Mojo Monday 452 | Your Next Stamp Keepin' It Reel Father's Day Card

If you watched my Spring 2016 Collective Cardmaking Haul, you would have learned that I purchased the Your Next Stamp "Keepin' It Reel" stamp and die set with my Dad my in mind as I knew Father's Day was coming up... AND... although he doesn't fish much anymore, I know my Dad as the fisherman in the family :)

Before this release from YNS, I'd never purchased any of their stamps, but I came to learn that they have some REALLY cute stamp sets! I have a few of theirs on my wish list for whenever I have a little extra cash to spare :)

So today (Father's Day) I finally had a chance to sit down and get to work on this card. I know... talk about being behind! I've had a lot going on in the past 2 weeks, so I feel like I've just been on the go with no time for myself. Fortunately, I did get to see my Dad yesterday when he stopped by for a few hours and last weekend when we had a cook-out.

When I started this card, I wasn't too sure about the the design of it, but I knew I wanted to include the little fisherman from this stamp set (color him to look like my Dad) and the fish. Later, I also ended up pulling the sign and a few sentiments from the set. I stamped the images out on Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock with Black Versafine ink. I then use clear embossing powder to emboss the images. I use my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers to color in the images. I tried to have some fun coloring the fishes with blending different colors to get a fun look. I finished off the images by using glossy accents on the eyes of the fisherman and fish... because with those big eyes, I felt like they were just callin' for some gloss!

As for the card design, I turned to the Mojo Monday Sketch #452. I wasn't sure about the sketch at first as it seemed to have a lot going on with it. However, it had the perfect place for me to place my little fisherman with her fish, and a place to put the sentiment from the card AND include the little sign from the stamp set :)

I remembered a Close To My Heart paper packet that I had with a woodsy theme, Timberline, which included both patterned papers and matching cardstock papers and knew using that would make it simple to pull off the card design. Once I pulled that, it was just a matter of deciding which papers to use for which parts of the sketch and with having matching patterned papers and solid cardstock papers that wasn't too hard at all. That's why I really enjoy using kits like these CTMH paper packets, Stampin' Up papers, Simon Says Stamp! kits, etc. All the hard work is done for you!

I'm really pleased with the outcome of the card, and I know my dad will love it. My hubby was pretty impressed and said, "I hope you made a video for this one!" but... of course I didn't lol. It's always when I least expect it that I make my best cards. I guess because there's no pressure on me to make sure the card is "in frame" when recording, and I can just focus on the card and design and not putting on a "performance."