By the Sea… The Paper Players Challenge PP98 Submission

Well, this is a first for me!  I am going to submit this card to The Paper Players Challenge #98:  Jaydee’s Summertime Theme Challenge.  I have done lots of challenges on Splitcoaststampers, but I have never played in any of the blog challenges.  I am also using this card for today’s Ways to Use It Challenge on Splitcoaststampers,  WT378 – Return of the Banner.   Wish me luck!

This card was inspired by my Inspirational Quote Challenge # 5:

“for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it’s always ourselves we find in the sea”

~ E.E. Cummings

I grew up in South Florida and spent lots of time at the beach as a child.  When I saw this stamp from the Galerie Vermissage by Inkadinkado, I was immediately drawn to it because it reminded me of those lazy summer days of my youth spent hanging out at the beach.  While my friends tanned, a habit I never really developed, I sat in the cabana or under an umbrella, drinking sun brewed sweet tea and reading anything I could get my hands on.  Those were the days my friend!

I love square cards and make them quite often.  Whenever I go to a craft store, I always check the clearance area for card and envelope packs.  A couple of years ago, I bought 6 packages of 10 count 6 x 6 vellum envelopes for 50 cents each!  I still have some and love to mail cards in them.  My mail lady loves them too!  Anyway, back to the card, which started with a Real Red 5.5 x 5.5 card base.  I stamped my image on Whisper White and colored with Stampin’ Up! markers.  I used Nestabilites circle and scallop circle dies to cut the image and mats in Real Red and Buckaroo Blue.  For the background, I stamped the Canvas background stamp from Stampin’ Up! on Kraft with Creamy Caramel ink.  For the clouds, I punched a Stampin’ Up! Scallop Circle mask and sponged Soft Sky on Whisper White.  I used Stampin’ Up! 1/4 Grosgrain in Real Red at the seam and matted the background in Buckaroo Blue.  The sentiment was computer generated and the banner was cut by hand, using a Stampin’ Up! Square punch for the points.  And there you have it!