One of my favourite bundles in the Stampin’ Up! 2018/2019 Annual Catalogue is the Sea of Textures Stamp Set and Under The Sea Framelits.  At first I wasn’t entirely sure how much use I’d have for an octopus, but having got past that little detail I have to say I’ve never regretted buying this set.  As well as the octopus, the stamp set has some lovely sentiments.  There’s also great images that are perfect for creating backgrounds and adding a sense of texture to projects.

This week the What Will You Stamp? Challenge is WWYS178 – Sea of Textures, and as part of the Design Team I needed to come up with a project that would showcase at least one image from the set.  In the end I used three stamps and managed to create a thank you card with no sea in sight.

A SIMPLE BUT INTERESTING BASE

Let’s start with the base, a piece of Thick Very Vanilla Card cut and scored using my Stampin’ Trimmer.  Then I folded the card along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

On a layer of Very Vanilla Card I used Old Olive ink to stamp the long leafy image just in from the right-hand edge.  As it wasn’t quite long enough I stamped another one to extend it.  Although it’s a red rubber stamp set this image is quite forgiving and I have no trouble lining up the images.  With that done, I then fixed the layer inside the card base with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).  Then I stamped the same image just in from the left-hand edge on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope.

To make everything coordinate I stamped the long leafy image on another layer of Very Vanilla Card.  Having done this I decided to give the piece some real texture.  I placed the piece into the Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and placed it directly onto the multipurpose platform of my Big Shot with all the tabs open, then placed a cutting plate on top and ran it forwards and backwards through the Big Shot (normally I’d spritz the card with a little clean water first to stop the card cracking but it seemed to work OK without it).  The embossed layer was then fixed to the front of the card base with liquid glue.

MAKING A SCENE

When I get a new stamp set, dies or punch, I like to look at each piece in isolation and let my mind wander.  I’m sure you’d be surprised often I see something other than the obvious, and this is what happened with the small coral image.  Alongside all the other images, it’s just coral, but when I looked at it in isolation it became a tree!

The background of my scene started out as a piece of Very Vanilla Card.  I tore a gentle curve from a piece of scrap paper and used that as a mask so that I could make some hills using Stampin’ Sponge and Old Olive ink.  Having sponged one hill, I moved the mask and sponged another, and then another.  With that done I sponged some Pool Party ink over the top of the piece for the sky then stamped my trees with Old Olive ink.

Going back to the Big Shot I used the #3 circle die from the Stitched Shapes Framelits to cut out the scene (counting from the smallest up), then without adding any more ink to my sponges, sponged around the edge of the die-cut piece to darken the colour a little and accentuate the edge of the scene.  With that done I fixed the completed scene to my card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

JUST THANKS

I wanted a really simple sentiment and I chose ‘thanks for reaching out’ from the Sea of Textures Stamp Set.  I only wanted the ‘thanks’ though so I inked up the stamp with Old Olive ink and then covered the ‘for reaching out’ with a piece of sellotape before stamping onto a piece of Very Vanilla Card.  Altering a sentiment like this is a simple way to get even more from a stamp set.

I took the stamped sentiment over to my Big Shot and used the #1 oval die from the Stitched Shapes Framelits to cut it out (again counting from the smallest up), then using Stampin’ Dimensionals I added to to the card front overlapping the sponged piece.

All that was left was to tie a simple bow from a length of Very Vanilla Solid Baker’s Twine and fix it in the top left corner of the card with a Mini Glue Dot and my countryside scene from an underwater stamp set was done.

Have you ever looked at a stamp image and seen something other than the obvious?

CHALLENGE

I created this card for the Design Team of the What Will You Stamp? Challenge for WWYS178 – Sea of Textures and I’d love to see your projects using at least one stamp set from this set.

Upload your project photo to the What Will You Stamp? Challenge gallery and you might even be chosen to be our weekly winner.

You’ll get bragging rights, a winner’s badge for your social media and you’ll be invited to join us as a Guest Designer two weeks later.

PAPER PUMPKIN OFFER

Seeing alternate possibilities is one of my favourite things to do and that’s useful when I get my monthly Paper Pumpkin craft kit.  I love these kits, each one contains everything you need to create a professionally designed project.  In the box you’ll find a unique photopolymer stamp set and Stampin’ Spot mini ink pad.  The card is already cut and scored, and coordinates with the embellishments that are included.  All you have to do is follow the printed instructions and sometimes add a little of your favourite adhesive.  If Mini Glue Dots or Stampin’ Dimensionals are needed you’ll find these are included in the kit.

If you’ve never tried Paper Pumpkin before, now is the perfect time to try it.  Simply subscribe to Paper Pumpkin by August 10th and enter the promotion code BLOOM0818 to get the August kit shipped to you around the 15th of the month for half price.  There’s no long-term commitment required and you’re free to cancel your subscription at any time.

In fact if you live in Canada and have never subscribed to Paper Pumpkin before, I’ll make you a promise.  Take advantage of this special offer and subscribe to Paper Pumpkin through me, and if you don’t like the kit I’ll see that you get your money refunded.  Please note that Paper Pumpkin is currently only available in Canada and the US, and Stampin’ Up! rules mean I am only able to act as a Demonstrator for customers living in Canada.

BUNDLE BONUS

The Under the Sea Framelits Dies coordinate with the Sea of Textures Stamp Set.  Although I didn’t use the dies today, I’ve included a link to the bundles.  If you’re interested in buying both the stamp set and dies,  order them using a single bundle item number and save 10% .  Who doesn’t like saving money on craft supplies?

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