Bizzy Bec's "Darkoom Door Gumtrees" Tutorial Male card

Hi everyone - another mid month post with a tutorial another mid month post with a tutoriall for Bizzy Bec's store blog, with a monthly challenge with a die or stamp prize over here!  
It is anything goes and is posted worldwide - so do join in please do!

Here is a step by step guide on making a male card - for my dad's birthday recently.
Key to brayer work is a light and gentle hand, ie dont attack the paper but caress it.

Always build up a light base layer for any good blending of any inks, in any medium - then add the depth of colour, once the first layer has dried.
The base colour helps smooth out all other layers. I always brayer on smooth junk mail - the soft smooth surface helps in blending. 

Here I am starting off with good glossy cardstock, a brayer, and dye inks: Memento Bahama Blue, Grape seed + Adirondack Peach Bellini, dont have that colour in Memento. I have post + video with Brayer basics, so if you are new to it this is very good place to start.
Tab at top of my blog, also see this link here.

Here have torn a rough edge with scrap of paper and sponging it with

Ranger Mini blending tool, and Ranger Archival Black ink.

On a long snippet of cream (cut to size) added Distress inks as shown (Bec's DI here) with ink blending tool Salty Ocean, Antique Linen and Dusty Concord
(any idea why on earth a purple is called this?)

Embossed a cream piece of card with Sizzix Dot Matrix EF, added Salty ocean + Antique linen mixed randomly rubbing over the embossing.

 (Stamps used on top narrow piece are an old single leaf stamp, embossed in black ink, Hero Arts Background Envelope pattern S5507 + in DI Rusty Hinge SU French script background.)
Assembled the pieces together and added bit of twine to overlap them.
Used Xcut rectangle scallop dies for the border, as dont have a plan scallop border die. I just do half then move it along matching it up. As you do when you extend a die see "how to enlarge/ extend post" here.

SB Marvellous Squares die cut in black snippet.
Cut into four, then trimmed down as shown to make corners.

Darkroom Door – Gum Trees set, mounted on back then added corners underneath.
 Image is stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, and clear embossing powder then heat set.

Greeting is digi, with hand cut banner.

 I really loved this card, the Darkroom door stamps were so great to stamp with, as were the two new inks I used, Memento Bahama Blue and Grape seed.
The "Peaceful" word stamp is part of the Darkroom Door – Gum Trees set.

Thanks so much everyone for popping over and saying hi!
And may God bless your day wherever you may be!

...and dont forget to pop over and join in Bec's Anything Goes April challenge .. you might win the prize :D

Shaz in Oz.x 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

 Joining up with: 
1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au 

2. Inky Impressions Challenge - all about the boys http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/iic-april-challenge-all-about-boys.html
3. Everybody art Challenge - Theme Birthday! http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/364.html