Celebrating Summer - a Diorama Card - SUO Challenges #252

When I think about celebrating summer I think about many things.

I think about my garden, with the cacaphony of colour as all the flowers are blooming

I think about the sounds of the birds as they call to each other and tend to their young.  There's a cardinal nest in my lilac tree right above my swing chair.

I think about warm sand and going to the beach and getting my nose sunburned - about children playing in the sand building sand castles.

As impossible as it might seem, all these thoughts were put into one card - a Diorama card.  For the challenge with SUO Challenges summer is celebrated with a different focus.

To celebrate summer, two little girls (Beautiful Moments) are visiting Grandma who happens to live by the beach and has this neat garden.  On this day, gathering pails in hand, they head through the garden gate down to the beach to spend the day building sand castles. Grandma (unseen) is watching) If they get tired they can take turns sitting in this lovely pink (Magenta Madness) beach chair.  Don't you wish you could join them?

The sentiment from "Celebrating Sunflowers" bobs on the ocean reminding us what this day is all about.

Several stamp sets are used to set the stage for this 3 layer Diorama card.  Grace's Garden stamps and die cuts are used to create Grandma's garden, from the front gate to all the colourful flowers to the curious kittens being teased by the local birds, to the blooming vines over head.  The girls pause briefly as they walk through the gate hardly noticing the colourful scene all around them, their eyes focused on the beach ahead.

The ocean setting with the water and beach are created using the High Tide stamp set, with a brayered Balmy Blue sky, Pacific Point ocean and crumb cake beach.  An Adirondack chair, die cut using a Seasonal Layer die, sits among the beach grass on the shore. The shrill call of the Sea birds echo overhead as the girls step onto the warm sand of the beach.  The soft ocean breeze ruffle their hair as they take in the view, looking first at the water, then at the beach looking for a good spot to build their castles.  Finding a spot, they sit down to play.  Grandma is still watching.

This 3 layer Diorama card is 4 1/4 by 5 1/2" and 2 1/4" deep.  It will fold flat for mailing but a special, custom envelope will have to be made.

Layer 3 (back) is Whisper White 4 1/4 by 7 1/2" scored 1" at each end and has the beach scene.

Layer 2 (middle) Whisper White 4 1/4 by 7 1/2" scored 1" at each end. It has an aperture die cut in the middle using a medium stitched Label die. This is the end point of the garden, with flowers on both sides and vines over head.

Layer 1 (front)  Seaside Spray 4 1/4 by 11 1/2"  scored 2 1/4" each end. It also has an aperture die cut with the larger stitched Label die.

This is the beginning of the garden.  A variety of Stampin' Blends are used to colour the flora and fauna as well as the gate. It reminds me of my garden.

To put the card together, fold up the ends of layer 3 and adhere to the outside of the ends of layer 2 which have been folded down.  Adhere layer 1 with the folded ends added to the outside of both of the other layers.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Grace's Garden, High Tide, Beautiful Moments,  Celebrate Sunflowers
Inks:  Black Memento, Watercolor pencils (girls), Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, various Stampin' Blends for the garden flowers,
Papers:  Whisper White, Magenta Madness, Seaside Spray, Garden Green
Accessories:  Garden Gateway dies, Stitched Nesting Label Dies, Seasonal Layers dies, Ornate frame die (sentiment) Blender pen

A garden, birds overhead, warm sand on your feet, the sound of waves, and a soft ocean breeze - what more can you ask for to celebrate summer.