Monday 13 May 2013

Men. Cards. Difficulty.



For my Valentine, I made a card that wasn't particularly cute, but perfectly apt and I put a personal message across the front, painstakingly stamped with an alphabet set because there are no commercial stamps available that have the sort of nonsense we say to each other.  On the day, I watched him open it.  He ripped the envelope open, took the card out, opened it and stepped to the window to read what I'd written inside. The he kissed my forehead, thanked me, stood the card on the bookcase and went to work.

And that is how you now understand why I have trouble making cards for men.

They are ever so slightly under appreciated.  What? You say.  He opened it didn't he?  He put it on display didn't he?  Yes and Yes.  But he didn't look at the front at all.  I know this because first of all he definitely should have had something to say about the stupid phrase stamped on it, and (here's the clincher) to fit the phrase on the card, I used a landscape format. He stood it up in portrait format without so much as a second glance.  And there it stayed, the wrong way around until a month later I gave it to him for our anniversary.  He gave me a slightly quizzical look, but did not question it, and believe it or not, stood it on the same bookcase the wrong way around again.  

This is not a bitter and venom filled report, I think it's hilarious really, but also really...no wonder I'd rather buy a card for a chap.  So this Thursday's Cards for Men workshop will be delivered more in hope than expectation that other girls have erm, other types of men!

27 comments:

Helen said...

your post made me smile no end! I have few men cards to make any more (thank goodness, in a way that you will understand!) Good luck with the Thursday group...

Crafty Lark said...

Ooops! I am at the other end of the scale with enough males in the family to share around with everyone. Hubby goes through all my male cards to decide which one should be sent to his brothers, nephews etc. I can only just keep up but this year I have focused quite a bit on getting dies suitable for the task and I am enjoying it. xx Flora

Tara Cardwell said...

Aw bless you - my guy loves my cards and "gets" them totally. My mother on the other hand.......

mamapez5 said...

I had to laugh at this. Pity me a little - a husband, five sons, five grandsons and one great-grandson. My ability to come up with original male cards is stretched!

Angie said...

For this reason I usually BUY my sons card ....although I usually make for the GS's ... while they are young anyway xx

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I think it's a personality issue, and believe he appreciates the cards more than you think. Some guys have a harder time expressing their feelings than others. It's a great card!

Minxy said...

You always bring a smile to my face with your little anecdotes xo

Craftychris said...

What an amusing post! Mind you, I would not have been happy! Luckily the men I make cards for always seem to appreciate the thought that goes into them, if they didn't, I wouldn't bother!!!!! xx

Monica said...

Woops! It obviusly mean it in the inside that matter. Next time put the front inside and this way up on thw front.

Krisha said...

You had me laughing!! I bought my son a birthday card this year and when he opened it he said" How much did it hurt to BUY a card?"ofcourse he was laughing. I also bought mt GD a card (I was just caught very short on time) when her Mother saw it, she threw a fit that it wasn't the fancy "hand-made" kind. Now go figure!!

Julie Lee said...

That card is super! My husband and son are quite arty and appreciative; but recently I made a quite intricate box for a male friend I've been chums with for 25 years!Every little section meant something about our friendship. What did he do with it? Had one too many birthday drinks and left it in a cab! Good luck with the Thursday class! x

Kirsty.A said...

Oh how funny! Thanks for sharing this Julia

Redanne said...

Oh this did make me smile Julia, I think I would be inclined to buy the next one - and I bet he will notice that and ask why you have not made him one..... Hugs, Anne x

Jackie said...

This made me smile ...... I gave up making cards for my husband and bought them for the last few years .... Today I made a card for my SIL to be ..... See how it goes down later this week!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I have no male friends I would make a card for. Of course, I don't really make cards, anyway. I am more inclined to make a mixed media gift than a card. Having said that, I perfectly understand your frustration which turned to laughter after the second time he set it on the bookcase the wrong way. That made ME laugh, too.

Hope your card making workshop session turns into a fun filled day. It might even prove to be worthy of an "I love you just because" card.

peggy aplSEEDS said...

this is hilarious, Julia! i know just what you mean!

BJ said...

Oh Julia, what are men like? Considering I have just made a couple of men cards for DH as it is Father's Day and his birthday soon. Wondered if I could get away with 2 versions of the same, and probably can! I get the same with scrapbooking, I spend ages creating and constructing a page for him to just home in on the photos to see if HE took them! Nevermind everything else. Another reason to go to craft groups as you get appreciated there. Love your man card btw, all that stamping on acetate is super. BJ

BJ said...

Forgot to say I do like making cards for my son's birthday as I try and find something he is interested in and use that. He seems to appreciate the work I put it for him. Oh and I did an ATC with a bike on (DH bike mad at present) and he liked that, so not all lost. BJ

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I don't make cards for my hubby for the same reason. He never looks at the front of cards, he immediately opens them to see if there is money inside. He doesn't care what is written on the outside or even the inside, just what else might be in the card. *sigh*

Kyla said...

oh that is SO true!!!

I think if someone comes up with half a dozen mens card designs (NOT sport, booze or women!!) then they would be on a winner and its a workshop I would sign up for!!

kyla

fairy thoughts said...

haha i love that you have hopes that your ladies have other types of men..... nope thya are all the same
janet
Ps mine even gave me back the same card the next year .... as a joke

Nan G said...

ah yes men! They do make one smile though as did your story! :)

Queen Lightwell said...

I do hope you keep giving him that same card for the next happy occasion and every one after that until he finally reads the front! It will probably only take like 4 more occasions, right? lol :)

ANNETTE HUSBAND said...

LOL Julia
my hubby loves my hand made cards and even last night when I was searching for a document he was after I found he had kept all past cards I had made him in his top bedside draw. Many men are not like mine though :o)
hugs
Annette In Oz

Meihsia Liu said...

LOL... totally agree with you, Julia. Most men don't care what's written on the card or how beautiful the card is. Your card is awesome! ^_^

Mary said...

OMG....thank you for this post. A few years ago, I made a beautiful card for my husband. I then made a box to put it in. I wrapped a belly band around the box, because I didn't want to have him struggle with the box to open it. I wrapped the card in tissue inside the box, to heighten the excitement as he opened the box. Well, long story short, the following year I told him I hoped I wouldn't disappoint with this years card. Guess what he said....I don't remember the card you gave me last year! Guess what he got for the next birthday! Samo-o, same-o. Here's the kicker...he didn't know it was the same card! And that too is why I don't like making cards for men!

Bobby said...

I don't have to worry about my husband. I don't give him cards - mainly because he doesn't give me any either. But the rest of the males in my family appreciate my effort, so that's enough.