Sunday, April 1, 2012

Deep Blue Sea...


Happy Sunday! It's the first of April, which is, of course, April Fools' Day, but I never did like this strange holiday. So, I'm glad that today I get to post my project for this month's Imaginisce Challenge
This month, we are focusing on Paper Piecing, one of my favorite techniques. 
I hope YOU will consider entering because this month, the prize is an i-Top 2.0! Check the Imaginisce blog for full details!


I used some of the darling Snag 'Em stamps from Imaginisce's Makin' Waves collection to create my aquarium layout. I stamped on patterned paper, sometimes double-stamping, and then fussy cut around all the edges. It's a really wonderful technique to create DIY embellishments! 


This little crab is one of the die-cuts in the collection, but I wanted all my embellies to match, so I hand-drew it onto patterned paper, using the die-cut as a guide. I also sponged around all the edges of each pieced image to add more depth and used foam tape to pop things up.


My family has a wonderful time going to the amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium, and I've been anxious to document our experience there before it got away from me! I had this one image that I wanted to make the focal image and I also wanted to give the page a feel of a coral reef. I hand-cut the "window" in the paper and sponged around the edges. 


This is a little something special I put together for this page. We have a TON of photos and I wanted to include my favorites, but didn't want to had have a cluttered page. So, I created a photo wheel that would allow me to put in some of my faces. I didn't do a tutorial on how to do this, but if there is enough interest, I could give it a try.

The mechanism was cut from a circle using a nesting die and a circle punch to make the notches.
I hope you enjoyed my Paper Pieced project for the Imaginisce Monthly Challenge. I hope you are inspired to participate!

BEAN NOTES
Stamps: Makin' Waves Snag 'Em Stamps (Imaginisce)
Patterned Paper: Makin' Wave Collection (Imaginisce)
Cardstock: White-Wash (Core'Dinations)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Classic Dye (Stampin' Up!)
Dies: Nesting Circle; Merry and Vixen Alphabets (Lifestyle Crafts); Classic Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Tools: Circle Punches (EK Success)


4 comments:

Diana Fisher said...

Your page is amazing! Great depth and color in it!! :)

Melinda Gleissner said...

Regina, Viewing your blog is a guilty pleasure...you are always so creative! Today you have outdone yourself. Your handcut window is amazing. Its so perfect for your picture. I wish I had an ounce of your talent.

My family has only been to Monterey once (we're Ohioans) but it has spoiled us when visiting other aquariums.

Unknown said...

I love the cut-out window you created! This is gorgeous!! ;o)

Miriam said...

Incredible LO! Great job. Can't wait to try using the page itself as a frame!