Hi everyone! It's the last week of July already! WOW! I can't believe it. It's definitely Summer. It was over 100 degrees here this weekend and that always makes it seem more like July. We had a fun and relaxing weekend. We took a mini road trip to the ocean on Friday and I'll share some pictures below from our trip. We are so lucky to be able to drive to so many places in one day. Saves money on hotels and such. We love to escape to the water when it's hot here. We have our routine all set. Chairs, towels, sunscreen, cooler....all piled in the car and ready to go. My husband and I travel so well together. It's a joy to have long conversations in the car and get a change of scenery.
My post today is alllll about sweet summertime. My card is full of ice creams! I colored these images for National Ice Cream Day a week or so ago. Now I've made them into a card using a technique I've been wanting to try for a while - inlaid die cuts. The stamps are from Avery Elle. I didn't do a supply list, since unfortunately the stamps are discontinued now. The set I used is called "The Scoop" if you want to look for it! It's so fun, I was surprised when I couldn't find it to make a list. You could easily make this card with any other ice cream set though. The finished card is A2 sized.
First I stamped four ice cream cones and stamped their little faces on them! Then I die cut them out with the matching dies, and colored them with pastel Copic Marker shades. I added white gel pen highlights too. I love the soft colors!!
The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed with white embossing powder onto black cardstock. I like the contrast of this!! I used some pink and white gingham from my stash to completely cover the front of the card base. I die cut a stitched rectangle from white cardstock for the top layer.
I used washi tape to tape the dies to the stitched rectangle and die cut out four matching shapes to the images I colored. Then I mounted the top layer to the card using foam tape. The final step is putting the colored images into the cut outs! Reminded me of playing the "Operation" game! LOL. Makes a nice look, don't you think??
Here are my Copic Marker Choices!
You are SO SWEET!
For our mini road trip on Friday we drove down Highway One through Half Moon Bay to Capitola, Moss Landing and Santa Cruz! It was a glorious day, perfect cool weather and a nice mix of fog and sun. Had the sun roof open on the car and the tunes blasting! NOTHING makes me happier than being by the ocean. I'm attaching some of my favorite photos from the day....Hope you enjoy them!
This is Capitola Beach from up above looking down on the wharf and town. This is the cutest town! It was really crowded!
We drove down to the Moss Landing Wildlife Sanctuary and guess what??? SEA OTTERS!!!! There were about ten of them swimming around, playing and eating. We watched them for a long time! SOOOOO cute. One of them was jumping in and out of the water like a dolphin! And they were wrestling each other. You can kayak there and the kayakers were able to get super close to them! We were on the shore and they came about ten feet from us. OMG I was smiling so big!!
We drove back to spend the rest of the day in Santa Cruz. We grabbed some early dinner and then headed over to the Boardwalk. I have soooo many good memories from the Beach Boardwalk here. I actually started crying when we walked in. All these memories just flooded me. My family is from the coast and my Aunts and Uncles used to bring me here and let me ride all the rides and spoil me! Some of my best childhood memories. I hadn't been here in ages.
First stop....DOLE WHIP! YUM!
The sunset on Friday night was mixed with a perfect layer of fog, and it was the most beautiful purple/pink color. I love fog and usually you don't get fog AND a sunset, but we got both. Magical light!!!
We tried some fun long exposure photos on the rides. This one was my favorite of those. Captures the action!!
The Big Dipper!
That's it for me today! Have a wonderful happy week! One of my favorite people is flying in from Florida this week and on Wednesday we're going wine tasting and champagne sipping in Napa all day. I am SO EXCITED!!! Take care my friends. I will see you back here real soon. XOXO
I don't come by often enough to tell you how much I enjoy your blog posts. Not only do you share the most fabulous cards, but you always include great stories and beautiful photography too. You are amazing and so very talented!
Posted by: LC Lamothe | 07/29/2019 at 04:31 PM
What a sweet card.. Love the gingham. Who doesn't think of ice cream on these sultry summer days! We have been in the 80's with loads of humidity. Fall is sounding pretty good to me. Such happy memories for you... glad they still move you so. Enjoy your visitor and I will toast your trip with a tall iced tea!
Posted by: Anne Sturgeon | 07/29/2019 at 10:43 AM
I feel like I took a little road trip while reading this post! Love the card and the coastal photos. Sea otters are my favorite too! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Mary Koby | 07/29/2019 at 09:35 AM
Such an adorable card! I love it.
Posted by: Martha H. | 07/29/2019 at 07:40 AM
Love the card and your photos. It sounds like you had a wonderful day. Enjoy the wine tastings.
Posted by: Linda S. | 07/29/2019 at 06:04 AM
Such a cute card Wanda! What was the the colors you used for the orange? Thank you
Posted by: Laraine R | 07/29/2019 at 03:07 AM