Category Archives: Hello/Thinking of You

We’re In It Together Butterflies

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Hi everyone!

I love these patterned butterflies!

The set I used is an Ellen Hutson’s Essentials by Ellen stamp set that also has some great sentiments. However, this card has a sentiment from another Essentials by Ellen stamp set (see the details below).

My butterflies were stamped and die-cut from a background piece of Bristol smooth paper that had been ink blended with Distress Oxide inks. The entire piece of 4.25” x 5.5” Bristol paper was ink blended first and the butterfly stamps were stamped onto the piece using a black pigment ink. Once the butterflies were stamped, they we then die-cut using their corresponding dies.

Using an embossing folder, I embossed a 4” x 5.25” (A-2 sized) piece of yellow cardstock to create a textured mat on which to adhere the butterflies. I then adhered the mat and butterflies to an A2-sized panel of cardstock the same color as the mat piece and then mounted the entire front to a A2-sized top folding card base.

I love the texture of the embossed background and I think it complements the patterns on the butterflies very well.

Hope you like my cheery card. Have a great day.

 

Supplies used to make this project:

  • Stamps: Ellen Hutson Essentials by Ellen: Be the Change stamp set (butterflies); Essentials by Ellen: You Should Know stamp set (sentiment).
  • Dies: Ellen Hutson Essentials by Ellen: Be the Change coordinating die set.
  • Embossing Folder: Alexandra Renke: Level Curves Embossing Folder (may no longer be available).
  • Inks:
    • Altenew Pigment Ink: Obsidian (stamping of butterflies and sentiment)
    • Distress Oxide Inks: Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade (used to create the color on the butterflies)
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110# for card base; Papertrey Ink cardstock: Lemon Tart (embossed card front mat and matting behind the embossed mat); Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper (for color-blended butterflies).
  • Note: The embossed mat background was raised using foam tape as was all three butterflies.

 

Wishing You the Best

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Hello everyone!

Today I am channeling my inner kindergarten self and coloring with Copic markers! These markers are so forgiving and easy to use. Copics are my go-to coloring media.

I made this card for a family member who is going to undergo a heart procedure and the card is to wish them luck and a speedy recovery.

Hope this card brings a little brightness and cheer to you as well. Have a great day!

 

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: Memory Box Open Studio: Rose Bouquet stamp set.
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 100# (card front and card base); pale gray cardstock from my stash (mat for the flowers).
  • Dies: Memory Box Open Studio: coordinating die set for the Rose Bouquet stamp set.
  • Ink: Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly); Altenew Pigment Ink: Obsidian (sentiment).
  • Copic Markers: Leaves: YG21, YG23, YG13; Roses: RV52, RV63, RV55; Yellow Flower: Y13, Y17; Purple flowers: V12, V15; Round buds: Y13, Y17.
  • Other: Fun foam used on the back of the die-cut rose bouquet for added dimension; Pearl gems from my stash.
  • Notes: The card size is 5” x 7” to accommodate the large rose bouquet.

Autumn Greetings!

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Fall is arriving in a few days!

Even though, the weather still says Summer, it’s time to start making Autumn-themed cards. This card was made using the cute Autumn Wreath stamp set from Pretty Pink Posh. I love this set and all the whimsical images.

The wreath stamp is full of cute details so you can color to your heart’s content. I stamped the wreath with a Copic-friendly ink used my favorite coloring medium, Copic markers in an array of greens, brown, warm yellows and oranges to make the wreath pop on the white cardstock. then die-cut the wreath with its coordinating die. I also die cut another wreath from fun foam and adhered it to the back of the colored wreath before adhering the entire wreath piece to the front of the card. This gave the wreath added dimension.

Hope you like this project. Have a great day!

 

Supplies used to make this project:

Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh: Autumn Wreath stamp set (both the wreath and the sentiment).

Dies: Pretty Pink Posh: Autumn Wreath coordinating die set (for the wreath die).

Inks:  Versafine Pigment Ink in Onyx Black (for sentiment); Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly) (for wreath image).

Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 80# for stamping the wreath; Papertrey Ink: Terracotta Tile for the card front; Neenah Solar White 110# for the card base.

Copic Markers:  Flower images (there are 2 of them): YR24; Berries: R46: Round Berry Plants: YR09 for berry and YG25 for tiny leaves; Oak leaf shapes: Y35 and Y38; Oval leaf shapes: YG25, Y21 blended; Striped leaves YR38 (top) and YR09 bottom and blend with Y38; Mushrooms: E17 and E34; Acorns: Y38 (top) and E17 (bottom).

Please note that I added tiny dots with a fine black artist ink pen to the mushrooms and lines underneath the mushroom cap for gills. I also added crisscross lines to the tops of the acorns with the same fine black artist ink pen.

Thinking of You Peonies

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Thinking-of-You-Peonies-IMG_1026

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. Their blooms are so full and beautiful. This card is an homage to them.

All the coloring of the peonies and leaves was done using Copic Markers. The die cover plate used as a mat behind the peonies adds some additional texture and interest to the card. I’m happy with how the elements all came together. The card has a very feminine look to it and would make a perfect Mother’s Day card using a different sentiment.

Hope you like the project. Have a great day!

How I made this project:

  • Stamp all three peonies from the Altenew Beautiful Peony stamp set onto a piece of white Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock. Use a Copic-friendly black ink to stamp the flower images.
  • Stamp the leaves from the same stamp set onto Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock. Note: I stamped all the leaves and then determined which ones I wanted to use for my arrangement later.
  • Color and shade the peonies and the leaves using Copic makers (the color markers I used are listed in the supply list below).
  • Die-cut the flowers and leaves using the coordinating dies or fussy-cut them if you don’t have the dies.
  • Using the cover plate (listed below in the supplies), die cut the scalloped-patterned mat from a 4.25” by 5.5” piece of white cardstock and then trim it down to 4” by 5.25”.
  • Adhere a 3.75” by 5” piece of fun foam to the back of the scalloped-patterned mat. This will raise the card front against the card base.
  • Adhere the scalloped mat to an A2 card base in a color that coordinates with the color of the peonies. The card base will form a frame around the mat.
  • Arrange and adhere the three peonies and the leaves near the bottom of the card front.
  • For the sentiment: Stamp the sentiment onto a piece cardstock in the same color as the card base and cut it out in a rectangle or use a banner die to cut the sentiment piece. Adhere the sentiment.

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: Altenew: Beautiful Peony stamp set (flowers and leaves); Altenew: Floral Shadow stamp set (sentiment).
  • Dies: Altenew Beautiful Peony coordinating die set (flowers and leaves); Altenew: Dotted Scales cover plate.
  • Inks: Memento: Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly ink for stamped flower and leaf images); Versafine Onyx Black (sentiment).
  • Copic Markers: For the flowers (from lightest to darkest): R01, R21, R22; For the leaves (lightest to darkest): YG11, YG25, YG13.
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock; Papertrey Ink: Pale Peony (for card base and sentiment strip).

 

A Cacti Hello!

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I just wanted to make a cute card from Newton’s Nook Cuppa Cactus stamp set. The shape of these cacti is just perfect for some Copic coloring and I like the fact that plants are sitting in patterned coffee mugs!

I decide to use a circle die with cross-stitching around the edge to complement and emphasize the cactus spines. The circle was die-cut from a piece of watercolor cardstock that I had washed with aqua-colored ink.

How I made this project:

  • Using a flat brush, color-wash a piece of watercolor paper with diluted aqua colored ink. Let the paper dry.
  • Die-cut a circle (about 3.25” in diameter) from the dried color-washed watercolor paper.
  • Stamp the cacti images onto some white cardstock using a Copic-friendly ink.
  • Color the cacti images.
  • Die-cut the cacti images from their coordinating dies or fussy-cut them using scissors.
  • Die-cut a small puffy cloud or cut a puffy cloud from white cardstock using scissors.
  • Cut an A2-sized mat from aqua-colored cardstock
  • Cut a 4-inch x 5.25-inch piece of white cardstock.
  • For card assembly:
    • Adhere the 4-inch x 5.25-inch piece of white cardstock to the A2 piece of aqua-colored cardstock to make the card front.
    • Adhere foam tape to the back of the color-washed circle.
    • Adhere the color-washed circle to the card front and mount the cacti and clouds (all flush) onto the circle.
    • Stamp the sentiment.
    • Mount the completed card front onto an A2 card base.

