Saturday, July 30, 2016

Your Flower = My Shell

Today is the beginning of one of my favorite weeks of the year - it's the week of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoast.

This is a week long event exclusively for our Fan Club members, to thank them and reward them for supporting the site with their membership. In addition to the other perks of being a Fan Club member, this is a week where all the Dirty Dozen Alumni cook up amazingly creative challenges - 5 or 6 per day, and the participants can win prizes, not just inspiration.

A few months ago, when I received my Blossom Builder punch, the second I took it out of the box, I saw shells, not flowers. I even wrote myself a note on my daily task list that said "Shells w/Blossom punch" to remind myself to try this idea out.

Then, summer happened.

But when I saw my friend Lori's challenge for today, I knew it was an idea whose time had come and so I got to work. I still have never made a flower with this punch, and actually - I have a confession to make.

Are you ready? It's scandalous.

I don't like punches.

There. I said it. I'll wait while you all recover.

I've said this to people before, and I ALWAYS get a gasp in return, so I've sort of stayed in the closet about it. It's like saying you don't like kittens or rainbows, apparently, but the fact of the matter is, I don't, and here's why:

  • They're heavy.
  • They require hand strength that I don't have. I typically don't use craft supplies that smell or cause pain.
  • Did I mention that they're heavy? Because they're heavy. If I used punches in a class I'm giving myself a herniated kidney lifting the bag.
  • They take up a lot of space in my craft room - in a room the size of mine, this is a huge deal.
  • They're heavy.
So I'm super judicious in the punches I buy.

But every now and then, one comes along that I love, and has something that I can't get in a die, and when I looked at the shapes in this one, I knew even if I just made this one card that was in my head, it would have been worth buying the punch for. So, mission accomplished. I enjoyed the heck out of this project.







To make the background, I tore a piece of Avery Repositionable Label Paper the same size as my watercolor paper, and kept both pieces to mask.

Then I used the Wrinkle-Free Distress technique to get the water (Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron and Mermaid Lagoon) and sand (Old Paper and Tea Dye) areas, and I used the sand colors to watercolor the faux shells made with the Blossom Punch.

I went around the edges of the shells with a Soft Suede marker to make them stand out from the background a bit, and then as I was positioning them on the background - I sit facing a window, so I let the natural shadows fall on the card, and then colored where the shadows were with a WG04 Copic marker to give them some dimension. There's glitter at the shoreline, which you of course, can't see. #thehumanity

I did a little video of the process for you - it's an easier and quicker card than you'd think, I promise.

Before you head off to watch though - do come join us this week for Dare to Get Dirty - and consider being a Fan Club Member!



Loveyameanitbye.



17 comments:

  1. Beautiful card Lydia! Love those DI colours for the water - looks like that dreamy water at a tropical beach that I see in photos. I also have an aversion to punches for the same reasons but oh, I think that punch is so perfect for shells - you clever thing you!!

    Jocelyn x

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  2. Beautiful card! When I first read your comment about the flowers looking like shells, I thought how is that possible? Then I saw the punch and thought "she's right!" all I see are shells!

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  3. LOVE this card ... indeed I do!
    But I'm also a HUGE punch fan! We can still be friends. It's okay.
    (((hugs)))

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  4. Such a stunning card! And I love your statement re punches. I'm not a fan of them either :D

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  5. LOL! You are so funny! I'm so with you on the punches!! Never jumped on that bandwagon! I do love your card though, it's so pretty and calm--reminds me of being on the beach.

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  6. Beautiful and oh, so creative! Love it, Lydia!

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  7. I saw shells instead of flowers with this punch, too!!! I'm glad you provided a tutorial!

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  8. I love your card and your shadows created by natural light and colored by you are therefore However it is one I have not purchased. I have a lot of punches but I do agree with you that they are heavy and cumbersome to haul around! I will always think of shells now when I see this punch! The colors and the wrinkle free technique produced a wonderful sea and sand!

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  9. Wow, I never saw shells in that punch, but I sure do now. Beautiful card. But I'll also admit to disliking heavy punches. I cleaned out and donated a bunch not too long ago, and now only keep the minimum faves.

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  10. I'm like you with the punches. They are heavy and they hurt sometimes to punch with, but at least SU's are easier than some other brands. I love how you've taken this from just another flower punch to a whole new level. Love it! Your video was terrific as always and I really enjoyed watching it this morning. It put me in a watercolour kind of mood! Happy Stamping!

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  11. Lydia,
    Do you film your videos with your phone? Just curious because they are so well done.

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  12. WOW! What a beautiful card! Love how you used the distress inks. Great idea to use petal punch as "shells." TFS :D

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  13. Beautiful card! Thanks for sharing and for the tutorial. I have never wanted that punch and now, because I see shells (or is it seashells - lol), I HAVE TO HAVE IT. I'm all about the beach/ocean so this has got to find a home with me.

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  14. I'll comment on the card when I stop laughing at your (wonderful) speech about punches! I have too many punches, more than I can store so I'm leaning more your way. Thanks for the belly laugh you gave today.

    The card is amazing!

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