liquid glue to glue each negative piece onto my A2 card panel using the positive piece as a template. That’s kind of a dangerous game to play because you can accidentally glue your template to the card as well. Ask me how I know this.

So, take my advice on this. When using this technique, apply something like a Stick-It adhesive sheet to the cardstock BEFORE using the cover plate. This will allow you to just stick the pieces in place without the mess of glue. I got smart and did this with the Cozy Flannel cover die. So much easier!

Here’s the step by step.

Cut a panel of cardstock just larger than the cover die using a paper trimmer
Apply Stick-It adhesive sheet to cardstock panel leaving the the backing sheet on the adhesive side
Run the panel through a die cutting machine with the cover die
- Make sure the cover die is touching the non-adhesive side of the cardstock
Remove from the panel and save the negative pieces
Use the positive die cut piece (the piece the cover die is meant to cut) as a template by securing it onto the A2 card base with craft tape such as the Spellbinder Best Ever Craft Tape
With the template in place, place each negative piece back into place after removing the protective backing from the adhesive side
Once all negative pieces are adhered, remove the template
Remove the protective backing from the adhesive side of the positive piece and place onto a separate A2 card base

With the card bases done, it was time to decide on the additional die cut elements for my card set. Again, the color palette made me think of nature and woods. So, I went to my stash of dies and pulled a few with a nature theme.

For the Cozy Flannel cards, I used a combination of leaves in various colors and a branch cut from copper cardstock.

Zero Waste Leaf Pattern Die
- These zero waste dies are a great way to get multiple die cuts in one pass
- Cut once from each color of cardstock
Leaf Essentials Die Set
- I only used the tall, slender leaf from this set
- Cut once from each color of cardstock
Berry Branch Layering Die Set
- I only used the branch layer from this set
- Cut twice from copper cardstock

As I was making leaf arrangements, I realized incorporating leaves in the light blue color threw off the design a bit because they stood out from the rest a little more than I wanted. So, I just went with the gray and dark green colors paired with the copper branch. When arranging greenery, odd numbers are usually the way to go so I chose three elements. The zero waste die also cuts small circles in various sizes so I chose to use those in the light blue color as a sort of embellishment. I had just enough to use on all four cards. YAY!

For each arrangement, I placed the copper branch between the gray and green layers. I put the gray leaves in the very back and the green on top because that was the most pleasing to my eye. When making die cut arrangements, you just need to try different things until something feels right. Always place them on your card as you’re arranging so you get an idea for what it will look like once adhered. DO NOT adhere them until you’re sure of what look you want. I forgot to take a photo as I was arranging so you’ll just have to use your imagination.

I knew I wanted these leaves peeking out from behind my sentiment. For this design, I wanted the sentiment to be a die cut as well. The Versatile Greetings die set was perfect. The font is fairly basic with no flourishes which is great for a more masculine feel. There’s a shadow layer around the sentiment so I chose four that I wanted to use. I cut the shadow from the same color cardstock as the card base to keep it subtle. The sentiments I cut from copper cardstock. As the name implies, these sentiments are very general so you can use the cards for any occasion. Once I decided on my final leaf arrangement, I chose the sentiment that worked best with that cluster. I adhered the leaves with liquid glue just near the bottom of the leaves to allow the arrangement to feel more realistic. Then I popped up my sentiments with foam adhesive squares and placed the light blue circles as embellishments with liquid glue.

For the cards using the Tree Mix dies, I knew I wanted a set of three trees for each card. Odd numbered groupings are typically more pleasing to the eye. In this set, there were three tree mixes that felt more masculine to me. I cut multiple of each from the three remaining colors of cardstock. The detail layers I cut from copper cardstock. A little tip here. If you aren’t sure of your final design just yet, cut multiple options. This will keep you from having to start and stop multiple times once you get to the placement stage.

I went with three different trees in a line, overlapping each other a bit for the first card. I adhered those with liquid glue right in the center of the Simple Shapes card base. On the second, I chose three of the same tree in different colors and clustered those on the right side of the card with liquid glue except for the topmost tree. I adhered that with some foam adhesive squares to pop it up from the others a bit. You can see the arrangement in the photo below. JUST KIDDING. Ugh! I got so excited putting die cuts together and arranging them, I forgot to take a photo AGAIN. Assembling die cuts is my most favorite thing. I get in my zone. You get the idea though from the final photo.

I used the remaining sentiments that I die cut from the Versatile Greetings set and adhere those with foam adhesive squares. Then I added the rest of the light blue circles from the Zero Waste Leaf Pattern die as embellishments.

This brings us to the final step. Creating a panel for the inside. You’ll recall that I didn’t use all the die cuts and I always like to use something from the front on the inside of my cards. So I used two of the extra trees in the dark green and glued those into the bottom right corner of a Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb panel cut to 5 1/4 by 4 inches. Those went inside my Tree Mix die cards. For the leaf cards, I used an extra leaf in dark green but I needed a copper element. So, I used the Zero Waste Leaf Pattern die again to cut from copper cardstock and used the circles as embellishments. I love how that turned out.

Once those were adhered to the inside of their respective cards, this set was complete. Now I just needed to package them up. As I mentioned in the previous post, I had some packaging I saved from a set of handmade cards I received as a gift. They were Christmas cards and I got to send those out this year to some special people. The packaging is clear so it allows the card design to show through and I didn’t want to impede the view of that too much. I paired the cards with A2 white envelopes. I would have preferred a dark blue but I didn’t have those on hand. Plus, it might be challenging for the average person to write an address on a dark envelope. Just some food for thought.

For the final touch, I used a dark blue velvet ribbon. To keep it in place, I used double sided tape across the back of the packaging and ran the ribbon over top of that. That’s a wrap! I hope this helps jumpstart your ideas for a masculine card set. All you need is a starting point. Thanks for stopping by today. Now go get creative!

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