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It should be no secret to you that summer is pretty much my favorite. I would happily live like a little lizard on a hot rock in the desert - never seeing another drop of rain or a cloud passing between me and the sun. So the solstice marks a transition into the most glorious days of the year for me.
My own personal garden almanac last year led me to predict a cool, wet year this year, and that's what we got. So I'm hoping June, July and August are hot and dry so I get at least PART of a normal 2020. That's all I ask.
When we went to Hawaii a billion years ago, we stayed not far from the beach where they filmed LOST. We stayed where the actors had stayed and it was such a beautiful spot on the North Shore of Oahu.
The first day we were there, we walked down to that little beach and I was shocked at the color of the water. Mind you - Texas beaches are for the most part, complete garbage compared to places like Florida and California. For most of my youth, I assumed all oceans were brown, and that you had to clean tar off your feet everywhere before returning to your car. Florida & California set me straight later on.
But Hawaii has this ethereal water that's a magical color - a stunning green-blue that looked like colorful glass. When I saw it - I shrieked out OMG IT LOOKS LIKE A COUGH DROP!
I cannot help the way my brain works, but those of you who are old enough will remember these hideous blue mint things that were a beautiful color, but tasted like the ACTUAL DEVIL. I don't know if they were supposed to be candy - it's too traumatic to do a deep dive into - but they had all the joy of a cough drop.
And that is what the water looks like there. An other-worldly bluish green that should never been seen in food, but is lovely in nature!
So I created my beachy scene with colors that are in my memory today. The way these layering beach stamps and their matching dies go together is amazing - it makes it look like there's so much motion! On kraft cardstock, it really looks like a beach. So pretty. The inks I used are: Pool Party, Aegean, Pumpkin Pie, Caramel. The sequins are these matching Ombres.
I have a few more cards below - all made with the super duper fun Hero Arts Summer Catalog! You might even see some of these cards in there :). You can see the catalog here or by clicking the catalog image. It's full of really fun stuff! The clean, bright cover makes me happy.
Sticking with kraft for the moment, I did a fun technique with this gorgeous Lavender stamp. I stamped each layer in Unicorn, dried it and then stamped it again on top Distress Oxides in Wilted Violet, Shaded Lilac and Peeled Paint. The layering is so fun and brightens up the colors on colored cardstock - the Unicorn serving as white cardstock would underneath any ink. The sentiment is from the same set. The matching dies are here.The next one is sort of bittersweet for me, because it reminds me of my trip to Hero Arts and Sonoma. It was the first time I had been to California in a long time, and now it feels like I'll never get back there. This gorgeous Heroscape definitely brings Sonoma and Napa to mind, and again I used kraft cardstock to make the colors pop. The inks I used were Pool Party and Deep Ocean, with Thistle for the grapes. I did the rock 'n roll technique on the little barrel with Pumpkin Pie and Caramel ink. I added some Copic shadowing on the clouds I cut with the matching dies. Lastly, a variation on my previous ATC (you can see it here), turned into a card. This set has such joyful images! I used a credit card swiping panel with acrylic paint for the backdrop, and cut it with my circle infinity dies - both to create a sun-like opening and to shape the top of the colorful portion - to make it more interesting and to leave room for the sentiment. I highlighted the pier with a white gel pen.
These are the products used today and all my current coupon codes are listed below - enjoy!
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Get ready for more inspiration!
Hero Arts
Channin Pelletier
Daniel West
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Jennifer McGuire
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Libby Hickson
Lydia Fiedler
Michelle Short
Channin Pelletier
Daniel West
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Jennifer McGuire
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Libby Hickson
Lydia Fiedler
Michelle Short
Loveyameanitbye.
CURRENT COUPON CODES
15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.
10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10
5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5
10% off sitewide at Arteza here with code Understandblue6 through 7.31.2020
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE
15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.
10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10
5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5
10% off sitewide at Arteza here with code Understandblue6 through 7.31.2020
Phone stand for filming link below in the banner - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE
These are so gorgeous and now I have to place another Hero Arts order 😆
ReplyDeleteI love all these cards but your girl on the dock card is definitely the best in show. The red focus around the girl is a simple but very effective way to put the eye on her 👏 well done.
ReplyDeletegreat set of cards Lydia, I especially love your lake sunset, that is stunning
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely wonderful cards! Each one is unique & I can't pick a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI love the amazing colours of your ocean - just perfect!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards! Love all the colorful scenes.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing...
