Thursday 1 August 2013

"The Sea" - OCC's "Words" Challenge for August

Hello, dear readers, crafting friends and followers! 
I welcome you back to

"Words!"

Two days ago I already invited you over to TIOT's "Collage with a twist"-challenge and today this is also the second invitation to a challenge, as I have posted about SanDee&amelie's Steampunk August-challenge earlier in the morning. So there should be plenty of inspiration for you to choose from ;)

But back to OurCreativeCorner and "Words!":

We would love to see projects with words at the heart of them - whether that means they include a quote, a sentiment, a song lyric or some words from inside your own heart and mind; or perhaps the project includes text of some kind, typed or script, handwritten or printed, as a major element; or maybe you can find some other way to have words at the centre of your creation.

My teamies have of course again prepared a lot of beautiful inspirational pieces for you and this was the perfect occasion for me to create a board that is meant as both - a memory keeper of a wonderful holiday on Paradise Island in the Caribbean AND a tribute to one of my favourite summer holiday songs - "The Sea" from Morcheeba.



 I had these lovely small shells and corals I had collected on my long early morning walks on the long (and still empty) beach, which I have been wanting to display for quite some time now - and this was the perfect occasion.

I created a background from corrugated card, which I coloured with Distress stains "tumbled glass" and "salty ocean" together with Dylusions ink spray "White Linen". I tore off some of the outer layers of the card, which left some "holes" and I also cut the piece to size while the colours were still wet - so this rather tore the edges than cutting it (I LOVE that effect ;).

After I had dried it, I heat embossed some of the edges and raised areas with white embossing powder.


I also added some Distress stain "brushed corduroy" using a brush to add more contrast and depth.




The shells were stamped onto white card and covered with DecoArt gloss "Decou-page" to build a resist, as I coloured the white card afterwards using the wrinkle-free distress technique and a lot of Distress stains. I also distressed the edges, blended in some DI "broken china" and flicked some drops of water onto the cut to size pieces of the stamped on card.

The refrain of the song was stamped onto beige card using HeroArts letter stamps and archival ink "Royal blue".

The corals and shells were fixed to the board using thin silver wire.

The most fun was making the two focal words - "sea" and "free".

I die cut them from light blue card using a Tim Holtz Alterations Alphabet die and gave them three layers of UTEE afterwards.

I paid attention that the last layer wasn't totally melted down - so some of the crystals are still visilbe and give it a sandy, sparkly touch - like beach sand when it gets wet.




The four plates with the stamped on shells were mounted to the board alongside some rough white ribbon for more texture.


I fixed some white rough burlap to the top and the bottom of my board for a finish. Done!




I hope the feeling of a beach holiday becomes somehow visible for you too ;)
Thank you for stopping by my blog and having a look around! I would love to see your entries with our "Words" challenge soon!





With this project I join the challenges over at Inkspirational - "Anything Goes"Pollycraft Challenges - "Fun in the Sun", City Crafter Challenges - "Summer Time" , The Artistic Stamper - "Postcard, Travel and Holidays" , SimonSaysStamp - "Ode to Sunshine" (as it is the sun that bleaches the shells, driftwood and corals and I always feel the warmth of the Caribbean sun when looking at that board), Order of the Opus Gluei - "Don't be such a Beach"The Squirrel and the Fox - "Nautical/Sea Life" and Creative Craft Challenges colour challenge "Blue and Brown".
Hugs,

die amelie - Claudia xx

28 comments:

  1. Wonderful creative piece Claudia and I love the blue green colours and all the sea side elements! Fantastic make!

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  2. Again a great combination Claudia...you're a real artist!!!

    kind regards, Alie :-)

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  3. This is really terrific! I love the colours ... Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!

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  4. Outstanding piece of work, thank you so much for playing along with us at Creative Craft Challenges2, this fortnight, good luck xxx

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  5. I love all the textures and the brilliant use of crevices in this piece. Blessings!

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  6. Stunning project! So happy you played along with our Nautical challenge at The Squirrel and The Fox. :)

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  7. Ganz, ganz toll!!!! Das sieht echt klasse aus!!!!

    LG!

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  8. einfach meisterlich! ganz großes Kino!

    lg Susi

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  9. I just love seaside themes and this is wonderful Claudia! I love the blues, the shells, the burlap - everything - you certainly transported me to the seaside (in my mind.....sigh). Love this! Hugs, Anne x

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  10. This is simply stunning! I love all the details and especially your treatment of the word "Sea". Gorgeous! Thanks for playing along with us at Opus Gluei, hope to see you again!

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  11. Wow! There are so many elements and techniques in play here. Everything came together beautifully! Thanks for entering at Inkspirational!
    - Shauna

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  12. Amazing work as always Claudia. I love how rustic this is, the colours are gorgeous and those focal words are brilliantly done! Lots of love from Laura xxxxxxxx

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  13. Wellpappe hat etwas magisches. Einen besseren Hintergrund hättest du für dein Werk nicht aussuchen können. Ich schaue schon bestimmt an die 10 Minuten auf dein Werk und versuche die richtigen Worte zu finden, was mir so toll gefällt. Kann man eine magische Optik erklären? Richtig klasse!!(:o)

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  14. I so love all the textures, and embossing and different materials - this is absolutely glorious, Claudia! And the song lyric you've used is wonderful. Brilliant work.
    Alison x

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  15. Totally adore your layering of different textures and elements and that blue of the Carribean Sea is perfect. Love it. Hugs, Jenny x

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  16. Hi Claudia, here I am with my big eyes and open mouth admiring your beautiful work from past month...every single piece is unique and likable!! ...and this board is not exception, I absolutely love it...fantastic colours and shells...keep inspiring us!
    Have a nice weekend!

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  17. What a gorgeous piece, I love the corrugated card and the visible holes and wonderful texture . You were obviously inspired by your beach holiday and it shows in your wonderful creative piece. The added text/font is a lovely touch especially with the added UTEE. Fabulous design and lovely way to use your shells. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challemge. Tracy x

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  18. Hi Claudia, this is AMAZING! I am always blown away by your creativity and ability to add so much texture and dimension. I love it!!! Thanks for joining us at Inkspirational!

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  19. Great weathered look and gorgeous colours. I love the verse too.
    Thank you for joining us at Inkspirational Challenges. Come back next week! Marina

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  20. Was für ein tolles Werk, die Farben, die verschiedenen Materialien und überhaupt. Ich bin begeistert.

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  21. Such a gorgeous project! Love that you used real beach finds. Thank you for joining us at CCCB :) Hugs, Wendy

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  22. Stunning piece. I love all the texture. These colors are so soothing. You have captured such a relaxing, freeing attitude. I LOVE it. Thanks so much for playing along with us at OPUS GLUEI.

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  23. Das gefällt mir auch super, sehr schön geworden:)

    Liebe Grüße an dich!

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  24. This is beautiful. Thanks for playing at Pollycraft :)

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  25. What a wonderful Words piece, Claudia! Beautiful colors and textures - I always love the inclusion of any type of fibers. The lettering is fab too with the texture created by the melted and unmelted EP. Another wonderful work of art!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  26. This is gorgeous and thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper Challenge :)

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  27. Beautiful Project! Love the colours!

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