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I am sure it has been discussed before but does a bow on a masculine card make it unmasculine?
I think it is the style of bow that makes it look more feminine or masculine. A tied bow with loops definitely looks more foo-foo than a "bow" that is tied in a simple knot. It probably is also influenced by the type of product you use for the bow - satin and ruffley edges are definitely of a feminine bent, while twine, flax thread and gros-grain are more gender-neutral (depending on the color! ). Just my 2 cents. ;)
I would say that a bow does make a card "unmasculine" - though there could be some exceptions. I'm sure you could get away with tying twine, hemp, raffia, or something similar in a bow if you really think it is needed on the project, but under normal circumstances I never use a bow on masculine cards.
That does not mean you can't use ribbon - I don't think a card is complete without some sort of ribbon, thread, etc. I would secure the ribbon in a knot rather than a bow, because it ads a focal point and visual interest without too much femininity to it.
Personally, I rarely use bows except on very special projects that fall into my Formal/Elegant category. But that's just my personal taste, and may not be yours.
If you ask my DH, a bow makes any card less than it would be without a bow. He thinks there should be regular challenges to make cards without any bows or ribbons or fibres.
So you can guess from my experience the answer is a definite no bow.
Having said that, I do sometimes try to sneak ribbon or fibres onto my cards for him by using them in unexpected ways.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krabearkub
I would say that a bow does make a card "unmasculine" - though there could be some exceptions. I'm sure you could get away with tying twine, hemp, raffia, or something similar in a bow if you really think it is needed on the project, but under normal circumstances I never use a bow on masculine cards.
That does not mean you can't use ribbon - I don't think a card is complete without some sort of ribbon, thread, etc. I would secure the ribbon in a knot rather than a bow, because it ads a focal point and visual interest without too much femininity to it.
Personally, I rarely use bows except on very special projects that fall into my Formal/Elegant category. But that's just my personal taste, and may not be yours.
I have used ribbon on "guy" cards before. They tend to be masculine colors and textured (think grosgrain instead of satin) and I do tie them with a knot.
I think you can do whatever you want with your card - even if it means putting a bow on a masculine card - if that's what makes you happy.
I think I would go with knots and use some kind of twine, hemp, or cord etc versus ribbon. Stick with neutral colors...tans, brown, black, white. That way it complements your design but does not take away from it. ;)
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I think it is the style of bow that makes it look more feminine or masculine. A tied bow with loops definitely looks more foo-foo than a "bow" that is tied in a simple knot. It probably is also influenced by the type of product you use for the bow - satin and ruffley edges are definitely of a feminine bent, while twine, flax thread and gros-grain are more gender-neutral (depending on the color! ). Just my 2 cents. ;)
For guy cards I usually use "guy" colors, and I hate tying bows, so I usually "knot" my ribbon anyway. Now if it's a frilly pink bow, then I guess that would be not so masculine! LOL!
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I use darker colors and texture when making a masculine card. The closest I have come to a bow is on this Masculine Card, which is really a knot.
I think, like kub already said, that using twine (like this card), hemp (like this card), vinyl (like this card), velvet (like this card), or even raffia (like this card) works great.
I have 3 sons and my husband and have had to make many masculine cards. I love to make them. I actually like them better than 'froo froo' lacy cards for myself.
I can't tie a nice bow to save my soul, so I just knot everything anyway!
I give my boyfriend cards with ribbon which is knotted, and he's never said anything about them being un-masculine... and he's a guitar player and vocalist in a rock band. He has all of my cards proudly displayed in his apartment. He's not embarrassed to show his "cool" buddies my cards with knotted ribbon, so I'm gonna say that a knot is safe, but a bow isn't.
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To bow or not to bow
