Thursday 14 January 2010

Why are Men sooooo Difficult?


I'm referring to men in the context of cards. I personally don't like cards for men depicting a hobby such as cricket, golf or football not to mention the inevitable beer mug. My OH loves a pint of beer but I'm fairly certain he would not like a card with a beer mug on. So I needed an alternative and I have used the stamps from Elusive Images themeplate 'Edwardian Gentlemen'to make the two cards in this post. I really like these stamps and there is a beautiful script stamp which I very often use to stamp onto DPs or blended inks or Glimmer Mist backgrounds.




This first card has a lot of distressing going on with the background paper. I sanded it, scratched it, rubber stamped it, tore the edges and used my Tim Holtz distressing tool and then inked them. The blue matt of Co'rdinations paper was put through a CB embossing folder and then sanded and the main image was stamped and inked a little around the edges before being embossed with two layers of ultra thick clear EP.




The main image on this second card was stamped in brown Stazon and then I used the very bottom of the flourishy script stamp I mentioned earlier to create a little swirl edging using Memento London Fog and then cut it out with deckle edged Nesties. The clock which I stamped randomly in the background is also using London Fog stamped off onto scrap first.



I used an EK Success border punch on the DP.




And finally I stamped the clock three times onto shrink plastic and after cutting them out and shrinking them I attached them to the card with 3D foam pads.



Well, we've had a massive thaw here today and a lot of the snow has gone but we still have lots of packed ice on our road. By all accounts this should go over the weekend but ................ I have been informed by my OH that the reports are we will be back to freezing temperatures and loads more snow by the middle of next week. I also read on AOL that we could have snow until April. I'm old enough to have been there before and I didn't like it so I think I might have to turn into a mouse or something and go hibernate for several months!

Think warm thoughts everyone.

Hugs
Lesley Xx



A NOTE FOR MY LOVELY AMERICAN VISITORS !!

Elusive Images who manufacture the wonderful stamps I have used on these two cards and many other wonderful themeplates which I feature on my blog regularly, are exhibiting at CHA next week on stand #3525, so if your favourite art stamp/craft shop is attending the exhibition please ask them to stop by Glenda's stand and see the wonderful products she has to show them.


Ingredients : EI Stamps, Echos of Italy DP, EK Success border punch and ink pads all from Graphicus.
Shrink Plastic, Ultra Thick EP and Nesties from Once Upon A Stamp.









12 comments:

Suzi B said...

I find mens cards truly difficult... but these are great!!
xx Sue B xx

Suzanne C said...

AWESOME cards... I struggle with my masculine cards and love the loads of inspiration here. Not only that but you used several techniques in each so I can sit and peruse through what you did on each. Lovely cards. Glad you are posting creations again!

Beryl said...

Hi Lesley - these are both amazing - such a lot of work has gone into them - how could you bare to part with them. The one with the bike is my favourite. Extra special. I hope wwe don't get a freeze before next weekend cos I'm going to pick uo my new car on Wednesday which has been on order since beg.October and it's miles away.
Thank you for the offer of the punched nestie ovals. I'm hoping my niece has them, and if she has, I can punch a load when she comes up here for her hols. If not - I may have to take you up on your kind offer.
Beryl xx

Christine (All She Crafts) said...

Wow, Lesley.. GREAT cards! Love them both, but I am absolutely knocked out by the top one. My all-time favourite of yours.. It's amazing! The colours and all the distressing, and the triple embossing.. Flawless!

Thank you for the inspiration.

Hugs,
Chris xx

Sally H said...

Sorry, hun, don't know how, but I'd missed this! What fabulous cards! I love the guy on the bike. Boys and toys are nothing new are they? Your shrink plastic clock are wonderful too! The distressing on the first card is beautifully done. Both stunning!

lisa said...

Hi Lesley. I agree Men's cards are a nightmare. I think I need to take lessons from you 'cos these are both stunning. I love the bike one, that background is gorgeous and the colours are a bit diffrent from what you normally think of for a male card but it works perfectly.
Hope you are having a good weekend. The snow has gone here today, it's nice to see the garden again even if it is a bit soggy. I don't like the sound of snow until April though, I'll have gone stir crazy by then, the spring should be just around the corner not more snow!!
I think I'll hibernate with you!

Lisax

judith@poppy cottage said...

Lovely cards Lesley, I really like the colour combination on the second one. I have these stamps, as yet unused, for another project, but seeing your cards, I'll have to give some male cards a go. We've got sunshine unusually today, but it's still very muddy for the chickens. Roll on spring. Judith xx

Val said...

Hi Lesley

These are brill. I have this themeplate and have not used it yet, along with several others I realised when I started reorganising a couple of days ago.
Take care and keep warm.
Hugs
Valxx

Debbie Dolphin said...

oh wow such fab cards for men.just love them.I know what you mean i always struggle with mens cards i end up buying them!!
debbie xxx

Jules said...

Hi Lesley

Gorgeous creations - both are wonderful!

I think the second is my favourite. Such a brilliant image and colours. Love the shrink plastic watch faces too!!

Love Jules xx

Shirley said...

It's 5000 miles from me, Lesley! And they are having torrents of rain right now too! I will pray your friends are safe and their booth too!

Shirley said...

Forgot about your cards. They are wonderfully male and handsome too. Also, I had a man once tell me when he got a feminine card he considered it a turn on to receive it froma pretty woman. Go figure!