Saturday, July 9, 2016

Ultramarine Seahorse Birthday Card

Hello friends and visitors! I had so much fun making my shades of red seahorse card, I decided to make one for my son's birthday in some of his favorite shades.



The background was made by applying thick gesso  to a card and then dragging a texture tool through it. I used various shades of Distress paint in blues, followed by some splatters of  watered down white acrylic paint, ultramarine and lake blue guache. I seriously love working with this medium. The bubbles are Distress Picket Fence using different sized straws for my "stamp".


I used the Mixed Media #2 Thinlit die for the green "seaweed" and applied Distress Crazing Medium to it for the tiniest cracks. I used a variety of sprays, inks, and paints to color it. I stamped the seahorse with a My Sentiments Exactly stamp in Archival, Jet Black, fussy cut, and applied a coat of DecoArt Crackle Glaze. When dry I colored it and highlighted the cracks with Distress and Decoart paints and Antiquing Creams. I say creams, because this was an entirely different color before! Did you know seahorses can change color in real life? Mine started out red (leftover from my previous project), but it changed color to blend in with his surroundings, just like they do in nature. You can see just a hint of the reds showing through. Oh, and ignore that little thread; I was trying out some cheesecloth, but didn't like the look.  I guess a thread got stuck.


This seahorse was also stamped with same image and fussy cut.  I gave him some texture using DecoArt Sand Texture paste, Golden glass bead gel and Wendy Vecchi Crackle paste. I colored him with Distress Twisted Citron spray stain and  Distress paints, Cracked Pistachio and Evergreen Bough. I also splashed on some watered down guache in blues. The little guy is an All Night Media stamp, fussy cut, coated with the same mediums for texture. He is colored with Cracked Pistachio and splattered with Twisted Citron.


The white "seaweed" is Memory Box Cloe Stem and Tim Holtz Festive Greenery die cuts. I added a Chit Chat sentiment to finish it off. The card was adhered to a background stamped with a Prima rope image. Here's one more look at my completed card.



I made this card especially for my son--we'll be celebrating 18 years this coming week! and for the following challenges:
Scrapy Land Challenge #45 Anything Goes I used two Sizzix dies and a Memory Box die.
Frilly and Funkie All in the Family This card was made to celebrate a family member's birthday.
The Artistic Stamper July's Creative Challenge-All Things Bright and Beautiful It's not obvious, but I used 2 seahorse stamps and I stamped with straws (circles).
Happy Little Stampers HLS July Challenge-Recycle I recycled my stamped and crackled seahorse. He was red and I was able to change him to the color seen above. (Not sure if that counts-feel free to remove if this doesn't qualify.)

Thank you for dropping in today and for leaving your lovely comments! I read and appreciate them all!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily

UPDATE: So honored!


39 comments:

  1. Hi, Sara! Fabulous crackle effect in your seahorses! Sure looks different from the pretty red creation! Wonderful sentiment, and another beautiful design! Hugs, de

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  2. Stunning with the crackle effect. Love the sea horses and beautiful colors. Thank your for sharing your beautiful card with us at Scrapy Land and can't wait to see your next beautiful card or project with us soon. Nancy Hill, Design Team for Scrapy Land

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  3. I so love all of the beautiful colors and texture you've created on this seascape! So pretty! You are doing wonders with dies these days, my friend.

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  4. These are so awesome-- so much texture! Ummm, you have the patience of a saint to fussy-cut the baby!!! Now, after seeing the little guy, it's neat to think of the sentiment as if he's a young seahorse, rather than a far seahorse (size versus perspective). Great card!

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  5. I love the color palette on this one, Sara Emily!! Your sea horse families make the sweetest cards ever. Your son will love it!!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  6. Oh my, Sara, another stunning design from you! What a genius way to use that Mixed Media Thinlits die and I simply adore your super cool seahorses!
    Your crackles are awesome, as always and the colors are yummy! Your son is going to treasure this absolutely beautiful seascape card! What a feast for the eyes, my freind! Bravo! Lots of love to you! Branka xx

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  7. I loved your red seahorses card and I adore the sea greens too. The little family of seahorses are just delightful and look perfect in your seaweed background and the straw stamped bubbles are very realistic xxx

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  8. You really have my heart all aflutter with these gorgeous seahorse creations Sara, I love the cool colours this time and contrast with the white seaweed elements. Very clever use of the straws for the bubbles too! Hugs, Anne xx

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  9. Fabulous card, Sara! I even like this one more than the red one. Such a creative use of the dies!
    Thank you for joining us at Country View Challenges!
    xx Evelyn

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  10. I bet your son loved this card ! Sara I mean whats not to love??? Gorgeous colour tones, wonderful crackle and such creative use of all those die cuts to create a fabulous underwater scene.
    Have a lovely weekend
    hugs x

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  11. Oh my, Sara Emily, this is stunning!! I can't decide which colors I like better but it may be this one with the green and blue!! The crackle is amazing!! I love the texture!! The white "seaweed" is a fabulous touch!! This is just spectacular my friend!! It's an underwater masterpiece!! Your son will love it!! Happy birthday to him, too!! Thank you so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  12. FABULOUS under the sea creation! Love all the texture and creativity in this piece. Thanks so much for playing in our ‘OUTDOOR FUN’ challenge at Dies R Us! Please come back again soon!

