Another Nautical-inspired card

Today's card is another one I did based on this week's A La Card Monkey sketch.  It is far less vintage than my guest designer submission, but still definitely has that maritime influence.  It also works for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge which is to create a card that uses brads.  This one certainly does and I really think they provide the perfect finishing accent.  See what you think:

Nautical Card for PPA95 and  MC58 using Sail Away a la carte stamp from the Summer Mini

Close up of the focal image

Inside of card

So this card started out as the monkey sketch and then morphed a little.  The focal image was too big to fit the sentiment underneath, so I moved it up to the side.  That left too much empty space under the sentiment so that is where those nifty brads came in.  Then I heard my baker's twine calling out to me, feeling unloved and neglected and so I added a little...not in the sketch, but I like it.  Call it artistic licence...
This card is pretty simple in terms of composition, but I will explain how I did the focal image.  Starting with a piece of whisper white cardstock, I sponged the sky in marina mist ink and the sea in not quite navy.  I then stamped the image in basic gray once on the sponged piece and a second time on another scrap of whisper white.  I fussy cut out the sails and adhered them to the stamped image using dimensionals.  I then added whitecaps to the waves using my white gel pen.  A simple touch, but one that adds interest to the scene.
I'm pretty sure you savy stampers can figure out the rest...if not drop me a line and I'll answer your questions.  Off to do course work now...ugh!!

Sail Away...

Well the long Victoria Day weekend is finally here.  The first long weekend of the season...kick off to the summer...May two-four.  There are many reasons to enjoy this weekend, but for me it will simply be a chance to get caught up on some gardening, some stamping and this infernal course I am taking.  As three whole days stretch ahead of me, I am a little unsure where to start tackling my To-do list, so I figured I'd relax with a little stamp-therapy.  Its been almost a week since I put ink to paper and I needed a while to get the mojo working. Thankfully, there is the summer mini and the great nautical paper and stamps to inspire me.  Conveniently the challenge this week over at The Paper Players is a colour one that  uses the three colours  in the Nautical Expedition DSP:

So, here is my nautical card...even though I don't have a sea-worthy bone in my body!

Card for PP46 using the Sail Away a la carte stamp, and The Open Sea set and Define Your Life sets.

Trying to show the popped up, paper-pieced sails

My attempt at a nautical-looking knot!

Inside of card with sentiment from the Word Play set.

I wasn't kidding when I said I wasn't sea-worthy.  Boats make me sick...literally.  All I have to do is look at a boat bobbing on the waves and I turn green.  But I love this suite of new products!  There is something about the DSP and stamp images that just appeals to me and inspires my creativity.  This card is really straightforward...nothing tricky or special here!  At the end of a long, busy week, I don't feel much like doing a play-by-play how-to on this one...I hope you don't mind!  If you are stumped by anything, leave a comment and I'll try to help you out.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my Friday evening...I hope you do too!