Masculine Card Ideas You'll Love! Driving By from Stampin' Up!

 

If you need handmade card ideas for him or for the car lover in your life then you will love the Driving By stamp set! Sons, Husbands, Boyfriends, Uncles, Nephews, Friends... And hey, there are plenty of girls who loves cars and, well, Disney, too! 

If you have kids who are obsessed with cars from that Disney movie then these cards are also going to be a "kid" crowd pleaser. As a matter of fact, the color theme for this card series is inspired by those characters and by my son who adores ALL-THINGS-CARS.

4 Card Ideas Using the Driving By Stamp Set (and Your Biggest Fan Bundle)

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WATERCOLOR BACKGROUND PATTERN (DISNEY CARS INSPIRED)

If you want to create multiple cards with a similar theme then consider this watercolor background technique. You can also use Stampin' Blends for this type of project if you'd like an alternate option. 

I chose watercolor. This type of watercoloring isn't what you traditionally think of when you see watercolor. This is detail watercoloring but with our inks instead of pens or markers. Creating a background like this takes a little time but is worth it. If you love coloring or bringing images to life with details then you will LOVE this technique. 

I was under the weather when I created this and when I'm not feeling great I actually like to color. It helps to calm my mind and soothe me. Let me know in the comments below what you like to do when you aren't feeling your best to help cheer you up.

If you have kids or grandkids then you may recognize
these toys and the inspiration for today's card ideas

PRODUCTS USED ON THESE CARDS

• Driving By Stamp Set (Sale-a-Bration Item)
• Your Biggest Fan Bundle
• Stitched Rectangle Dies
• Stayz On Ink in Black
• Watercolor Paper
• Water Painters
• Poppy Parade Ink and Cardstock
• Daffodil Delight Ink and Cardstock
• Mint Macaron Ink and Cardstock
• Basic Black Cardstock
• Basic White Cardstock
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Balmy Blue Ink
• Gray Granite Ink
• Pattern Party Designer Series Paper (Black & White Gingham Pattern)
• Gingham Ribbon
• Playful Pets Trim Combo Pack
• Stampin' Blends Poppy Parade

Card Idea 1 of 4: Happy Birthday w/ Balloons and Cars
Color Theme: Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Mint Macaron, Basic Black
Stitched Rectangle Sizes: 3 x 4-3/8, 3-1/2 x 4-3/4"

Card Idea 2 of 4: Saying Hi with Cars
Stars Background
Stitched Rectangle Sizes: 3-1/2 x 4-3/4", 3-3/4 x 5-1/8"

Card Idea 3 of 4: Splatter Birthday
Stitched Rectangle Sizes: 3-1/2 x 4-3/4", 3-3/4 x 5-1/8"

Card Idea 4 of 4: Black and White Banners Card

Ok, if you're still with me then let's talk about the watercolor part of this project. 

Stampin' Up! sells 5 x 7 Watercolor Paper sheets "Fluid 100" in the Annual Catalog. I used a different brand that is 9 x 12 so I could create a larger background sheet, but you can also try this on the Shimmery White Cardstock from Stampin' Up! if you want a larger paper size that is watercolor friendly. I did not have any Shimmery White Cardstock on hand to try on camera.

I have found when it comes to Water Painters to not let the brushes stay sopping wet. If there is too much water on your brush or too much water transferred to the image you are coloring you may go outside the lines or find multiple colors bleeding together. For the coloring of the cars you want to get a nice balance of color and water. Keep a towel or paper towel nearby for dabbing away excess water if needed.

The more water you use the less color. This creates a very soft look. The less water the more intense the color. 

Here is a guide for the amount of water used per color on the background pattern:

• Mint Macaron Van - MORE Water
• Daffodil Delight Car - MORE Water
• Poppy Parade Sports Car - VERY LITTLE Water *just enough to wet the bristles*
• Balmy Blue Windows - MORE Water
• Gray Granite Hubcaps - SOME Water for a soft look
• Memento Black Tires - NO WATER *Dipped brush into ink without any drops of water on block*

Water Painters can be filled with water and water dispenses when you squeeze the barrel and it comes out onto the bristles of the brush. I take a few drops of the ink from our re-inkers and put them on a clear block. If I'm mixing the color with water I'll also add a few drops of water to block and then create the desired blend of color and water.

I like to test color on a scrap piece of watercolor paper before coloring on my background pattern. 

You can use water painters again and again in multiple colors. Just clean brush tip between uses. I actually used the same brush for every color on my background sheet. I probably should have switched to the smallest brush tip for the tires but the middles size brush worked great as well.

Take your time. Enjoy the coloring process. When using multiple colors with water be patient. Either let the ink dry before going in with another layer or color, or if you need to speed up the drying process use your heat tool to help set the color. I decided to use the heat tool before running the finished sheet through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss Die Cut Machine. When you take the time to create a detailed background the last thing you want is smearing. 

If you make a mistake don't let it stop you and resist starting over. Remember, you will be cutting this up into smaller sections. You can always layer an embellishment over the boo-boo or cut out the piece you don't love. I chose coloring inside the lines but I did go outside the lines several times. I accidentally got ink on my hand when it was still wet and blotted it right into the center of my background pattern. And it was red! But I kept going. It's ok to go outside the lines. It's ok not to have the perfect blend. It's ok if you don't get the water/ ink ratio right the first, second or third time. When trying something new give yourself grace. Think about Kindergarteners. My son reminds me daily to stop taking myself so seriously and just enjoy it. Be messy if that's what works for you! I promise the person who receives your card is going to be thrilled. They won't care how perfect you were. Handmade imperfection warms the heart!

Ok, I hope you enjoyed today's blog! 

DID YOU KNOW...

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Thank you for stopping by the blog and happy crafting!