Picket Fence Studios has a great new release with tons of amazing ocean sea life. This Florida girl was all over it the day it was released and the You Octopi My Thoughts was first on my list to create!
Let’s Create!
I started this card using the You Octopi My Thoughts Bundle from Picket Fence Studio. I love how detailed this octopus image looks. Accordingly, I started the card using Tim Holtz Heavystock cardstock to ink blend the background. Using Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide Inks, I ink blended the entire 4 x 5 5 1/2″ card panel. I started my ink blending with Tumbled Glass, the lightest of the inks. Then I added Salty Ocean along with the Sunny Rays stencil from My Favorite Things to add the sun rays shining into the ocean. I love how this looked. I finished my ink blending with Mermaid Lagoon inking towards the bottom to help the ocean floor appear darker.
Next, using Things on the Sea Floor stamp set, I stamped a few corals on the bottom of the card panel using a black ink. Next, I stamped the Octopus and a few of the corals from both stamp sets onto X-Press It White cardstock to begin my Copic coloring.
Time To Color
Next it’s time to color! I used the following Copic Markers to color all of my images.
Copic Markers Used
- Octopus: E18, E15, YR18, YR02, YR00, Y38, Y35
- Corals: BG49, BG13, G02, G03
- Corals: R49, R35, R32
- Corals: YR68, YR65, YR61
- Corals: YG17, YG23, YG01
Finishing the Card
The finishing touches for this card included stamping my greeting onto black cardstock using VersaMark ink and embossing with Brutus Monroe Alabaster Embossing Powder. Next, once all of my images were die cut, I placed them onto my card front using my Glue Press and foam tape to give the images dimension. I added my sentiment in my favorite way, staples! Old habits coming back to life and sweet and simple.
Tips
- I added a few details to the card using my White Jelly Roll pen. I used size 10, which is the perfect size when adding fun dots or whimsical lines. I added some white dots on the Octopus eyes to help them stand out.
- If you look closely, you can see the gold splatter along with the white. I recently discovered a new product from Picket Fence that is perfect for splatter accents called Paper Splatter Watercolor.
- X-Press It White cardstock is my favorite cardstock to use for Copic coloring. I always tell my girlfriends this cardstock blends my Copics like butter. In my opinion, this cardstock does all the work when it comes to blending!
Chatty Update
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a chance to update on family life. Overall, we are doing well. If I’m being real, not having the kids home has been a difficult transition. I miss them like crazy. Although Orlando is not far, it’s still 8 hours of driving. I love the kids are living together which brings a little comfort; however, this current living arrangement could change very soon.
Graduation Time
Brandon graduates this Saturday from the University of Central Florida. I am over the moon for this kid. So much adversity the first few years and he pulled through it like a champ. He’s working full time and starting to think about the next chapter and looking for IT jobs. My hope is he’ll be closer to Pensacola, but we are not putting any pressure on him. We want him to make the adult decisions that will be best for him. He doesn’t know that I’m secretly praying daily he comes back near me. LOL. I just received his grad pictures back and my mama heart is bursting. How can he be this grown up? I feel like time is zooming by! He’s not the fiesty little boy anymore; instead he is one of the most humble and kind humans I know.
In the meantime, my sweet girl continues to plow through some adversity herself. I believe adversity is normal for all and it’s the experience that helps us progress through life. Regardless, she’s keeping her head above water and finding her way. I love her spirit and independence. I like to think of her as a fighter. Undoubtedly, she’s had some set backs over the last few years after a recent divorce (more on that later) she continues to push forward and find her way. She’s looking forward to a lighter schedule this summer and hoping to make a few visits home. Indeed, home is always a safe and comforting place.
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I hope you enjoyed today’s card!
