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Saturday 16 January 2021

Swimming Otter

Hi everybody.  I'm back with a Hobby Art Stamp set called Otters and it has some really lovely images and as I needed a masculine card I thought it would be good to give it its first stamping for this card.  I love otters and when I saw this set I just couldn't resist.  Quite a few years ago our son adopted an orphan otter pup in my name as a Christmas gift and they sent me occasional photographs of how it was doing.  It was on the Isle of Skye and I so wanted to go and visit the place but it being a long way to go I never managed it and within the year they released it back into the wild which was great.

Anyway here is the card.  I have made it with the CAS Mix Up January Challenge in mind the theme of which is Splatters.  I used stamping,  heat embossing, stencilling, ink blending and watercolouring. 

I started by using a A Special Touch Of stencil called Splats which I have had for ages but haven't used that much.  I stencilled using Stormy Sky Distress Ink and decided to extend the largest splat a bit to accomodate the size of the otter so started by making a roundish shape using a brush for a light look and when I was happy with the size I used the stencil to give the splatter shape adding extra of the little round water droplet shapes.  

I then stamped and embossed the otter using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink and heat embossed with WOW Clear Gloss Embossing Powder.  I then water bleached the blue colour out of the otter and watercoloured using a waterbrush with Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and Black soot DIs.  I finished watercolouring with a bit of Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch DI to the water around the front of the image to give a little movement and shadow to the water.  Finally I added a sentiment stamped with the Vintage Sepia and heat embossed again with the Clear Gloss EP.

Before I go I would like to introduce Hannelie, a new follower who I think many of you will already know and who makes really beautiful cards in more of a CAS style and does them brilliantly.  If you haven't come across her you will find her blog here.

Do go and visit the CAS Mix Up Challenge too and perhaps join in as it is open until the 24th so still time to get an entry in.  Thank you for visiting my blog today and I hope to see you again soon.





I am also entering the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge - No. 22 where we use our Never Before Used Schtuff. 
Happy Little Stampers January Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes.
Stamping Sensations January Challenge - Favourite Stamps (the otter is new and a new set is always my current favourite).
AAA Birthday Challenge - No. 21 A Stencil Background.
The Male Room Challenge - No. 146 Animals.  (so pleased to get an Honourable Mention)


28 comments:

brenda said...

Morning Pat,

What a splendid CAS creation, the splash stencil was made for that Otter stamp and looks so realistic surging out of the water.

Such a shame you never got to visit the Isle of Sky, I've never been either but a friend of one of our sons did a couple of years ago and said it was beautiful, not the sort of statement you usually get from a youngster so I gather it was spectacular.

Lovely to have you join us at We Love Chocolate Baroque again, thanks so much.

B x

brenda said...

Ignore the last paragraph on my comment Pat and let me thank you for joining us at Stamping Sensations challenge!!

Forgot to change my hat when I moved from one challenge to the other - that's what comes of going into my office to comment at 6.30am (can only see to do it on a desktop) and only one espresso to kick start the day.

B x

Aquarius said...

This is a great card for a man and certainly makes a change from the usual football/beer offerings which seem to abound. Hobby Art stamps are always brilliant. Love the splatter background too, just right.

Stamps and Paper said...

Morning Pat... I love your Otter card and perfect for male or female..

Anne

HilaryJane said...

Lovely to see you in the CAS Mix Up gallery with this brilliant card. It is just perfect, wonderful water colouring and thanks for the explanation of how you did those splatters xx

Viv said...

I love him!
Fab card Pat. x

Christine Alexander said...

OMG Pat I love this image, and your colouring. I'm going to have to look this one up :)

Loll said...

I can see why you HAD to buy this stamp, Pat! The otter is ADORABLE!! And I love how you used him with the splat stencil. FABULOUS! Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up! xx

Leslie Miller said...

Brilliant way to make a splash for the otter! Your card is artistic genius to my eyes. What a nice idea your son had to sponsor an otter pup as a birthday gift. You fit this beautifully to several challenges, and I'm especially glad to see it at CAS Mix Up!

Bonnie said...

This is awesome, Pat! The otter is so beautifully colored and the splash of water a wonderful contrast! How fun to adopt an otter and follow it's progress until it's released to the wild. A wonderful gift! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

Mac Mable said...

I love this card Pat....It is unique and utterly adorable. The splat looks fabulous behind the adorable otter. I like how you've added the shading and the extended splash adds movement onto your fabulous card x. How lovely of your son to have adopted an otter for you and so glad that it was then released into the wild x.

cuilliesocks said...

This is a stunning card Pat and such a lovely otter image, love the splash with the otter's head poking through it, a fabulous design and colouring.
What a pity you didn't get to go to Skye, known as the Misty Isle, you would have loved it, but good that you're otter was let back into the wild, Kate x

Susan Joyce said...

Such a fantastic take on the CAS Mix Up challenge Pat, I love you design!

Marjan said...

Wow, it really is as if the otter has just come out of the water with his head! So cleverly done and a beatiful card! Love it, pat!
Otters are such cute animals, my husband and I have ben on a road trip in the States several years ago and we visited Lobos Point near Monterey, California. There were small otters there, with little babies on their bellies. The mothers were floating on their back, so cute!!

debby4000 said...

Oh I need that stencil and love how the otter is poking through the water, brilliant.
Luv
Debby

Crafting Queen said...

Simply beautiful card, love it. Thank you for joining Stamping Sensations challenge. Anesha

Ros Crawford said...

Oh Pat it's absolutely beautiful! I love the image and your stenciling is just perfect for him... Adorable!

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Stunningly CAS Pat and such a beautiful card. I love how you've created the splashes around the otters head, it looks superb. This is a fabulous card for any nature lover x

Liz said...

Fabulous card, Pat. The otter looks likes it has really splashed water over the card. They have otters in WWT Slimbridge now and they are fascinating to watch. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we’re allowed to travel up there again. xx

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous card and that's a beautiful image which works so well with the splats stencil.
Thanks for sharing at Stamping Sensations.
Avril x

nancy littrell said...

LOVE your stamped Otter and splatter stencil, Pat. Your beautiful image has so much depth and is so realistic. TFS all your steps too. I love otters too and see a family of otters several times a year on our river. It is always so much fun to watch them play. They are so cute and graceful. So pleased you joined us at CAS Mix Up. Love and Hugs...Nancy

papierelle said...

This card is amazing. I love how you staged the seal. The CAS format fits here perfectly!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

What can I say? This is so beautiful and adorable at teh same time. I could gaze at it for ever! LOVE it. Thank you so much for joining us in our Animal challenge at The Male Room Good Luck and I hope you will join us in our next challenge.
Faith DT

LeAnne said...

Thanks for popping by my blog! This little guy is just adorable, and the stenciled background is perfect

Karen Dunbrook said...

awesome card....well done
xx Karen

Tracy said...

Gorgeous creation, thanks for joining Stamping Sensations, good luck.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

MA-MI said...

You did a great interpretation of the Animal challenge with this otter in the water! Thank you for sharing your creative talents with us at The Male Room.

Maja, DT

Maryann scrapbooking said...

Cette carte est magnifique bien que simple. Je pense que c'est ce qui lui donne tout son charme. J'adore !
Elle mérite d'avoir été choisi dans the Male Room.
Bravo !
MaryannG