Down To The Sea!

Hello!  Today I am sharing three card projects I worked on this week.  When the heat dome descends where better to go (at least in your imagination) than the cool mysterious undersea depths!  For these projects I used images from the Stampin' Up! Beauty Of The Deep stamp set (item 161233), Gone Fishing Stamp set (item 161535), Beach Day stamp set (item 162797); and die cuts made using the Beauty Of The Deep dies (item 161236), Beach Day dies (item 162799), Grove dies (item 157844), Delicate Forest dies (item 162679), Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400), Country Flowers dies (item 163410), Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628), Simply Zinnia dies (item 163479), Cheerful Daisies dies (item 161296), and Adventurous Sky dies (item 163446).  The "dotty" stamp from the Beauty Of The Deep stamp set is great for adding a little visual texture to die cuts - coral, spiky foliage, and the sand borders.  *Unfortunately the Beauty Of The Deep stamp set is not currently available for ordering, and, as of today, Stampin' Up! has been unable to provide a definitive time frame for its order availability . . . * 

Beauty Of The Deep dies - 161236

Beach Day dies - 162799

Grove dies - 157844

Delicate Forest dies - 162679

Country Birdhouse dies - 163400

Country Flowers dies - 163410

Encircled In Nature dies - 163628

Simply Zinnia dies - 163479

Cheerful Daisies dies - 161296

Adventurous Sky dies - 163446

All images were stamped using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) on watercolour paper, and coloured with Classic Stampin' Inks.  All die cuts - including the bottom sand borders - were cut from watercolour paper and coloured using Classic Stampin' Inks and Ink Refills.  For colouring I used a combination of watercolouring (using a paintbrush to apply the ink mixed with water), and ink blending - using both Blending Brushes (item 153611) and Small Blending Brushes (item 160518) to apply the ink.  I used the ink blending technique on watercolour paper for the background panels for all three cards.  Ink blending - especially on larger pieces will certainly help develop hand and wrist muscles!

To add a little sparkle to the finished cards I added splatters using a Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897) - removing the lid and whacking the Glitter Brush against my Bone Folder, a paint brush handle etc. A little too much exuberance in this process will result in shimmery splatters on a few other surfaces too (maybe a pile of clean laundry . . . 😏)

Just a quick summary of the additional basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock - can also be used for scoring;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring card fold lines - to ensure crisp folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are great for trimming die cuts - and for fussy cutting the fish images from the Gone Fishing stamp set too!;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).  

On with the projects!

Once each blended ink background panel was completed I matted it with Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) - trimming the cardstock to allow a 1/8" border on all sides of the background panel.  For the Shaded Spruce card I scraped the edges of the matting panel with the blade of my craft knife.  After adding the matting panel I assembled the scene - starting with the sand borders - applying glue to the sides and bottom edges only so that I could tuck additional pieces in behind the top edges (the sand border pieces were trimmed to be the same width as the blended ink panel).  

For the three blended ink backgrounds I used the following inks - starting at the top with the lightest shade and adding darker shades of ink to build up some colour depth.  

• Pool Party (item 147107), Shaded Spruce (item 147088), and Misty Moonlight (item 153118);

• Pool Party, Misty Moonlight, and Blackberry Bliss (item 147092); and
• Pool Party, Shaded Spruce, and Old Olive (item 147090).  I used a piece of scrap paper to mask off the sky area when applying the darker shades of ink for the water (Shaded Spruce card).

For the first two cards I lightly spritzed the panels with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), blotting dry with paper towel.  For additional "bubbles" I used the beach ball circle die from the Beach Day dies and the bird perch circle die from the Country Birdhouse dies to cut circles from watercolour paper, which I watercoloured with Pool Party, Shaded Spruce, and Misty Moonlight inks.

