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Wednesday 19 March 2014

Monochromatic Seascape

Hi there everybody.  I started this card over a week ago intending to enter the then current Simon Says Challenge - Tag It, but as I ended up being too late to enter, I put it to one side and made another card instead.   Anyway, there is a male birthday coming up soon so I decided to carry on and finish it.  I had already decided to keep the colours monochrome as there was another challenge for which I thought this would fit, and as this is still running I decided to keep it that way.  This uses a couple of sets of stamps from Sheena Douglass called A Little Bit Scenic - Sea Scape and Sea Shells.  I love Sheena's stamps, and I have already used the puffin and some of the shells, but I thought it was time to give some of the others an airing.




I started with the topper/tag fashioned myself using a scrap/snippet of white stamping card, and placed the puffin which I stamped using Memento Nautical Blue.  I stamped it again on a piece of copy paper to use as a mask, which after cutting out I sprayed with Crafter's Companion Stick & Spray to fix temporarily whilst I stamped the boat behind.  The boat surround is actually dual purpose so it could be water or sand.  I did intend it to be on the beach, but as it is coloured blue it does look like water, but anyway I decided this is a bit of artistic licence.  I then placed the sea thrift to the left and the sentiment above with three gulls.  I coloured the scene using the Memento Nautical Blue and Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers and a waterbrush.  I then decided it would look better with a few random clouds, so I cut a shape from copy paper and blended carefully with blending foam using Adirondack Stonewashed .  If you work outwards from the paper it minimises the risk of getting dark blobs, and you can always add more ink if necessary.  I finished the tag with some baker's twine.




For the background I used two of the shells and a crackle stamp.  I stamped the large conch shell randomly over a snippet of light blue card using the Memento Nautical Blue, second generation ink, to give it a softer look.  When perfectly dry I glazed them using WOW Clear EP and a Versamark Pen.  I then stamped in between with the Crafty Individuals - Crackle Background using Adirondack Stonewashed ink.  The beauty of glazing the shells is that any excess ink will wipe off.  I finished the background by stamping the small cockle shell in the gaps over the crackle background just to add a little more interest.




I mounted the background on to a snippet of mid blue colour card, and then on to a white square card.  After placing the tag I stamped two of the small cockle shells on a snippet of white card and coloured with the Nautical Blue and Peacock Feathers ink and a waterbrush.  I cut these out and mounted them, using Pinflair Glue Gel to give them more shape, on either side of the sentiment which is on another snippet of light blue card.

Thank you for looking and leaving me such lovely comments which I always enjoy reading.

 I am entering this in the following challenges:

Pixie's Crafty Workshop where we use our snippets/scraps of paper and card, and I have used snippets of white, light blue and mid blue card.
Crafter's Companion - Monochromatic.
Everybody Art Challenge - Non Cute Cards.


18 comments:

Di said...

Oh Pat, this is absolutely lovely! Great how you explained each step you took so clearly too. That gorgeous scene reminds me so much of my beloved Northumberland - makes me homesick even though I've lived 'down South' for many years now.

I actually thought you'd used real little cockle shells either side of the Happy Birthday sentiment!

A wonderful card!

Hugs

Di
xx

Dragon said...

Especially love the stunning background Pat.

Viv said...

Just gorgeous

Jean said...

This is a terrific card Pat, the monochrome colour scheme works very well with the images.I love the tag, and the shell and crackle panel make a perfect backdrop for it.
Jean x

Bonnie said...

Wow! I loved the tag and then I saw the background and then the whole card put together! I am in awe! What a beautiful card!

MaryH said...

Fantastic Pat! Loved your tag scene, interesting to read how you achieved the scene with the different stamps. Takes patience to do this so well. Very impressed with that gorgeous background too. So wonderful with the boat tag. TFS & Hugs. (BTW, I did do the 1st w/color effort, spritzing the paper, then the inked stamp. It really ran blobs..so 2nd try I did on dry paper. Think the wet paper needs a more experienced skill than I have just now. I try the w/c, get frustrated, and then go back to my copics. I need to just keep trying! Thanks for your kind words though. )

scrappymo! said...

My goodness...those cockel shells look so real!
I guess you must have shaped them with a stylus to get such wonderful dimension...

Fabulous card. E really enjoyed it. I love anything to do with the sea and with wildlife.

debby4000 said...

Beautiful tag and what a wonderful card it makes.
luv
Debby

Karen Dunbrook said...

great tag...wonderful scene...wish I could be there now...

Anonymous said...

-----so striking in appearance --- and that sentiment says so much! Your cards are all exquisite works of art, Pat. I admire your creative skills and when I read the method and techniques you used, I marvel at your patience with the intricacies! Another original idea resulting in a stunning card! With Love Marilyn. xx

Mrs A. said...

This is gorgeous and I thought those shells were real ones too!! hugs Mrs A.

Unknown said...

Hi Pat , you were kind enough to post a comment on my blog the other day so I thought I would pop by to say hello and take a peek at yours.
Well I am really impressed and these cards are fab. I love the colours.
I will pop back soon as just seen the time and even us night owls have to try and get some sleep before work lol!
X

Laine said...

Wonderful colour and design. A stunning creation Pat. Thank you so much for sharing with us this month at Crafter's Companion Challenge.
Laine - DT
xx

Debs Willis said...

this is such a serene card, and you were right about the clouds, finish the tag perfectly!
Hugs, debs x

Sue - said...

Gorgeous card. Love the monochrome look!

MaryH said...

Saw your beautiful card highlighted at the Snippets Playground. Guess Parsnip liked it real well too. WTGo. It's just as lovely the 2nd time I saw it! Hugs & TFS

Twinks Stamping said...

Fantastic design for a masculine card. Really love the colour used xx Jan

Mary Anne / MA54K said...

Had to come over from Snippets to tell you how amazing this card is. The choice of colors was brilliant!