Hi there!
Welcome back for another fun Papertrey Group Post! Today, it's all about guys.....I know it can be super tough to make cards and gifts for the guys in our lives, partly because they're just not as fun! Haha! Sorry guys, but let's face it, girls have way better color options and way more fun focal point options....like FLOWERS!! Heeeee! It's true! BUT, never fear.....today, we're going to help make it a bit easier to create cards and gifts for the guys in your life! There are a slew of new products to help you and each of us is featuring different items. I get to help introduce you to some new stitching dies by Erin Lincoln that I think you're gonna love, because they work great for guys OR girls! Bonus! And not only that, but Lizzie Jones has a new Text Block die perfect for Dad and I'll tell you all about the card I made with that too! Let's get right to it....
All of the new products you're getting peeks at this week will be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink beginning on May 15 at 10pm EST.
First off, Nichole asked us to find a card we've made in the past that is decidedly feminine and then remake it, for a guy! Here is the card I chose to remake in a masculine style. As you can see, I used a text block die and veeeery girly colors as well as a big fluffy felt flower. Happy sigh.
And below is the card remade, for a guy!
It's totally the same card layout. I just changed the colors used and instead of the flower, I used stars which are much more masculine. When stamping the green star, I chose to go with a striped image from Enclosed: Star, which again lends itself to being more masculine than the curved option from the set. When creating cards for guys, straight lines rather than curves always give the card a bit tougher feel. Less soft and sweet. ;)
I die cut the Text Block: Dad die from dark chocolate card stock. To step this up even further, you could totally cut a second one, trim off that cute "EVER!" banner and add it over the top for a two-tone effect! I also added a star from Star Prints, which I trimmed out by hand. You'll notice again that, when choosing that star from all of the options in the set, I opted for solid and straight lines rather than dots or swirls or the like.
Inside the card, I stamped a sentiment from Tucked In: Father's Day as well as several mini stars from Enclosed: Star and two more masculine stars from Star Prints.
Next up, I created a key fob with Erin's new Stitched Key Fob and Stitched Medallion dies! So, I will tell you that the Stitched Medallion dies are DARLING with the sweetest little scalloped edges. But to make this key fob a bit more manly and to coordinate with my card, I opted to go with a circle/star motif, so I used the stitching holes dies on both the dark chocolate key fob die cut as well as a Limitless Layers: 1-3/4" circle die cut. Then, I laid the hawaiian shores circle over the front of the key fob, lining up both sets of holes, and stitched them together, adding a small kraft felt circle from the Stitched Medallion 2 die set, to the center.
Above, you can see the key fob in progress. I found the D ring at Michael's, as well as the key rings, although I have to say the D ring is a little bigger than I would have liked. But I couldn't find smaller ones that day. These D rings are 1-1/2". I did see 3/4" D rings but those would have been too small.
Note, that once the front was decorated the way I wanted it, I folded the key fob in half to stitch it together and included a piece of die cut coaster board in the center to give it a little stiffness. I used another of the Limitless Layers: 1-3/4" circle dies here, this time the scalloped one since it's a bit bigger than the solid circle die. The scalloped one fits perfectly inside, and no one can tell that it's scallops, so you don't have to worry about it making the key fob too girly. ;)
Above, you can see the finished key fob as well as the embroidery floss colors I used. I used 3 strands of each, when stitching. You could certainly create a zillion different little patterns just by stitching the holes up differently than I did, but I like how this one turned out!
To package it up, it fits nicely in one of Papertrey's large hinged tins! I just added some raffia to the bottom of the tin for some filler, tied a bow around it and added a tag! Easy peasy!
For the tag, I used the Enclosed: Basic Folded Tag die to cut out a kraft tag and then layered some Enclosed: Star die cuts on top. I stamped the "for you" from Enclosed: Star as well as the "DAD" from Superhero and then added a strip of white card stock stamped with a sentiment from Keep It Simple: Father's Day!
I punched a hole in the back layer of the tag, so I could tie it tot the bow on the tin.
Now, how about we take a decidedly girly turn?! :) For this card, I started with a white card base and then added some orange zest bitty dot paper.
I die cut some white card stock with the Center Style: Feminine die and stamped three sentients from Watercooler Talk in versamark ink before heat embossing them with white embossing powder. I also stamped one of the detail images from Center Style: Feminine at the top and bottom of the die cut with summer sunrise ink.
I die cut and stamped some Bitty Bouquets to add to the top of the card, using summer sunrise, orange zest and hawaiian shores inks.
Next, I pulled out my new water brush. Do you have one of those? The brush handle is a little tube that you fill with water and then you just squeeze out a bit of water while you're using it, to watercolor. Um, why have I never used that before? So easy! Good grief. So, I pressed some Tim Holtz ink onto an acetate sheet (these inks seem to stay really vibrant when you add water to them) and then picked up some of that ink with the watercolor brush, and then painted it onto the Center Style die cut, brushing right over the white embossed sentients. I love how this totally makes the sentiments pop!
I left the die cut alone to dry and once it was ready, I popped it on the card front.
Here is another work related card for you, but again, keep in mind that these new Center Style dies and stamps can work on virtually any style or occasion of card you're making! Use whatever sentiments and images you have in your stash, to layer on top of these!!
I die cut the Center Style: Masculine die from tropical teal card stock and then cut a piece of simply chartreuse card stock to layer over the top. I stamped the diamond image from Center Style: Masculine twice, with ripe avocado ink followed by the chevron image twice, with tropical teal ink. I stamped the sentiment from Watercooler Talk in the center with simply chartreuse ink and added a simple cotton twine bow to soften up all of those lines just a bit.
One more for today.....here's a fun card I made with Enclosed: Star. I simply stacked up several solid star die cuts and added the "Super" frame to the top layer. I added a couple sentiments from Enclosed: Star with pure poppy ink and popped the whole thing on the hibiscus burst card base. Behind the stack of stars is a strip of berry sorbet bitty dot paper as well as some striped vellum.
That's it for me today, but the rest of the girls have lots more guy gift inspiration for you, so be sure to visit each one!
Betsy Veldman
Melissa Phillips
Ashley Newell
Heather Nichols
Maile Belles
Laura Bassen
Laurie Willison
Amy Sheffer
Plus, Erin Lincoln, Lizzie Jones and Lexi Daly will have another peek or two at their newest stamp sets!
Have a fabby day and I'll see you again tomorrow with the last of my Countdown projects for this month, as well as a fun bit of news! Stay tuned!
xo,
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{Best Dad Ever supplies -- click on thumbnails}
{Super Dad tag supplies}
{Congratulations supplies}
{Congrats supplies}
{Super Day supplies}