"One Stamp, Five Ways" - MFT Soak Up The Fun

I'm back (((finally))) with a "one stamp, five ways" blog post! And tomorrow (Friday) I'll have another one as I am the guest blogger at Neat & Tangled! Today I will be using a brand new stamp set by My Favorite Things called Soak Up The Fun. It was a perfect set to get back into gear with for me as it is just so darn cute! Here is an image:

You can purchase the Soak Up the Fun stamp set in the MFT store and there is also a Soak Up the Sun die set that goes with it. I made five cards with this set of stamps and dies to share with you today. I also used a few more of their new products that coordinate perfectly with this set. So let's get started!

I'm starting with my favorite card first. I really loved how the background turned out on this one. I used a new rubber background stamp called Whimsical Waves that makes this cool pattern perfect for under the sea creatures. You can sea (get that?!?!) a close up of it here:

Steps to make this card:

1. Take a piece of Ranger Watercolor Paper and die-cut a stitched rectangle from it that is full card size (I used the Lawn Fawn large rectangle set here). Next die cut a Rounded Rectangle Stax Set by MFT from the center of this rectangle.
2. Stamp the new Whimsical Waves background stamp on the inside piece using Versamark Ink. Emboss it with white embossing powder.
3. Watercolor over the waves using several Distress Ink Colors: Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, and Salty Ocean. Shade with Mermaid Lagoon on the top of each wave and add flicks of this color to the background. Last apply some flicks of water and pick some of the color up.
4. Attach the stitched rectangle and the inside piece to a light blue card base.
5. Stamp and die-cut all of the images and color wth Copic markers. Attach over the background.
6. Stamp the sentiment along the bottom edge of the card using SSS Intense Black Ink.
7. Apply some Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins over the background using them as bubbles above each creature.

Most of my cards today have water backgrounds so I wanted to show different methods to create water. This time I used a gradient color of blues to purples - not realistic for water, but I liked trying something different. I sued the new Stitched Whimsical Waves Die-namics to create these waves. Here is a close up:

Steps:

1. Watercolor paint on a piece of watercolor paper (I used my Fabriano here) a wash of blues, then pinks, then purples as you move up the paper. I actually used my Holbein Gouche paints here which are more opaque than watercolors. I then added some dots with more paint to some of the corners of my wash for extra interest. I had no idea what I was going to do with this when I painted it. I love to paint funky backgrounds and then when I am making a card, I have pre-painted choices to use. I love how the colors blended from rich blues to purply pinks.
2. Die cut this background piece into four waves with the Stitched Whimsical Waves Die-namics. Next, die-cut these same pieces with a large stitched rectangle (mine is from the Lawn Fawn large stitched rectangle set).
3. Die cut another large stitched rectangle from white cardstock. Attach the waves overlapping each other over the bottom two-thirds of the white piece. Attach all of this to a blue card base.
4. Stamp the fish and whales on white cardstock using MFT Natural Ink (my favorite ink for no-line stamping). Color the images in with Copic markers. Attach them on the background tucking some into the waves.
5. Stamp the sentiment on the top of the card and add some twine tied in a bow above it. Attach some sequins over the waves in blues, pinks, and purples to match the color they are against.

For this card, I didn't create an underwater scene as I wanted to use that cute little elephant. I used the MFT Gift Box Cover Up Die-namics to create the background. Here is a close up. 

Steps:

1. I die-cut the Gift Box Cover Up Die-namics from Ranger Watercolor Paper (love it as it is truly white) - I always use the backside of it though as I prefer the smooth surface to the very rough side. I then painted just the frame piece with several colors of Distress Ink including: Carved Pumpkin, Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, and  . I added water droplets to pick up some of the color. 
2. I attached the frame to a white card base and then attached the four rectangles (left white) inside each window. 
3. I stamped all of the images on white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I added some dots on the elephants ears and the top of the whale with my Copic Colorless Blender pen - I love how it pushes the color aside leaving pale spots. 
4. I stamped the sentiment in two colors on the bottom left rectangle - SSS Intense Black Ink and Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink.
5. I added some Pretty Pink Posh Marshmallow sequins around each rectangle.

This card demonstrates a third way to create an underwater scene and also uses the MFT Stitched Whimsical Waves Die-namics. Here is a close up:

Steps:

1. I started by die-cutting a piece of watercolor paper (I used Fabriano here and you can see the beautiful texture it has) with a stitched rectangle (MFT Blueprints 13 one that is one size smaller than a card base). I then placed the waves from the Whimsical Waves Die-namics over the rectangle and die cut it again. 
2. I watercolored these pieces with my Daniel Smith watercolors and added some large polka dots here and there for additional interest. (This was also a piece I had watercolored previously when I like making mindless backgrounds and it worked perfectly for an underwater scene).
3. I attached all of these pieces on a white card base keeping them all lined up. I love how the waves have stitching on both sides.
4. I stamped and die-cut the images out of white yardstick and colored them all with Copic markers. I attached them all to the background of the card tucking the banana boat under one of the waves.
5. I stamped the sentiment along the top using black ink.

My last card shows how the stamp set can be used without water. I decided that cute little banana boat full of monkeys could just as well sit in a pile of leaves! I just ordered a new die-set I was excited to try out called MFT Stitched Circle Scallop Frames. They would work great for shaker cards and to create windows on cards. Here is a close up:

Steps:

1. Die-cut a large stitched rectangle from watercolor paper (I used my Lawn Fawn large stitched rectangle set and Fabriano watercolor paper). Paint it with a blend of yellows, oranges, and reds. I started with the lightest yellow, then moved down to red in the center and then back to the lightest yellow.
2. Die-cut a Stitched Circle Scallop Frame from this piece. I painted some additional red paint over the frame so it popped more over the background. I didn't use the inside piece of this frame.
3. Attach the background and the frame piece to a white cardstock base.
4. Stamp and die-cut the images on white cardstock and color with Copic markers. Attach the boat and three leaves under the boat inside the window. 
5. Die-cut a stitched banner from MFT Blueprints 20 out of white cardstock. Stamp the sentiment using Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink. Attach some Pretty Pink Posh yellow, white and red sequins around the card.

I hope you enjoyed these cards and found some inspiration for creating today! It was fun to get back into it over here and I was glad it was like riding a bike - no new learning curve! I just had to hop back on! I'll be back tomorrow with another "one stamp, five ways" blog post. Have a great day and thanks for visiting! Suzy 

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Comments

[Carol L]

Oh how excited I was to see your post today! Excited first because hopefully this means that things are going well with your daughter, allowing you time to create. Secondly, because I just love your cards! You know how I love your backgrounds and you did some beauties again! Honestly cannot pick a favorite this time although the background on the first one is super awesome! I love all the colors you used and your numbered steps are so helpful! MFT will be selling a lot of these stamps after seeing what you did with them!!! Glad to see your post and still praying that all is good with your daughter!!! Have a great day and thanks for sharing!!

[Miriam Prantner]

Oh these are so cute! I almost pulled the trigger on this set the other day when I was ordering but didn't, now I'm thinking that was a mistake, just love those monkeys in the banana!

[Jeanne]

I'm so happy to see you again! What a bonus for us. Your watercoloring is fantastic. I absolutely adore that first card you shared as well. What a fun stamp! What great waves! I am so grateful that you take the time to share how you create each look. You are a great teacher as well as a great artist and cardmaker. You've made me want to buy more stuff! :) Big hugs and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

[Gayle]

Such lovely cards, thanks for sharing

[Laura]

Your cards are beautiful! I love them all! Great work!