By the Sea for The Paper Players

When I saw the The Paper Players had a Summer Fun in the Water challenge this week, I couldn't resist! I know you must be getting tired of seascapes but I'm pretty addicted, I'm afraid and I had another reason - I wanted to try another technique with Embossing Paste - adding sand to it, and this was the perfect opportunity.

Here's The Paper Players' Challenge #353 banner:

Isn't that appealing? I love the beach and so happy that we got our kayak this year to get us there more often. But enough of that. Here's my card:

• The first thing I noticed was that my sponged horizon was crooked. I don't know about you, but I have the worst time with ovals and keeping them straight. They look good to me at the time, but as soon as I see them from a distance or in the photo, I realize that they were crooked. I'm sure it's a genetic eye or brain condition called Ovalitis Nonparallelectoplasm. Does anyone else suffer from that??
• I used some Post-It Notes tape to tape off the sand and the water when I was sponging them and a reverse oval mask for the whole shape. The sand area was sponged in Sahara Sand. (I managed to overcome my disability for that part somehow!) The sea was sponged in Soft Sky and stamped with the wave stamp from High Tide in Bermuda Bay. The sky was sponged in Soft Sky very lightly with a light touch of Flirty Flamingo to echo the background panels.
• Then it was time to play with the Embossing Paste. I mixed up a little and coloured it with Sahara Sand ink. I used 1 drop of the refill, but off to one side so I could pull in as much colour as I wanted, and I did not use it all. Then I added maybe a teaspoon full of decorative sand and mixed it well. With the mask still in place, I spread it over the sand area. 

• Due to the sand mixed in with the Embossing Paste, it went on fairly thick, but I was amazed at how fast it dried even then. I did help it along a bit with the Heat Tool. It definitely creates a 3D effect. I stamped some grass bunches in Always Artichoke on the edge.
• The starfish and scallop shell are from Seaside Shore, stamped and cut out by hand, and the lighthouse is a two step stamping image from High Tide. Neither have matching framelits and must be fussy cut. The sentiment is from So Many Shells, and you will have guessed that it's one of my favourites!

It's Friday, woo hoo! so have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the beach yourself! Maybe we'll get time for a paddle in our kayak!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

High Tide Photopolymer Stamp Set [143006]	Seaside Shore Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141625]	Seaside Shore Wood-Mount Stamp Set [141622]	So Many Shells Photopolymer Stamp Set [143695]	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043]
Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203]	Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141416]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad [126976]	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181]
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [141402]	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975]	Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad [126972]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171]	Embossing Paste [141979]
Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706]	Big Shot [143263]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108]

So Many Shells for FMS and the Blog Candy Winner!

As I'm working on my technique night cards this week, I'm pouring on the texture because that is the theme for technique night classes this month. I can't get enough of the coastal look so I had to get So Many Shells out again. I think that is fast becoming one of my favourites from this catalogue - and more for the sentiments than the images, although I really love the images as well, but the sentiments are spectacular! I'm showcasing a different one in this post.

I'm using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #294 for my layout:

It's perfect for this beachy look and the different layers let me add some real texture to the card using Embossing Folders.

• I've used the Seaside Embossing Folder and the Pinewood Planks Dynamic Embossing Folder to create texture on the background panels. On the Soft Suede panel, with the Pinewood Planks texture, I sponged in Soft Suede ink to increase the visibility of the wood grain.
• On the front panel, I used one of the Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack designs backed with some Sahara Sand cardstock to create a weathered wood texture, which really helps to accentuate that coastal ambience.
• All the shells from the So Many Shells stamp set are created with two step stamping, and, once again, it is much easier to stamp the more detailed image in darker ink first and then use the more solid image (smoother stamp) with lighter ink to line up the two images with ease. I experimented with different colour combos before deciding on these.
• I used some new ribbon, the 3/8" Classic Weave Ribbon in Soft Sky, and the Mini Sequin Trim in Silver for the narrow horizontal strip in the challenge sketch. I'm so happy to be able to include ribbon in my designs again. I have to say I missed it last year when we had so little to choose from.

Announcing the Blog Candy Winner

Thanks to all who commented on my blog for my Blog Candy Give Away last week. Saturday night after 11 pm, I used a Random Number Picker to choose a winner.

There were 11 Canadian comments and the app chose #9 which turned out to be Rebecca Hendricks. Congratulations, Rebecca! Please contact me and I will arrange to get your prize to you!!

Now, besides our great Bonus Days Promotion during July, we also have a promotion for those who have thought about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and joining my team! 

If you sign up for the starter kit in July, you will earn an extra bonus of an Essentials Gift Pack in your kit for no extra charge! It's worth an extra $94! This is an awesome deal on top of what is already an amazing value! Here's the deal:

You see, on top of this offer, you already normally get $165 worth of any products you choose for $135 with no shipping or tax, and there's no obligation to hold work shops or sell products or have an inventory, so you really can't lose.

But you can gain the ability to see new catalogues a month ahead of the public and order from them earlier as well. You gain an instant community of like-minded friends who love crafting as much as you do, and the ability to order your own supplies with a minimum 20% discount, and more, the more your order. The free Carols of Christmas Stamp set is half of a wonderful bundle from the up coming 2017 Holiday Catalogue that will be released early to the public in August, but you will be able to get a hold of it in July!

If you want more information, please message me or text me at 250-768-7379. To join, click on Join My Team here or in the top menu and follow the prompts!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

So Many Shells Photopolymer Stamp Set [143695]	Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177]	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043]	Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203]	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115318]
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad [101731]	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad [126976]	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181]
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978]	Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad [141398]	Seaside Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [141481]	Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143708]	Big Shot [143263]
Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Glue Dots [103683]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108]