Good morning friends! Today I have a video to share to show you how to work with the S4-609 Spellbinders Gents Shoe. I created a card and box to go with the video and they are up for grabs today for Day of Giving Friday! The card is made using S5-268 Spellbinders Quatrefoil Panel and an embellishment piece from S6-078 Regal Allure.
A Tiny Request
I have an optional request to ask – and please only do it if it feels right for you. If you have purchased any Amazing Paper Grace dies, I hope you’ll pay a quick visit to Amazon.com or Scrapbook.com to leave a review. I read every review I can lay my hands on for my own dies because people have given me so much insight into what they like about the die or they have said if there is anything they didn’t understand or wished had changed as well as rate how easy the die is to use. The information I glean from a constructive review, helps me hone my designs and it may help other readers discern which dies to get :-)
A Unicorn
So today’s card is a masculine card – or better known on this blog as a unicorn. Yes, very rare and I know why. I’m too in love with lace, ribbon and flowers and making a masculine card takes so much willpower not to go overboard in that area. That said, I created a nearly flat card for Fathers day and a gift box to go along with. Gent’s shoes decorate the top of the box. It was an easy project and the sentiment, although no longer available through Waltzingmouse Stamps, is one I’ve been dying to use.
About Day of Giving Friday
Welcome new readers! Just to bring you up to speed, every Friday it’s my pleasure to give away a card. The card goes to a randomly picked reader (worldwide) who leaves a comment in our conversation. Want to know more about Day of Giving, here’s a link to my FAQ’s just check out #11.
As I sat and pondered what was going to go on my masculine card, which sentiment to select, the colors, how to photograph it – I mused about the men that we make cards for. My sweet guy would keep my cards so I actually loved making cards for him. For your comment today – Are you equally as inclined to make a card for a man as you are for a woman? What the next masculine card you plan to make?
Rubber Stamps: Waltzingmouse – Discontinued
Craft Paper: Neenah Classic Crest – Solar White – 80lb Smooth,
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder
Accessories: S4-609 Spellbinders Gents Shoe, S5-268 Spellbinders Quatrefoil Panel, S6-078 Regal Allure, Satin Ribbon, Button
Have a blessed weekend and don’t forget to check and see if you were a giveaway winner. You can click this link to check ——>Giveaway Winners Page.
THESE SHOES ARE JUST AMAZING BECCA, AS IS YOUR DARLING BOX. i JUST LOVE ALL YOUR FABCY LITTLE GIFTBOXES ALWAYS, THEY´RE ALWAYS SOOO CUTE.
Totally forgot the question here LOL. I´m just about to make one I need for a friends birthday tomorrow, and I do make several mens cards every year, but I also still struggle with them, as I think, they´re much harder to make for for some reason.
The next masculine card I will make will probably be Father’s Day card, I still have to do one for my son birthday which is later this summer.
love your video. I will spend as much time on a card the same as for a woman but I don’t make as many for men as I do women.
Beautiful card and a lovely little box Becca.
Made my man card today , i used a May Calender paper i had for the background then die cut and stamped a car to the front .
God Bless
Elaine H X
I make an equal amount of feminine and masculine cards. The next masculine cards I will be making are for my two older brothers, both of whom were born in May!
Hi Becca. These are fabulous – love the black and white, ideal for masculine cards. I make a lot of male cards – although do sometimes struggle! I shall be making a couple for the end of May for my Nephews 18th and my Father-in-laws Birthdays :-)
Hugs xxx
Such a lovely masculine card Becca. The box is really lovely too, with the shoes adding the perfect touch. I send quite a lot of male birthday cards and it’s always much more difficult than feminine cards. I tend to use blues, navy, brown or black with not too fancy die cuts. I’ve not failed yet but wonder how many more different ideas I can come up with!
Doreen R from Bournemouth UK
That is a wonderful “guy” set, Becca. The black and white is so classic – it fits right in with your classic, elegant style. Even if there is no lace!! :-)
As for me and guy cards, well, I rarely make them. I suppose my next one will be for my husband’s birthday. But I don’t like to make cards for him because he doesn’t really like them.
So stinkin’ cute! And I’m excited to relay that I just got all of these dies in the mail. Haven’t even taken them out of the box. I know what I’ll be doing first!
Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait a while as we leave tomorrow AM for TEXAS and funeral services for my 104 year old MUM. Bittersweet, is how I would express how I feel. She was lucid up until 2 weeks ago and I got to be with her for a week and help care for her. She passed on the 26th. RIP sweet Mumsy! She will be sorely missed. Becca, thank you for being a bright spot in my world. It happens every time I see your visually amazing work. With love, Sara
Blessings and comfort to you Sara,
So sorry for your loss. Glad you had an opportunity to spend some time with your mom in her final days. Hope you have many memories to cherish.
