Category: Beach/Ocean

Hippos on Holiday by Hello Bluebird

7/29/2019

Hello readers and happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. I am really excited to share with you today's card because it is my first ever "slimline" card! I have been seeing a lot of slimline cards on Instagram and Pinterest lately and the extra-long size makes it ideal to create detailed stamped scenes. This card measures 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" and is designed to fit inside a #10 business mailing envelope. I'm not gonna lie, this card took about 3 hours in total to make! I probably spent about two hours one evening just coloring all of the images and then another hour or so to create the background and overall beach scene. But, I am so happy with how it turned out that I can't wait to make more!

Card details:

The base of this card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. For the background I used a 8 1/2" x 2 1/2" piece of Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Scalloped paper in yellow for the sky. I stamped the sentiment in the upper left corner using Memento Tuxedo black ink. I die cut the sun from Daffodil Delight cardstock. I die cut a sheet of Pool Party cardstock using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Wave Border dies and adhered it just below the yellow sky. I die cut a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock using the Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes border dies and adhered it just below the water line. I did stamp a splatter on the sand in Crumb Cake ink to make it look more like speckled sand. On the very bottom of the card, I placed a thin line of glue and added Lawn Fawn Chunky Glitter for some added sparkle. I stamped all of the images on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and die cut them using the coordinating Hippos on Holiday dies. I colored the images with Spectrum Noir Alcohol ink markers and added a few highlights to the images with a Uniball white gel pen. Lastly I added the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Here is the Hippos on Holiday stamp set from Hello Bluebird that I used to create this card:

I hope you enjoyed these beach going hippos! I loved creating this card and felt as though as I had significantly more space to create a scene with by having the longer dimensions. Try it and let me know what you think!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing a very similar card using these same hippos, but incorporating a different color scheme. I hope you will come back to see it!

XO, Crystal

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Shark Week

7/22/2019

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Hello readers and happy Monday! Welcome back from a very H-O-T weekend! It was WAAAAAAYYyyy too hot and humid for me, so I was happily crafting away in my craft room creating some fun shark cards for you! This coming Sunday, July 28th, kicks off the official 2019 Discovery Channel shark week. Unlike all the 4th of July cards, Easter cards and St. Patrick's Day cards I failed to inspire you with, this year I'm actually ahead of the ball for sharing ideas for shark week!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Coastal Cabana cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" sheet of a cloud patterned background paper (not sure who made this!) for the bottom layer. I die cut a piece of a previously made alcohol ink background using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Waves Borders die and used the Lawn Fawn Slide On over wave dies to create a slider component for the shark in the water. I die cut the sun from Lawn Fawn Rainbow Scallop paper and adhered it to the top of the card. I stamped the sharks and surfboards in Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored them with Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers. Using a Uniball white gel pen I added highlights to the images. I cut a circle and dry embossed it with a polka dot folder to create an island in the background. I die cut two Lawn Fawn Palm Trees to add to the island from Crumb Cake cardstock and Early Espresso cardstock for the coconuts. I used the white gel pen to add a few more highlight to the palm trees. I adhered all the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Here is the Hello Chum stamp set by Avery Elle that I used to create this card:

Thanks for visiting and happy creating!

XO, Crystal

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Hero Arts Color Layering Waves

7/18/2019

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Hi readers and thanks for taking the time to visit today! I hope you find inspiration and creativity as you look around. Today I am sharing two new-to-me stamp sets by Hero Arts called "Color Layering Waves" and "Color Layering Sea and Sky." I think you will agree how beautifully these two sets pair together when creating a stamped scene. These stamps were part of Hero Arts "My Monthly Hero" cardmaking kits last summer and they were so popular that they sold out! I was so happy when Hero Arts brought them back for individual purchase after high demand. I really enjoy color layering stamp sets because they offer so much depth and dimension. You can see a variety of other cards I have made featuring other color layering stamp sets here, here and here.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a piece of Pacific Point cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" as my mat. On a sheet of white cardstock I began to stamp my scene starting with the waves. The first base layer was stamped in Soft Sky blue. The second layer was in Marina Mist ink (sorry, both retired from Stampin' UP!) and the third was in Pacific point ink. I added a touch of watercolor in pale pinks and blues to the sky above the water. Next I stamped the seagulls in Tuxedo Memento Black ink. I stamped two sailboats in Soft Sky ink and Mango Medley ink on scrap white cardstock and cut them out using the coordinating dies. I adhered the sailboats to the ocean using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the color layering clouds on white cardstock first using Soft Sky ink and then the second layer was in Pacific Point ink. I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly I created the sand by cutting a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and heat embossing the word 'Hello" in gold embossing powder. Using a distressed dot stamp, I added dots to the paper as though to resemble sand in Crumb Cake ink. I added footprints in Early Espresso ink. I ran this sheet of Crumb Cake cardstock through my Big Shot using the Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes border dies. Lastly I stamped the Adirondack chair in Pacific Point ink on white cardstock, die cut it and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

Here are the two Hero Arts color layering stamp sets I used to create this card:

Color Layering Sea and Sky

Color Layering Waves

Tomorrow I will be sharing another way of using those beautiful color layering clouds to achieve an entirely different look for a sympathy card. I hope you will come back to see other ways this set can be used.

