Every month I participate in a upline card swap and this month it was a guy swap. Masculine cards are always difficult – it is super easy to make a “girlie” card- flowers and rainbows these come easily to me. But a guy swap that is always a challenge – you all know by now that I a favor bright colors – I have always been a Brights Collection lover! Most guy cards use neutrals and I wanted to try to make a masculine card that was a bit more on the bright side without making it feminine!
I picked the Sea Turtles stamp set and did a fun embossing and watercolor wash technique! I think it is a fun card – bright and cheery and masculine! Let me know if you think I hit the mark!?

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty Peacock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ and 2 1/8″
Basic White Layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″ and scrap for the
turtle
DSP: 1 7/8″ x 5 1/4″used the B side from the
Cheerful Daisies Designer Series Paper
(who would think of the back of the
flowered paper LOL)

To make the Z fold – score the paper at the half way point at 4 1/4″ and then again halfway in between the 4 1/4″ and the end at 2 1/8″.
Fold the 2 1/8″ score line back on itself and the 4 1/4″ normally like a normal card.
Adhere the 1 7/8″ x 5 1/4″ piece of DSP to the front 2 1/8″ panel.

On the Basic White layer I stamped in Pretty Peacock ink the sentiment in the far upper left hand corner.
Stamp the smaller turtle image in the bottom right hand corner on a diagonal like he is crawling back onto the paper.
Using Lemon Lime Twist stamp the small starfish image on either side of the small turtle.

Adhere the Basic White layer to the inside of the card.

Using the Stamparatus, ink the large turtle image in Versamark ink first then directly into the Pretty Peacock ink then stamp onto the Basic White cardstock that has been secured with the Stamparatus magnets.
Clean off the turtle stamp very well – reink in the Versamark ink and restamp the turtle image again.
Add Clear Embossing powder to the turtle image – it will look grainy like sand.

Using the heat tool, heat the embossing powder until it starts to melt and become shiny (do not overheat or you can burn the image and scorch the paper)
You can see in the image below where the embossing powder is melted on the left side and still granular looking on the unheated right side.

Squeeze the ink pad case together while closed and squish ink onto the top of the case lid to make a painter’s palette. Using a waterpainter apply a few drops of water to the ink and watercolor the embossed image of the turtle – the ink will color all the non-embossed portions of the turtle.

Allow the watercolor to dry and fussy cut the turtle image out. Apply adhesive to the left side of the back of the turtle and adhere the turtle hanging over the edge of the Z fold front panel so that it covers the sentiment that is peaking out on top.

Add Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the card and your masculine work of art is complete.

I love water-coloring and this was so fun – try your hand at it and see what works of art you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie