Happy Saturday! Today I am sharing another project from my presentation at Stampin’ Up!’s annual convention. I was asked to give my thoughts and ideas about masculine cards. I believe masculine cards can be perfectly beautiful – with cool techniques and pops of color, with whimsical sentiments and great textures. Here’s one of the cards from my display board: 
Tips, Tricks and Reminders:
- Background Technique. This card features one of the background techniques I shared during my convention presentation. The moment I saw Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper, I knew I needed to have it. Why? I didn’t like it, so I had to get my hands on it, challenged to make a project I loved with it. The paper comes with clear embossed patterns. This is one of the ways I found to really make this paper pop – and I love this paper now, by the way! It’s an ancient art form known as globbing. With an aqua painter, glob white craft ink all over the paper. Paint it over and over, back and forth, completely covering the paper. It will not be pretty. Once you have globbed the ink all over the paper, wipe it off with a paper towel. Wipe as much or as little as you want, leaving a whitewashed pattern on the paper that’s not embossed.
- Sentiment. I really like this sentiment from Notable Notions. Although it’s a sewing-themed stamp set, and although this is technically a button, it’s perfect to grace the front of this card. It’s not a scene-stealer (allowing the background paper to really pop here), but it serves its purpose. I heat embossed the button on Whisper White cardstock with Early Espresso embossing powder and punched it out with a circle punch.
- Thoughtful layering. I love this sentiment, and I really love this background. I wanted to honor these things by giving them a very special card structure to rest in. With thin layers of Island Indigo, Early Espresso and Whisper White around all the elements of the card, the layering frames the card nicely. The ribbon is framed, the band is framed, the sentiment is framed, the card front is framed.
Stamp sets: Notable Notions Inks: White Craft Ink Papers: Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Whisper White Accessories: Early Espresso Heat Embossing Powder, Circle punches, 3/4″ Chevron Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Hi Brian, as soon as I read the title “You make me smile” I knew this was going to be nice. The surprise was it was masculine. Double bonus. The clean colors and layout are very nice. Thanks a bunch.
I’m saying it again, we, all of us, are benefiting from the fact that SU asked you to make this display of masculine cards for the convention, each one of the ones you’ve shared here has been a winner! I’m always a bit stumped when I need to make a card for the men in my life but now, with your samples, I wont have that problem anymore. Thank you for sharing all of this wonderful and creative masculine cards with us.
So much to love here! The hansome color pallet of layering, the specialty dsp and that chevron ribbon! One handsome card!
Love the style in which you used on this card. Is it possible for you to make a “bad” card, NO, I don’t think so. Thanks Brian for always sharing such beautiful cards.
As Maria said, we, all of us, are benefiting from the fact that SU asked you to make this display of masculine cards for the convention (thanks Maria).
Love the card. So sorry I couldn’t see it at Convention… You were mobbed like a rock star!
CAS & perfectly CASE-able!! If I could pick my 2 all-time favorite blues in the world, Island Indigo is one if them (& Pool Party is the other)!! The Chevron ribbon is the best too!!! Nice and wide & a great addition on top of the famous Brian-glob-and-smear-and-wipe then Ta Da technique!! 🙂
ooh Brian that is nice , I too have a hard time with men cards , !!!!
hugs frenchie
How in the world did I ever miss hearing about the ancient art form of globbing?!?!?!?!?!
I must have had my head in the sand all these years! I need to check and see if I own white craft ink. I KNOW I own that DSP! I am definitely going to have to try this ancient art form! It makes such a great effect on this card. And what a perfect place for the chevron ribbon. As much as I like the ribbon, I hadn’t figured out how I was going to use it yet. Now I know AND what a great masculine card design you’ve shared for me to do so! Thanks so much, Brian. Another in the long, long line of “winner cards” from you! Happy Weekend!
Perfection….. what a great work of art. I like the fact that you go into detail of the “Hows” and “Whys” . Take for example the ancient art form of Globbing ! I have some of this dsp and I just might practice a little “Globbing ” myself to see what I can create . It kinda reminds me of “Sand Layering ” when I look at it . Love that use of the Chevron ribbon in the layering and as usual another stand out with the framing of the sentiment . A winner !
Bravo Brian does it again! Great card.
Wow! This card is absolutely perfect! Great technique…LOVE IT!!!
Gorgeous artful card- thanks for sharing all the tips too! Another keeper.
Why is it when other people show cards with the new chevron ribbon it looks tacky but when you use it, it looks classy? I haven’t wanted to buy the chevron ribbon till I saw this card!
Love your globbing technique, lol! Great guy card.
I saw you glob away at convention…and I must admit, although I’ve never heard of it before, well, in the form of making cards that is…. you are a true artist! I won’t tell you my version of globbing…it’s not too pretty! ewwww. anyway, I love this card, naturally! I also love that SU asked you to do all these masculine cards. I find those the hardest to make because, well let’s face it, we women do NOT know what’s in a man’s head, so to create a card is difficult. And, I so agree with Kat on the chevron ribbon. I never liked it until I saw it here. Hmmm… another order coming up! Thanks Brian! You inspire me every single day! 🙂
Oh Brian, this is amazing….have to try your technique…abd possibly have to get another stack of this DSP…love it! Fabulous colors and card…TFS, especially since we could not get close to your both…but thrilled you were well attended!
hey rockstar, you rocked it,
Great masculine card Brian!
Thank youfor the idea…..great creativity! Yep, you rock!
I was so fortunate to watch you present this card at Convention. Admire your style both in your presentation and in your design. Just the right amount of sensibility and humour without going over the top! Thanks so much for your inspiration I’m now a fan!
Another home run, Brian! Love that you always share techniques. I wasn’t interested in Natural Composition DSP either, but now I see a lot of possibilities. Great card!
Best masculine card yet! I can’t wait to try globbing.