#TGIFC308 — Inspiration Challenge

Happy Friday! Time for a new TGIF Challenge. This week, we have an inspiration challenge based on the photo below. For these types of challenges, you can use take inspiration from anything in the photo, including the images and/or colors. I decided to take inspiration from the watercolor wash background and general layout.

My nephew is having a birthday this month, so I thought I’d try to turn this challenge into a masculine card using the Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set. I grabbed just about every color of blue ink I own and created a nice watercolor wash for the background using my Water Painters and Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper.

Watercoloring looks so great with this stamp set!

Next, I stamped some of the images with Stazon ink and embossed others in gold on watercolor paper. Both methods allowed me to add watercoloring without worrying about blurring the original stamped images. I used the following color combinations: Shells – Night of Navy, Pacific Point and Balmy Blue; Sand Dollars – Sahara Sand, Coastal Cabana, and Balmy Blue; and Starfish – Bermuda Bay and Granny Apple Green.

After the shells dried, I used the Seashells 3D Embossing Folder to add texture to both of them, as well as the seaweed in the background. I love how the dry embossing brings the elements to life.

Since this is a masculine birthday card, I chose a sentiment from the Happy Thoughts stamp set and layered it over some Braided Linen Trim that I had pulled apart. I also added some gold metallic pearls (makes me think of pirate treasure!)

Be sure to click over to the TGIF Challenges Blog and check out all the designers’ projects this week. I’m sure you’ll be inspired. Then, use our challenge photo to inspire your own project and enter using the Linky Tool at the bottom of that post. I can’t wait to see what you create!!!

Have a wonderful and creative day!

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