I try to always approach life from a place of Gratitude. There are days when this is easier than others. Today, is one of those days. My son, Mike, turns 24 today! I am so blessed and grateful for him! Seeing him grow up to be the man I always hoped he would become is one of the greatest joys in my life. (My kids don't like when I "get mushy" so I will leave it at that.) ;-) As a Paper Crafter, it's fun to channel your feelings into your Card Making. I had so much fun creating this card for his birthday! Some find Masculine Cards to be more difficult but I love them! You can get very Vintage and Shabby Chic with them. There are lots of goodies on this one but my favorite part of it is the faux crocodile background. It didn't come out as I had originally planned, but I liked it even better! I'll work on a video for you guys so Subscribe to my You Tube Channel and you'll be notified when it posts. (Full details below) I hope you have the BEST day on Mike's Birthday! 😀
- Cut a piece of SU! Chocolate Chip Cardstock to 5 1/2" x 11"
- Score and fold at 5 1/2".
- Put folded card back onto Score Board and score at 1/2". Seal the inside of the 1/2" fold flap.
- Cut a piece of Chocolate Chip Cardstock to 4 7/8" x 4 7/8". Cover entire piece with Versamark or Embossing Ink. Sprinkle with Clear Embossing Powder. "Draw" a design using your Bone Folder.
- Emboss with Heat Tool.
- Ink SU! Natural Trim Ribbon with Chocolate Chip Ink and a Blending Tool and wrap around the 1/2" fold flap of the card and secure with Sticky Strip. Insert the edge into an Idea-Ology Buckle and fray the edges of the ribbon a little.
- Cut 2 pieces of Add A Little Dazzle Matte Finish Craft Metal Sheet to 1" x 4 7/8".
- Emboss both pieces using (TH) Airmail Texture Fade and the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine.
- Adhere one piece to the bottom of the card front using Sticky Strip.
- Distress the edges of the card and the Chocolate Chip Faux Crocodile layer using a Distress tool.
- Attach a Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Compass Coin and Game Spinner to the Faux Crocodile piece with a brad.
- Adhere the Faux Croc piece to the front of the card using Sticky Strip.
- Cut two Gears using Tim Holtz's Gadget Gears Die (YAY! I finally found it! It's been missing for months!) and Chipboard. Ink them with Embossing Ink and cover with Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder. Heat Set. Rub to remove the release crystals. Ink tops using Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. Ink sides with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
- Cut the larger gear and adhere to the front of the card with Glue Dots. Adhere the smaller gear on top using Crystal Effects. Adhere a bronze Idea-Ology gear on top using Glue Dots.
- Ink a Sticker from (TH) French Industrial Stickers with Chocolate Chip Ink and a Blending Tool. Attach to the front of the card.
- Attach a piece of Film Strip to the front of the card using Glue Dots.
- Stamp "Wish Big" from the (SU!) Bring on the Cake Stamp Set in Chocolate Chip Ink and "#I love you" from (TH) Hashtag Stamp Set onto a Journaling Tag. Distress the edges and ink with Chocolate Chip Ink and a Blending Tool.
- Ink the goggles sticker and attach to the corner of the Journaling Tag.
- Attach the Journaling Tag to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.
- Pull a piece of Ribbon through a Designer Brushed Bronze Button (SU!) and fray the edges. Attach to card front with Stampin' Dimensionals.
- Attach a Bronze Corner (TH) to the top of the card.
Don't forget the inside of the card!
- Adhere the 1" x 4 7/8" piece of embossed Craft Metal to the inside of the card using Sticky Strip.
- Cut a 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" piece of SU! Very Vanilla Cardstock. Distress edges with a Distress Tool and ink with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a Blending Tool. Attach to the inside of the card.
- Attach a letter sticker.
- Attach an Idea-Ology Gear to the front of the left-over piece of embossed Gadget Gear using a brad and a Paper Piercing Tool and attach to the bottom of the cardstock with Glue Dots.
- Stamp "Happy Birthday" from the SU! Sassy Salutations Stamp Set in Chocolate Chip Ink onto the inside of the card.
