Collar Technique Masculine Plaids Winter Cards by Anne Thompson

The Collar Technique is another one I had never tried, so I paired that method with darker plaids, dots and stripes, and cardstocks to create some masculine cards that could be sent any time this winter. By adding the shirts to a side-folded card I got a less shirt-like look and had some fun accessorizing. When I'm ready to send them out, all I will need to do is choose an appropriate sentiment to add to the coordinating paper inside.

how to make a card using the Collar Technique

Start with an A2 notecard...I used white ones.
Add a mat paper layer 5 1/4 X 4...I used dots papers.
Add another layer 5 X 3 3/4... I used a plaid or stripes.
Cut plaid paper that coordinates with the layer above and cut it the same size, 5 X 3 3/4.
Turn the paper to the 5" side and mark it at 2 1/2 then cut a slit from that mark down 1 1/2".
Use a ruler and a scoring tool to make a line that goes from the ends of the slit at 1 1/2" to the corners on the 5" sides and carefully fold back on that line...that will bring the back side of the paper up onto the front like shirt collars.
Use small dimensional foam pieces behind the collars so that they roll over a bit onto the shirt.
Add this piece onto the mat layer of the same size.

Instead of making this a top fold card so that it really looks like a shirt, I used a side-fold card and turned the shirt on its side for a different look. Let's see what I did to accessorize each of the cards from this point.

I added a popped up circle cut using the CIRCLE BASICS SET 30087 and a light gray dot paper.
I cut the LARGE VINTAGE SLED 94496 from black cardstock and placed it flat on the circle and added a foam dot under the steering bar of the sled which is on the flat paper panel in order to keep it level.
I glued some POINTY PINE NEEDLE SPRIGS 94467 on the body of the sled and topped the sprigs with a dotted gray bow.

I cut a circle from the same paper I used for the shirt and collars and popped it up between the collars.
I added a black cardstock wreath, the medium-sized one from KNOTTED CIRCLE WREATHS 94482.
I cut more Pointy Pine Needle Sprigs using black cardstock and added them and a black bow to the wreath.

Because of the white stripe in the plaid on the collars I used white cardstock for the added elements on the plaid circle--a white Knotted Circle Wreath, Pointy Pine Needle Sprigs, and a tiny satin bow.

The papers I used are from PP1009 CHRISTMAS PLAID and PP1011 GARLAND STRIPES AND DOTS.

One can never have too many guy cards on hand. And these are so fun!

Happy Crafting!