Friday 8 July 2016

Flowers for Algernon

That was the title of a science fiction short story I read many years ago. I can't remember much about it now (I think Algernon was a mouse) but the title stayed with me because back then it was even rarer than it is now to give men flowers - or make cards with flowers on them for men.

Which leads me, in a very roundabout way, to this fortnight's challenge at The Male Room, which is to use flowers in a masculine way.  I decided to go for an industrial look.

First of all I made the background, using some grey textured card. I stamped all over randomly using a wire netting stamp and a scribbled lines and circles stamp - both from a very old Linda Luckin set (dated 2008). Then I distressed the edges and rubbed a little brown and charcoal grey chalk over the surface to bring out the grainy texture of the card here and there.

The sentiment, from Rubber Dance, is stamped on a piece of woodgrain paper and embellished with brads, then layered over some brick-effect paper from my scraps box.

The metallic flowers are cut from patterned metallic effect card and then embossed using a grid effect embossing folder, and finished with eyelets. The newsprint flowers are stamped (using an old magazine freebie stamp from several years ago) on newsprint effect paper, inked, curled a little and finished with screw-headed brads.


I am sharing this with

The Male Room - Make Flowers Masculine
Fab 'n' Funky - Two or more designer papers
Retro Rubber - Brads and Eyelets
Ooh La La - Something Beginning with F (Flowers)  
Craft Rocket - Anything Goes 

22 comments:

Zoechaos said...

Well that is a sentiment you would never put on a card for a woman, unless you know her exceptionally well! Making this a truly masculine card you clever ?@^{} thing. XOXO

Desire Fourie said...

This is just so beautiful Jane, loving the flowers and wonderful mixed media old world feel.
Hugs
Desíre
{ATG with a CREATE WITH TLC Element}
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Debbie Mageed said...

What a fun card for anyone, male or female (with a sense of humor)! Love the texture and vintage look. The brads and eyelets add the perfect detail. Thank you so much for playing along with Retro Rubber and hope you will be back in our gallery soon.

Claudia's kaartjes said...

Great card. Thanks for joining us at Craft Rocket Challenge.

hugs
Claudia
DT Craft Rocket Challenge
http://knutselmeisjes.blogspot.be/
Owner http://creativesketchygirls.blogspot.be

Buffy said...

Amazing card, love the brads and metallic effect. Brilliant. Thank you for joining in with us at The Male Room.
Hugs
Buffy x

cotnob said...

A fabulous card, lovely flowers and great sentiment.
Thank you for joining us at Ooh La La Creations.
I am having a little Give Away on my blog if you would like to take a look - http://craftingwithcotnob.blogspot.co.uk/
Pauline
x

Julie Gearinger said...

Well, you did a great job creating a beautiful grunge flower card that any man would be pleased to receive:-) The love texture, colors and use of the brads for the flower centers as well as the eyelets- perfect for our challenge! Thanks for sharing with us at The Retro Rubber Challenge Blog, hugs and have a blessed week!

Liz said...

Love this! Including flowers on a male card is not an easy task, but you've cracked it with this one. xx

Buffy said...

Stunning card, love those brads and the metallic effect. Great job of incorporating the different papers. Thannk you for joining in with us at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.
Hugs
Buffy x

Katy McGloin said...

Fantastic card! Love the flowers (metal and newsprint) and the sentiment sign details against the rustic background layer. Great texture! Thanks so much for including Retro Rubber in your stamping fun this week. Hope to see you in our gallery often!!

Cara said...

Great make on such a tricky challenge. Cara x

creative lady said...

Love your rustic/grunge card! I love the flowers with the brads and eyelets! Thanks for playing along with Retro Rubber.

mixamatoasties said...

Love this! Absolutely fabulous.

Thanks for sharing at FabNFunky this week.

Susan

Shawna said...

I am really enjoying the texture of this card. Your brick border is perfect along with your distressed background.. Now to the fantastic flowers and yet again your texture is fabulous. The colors you added make it perfectly masculine. Great Job!! thank you so much for joining us at The Male Room.
Cyber Hugs,
shawna DT

Maria Rodriguez said...

I'm blown away by the texture and style of this card, the "grunge" look is perfect for a masculine card, it takes the beautiful flowers from being to feminine and lands them right on the masculine side.
Love your use of this eyelets and screws, this details really make this card perfect for a man.
Thank you for playing along with us at Retro Rubber, hope to see you back in the gallery again soon.
Hugs,
Maria Rodriguez.

Jane Knudsen said...

Stunning! Talk about detail on this card and you get double points for using brad AND eyelets!! But my favorite part of the post is the title - I read this book and was always fascinated with it! Thank you for joining us at Retro Rubber!

Neva Cole said...

What a great way to use brads and eyelets in a masculine way for flowers. I remember reading Flowers for Algernon as well! Thank you for playing along with us at Retro Rubber.

Gingin said...

Great card Jane! I love all the detail and texture! What a great use of brads and eyelets. Thank you so much for joining us at Retro Rubber:)

Michelle J M said...

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous card with us at Ooh La La Creations. Those flowers are fabulous Jane. Michelle x

Barbara Washburn said...

Wow, great job! The metal flowers are a super touch. Thanks for sharing at Craft Rocket Challenges. Barbara DT

Deborah Frings said...

I remember that story very well indeed - it made me cry! I think your industrial style flowers are perfect for a guy! Great sentiment too. Thanks so much for playing along with The Male Room, Deborah, DT. Sorry to be so late commenting!!

Monika Reeck said...

yay you are the winner HM on The Male Room congrats Jane
http://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.de/
you really made flower so great for manly card I was not join no idea with flowers and manly card puuh
you are so clever Jane
I am happy being your friend