Masculine Card - Any Occasion

I started making cards because I couldn't find satisfactory all purpose masculine cards.  It was easy to find flowery images or childish drawings but no real "hard" line masculine themes.  Masculine themed cards, like any others, have rules that need to be observed and followed.  The most obvious two are: color and texture.

Dark color schemes and rough finishes are usually associated with a more masculine look.  To me the perfect combination is "wood" and I use a lot of wood patterned papers for background of masculine cards.  The perfect example is the card below that uses not only K&Company wood patterned paper for the background but also for the highlights.  

I started by stamping some animal images (North Woods) on some very light wood patterned paper in sepia ink, leaving space between them and then colored the images with pencils.  I mounted the stamped images on a strip of dark brown paper; which I trimmed just slightly larger then the stamped strip.  Next I covered a size A2 tan colored cad with a wood patterned paper that I also edged with dark brown ink.  I continued the overlay process by adding the strip of stamped images to the card.  Next I create two "boards" by cutting two strips of a darker wood patterned paper, edged them in dark brown ink and added them to the card.  To take the card one step further into the masculine realm, I added faux nail heads, small black stickers from Stampendous. 

The "boards" ends were cut using a craft knife and have straight edges but these could have been cut with a deckle patterned scissor or die for a rougher look.  What ever the occasion is, the text can be put on the boards.

Making things fit!

As I stated I have over the years used  mostly size A2 cards ( 5 1/2" x 4 1/4") versus the larger more common size A7 card ( 7" x 5"). Often pre-made products are too large for size A2 cards. and my solution is to cut then apart or down and re-assemble them to the size I need. Case in point, this prairie style sticker frame.

I wanted to use the die of the forest for my background ... but it seemed too small and lost. Framing it was the way to go and I had the perfect sticker frame for it, problem it was way too big. So I cut the frame apart and then re-assembled it to fit centrally on the card. Then to bring more emphasis on the die cut I cut up a large pre-made flower die cut and laid it out to add just enough color and curves around the the smaller rectangular die cut. I adhered the "forest" die to a sky background patterned paper as well as added a bear sticker. Layer upon layer was added to literally force the bear to the fore front. 

March 2018 Blog Illustration #1

After I posted my first "new" blog entry, I was asked to include more illustrations to clarify what I was discussing ... so I decided to start posting illustrations (cards) after the fact which will serve two purposes. The first is to as requested clarify the text and the second is to reiterate the contents and meaning of the text. I also have decided to select specific portions of the text to illustrate and repeat in hopes that this will  not only inform but also inspire. Most of my illustrations (cards) will be a combination of stickers and die cut pieces but the ideas work for all medias. So let's begin ... with this first card is to illustrate "composition".

First of all I look at each one of my cards as an individual painting and I treat as such. I also like to lay out my pieces before I actually finalize the card and adhere everything down. Using a size A2 card also provides me with a smaller "canvas" to cover.  So to begin I select an image and in this case I selected a 3D glittered sticker of a pitcher with flowers.  The colors on the image I selected being bright I wanted to soften them by providing a softer background. I started with a strip of texted paper on a green background card; which split the card and then added a white hand punched tag; which I centered on the overall card to re-establish a balance. 

Next I added the 3D glittered sticker of a pitcher with flowers. Off-setting an item is usually associated with a more modern style. Centering an item is usually associated with a more classical style and the image I was using was pretty bold and modern, so I opted for off-setting the sticker. When off-setting an item make sure the off-set is big enough to look like it was planned and part of the overall layout design rather than a misalignment or mistake. Looking at the layout so far, I realized that there was a rather long white "dead" space along the side of the card. To break this up I added a flower at the bottom and a text banner.

Composition is a way of controlling the viewers eyes around the canvas. In this case the weight of the 3D pitcher with flowers, pulls your eyes to the right, then the added flower at the bottom of the pitcher pull your eyes back over to the left, with the tag directly above pulling your eyes back up. 

Simple Basic Design Rules

2018 is a year of changes and new beginnings for me. One of those changes is to get back into using this blog to teach interested parties about card making by posting at least once a month some sort of information or card. This time I'll make the promise stick ... so let's start with some basic design rules.

Yes, just like every where else, there are rules to designing and they fall into three categories: composition, color and pattern. These items will help you in identifying or defining the style and the feeling you want to convey and create.

Composition:

Composition is the organization of your items within a set background area and is usually the first rule to be addressed.

• An even number of items will create a more symmetrical layout and this is usually associated with a more classical style. An odd number of items will create a looser layout and this is usually associated with a more modern style. The exception is a single item, which can cover both styles.
• Centering an item is usually associated with a more classical style. Off-setting an item is usually associated with a more modern style. When off-setting an item make sure the off-set is big enough to look like it was planned and part of the overall layout rather than like a misalignment or mistake.
• Size creates emphasis. One single large item with a number of smaller items around it makes the larger item take on more importance, whereas if all the items are the same size they all carry the same importance or non-importance.
• Busy backgrounds go better with single large items and bold text. Plain backgrounds go better with several items and smaller text.
• One of the old design adages is “less is more”. Keep that in mind when laying out your work … it is easier to add something than to remove something.