This is stunning. Elegantly manly (if there is such a thing!) I also don’t really enjoy making those man cards because I prefer lace and flowers and everything feminine. But I do need to make a Father’s day card soon.
Hi Becca. I’ve got father’s day and a male birthday card to make soon. Think I’ll be using the shoe die for these. Thanks for the video. Most informative. Happy weekend.
Strikingly beautiful card and box! You can’t go wrong with black and white!! I love the shoes…very unique! I need to make a Father’s Day card and a birthday card.
Excellent ensemble. Love this! To answer your question, no. In my circle I find that women are more appreciative of a handmade card than the men in my life. This however, does not stop me from making a card for a man. It depends on the man and what he seems to value. On the rare occasion that I feel he would appreciate it, I would make him a card. So, the scale does not sway equally to male and female in my card making endeavors.
Gorgeous card for any dad. I tend to shy away from making masculine cards, but soon have to make one for my BIL’s ordination as deacon.
I find it harder to make a men’s card than a female one. Thank you for this shoe die I think it will solve my problem, I already have some great ideas.
My father-in-law’s birthday is in June, as is Father’s Day. I’m going to make cards for him for both occasions. He’s been battling cancer like such a trouper since last summer, and I think he might be winning! I’d like to make him something special for these occasions.
I love your video….and I’m with you!!! I love BLING!!!!! And you can’t put a lot of bling on a masculine card…:). So I was told! Hahaha
You really are AMAZING!!!!
Love the gents shoes! I make lots of guy cards where this die could be used nicely. I’ve seen alligator skin paper that would be cool use too. I rarely do the “golfing/hobby type cards anymore for guys but dig deeper into my brain and try to be creative. Guy cards are difficult but my hubby says go with the plaid and simple and it will be a hit. He’s right! As a side note I do use Kraft paper a lot for the gents.
beautiful card!! altho I find masculine cards a little tougher to do, Yes, I still do a lot of them. I make birthday cards for church. A couple ladies pass them out to each adult with an anniversary or birthday.
Well done Becca!!!! My son is mentally challenged so I make the cards for ‘DAD’ for him. It is always difficult and I find it MUCH easier to make a card for a woman than a man. I think this year’s Father’s Day card from my son will be a duck on water scene colored with H2o’s – unless of course I win yours – LOL!
Paper Hugs,
Jan
How neat, looks easy too! I will be making a mans birthday card next…but this new die would be awesome fit an up coming wedding ..thanks
Beautiful Set! Love those little shoes!!
I am more inclined to make cards for a woman.
I too love the lace and ribbon. I will be making a Fathers Day card for my 93 year old Dad. I know what he likes so it will be easy peasy. Loves, Ruthie
As for my situation, I have so many men in my friends and family list and am constantly trying to come up with manly cards. Everything seems too feminine or cutesy to put on a card for a guy. I am thinking most guys could care less about cards anyway but I hope not. I usually just use lots of darker colors, greys, blues, browns, greens, etc… then a sentiment and some animal, boat, tool, or car embellishment. Guys cards are tough, no two ways about it. Thank you Becca, love your wonderful cards and ideas. God bless…Denice
Hello Becca,
What an amazing card and box today, the shoes finish the box off beautifully and your tutorial explains exactly what to cut and how to do it.
The next man’s card I plan to do is for a friend’s husband who has just been diagnosed today with Vascular Parkinsons, so not an easy card to make. I shall have to think long and hard about this one.
Maureen xxx
I’m in love with these shoes. What is the name of that paper and where do we find it?. I have such a hard time creating cards for men. But I keep trying.
Becca, I absolutely LOVE this card!!! It is stunning in every way. I will make a card for my husband for being such an amazing father, as well as a card that my daughter can give to her Dad….seeing we will be with her to celebrate the weekend. I am totally with you on the masculine void. They are just so darn hard. I tend to use an EF to get the “guy” background and then a brads, gears, clock….Now, I’m off to leave a comment on your dies. I hope your sales go through the roof! Hugs, Diana
Hi Becca,
Thank you for putting up a masculine card. They are ones I avoid as yes I too want to make,them pretty.i struggle on how to keep them simple, masculine but a work of art.
Lol so no I am not qually inclined to make them.
