CC&S #156: Wildfowl and Wetlands

This week I have taken a few more liberties than I normally would with our sketch at CAS Colours and Sketches. I usually like to stick very close to it otherwise, personally, I don't see the point of having it. Sure it provides a starting point but if you're going to stray too far away from it I'm not sure how your design can still be an interpretation of the sketch. Anyway, as I said, a personal view!

Apart from the sketch I started with the fact that our eldest daughter Laura has just got a brilliant new job at Slimbridge, the HQ of The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK. I bought this stamp set from Stampin Up (the first product I have ever bought from them!) as I had seen some beautiful cards made with it and thought I may be able to make some for Laura and I to sell to support the work of the charity.

Secondly, I noted that Happy Little Stampers have a CAS challenge using the technique of 'Smooshing' this month and I just love getting messy with all different kinds of inky products.

Last, but definitely not least, I used the blue/green/silver combo from this week's challenge #324 at ColourQ. I can't resist blues and greens, they are just my favourite colours.

I played around with the inky products below till I was happy with my smooshed piece of card. While it was drying I cut an oval aperture from a piece of white cardstock. I didn't want to add a stripe of anything to the top and bottom of the design so thought that by raising the middle I was still being true to Patricia's sketch. I added the reed stamp off the edge of this piece and because the silver doesn't show up that well as a separate colour in the smooshing or as the gorgeous sheen that it is in the photo, I stamped and embossed the greeting in silver EP and die-cut a matching oval to replace the circle in the sketch.

Supplies Used:
Inkpads: Mowed Lawn DI (Tim Holtz), Sage (VersaColor), Green Green (Whisper), Smokey Gray (VersaFine)
Wax Paste: Turquoise (Inka Gold)
Spray Mist: Silver (Cosmic Shimmer)
Stamp Set: Wetlands (Stampin' Up)
Dies: Classic Ovals Large (Spellbinders)
Snippets: White textured card scrap, Silver EP

It's Martin's brother's birthday this week so I think I'll send this card to him, especially as he doesn't live far from Laura and no doubt visits WWT at Slimbridge with his family.

Thanks for visiting my blog today. Our new DT members designed some great inspirational cards last week so do drop by and see what they've made this week - I know some of them were very nervous at being on the other side of the table but they needn't have been, they were amazing!

Stef x