I know, yesterday I said I would have something for you tomorrow but while blog surfing this morning, quite a few of you had blog posts for Papertrey Ink’s April Blog Hop which I had totally forgotten about. I had planned a nice nap for myself but I just had to make something because I’ve always wanted to participate and it gives me the opportunity to use some stamps that don’t often see ink.
The challenge is to make a masculine card so I used Masculine Motifs and Background Basics: Retro, as well as Side One of both the Sunshine and Linen & Canvas impression plates on the card base and koi fish, respectively. I always forget that black and blue is a fashionable combination so that’s what I did here to keep the background colours a little darker and more masculine. For an embellishment, I knotted together two strands of Charcoal baker’s twine from The Twinery which ties in nicely with the black sentiment.
Okay, and now, for sure, I will see you tomorrow for a very special blog hop with prizes! 😉
Sources: Gina K Designs pure luxury kraft & 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Papertrey Ink Masculine Motifs & Background Basics: Retro; SU Brilliant Blue ink; Vivid! Red & ButterScotch inks; Memories Black ink; Papertrey Ink Sunshine & Linen & Canvas Impression Plates; QuicKutz Epic Six; The Twinery Charcoal baker’s twine; Stampin’ Dimensionals
Ooh, Em, I love your textured and colorful fish against your very manly and muted background — and now I want that set, dang it!
Fabulous! Such a great grandad card! I love the pop of colour the fish gives. That sunshine IP has been on my wish list for a while and now the retro background is on there too! 🙂
OOh great card Emily, love that pop of gold/red for the Koi against the masculine background, love it:0) xxx
Woah, we are totally on the same wavelength today – both of us forgetting about the hop, both of us using BB: Retro, both of use using Masculine Motifs. You're my crafting soulmate! Hee. BEATUIFUL card! That knotted twine is so smart.
What a great card! I love that background with the impression plate (I ordered that in my April order and am hoping it arrives this week!) and that fish is great!
ooo..great card!! love it!
Your use of twine rules supreme!! This is such an elegant card and full of masculine grace 🙂
This is great!! I love how you knotted the twine! The background is so fun with the fish too! Great masculine card!
This fish is perfect for a card like this and love the colors of the fish! I just received that impression plate, as well as the Background Basics, retro, what a coincidence!! Can't wait to play with it, but still sooo many plans for cards, ha ha! I was just two behind you in putting my link there with Papertrey, fun!! Love your card!!
Hugs, Wendy
Ooh…this is really cute! I love the addition of the fish.
This is beautiful, Emily!! What a great masculine card. 🙂
Wicked cool card, Emily! I love that fish and the knotted twine is super!! Every time I see your cards it makes me want to buy the stamps-LOL!
Beautiful design.
Lovely card Emily – Simple is style, but rich in beauty. Love the fish over that design.
Masc Motifs is one of my faves and I never would have thought to pair it with Retro BG. Great card!
Stunning Emily, as always… love the knotted twine 🙂
Absolutely perfect!
oh, emily, this is really awesome! love the whole design!
Oh wow, what an awesome card for the challenge! Masculine with an elegant touch.
Love you'd take on the challenge…the twine and the sentiment are my favorite bits!
Utterly awesome combination of the stamp sets!
Emily, I love absolutely everything about this card. It's just perfect – the colors, that fish, the twine…
So beautifully simple, a pleasure for anyone to receive.
This is Awesome! Love that fish and twine! Great bright colors too! Love this!!
I really like how the knotted twine echoes that retro background! This is an altogether awesome card.
This is great, love the background and the knotted twine. Glad we could all motivate you to get inky.
:>) I was tempted too, but the thought of sleep and everything else that I needed to get done tonight took over!!!
Great color combo and all the texture is so good – never thought to add texture to an image like that!!!
OH MY! I just love that fish with the tied twine! SO beautiful–and perfect for just about anyone! You are super amazing, Emily!! LOVE LOVE LOVE your style and visiting here! INSPIRED:)
What an awesome card! You always amaze me:) Great idea to use those lines and the koi on top. Great colors on the fish!!
Superb masculine card Emily! Love all the textures and great colours!
Beautiful! Love the clean lines 🙂
Really great card. Great colours.
Love the combo of images…. Perfect setting for that great fish!
*smile*
Emily, this is a beautiful and creative, birthday card. Men's cards present a challenge don't you think? Great job. Have a wonderful week.
LOVE the look of this!! Great card!! (=
I love these clean design and the colours are just perfect.
Hugs
Carol x
Great card! I love the two-color koi fish, and the BG Basics: Retro makes fabulous "bubbles".
Love the colors and the background stamp is so cool. What grandfather wouldn't love such a personalized card!
I haven't done a PTI blog hop in forever…Awesome CAS guy card! I have that Retro set too…Thanks for the reminder 😉
A great masculine card. The blue and the black work perfectly together and I love the background you made.
That fish is a beautiful touch…love it! Simple and colorful – just my style:-) Have a great day.
great card, thanks for sharing
Uh, quite a lot of hopping here lol… love this card, dont think I have ever seen anything similar! Gorgeous 🙂 Janna
wow. this is absoulutely beautiful & masculine at the same time!! 🙂
A beautiful card…love the colors…and a great fish image…neat idea to knot the Twinery, too!
Love this card! It's just so elegant. TFS!
Admire how clever you are about the little details. and of course your impectable sense of style.
This is a great masculine card!
What an awesome card Emily! I love that retro background and the colour combo is just delicious! I love blue & orange. I also love your embossed background so subtle yet stunning. 🙂
Of course. Only you can create such an awesome card. So simple, but beautiful. I don't know how you do it!