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Saturday, July 20, 2013

Curtain Call Challenge - Feeling Nautical



I love it when new card making inspiration challenges start up and today I am playing along with the very first challenge for Curtain Call.  The theme is Feeling Nautical and fits in perfectly on a very hot Summer day.  Here's the inspiration photo which has all kinds of Nautical elements.

I went with very traditional nautical colors on my card.

I have been challenging myself to use every single "new" stamp and die set I have before I order anything new...I know I better hurry up because I can never pass up a new release.   I have been using lots of my new Lil Inker stamps and dies lately and today I used quite a few.  I used my Cover Up Pieced Chevron Die to make a nautical border on my card.  That is a super fun die to use, like making a puzzle coming up with all the different color combinations.  I wanted to add some hand stitching to my card and it occurred to me that I could get nice straight, even stitches by using Lil Inker's Stitched Mat rectangle die as a guide.  I didn't even have to poke the holes and think it gave a nice touch to this card.  I wish I was so brilliant that I had thought up the idea to use the Stitched Mat Circles to make a life preserver, but I had pinned a card made by Alyssa Scritchfield (Alyssa's card) during the Lil Inker release where she created the cutest ocean themed card and I cased that idea.  I used twine and added a gold anchor I cut on my cameo.

Now, for my secret.  This card did not start out to be a card for Dad.  Right when I was getting ready to adhere the last piece on my card base, I got a splotch of navy ink on it and had to shift all my elements around.  It left a big blank space along the bottom that just looked naked without anything in it.  I decided to add the cute Dad Word die and a sentiment from Mom and Dad Sentiments from Lil Inkers to it and it now looks like my dad will be getting a nautical birthday card come this October!

Today is a special day at my house.  It's my son Matt's 31st birthday and we are all going out to dinner to celebrate.  I can hardly believe my little, premature baby is 31.  It seems like just yesterday that I was telling my husband I couldn't possibly be in labor, it is way too soon...I'm not ready yet!

26 comments:

Vicki Dutcher said...

Excellent take! Love all your details [twine is fabulous] -- love that DAD too -- Killer card!

Laura Pryor said...

Cathy!!!!!!! This is absolutely stunning and fabulous!! I love the use of the partial pieced chevron and how you made the life preserver!! Wowza!!! This rocks!!

Renee said...

Gorgeous!!
Love that preserver...
and the chevrons...
all the Lil' Inker goodness you got going on here!
Happy Birthday Matt! :)
I know y'all will have a good time just being together! :)

Trinh said...

Fantastic design! Love how you "saved" the card by adding Dad to your card. Great idea!

Marybeth said...

Awww 31 years ago was a very special day for you! Happy Birthday to Matt!
This card is jaw dropping amazing! I love that life preserver you made , The anchor you made is darling! Oh you are making me want that Cameo! The Dad! ( looks great) Love everything about this perfect card Cathy! Hope you are all having a great time!

Stacey Schafer said...

Oh my goodness, Cathy! that life preserver with the twine, the gold anchor and the cool chevron border...all so amazing! thanks so much for playing along at the Curtain Call!

Tracey McNeely said...

Eeek you are brilliant Cathy! What fantastic ideas and implemented so well. Thank you so much for sharing with us for the first Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.

Kathy Schweinfurth said...

I just LOVE your card!I wanted to let you know that I’ve chosen your creation as one of my Weekly Picks and linked back to your blog! Thanks so much for sharing your talent. Kathy at stampsatplay.blogspot.com

i'm with the band said...

This is PERFECT!!!!!

Nancy said...

AMAZING card!!!!!!

Tenia Nelson said...

So so COOL!! Thanks for playing along with us over at the Curtain Call!!

Marisa said...

THis is fabulous!! Love the focal ring! Thanks for joining us at the Curtain Call.

Sharron said...

WOW, this is AMAZING! You are so creative with your Lil' Inker dies. Love the chevron border and your stitching! Your life preserver looks fabulous and the gold anchor was a great addition.

Kim S said...

Wonderful!! The border is perfect - not to mention the twine wrapped life preserver!! I like the bold "dad" - I'm glad you got a smudge!! Thanks for joining us at the first Curtain Call!

Joyce said...

This is just wonderful. So many cool elements. I love your gold anchor, the stitching, the nautical pattern, and of course--your (clever) dad die cut.

Christina said...

Cathy, this is so very clever and full of fun details! I love your life preserver! Thanks for joining us for the first Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!

Leigh Penner said...

This is fabulous, Cathy! I love how you incorporated all of those dies!I just got the Chevron coverplate in the mail and can't wait to try it out!

Inkyfingers said...

I hope you had a good celebration dinner with your son Kathy. I think you had a happy accident with the smudge on your card because it turned out perfectly. I love ever little thing about this stunning card.

Darnell said...

Oh, wow, be still my heart! I'm SO glad I scrolled down beyond your hexagon card to see this brazilliant card, Cathy! That red, white, and blue pieced chevron border is fabsical for nautical and Dad, and even would be awesome for a 4th card! So pinned!! Such a winner in my book.

Pauline said...

Wonderful use of dies Cathy, I love the nautical theme, and the fabulous D@d die cut, not seen that before.

Laurie said...

That life raft is awesome! what a great idea! Thanks for joining us at Curtain Call!

Kara said...

so awesome! love the life preserver!!

Anonymous said...

Congratuations-this was a stunning card,I love how you used the twine to make the life ring :)
Best wishes,Nessa xx

lynda said...

I saw this card highlighted over on Curtain Call Challenges. I had to come visit to tell you how much I like it. The twine wrapping & the Dad die with the "@" really grabbed my attention!

Darnell said...

Yay, I just love it when judges agree with me!! Congratulations on being showcased by Curtain Call for your outstanding card, Cathy!!

Nadine said...

This card is just brilliant Cathy! Love every single thing about it!