Have a lovely weekend! x
This is simply a wonderful set & so outside your your normal style of card. It must have taken such restraint for you to create a card in this style. good on you. I love the set & it has given me inspiration for creating cards fro the males in my family. Thank you Becca. Have a wonderful day& keep those wonderful idea coming.
Robyn
Hi Becca,
Like you I love making cards for women with lace, ribbon and glitz. The next card I am making is for my Scottish BinLaw, so I will be painting tartan. Love your shoe die and will be putting it on my wishlist.
This is one of my all time favorite Becca cards. I am glad you sparked an idea for the die set!
I have sons, a hubby, my dad, father-in-law, and many nephews. In our family, I make quite a few guy cards. Cards for the teenagers are the biggest challenge. My next guy card will be a graduation card for one of my nephews.
What an elegant card and gift box. I tend to make feminine cards more than masculine cards but do need to make a Father’s day card. I guess I find masculine cards a bit intimidating.
Hi Becca. Love your Man card and box with the great shoes. Must admit I love making masculine cards and sometimes find it hard to go feminine after a stint of mens cards. Do keep them fairly simple though as generally men don’t appreciate a handmade card.
I am just now making a card for my son’s birthday on Monday and it is based on poker, one of his interests, as is sport which is quite easy to cover. X
Good afternoon Becca
Really like the black and white card and especially the sentiment. I may do a card like this for my daughter to give her Dad for Father’s Day. So that may be the next “man” card that I do plus an anniversary for hub is and his birthday is July so I do quite a few man card. I do sometimes have to give a lot of thought to planning each card and who it is for. I went online last week and bought some of the paper you can download after I saw the beautiful paper you used on last Friday’s giveaway card
Hugs
Mstgane
Ann R.
Hello Becca glad to see that you are creating again. I miss seeing a daily card. Love the choice of black and white I have done several lately not as nice as yours but I like the ones that I did. Even my husband commented which is highly unusual
Hi Becca…gorgeous card and gift box. I’m loving the black and white!!! I definitely make more female cards than male cards but I do make quite a few male cards for my husband, my brothers, my grandsons and friends. I love the challenge of making the male cards and I’m usually pleased with the results. I just made a few in April and I think the next one I’ll need is in June. I will definitely go to Amazon and rate your dies…they are amazing!
Very nice card and love the box. I only make one card for my son but don’t find it as exciting as making one for a girl.
I love that shoe die!! I probably make more masculine cards but they can be hard do do!
Hi, there,
I’m much more inclined to make a card for a woman than for a man. If I’m going to make a masculine card, I usually try to use the person’s interests to guide me. To be honest, it’s more challenging but rewarding. If I come across good ideas for men-cards I save them for inspiration. When I sit down to make cards, I love to make ones that I would like to receive. And, of course, I have a ton of materials that appeal to my sensibilities!
Cheers for a very creative week, Becca!
Sandy
BEAUTIFUL JOB, Becca! So DRESSY!!! I like to make “Masculine” cards for my hubby & our son. My hubby likes outdoor things, so that is the direction I go with his masculine cards, more rustic & with animals….. Our son, who is now in his twenties, is more into Batman & games…so, that is the direction I go with him. I do enjoy making more feminine cards, but I don’t mind masculine either. I enjoy doing different folds for the men in my life to make their cards even MORE INTERESTING too!!! (Our son really enjoys the different folds!) My next masculine card will be for Father’s Day! ;)
I’d rather make cards for women. Since I have two sons, I make quite a few cards for men. I just finished a birthday card for our son, and another to congratulate him and his wife on the purchase of land to build a new home. His birthday card I did a triple flip card (spellbinders) and a stair step card for the land purchase. I also just finished making file/frig magnets using your newest die. I bought my first of your dies from Justrite Stamps. They started my love affair with your dies. I don’t want to count how many of your dies I have.
I love making men’s cards as much as women’s cards! The only problem is both father and father-in-law have passed. I would like to see more images for men besides fishing, golf, and old cars. Art Impressions has some great Old Men images and my hubby’s upcoming birthday card will have one set of them on it.
I love how you dressed up the male card using dies I thought of as feminine and ended with an old school classy look to it!
I like making masculine cards…that said, most of my cards are not. I’m working on making wedding and anniversary cards to put in my line that are suitable for same sex celebrations…they are difficult to find.
My next masculine cards to work on will be get well cards that are less flowers and more gender neutral. Same with a new sympathy card I am designing.
Love this Father’s Day sentiment…wish it wasn’t d/c’d! Lovely card and box!
