UPDATED! MY GIVEAWAY WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED - SUZIE P! Hi everyone! Today, I am so excited to be part of the Picket Fence Studios First Anniversary Celebration! Woohooo! They have a month of celebrations, giveaways, and discounts lined up, and I am so honored to be one of the guests during this celebration. Today is my day to post a project, and do a giveaway! More information about a discount code and prize at the end of my post. I fell in love with Picket Fence Studios right from the beginning. The designs are fresh and unique and funny! All the things we want in new stamps, right? Over the past year I've gotten to know the owners and I even met up with them at the local Scrap Expo recently. They are the best. Good people, working really hard to make some magic happen. I'm very happy to support their business! (they are the company that makes the Life Changing Blender Brushes too!) If you've never checked out their company before, now is a good time! Let's get to it! I tried out a new technique that I'm anxious to share with you!
My finished card is a white A2 card base. I layered one small layer of white, and then boom! BLUE!
This card was made using the gorgeous Vitamin Sea stamp set and matching dies. I'm pretty sure this is the first stamp set I bought from Picket Fence. It's charming and beautiful.... I did lots and lots of distress ink blending on the top layer and then added white ink using a stencil to look like rays coming through the water... (I've seen this technique on Instagram by some of my favorite crafters and have been wanting to try it!)
That sweet smiling whale was colored using Copic Markers and then die cut using the matching die. I splattered some white paint on him too. The sentiment was heat embossed in white embossing powder onto a black banner die. After I blended the background (I'll talk more about that in a minute), I stamped the fish, the starfish and the bubbles using black and navy inks. This gives a bit more depth and shadow over that blue.
The whale and the word banner are attached to the card with foam tape. I added clear droplets as my finishing accent.
Okay! Here's that blue background! You should have seen my hands when I was finished! LOL. I looked like a smurf! I had fuuuuuun making it though! I used both the Tim Holtz Ink Blending Tools and the gorgeous Life Changing Blender Brushes to get this ocean effect. I started with the lightest color in sort of a circular shape, and then blended darker colors out from that circle. I kept blending and blending until I got the right effect.
I used the Picket Fence Studios Sunbeam stencil and white ink, with a small dauber, to create rays shining down into the water. To do this, make sure that your underlying (Blue) layer is totally dry first! Then just dab the white ink onto the stencil. Keep adding ink until you get the look you want! Easy! But so cool!!
I splattered white ink onto the blue panel once all the other inks were dry. Here's a close up of the fish, starfish and bubbles stamped onto the card.
I hope you'll give this underwater technique a try! Thank you so very much for stopping by today! Big thank you to Picket Fence Studios for inviting me to share in their celebration this month. Please head over and check out their website! Read the Discount and Prize information below! YAY! Happy 1st Anniversary to Picket Fence Studios!
DISCOUNT CODE!
To celebrate Picket Fence Studio’s One Year Anniversary, Nicole and Matt have GENEROUSLY provided a 20% off code for my blog readers! Simply use code PFS20 at checkout at the PFS store to take 20% off of your entire purchase from 5/9/19-5/12/19.
GIVEAWAY!
WOW! WOW! WOW! Picket Fence has also sponsored a giveaway! One of my lucky blog readers will win a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR shopping spree over at the Picket Fence Studios Store! Yes! $100.00! How amazing! To be entered to win, please leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite new craft technique you've tried recently! I will draw a random winner on Monday May 12th. Please leave your comment before Midnight EST on Sunday May 11th. AMAZING!
SUPPLIES FOR TODAY!
AWESOME card!! You always rock it!
Posted by: Marisela Delgado | 05/13/2019 at 05:33 PM
This is such a stunning card! Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration! I don’t know if it counts for a technique as such, but I am recently enjoying colouring with Copics or my coloured pencils on different coloured cardstock, especially grey and kraft. The results are so cool and different!
Posted by: Mirella Rogan | 05/12/2019 at 01:55 PM
Wow, the light rays in your background really make this card special and I LOVE the whale! I don't have a lot of time to craft lately, with 3 kiddos, but when I do craft I love stamping and embossing.
Posted by: shartl | 05/12/2019 at 01:23 PM
Wow what a beautiful underwater scene-love your deep water. Most recently have been loving using my brushes with stencils and doing layers to make flowers with lots of layers!
Posted by: Laurie Brown | 05/12/2019 at 12:59 PM
Love that adorable whale, and the name of the stamp set has me smiling too. My favorite craft technique is always ink blending, but I also love the smoosh technique for an easy background
Posted by: karenladd | 05/12/2019 at 12:23 PM
I haven't tried any new techniques but I am going to try this one. Thanks for sharing and I adore your card and this stamp set.
Posted by: andrea murdock | 05/12/2019 at 09:36 AM
What a fabulous card!! Love that whale! thank you for sharing!!