Thanks again for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Strong Women Make Waves

7/12/2019

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Yes! Yes! Yes! Amen to Taylored Expressions for creating this beautiful Be A Mermaid stamp set with a killer empowering, "strong women make waves" sentiment! Yes! Yes! Yes! Also because it's Friday! Who's ready for the weekend!? My parents are coming down from Maine for a visit and I look forward to seeing them. I also have a full class on Saturday in my home studio with 14 people attending and I can't wait for my mom to participate and meet many new crafty friends. Live in Western Mass and want to come to a class? See my class calendar here.

Because I am not currently creating technique video content on my website, I highly recommend checking out this Easy Alcohol Ink Background Tutorial by Jennifer McGuire. She has created a very simple introduction to working with alcohol inks to create some basic backgrounds. This was the first video I watched after purchasing my alcohol inks and then I just spent time playing around with them! The great thing is there is no right or wrong when it comes to art. You just have fun (and usually make a mess) with it! *My only tip would be that you don't need to spend your money purchasing polysynthetic Yupo Paper at nearly $1.00 per sheet. You can use the reverse side of any high quality photo paper (like this one by Kirkland) and achieve the same results! I used this same Kirkland photo paper to create today's alcohol ink backgrounds.

I am, however, s-l-o-w-l-y beginning to dabble in some video content. Essentially still photos with animated displays and music. I haven't attempted audio voiceover or video while creating cards yet, but it's a slow work in progress. I hope you enjoy this short 1-minute clips of the mermaid cards I have created this week:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Tempting Turquoise cardstock (sorry, it's retired Stampin' UP!) Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles, I die cut the scalloped background on Kirkland photo paper. To create the background I used Ranger Alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue, Turquoise and Pool. I stamped the sentiment in the upper left corner in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in silver embossing powder. I stamped one mermaid tail in Tempting Turquoise ink (retired) on Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock and one in Granny Apple Green ink on the same paper. I stamped the third mermaid tail in Versamark ink on Tempting Turquoise paper and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. I die cut the tails and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

Here is the Be A Mermaid stamp set and coordinating die from Taylored Expressions:

Card details:

The base of this second A2 sized card is also made from Tempting Turquoise cardstock (retired, Stampin' UP!). I used a scrap sheet of 5 1/4 x 4" paper with tiny light clouds on it for the background. Sorry, I do not recall who made this paper! I cut two pieces of a previously colored alcohol ink background with the Lawn Fawn Stitched Waves Border Die and adhered those to the center of the card. On a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, I stamped "Let's Shellebrate" in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. Then I used a Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes die to create a stitched border on the "sand." I tapped a small eraser into Crumb Cake ink and stamped the background of this Crumb Cake border. I stamped one Mermaid Tail on Temping Turquoise cardstock and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. I die cut another mermaid tail from Granny Apple Green cardstock and backed it with a piece of Turquoise Glitter paper. Lastly I stamped the seashells on Neenah Solar white cardstock, Granny Apple Green cardstock and Tempting Turqoise cardstock and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

I hope you have enjoyed these vibrant cards and, even more, their powerful message.
Strong women make waves!

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

XO, Crystal

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A School? A Pod? A Tribe?

7/11/2019

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Hello friends and thanks for taking the time to visit my website! If this is your first time, welcome! I hope to inspire you with a little creativity. Want to learn a little bit more about me? Please click here. Or, you can visit my craft room too, simply by clicking here.

So, yesterday I really did ask Google, "what do you call a group of mermaid's" when I was attempting to title today's post. Fun fact, a group of jellyfish is called a "smack" and a group of squid is called a "squad." But, it turns out, there is no collective noun for a group of mermaids. According to The Fish Vet, if mermaids were fish, a group of them would be called a school. If they were classified as humans, they’d be called a tribe.
And, if they’re sea mammals, similar to dolphins, a group of them are called pods. So, whatever they are called, enjoy today's rainbow of mermaid tails!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles, I cut the first layer from Basic black cardstock. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" sheet of white cardstock and stamped "Hello Beautiful" in Memento Tuxedo Black ink directly in the center before adhering this piece to the card base. On small scraps of Melon Mambo, Mango Medley, Pineapple Punch, Granny Apple Green, Tempting Turqouise (retired) and Gorgeous Grape cardstock, I stamped the mermaid tail in Versamark ink and heat embossed each in white embossing powder. I die cut each tail individually and adhered them to the card in a rainbow pattern using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I put a coat of Clear Wink of Stella over each mermaid tail for added sparkle.