Challenges:
The Male Room/Vintage
A Vintage Journey/Say It With Words
Frilly & Funky/Neglected Dies
The Shabby Tea Room/Anything Goes
Creative Moments/Anything Goes or Steampunk
Crafter's Cafe/Make a Square Card
Crafting By Designs/Use A Ribbon
4 Crafty Chicks/No Patterned Paper
Crafty Hands/Buttons & Bows
Shopping Our Stash/Buttons & Bows
Rhedd & Rosies/Aged and Distressed
The Card Concept/Birthday Card – Shabby Chic & Vintage
Dreamweaver Stencils/Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday/Metal or Faux Metal
Left of Center/Anything Goes
YES! That is a homemade Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting! Thanks for noticing! 😉
Cathy your card is absolutely gorgeous in a manly kind of gorgeous! LOVE it!
Love all the details!
Okay about the cake……I wish I could just grab a piece, it looks delish!
Hi Cathy! Your masculine card is so pretty. Love the vintage goodness you’ve created with your embossed background, the cogs and the layered papers. Lots of work and love went into this very nicely done birthday card! Thanks for sharing your card with us at A Vintage Journey. <3 Candy
Thanks, Donna! So nice of you to say so! I didn’t even get to taste the cake! He was bringing it to his friend! LOL Thanks for stopping by and leaving your fun comment. It made me smile!
Hi, Candy! Thank you so much for your kind words. I loved making the card for Mike and I love that you noticed all the details! I am loving your challenge too! 😀
Hi Cathy, Great card!.. and wow 24.. years just fly by don’t they?
Wow, you got a button & bow on a masculine card. And I must say this card is awesome. I’m going to have to try that faux alligator technique.
Thanks for joining us at Shopping Our Stash!
I love it…what a fabulous masculine card, with so much love and creativity. The cake looks yummy! Love that you shared your sons pics thank you.
Looking forward to the video, Cathy.
Thanks, Bernice! Yes! The years DO fly by! He was only 9 when I started this crazy journey! 😀
Thanks, Leslie!
haha – yes! A button and a “bow” 😉
It was great fun! I will have the video up prob Sunday.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving me some love. 😀
Thank you, Ang! You’re such a doll for reading all the way to the end. So funny…my daughter called and wanted me to make her the same cake for her Graduation. Everyone loves red velvet! haha.
Thanks for stopping by and always leaving me some blog love!
I truly appreciate it. 🙂
Hugs,
cathy
Many thanks for joining us at the crafty hands challenge and good luck. Melissa (DT) xx
Your card is gorgeous, Cathy.
Have a nice weekend
Love this grunge card Cathy. I’m sure he loved receiving it. Karen.x
Stunning card. Love the cake too. Thanks for joining us at creative moments challenge xx
Such a terrific make, Cathy!
You did some wonderful magic by making this wonderful album look soo aged and timeworn! I see a lot of yummy texture on it and the colour scheme is just perfect! LOVE this!
Thanks for the wonderful comment on my blog too!
Hugs,
Claudia x
Thanks for stopping by, Melissa! 🙂
Thanks so much, Rosie! You made me smile!
🙂
Thanks, Karen!
Grunge cards have a very special place in my heart – and Mike does too! Thanks for your comment! 😀
Thanks, Sue!
And thanks for reading all the way to the bottom! That cake got more love than my card! LOL
Thanks so much for coming by and leaving some love, Claudia!
Glad you liked the background. It’s surprising how much it feels like leather! haha
I appreciate the visit!
Fab card, he’ll love it! Such a great collection of masculine items and I LOVE the faux croc skin. Thank you for sharing it with us at The Male Room.
A beautiful card and so cleverly made – perfect for our challenge this week in TMR – thanks for joining in – Jacqueline xx
Wow, wow, wow! This is certainly an awesomely, amazingly done masculine card. I love all of the details you have added to it. The texture, belt and images up top! Wow your son is so lucky to have a mom like you who has created such an phenomenal birthday card. Happy Birthday to him. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing inspiration with us at 4 Crafty Chicks No Pattern Paper Challenge. Have a great day!
so cool! Thank you so much for playing with us at Add A Little Dazzle.
Hi Cathy….this is a gorgeous make…love the fantastic details and those words. Thank you for joining in with us on A Vintage Journey this fortnight
Hugs Annie x
Nicely composed piece with great balance.
