Friday 29 June 2012

Men's cards - the lowdown

Oooh look, a card suitable for a bloke! 
Now, you may not know this, but in all decisions -especially the sort that may come back and bite me on the bottom, I defer to Mr Dunnit.  I like to have someone to blame, it doesn't suit my image to be wrong for no reason and I am completely without instinct.  Take the grduging embrace I've made of TH and the seven shades of wee wee; I really, really hoped it wouldn't last, and now I'm doing it!  Anyway, I digress.  If you've visited before, it might have been at a time when I'm 'blocked' because I have had some men's cards to make.  'Blocked' is the arty, diva way of explaining that I have no idea what to do and so am talking about it by way of procrastinating.  So, even patient Mr Dunnit gets fed up with the whining and gave me some ground rules.  I thought I'd share them, they make interesting and ultimately alarming, reading.
1.  Keep the lines clean.  No ripping or fancy cutting.
2.  No matter if a man can wear pink, he doesn't want it on a card.
3.  Cute is OK in view of 1 and 2.
4.  Technical stuff is good - great colouring, layering, positioning.
5.  It doesn't have to be brown, or green come to that.
6.  Less is more.
8.  Embellishments should be functional.  No bows.  
9.  Lots of this won't apply to a Valentine.
10. If it was left to us, it would probably go in the bin the next day anyway.
Now I should stress that Mr Dunnit is a nice bloke who by his very nature wouldn't want to speak as everyman.  I realise that not all of this will apply to all men.  But there are things about that summary that make me think - great, I can do this easily! And there are things that make me think it's not worth the bother.  Men.  Huh.

49 comments:

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Great rules Mr D!! Didn't that make it easy for you to follow? I think you should publish those as an alternative to 'Men are from Mars..etc'. Much shorter and simpler and encapsulates our differences. Send it to a crafting magazine as a poster, it ought to get wider exposure :)
Hugs, LLJ xx

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...men?...it's a toughy at times cos they just ain't wired the same...the card you have made speaks, plain, simples & straight to the point...having said that from my point of view, great colours, loVe your inky background, super stamping & loVe the double cut car! the silhouette is very effective & cool shiny hubs too!...the round up is: we see things differently...have a fabby day Julia...Mel :)

Sarn said...

Yay . . . thanks for the tips Mr Dunnit! Very helpful. Thanks for sharing them Mrs Dunnit!

I still think men's cards are more difficult . . . even with these ground rules to follow.

Have a super shiny happy day xxx

kissinia said...

Oh, Julia! Love you card, so neat and beautiful!

Spyder said...

I'm sure my John would agree... often he says, you've still got last years, why not use that... or don't use too much printer ink... it costs too much! or, bright colours are nice, if you don't use too much ink.. or...just make it funny.
Another guy, I sent a b/d card to, his wife got a matching one, still have their matching cards on their mantelpiece two months after their b/days.... (it was a funny one with a dog.. in bright colours, using Promarkers...so no printer ink))
(lyn)

nice card !

Tara Cardwell said...

I think Mr D does indeed speak for the majority of men, particularly on no 10! I do like the rules though and thing they are an excellent template to work from. Your card is a knockout!

Laura said...

1-9 I'm thinking Mr D is spot on, agree with everything.
10 I'm shocked!! I'm stunned!! I'll never understand men!!

I did fancy wrapping on all of my Christmas gifts last year. I was told in no uncertain terms, 'Blokes don't need ribbons and stuff. It just takes longer to open!'

CraftygasheadZo said...

I'm loving Mr D's rule, and they make sense! Great card too, I love what you've done with it. Zo xx

Annie said...

Brilliant. A perfect set of rules especially number 10 cos however much work you put into them they will never think the same of them as us :-)
Hugs,
A x

Rita said...

Totally agree Julia. Mr Dunnit has got it right. I never like any of the male cards I make for some reason. Enjoy your day. Hugs Rita xx

Glenda said...

Man cards are the hardest for many of us. Especially those of us who love putting as much, lace, buttons bows and flowers on a card as we can get there. Guys don't like the fru fru so it's best to just do one thing and stop. Love the car image and the shiny wheels on your card. Your background is perfect. These rules are a perfect list for making a man card!

Di said...

Brilliant card Julia - and such good rules, I might well print them off for future reference.

One point, if I had wee wee the colour of your card background I might be a bit concerned - only sayin' :)

Di
xx

Helen said...

A great set of rules! I really like the resulting card too. Thank you and Mr D for providing and passing on the rules. Now I need to work out how to mark this post so I can find the rules next time I need them... ha ha. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

now thats some great advice, beautiful card too!

Debs Willis said...

Great rules! My DH could have written them - with the addition of....'absuolutely no glitter under ANY circumstances!" lol!!

Like the card, very cool (is that still a word in current usage by the cool kids :-)

Made DH one of a pic of Monument Valley (went there for his 40th) and made into a tunnel card - the engineer in him was intrigued - caugh him trying to dismantle it - job done!

Hugs

Debs xx

Dianne said...

oh, this is just terrific! rules that made me smile...and I think I had figured out the "no pink" and "no bows" items. but no 'tearing of paper?!' not sure I can do that. LOVE the classic car card!

jodpea said...

I agree whole heartedly with that last statement, I work with mostly men and the few times I've tried to sell my cards to them, I wished I hadn't bothered :S

Jaki Morris said...

Brilliant list!

Why do we hate making men's cards I wonder? Same as boys cards! I've found that banners work well so I made three the same! 2 Father's Days and 1 12 year olds. It's my b-i-ls birthday next so bring out the banners

Jakixx

Angie said...

