I didn’t get to stay home all day yesterday as planned, but it ended up being a good thing.  I got to hang out with Mike, which is always nice.  One of our errands took us by our office and we noticed that my dad was there, so I got to stop in and get a hug!  It was so nice to see him.   Plus my dear boys pitched in and did the housework I was going to do – without being asked.  And I got to stamp.  So it was a pretty fulfilling day.

One of the techniques we’ll be doing this week is “stenciled clouds.”  I wanted to practice a little before I finalized the technique card, and my first attempt looked pretty good.  So I added a little more card stock, popped up the ship and turned my sample into a card.

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Stamp sets: The Open Sea, Faith in Nature; Ink:  Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi classic; Early Espresso, Island Indigo stampin’ write markers; Paper:  Early Espresso, Whisper White, Island Indigo, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party card stock; Other:  Scallop circle punches (large & small), scallop oval punch, modern label punch, stampin’ dimensionals, Early Espresso/White baker’s twine, vintage trinkets, sponge, scallop edge punch

After I stamped the ship on the water, I stamped it again on a Whisper White scrap, then cut it out and layered it over the original.  I used an old empressor stylus (retired) to puff out the sails a little.

I always know if I show Mike a card with a lot of blue, or a beach or ocean theme, he’ll like it.  He also likes “clean and simple” cards.  So this one got a “that’s really pretty” from him.  When I get a, “that’s interesting,” or “hmmmm,” or “it’s not one of my favorites,” I take it back down to the stamp room and work on it a little more.  I know, though, if I need positive affirmation, all I have to do is add water or a boat.

That’s it for now.  My next idea is Victorian pennants.  We’ll see how that goes….  Thanks for stopping in!