Category Archives: Masculine

The Sketch and the Scraps!

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

Today’s card takes inspiration from yesterday’s card sketch (layout), and the card from the previous day’s post, using up some of the scraps I had found.

My card uses some more masculine colours but you could use any bits and pieces you have left over to create it in any colour combination you like.
These are so much fun to make. If you would like to see how I made the original scrappy masculine card, you can check out the Facebook Live.
And don’t forget that you can place orders (if you live in Australia) online anytime throughout the holiday period. There may be some delays in shipping as Stampin’ Up! will be closed for the Christmas break but they are always very efficient at getting those orders out quickly. Just click here to go to my online store.
Happy stamping!
Chris

I found Scraps!!

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

Well, yes, of course I did! Sorting out everything over the weekend and as I was going through my cardstock I realised I had rather a lot of those pesky strips of scrap, in every colour possible. So I decided to use them on my Masculine Monday card.

This is the same layout that I have used for a few cards recently but I thought it would be fun to show yet another variation. My card also uses the new Gingham Embossing Folder, available in January 2022. Love the texture it adds to the card.

I wonder how many other ideas I can come up with to use up the scraps. Do you have any ways you like to use your scraps?

Happy stamping,

Chris

Masculine Monday Friendly Hello

Posted in Cards, Masculine, Sale-a-bration by

You may think I am a little obsessed with the Friendly Hello stamp set. You would be correct! It is so gorgeous and lovely to work with. It’s so pretty, with those gorgeous flower images and pretty colours in the matching Designer Series Paper. However, I wanted to show that it can be used for more neutral or even masculine cards, so used it during my Masculine Monday Facebook Live this morning.
This is the original design that I put together before I went Live…..

And I decided to use the same elements but change the layout…. there’s nothing like improvising during a Facebook Live, it keeps it interesting!!

For the second card, I fussy cut the bird after stamping it, to remove the flowers and make it more masculine.

Which do you like better?
If you prefer not to watch video on Facebook, you can find many of my Facebook Lives now on my youTube channel, make sure you Subscribe so that you know when something new has been added.
While the stamps and Designer Series Papers I have used for this card are not available until January 4th 2022, make sure you check out what’s available in the Clearance Rack, there are some great specials available.
However, if you really want this gorgeous stamp set, and you want it right now (and if you live in Australia), I would love to have you join my family of demonstrators, and you can join my team here. As a new demonstrator you have early access to all of the upcoming new goodies!!

Happy stamping!
Chris

Masculine Monday Intricate Leaves Dies Card

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

Stampin’ Up!s Intricate Leaves Dies are a definite favourite of mine from the current mini catalogue, and are also on the Last Chance list, so will no longer be available after the 3rd January.

The combination of the Intricate Leaves Dies, with the Cork and the Blackberry Beauty Designer Series Paper, makes for an easy masculine card.
If you would like to order the products to make this card, you can use this link which will take you directly to my projects, where you will find this card. Simply click on the card and all of the products you would need will be listed.
Don’t forget to join me live every Monday morning (Eastern Australian time) on my Facebook page, for Masculine Monday. I am hoping that I might have some new goodies to use by then. Crossing fingers!!
Happy stamping
Chris

The Male Room

Posted in Cards, Masculine, Uncategorized by

I am very excited to be able to announce that I am once again a member of The Male Room Design Team. I was a part of this fantastic team in the past, and am so happy to be back on the team and taking part in sharing masculine project inspiration every month.
This month, the theme is Food.

This one certainly challenged me, simply because I don’t have a lot of food related crafty stuff, at least not that I can use for masculine projects. So I have used the Forever Grapevine stamps set, and since I personally love, love, love grapes, especially around Christmas, grapes are my food choice!!

I wanted to create a more vintage style look for this card, so some tearing and sponging, and the leaves have been brushed with some water to blur the vein lines.

And those gorgeous metal corners, are unfortunately retired, but I still have some in my stash!!

So I hope you will pop over the The Male Room and say hi, maybe share a masculine project you have made. We are also on Facebook and Instagram, so make sure to like, comment and join us for all the inspiration there.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Masculine Monday Meadow Card

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

Today was the first of my Facebook Live streams that I am calling Masculine Mondays, my plan is to make a masculine project live at 10am every Monday morning ( Eastern Australia Daylight Savings time). Masculine Cards and projects seem to be something that many people struggle with so I hope I can share some ideas and inspiration.

I realise that many people are unable or unwilling to get out to cardmaking and scrapbooking classes right now, so I will be sharing more online.

I would love to go live on my YouTube channel but I need 50 followers there first, so jump on and subscribe to my channel, get your friends to as well, and then I will be able to share more with you on YouTube.

In the meantime, here is the link to this morning’s Facebook live.

