Smokey Ocean in pastel colors.

Summer is closing on us fast, here in my part of the world. And the change in weather is always a huge inspiration to me, when I craft. One of the things I am really looking forward to, is spending time at the beach with my family. And I guess that really shows in todays project.

I used Ching Chou Kuik's beautiful Smokey Ocean, colored with my all-time favorite medium, Copics. I decided to try and use as few as possible, to keep the image a bit more soft and bright, with not to many shadows. And to simply challenge myself. These are the Copics I used:

Skin: E0000, E01
Blue/greens: G40, G43, G24, B0000, B41, B32
Hair: B0000, B41, B32, B34
Sand: E30, E31, E34

The background is colored with distress ink, watered down and painted on like watercolors. And I added some fine trasnparent glitter to all the green parts of the mermaid. It's very subtle, but I love how it just adds that little something extra.

I used papers from various manufactorers, and the seaweed diecuts were some I've been having lying around for years. I just never found a project they would fit on. But I do so love, when I can use some of my old stash.

To make it even more sea and beach like, I found one of the tiny Tim Holtz bottles, quickly drew a treasure map on a tiny piece of paper, inked the edges so it looked worn, and tucked it inside the bottle. Then I found a few pearsl I had lying around and scattered them on the bottom half of the card. Together with the cheesecloth and string I really think it adds to that beachy/ocean feel.

As a little added detail, I punched out a heart from the white cardstock, meant to write your greeting on, on the inside of the card. Otherwise I kept the inside fairly simpel.

The stamp I used today, from the Sweet Pea Stamp store,  is Ching Chou Kuiks Smokey Ocean and you can get that in Digi and in Rubber.

Thanks so much for stopping by today
/Lina