Mar 29 2008
Menswear For Father’s Day
We’re getting close to that time of year again when, even though we might like to be making pretty, girly, Spring, fun, happy, flowery, sparkly cards, we’ve got the guys to think about — the fathers. Now, we love our guys…we think the world of them…they’re very special to us; we’re just not sure how much they really appreciate the cards we make for them.
I’m one of the lucky ones with a guy who seems to genuinely understand what all this stamping stuff means to me. He studies the cards carefully, says all the right things and displays them on the bookshelf until I suggest that maybe we might be able to put a few of them away. There are six of them displayed in the livingroom at this time. As I write this, that same guy is laboring over the assembly of my new stamping desk. He’s been at it all day and I haven’t heard him complain once. So, while I’m going on about him appreciating me, I’m reminded how much I appreciate him.
What about your guy? When you hand him the card you spent all afternoon making does he say something like, “I love all the layering and the placement of the brads”? Does he compliment you on the layout or the color combo? Does he marvel over your coloring skills? That might be asking a bit much of some guys, I know. If he tosses your card aside with barely a glance and mutters something like, “I don’t know why you bother with this (insert unsavory slang term here)”…well…I hope he has other redeeming qualities…
Chances are, even if he’s not the eloquent sort, he does appreciate the fact that you thought enough of him to dedicate the time and effort on his card. How would he feel, I wonder, if you made cards for everyone but him? How would you feel? For years I never made a birthday card for my son. I sent him lots of other handmade cards but for his birthday I’d always buy one of those big, humorous type of cards thinking he’d find it more special than a little old handmade card. But one day he tentatively raised the question as to why I never made his birthday cards. He pointed out that I made them for everyone else and the look in his eyes told me very clearly that his feelings were a little hurt by this. Well, I was devastated to think I’d made him feel slighted! Let me tell you, he’s had a handmade birthday card every year since then! It’s just something to keep in mind when you’re wondering if it’s worth the bother.
The card: So, after all that…I’d like to tell you about the card I made today. I’ve used the tie stamp and a sentiment from Flourishes’ soon to be released Menswear set. While this set was created in plenty of time for Father’s Day, it’s not limited to that one occasion by any means. There’s even a beer mug and a “Cheers” in the set. The ties are stamped on a variety of scraps from several different BasicGrey 6×6 pads, all of which can be found here, and mounted on little cut-up pieces of Scotch brand foam mounting tape.
The background on which the ties are mounted is from Harlequin and Accessories, a fun background to work with. I accomplished the length of this background in two stampings, easily aligning the clear stamp image. The diamonds within the pattern are one of several choices the set provides for customizing your background. The rest of the card ingredients are listed below. Thanks for hanging in there with me today while I think out loud. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and keep on stamping those cards! They’re probably more appreciated than you think.
- Stamps: Menswear, Harlequin and Accessories
- Paper: Basic Black, Blue Bayou textured, Soft Sky, Whisper White, various BasicGrey scraps
- Ink: Soft Sky, Palette Hybrid Noir
- Accessories: Ribbon, brads, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
What a wonderful post, Leslie. Fortunately for me, I have a husband that loves my cards even if he isn’t eloquent in his descriptions of them. He has one setting in a cubby on his dresser that I made him 6 years ago. It was long before I had any of the cool supplies and tools that I now have and is a very simple card. His cards remain displayed long after the occasion for which they were intended. And then he has them saved someplace. Even though my cards are not works of art like yours, they still have meaning behind them and are made with the best of intentions and care - and recipients know this. Thanks for always sharing from your heart my friend.
My guy is like your guy… he has an even better artistic eye than I do and often offers up suggestions on color combos and composition. I love it! and I love the fact that the two of us sometimes work on a card together. He’s always open to me asking his opinion. He’s an artist at heart and has even offered to try airbrushing some of my embellishments and nestabilities ovals so that it adds detail to my cards. Some day when I retire, I truly look forward to both of us creating together! His ideas & my labor! Works for me… {and, he keeps my cards in a special drawer too!!} I’m a lucky woman!
What absolutely delightful cards - can’t believe what a beautiful array of different projects here!
You must be very proud eslie!
Chris x
Sorry Leslie I’ve just called you ‘eslie’ and I don’t know what to do to rectify!
Chris x
Fabulous Leslie!!
Thank you Leslie for the lovely post and the opportunity to bragg a bit on my hubby! He’s the best, doesn’t complain about my many hours tucked away in my craftroom. He’s not very discriptive about my creations, but if I get a “clever” I know I did a good job. And he’s alway ready and willing to “build” a new tool or do-dad for me in the interest of furthering my “craft”. He is the best and I appreciate him so!
Kuddo…Again & again. The card is wonderful…..I love your sharing about your hubby. My dh is lovingly dubber “Manual Labour”…..he to checks each card…makes anything that enhances my crafty life as well as catering to all the Flourishes ladies when we are here working. WE are truly blessed ladies.
I too enjoyed reading this post. And must say I have a man in my life that is truly supportive of my card/craft making. He even made me the most beautiful light box so that I could create more beautiful dry embossed items for my cards…how great is that?!
Your card is great by the way. Love all the different DP used.
Charmaine
Yep, Leslie……you do have an awesome forever soulmate in Rich ! I feel so fortunate to have my own appreciative soulmate. We are truly blessed. Your card is adorable and I love how you got all those fun patterns from your BG papers. Great job and I can’t wait to see your new desk…..You Go Rich !!!!
First off, your card is great - totally love it! Second, I too am very fortunate that my man fully supports my crafts and has built me every storage unit and crafting bench I have!! He oohs and aaahhs over all my projects, and is just wonderful about it! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
This is just too clever and cute!! Love this!!
Leslie, thanks for the thoughtful words about your husband. I was able to give my husband a card for a co-worker’s last day at work. I was saving it for a “man birthday,” but this opportunity was perfect. He said the recipient was very complimentary and I think it gave DH a thrill to have had his wife make it. It also saved him a trip to the store, which was great. Thanks for sharing your talent with us in blog-land.
very cool, I do like the dimension of the ties, I swear clear stamps are so cool, you can line things up so well, I never had luck with lining up the wood stamps. Yes I am one of those lucky ones, my husband is an artist so he really can appreciate the work I put into them!
Totally cute! Love all the patterned ties.
And a very handsome and stylish card this is! I do believe some of those ties look familiar! Of course, I remember the 60’s and 70’s! Thank you for your thoughtful post, and kindly reminders. Linda
I just love your rows of ties!! Fantastic paper piecing and choice of papers!
My guy is a keeper too!
Leslie the card is grand and love the fact your DH is so supportive. So is mine, bless him. When I first started and showed him some of the work his comment was “did you mean to make it crooked like that”. He knew I was hurt and I told him Hey this is handmade by me that just adds character to the project. Now, when he looks at something he cocks his head sideways and says “This is lovely”. I am getting better but I have never been able to get everything on a card perfect. There will always be something that’s off.
Just LOVE this card and all your ties!!! Love the long format and your use of Harlequin as well!!! Great way to use up scrap pieces with the long, narrow ties!!! Wonderfully done — great, great card!!!
Fantastic card, Leslie! I love those ties and the “tall” layout! (You have such a sweet hubby!)
This is Fabulous Leslie!! I love the layout and all the cut out ties. Your husband sounds so much like mine. It’s wonderful isn’t it?
I love this card - so cute - what a great layout!