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: Newton’s Nook: Cuppa Cactus stamp set.
  • Dies: Newton’s Nook: Cuppa Cactus coordinating die set; My Favorite Things: Cross-Stitch Circle Stax dies (second larges die in the set); WPlus9: Hearts & Clouds die set (no longer available).
  • Inks: Papertrey Ink in Hawaiian Shores and Tropical Teal (blended for a light wash for the circle background); Versafine Pigment Ink in Onyx Black (sentiment).
  • Copic Markers: Cacti: G14, G16; Flowers: RV19 and RV17 for one flower, Y19 and YR15 for the other flower; Coffee Mugs: BG18,YR15, YR65 for one mug, BG18, YR14 over YR19 for the other mug.
  • Cardstock: Watercolor cardstock for circle background; Neenah Solar White 80# (for stamped cacti images and cloud); Papertrey Ink: Aqua Mist (for mat); Neenah Solar White 110# (for card base).

Hope you like the project. Have a great day!

A Happy Hello: Tropical Flower

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Tropical temperatures and summer go hand in hand where I live. Currently, we are having a respite from the heat, but I’m sure the hot and humid weather will come back soon to Chicago.

This card is bright and cheery and is meant to perk up anyone who is dealing with hot temperatures wherever they may live.

How I made this project:

  • Stamp tropical flower and palm leaves images (twice for the large leaf image and once for the smaller leaf image for a total of 3 stamped leaf images) onto Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Ink or any Copic-friendly ink.
  • Color the images with Copic markers.
  • Die-cut the images using their coordinating dies, or fussy cut them.
  • Onto a 4” x 5.25” piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper (140#), blend and fade yellow ink onto the lower left area of the paper and the upper right area. Use a foam blending tool for this.
  • Arrange the leaf images behind the flower image. Tape the leaf images together.
  • Adhere the flower image with foam tape onto the bed of leaves.
  • Adhere the entire flower/leaves images to the Bristol Smooth paper.
  • Stamp the sentiment in the upper-right area of the card front.
  • Mount the card front onto an A2-sized green-colored mat.
  • Mount the final card front onto an A2-sized card base.

 

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: WPlus9: Tropic Fever stamp set (tropical flower and large and smaller palm leaves); WPlus9: Hand-lettered Hello (sentiment).
  • Dies: WPlus9: Tropic Fever coordinating die set.
  • Inks: Memento: Tuxedo Black; Versafine Onyx Black pigment ink; Papertrey Ink: Harvest Gold (for blended/faded background)
  • Cardstock: Strathmore: Bristol Smooth paper (140#); Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock (stamped images); Papertrey Ink: New Leaf cardstock (mat); Neenah Solar White 110# cardstock for card base.
  • Copic Markers: Leaves: YG06, YG23; Flower: Y32, Y35, Y38.

 

Hope you like this project. Have a great and cool day!

 

Hello Sunshine, Hello Summer!

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Summer’s here! This card is meant to be looked at whenever we have an overcast, sun-less day during the summer. It is a reminder that the clouds are only temporary, and the sun will come out tomorrow, tomorrow! (Please excuse the reference from the musical Annie.)

I wanted to create a cheery summer sky and sentiment to imitate those bright sunny days in the summer when the sky is so blue and only broken up by the occasional puffy, billowy cloud.

These flat-bottomed cloud dies are so cute. They add an interesting graphic shape to the card and are the perfect size for stamping a small sentiment. Unfortunately, these cloud dies are by Simon Says Stamp and are no longer available. However, you could use another cloud wafer die set by SSS or many other cloud dies made by other companies. Also, you could even cut out your own clouds from white cardstock!

