A Fish Tale: Featuring an Open Bay Window Card by Janet

I had an absolutely fantastic time making this fish-tale of a card for the "When One Door Closes" challenge on the Art Impressions blog. The sides of this card collapse inward, so you have no idea this incredible 3D scene is going to pop out when you open it up. It's super cool!

To make this card, I followed a pattern published on YouTube by AveeReneeCardDesigns, who calls it a "Open Bay Window" design. Her card featured a hot air balloon, but it instantly made me think of aquariums and underwater scenes. Isn't it funny how our minds work so differently? For her, it represented the open sky, and for me, the depths of the water.

Once I had constructed the card base, I got to work decorating it. I used the 5397 - Submarine Cubbies set for most of the elements on this card, and supplemented it with some shells and cheerful crabs from the 5329 - Beach Mini Dies. I also used a banner die from the 5543 - Journal Template Die Set for the sentiment at the top. Most of the elements "float" on 3, 1/4" acetate wide strips which are almost invisible to the naked eye. It makes the submarine and marine life look like they are in the depths of the ocean. While the picture makes it appear like the submarine is attached to the sides of this card, it isn't. It's just hanging in mid-air thanks to the acetate strips. Most importantly, this construction allows the card to close without interfering with any of the elements.

This card looks complicated, but I promise you, it's not hard at all. The design is so versatile and can be used for anything that floats—in air, water, or outer space! My mind is already churning with so many new ideas for this one.

Thanks for joining me here today. Be sure to enter our current challenge, "When One Door Opens." Just show off a door of any type or size on your card for a chance to win a free stamp set!

As always, don't forget to find your favorite stamps, dies, papers, and accessories at the Ai Store! You'll always find something that calls to you. 

Happy Crafting!

Janet - YouTube - Blog - Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest 

Seas the Day by Mercy Sauer

 Hello Ai Friends! 

This is your crafty friend Mercy with a new project 

Today's card is all about the ocean.    

I love this set; there's so much we can do with it! 

 

Let's start at the end, here's my final card 

 

No specialty dies, bells or whistles, simple stamping, die cutting, ink blending and coloring. A perfect set to express your own likes and creativity... definitely a  

YOU DO YOU card  

 

Here are some things you can do enhance your card   

When inking try multi layers, slowly add dimension to your background by adding ink layers 

Make sure you allow the ink to fully dry between layers     

Water splatters add interest and dimension, plus it's fun to do 

You can gently "remove ink" from an inked surface once it's dried.   In this case I created gentle light beams to suggest sun light coming from the surface of the water 

 

Now let's talk about dimension and using foam tape, pop ups, etc.  Whichever you prefer, I prefer and use all of them.  As shown above, the dolphin, submarine, sea horse, turtle and lobster are all in different "planes" in the scene.    I accomplished this by using different thickness foam tape, and even doubling up in some cases. 

Finally using Glossy Accents to build up window panes.... I love this technique! 

 

Here's my final card once again

 

Another thing, don't fret if your die cut does not fit in your panel, cut it and position it in another area of your card.   Instantly you get two from one! 

I did add some clear dew drop embellishments, just like water droplets 

‘Til next time friends