Sunday 23 May 2010

It's time to hit the beach


This glorious, summery weather has inspired me to create a beach scene. I’m loving my brayer at the moment so I thought I’d have a go at something a little more ambitious than previously.

With the help of Michelle Zindorf – widely regarded as the Queen of Brayering in the stamping world – I made this beach scene. I used Michelle’s scene as inspiration, then went my own way for the rest of the card.

These instructions only tell you how to create the main image panel as the rest is pretty self-explanatory. For tips on brayering, see this earlier post. 

I’m not sure if you can tell from the photo but I started by stamping a few shells in Versamark on the left, to see if the ghosting technique would work with a delicate outline image. It has left a very (very!) subtle hint of underwater shells.

I brayered a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock from the corners – one corner was Tempting Turquoise, the opposite was a combination of Creamy Caramel and More Mustard.

I stamped a selection of shells from the Seaside stamp set, turning them round for variety. They were coloured with blender pens and markers, although blender pens and inkpads or Watercolour Wonder™ crayons would work just as well. To add some highlights, just as Michelle did, I used the white gel pen. Wasn’t so keen on this on the bottom right shell so have brayered a little over the top, to tone it down.

Next I used the speckly stamp from Bird on a Branch – this set is worth the money for this little stamp alone – and added some speckles around the edges of the cardstock. More Mustard and Close to Cocoa on the right; Taken with Teal (didn’t show up much) and Night of Navy on the left.

To add the “surf”, I battled with the Whisper White ink pad and the speckly stamp for ages before I actually read Michelle’s tutorial and discovered that she’d done this with the gel pen. Doh!

Finally, I give it a little spritz with my Champagne Mist shimmer paint spray.  It’s very subtle – fact, in this light, I can’t even see it. I really wanted to drop water onto it to see if it would create a wet look, but I chickened out! Maybe next time...

I love the look of this card – I’ve always been a sucker for seaside-themed cards... well, everything seaside-y really.  I’m already planning my next version. I want more beach and less sea and will maybe experiment with some masking fluid (if I still have some).

Stamps: Seaside, Bird on a Branch, Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Kraft (soon to be called Crumb Cake), More Mustard, Night of Navy textured, Very Vanilla
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal, Night of Navy, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Basic Gray, Versamark
Accessories: Markers - Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa; Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Linen Thread, ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon - More Mustard, Champagne Mist shimmer paint, white gel pen, brayer

All products by Stampin' Up!®

13 comments:

  1. Stunning card! The brayering technique looks fab! Colours are gorgeous, just a beautiful card!!! x

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  2. This is absolutely breathtaking Helen - I love everything about. So clever with the ghosting (I can see it!)and a perfect choice of colours for the sand and sea :D

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  3. Superb card Helen..... How do you get such beautiful brayering, I seem to be getting a line fron the end of the brayer!!

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous card Helen! In addition to the fabulous brayering, speckling and stamped images, I just love the way you've put the whole card together - the torn matting layers, stamping on the background and the linen thread and tags.

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  5. I just love the brayered look!! Beautiful colors! You've got me wishing for summer already!

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  6. The card is so pretty! I like the colors that were used! You are really so creative.

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  7. Very nicely done overall. The beach scene leaves a nice, peaceful feeling. I like how the linen thread picks up where the ribbon leaves off (that looks weird typed out but I think you'll understand what I mean).

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  8. I'm with CC... loved your card...AAA

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  9. This is fabulous!! I love the scene you created!! We just made wedding invitations using her techniques (although we can't post them until September!!)
    I love the white gel pen highlights :)
    Maria

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  10. Wow!!! You have a fabulous blog going here. I'm loving all your SU! creations. This card is so pretty and I love the softness of it. I'm really enjoying your felt flower card below as well. I have that SU! flower die and haven't used it much. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  11. This card is gorgeous! You are quite talented! Thanks for sharing your creations, and your blog is a joy to visit!

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  12. This is stunning. You're an absolute wizard (or should that be sorceress) with the brayer.

    Sara xx

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.

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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.