Sunday 7 July 2013

Stamping Sensations Blog Challenge - sketch and Summer colours


I am so excited, I can't wait to tell you my news! I've been sitting here like a cat on a hot tin plate trying to keep a secret and it's not easy let me tell you lol! Anyway, I've joined the Stamping Sensations Design Team, and I'm so honoured to be joining such a talented group of designers!

This month, the design team at Stamping Sensations would like you to follow this wonderful sketch that the talented Tracy has provided,
and also to use Summer Colours, since the challenge will run from today right through until the end of July. We hope that you will all join in and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

We have a fabulous prize from our sponsor Little Claire for the winning entry:


So, here's my first ever Design Team card and I hope you all like it *bites fingernails nervously* :-)

"Fish"

Years ago, Tom and I were on holiday somewhere in the deepest darkest regions of Scotland. We heard rumours of a brilliant fish and chip shop in the harbour area, and soon came across a queue of people outside waiting for it to open. That seemed like a good omen. We joined the back of the queue...
...eventually a boat turned up, took a crate (presumably fish!) inside the shop, and the smells of fish frying began. People were served, the smell was enticing, and we finally got to the front of the queue. A big sign read "Fish and chips £2" (I told you it was a long time ago!). Now. I've got a thing about dogfish - I really hate it! So I tentatively asked in my VERY English accent "What sort of fish is it?". The reply, spoken slowly and loudly to the stupid English person in a very Scottish accent, was "it's FASH, FASH FRAM THE SEA". It still makes me laugh to this day. So I just had the chips, and I had to drool at my husband eating the best bit of haddock, fresh straight from the boat!! There must be a moral to this story somewhere, but I'm buggered if I know what it is :-)

Anyway, back to my card. Yes, well, I had to make a book card, but this one is a little different to normal. As soon as I saw the circle in Tracy's sketch, I thought "fish tank" and had the idea to set an aperture into a book card and fill the book with fish.


The painting on the front of the card is done mostly with distress inks. Tumbled Glass ink is sponged over some watercolour paper, then lines are drawn in the sea area using Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky and Weathered Wood Distress markers. A water brush is then used to blend the blue colours together and give a watery look. A line of Broken China ink is added and smudged on the horizon. The sailing boat and birds are painted with watercolour paints.

After the painting is dry, a circle is diecut into the picture. A matching circle is diecut into the front of the bookcard. The painting is stuck onto the front of the card with PVA, lining up the two circles and gluing a length of baker twine in between the layers to tie the card together once finished.


A circular frame is diecut from dark brown card and decorated with gilding wax before gluing around the aperture with glossy accents.


The octopus charm is glued over the top with Pinflair, and three little drops of glossy accents are used to stick the teardrop gems to the bottom right corner.

"Inside"

Another circle is diecut into wood patterned paper and a piece of acetate sandwiched between it and the front cover of the book card using PVA glue. This provides the "window" of the fish tank. Another frame is diecut from brown card and decorated with gilding wax before gluing in place around the aperture. Brass buttons are glued around the frame to look like a porthole.

"Fash Fram the Sea"

The background sea started out as two pieces of brown card embossed with twigs and decorated with different gilding waxes. A large circular aperture is cut into one piece and this is glued on top of the book "pages". The other piece is glued behind.

"Fash"

The individual fish are stamped with versamark on watercolour paper and heat-embossed in gold before colouring with distress markers and a water brush, and cutting out. After shaping, the fish are attached to small strips of acetate and glued into the book card so the fish appear to float in the water.

"Fronds"

The fronds are diecut from brown card, decorated with gilding waxes, and stuck into the book "pages" with glossy accents.

Finally, charms are glued inside the book card with glossy accents, and more are strung together with beads, chain and jump rings and attached to the side of the card via an eyelet to look like buried treasure rising up from the depths of the sea :-)

I hope you find some buried treasure this week, and have a go at our challenge. Can't wait to see what you come up with! Maddy x

Ingredients:
Kars fish stamps
Versamark ink
Stampendous embossing powder, pirate gold
Spellbinders foliage
M-Bossabilities Tweets and Twigs
Sizzix framelits: circles
Creative Expressions Gilding Waxes: patina, enchanted gold
cardstock: brown 300gsm, white 220gsm, watercolour paper, wood pattern
acetate
distress ink pads: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
distress markers: Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Weathered Wood, Pine Needles, Spun Sugar, Dusty Concord
watercolour paints: black, white, brown
adhesives: Glossy Accents, Pinflair, PVA
brass charms, jump rings, beads, chain
brass eyelet
brass buttons
teardrop gems
bakers' twine

23 comments:

  1. Your book card is just fabulous, Maddy, and a great take on the sketch! So glad you've joined the team - you're really going to keep the rest of us on our toes!