 

How I made this project:

  • Stamp the sun circle with the stamp from the stamp set onto white cardstock using yellow ink.
  • Die cut the stamped sun circle.
  • Die cut and it sun rays using coordinating solid and patterned yellow card stock.
  • Adhere/assemble the sun circle and the sun rays together, forming a sunburst.
  • Die cut the clouds from white card stock.
  • Die cut the stitched sun rays cover panel using blue cardstock.
  • Cut an A2 sized mat in coordination yellow card stock.
  • Trim the stitched sun rays panel 1/8-inch on all sides (panel with be 4 inches x 5.25 inches).
  • Adhere the trimmed stitched rays cover panel to A2 yellow card stock mat.
  • For the sun and rays, adhere the sun circle and rays to each other as shown in the card.
  • Stamp sentiment onto the larger of the two puffy, flat-bottomed cloud.
  • Adhere the clouds, sunburst image as shown in the image of the card using foam tape to give the pieces added dimension.
  • Mount the entire card front onto an A2 portrait-oriented card base.

 

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: Reverse Confetti: My Sunshine stamp set; Simon Says Stamp: Four Seasons stamp set (sentiment).
  • Dies: SSS: Flat-Bottom Clouds (no longer available), but there are so many other cloud dies on the market that could be substituted; Reverse Confetti Cuts: My Sunshine coordinating dies to the My Sunshine stamp set; Reverse Confetti: Stitched Sun Rays Cover Panel.
  • Inks: Catherine Pooler Inks: Tiki Torch (for the sun); Versafine Ink: Onyx Black.
  • Cardstock:
    • For the sun rays: Papertrey Ink: Summer Sunrise for solid rays and Papertrey Ink patterned paper in Summer Sunrise.
    • For the stitched sun rays panel: Papertrey Ink: Hawaiian Shores.
    • For the mat under the sun rays panel: Papertrey Ink: Summer Sunrise.
    • For the card base: Neenah Solar White 110# cardstock.
    • For the sun circle and clouds: Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock.

Hope you like this project. Have a great (and sunny) day!

Cheers! It’s Summer!

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Summer is starting to heat up where I live in the Midwest (pun intended). It’s been cooler than average and very rainy but starting to get warmer. I don’t now if the rain will abate though.

This card was created to start off summer. I love the fresh greens and yellows and the overall tropical feel to it. The background stamp is a bold graphic, but you can also use it for a tone on tone effect for a subtler look. I love this background because it has such a distinct pattern and you may be seeing it on other cards I make.

How I made this project:

  • Stamp the background stamp onto an A2-sized piece of white cardstock with green ink.
  • Stamp the tropical leaf, beverage image and the “cheers!” sentiment onto white cardstock.
  • Color the beverage image and the tropical leaf with Copic markers.
  • Die-cut the beverage image, tropical leaf and sentiment if you have coordinating dies for them. Note: the sentiment doesn’t have a coordinating die, so I used a tiny banner die that fit the sentiment perfectly. You may also fussy cut the images if you prefer.
  • Put bits of foam tape behind the tropical leaf, beverage and sentiment banner for added dimension.
  • Adhere the die-cut images and sentiment onto a 3-inch by 4.25-inch piece of vellum.
  • Final assembly of the card front:
    • Cut down the background stamped piece to 4-inch by 5.25-inch.
    • Mat the background piece to an A2-piece of coordinating green cardstock.
    • Mount the vellum piece in the center of the card front (background plus green mat).
    • Adhere the entire card front to an A2 card base.
    • Adhere yellow sequins.