And here is the card, featuring the Meadow Dies and Cork Speciality Paper.

The colours I have used are Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, and Very Vanilla, and the label is from the Tasteful Labels Dies.
Here is a link to order the gorgeous Meadow Dies from my online store so that you can create this card.

Happy Stamping!

Chris

Black and White Christmas

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Masculine by

It’s been quite a while since I shared here, and definitely time to get back into blogging.

So let’s get straight into it!! I have made a fairly simple card, a black and white Christmas card which features the cute bird from the Happy Holly-Days stamp set, and Christmas greeting from the Sweet Little Stockings stamp set.

The corners have been punched out using the Holly Border Punch.

Don’t you just love that bird? Gorgeous for colouring but equally beautiful just like that!! I’ve stamped using just Momento Black ink.

The Male Room have a Black and White challenge happening, so I am going to add this one.

I hope each of you are coping with the situation around the world. Keep crafting and keep smiling.

Happy stamping!

Chris

Forever Greenery

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

A quick post today to share a quick card!
The Forever Greenery was my absolute favourite out of all of the Designer Series Papers in this year’s Annual Catalogue, but I haven’t  really used them much yet, so it was time to make a card with it.
Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper DSP Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
It’s very simple, some Garden Green cardstock for the base layer, a layer of the Forever Greenery, and then a frame of white cut out with the Stitched Rectangle Dies which are layered over the patterned paper.
The sentiment is from Best Year stamp set and stamped in Garden Green ink.
Because there are so many different patterns in this paper, it would be very easy to completely change the look of this card, just by using a different sheet of DSP from the same pack.
This one I am adding to the current challenge at The Male Room.
I guess that is the beauty of this paper, it can easily be used for either masculine or feminine cards.

Happy stamping!
Chris
xx

Life IS Beautiful

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Masculine by

Life is Beautiful Christmas Tree Stampin' Up! Card 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping
I have had some time over the past few days to play with some of my new Stampin’ Up! goodies, including the stamp set called Life is Beautiful.
It feels quite appropriate right now, to be loving using a stamp set with this name.
It’s all a choice, the way we see life.  Things might be very different right now, from what we have been used to, but life can still be beautiful if we choose to make it that way.

I have made three different cards using this set, Father’s Day is coming up in a few weeks here in Australia, so I am making some cards to sell at my local markets.
Life is Beautiful Father's Day Card 2020 Plaid Tidings Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

These cards are inspired by a card on Page 50 of the new August – December 2020 Mini Catalogue.

Life is Beautiful Father's Day Card 2020 Stampin' Up! Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

The cards use the Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper, also from the Mini Catalogue.
And here is a Christmas card, using the same stamp set and papers, but with a completely different look.

Life Is Beautiful Christmas Card Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping

It feels too early to be making Christmas cards, but I know it will creep up on us, as it always does!

If you haven’t had a chance to have a look at the new Mini Catalogue, with all it’s gorgeous Christmas inspiration, stamp sets and so much more, you can view thePDF here.  Alternatively, if you are in Australia and would like a hard copy, please reach out to me, I am happy to send one. If you have a demonstrator who you normally order through, please reach out to them for a copy.

I hope you can find some way to make life beautiful today.

Happy Stamping!
Chris
xx

Masculine Monday

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

Summer Days Masculine Card Colouring July 2020

It sure has been a crazy busy few weeks, and I will share more about that later in my post.  I have had time to think and ponder during those few weeks though, and I thought it was time to add a little structure to my creating, and so this is the start of that, Mondays are going to be for my masculine cards. (That’s Monday Australian time!)
Here’s hoping that I can maintain it and that things don’t get too crazy busy again anytime soon.

I made some time to create a card for brother’s birthday though, using the Host stamp set from the Annual Catalogue, called Summer Days.
Summer Days Masculine Card July 2020
In the background is some of the paper from the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper, and the image stamped in Early Espresso ink, before being coloured with Watercolour Pencils, and then gently painted over with an aqua painter.

I had to go with a wood theme for this card after the last few weeks.  My incredible 14 year old son decided late last year that he wanted to have a go at woodturning.  He had been doing some woodwork classes for a few years but had never tried woodturning.
He took to it straight away and started making beautiful things and learning and growing every day.  He just loves it and spends as much time as he can in front of his lathe.
A few weeks ago, he was asked to make 100 Spatulas for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and they wanted them as quickly as possible.
I’m sure you can imagine that this was an amazing opportunity for him, not just to get paid to woodturn but also to get his name out as a talented woodturner.
So here is a photo of my boy, with the 100 spatulas before they were delivered to the Department.  His Spatulas are to be used as gifts for special guests at public diplomacy and cultural programs overseas.
Jamie with 100 Spatulas

Hopefully I will have a little more time for crafting from now on.
Happy stamping!
Chris
xx