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.