Best Catch

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stamp bundle of Best Catch stamp set and Catch of the Day Thinlits Dies!!!  Combined with the Crackle Paint background stamp and some distressing of the cardstock, you get a perfect card for a man.  We made this card at classes this May as we focused on masculine themes.  I CASED my design (with a few changes here and there) from Tracy Gray.  You can see her original card HERE.  I felt so artistic and creative working on this card.  It's a perfect Father's Day card for my dad!

Now I have to tell you, it looks much better in person.  This photo sort of washed out the contrasts in the card and the bright colors in the fish.  The dies from Garage Gears Thinlits were used for the sentiment and Stampin' Blends colored the fish, hat, and basket.  The cattails seemed a little flat, and after trying several options, I decided to cut them out of Crumb Cake cardstock, then run it through the Subtles Embossing Folder.  Adhering it to a second die cut of the cattails then gave it a little strength.  Using my Bone Folder, I smoothed out some of the ridges made by the embossing folder, so it was even more subtle.  Random sponging of Soft Suede ink all over and Early Espresso around the edges made it pop, giving me the light and shadow effect I wanted.  I colored the cattails with Dark Soft Suede and Dark Crumb Cake markers for the tops and stems.

The fish was colored to represent a rainbow trout with more Stampin' Blends, then covered with Clear Wink of Stella for the perfect finish.  The die cuts out the fins also so they pop up off the fish body.  Adhering the images with Dimensionals and Glue Dots gave the card depth and added interest.

The Crumb Cake layer was stamped, then distressed using my Bone Folder, repeatedly bending the cardstock (like curling a ribbon) until the edges began to separate.  I pulled slightly on all four edges and added Early Espresso ink around all the edges to create more depth.   

If you love this combo as much as I do, be sure to order your bundle today, because it won't be offered as a bundle in the new catalog.  Ordering it now saves you 10% with the bundle price!  Click HERE to order your Best Catch Bundle.  Simply click Shop Now and use the Host Code shown on the intro page.  Everyone who uses this code will have their name entered into a drawing for a FREE GIFT.  Good luck!