Joni
Lovely card and gift box. It’s a lovely sentiment. Yes I make cards for everyone albeit the men ones are harder. The next one is my 11yr olds and funnily enough I have purchased the men’s shoe die with a thought of making an 18th birthday card for a friends son. Thanks for the video and inspiration
Your card is lovely. And yes I do make men’s cards for my son and hubby. I also make masculine cards to donate to a charity I bless with a lot of my cards. Just like you, I do far more ladies cards because they just seem easier to make and decorate with ribbons and lace.
I think it stretches me more to make a card for a man, I definitely consider the recipient more. No reaching for flowers and lace but pink papers but definitely not too much black!
Hello Becca – another beautiful card and gift box today. I do find masculine cards more challenging but have found that the more of them I create, the easier it is to have more ideas and the happier I am with the result. As with anything, practice makes creating any card easier and your dies always contribute to a card I love to say I created. My next masculine card will be for my hubby’s 67th birthday on May 11 and then Father’s Day. Even though turning 67 isn’t generally viewed as a milestone birthday, it is for my hubby. His parents passed only 44 days apart at ages 67 and my husband will be having a specialized open heart surgery at Mayo in Minnesota on June 22. This is definitely a milestone year and I want to give my hubby a extra-special card reminding him how much I love him and how important he is to me. I like the Quadrafoil background of your card so I’m thinking it will look great on my card and I already have the die.
I will happily leave reviews for any dies I’ve purchased from your collection. My favorite is still the Cinch and Go flowers. I can create the fastest and prettiest flowers with your die set.
Thank you Becca!
Hi Becca this is a neat masculine set love the black and white
the shoe looks great on the box!
My next card will be for my Hubby 20th May I also find I struggle with
the male cards have a lovely weekend hugs Pamxxxx
Hi Becca, This card and gift box are stunning. I ‘adore’ the sentiment, it is fabulous, and I love,love,love, the gent’s shoe as much as I love the ladies shoe.
I must admit I don’t relish making men’s cards, because I love all ‘girlie’ embellishments etc, but I have a card to make for my Brother-in-Law his Birthday is on 8th May, I had better get a move on hahaha. I usually do some form of ‘steam train’ theme on his cards as he and my hubby are steam train enthusiasts, but I think this time I will do a ‘journey or travel’ theme.
Lots of love from Patricia xx
Becca:
These are “just right” for the masculine cards. I understand how hard it is to not only find materials but inspiration also. There are so many guys in my life (only had a son, have 3 grandsons) So just those keep me busy. Plus I volunteer handmade cards for military hospitals and most of them are masculine. I no longer fear them, I just have to check myself on glitter glue and embelies. I prefer making feminine ones.
(by the way, hope you read the Spellbinder reviews, am about to post a couple on your wedding collection…..major kudos-they saved my bacon….)
Hi Becca l love your new dies they will be so great for all sorts of cards not just wedding.I think i,m a bit odd as l realy enjoy making cards for men and find them easy hugs linda
You did good on this “masculine” card/box. Loved the video. Thank you for sharing. Just a tiny hint on placing the foam dotted pieces on your project: add a tiny dot of liquid glue on the last side of the foam to be adhered and the glue will allow “moving time” without “catching” your piece. Now to your question: No I am not equally as inclined to make a card for a man as I am for a woman? I am definitely a lacy and/or flower type of card crafter. Think “victorian type” of person who thinks “more is better”and you will know the type of card I prefer to make. The next masculine card I plan to make is a thank you card for the wonderful lunch a sweet neighbor treated me to on Saturday. It takes me hours, sometime days, to create in my mind a masculine card. It generally does not take me this long designing a female card. I usually do more “painting” on the masculine cards I make. Thus, lots of prep time when I make the men in my life a card. Did I tell you I have three sons, one brother-in-law, four nephews, three grand-nephews, one great-great-nephew and three other men that I make cards for each year. Each is a challenge for me. One would think making masculine cards would be easy for me by now. But it is not!
What a great video! Thanks, Becca.
I make far more female cards than male cards and have been known to buy cards for men, rather than make them.
My next male card will be for my father’s upcoming ‘milestone’ birthday in a few weeks.
Hugs
Anne (UK) x
I love both of the shoes for ladies and gents. They are so elegant looking and can be used in so many different ways. I love to buy dies that I can get a lot of use of. I have a lot of your dies and I plan on expanding my collection. I need to buy a third die box to keep all my dies in. When I look and see all the things I have I sometimes wish I can bring them to Heaven with me when I am gone in another 100 years. I just can’t seem to let go of crafting. I love it and time goes by so fast that before I know it, dinner time is already here. Where does the time go??????????? Keep making these beautiful dies for all of us. God Bless you!!!