Thursday, May 14, 2015

Handmade Gifts for Guys


Welcome to the third group post for Papertrey Ink's May release. Today's post is all about the guys! We know making masculine cards and projects can be challenging, so we're bringing you lots of inspiration, ideas, tips, and tricks for making those guy projects easier.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, all of the May release products will be available in the Papertrey Ink store on May 15 at 10 pm.

Nichole challenged us to re-make one of our feminine cards into a masculine card and share some tips and tricks. Here are my original and my re-make:


With the florals and sequins and pretty chicken scratch panel, the original definitely leans more feminine. I changed up a few elements and worked in the new Petite Places: City Station building for a totally different, and masculine, look.

Tips/tricks for creating masculine cards:

1. Choose a simple layout. Lots of white space here, and not too many layers.

2. Basic geometric shapes tend to work well. No fancy shapes here, just two circles and a pair of horizontal elements.

3. Avoid bling. Instead use wood veneer embellishments (stars are great) or die-cut stars, maybe some ink splatter, something metallic (I used a staple to adhere the sentiment flag), or no embellishments at all.


4. Color is often the number one factor in creating a masculine project. Primary colors, more muted tones, and neutrals all generally work well.


5. And then, of course, comes imagery and icons. Scenes are so trendy right now, and are a good gender neutral choice. Certain imagery is stereotypically male -- transportation in general, and in this case the fire truck in particular. 


For my next project, I've created some gift packaging using Petite Places: City Station.


I created a dome and used it as a tag for a plain kraft rope-handled bag. I stamped the Petite Places: City Station components to be a filling station this time, using the bright colors that you see on actual service stations. I love the hinged garage door, gas pumps, and oval sign.



The sentiment under the dome is perfect: "Hoping your day is filled with good things." For the dome backer, I layered a Tag Sale #4 die onto a Spellbinders circle die-cut. (The Tag Sale #4 die-cut isn't actually necessary, I just liked that shape sticking up at the top.)




"Filling Station" is a good fit for pretty much anything you fill your gift box, bag, tin, etc. with, but I wanted to make my "filling station" a mini bar, and so I filled my bag with miniature alcoholic beverage bottles.



I customized the gift-giving occasion with a Happy Father's Day sentiment banner, stamped with Keep It Simple: Father and die-cut with the Double Ended Banners die. The flared Soft Stone stripes behind the dome were die-cut with the Rainbow Stripes die set.



Here's more of a top-down angle, so you can see the dimension on the filling station building, which is just a tent fold secured along the left and right with liquid glue.

A couple of other fun details: the cityscape in the background was done by reconfiguring and layering True Black and Smokey Shadow skyline die-cuts from the Zappy Birthday die set. The road was done with one of the stamps from the new Plaid Builder set. Those dashed line stitches double as pavement lines when the stripe is stamped in True Black or Smokey Shadow (and the size is perfect for the Petite Places buildings).

For more Petite Places: City Station inspiration, visit Betsy and Melissa:


And visit the rest of the design team for two whole different batches of new products! There's so much coming, we had to divide to conquer :)


As always, visit Nichole for all the formal introductions, product details, giveaway info, and her projects:



Thanks so much for stopping by!






SUPPLIES

Fire Station Card:
Stamps: Petite Places: City Station, Plaid Builder, 
Dies: Petite Places: City Station, Double Ended Banners
InkClassic Kraft, True Black, Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow
Other: stapler, wood veneer stars 
Paper: Fresh Snow linen card stock; Enchanted Evening Card Stock; Comic Strip Patterned Paper

Filling Station Gift Bag Tag:
Stamps: Petite Places: City Station, Plaid Builder, Keep It Simple: Father
Dies: Petite Places: City Station, Double Ended Banners, Rainbow Stripes, Zappy Birthday, Tag Sale #4, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities
Ink: Tropical Teal, Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow
Paper: white card stock; Tropical Teal card stock; Fresh Snow linen card stock
Other: Black and white baker's twine, clear dome, miniature binder clip


22 comments:

Michele said...

Hi Amy,
You really outdid yourself! What an amazing array of projects. I love the two looks you gave for the same sketch too!

Michele - Enchanted Stamper

jan metcalf said...

The zappy background looks great in your scene! Sweet gift bag. Good masculine card tips!

Holly Saveur said...

LOVE it all!

Grace said...

Amazing. Love them all.

Grace said...

Amazing. Love them all.

Cindy H. said...

Wow, Amy, I love all your fabulous projects! Thank you for the tips, too, as I can see they will be perfect in creating some much needed masculine cards.

Beth Norman said...

Your designs are gorgeous. You have a unique talent for showcasing products. I love the gift bag.

Nancy said...

Fabulous cards, great designs too and thanks for all the hints and tips!

Nancy Penir said...

Yipes! Adore your remake! And the domes are adorable! (Handsome?), just showstoppers!

Debra said...

Absolutely phenomenal creations. I just printed the cards to use as a sketch for a graduation card. You have convinced me I need the new Petite Places!

Michelle (abzzymom) said...

Great projects! Making masculine cards is always a challenge for me. Thanks for the tips.

Amy Rohl said...

I love your 'filling' station, what a fun gift!! As always, your details are impeccable!

keysha said...

Your projects are gorgeous!!!

Lynne said...

Amy - you are doing such an awesome job as a member of the Papertrey Ink design team. Love your tips on masculine cards and how you illustrated it with your two cards.

Julia Aston said...

I love your designs Amy! Especially the little buildings!!

Diana K said...

Inspired and so inspiring! I'm so glad that you're part of the PTI design team.

Lisa Lara said...

Genius projects Amy!

KFlaherty said...

Amy your cards are great! I have a horrible time with male cards, but the way you've broken it down is going to be a huge help. I'll be looking at a lot of me feminine cards in the future to see how I can change them to masculine. The filling station is adorable. Your creativity is amazing!

María Alba Negrón said...

Hi Amy,

I stated yesterday that you are an asset to PTI, I stand corrected....You are a Tremendous Asset!!!!!!!!
These creations are OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cariños,
María Alba

June Houck said...

You are so amazing...the guy version card is spectacular and the gift bag and ornament blow my mind.

Casandra Bennett said...

Your projects are so creative. What a fabulous set of dies! I instantly thought of the movie "Cars".

Pet73 said...

OMG, each one is fab! So gorgeous!