Once again my crafting plans for today took a bit of a detour. I’d intended to create a very simple card with just stamped images in neutral tones. But as so often happens I ended up with something rather different. Out came the sponges and this water scene was the end result.

THE DOCK

My project started as planned with the dock image from the By The Dock Stamp Set and Soft Suede ink. First I stamped the full image on a layer of Very Vanilla Card. Then I reinked the image and ‘stamped-off’ onto some scrap paper before stamping the front half on a second layer of Very Vanilla Card.

I reinked the stamp once more, ‘stamped off’ again, then stamped half the image on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope.

With the main images done I began to gather the remaining pieces for my project. Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored a piece of Mossy Meadow Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create a card base.

Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I lined the card base with the Very Vanilla layer featuring the stamped off partial image. So far so good.

WATER SCENE

As I was deciding how to layer up the main Very Vanilla layer, I suddenly decided to add a little colour using Stampin’ Sponge. Before I knew it I was using ink and sponges to create a complete water scene.

I began with Balmy Blue ink carefully sponging it around the dock image and about 3/4 of the way up the layer. Then I went over the blue with Soft Sea Foam ink. With the water done I used Balmy Blue ink to stamp water ripples plus the little fish image from the set.

Next came the sky, sponged across the top with Seaside Spray ink.

The colours were different but it needed something else to separate the sea and sky so I decided to add some ‘land’.

I tore the edge of some scrap paper to create a rough edge and placed it along the top edge of the water. Then with another torn piece of paper above it I created a little triangle at the edge of the layer. Into this area I sponged some Mossy Meadow ink. Then I repeated the process on the other side of the layer. Finally, using the same technique I added some Pear Pizzazz sponging above the Mossy Meadow areas.

With all the sponging the dock image now looked unfinished, so I went back to the Soft Suede ink pad and sponged a light layer of ink over the planks.

Now that my water and sky looked more like a proper water scene I mounted it onto some Pear Pizzazz Card with liquid glue.

FINISHING TOUCHES

For my sentiment I went back to the By The Dock Stamp Set and stamped “Here for you” onto Very Vanilla Card with Soft Suede ink. Then I cut it out using the #2 plain-edged die from the Layering Ovals (counting from the smallest up).

At this point I remembered the little fish. So I took a Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker from the Neutrals Collection and coloured him in.

Next I wrapped some Linen Thread around the top of the layered scene and added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back. Then I added the layers to the card base. Finally I added the sentiment with a few more Stampin’ Dimensionals and my unintended water scene card was finished.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the By The Dock Stamp Set as a bundle with the coordinating Dockside Dies (not used today). Using the ‘bundle’ item number meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle in case you want to look at this option.