Color:

• Soft monochromatic schemes and pastel color schemes are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look. Dark monochromatic schemes and bright color schemes are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look. Either can be used for children.
• Black and white color schemes (but especially photographs) will look classy and timeless. These can be further enhanced by coloring just a single item within the back and white photograph.
• Sepia color schemes will make just about anything look antiqued, dated and old. The same goes for irregular edges, which when darkened make the item look antiqued.
• Darker backgrounds will make the images appear smaller, while lighter backgrounds will make the images appear larger.
• Larger and darker colored items not only appear closer but also give them a sense of importance or dominance. Smaller and lighter colored items not only appear farther but also give them a look of being faded.

Patterns:

Patterns can be mixed and the standard rule to mix and match patterns is to mix an organic pattern with a geometric pattern of the same color schemes with one being a larger pattern than the other. If the patterns are both the same size they tend to visually fight for dominance and the effect of mix and match is lost. Pattern mix and match also follows all the rules of color noted above.

• Curvaceous, highly detailed and ornate designs are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look. Straight lines, non detailed and simple designs are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look.
• Soft materials, such as linens, ribbons etc, are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look. Hard materials, such as wood, metal, etc, are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look.
• Organic backgrounds are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look; however trees, leaves and rocks are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look. Geometric backgrounds are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look, with the exceptions of stripes that can go either way. However again, slim and soft colored stripes are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look while wide and bold colored stripes are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look. Dots and circles are usually associated with a more playful style and with children.
• Soft colored patterned backgrounds are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look. Bold colored patterned backgrounds are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look.
• Round or oval frames are usually associated with a more classical or feminine look while square or rectangular frames are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look.
• Several layers of framing can accentuate an item and usually works better when a single large item is featured.
• Partial corner frames are usually associated with a more modern or masculine look.

These simple basic rules are important in establishing an overall design concept, but are by no mean set in stone. Remember rules are meant to be broken and as such they can be mixed and matched to suit your needs or to express your personal design philosophy.

But most of all remember that making cards should be fun and relaxing and not become a stressful challenge! Also remember that rules are meant to be broken, so enjoy yourselves and create!

Wallet (money holder) cards!

Although everyone enjoys receiving money, checks or gift cards, the store offered money enclosure cards leaves a lot to be desired. To address this a few years ago I created my own wallet (money holder) cards.  These can be made for men, women and kids depending on the papers, embellishments and color schemes used.  The technique is fairly simple and the best template is your own wallet (or someone’s close to you).  Here are examples of a man's and woman's wallet.

Man’s style wallet card:

For the exterior I started with a simple bi-fold black 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card. I embossed two pieces of black paper with an alligator print pattern, cut them to size and adhered them to exterior of card. Next I cut out a ½” x 1” piece of gold paper, attached it to lower right corner of the front panel and added small sticker letters to create the recipient’s initials.

For the inside of the wallet cut a 2 ½” x 7 ½” piece of black paper, fold it up lengthwise ½” from the bottom and attach it across the top of the card (about two and half inches down) to create a money pocket. Next, cut out two more panels from black paper 3 ½” x 4” each. Turn one into a “driver’s license” holder by cutting it out to create a frame to hold a piece of white paper for the message. Cut out a slit 1/8” x 2 ½” about halfway down in the second panel to create a gift card holder. Attach both panels to the inside of the wallet covering the lower portion of the money pocket. Another little gold tag can be added for more initials.

Woman’s style wallet card:

For the exterior I started with a tri-fold 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card made from embossed football pattern 12” x 12” paper. Cut back the top layer to 1 ½” to create the top flap of the wallet. For this wallet I edged the top flap with a die-cut border that I mounted on gold paper first and then cut out.  Women like "bling" so I added four rhinestones. To keep the wallet closed use two small pieces of Velcro.

For the inside of the wallet create two pockets from strips of paper for the money and gift card pockets: the money pocket is a 2 ½” x 7 ½” piece paper, folded up lengthwise ½” from the bottom, while the gift card pocket is a 1 ½” x 4 ½” piece paper also folded up lengthwise ½” from the bottom. These are attached to the center portion of the wallet. On the lower portion create a “driver’s license” holder section lined with white paper for the message.

Both these cards will hold standard US currency, standard personal checks and standard sized gift cards.  Although there is a lot of layout and cutting involved, the end results are well worth it.  These are, of course, just two possibilities, I am sure you can all come up with your own ideas and designs. Think of all the fun you can have for kids! The nice thing about these wallet cards is they can be “re-gifted” by simply taking out the white inset on the inside of the card and replacing it with a new one (as well as the money, check or gift card of course!).