I made this when I was playing around with vintage photo distress ink before Christmas (when I was waiting for my order of stamps to arrive).
Base white card edged with vintage photo ink, then stamped with script stamp. Gears stamped in top and bottom corners. On a separate piece of card, colour sponged lightly over base. Image of man stamped in the centre, then edged with ink. Layered on gold, then onto striped paper, and then onto base card. Two gears dye cut onto cardstock, stained with vintage photo ink, and then when dry inked with cosmic copper ink (to give a rusted look).
Overall I think the monochrome feel worked well. I think it would be a good male birthday card, or any occasion really.