Watercooler Wednesday – Clean & Simple

Are you ready for this week’s challenge?  You certainly rocked the last challenge – thanks so much for playing along!

This week, Heidi is hosting our challenge, and she has chosen ‘Clean & Simple – with a Water Theme’.

Just to refresh – the Watercooler guidelines for ‘Clean & Simple’ are as follows:

Either a single layer upon which we stamp or a base with a single layer upon which we stamp. Since we use embellishments for any other type of card, no embellishments or die-cuts or anything except the simplicity of stamping for the “clean & simple”. That gives a clear reason for its name. And what is simpler than stamping? That will allow heat embossing since, if one decides to use a colour, heat embossing would show better than simple stamping. But no Embossing Folder (dry) embossing. Clean and simple.

With CAS with a theme, just go ahead and incorporate the theme into your card, keeping it CAS.

Okay – I admit it – this was a tough one for me!  Actually, all CAS cards are, but this time, I’ve been totally distracted by not only the preparations going on for getting myself & son ready for heading to the U.K. next month, but also my Dad being in hospital with a broken hip (quick update – it’s been repaired, not replaced; he’s on the mend, and in fact I’ll be  picking him up & taking him back home tomorrow!  He’s been in hospital about 1 1/2 weeks, and has another 6 weeks ahead of him, without being able to put weight on that leg!).

So – after I created my card, I had to pull it from the challenge, as I didn’t follow the guidelines above!!

Here is my first card – can you see what I did wrong?

Well, perhaps I should ask – can you see how many things I did wrong!  I did dry embossing with the retired World Map embossing folder; I added banners and the anchor, which all count as layers.  *sigh*  I thought it was a brilliant card – until I realized  how far off the guidelines I went.  (I even heat embossed the anchor!).  Actually, I still think it’s a great card – just not for this challenge.

So, back to the drawing board I went!

Well, no layering here, except for the inked panel on the Island Indigo cardstock base.

Want to know how I made the water background?  Well – I recently received the new Seaside Embossing Folder, so it was a natural choice!

I opened up the folder, and on the raised side, I dropped inks from the Pacific Point, Island Indigo and Bermuda Bay reinkers directly onto the embossing folder.  I then used a Stampin’ Spritzer, and sprayed water over the embossing folder and inks, tipping the folder to allow the inks to run.  I then place the Whisper White cardstock on top of the inks, closed the folder, and ran my hand back & forth over the closed folder, allowing the ink to soak into the cardstock.  I’m really pleased with how it turned out!

I then inked up the 1st sea star image from the Picture Perfect stamp set in Crumb Cake ink, and stamped it directly onto the ‘waves’.  I then inked up the 2nd layer of the image in Elegant Eggplant ink, and stamped over top of the Crumb Cake.

I have to say, in real life, the sea star does look like it’s beneath the waves!  The picture just doesn’t quite capture that effect.

I didn’t want to add a stamped sentiment to the front (and I couldn’t layer one….), so I left it with no sentiment; I can add something appropriate on the inside, when I use this card.

Considering this was my second card, I am just as happy with this one as the first!

I’ve also found that the Just Us Girls Challenges is having a ‘Water’ themed challenge this week, too -though theirs isn’t CAS – so I thought I’d enter both my cards into their challenge, as well!

You can find their challenge by clicking the image below:

Now, I  hope you’ll take up the challenge, and join us at the Watercooler Wednesday page.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Watercooler Artists have created for your inspiration!

Until next time – happy stamping!