Below is the Be A Mermaid stamp set and die from Taylored Expressions that I used to create this card:

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

XO, Crystal

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Gerda Steiner Pool Piggies

5/24/2019

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Hello and happy Friday! TGIF and YAY for a 3-day weekend! The un-official start to summer is upon is and I'm sharing three very summery cards to celebrate with you today. It has been a small goal of mine to begin making multiple cards, using the same stamps, to show you the versatility each stamp set has to offer. Plus, we all like different things, so by showing you different color or layout options, perhaps one will appeal to you more than the other. It's also a great way for me to build up my card supply stash, which is getting surprisingly low!

Today's card all use "Pool Piggies" stamp set by Gerda Steiner. This is the first time I have ever inked up this stamp set and boy are these piggies cute! In this first card, I have used multiple alcohol ink backgrounds (both in the sky and water) to set the scene for a pig's day at the beach.

The second card also uses an alcohol ink background, but I have created a shaker card frame around it as though to mimic the look of the pigs floating in a pool.

Here is the "Pool Piggies" stamp set by Gerda Steiner that I used to create these cards:

Here is the last card for today, also using an alcohol ink background, but in vibrant pink hues instead of the more tropical blues and greens in the previous samples.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing multiple ways to use this fun stamp set! Do you have a favorite?

Thanks for visiting and have a great (and hopefully L-O-N-G) weekend!

XO, Crystal

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Shark in a Box

5/23/2019

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In hindsight, I probably should have saved today's card to share in July during "Shark Week," but, it's simply too cool NOT to share now! Last week I mentioned that I was very interested in creating cards with unique folds, outside of a traditional book fold. I shared this easel card recently and there will be more easel cards to come. But, today's card? Holy WOW! This "fold" is called a "box card" and I made it using the Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box Pop Up Lawn Cuts.

Sure, it might look very detailed and impossible, but, if you break it down, one image at a time, it is not difficult to create. Time consuming, yes, but challenging no. Most of the time involved is simply a matter of coloring all the images and die cutting them out. However, the Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box die makes it really easy to create the box card base. Then, it's all just a matter of adding layers and images until you create a desired scene.

Here is the "Hello Chum" stamp set by Avery Elle that I used to create today's card:

Below is the box folded flat. It would fit into a regular A2 sized envelope (if that palm tree weren't quite sticking out!) But, let's face it, I'm not sending this card to anyone after the hours of work it took to complete!

I really hope you enjoy today's "shark in a box" card!
Please join me on Saturday, June 15th and you can make this card too! Can't make this class? For a list of other upcoming events, please click HERE.

XO, Crystal

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Hey Gullfriend

5/6/2019

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Then, as I was eating some sliced pineapple for breakfast, I knocked it over and pineapple juice went all over my desk and phone. SO STICKY!
Ugh. And, it's only 7:08 am . . . This afternoon I have to take all three cats to the vet for their annual check-up and that's always a hissing, foaming at the mouth, yowling melodic cat-astrophe. . . Wish me luck!

Today I'm sharing a card that I made back in February at our annual craft retreat on Cape Cod. I used the Pink & Main stamp set "Gullfriend" combined with a Lawn Fawn Landscape die and some Distress Oxide ink sponging to create this beachy scene. There's a lot of detail in this card, but that's what I like about it. I had the time to experiment with my Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers to create a distress wood look on that old Wagoneer and beach shack. It was also my first time using the Life Changing Blender Brushes from Picket Fence and these brushes are all that and more! If you do a lot of work with oxide inks or sponging, trust me, you want these brushes!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Lawnfawn Landscape die, I cut the background out of this same white cardstock. I sponged Walnut Distress Oxide ink all over the back of this landscape die to create the look of sand. I sponged the background in Broken China and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks and the Life Changing Brushes. I stamped all of the images in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on white cardstock and die cut them using the coordinating die. I colored in all of the images using Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers and added additional detailing with a Uniball White Gel Pen. I adhered all of the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped "hey gullfriend" in the upper left corner of the card using Staz On ink. Lastly I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to all the images for added sparkle.