Making Masculine Cards
As someone who loves floral cards, making a masculine cards can be a challenge. I made these cards with a few tips in mind from the Altenew Academy class "For the Guys!". One card is white with pops of color for a more clean look. Another is interactive with a Z fold and pop up mechanism. These two cards use analogous colors on the color wheel. I also kept in mind the guys in my life who enjoy being in nature for cards 3 and 4. These cards range in theme from birthday, encouragement (smiles), to thinking of you, and anniversary. These are a culmination of techniques I have learned in Level 2 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program.
Card 1 Clean and Simple
Smiles: Pops of color on a white background
Planning is my main tip for this card. To begin, cut out multiple copies of "smiles" using the Timeless Sentiments 2 die and white cardstock. Next, plan how the words would fit on the card. I arranged the words beginning with the one I wanted to use as the focal image. I then positioned the other words around this one, in rows, staggering them on each line.
Before adhering anything down, remove the white background and cut out the word "smiles" to leave the negative space. Then glue the other "smiles" die cuts in place. The best way to get a close cut when trimming the excess diecut off it to turn the card over.
Under the negative space for the focal image, I wanted my pop of color. To add to the masculine feel of the card, I chose to use stripes. Stamp a white background piece using the Pinstripes background stamp. To get the double stripe effect, just shift your cardstock a bit for the second color. I chose Emerald and Starlight ink.
To make the focal image stand out a bit more, I used the shadow die to cut out a frame and inked it in Emerald and Starlight. Popping the top layer of the card up with foam tape made gives the negative focal image dimension. Finally, I added some enamel dots to the top of the letter "i". The card remains clean and simple with the white background with a few pops of color.
Tip: Don't forget to save all of the the little negative pieces you'd normally throw away. I needed the inside of the "e" and part that went inside the "e,s" to make the letters complete.
You can find more about these techniques and more in "Beyond Basic Backgrounds" at Altenew Academy. The inspiration of pops of color on white came from the class "Polychromatic".
Supplies from Altenew: Fresh Dye Inks in Emerald and Starlight, Timeless Sentiments 2 die, Pinstripe background stamp, Colorful Wonder Enamel Dots
Other supplies: foam tape (Hobby Lobby), white cardstock
Card 2: Pop Up Surprise!
Flying By Birthday: Interactive Card
The class "Color Your Day" is great for learning how to use the color wheel to make color decisions. Analogous colors are those beside each other on the color wheel, such as blue & green on the first card and blue & purple on this card. Analogous colors work well together.
The airplane and more angular script for Happy Birthday also complete the masculine look on this card. This card also involves some masking (which can be done with a sticky note) and some beginner card folding techniques.
Z Fold Card Base
A Z fold is a really easy way to add some movement to your card. Using a standard A2 side fold card, open up the front panel and score it vertically at the halfway point (2 1/8). Then fold this half piece back towards the main fold. The front panel will look half as wide when closed.
Ombre Stamping
On white cardstock, using a stamp positioner such as the Stamp Wheel, begin by inking the cloud stamp with Ultraviolet on the top 1/3. Where the ink stops, use a brush to blur the harsh lines. This will likely need to be stamped twice to get a solid image. Then load the middle of the stamp with Blue Tide. Blur with the brush and stamp. Finish with loading the lighter blue color, Turquoise on the bottom of the stamp. Again blur any harsh lines where the colors meet. Keeping the stamp in place, stamp with clear embossing ink and apply clear embossing powder. This will make the focal point shine! Use a nesting circle die to cut this circular cloud out and set it aside.
The sentiment "let's celebrate" is also stamped in Ultraviolet fading into Tide blue. To achieve a curvy sentiment, just curve the stamp as you stick it onto your block. I find this easier to do on a block but you could use a Misti. Trim the ends of this sentiment strip like a flag and adhere to the balloon bouquet.
Die Cut the Plane
Use the Enjoy the Flight dies to cut and assemble the airplane. Continue the analogous color palette with dark blue, white, and silver.
Balloon Stamps with Masking
In order for the balloons to tuck behind the fold of the card, the balloons need to be stamped in a somewhat vertical arrangement. Stamp the balloon you want in the foreground first. Next make a balloon mask by stamping a piece of sticky note paper including as much of the sticky edge on the back of the stamp as you can. Cut this out carefully, slightly inside the stamped image line. Stick the masking balloon over the stamped balloon image, and stamp the next balloon. This protects the image you already stamped. Continue to move the mask to cover balloons as needed. You can see below, the purple balloon is maksed off while stamping the balloon below it. To learn more about masking, check out the Altenew class "Masking Unleashed".