Posted by: lee | 05/12/2019 at 06:57 AM
This is a fabulous ocean card! I have been coveting those brushes! Can’t wait to get them!! I have been doing some crafting with the bleaching technique. Love the look.
Posted by: Connie G | 05/11/2019 at 06:50 PM
Gorgeous card! Beautiful underwater scene. My new technique is creating interactive cards. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Posted by: Dhivya | 05/11/2019 at 09:36 AM
Fantastic card. I love how you created the rays from above. I am still learning how to blend the oxides nicely. I think I need to get those brushes.
Posted by: Wendy Lambert | 05/11/2019 at 07:14 AM
Beautiful card! Amazing depth and blending - wow! I recently purchased some of the Life Changing Blending brushes and have been having fun playing with blending.
Posted by: Dana M | 05/11/2019 at 07:05 AM
Love this card and all the details you added! Recently I have been embossing large backgrounds on watercolor paper and messily coloring in with my zig markers. Spritz liberally with water and watch the magic happen. A very fun technique and it never looks the same twice!
Posted by: Denise Mlady | 05/11/2019 at 06:50 AM
I recently tried the life changing brushes and love them! :)
Posted by: Kelsey Thomas | 05/10/2019 at 08:07 PM
Beautiful card! The ink blending is awesome. I haven't been creative lately as I have a badly frozen shoulder & physiotherapy takes up all my free time. The first technique I would love to try once I'm better is painting with oxide inks.
Posted by: Leanne S | 05/10/2019 at 07:57 PM
This is just a stunner! I can only imagine how blue your fingers were! I love the addition of the stenciling, it's just the right touch! My favorite current technique is probably just a lot of the alcohol inking stuff that is going on. It's so pretty!
Posted by: Miriam Prantner | 05/10/2019 at 06:20 PM
I really love this underwater card. I have been working with all the Tim Holtz oxidize pads and stencis. Thanks for all your great blogs.
Posted by: Cathy Moller | 05/10/2019 at 04:59 PM
I love, love, love your underwater sea background! What a fun card! My new favorite technique is making interactive magic picture cards. They are so fun to make. My next technique is trying a hand at the swinging cards from MFT. I love reading your blog and seeing pictures
of Mr. Lucky.
Posted by: Suzie Padrick | 05/10/2019 at 04:40 PM
stunning card - love how you made the rays. Have been experimenting with alcohol inks - very additive !!
Posted by: Dee Earnshaw | 05/10/2019 at 03:00 PM
Love the way the sun shines through
the water. the whale is smiling
because it can feel the warmth.
The background is fantastic.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted by: Mary Holshouser | 05/10/2019 at 02:37 PM
Beautiful card Wanda! I love the sunray effect! I’ve made a few cards lately using the mounted in-laid die cut method which I really love the end effect! Thanks so much for sharing :-)
Posted by: Bev Karolak | 05/10/2019 at 02:24 PM
I love Picket Fence stamps. I especially love the girls with the cameras. So great for any kind of card.
Posted by: Kathleen Dippner | 05/10/2019 at 01:43 PM
Hi Wanda,
Love your card and thank you for sharing your technique!🙏🏻 I fel in love with Picket Fence right away too... their coffee stamps truly speak to me.😉 Probably not new to a lot of people, but I’ve been experimenting with no-line coloring. Definitely taking me out my comfort zone, but that’s good, right?🤷♀️
Happy 1st Anniversary to PFS!🥳
Posted by: Starqueen | 05/10/2019 at 12:33 PM
A very beautiful card with lots of blues and a great technique using the Sunbeam stencil. I have been using alcohol inks to create cool backgrounds and it's so fun to see how they come out.
Posted by: Vicki Kroll | 05/10/2019 at 10:57 AM
This is one whale of a card! Love that beautiful blue blended so smooth. Those rays make him very happy. Happy Anniversary PF... you have come a long way in your first year! I am currently trying a floral stamped and white embossed on colored card, then using colored pencils to add dimension. Birthday wishes for my big sister. Thanks for sharing this beauty Wanda and for a chance at an amazing prize...have an awesome weekend.
Posted by: Anne Sturgeon | 05/10/2019 at 10:37 AM
Ocean themes are some of my faves and yours is a true beauty.Thanks for sharing your process. I'm a relatively new card maker and I tried ink blending for the first time a few weeks ago, it was so much fun. Thank you for this fab inspiration.
Posted by: Andre M. | 05/10/2019 at 10:13 AM
I love your card! Especially the rays of light. Just beautiful! Lately, I have been making backgrounds with my alcohol inks. So fun!
Posted by: Cheryl Robertson | 05/10/2019 at 10:03 AM
Beautiful card, love
all the inking! I have
tried using my Distressed
Oxide inks to create a
background. Still working
on it.
