Stampin' Up! The Open Sea and I create a Masculine Birthday Card

Hi again! I promised I'd be back to show a scrap page, I do have one ready made and right to post, just I wanted to share this card first :)

This is a fairly basic card, with a card base made out of Soft Suede, layered with some Not Quite Navy, which I ran through the Big Shot with the Stripes embossing folder. Once it was embossed, I scuffed it up a bit using the Distressing Essentials kit and then sponged the edges in Not Quite Navy. I punched some tiny holes into the Not Quite Navy piece and put some tiny little silver brads through, then I tied some Vanilla Seam Binding around it and finished with a bow. The image panel is a piece of Very Vanilla, stamped in Crumbcake, Soft Suede and Not Quite Navy, using The Open Sea stamp set. The sentiment is from Upsy Daisy, I really like the sentiments in this set because they aren't overly ornate or fussy, perfect for masculine cards :)

My favourite recipe for a masculine card comes from my wonderful upline Linda Higgins I took this from her blog - 

There is a belief out there that cards for men are tricky to do. Actually I think that if you have the right stamp set, and the right colours, then it becomes relatively easy. Add some twine for texture, or some metal for strength.... and the job becomes even easier. 

I find her words to be especially true with The Open Sea stamp set, it comes together so easily!

I am entering this into two challenges, the first is the sketch challenge over at Stamping 411, I'm also entering this in the Moxie Fab World Maps challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp Spots or Stripes challenge

Thanks for stopping by!