 

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: WPlus9: Tropic Fever stamp set (background and tropical leaf); Newton’s Nook: Cocktail Mixer stamp set (beverage image and sentiment).
  • Dies: WPlus9: Tropic stamp set coordinating die set (for tropical leaf); Newton’s Nook: Cocktail Mixer die set (for beverage); My Favorite Things (MFT): Die-namics Fishtail Sentiment Strips (smallest fishtail strip).
  • Inks: Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly ink); Versafine Onyx Black ink (sentiment); Hero Arts Bold Ink (Hybrid Ink): Green Apple.
  • Copic Markers: For the beverage: Y13, Y19, YR12, E12, YG25, BG10, R49; For the tropical leaf: G14, YG25, YG05.
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 80# for stamping background and images; Neenah Solar White 110# for card base; Papertrey Ink cardstock in Green Parakeet (for mat); Bazzill Vellum 40#.
  • Other: Hero Arts Ombre Sequins in Sunshine.

 

Hope you like this card. Have a great day!

Have a Beautiful Day – Butterflies

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This card was made to offset the cold, rainy weather that doesn’t seem to want to go away. The calendar says late May, but where I live, the cooler weather seems to be hanging on forever!

How I made this project:

  • Tape down the leafy stencil over a 4” x 5.25” piece of Bristol smooth cardstock.
  • Using a stencil brush, blend green ink over the stencil, blending and softening as the ink is applied and the desired intensity is achieved.
  • Stamp butterfly images onto a piece of white cardstock using a Copic-friendly ink. The butterfly images will be colored with Copic markers.
  • Color butterfly images with Copic markers.
  • Die-cut (if you have coordinating dies) or hand fussy-cut the butterflies.
  • Stamp sentiment in the middle of the blended, stenciled background.
  • Arrange the butterflies around the sentiment, raising them with foam squares.
  • Adhere the card front onto a piece of green 4.25” x 5.5” (A2-sized) piece of cardstock.
  • Mount the entire card piece to a horizontal A2-sized card base.

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: Simon Says Stamp: Beautiful Day stamp set (butterflies and sentiment).
  • Stencils: Simon Says Stamp: Leafy Frame stencil.
  • Inks: Simon Says Stamp: Jellybean ink (leafy frame background); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (outline of butterfly images); Versafine Onyx Black ink (sentiment).
  • Copic Markers: RV09, RV17, RV19, RV21, RV34, RV66.
  • Dies: Simon Says Stamp: Beautiful Day coordinating die set (butterflies).
  • Cardstock: Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock (card front); Neenah Solar White 80# (stamped butterflies); Papertrey Ink: New Leaf cardstock (mat); Neenah Solar White 110# (card base).
  • Other: Stencil brush.

Notes:

  • I prefer to use a stencil brush with a delicate stencil such as the Leafy Frame stencil because you have more control in blending and softening the color when creating a fade-out background. Also, the brush is easier to use on a delicate stencil. There is less chance of “bending” the cut-out areas on the stencil while blending the background.

Hope you like this project! Have a great day!

 

 

Hey, Wasabi?

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I love using die-cuts that create openings. The openings serve as frames for my stamped images.

For this whimsical card, I chose a theme to tie several stamp images and a sentiment together. I’m sending it to a friend as a hello card.

How I made this project:

  • For this project, I used a die cut that cuts 6 round openings. I cut the openings using a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of white cardstock
  • I stamped 5 images that were all thematically related to sushi and ramen (I was hungry at the time!), colored the images with Copic markers and then cut out the colored images using the coordinating die set.
  • For the assembly of the card, I used a teal-colored piece of 4.25″ x 5.5″ (A2) as my mat. I centered and adhered the white die-cut piece onto the teal-colored mat. I stamped a sentiment on the bottom, right opening.
  • I then adhered all the images using foam squares onto the remaining 5 openings.  I then adhered the card front onto an vertical-oriented card base.
  • Note: All images and the sentiment were from the same stamp set.

Supplies used in this project:

  • Stamps: Essentials by Ellen: Wasabi stamp set.
  • Dies: Essentials by Ellen: Wasabi die set (coordinates with stamp set by the same name); Simon Says Stamp: Repeating Circles wafer die.
  • Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly ink; used for the stamped images that were colored using Copics); Versafine pigment ink: Onyx Black (for sentiment); Taylored Expressions: Early Grey ink (for nori skins on the sushi).
  • Copic Markers: R12, R22, R01, YG11, YB23, Y35.
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 80# (die-cut openings); Papertrey Ink: Tropical Teal (for mat); Neenah Solar White 110#.

