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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Breezy Cajun Sails {CCMC149}

Hiya friends!  Today's card started with this great sketch over at Create with Connie & Mary--those gals always have the best challenges!
I'm not sure I stuck with the sketch exactly.  :-)  It's still in there and hopefully you can recognize it although it's been flipped up and simplified a bit.  I wanted to pair with with my favorite stamp of the moment...Sail Away.  I can't put it down!  I love the line art and the movement of it--can't you just feel the Baja Breezes filling those sails?
I sure can!  The sailboat was inked first in Versamark, then Crumb Cake, stamped onto watercolor paper, sprinkled with clear stampin' emboss powder and heat set.  I lightly colored the sea and sky with my Aqua Painter and Marina Mist ink and a touch of Cajun Craze for the flag.  
The Marina Mist turned out so light that it looked better paired with Baja Breeze so I crumpled and distressed a piece of Elegant Soiree DSP, edged it with the Spiral border punch and sponged all the edges with Crumb Cake. 
Since the Sanded background stamp was sitting on my craft table from Sunday's card (yes, I hadn't cleaned up yet--shame on me!) I inked it up in Crumb Cake and stamped it on an angle on the card base.  I usually stamp it straight all over the front of the card but this card was turning out all wonky and distressed so angled seemed to fit!  My mom is laughing at this one (hi, Mom!) because she always angles everything and I always straighten out her angles!  So, this card broke all kinds of rules for me!
For the Crumb Cake trim down the side, I used the double scallop from the Tasteful Trims die.  See how both ends of the trim piece are rounded?  This die cuts a long piece of trim--about 12" actually.  So a short piece like this would have one end that was cut off.  That just wasn't acceptable!  So, I cut the cardstock a little bit longer than I actually wanted and ran it through the Big Shot to finish one edge.  Then I picked it up, turned it around so one scallop hung over the edge of the die and ran it through the Big Shot again.

 Which gave me a finished edge on both ends!  Pretty cool, huh?  
And here's the finished trim again.  I sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink and finished it with a Vintage brad and some Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine.  You can also see that the sailboat image is matted on some colored Newsprint DSP.  It was actually a scrap, sponged with Baja Breeze, I had laying on my table from a previous effort that got put to good use here!
I made quick work of the inside with a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, Sail Away stamped in Baja Breeze and another fabulous sentiment from Word Play overstamped in Crumb Cake ink.  You can't see it in this picture but I also stamped the Sanded background inside on the Cajun Craze base.  I can't put that one down either! :-)

So, I hope you've enjoyed the Baja Breezes of my Cajun sailboat today.  Please let me know if you have any questions and, as always, I would love to hear from you!  Have a great day, friends!

the goodies:
stamps: sail away, sanded, word play, you're a gem [retired]
paper: cajun craze, very vanilla, crumb cake CS; watercolor paper; elegant soiree & newsprint DSP
ink: baja breeze, crumb cake, early espresso classic ink; versamark
xtras: clear stampin emboss powder; early espresso baker's twine; vintage brad; tasteful trims die.

16 comments:

Marisa said...

LOVE what you've created by taking "creative license" with the sketch ;-) Fabulous card. I have that image on order and can't wait to get it!!

Debbie Henderson said...

Nice litte trick with the die Nance and that breeze you've been talking about, I think I found it in Maine, it's been breezy and rainy here for 3 weeks now! This is one of my favorite stamps also and you've done an exceptional job with this sketch! Thanks for playing Create with Connie & Mary!

Diane - oliver.mdiane@comcast.net said...

Nance another fabulous card. I think you have your mom's OCD ... OR...I'm just lazy. I would have rounded it with a pair of scissors, where as you made it PERFECT once again. That's what makes your card so special.. all the little details. Love antique brad tied with twine too. The background stamping inside is the finishing touch... (taught me that). Hugs.

Diane - oliver.mdiane@comcast.net said...

OMG... these FAT fingers of mine.
I meant to say.... YOU taught me that! Hugs.

Nancy said...

Beautiful card Nance, nice tip with the die too.
You're right I laughed when I read you "angled" the background stamp, sometimes it just works!
The inside of the card is as beautiful as the outside, great job! Di's comment is so true too I can just hear her saying "oh just cut with scissors" and get on with it, too funny.

Linda Callahan said...

Oh yes askew is good here - so nautical - makes me want to put on a Ralph Lauren sweater! :) This image is wonderful - and so is your card!

LeAnne said...

Very cool card! I love askew!!! I have been contemplating getting that die; I like how you used it here and wonder if you feel it's a good value.

Lesley said...

Awesome card! Love the way you used that trim die Nance and your colouring is soft and beautiful, I can feel the ocean breeze!

Ann Schach said...

Wow, wow, wow! I love this card! I would have never thought to trim the end of the die this way...very clever! I love the wonky layout and the Baker's Twine with Antique Brad. And, oh, did I mention the fabulous inside of the card? What a super graduation card this would make!

Deb said...

This is gorgeous! I do see the sketch "bones" in your card! It is all just so fantastic! Makes me wish I was on the shore watching this sailboat! Thanks for playing the challenge at Create with Connie and Mary!

Christina said...

WOW, Nance! I love everything about this fantastic card! Love the watercolor look you added with the Marina ink and the unique die cut border. You've thought of all the right details for one stunner of a card!

Lisa Martz said...

Lovce the way you flipped the sketch. Love the tasteful trim/vintage brad/baker's twine treatment! Great combo of elements. Thanks for playing the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge!

jjcreations said...

Honey, you should break the rules more often 'cause this is fantastic. I love the angles, watercolours and distressing. I keep saying I need to use that spiral punch on a card and don't - thanks for the reminder. It looks so awesome.

Mary Brown said...

LOVE everything about the composition of your card! WONDERFUL! Thanks for joining us this week on the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday challenge!

Connie Babbert said...

I LOVE this card...wonderful! It is funny because I JUST finished a card using this set and that trim this afternoon! Love how you tied it off on one end! Great job flipping the sketch. Thanks for playing along with us on Create with Connie and Mary!

Heidi said...

Such beautiful detail in this card!! I can definitely see the sketch! ;)