Surf’s Up!!

Hello and welcome back to the LDRS Inspiration Blog.  Summer is about slowing down and enjoying the beach right?  This fuzzy wuzzy guy thinks that's what it's all about!  He's ready to ride the waves!!

This card is an A2 top folding card on a white card base.  To make the card panel, I started with an A2 white panel and did a little ink blending to create a background.  

I started blending the bottom of the card first with Swimming Hole ink.  I then tore a piece of post-it tape to create a sand edge and blended with Iced Tea ink.  Once the base layer is down, I removed the tape and blended the edges together and then added Snowy White ink on top to smear the water edge a bit.  I added Dark Wash Jeans ink around the edges of the card for some added color on the water.  Then I added Marina Madness in spots throughout the middle of the water to give the water a little depth and movement.

Next, I blended a little Coffee Bean into the sand to give dimension.  I added dots throughout the sand with a brown marker.  For the sky, I started by blending the top corner with Banana Cream Pie ink to mimic sun rays.  I then blended Little Boy Blue over the remaining sky and then added some dimension by blending in a little Swimming Hole.  To finish off the ink blending, I added Snowy White with dabs to make whispy clouds and soften the look of the sun.

Now that the background is done, I die cut the panel using the Hand Torn Rectangles Dies.  This is my most used die set!!  Now we are ready to add our focal images.

I stamped the Fuzzy Wuzzy image directly onto the card stock in Key Lime Pie.  The images I used are from the Fuzzy Wuzzies Beach Bum stamp & die set.  I started with the Body, then added the arms, then stamped the feet with In Your Face Orange.  I also added a little Olive Branch ink  around the edges of the body of Fuzzy. I die cut the fish, the surf board, the eyes, the beach ball, the swim trunks, and the goggles using the included dies.  I stamped all the die cuts using  Raven ink, except the beach ball is stamped with In Your Face Orange.  I added a little alcohol ink color to some of the die cuts and white highlights to the fish and swim trunks.

To finish off, I adhered all the die cuts using liquid glue and added a little glossy accents to the goggles.  I stamped one of the included sentiments using Raven ink.  Looking back, I wish I would have stamped the sentiment in the water to offer better balance to the card.  That is the fun of card making...there is no right way or wrong way to make a card.  It's trial & error and taking risks to stretch your creativity.

I woud love to hear what you would do differently with this card.  There are so many options and the stamp set comes with such cute accessories!  

I hope you find time today to get crafty!!  Hugs, LeeAnn