To finish off the balloons, add the reflection stamp and some triangles from the Birthday Greetings stamp set. You can make polka dots easily with a marker. This gives some variety to the balloons without introducing other colors. Cut this balloon bouquet out and adhere the a sentiment banner.
Cloudy Background
On a white A2 size panel, stencil clouds from top to bottom. The Cloud stencil can be rotated to get a variety of cloud shapes as you proceed down the panel. The color Sea Breeze coordinates with the blue balloons. It is the lightest shade in the Deep Blue Seas collection. Cut this panel in half vertically at 2 1/8 inches and adhere the left side piece to the front of the Z fold card panel. Adhere the other side to the inside of the card panel, shifting it to the right edge of the card. When the card is closed, the two pieces come together to complete a full cloudy scene.
Pop Out Mechanism
To make the balloons pop out when the card is opened, you'll need to make two small pop up mechanisms. This is done by cutting and folding, not adding anything! Place the balloon bouquet inside the card, close to the fold. Make marks to note where you need each pop out piece to attach to the balloons. Remove the balloon and cut slits in the folded card at each mark. These slits only need to be about a centimeter long. Open the card and push these pieces inside so they fold the opposite direction. It stands up or out like a stair step!
Putting it All Together
Start on the inside. Before adhering the balloons, cut a piece of silver cardstock 5 1/2 x 2 1/8. This piece will fill in the white spot on the inside of the card by the clouds. You do need to cut out notches for the pop up mechanisms. Place the silver paper beside the pop ups and make marks so you'll know where to cut. Then adhere this silver background into place.
Tip: Try it out first! Place the balloons on the pop up (without adhesive) and close the card. Is there too much sticking out? The balloons are a surprise inside. Adjust as necessary, leaving only as much showing as can be covered by the cloud circle on the front later.
To adhere the balloons, look carefully where to apply the glue. The balloons will sit on the pop up mechanism. You need strong glue (Gina K Connect is fantastic), but don't go overboard. Excess glue squeezing out could glue your card together. Also, be sure not to shift the balloons too tightly against the fold.
Now that the balloons are inside on the pop up, close the card and look at where part of a balloon and the sentiment sticks out. Adhere the circular cloud right down the center of the front of the card so it covers the part of the ballon/sentiment when it is closed. This means only the left side of the cloud needs glue, so the cloud can move as the card opens.
Finish off the card with "Happy Birthday to You" on the silver section and some vellum strings for the balloon. Add some vellum clouds for interest and enamel dots. To keep the card closed, you can also add a belly band with the sentiment die "hi". This appears to be a hello card until the recipient opens it and the balloons pop out!
Tip: I'll be honest, fun fold cards aren't really my thing. I'd rather spend time inking and watercoloring. If you think paper folding isn't for you, these two techniques (Z fold and pop up) are beginner friendly. Try a Z fold card. Then try a simple pop up. You can find lots of tutorials on YouTube. This Altenew tutorial shows how to make a Z fold card. Watch the whole video to see how to add a twist to your card!
Z Fold Card Tutorial
Altenew Supplies: Mini Delight Enjoy the Flight stamp & die set, Birthday Greetings stamp set, Timeless Sentiments 2 dies, Cloud Stencil, Fresh dye inks in Deep Blue Seas and Ultraviolet, Rock Collection enamel dots, clear embossing ink, Crystal Clear embossing powder, vellum.
Nesting circle dies and cardstock from various companies, Gina K Connect glue.
Cards 3 and 4 For the Outdoorsman
Mountain Anniversary: Embossing through a stencil
To appeal to the outdoorsman, the scene created with the Mountain stencil is perfect. The snow on the mountaintops is created with white embossing powder. Embossing also creates a barrier to keep watercolors where you want them to stay. This card uses techniques learned in the classes "Impressive Heat Embossing" and "Creative Watercolor Media" from Altenew Academy.
Stenciling
Begin with watercolor paper and the evergreen forest part of the Mountain stencil. Ink the tree tops with Forest Fern Fresh Dye ink. Keep the stencil in place and apply clear embossing ink. Then emboss with clear powder to created a barrier between the treetops and the lake above. To add snow to the treetops, emboss again just at the very tips of the trees and apply white embossing powder. Be a a little messy so it looks more like snow.
