Elaine Cox Water Lily Mermaid (Mermaid 2)

This card is made from a Sweet Pea Stamps image by the artist Elaine Cox.  It is called "Water Lily Mermaid (Mermaid 2)".  She is available in digital format for $3.00 or for those that prefer she is available in a rubber stamp for $5.99.

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers, cut around the image, distressed with my Tim Holtz distressing tool, inked the edges and then sprayed with the Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine.  I love the effect of these sprays but they make me cough and cough even though I spray the item outside and leave outside for a while.  I just wish someone would bring out a nice spray that doesn't smell.  I can dream .........

  

The backing papers I wanted to keep subtle and didn't want them to overpower the image.  I have therefore used Bearly Mine Designs Just Plaids, Plain and Simple and Simply Dots.  They just add something to the card but don't overpower in my opinion.  Underneath the image I embossed a piece of card with a zig-zag effect and used a Martha Stewart punch on the edge.  I have finished the card off with some wide satin ribbon, a very little blue satin ribbon with dots, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some buttons.

Elaine Cox's Mermaid 2

One of the things I love about Sweet Pea Stamps is the fantasy theme of a lot of the images. I've always loved fantasy artwork and books and movies etc. And if it's stamps of mermaids and fairies and dragons and the like that you're after, then Sweet Pea Stamps is the place to be! :)

This week I've chosen to work with Elaine Cox's Mermaid 2 stamp. Isn't she gorgeous? As soon as I saw this stamp I just *had* to see how she'd look coloured in. I love the soft expression on her face, the way her hair falls in ripples and spreads out across the water. :)

I used the red rubber version of this stamp (though you can also buy it in digi form) and stamped it with Adirondack ink and then coloured it with a mixture of Promarkers and Prismacolor pencils (I coloured the mermaid herself with the markers and the background with pencils). I also added dots of Stickles onto the pearls in the mermaids hair and the bubbles in the water.

I love how the vibrant colours look on this image so for my card I decided to carry through those intense colours. I used brightly coloured cardstock for my card base and teamed double-sided paper with pretty filigree die-cuts cut from white card.

I layered some lace and ribbon across the bottom of the card and attached the image using foam tape.

To decorate, I added layered fabric flowers with FIMO flower centres.

I also added some pearl-beaded stems behind the flowers and finished things off with a FIMO star and some white pearlised gems.

I love how the colours turned out on this card... it feels all fresh and summery. :)