I used the following inks/ink refills to colour the die cuts:

• for the sand borders cut using the Beach Day and Delicate Forest dies - Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Crumb Cake Ink Refill (item 121029), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) - the dots stamped using Early Espresso ink, and the edges of all border strips sponged with Early Espresso ink;

• for the solid clumps cut using the Grove dies - Misty Moonlight ink.  To add a little texture I patted the inked die cuts with a very damp paper towel, which removed some of the ink and transferred some of the paper towel pattern to the die cuts;

• for the leaf clumps and leafy sprigs cut using the Country Birdhouse and Encircled In Nature dies respectively - Pool Party and Shaded Spruce inks;
• for the spiky foliage cut using the Simply Zinnia dies - Granny Apple Green ink, with the dots stamped using Shaded Spruce ink;

• for the spiky branches cut using the Cheerful Daisies dies - Crumb Cake Ink Refill, and Early Espresso ink;

• for the grass "clumps" cut using the Beach Day dies, the leafy sprigs on the sand borders cut using the Delicate Forest dies, and the leafy sprigs cut using the Delicate Forest dies - Old Olive ink (item 147090), and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);
• for the coral cut using the Beauty Of The Deep dies:  (1) Berry Burst ink (item 147143), and Blackberry Bliss ink - with the dots stamped using Blackberry Bliss ink; (2)  Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), and Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) - with the dots stamped using Pumpkin Pie ink; and (3) Highland Heather Ink Refill (item 147167) - with the dots stamped using Blackberry Bliss ink;

• for the flowers cut using the Country Birdhouse dies - Daffodil Delight ink;
• for the shells cut using the Beach Day dies - Calypso Coral ink (item 147101); and
• for the clouds cut using the Adventurous Sky dies - Basic Gray ink (item 149165).

To colour the stamped images I used the following inks:

• for the fussy cut fish stamped using the Gone Fishing stamp set - Pool Party, Granny Apple Green, and Shaded Spruce inks;
• for the fish stamped using the Beauty Of The Deep stamp set, and die cut using the co-ordinating Beauty Of The Deep dies - Daffodil Delight ink, Pumpkin Pie ink, Pool Party ink, Granny Apple Green ink, Shaded Spruce ink, Misty Moonlight ink, and Blackberry Bliss ink;
• for the anchors stamped using the Beauty Of The Deep stamp set, and die cut using the co-ordinating Beauty Of The Deep dies - (1) Pool Party and Shaded Spruce inks; (2) Misty Moonlight ink; and (3) Shaded Spruce ink; and
• for the seagulls stamped using the Beach Day stamp set, and die cut using the co-ordinating Beach Day dies - Basic Gray ink.

In order to help make ink blending (for shading purposes) on the die cut stamped images a little easier I used the corresponding dies to cut stencils from scrap cardstock. I placed the stamped die cuts (after watercolouring, if applicable) into their stencils and was able to apply the ink for shading purposes without damaging some of the delicate pieces on the die cuts - i.e. the long curl on the angel fish.

As much as I like making smaller cards I also like making big cards!  For the bases of each of the first two 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" side-fold cards I used a full 8 1/2" x 11" piece of Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229), scored at 5 1/2" on the 11" side.  The blended ink background panel on each of the first two cards measures 3 3/4" x 6 7/8"; and the Basic Black cardstock matting panel 4" x 7 1/8".

For the second card I added two additional matting panels - from a Shaded Spruce/Lost Lagoon patterned piece of Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162593) a 5 1/4" x 8 1/4" panel; and a 5 3/8" x 8 3/8" panel of Basic Black cardstock.

For the base of the 5 1/2" x 9 1/2" side-fold third card I used a 12" x 12" piece of Shaded Spruce cardstock (Regal 12" x 12" Cardstock Assortment - item 161713), trimmed to 11" x 9 1/2", and scored at 5 1/2" on the 11" side.  The blended ink background panel measures 4" x 8", and I added the following matting (and partial matting) panels:

• from Basic Black cardstock:  a 4 1/4" x 8 1/4" panel (edges scraped with the blade of my craft knife), and a 3 1/2" x 9" panel; and
• from Basic White Thick cardstock a 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" panel.

For the inside of the card I used a 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" panel of Basic White Thick cardstock matted with a 5" x 9" panel of Basic Black cardstock.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my deep sea card projects - they helped me feel a little cooler this week!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital version of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/).  When visiting my online store don't forget to check out all the products now available as Online Exclusives, as well as some great deals on the Clearance Rack - items on the Clearance Rack are available only while supplies last!  There are quite a few exciting new products that will be introduced as Online Exclusives on July 3, 2024! 

Just a reminder that until June 30, 2024, Stampin' Up! is offering an additional 10% off all current stamp and co-ordinating die Bundles, as well as 10% off the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653), the Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 150673), and the Boho Blue Limited Edition Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 161104)!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Unfortunately, a reading period can quickly become a napping opportunity!