Masculine Challenge Card No. 1 – Geared up Garage

Hello, Crafters.

I had a lovely day yesterday making my July online customers Thank You Gifts and Thank You Cards. Although I didn’t plan it, the hand-made gifts and cards were all made with the Magnolia Lane Suite. My workshop order was delivered yesterday, so today I will get all my Happy Mail packaged up and in the post.

When I was ready to start working on today’s card, the first in this week’s self-inflicted challenge for masculine cards (what was I thinking? LOL!) I went through my stamp sets, and pulled out my current masculine sets. There were seven, plus four humourous sets if I wanted to go down that road. My first choice is Geared Up Garage.

My first hurdle when I make masculine cards is that I always have Othman’s words ringing in my ears “Why are men’s card so dark and dreary?” I normally try to avoid dark, but occasionally I don’t avoid, and I make sure it doesn’t equate to dreary by the time I have finished the card. Today’s card is a good example of that!

I wanted to use Pretty Peacock, which is one of the five gorgeous new In-Colours for 2019 – 2021. The Designer Series Paper (DSP) I used for the bottom half is called Woven Threads, and I chose the gingham design from this year’s 2019 – 2021 In-Colours 6″ x 6″ DSP Stack. To brighten the Pretty Peacock, it was a toss up between Seaside Spray and Balmy Blue – Balmy Blue won!

I started with a card base in Pretty Peacock Cardstock (CS), then a layer of Balmy Blue CS, and on top two equal sized DSP panels. On the join, I added a Balmy Blue CS trim. The sentiment is from the Parcels & Petals Stamp Set, and is definitely going to be my go-to birthday sentiment now; I think it’s brilliant! I chose the car from the Geared Up Garage Stamp Set, and stamped it using Pretty Peacock Ink on Whisper White CS. I did the same with the sentiment.I used the Rectangle Stitched Dies to die cut the image and the sentiment, and layered each of them onto Balmy Blue CS first, and then a layer of Pretty Peacock CS. To stop the car look as if it was floating in mid-air, I used my Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker to colour some ground underneath the card. Using Dimensionals I adhered the image in position, and then I added some Dimensionals on the sentiment, avoiding the top left-hand corner, where it would be resting on the image, and adhered it into position.

Using Tombow, I adhered a Key Metal Element in the top right-hand corner, and added a Linen Thread Bow. To decorate the inside of my card, I stamped part of the car in the bottom right-hand corner of a Whisper White CS layer. As before, I grounded the car using my Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker. Next I adhered it to a Balmy Blue CS layer, and then on the card base.

I think my card is dark but not dreary. I wonder what Othman’s take on it will be? Anyway, that’s it for today. I have to get the Happy Mail and tomorrow’s card all finished by 6.30pm today. Vicki and Leigh have invited us over for dinner, once Othman’s home from work and cleaned up! So I’d better get my skates on. I look forward to being back with you tomorrow. In the meantime, happy crafting.

JanB xx

Products used: please click on any link to be taken to my 24/7 online Stampin’ Up! shop. Thank You.

Pretty Peacock A4 Cardstock [150886] £8.25	Balmy Blue A4 Cardstock [147007] £8.25	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £9.00	Woven Threads Designer Series Paper [149497] £10.75	2019–2021 In Color 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [149617] £10.75
Geared Up Garage Cling Stamp Set [148590] £20.00	Parcels & Petals Bundle [151107] £47.50	Classic Garage Metal Elements [148485] £6.50	Linen Thread [104199] £4.75	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] £33.00
Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad [150083] £7.00	Neutrals Stampin’ Write Markers [147158] £27.50	Paper Snips [103579] £9.25	Grid Paper [130148] £11.75	Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] £5.50
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] £3.75	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] £6.50	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] £3.75	Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals [144108] £3.75