Thanks, Rocky!
He did love it AND the cake! LOL
😀
Thank you, Jacqueline!
🙂
Thank you so much, Tamie!
I loved creating it for him. Glad you liked the faux croc.
So easy!
😀
I appreciate the kind comments.
Thanks, Lydia!
Lovin’ the metal!
🙂
Thank you, Annie!
I appreciate the blog love!
😀
Thanks, Paula!
🙂
What a fantastic vintage masculine look. Love the leathery look and that sweet added ticket with the words. Belated happy birthday to Mike too! Thank you so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
Alison x
Such a fabulous entry in to our challenge at Rhedd & Rosies…I love evrything about this piece…it wonderful…x
Thank you, Allison! And thanks for the birthday wishes for Mike. Both are greatly appreciated!
🙂
Thank you, Sandie!
I appreciate the visit.
🙂
Fab card, so much detail, thank you for sharing with us at Rhedd and Rosie’s, good luck Hun, Zoe DT xx
Great masculine card – love all the layers and the layout too! Many thanks for joining the crafty hands challenge and good luck!!! Melissa (DT)
Thanks, Zoe!
Thanks, Melissa!
So glad you liked it.
😀
fab card hun and ty for joining in at Craftyhands very good luck x
Thanks, Judith!
Gorgeous card and fabulous use of your neglected die! Time goes by so fast. One day we are holding our newborns in our arms and the next they’re graduating college. Happy birthday to your son, and thanks for joining us at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog!
Hugs,
Nancy
Cathy love the hash tag sentiment. Thank you so much for joining us at the Card Concept!
Thanks so much, Nancy! Yes! Time sure does fly! Thanks so much for the good wishes and kind words. They mean so much. 🙂
Thanks, Tracey! The Hashtag set was designed by Mario Rossi & Tim Holtz. I love it too! 😀
This is truly a stunning masculine card, love all the details in your fab design, thank you for playing at Creative Moments, hope to see you again soon
{Creative Moments Owner}
Alex x
Great masculine card, I love the assortment of rustic elements you used! Thanks for joining us this week at The Card Concept 🙂
Cathy,
This is a fabulous masculine project and I love it but we need you to edit your post and include a link to the Top Tip Tuesday – Metal or Faux Metal challenge to be in the running for the prize.
Thanks,
Lisa {TTT DT}
Thanks so much, Alex! I appreciate the kind words. 😀
Thanks so much, Kerin! 😀
Thank you for stopping by and leaving me a comment, Lisa! I added the link and entered the challenge with another card as well. Thanks for the heads up! 😀
Wow! That looks like it must have taken you forever to create! Such beautiful and amazing work! Thanks so much for joining us at The Card Concept! 🙂
Thank you so much, Kay! It was definitely a labor of love. 🙂
What a great card, love all the elements and detail.
Thanks for coming over and joining in with our 28th Challenge – Aged/Distressed at Rhedd and Rosie’s Challenge Blog.
Great Big Huge Hugs
Becca xxx (DT member)
Handsome Tim Holtz inspired card Cathy. I love all of the elements especially the belt buckle. So fun.
Fabulous card! Love the embossing and all the embellishments. Thanks for joining us at LOC for our ‘anything goes’ Anniversary Challenge.
Thank you so much, Michelle! Thinking of you and sending hugs to you this week.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your sweet comment, Steph!
This looks absolutely fabolous. Love your steampunk project with the metal and embossing. Thanks for playing at Top Tip Tuesday and good luck. Hope to see you back tuesday for a new challenge. Bettina DT Member at Top Tip Tuesday xx
So glad to see you got your post linked up with us at TTT, best of luck!
Thank you, Bettina! I appreciate the visit! 😀
Yes, Lisa! Thanks for noticing! 😉
I’m viewing the cards in reverse order and saw your pocket watch card first! I think you’ve really nailed the vintage theme. This is lovely. Thanks so much for playing along with The Male Room this week!
Fabulous man card! I’m loving the vintage feel and all of those cool vintagey embellishments! Thanks for joining us at The Card Concept!
Thanks so much for the visit, Deborah! I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Thank you, Narelle! I love masculine cards too!