My swaps for Sunday

This months Carolina Swap is being hosted by Patti. Patti is an SU! demo and is very talented. But her theme this month is a Masculine card or Father's Day. OKAY..this was a problem for me! Masculine cards to me means not a little boys birthday card. SO no dinosaurs, no frogs, no cute little trucks and tractors. RIGHT??? Secondly, I do not own a Father's day set! Mental note, purchase a set for both...anyway..So here I am with about 50 sets and nothing popping out at me. All I have that I think I can use is Balmy breezes. Now I knew I loved this set..but for what..I don't know. So I pull it out..and think back to Ala Moana Beach Park. Now if you have ever visited the island of Oahu you know Ala Moana and it's awesome beach park. I smell the salt air. Flash back to the no parking. Days lying on the beach! BUT I think Palm Trees. Well I need a starter color..So a dusky green...ah..True Thyme. So that's my cardbase. SU! New In color True Thyme. I used the same color ink and swept it across whisper white paper. Sorta aging the paper's look. Then I stamped the Palm Tree in Chocolate Chip craft ink and embossed that. The effect is awesome. Now I attended on using a sentiment stamp I have had forever. It is Happy birthday in Hawaiian. Hau'oli La Hanau. BUT after I stamped them all I realized that the sentiment was too big. UH OH..for future reference check stuffs like that out! Anyway..so I have to come back and handwrite it. SO to me..the final product does not look as clean as it could, but heh..it's a masculine card..right?? I thought it looked a bit plain..SO I added the hodgepodge piece and a gave it a small piece of grosgrain ribbon in cream and spring moss.

I like it. Minus my handwritten words. I think it came out well. I love the old style feel of the card. Makes me miss home!!! I can't wait till Sunday.