Apr 23, 2014
TE Blog Design Team: Ships Ahoy!
Last week, we had the pleasure of featuring a lovely wedding project from Blog Team Design Team member, Wanda Guess, and today we are delighted to have the chance to share something special from her teammate, Caryn Davies! Caryn has taken a fan favorite stamp set, Bon Voyage, and created three darling projects to show off how much fun this oldie but goodie can be.
Caryn’s Notes: I created this card for my dear Dad who works in the shipbuilding industry – what a perfect set for him, huh? I started by creating my 4.25″ x 5.5″ (A2) card base from white cardstock and then cut a panel measuring 3.25″ x 3.75″ for the front. At this point I temporarily adhered the panel in place so that I could use a mask that I had cut using the Cloud Duo dies to create soft clouds overlapping the card base and the panel. I used a pale aqua pigment ink and a blending tool to softly ink over the masks giving a pretty, subtle cloud pattern. When the masks were removed I lifted the panel from the card base and stamped my main image, the ship, in place.
The ship is colored with Copic Sketch Markers and the sentiment (also from the Bon Voyage stamp set) was placed above it. The waves at the bottom of the panel were created using the Wave Border die and I added some detail by blending some white pigment ink over the top of them. This was wrapped around the panel and given some dimension by placing a couple of clear foam adhesive pads just in the middle giving a slight “bulge” to the die cut. Finally, I adhered the panel to the card base making sure to line it back up with the clouds I had masked earlier.
Caryn’s Notes: Along with the card I wanted to use the Bon Voyage set to create a little gift package containing some gold pirate chocolate coins. (Perfect for party favors!) The hardest part of this whole thing was managing to stop the children from eating the chocolate before I got the project finished! I started with a cellophane bag (one with a block or gusseted base works best) – mine measures about 2″ x 2.5″ at the base. I cut a card insert to place in the bottom to give it more interest and a sturdier base and stamped the anchor from the stamp set randomly over it.
For the top enclosure part I cut a 3″ x 2.5″ panel from wood veneer paper and folded it in half to give a 1.5″ by 2.5″ flap. I glued this in place with a tape roller and wrapped some jute string from my stash around it and tied in place. I stamped the pirate ship image from the set on some white cardstock and colored it in using Copic Sketch markers, fussy cut it out and then glued it in place on the wood veneer panel on the package. This is a pretty quick and easy little package!
Caryn’s Notes: I just couldn’t put this set away! So, when my 14 year old son said he needed a card for his sailing-obsessed friend, this was the perfect set to reach for again. I simply stamped and colored the sailboat image with a few chosen Copics, then fussy cut it out and mounted it onto a panel of white card. I added a little knot (my son made it for me and tells me it’s a reef knot) and wrapped it around for a little extra nautical detail. The strip of patterned paper along the edge just helps to tie the theme together. As a finishing touch, I added a little bit of shimmer to the boat.
To add some “wow” to simple cards and party favors, Caryn has these suggestions:
- Try masking on different panels to create visual interest
- Add little details to match your theme (like nautical knots and stamped anchors)
- Choose materials that add texture, like wood, jute, twine, etc.
We love how Caryn used the same set to create three masculine projects without sacrificing the “cute” factor. Caryn will be sharing another project later this month, so stay tuned!