Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Open Sea Retirement - Unscripted Sketches #159

I love doing the challenges with Unscripted Sketches, especially when there is an additional Piggyback challenge to the sketch. The additional challenge this week is to add ink, which could be a stamped image, distressing, or anything creative.
Here is my card.  I decided to make it a retirement card because a lot of us feel like sailing off into the sunset when our full time jobs are finally behind us.  Wouldn't it be lovely just to sail the open seas without a care in the world?


I added ink in several ways.  First of all the background which was created by dropping reinkers onto wet watercolor paper and letting the colors run.  Before the ink dried I added a bit of coarse sea salt creating the design in the background that almost looks like fireworks going off.
The second way was stamping the image using Black Stazon ink and embossing with clear embossing powder.  The focal image was then distressed by inking the edges with Early Espresso ink.  Actually all the edges of the various card elements were distressed with Early Espresso ink.


 Here is a close up of the focal image showing the reinker created background.

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Reinkers (Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Pacific Point), Black Stazon, Early Espresso
Papers: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Retired SU designer paper, Watercolor paper
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Hodgepodge hardware (vanilla), 1" circle punch, Word Window Punch, Oval Punch, 1/8" Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

Now here is the sketch:

14 comments:

SmilynStef said...

How perfect is that sea salt background for a sailboat sailing on the salty seas ... so very glad you joined us at Unscripted Sketches.

ArtisticInkspirations said...

Very nicely done Maria.. I love the salt technique.!! Love the colors you used. Almost looks like "bombs bursting in air".. would make a good 4th of July card for us here.. :)

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful retirement card Maria ! Perfect ! Love the background, very effective using the re-inkers, I will give it a try ! Enjoy this beautiful day ! Shirleyx

Jonia said...

That is a definite WOW Maria!

Alicia said...

Stunning technique and so well done! I am so drawn to the colors around the ship, love it. Thanks for joining us at Unscripted Sketches this week! :)

Laura said...

I love it!!!I will be trying this technique, it is gorgeous..
thanks for joining us at Unscripted Sketches..

Michele Cunningham said...

your card is FAB. Great job with the sketch and a awesome job with the salt technique. So glad you shared with us at Unscripted sketches.

dstandard said...

This is gorgeous - love your coloring! Thanks for playing at Unscripted Sketches!

Geri said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! Not only do I absolutely love your card, but I also learned a new technique! I also love all the inked edges. You really did a 'swell' job (pun was totally intended!) with the sketch this week at Unscripted Sketches :)

Sandi said...

This is a really beautiful card Maria!! I haven't seen this technique used in quite a while, and your use and pick of colors is awesome with this stamp. Great job!!

Tracey Holdyk said...

Sailing off into the sunset, now that would be nice. Great card and I just love the affect on your background. Thanks for joining us at Unscripted Sketches.

scrapbaby! said...

Such technique! The seasalt really makes the ink look like fireworks! The colors you selected are one of my favorite color combinations. Thank you for joining us at Unscripted Sketches. Come back and visit again soon! :)

StephG said...

I love the background...gorgeous card!
Thanks for playing at Unscripted Sketches!

CherylAnn Robinson said...

Maria, you rocked the sketch. I am such a background junkie and you did an awesome job. Thanks for playing at Unscripted Sketches.