Scraps of Life: Older and Wiser

Good morning Blogger Pals! I am sharing a Really Reasonable Ribbon project today. I am taking a break from Christmas projects to share a masculine birthday card! My oldest son turns (GULP) 31 on December 12th and I need a card. Two birds...one stone!

Seriously, how is he 31 years old already?! Time just passes so quickly! He bought a condo last summer and over the Thanksgiving holiday he was talking about saving for a down payment on a house...like a real house with a garage and a yard and everything! I am sure that just 10 seconds ago he was fussing at having to mow our yard! Crazy pants!

So, anyway, I made him this card. (I don't think he looks at the blog, so it is safe to post it.)

Despite having a husband, two sons, three brothers, many nephews, and one awesome great-nephew, I never seem to make enough masculine cards! I am always scrambling at the last minute to make one! And it's not as if I don't have masculine papers or other embellishments, because believe me, I do! I guess that I just love to do flowers and ribbons and sparkle more!

I pulled out this beautiful paper from Authentique (Mister Collection) for my card. I love the colors of this collection - brown, rust, charcoal, gray, navy. So masculine and so vintage! (And yes, I have barely used any of this paper! I have a lot of it!)

I chose one of the ephemera cards for my focal point...but I gave it a bit of a make-over to change the date to my son's birth year, 1991. I love the "older and wiser" sentiment, too.

For the RRR trim I used the stunning 3/8" Charcoal Satin with Grosgrain Edge ribbon. I love this ribbon color and think that I need to get it in all the sizes...maybe in a spool.... The color is not black nor gray nor navy, but just a bit of all of those colors!

I wrapped some Navy Burlap String around the center of the ribbon and attached it all to the back of the panel. I then tied a knot with a short bit of the 3/8" Charcoal Satin with Grosgrain Edge ribbon. This is a simple, yet masculine way to add ribbon and trim to a card without using any big loopy bows. (The men in my life are not that into loopy bows!)

I added a lining to the inside of the card and stamped a birthday sentiment, plus added some bits of paper to trim out the inside of the card. There is still plenty of space to write a message.

More true confessions...I have had this stamp set in my hoard for YEARS and don't think i have ever used it! Nor have I used the dies that go with it! I am on a mission in 2023 to get this stuff out and USE it because...why on earth did I buy it? It does nobody any good just sitting around here! I have some plans...but you need to wait on that.... {grin}

I glued three metal studs to the lower right corner of the card to finish it off. I love how this call came together, and I especially love the book printed paper and that charcoal satin ribbon!

Thank you so much for joining me today!