Monday 11 August 2008

Yet more beach huts

One of my “imaginary” friends, Taylor*, suggested this idea to me, after seeing my beach hut journal. I’m not sure what use this is but it was fun to make. I suppose you could use it as:

1. an ornament
2. a “scrapbook”, with photos and journaling on the back
3. cards, if taken apart and mounted on to hut-shaped card blanks.

All further suggestions welcomed!

Sorry about the ropey photos - it was a bit too sunny and the project was just too wide for me to get it all in focus, with my limited photography skills. 

Anyway, here's how I made it. All the huts are 10cm wide by 14cm tall. I measured 5cm down the side to get the roof angle. To achieve the “wood-effect” on the cardstock, I scored vertically down each hut shape at 1cm intervals.

Using the applicators that came with the Stampin’ Pastels (chalks), I chalked with a slightly darker colour down the score lines, to give it shadow. I tried it with the same colours but darker seemed to work better. These are the colours I used:

Certainly Celery cardstock – I used Mellow Moss chalk
Bashful Blue cardstock – I used Bordering Blue chalk
Barely Banana cardstock – I used So Saffron chalk
Pretty in Pink cardstock – I used Cameo Coral chalk

Next, to soften the effects of the darker chalk and give the wood a more sun-bleached look, I used a sponge dauber to apply white chalk along the length of the non-scored areas (the strips of wood on the hut). You can barely see this on the photo but it did make a big difference, honest!

I cut strips of cardstock and did the same with them to make the roofs and doorsteps. To make the shape for the roof apex (I bet they have a name but I don’t know what it is), I used the Round Tab Punch, punching twice, as shown in this post. I then cut off the piece I needed and discarded the rest.

I stamped the shell from Stipple Celebrations on the doors and then added the brads. What a happy accident it was when I discovered that my Rich Regals brads contained exactly the colours I needed for the doorknobs! They come in Brocade Blue, Regal Rose, Always Artichoke and So Saffron.

That’s it really. I popped up the roofs and doorsteps and joined it all together with Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon at the back. I’m going to cover the backs with plain cardstock… unless I decide to turn these into cards. I’m awaiting your ideas!

Stamps: Stipple Celebrations
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Stampin’ Pastels, Rich Regals brads, Round Tab Punch

(Tiny announcement: I’m not putting page numbers any more. It takes me ages to find them all and, when the new catalogue comes out in October, they’ll all be out of date anyway.)

All products by Stampin' Up! Please email me to order a catalogue, or click the link on the right to view it online.

* Edited to add: Okay so it wasn't Taylor, it was Victoria, who clearly won't let it lie until I've corrected the error.  



10 comments:

  1. Adorable!!! How about putting photos behind the doors? Or making it into a Christmas Elf Row kind of thing?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love how they look all lined up!

    ReplyDelete
  3. cool idea! you could put photos behind the doors and put this on a coffee table or desk at work.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a fantastic idea! I love creative albums. Does your imaginary friend talk to you or do you answer her?

    ReplyDelete
  5. So cute. I love the way you scored the cardstock. Just the right touch.

    Psst..it was me with the idea;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I liked it better when I got the credit for this fabulous idea! These are so adorable!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are just the most creative thing. You made me laugh when you talked about your imaginary friend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my gosh! I love these! They would make cute accents in one of my bathrooms!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just so cute!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Add a few more and you could have an Australian Advent Calendar.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.

The small print

This is my personal blog and my sole responsibility as an Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator. All images are © Stampin' Up!® All content including photographs, projects and text are © Helen Read, unless otherwise stated. Please feel free to copy my ideas for your personal use and inspiration - if you are a SU demonstrator you may use these ideas for your events but please give credit where it is due. Please do not use my ideas for monetary gain, competitions or publication. The images on this blog - including blog buttons - should not be copied and used elsewhere on the internet or on CDs.