Let the Paper do the work: Creating a Masculine-Style card with Ease

When it comes to crafting masculine style cards, many of us find ourselves, pausing. Without florals, pastels, or glitter to fall back on, it can feel challenging to create something visually interesting yet still fitting for the recipient. But here’s the secret:

Let the Patterned do the heavy lifting!

I recently sat down to make a card for a guy friend and knew I wanted something clean bold and stylish without spending hours layering or embellishing. The answer? A rich masculine pattern paper.

Masculine papers often feature colors like deep, blues, grays forest greens, and earthtones with patterns like plaid wood grain. Metal fixtures are even subtle geometrics. These papers have built in interest and texture that create a striking background without needing much else. For the upcoming occasions, such as Father’s Day graduation and birthdays, I chose these cards, stocks, and various pattern papers.

Supplies Used:

All of the white cardstock used is CutCardStock”s Cougar Super Smooth White Cardstock either in the 80lb or 100# . Lessebo Amazon, Sweet Mint, Sunset and Splash. CutCardstock’s DCS line in Wild Blueberry , Sand Castle Tan and Black.

You will also need stamps and coordinating dies for sentiments if you choose to use. A paper trimmer, some dies to cut your papers into basic shapes or die sets that includes dies for matting and layering. For adhesives, I used mainly liquid glue and foam tape.

For the masculine cards that I created, I chose Plaids and designs that are simple, and that immediately gives the cards a tailored, almost upscale feel and paired them with the coordinating solid card stocks. I only used basic shapes, flags and labels to add the sentiments such as “Happy Birthday” “Congrats” and sentiments appropriate for upcoming Fathers Day and popped them up with foam adhesive for dimension. I did not use any embellishments on my cards today, but if I had, I would only use plain colored enamel dots.

Here’s a look at my cards:

The beauty of the technique in making masculine cards is that it keeps the process simple but polished , there’s no need for over the top embellishments or complicated techniques. Just good design, smart paper choices, and a little contrast.

So the next time you’re making a card for a guy and feel stuck, reach for that pattern paper! Let it speak for itself and be the star of your design. With the right print you’re halfway there before you even begin.

if I inspired you to reach for that pattern paper to make masculine cards, let me know in the comments below. And tell me, what do you find yourself getting stuck on when making cards for your guy…

And until the next time, Keep making pretty things!……