Carla from Utah
Posted by: Carla Hundley | 05/10/2019 at 09:53 AM
What a great card! I think using the white to make the sun rays may be my new favorite technique, it looks fantastic! Otherwise, I have really been enjoying playing with my watercolor markers lately, they are so easy to use and I've been getting some great results!
Posted by: Jo Malicoat | 05/10/2019 at 09:50 AM
Love your beautiful card! I've been doing a lot of distress oxide ink blending lately using those wonderful blending brushes Picket Fence sells.
Posted by: Cynthia Cole | 05/10/2019 at 09:28 AM
Beautiful card... the ink blending is just gorgeous! Ink blending is one of my favorite techniques and now that I have a set of the Picket Fence Life Changing brushes I'm looking forward to doing more.
Posted by: Rosemary D | 05/10/2019 at 09:20 AM
Amazing card! LOVE how you did the sun rays going into the ocean to spotlight the whale! Creative!
Posted by: Christine Kiehl | 05/10/2019 at 09:18 AM
Gorgeous background! I am loving those life changing brushes! <3
Posted by: SHARI CZERWINSKI | 05/10/2019 at 08:31 AM
Recently I’ve been playing with the alcohol inks to make card fronts. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but it’s a fun process.
Posted by: Sue Baker | 05/10/2019 at 08:23 AM
Love the vibrant color on your gorgeous card! I recently made a shadow box card which was a new technique for me. Thank you for sharing the amazing idea and the chance to win!
Posted by: Kailash | 05/10/2019 at 08:08 AM
Lovely scene! Your card is amazing.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Martha H. | 05/10/2019 at 08:07 AM
Making scenes is my newest trick. I just made a scene with swans in a pond.
Posted by: Brian Poteraj | 05/10/2019 at 07:56 AM
I have just started to use mousse on my stencils. I like the depth. I got 6 colors so it is fun.
Posted by: Sharon Gullikson | 05/10/2019 at 07:54 AM
Truly awesome card, Wanda! Love the gorgeous blue & the stenciled rays ate perfect! What a great card! Just got my blending brushes & can't wait to try them out!
Posted by: Patt H. | 05/10/2019 at 07:47 AM
Gorgeous! Love the background! Emboss resist is something I have been doing alot lately. I will be trying the stencils soon!
Posted by: stampinggrandma | 05/10/2019 at 07:41 AM
WOW! I love how you used the stencil to make the rays come through the water! Thanks for the inspiration. :D
Posted by: janet sisk | 05/10/2019 at 07:07 AM
Really cute card. I like how you did the white rays shining into the water.
Posted by: Brenda Abbott | 05/10/2019 at 07:00 AM
Wow. Gorgeous blue background Wanda. You should have taken a picture of your smurf hands to show us! My newest technique to try is foiling on cards. I am not great at it but I am loving it. Thank you for your wonderful posts. I enjoy every single one!
Posted by: Danielle Dietz | 05/10/2019 at 06:48 AM
This is a stunning card! And my favorite new technique is using white ink with a stencil for that bokeh effect, but yours looks way better!
Posted by: Laura | 05/10/2019 at 06:35 AM
Wow, this is spectacular, Wanda. I love the sun rays coming in and the gorgeous colors you used on the whale. So pretty!
I haven't tried anything new lately, but I did just purchase a set of Color Burst to try them out. Just too busy with this huge, awesome hop! haha
Posted by: Becca Yahrling | 05/10/2019 at 06:28 AM
This is amazing! Thank you for teaching me a technique new to me. My new technique is attempting to color with copics.
Posted by: isabel z | 05/10/2019 at 05:51 AM
This card with it's underwater background is amazing. I've got to give it a try. Thank you so much for sharing your process. The technique I've been working on lately is the loose watercoloring, spritzing water onto inked stamps before stamping. And blending, always blending, lol.
Posted by: Lorraine Buttner | 05/10/2019 at 05:48 AM
Wanda! The colors are amazing! To me this is such a unique card! Your talent is endless!
Posted by: Julie L | 05/10/2019 at 05:36 AM
This is a delightful glimpse of what's under the sea for this non-swimmer, Wanda! Gorgeous blending [yes, still hoping for those brushes - fingers crossed, and toes]
I've recently had a go with Oxides on photo paper - amazing what happens to those inks!
=]
Posted by: Michele | 05/10/2019 at 05:29 AM
Hello, ma'am! I love this card! Thanks for sharing the white-on-top idea. I recently tried creating a floating window on a card and really loved the result. I appreciate the opportunity to win such a great prize, with which I will buy all of the goodies you used to make this fabulous project ;-)
Posted by: Kristi H. | 05/10/2019 at 05:13 AM
Beautiful card - your background is the next technique I am trying!!! Most recently I have been playing with alcohol inks and lift. Thanks for a chance to win this generous prize - love their stamps - Vitamin Sea was already on my wishlist!!!
Posted by: Lisa Norstrom | 05/10/2019 at 04:54 AM