    Lynne x

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  2. Muddy you are so talented, love your book card, and your story about fashion frm the sea, made me giggle. Love Alison xx

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  3. Such an inspirational creation for your very first DT piece Maddy and a super take on Tracy's sketch.

    Welcome to the team, we are all so pleased to have you 'aboard' - sorry bit of a pun with your DT work !

    B x

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  4. I'm absolutely blown away by your fish tank book card Maddy! So inspiring, congratulations on your new DT post:)
    Val x

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  5. A stunning creation, Maddy! I LOVE your take on the sketch and your story made me laugh too! You are such a talented lady, I am delighted that you have joined us on the DT. Looking forward to seeing your creations each month x

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  6. stunning card x

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  7. WOW!!! BIG Congratulations on your new DT place Maddy and I'd say they are very lucky to have someone as talented as you on their team!!
    This is stunning, I love the design and your attention to detail is absolutely amazing!!
    I hope you are having a good weekend
    Sue xx

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  8. stunning work maddy,love every thing,so much perfect detail.
    congratulations on your new DT post
    sue xx

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  9. Great card hun :) As for the weeds in my garden there are a few but the camera doesn't catch them :P Its not the best weather here for Agapanthus either that's why Ive put mine in pots in the greenhouse :) xxx

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  10. many congratulations Maddy on your DT, fab card, love the seaweed patina and the porthole, Fi xx

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  11. Congratulations on your design team post - your card is fabulous - love all the little fish
    Linda x

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  12. Maddy, you are very talŠµnted designer! Congratulation! Card so beautiful and interesting. I'm absolutly love porthhole and water-plant!

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  13. Gorgeous card and you made me laugh with your fishy tale lol!
    Anne x

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  14. This is a gorgeous card Maddy, so many fabulous details and great design.
    I love your tale about the fish and chips and congratulations on your DT post.
    Pauline
    x

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  15. Maddy, your card is magnificent inside and out. I loved it already the first time I saw only the front of the card. Now I am amazed. Truly stunning work of art. Love it so much.
    Eret x

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  16. Firstly Congratulations honey and secondly WOW!!!!!!!!!
    This is absolutely stunning honey.
    Love the 3D depth to it all.

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  17. Oh wow, Maddy! First of all, congratulations on your new DT appointment! They are lucky to have you! Your work is always fantastic! This card is awesome!!!! I love the underwater theme and how you've created such gorgeous dimensional scenes with what looks like seaweed in the background and the fish. Love the "porthole" window. Love the octopus on the front. You are so creative and this card is amazing! I also wanted to thank you for the sweet comments you left on my blog. You made me feel so good! <3 Candy

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  18. Late hopping this week,what a fabulous creation, love the porthole and fish tank idea, so dimensional and such a good interpretation of the sketch. Well done on the DT place, well deserved.

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  19. congratulations on your DT post and your first card is----absolutely blooming fantastic love all the embossing,embellishments and design -still laughing about you ending up with just chips -that would be my O/H lol just catching up with the hop
    carol x

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  20. Woowhoo, look at you Mrs Design Team Member! Yippee, congratulations Maddy, you deserve it ten times over. And boy oh boy is this not the most amazing card ever?! I LOVE it Maddy, its incredible. As you can tell from the hour of night it is....I'm on an all-nighter. I'll email you tomorrow (today!) at some stage, but Corey has been admitted to hospital. He has some sort of vomiting bug but because of his diabetes took keytones. Got pretty bad and he's in hospital. I'll explain all later.

    Again, Maddy I am as proud as punch and over the moon that you have been given this Design Team Position. You are the best crafter I know and they are lucky to have you. You're my awesome wee mucker, lol.

    Hugs, Lee x

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  21. Congratulations on your DT position. Your card is beautiful Maddy.

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  22. Hi Maddy
    Gorgeous creation, love all your details and colouring too. A great take on my sketch. Amazing.
    Happy crafting
    Tracy x

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  23. This is fantastic, Maddy - I love all the detail. Ruth x

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Thanks for leaving a comment, it's nice to know I'm not just talking to myself :)