Can you believe May is here already?! I thought retirement might slow the passing of time. But, I would be wrong about that.
In the Fall of 2013, when Bobbi and I were laying the foundation for Words 2 Scrap By and brainstorming ideas for each month's words, I found she prefers to take the road less traveled. For example, I was thinking we might go with something related to love or Valentine's Day for February. Bobbi, however, suggested we look towards the upcoming Olympics instead. Great idea!
Well, it turns out that May is the month of flowers, Mother's Day, graduations... and National Photography Day! And, what better words to celebrate National Photography Day than the expression, "Say Cheese!" :)
My W2SB Card: Wish You Were Here!
I decided to create a post-card-like card for this challenge -- inspired by a photo of the island that's been on my crafting table for quite a while. Next, I had the thought of combining this actual photo with a cartoon-like beach critter.
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| Fancy Pants Design beach bum; Stampin' Up! core black SU on film and word bubbles framelits Lawn Fawn life is good stamps in Distress Ink vintage photo computer-generated sentiments; original photo of HHI Stampin' Up! owl builder punch for beach critter's eyes adhesives: Scotch ATG; Zig 2-way glue pen; Recollections foam squares; Zots glue dots stash sequins; Glossy Accents used to achieve shininess of itty bitty beach critter |
The following design choices led to the creation of the card shown above.
- First, I chose the orange paper from the beach bum collection as the base color for my card to complement the photo's colors. Then, I used yellow and blue papers from the collection to enhance the card's base color.
- Next, I chose to stamp my litter critter on red, envisioning the way it would pop off the blue.
- Then, I decided to use black for the focal point elements (the filmstrip die cut, the stamped critter, and the word bubble text).
- To add interest to the card -- without taking away from the focal point elements, I stamped the unadorned, uncolored beach scene in brown.
- "Wish You Were Here" was computer generated and printed on a 6" x 6" piece of designer paper and then cut out using a Stampin' Up! word bubble die. When, the text was not as centered in the speech bubble as I had hoped, I added the stamped star on the right.
- "Greetings from Hilton Head Island" was also printed directly on dp. Black font was chosen to show up against the blue.
- To add a little sparkle that brought attention to the focal point while blending in with the base paper, I strategically added a few orange-ish sequins.
- All that said, my little critter was the most labor intensive part of the card. He is, after all, the star of this card!
After stamping him on the red paper, I took great pains in fussy cutting him out. - This fussy cutting put one of his little pinchers in great danger of tearing off. So, I added several coats of Glossy Accents.
- His stamped eyes really got lost in the cutting out process. So, I made him a little pair of eyes using the owl builder punch. After adhering the eye using drops of glue, I secured them to my little guy with an additional coat of Glossy Accents.
- Lastly, foam squares were used to support his claws/pincers and give him even more of a presence.
Think I'm going to link this little card up to Shopping Our Stash's Opposite Day Challenge to do something different. I very seldom use photos, and, I've never before used an actual photo with stamped images. The end result is something far more whimsical than my typical cards. :)
I'm also going to link this up to the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday Blog Challenges. Anything Goes is the theme of the week for both of these challenges.
I'm also going to link this up to the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday Blog Challenges. Anything Goes is the theme of the week for both of these challenges.
Parting Thoughts
Guess I got a little long-winded there. Sorry about that. Guess you'd never know I like this little card!
Hope you will play along with our May W2SB Say-Cheese Challenge.
Planning on being back later with Friday Night Writes. Until then, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!
Love your project, Sybrina! I have never used a photograph in any of my designs either. I guess it comes naturally to scrappers, but not so much to cardies! Love your project; it all came together very well. Thanks for taking the Opposite Challenge this week at Shopping Our Stash!
ReplyDeleteHugz,
Chana, DT
That is fantastic Sybrina! Love the wee crab and the sequins! Thanks for joining the SHOPPING OUR STASH crew this week for our "Opposite Day" challenge!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun card, Sybrina! Thanks for sharing your process with us and for joining us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!
ReplyDeleteWhat incredible detail in your card - I bet it is even more amazing in person. Yep, I like to color outside the lines!!! Thanks for being such a great leader for W2SB!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun card! Love the little scene you created. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!
ReplyDeleteoh wow! what a great idea to use a real photo! so fun and so CLEVER! thanks for SHOPPING YOUR STASH with us this week! :)
ReplyDeleteSuper & creative, Sybrina! I love your design!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super fun image this little crab is waving for all to see what a Fab time he's having.
ReplyDeleteLOve your colours and this pretty 'film strip'.
Chrissyxx
I see you've found out what retirement does to us!
Such a fun take on the challenge with the little film strip of the crab!! I like the sequins too!
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