I think Mr D's list is brilliant ...thank him for me ...life will be so much simpler now xx

Monica said...

they really don't understand why we bother to make one when we can pick a card up while out grocery shopping. Sometimes I make him a card for no reason, usually something in the "pee"shades a result of trying to be shabby chic or vintage. they never look like i want them to so a few nuts and bolt and it may be a hit.

Redanne said...

I love your fabulous card Julia, the car is brilliant. I like Mr D's rules on making cards for men, I don't have to try so hard in the future now - lol. Now where did I put that 'Men are from Mars' stamp ........... A x

scrappymo! said...

Great card Julia...I think Mr Dunnitt nailed it. We should all take his mini tutorial/advice to heart.

SandeeNC said...

rotflmbo, I think the fact that Mr. D gave you that much information speaks volumes on his behalf! Most men just give me a blank look, so yours is well...errr....trained! lol waving hi from the hot hills of North Carolina :)

JoZart Designs said...

Well you've GOT to agree that it works and your card is a CLASSIC!! Love it!
So excited! Off to Cardarian's Happy Place Sunday....( via Donna's tomorrow)... see what wonders WOYWW weaves!
Love JoZarty x

Elizabeth said...

Hi Julia, that's a great set of guidelines from Mr D and adhering to them clearly works, your card is perfect. I agonise over designing mens cards but see I've been wasting my time. Like the inking effect you've achieved and the car is super. BTW, The EM applies rule No. 10 to all the cards he receives except mine :) Elizabeth x

fairy thoughts said...

great card and well done to Mr D for telling it like it is although is is just me that thinks no. 10 is a bit scary..... in the bin? my handyman always gives them back to me to 're-use'
janet

Hettie said...

Those are very good Rules to go by so maybe not all men are wrong!! Lovely card too Julia!
Hugs
xx

JoelMcBride said...

Well, as a guy myself, I generally agree with the list. But, I would never consider throwing out a handmade card! I also make cards myself so I am even in a smaller minority of men. I usually admit I'm a stamper and cardmaker more to women than to men. Women seem to appreciate the craft more than most guys do. I wonder WWTHD? (What Would Tim Holtz Do?!)

misteejay said...

Great card Julia and Mr D's rule are certainly a template that should help those of us who struggle with 'men' cards.

For Debs who was wondering if folk still said 'cool' - a colleague's children recently informed her that it's not 'cool' it's 'C.O.O.L.' and it stands for "Constipated, overweight old ladies"...don't you just love kids LOL

Toni xx

Lynn Holland said...

Brilliant Julia,what made me laugh was him coming up with them in the first place.
Mr H is muscling in on the Doodly Birds, wanting to know if I've done my tag for the Tag Tuesday challenge every week, and if not why not. What the theme is and then giving his opinion on how it should be done and checking the results.
He even tells me how to set up my stall. It makes me giggle he is so passionate about it all. Bless him.
Hello to Mr Dunnit.

Anonymous said...

I am always finding cards made for DH (and DS for that matter) hanging about years after they were presented. I take them back, so I can recycle the fronts. Once or twice back to them in reverse. They've never noticed. :)
I think they think tossing them in the bin would hurt my feelings. But unlike scrapbook pages, I've always thought of cards as expendable.

Happy Saturday

MA

KatzElbows said...

He's a genius, a freaking genius! And I love that background/strip on the card. Just gorgeous.

Jane Wetzel said...

hey, seriously...this is the BEST male card I have seen! :) great list by the dh and I want that car! lol

Whimcees said...

Hello!

A thank you to the kind Mr. Dunnit for his ground rules! Masculine cards are not easy! Wishing you both a happy weekend!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Bethan said...

Just bliming brilliant!!!!

Sandy said...

This is funny because this is exactly what just happened to me yesterday when my son requested a card for his mate. No ribbon or fancy stuff mum, I was told. Have a peek at my blog to see my man card. Think he would have liked your one.
I love your car image I have been told by son that he has a few friends parties coming up and that could I get a few more cards ready. Sandy :)

Eliza said...

Great basic rules, thank hubby for the guidelines, interesting what he thinks. I must remember to ask my DH what his opinion is in regard to this type of card.

I like your card, clean simple and straight to the task at hand.

Eliza

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Just found your blog and this is so cool! I love the rust look!!!!

Kyla said...

Well done Mr D some rules we can all use (I will certainly be stealing them!). I love the background paper and the car, can I ask what make they are?

As for chucking the card in the bin....well, that's men for you....! Lol!

Sorry I didn't have time for WOYWW this week.....day job got in the way!
Kyla

Craftychris said...

Mr D's rules sound good to me. Seem similar to what my Husband would say. I am loving your card, simple and stylish - a definite classic! xx

Kezzy said...

Love the rules, what a fantastic idea and I'm sure all men would produce the same lol. I have to admit I hate doing male cards, after reading this next time I shall not spend long on it as it's like to hit the bin lol. Kezzy xxx

Kezzy said...

p.s I love your card, the over stamping is fab. xx Kez xx

peggy aplSEEDS said...

great list! and i so enjoyed reading it. LOL!

Ann B said...

Love the car, lovethe rules, love that you have given in to TH (obviously I'm in a very lovey mood) but if that colour is your idea of wee wee then you need to take more water with it.

Queen Lightwell said...

I love those rules! Ok, um, well not the actual rules, but the thought behind them? Though they do simplify things a tiny bit and that should help. Men cards are terribly hard for a girl who loves pink princessy things, after all! So thanks for the help, and Mr. Dunnit, too, of course. :) I mean his help. lol

mark gould said...

fab post, Mr Dunnit's list cracked me up and as a bloke I would say he has it about right ;)
My dad would have loved the card you made as well.happy stamping, mark

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