Its a Guy's Birthday

 Guy cards....UGHHHHH.  Alot of us dread them.  Some of us find no problem putting together a great guy card and then there are others like me who sometimes struggle.  I do not struggle with the color nor with the type of fold I am going to use.  Even at times choosing the paper is not a problem for me.  My struggle is that as I start the design the further in I go the more I tend to start reaching for flowers and butterflies. Hahahaha.

I swear I can turn any masculine card into a pretty feminine one in no time.  So when I saw this one I knew if I stuck to the plan of very little embellishments this could be a definite guy card.  Why???  Because it's a Polo Shirt card.  Yes women wear Polo Shirts (or use to on golf courses or tennis courts) but usually they are associated with a guy.  So I can do this.  Right???  Stay simple???  YIKES.  Me! Simple....few embellies....oh boy.

Ok so here's what you need.

A 8.5 x 11 cardstock of choice 10" x 7" scored at 5" save scrap you'll be using a piece of it.

A 12 x 12 of double sided DSP.  Double sided is necessary due to the collar trick.  It's a tiny touch that can be ok with single sided paper if you don't mind the collar of your shirt being white and all your accents being white.  But I prefer the look of the double sided papers.  You can get 3 shirt fronts from 1 sheet of 12 x 12 when cut properly.

First cut the sheet to measure 12 x 6.75 then cut that piece into 2 pieces that measure 4.75 x 6.75 and save the scrape.  then with the 5.25 x 12 piece that you cut off in the beginning rotate that and cut another 4.75 x 6.75 piece also saving scraps

Now with all your scrap DSP's and thinking you will eventually be making 3 card fronts you will be needing 3 sets of sleeves so you will need to cut 9 pieces of the DSP that measure 1.5" x 1.5"  you will also need 3 pockets 1.25" x 1.25" and 3 bands 1" x 5" and although I do not have exact amount you will be needing a bunch of little strips about 1/8" to 1/4" wide for detailing the sleeves and pockets.

You will also need some sort of sentiment for the bottom strip.  As you can see in the finished card below.

Cool right?  Plus it opens just light a regular card.  It's not small either.  Something I have heard some men (insert throat clear....hubby) complain about receiving dainty size cards.  Well this one is a 5x7.  Nothing dainty about that!

Pieces are minimal too. A quick photo tutorial below can help you put this together if your a seasoned card maker.  If you need more help Sam has a step by step tutorial on her channel Mixed up Crafts on YouTube.

Funny how weird the colors are showing up in those pictures.  No the green shirt is not getting blue sleeves.  It is the same paper.  I guess the angle and lighting made it looks blue.  I also notice in the other photo where I'm showing how to bend the color it looks like the collar up on top is bluish.  So strange.  Anyway.  A tip I forgot to add.  When doing the bending of the collar and the sleeves.  You do not want a crisp bone folder crease down.  As you see in the one picture with the sleeves, all you want to do is rest your ruler up against where you want the bend to be and give it a gentle bend.  The collar we do not want flat so it gives some sort of dimension.  As for the sleeves...the reason for the bend is so that it fits into the envelope but looks like the fold is suppose to be there and not because you shoved it in an envelope that's too small. It gives the shirt a cute 3d look while letting you use a regular envelope.  Pretty nifty right?  Ok who says nifty anymore?  I must be showing my age.  And with that I say.................. until next time.