Watercoloring
Use a wet-on-wet technique to watercolor the trees using Emerald and Forest Fern inks watered down with a mister bottle of water. Continue to spray the paper with water and blot with a paper towel until the look you like is achieved. The two colors give some variation like you'd see in nature.
Next ink the mountain above in Morning Frost and Moon Rock Fresh Dye Inks. Clear emboss the base of the mountain and the mountain tops, adding a second layer of white snow embossing to the peaks. Embossing creates a barrier to keep the watercolors inside the lake area, and later the sky.
The lake water is created with a wet-on-wet technique by spraying the paper before using several shades of blue and gray watercolors from the Altenew Watercolors 36 pan set. Dry the lake area and apply shimmer with metallic watercolors in a silver and blue shade.
For the sky area, first paint the yellow sun in watercolor with a more precise technique of wet-on-dry. This means, don't wet the paper down first. The sun will not bleed into the mountain because it is protected with embossing. The remainder of the sky is created with watercolors using a wet-on-wet technique, blotting with a paper towel when needed. When my sky ended up too light, I applied the colors to damp paper and then misted it with water and waited a bit longer before blotting any really wet areas.
Creating your own sentiment
If you don't have the exact sentiment you want, some words can be masked off to make your own sentiment. I had "anniversary" and the words "hope your day". I masked off "hope" and "day" with a sticky note to isolate the word "your" and stamp before "anniversary".
Finish it off
To give the feel of a couple celebrating their anniversary, just add a pair of mugs. These mugs were cut from the My Favorite Mugs die. Arranged close together gives the feel that a couple are watching the morning sun rise over the mountains as they have their morning coffee. The word "celebrate" is cut from Timeless Sentiments 2. A little enamel heart in a deep green color adds to the theme of celebrating love, yet keeps the masculine feel.
Supplies from Altenew: Mountain stencil, Timeless Sentiments 2 dies, Bold Bouquet (sub sentiment), My Favorite Mugs die, Clear embossing ink pad, Crystal Clear embossing powder, Emerald & Forest Fern Fresh Dye Inks, 36 Pan Watercolors, Moon Rock & Morning Frost Fresh Dye Inks, Cool Summer Nights enamel dots, Cold Pressed Watercolor paper
Other Supplies: Brutus Monroe labaster embossing powder, Art Philosophy Metallic Watercolors
Thinking of You: Water Bleaching
Here's another card for the outdoorsman, to let him know you are thinking of him. The background is inked and water bleached. The chipmunk and fall leaves create the fall scene.
Water Bleaching a Background
Water bleaching basically means removing ink with a wet stamp. It isn't difficult, but takes a little time and a stamp positioning tool. First, use a wet-on-wet technique to apply the fall colors. This card uses Altenew Fresh Dye inks wiped on a piece of acetate and misted with water. The colors will flow into each other because your cardstock is wet.
Next for the bleaching! Position leaf stamps and wet them down with a spray mist bottle. After stamping, blot the wet image with a paper towel. This will remove a bit of the color from the paper in the shape of your stamp. You'll need to do this several times in the exact same spot before you see a more distinct image appear.
You can learn this technique and more ways to make interesting backgrounds in "Beyond Basic Backgrounds" at Altenew Academy.
Creating a Fall Scene
Creating this realistic little chipmunk is surprisingly easy with the Mini Delight Garden Friend layered stamp. Use ink from light to dark with each layer: Sand Dunes, Rocky Shore, Mocha and Espresso. The little guy will need to be handcut, but his shape isn't too intricate.
The leaves can be cut from the Garden Friend leaf dies in various shades of cardstock. Inking the edges in Redwood and Paper Bag adds dimension. A green strip of cardstock grounds the elements. To continue with the fall color theme, stamp the sentiment and sub sentiment (from Elegant Sayings) in Redwood ink. The chipmunk, a leaf and "Hello" are popped up with foam tape.
Tips: The chipmunk might seem a little too cute for some masculine cards, but it does look realistic. Using the more masculine script from Elegant Sayings also makes the card look more masculine.
If you struggle with scene building, check out the class "Seasonal Scene Building" at Altenew Academy for some tips about how to add dimension, layer elements and ground your scenes.
Altenew Supplies used: Cold Pressed watercolor paper, Garden Friend Mini-Delight stamp & die, Watercolor Dreams (leaf stamps), Elegant Sayings stamp & die, Coffee Break ink colors for chipmunk. Ink colors for background: Redwood, Grapevine, Amber Blaze, Melted Butterscotch, Warm Sunshine, Green Field
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