Oh Lydia—I SO agree with you! Summer is by far the best—and your cards certainly highlight that. I love them all:)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great bunch of cards. Love all the extra inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI do love the Summer too but a nice cool summer rain makes me happy too! Love the new vineyard set... Also need Better at the Lake as I have the first set. Great job!
ReplyDeleteFantastic designs and palette on these cards. Thanks for sharing this inspiration with these fun products.
ReplyDeleteLovely cards! They would brighten anyone's staycation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration--I had not thought of creating a Heroscape scene on kraft cardstock!
ReplyDeleteLove you CAS style. Was hoping for Hawaii myself this year, oh well, maybe next year. I’ll just think about cough drops! LOL!😂
ReplyDeleteWow!!! That ocean card is amazing. I love the colors. I felt the same about the water in Alaska!!! Fantastic release!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Your first card drew me in from FB! Such a beautiful scene! I can almost hear the ocean. All of the cards are stunning! Beautiful color combos with kraft!
ReplyDeleteThese cards are lovely. Each one pulls the viewer or recipient right into the scene and that isn't easy to do. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe Sympathy field card is really pretty. I love the look of Provence.
ReplyDeleteJust loving your blues <3
ReplyDeleteBeautiful scenes and such pretty colors!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteUhm Wow! These are So nice! Tfs! ❤😘
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the new Heroscapes sets, they look amazing!
ReplyDeleteDarn it Lydia, I swore I was going to give my poor credit card a rest for awhile! You and Hero Arts are making that very very difficult!
ReplyDeleteThe girl on the dock is such a fun card. Love the red colors in the card. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSeriously STUNNING SKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG! All these scenes are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove all your fantastic card designs!
ReplyDeleteI love your cards and the way your brain works! You make me laugh!��
ReplyDeleteLove your cards and the lavender is on my wish list! TFS!
ReplyDeleteI just love all of your cards! The colors are fabulous, especially the fiery sunset with the child jumping off the pier.
ReplyDeletesimple and unique!! very nice!!
ReplyDeleteGreat use of kraft card for the beach scenes. I love the life in your lake scene and the background too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards, Lydia! I love the way you used kraft card on your scene cards - such a clever design element! The great colours really makes your last card pop! Thanks so much for sharing! Take care! :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards, each and every one! My fav is the sympathy card! Just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!! I love those Heroscapes!! I especially love your last dock card!
ReplyDeleteTee hee, it didnt surprise me that after the cough drop memory your first card would be of a field of lavender to calm the fall out. Always love your cards and thoughts and this catalogue sneak peek. 🐱
ReplyDeleteSuch peaceful summer scenes. I want to go to these places! lol
ReplyDeleteWonderful release and great examples - thanks
ReplyDeleteI like how the layers can be used for the color combinations.
ReplyDeleteI love the lake card!
ReplyDeleteWOW beeeeeuuuuuuuuutiful cards! You are so very talented!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards. Love the variations of the landscape. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThose layering stamps are so pretty! Great examples.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful cards, so colourful. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards.
ReplyDeleteLove the silhouette in the
last card. Life is better
at the lake. thanks for
sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Gorgeous cards, really loving the heartfelt sympathy one with the pretty colors against kraft :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the technique where you stamp in white first! I forget about this! And I absolutely love having a craft card base with color on it
ReplyDeleteLove all of your cards! They are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful scenes with these pretty stamp designs! I especially love the beach scene!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you used the color of the card base to your cards. Very different and a great idea
ReplyDeleteFabulous cards! The heartfelt sympathy card is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are amazing. I love those HeroScapes stamps.
ReplyDeleteYour cards are all lovely, but the 3rd card, lake sunset, really caught my eye! Thanks for sharing your creativity with some of these great products.
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful set of cards!
ReplyDeleteREally lovely cards!
ReplyDeletelove the credit card technique and how interestingly you cut the panels with the circle die. off to shop and craft. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI love your cards!!! Especially the landscapes done on the Kraft Cardstock. The lavender fields took my breath away and the beach scene reminds me of the Oregon coast. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Love the colors and designs.
ReplyDeleteWonderful variety of cards. I like the ones on kraft the most.
ReplyDelete