    Darlene (DRU Blog Leader)
    DIES R US CHALLENGE BLOG
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit.

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  13. Sea Horses are in style all year long but here in Fernandina Beach, Florida they are especially loved! (so are shark's teeth!)
    Love your son's birthday card!!
    Sandy xx

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  14. NO!! I did not know that Sea Horses could change colors??

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  15. Oh the crackle and the beautiful colors on your seahorses! Fabulous design and card for your son! Thanks for joining us again at the Frilly and Funkie challenge "All in the Family".

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  16. Ahhh, seahorses!!! My fave... I love them and I love this, gorgeous background and the underwater world you created for them!! xx

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  17. this is soooo beautiful Sara - I love it to pieces! Brilliant! Hugs rachel x

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  18. Awesome card! Happy Birthday to your son.

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  19. Stunning card! I absolutely love all the layers and textures on this gorgeous card! The sea horses are awesome and I love the background!

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  20. This color palette is divine! I love all the sweet details and crackle effects and the clever way you created seaweed. Just gorgeous, Sara Emily! xo

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  21. Wow, I am so in love with this one Sara!! Your seahorses are incredible! I love how each is different, in size, colour, design and texture, the eye just floats from one to the other! The layering is just wonderful, your background is amazing, and I am loving your work with the negative die cuts!! I suddenly want to go swimming!! lol. sending hugs my friend! :)

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    1. I forgot to say Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'All in the Family' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  22. Wow! Love all the textures and colors, really nice!

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  23. Sara, my dear friend, I am so happy to be here for a visit. What a stunning creation for your sun! He is going to treasure this always. Happy Birthday to him! You design scenes so flawlessly.. this is such a majestic piece. The seahorses defy description.. I am in love with the colors and crackling. The layers of nature beneath are incredible and your sentiment choice is perfection. Thank you for the inspiration, my sweet friend. :o)

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  24. The crackle works so sweetly on the sea horses and thebackground is stunning. This is so lovely. Thank you for taking time to share your creation with us in the #238-# 239 Word Art Wednesday Challenge.
    Blessings, Carole

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  25. What a brilliant card! Love the seahorses and all that fabulous texture and colour. Thanks so much for playing along at Creative With Stamps, Jo x

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  26. wooooww I love the Crack on your card
    so stunning color texture and element
    wow this is a stunning creation for our challenge at CWS Splatter theme
    many thanks for joining with us dear Sara...
    hugs
    Monika

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    1. For chance to win the Prize please put our Badge on your Blog sweety
      I believe many DT ladies will vote your stunning card
      many thanks
      Monika

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    2. Thank you for the heads up, Monika! I've added the badge!

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  27. Another fabulous card Sara, love the background and the seahorse redux! Deb xo

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  28. This is just gorgeous!!! Love it!
    Thank you for joining us at Creative With Stamps!
    Lilian
    The Leaf Studio

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  29. Love your seahorses, Sara Emily! What a clever idea you had to make bubbles! All of the crackling looks amazing - one of my favorite textures! I thought your use of the mixed media thinlit die for seaweed was also very creative. Awesome card and I bet your son loved it!

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  30. Wow this is fabulous Sara, so many beautiful textures and colours. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Country View Crafts. Sue xx

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  31. Lovely sea theme very Bright and beautiful! Thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper Creative Challenge

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  32. beautiful project, love the blues and the seahorses
    thanks so much for joining the mixed media challenge at Happy
    Little Stampers
    Barb Housner (DT)

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  33. This is super awesome..love love love it..Thank you so much for joining us at Happy Little Stampers anything with dies Challenge..

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  34. I love all the colors and shades and textures and detail in this wonderful card! Thanks for linking up and playing along with us at Happy Little Stampers July Mixed Media Challenge! ~ Stephanie L, GD.

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  35. Fabulous Sea Horse Card! I love all of the texture you've added using different products! Thanks for playing along on the Southern Ridge Trading Company Blog!
    -Katelyn DT member at Southern Ridge

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  36. I love your underwater scene .... fab colours and lots of lovely texture. Thank you for playing along with the Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media challenge xx

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