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This card was inspired by My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge and being summer, I needed something tropical feeling. These little critters from Mama Elephant's Summer Days stamp/die set are soooooo cute! Here's how I made it.
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I used Bristol Smooth card stock for the the background paper and for stamping the images. I used Simon Says Stamp Intense Black Ink because, it does not bleed when coloring with alcohol markers or watercolor markers.
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I used Simon Says Stamp Wonky Rectangles, the largest rectangle, to cut the background for the card. For the background, using a Mini Ink Blending tool, I used Tim Holtz distress oxide inks, in Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Mermaid Lagoon for the ocean. Then Abandoned Coral and Squeezed Lemonade for the sky. I inked up the sky using Squeezed Lemonade and then using Tim Holtz Rays Layering Stencil, I used Abandoned Coral towards the bottom of the sky and then blended it out with Squeezed Lemonade. I then spritz only the sky with the Distress sprayer and blotted off the water with a paper towel. For the ocean waves, I used Simon Says Stamp Waves Stencil. I did this different, I sprayed the back of the stencil with some water from Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer and then laid that on the blue ocean, put a paper towel on top to get any excess water off, held it there for about 30 seconds. When I lifted the stencil, the water had reacted with the distress oxide inks. As you can see it lightens the color underneath. I love this affect. Now I made a mistake and cut the die cut window before I inked up the paper, not the end of the world but, I did wait til I was done to cut the other window.
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I used My Favorite Things Square Scalloped Frames dies, to cut the frames out. I love how pretty these frames are. I adhered my background card stock piece to a top folding card base A2 sized (4.25 x 5.5), then I adhered the scalloped frame with foam tape cut really thin, then inlaid the middle piece with Ranger Multi Medium Matte liquid glue.
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Oh my gosh, these little critters are so cute!! I colored these guys with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, I used about 2 shades per image, for shadowing. On the bear I used a third darker color for the dot detail on his head. I used the Sakura white gelly roll pen for the cheeks and highlights on the palm tree, coconut and drink. I used the Sakura black glaze pen for the coconuts and the bears eyes and nose. I cut them out using the coordinating dies with my die cut machine.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5324aa_feca7a61dad743ffa957d80e6aa02189~mv2_d_2160_2160_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5324aa_feca7a61dad743ffa957d80e6aa02189~mv2_d_2160_2160_s_2.jpg)
Once I started laying out my images, I quickly realized I needed a bit more. Sooo, I thought these little birds would be great. I colored them and cut them out using the coordinating dies. I used foam tape behind the palm tree and for the critters I used multi Medium Matte liquid glue. For the birthday sentiment I used, My Favorite Things Up In The Air Stamp set and Simon Says Intense Black Ink. I used foam tape and liquid glue to adhere the sentiment. I added Glossy Accents to the coconuts, drink and ice cream. When the Glossy accents dried I reapplied the white gel pen to those images because they tend to get lost under the Glossy accents.
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I added a few sequins with liquid glue to finish off the card. I love this cute card so much!
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![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5324aa_b77bfe55f0324515a1315d0ee65c7194~mv2_d_2160_2160_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5324aa_b77bfe55f0324515a1315d0ee65c7194~mv2_d_2160_2160_s_2.jpg)
Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed this card as much as I did. Have a terrific week.
Joy
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