 

Hope you like this card. Have a great day!

Hey There: Emoji Faces Card

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This is such a simple card to make! The clean and simple style lends itself to being a gender-neutral card. Just send this to a friend to say hello!

I  used a die-cut that had 6 circle openings and puffy stickers. The puffy stickers were really cute, I found them at a Paper Source store and couldn’t resist buying them!

The only stamping was done with the sentiment.

How I made this card:

  • Die-cut openings onto a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of white cardstock.
  • Glue the die-cut opening piece onto a 4.25″ x 5.5″ (A2-sized) piece of colored cardstock. A lavender-colored piece of cardstock was used here.
  • Adhere the puffy stickers in the middle of each opening, leaving one opening free to stamp the sentiment.
  • Stamp the sentiment in the middle of the sixth opening.
  • Adhere the card front to an A2 card base.

Supplies used in making this card:

  • Stamps: Hey There stamp – sorry it is from my stash of small sentiments and I can’t remember the maker or the name of the stamp set it came from. However, you could use any small sentiment to convey the message you want to the sender.
  • Dies: Simon Says Stamp: Repeating Circles wafer die.
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 80# for die-cutting opening; lavender cardstock from my stash; Neenah Solar White 110# for card base.
  • Ink: Versafine ink in Onyx Black for sentiment.
  • Stickers: Emoji Face Puffy Stickers by Meri Meri (found at Paper Source store).

Hope you like this card. Have a great day!

 

Seas the Day!

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Seas-the-Day

Hello everyone,

I love puns and was able to incorporate a punny sentiment in my project for the latest Ellen Hutson Mix It Up Challenge. This particular challenge is all about pairing any Essentials by Ellen products with Lawn Fawn products. I was able to combine several stamp sets together to create a whimsical ocean scene. I thought the lines of the images and sentiments were all quite similar and went well together.

I took the sentiment from a stamp set from Ellen Hutson’s latest release named Mermaid’s Tail and some cute critter images and coordinating dies from Lawn Fawn to create this card. Other images from other Essentials by Ellen stamp sets were also added to complete the project.

I had fun constructing the layout and hope you find it fun as well. Seas the Day or should I say Carp-a-Diem? LOL!

How I made this project:

  • Using a 4”x 5.25” panel of watercolor cardstock, I blended 2 shades of blue Distress Oxide Inks to create the underwater background. I let the background dry. Once dry, I stamped the seaweed (using another shade of Distress Oxide Ink). I stamped the sentiment and the ocean waves in black ink.
  • Several critter images from Lawn Fawn’s Critters of the Sea stamp set were stamped onto some Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to do this because the sea critters were going to be colored using Copic markers and Memento Ink does not bleed or smear when you use them with Copics.
  • After coloring the critters, I die-cut them using the coordinating dies for the stamp set. The sea creatures were mounted onto the card front using foam tape.
  • I add some splash drops around the dolphin to emphasize the dolphin jumping up out of the water. I used Distress Oxide Ink for this as well.
  • The finished card front was adhered to an A2-sized mat in turquoise colored cardstock from my stash and then mounted onto a top-folding A2 card base.

Supplies used in making this project:

Stamps and Dies:

  • Essentials by Ellen Mermaid’s Tail stamp set (sentiment)
  • Essentials by Ellen: Otter Ware stamp set (seaweed, waves, water splashes)
  • Lawn Fawn: Critters of the Sea stamp set and coordinating die set (sold separately).

Inks and Markers:

  • Distress Oxide Inks in: Salty Ocean, Broken China, Peeled Paint
  • Copic Makers: C1, C2, C3, R20, Y38
  • Versamark Ink in Onyx Black
  • Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black

Cardstock:

  • Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor cardstock
  • Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock (for sea critters)
  • Neenah Solar White 110# cardstock (card base)
  • Turquoise blue cardstock from my stash (mat for card front)