Playing with a Retiring Favorite--#tgifc263

So, I did something a bit different today for the TGIF Challenges sketch challenge this week.  I decided I wanted to use the octopus in my retiring Sea of Textures stamp set (#146488) as the focal piece in the sketch.  Then I needed to figure out my background.  How about using the retiring Pigment Sprinkles (#149663)?   It was fun experimenting with this card.

Can you believe it?  I only used the Bermuda Bay pigment sprinkles on the background layer and I got these gorgeous Blackberry Bliss pockets of color on my card.  Kind of like the deep, deep ocean. That's why I love the pigment sprinkles, you never know what will happen when you use them. I wanted a lighter backdrop for my octopus in the top layer, so I first did a watercolor wash with Coastal Cabana ink, then taped off two of the holes in the the Bermuda Bay pigment bottle and lightly tapped on some sprinkles.  This gave me a swirly patch with just a bit of Rich Razzleberry.  The other sketch layers are Blackberry Bliss card stock and the Gray Granite netting die cut from the retiring Under the Sea dies (#146334).  The card base is Gray Granite.

The greeting is from the Sea of Textures stamp set. It was stamped in Blackberry Bliss on Gray Granite card card stock, heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder and punched out with the Classic Label Punch (#141491).   Retiring Blackberry Bliss Nature's Twine (#146342) and retiring Noble Peacock rhinestones (#149494) complete the card.

The octopus is stamped in Mango Melody.  My octopods are almost always a shade of orange.  That was the color of the only octopus I've ever met in the wild.

There are lots of fun and beautiful interpretations of this sketch over at the TGIF Challenges blog here.  Check them out!

Hope you are surviving quarantine.  My friend, Mari, arrived home from her art studio yesterday to find a painted dog.  Her living, breathing pet dog was painted in a rainbow of colors.  She was able to escape to her studio, but her 5 creative kids (ages 4 to 18) were stuck at home . . .

Cheers!--Sara Nell

Homage to Retiring Favorites--#tgifc262

This week's color challenge at TGIF Challenges is Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana and Daffodil Delight.  It makes me think of the beach and when I think of the beach, I think of the Adirondack chair die in the Seasonal Layers die set(#143751).  It is retiring as is the coordinating Colorful Seasons stamp set (#143726)--two of my most used and well-loved favorites.  My card today is a homage to both:

I did a color wash of Coastal Cabana on one piece of Shimmery White card stock and an ombre wash of Calypso Coral on another.  The bottom of the Coastal Cabana piece was stamped numerous times with the texture image from Sea of Textures stamp set (#146488--another retiring favorite).  I used second and third generation Sahara Sand to create the beach.  I used the Stamparatus to stamp the "Just Breathe" several times in Sahara Sand to get a darker shade over the sand. 

I die cut the Adirondack chairs from the Calypso Coral piece.  Honestly, I do not think I would have even purchased this stamp and die bundle if it had not been for that chair.  I would have missed out on making all my favorite leaf and snowflake cards as well as the Spring and Summer ones if not for that chair.  So, it's fitting that I pay homage to this set with these chairs!

For the glasses of lemonade, I used the Sahara Sand Stampin' Write marker to outline the glass image and the Coastal Cabana one to color the straw.  Then I used an Aqua Painter to color in the Daffodil Delight lemonade.  I cut a little wedge out of the Daffodil Delight lemons to adhere them to the top of the glass.

You can't see the shimmer of the card stock that makes the whole card shimmer like the beach in the sun, so here is a close-up so you can get a sense of it:

Check out all the fun projects made with this bright and fun color combination over at the TGIF Challenges blog here.

It is hard for me to lament the retirement of my favorite Stampin' Up! stamps and dies, because I know wonderful new products are on the way in the upcoming Annual Catalog.

Old favorites will give way to new ones.  

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell

Creation Station April Blog Hop--It's What's on the Inside!

Welcome to the Creation Station April Blog Hop! Whether you hopped over from Julie's blog or are starting here, I'm glad to have you visit. We have a really fun hop theme for you this month:  "It's What's on The Inside that Counts!"  We are going to surprise you when we open our projects.  Here's my card:

Did you guess what you'll see when I open the card?

It's an Under the Sea adventure!  I used the Sea of Textures stamp set (#146488) and the coordinating Under the Sea dies (#146334).  The background was created on Watercolor Paper.  I inked up my "F" clear block with Soft Sea Foam, Balmy Blue and Bermuda Bay ink pads, then spritzed both the block and the water color paper with water before centering the inked up block on the paper.  I loved the mottled texture this gives my background.

The background images were stamped in Mossy Meadow, Balmy Blue, Soft Suede, Soft Sea Foam and Rich Razzleberry.  The octopi were stamped in Calypso Coral on Watercolor Paper.  Other die cuts are Mossy Meadow, Soft Sea Foam and Rich Razzleberry stamped on Rich Razzleberry.  The fish were created with embossing paste colored with Crushed Curry reinker and supplemented with a bit of Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' glitter.  (I used the fish die to create a mask to use with the paste).  I also dabbed on a bit of embossing paste tinted with Crumb Cake and a bit of glitter for a sandy bottom.  I embedded some Tranquil Textures Sprinkles in the paste.  Those sprinkles are retired, but I had them and they do add a bit of something, something. . . 

The right hand side of the card has a little secret.  Hiding under the octopus is a packet just the right size for a gift card or cash:

The octopus is adhered to the packet with just one glue dot.  The  packet is Soft Sea Foam stamped with the netting image in Soft Sea Foam, the tall plant in Mossy Meadow and the sea coral in Rich Razzleberry.  Linen Thread was wrapped around the packet three times and tied in a bow.

A note on the card construction:  I had to adjust the card base to accommodate the packet, so I cut my card base at 5-1/2" x 4-1/4", then scored it at 4-3/16" and 4-5/16" to create an 1/8" spine on my card. On the inside, the left-hand side is 5-1/4' x 4" and is adhered directly to the card base with Multi-purpose liquid adhesive.  The right-hand side is 5" x 4" and is adhered to the card base with foam Adhesive Strips on the top, bottom and left-hand side.  The packet slips under this piece with a about a 1/4" reveal. 

The packet is 2-1/4" x 4".   I used a retired die to create my packet but you can easily make one the same size by using a 6" x 6" piece of card stock scored at 1" on two opposite sides and at 1-7/8" on the other two sides. Then trim out the corners, fold it up and glue together, leaving one end open to insert a card or cash.

I hope I've given you a bit of inspiration for your own surprise project!  Now it's time to see the fantastic project Mikaela has for us:

To Mikaela's Blog . . .

Praying that you are staying safe and well!

--Sara Nell

Psalm 112:7