Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #132 - Marsha's Masculine Anything Goes Challenge

It's time for another masculine challenge hosted by Marsha.

I still struggle with doing masculine themed cards. Mostly because a large number of my stamp sets are floral. This week, while tidying up my crafting space, I thought I should go through "the pile".

Most cardmakers, I think, have such a pile. Mine consits of projects not done, projects that weren't working out, projects I got bored with ... you get the idea.

While going through my pile, I came across a card that only needed a sentiment to call it finished. But - it ended up in my pile because I had not liked how bright the colours ended up being.

So I grabbed a sponge dauber and my Whisper White craft ink pad and toned everything down by giving it a soft, hazy look. I never thought about taking a before picture, but here is the after:

I used the Work of Art stamp set to create hints of hills, a grassy foreground, and a sunset sky. The lone pine tree is from Lovely as a Tree. Colours used are Always Artichoke, Lost Lagoon, Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.

After sponging with the white craft ink, I stamped the birds from High Tide with Archival Black ink. To create some more interest in the foreground, I stamped a leafy stem from Jar of Love using Old Olive.

The sentiment is done in Cajun Craze, stamped onto a piece of the Colour Theory DSP, punched with the Decorative Label punch, and sponged around the edges with Old Olive.

The main panel is matted on Lost Lagoon and the card base is Smoky Slate.

When weather permits, I like to take my photos on my deck. When I went out to shoot this card, there were several leaves on the table. Since the colours in the card look somewhat autumnal, I posed a couple of the leaves as well.

Now go visit Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and check out the wonderful samples done by the other Watercooler Artists.