A Magical Birthday Card

Hello there! I am so excited to be back with my second Guest Designer spot for May at Time Out Challenges. TO #264 challenges you to be Magical. So, I chose a Mermaid. In European folklore, mermaids were natural beings like fairies, and had magical powers. They loved music and often sang. Here is my card, made for a friend's grandchild.

I told a friend that I was making a mermaid card and offered to give it to her for one of her granddaughters. The day after I gave it to her she brought over a half dozen of these cookies she made to send with the card. Can you believe how she matched the mermaid tail in colors like the card?!! They were delicious too, especially with the almond flavoring...my favorite! We have traded crafts before and I was amazed at the detail and iridescence that she added to the cookies!

Here's the best part of the challenge: The winner of Time Out's Challenge #264 will win a $25 store credit to their generous Sponsor: Picket Fence Studios!! So think magical and play along with us!

Products I used:

Honey Bee Stamps: Swimming By stamp set

My Favorite Things: Scalloped Rectangle die

Avery Elle: Scalloped Rectangle die

Sugar Pea Designs: Stitched Rectangle die

Flora and Fauna: Shell stamps

Spellbinders:  Whale in a Bottle die set (coral and sea grass dies)

Buttons Galore: Sequin mix

Distress Inks

Handmade waves stencil

Copic Markers

Altenew: Artist Markers

Wink of Stella pen

Acetate

First, I die cut the white scalloped frame 8 times...yes 8, so that I didn't have to use sticky foam tape to make my shaker. I adhered them all together, with a piece of acetate between the last two frames on top.

Next, I cut a piece of thin cardboard by hand on two edges, making wavy shaped edges. I used it as a stencil (like you would for clouds) on a piece of aqua cardstock. 

I stamped and colored my images and fussy cut them. (I stamped, then watercolored the mermaid's tail and top, then fussy cut them and adhered them onto the stamped mermaid.) I added Wink of Stella pen to the scales on the tail and the top for shimmer. I die cut the coral and sea plants from scraps of cardstock.

I assembled everything and tried out the shaker. Last, I stamped my sentiment inside and smeared it...so I cut out the scalloped frame and stamped it again to cover up the boo-boo. (I always mess up a card at THE VERY END!)

Be sure to take time to check out all the inspiration from the Time Out Design team. We will be looking for your magical cards in the gallery! Hope to see you there!

-Carol