At the Sea-Side

4/19/2016 Update: This card was a Ruby Award winner at Color Dare Challenge #188.







A favorite poem from childhood by Robert Louis Stevenson:

At the Sea-Side

When I was down beside the sea

A wooden spade they gave to me

To dig the sandy shore.

My holes were empty like a cup.

In every hole the sea came up

Till it could come no more.

As a child, my mother and I spent a great deal of time at the shore, digging in the sand, watching the Fiddler crabs dart about, collecting shells and exploring the array of items that washed ashore among the tangled strands of seaweed.

My love of the sea is probably the reason I bought this collection of DSP and now this whimsical paper has inspired my card. How many times have you seen an octopus with a smile?

The fold technique has been around for a while and is simple to make. I like the way it ties together when it's closed. The technique can be viewed HERE. Various panels of DSP and cardstock were applied to decorate the card and as an extra bonus, the porthole was die cut through the front and framed in order to see the octopus on the inside. The starfish and sentiment were popped up on foam tape for dimension. On the inner flap is a place for a personal note. Thick twine was used for the tie instead of ribbon in keeping with the nautical theme and to avoid looking too feminine.

My card is being submitted to the color challenge at Color My Heart: Color Dare #188. Visit the blog for some creative ideas and consider joining in the challenges!

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, fussy cutting, punch cutting, fun fold
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

CTMH Materials
Cardstock: Sapphire, Pomegranate, Glacier, Flaxen
DSP: Flaxen scrap from friend's stash (porthole)

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: "Remembering Your Birthday"
Inks: Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Whisper White
DSP: Maritime Collection
Punch: Scalloped Tag Topper
Misc.: Dimensionals, Thick Baker's Twine (Coastal Cabana)

Other Materials
Dies: Gina K Designs stacking and nesting circles