The card (see this blog post) I made for the opening of the challenge was inspired by the part of my childhood spent in Ontario - it depicted a Muskoka (or Adirondack) chair. Today's card depicts the canvas deckchairs of my English childhood (I was born and raised in England until the age of 10 when we moved to Canada).
My grandparents lived on the south coast of England and I spent many summer days on the beach with them. They would always carry their deckchairs down to the beach as they didn't like sitting on the sand. The chairs are quintessentially English - rarely seen in North America, but Ikea was selling them one year and I just had to buy one in memory of my childhood.
My good friend, Christine (of It's a Card Day's Night and fellow CAS Watercolour DT member), has this wonderful stamp and die set so I borrowed it from her to continue my theme of summer memories for the CAS Mix Up challenge. She grew up in Wales so the deckchairs are no doubt part of her childhood too!
I stamped and watercoloured the row of chairs, and then used the matching die to cut them out. On another piece of watercolour paper, I thoroughly wet the lower half and dropped in lots of sand coloured paint. When dry, I randomly wet the upper half and dropped in just a bit of blue paint. When that was dry, I stamped my sentiment (the card is going to an English friend who has a summer birthday).
The die cut chairs are glued down along the bottom edge but popped up with foam tape along their upper edge to give some dimension.
I did a second version using the same stamp but without die cutting the chairs.
This one will go to my cousin in England who still lives in the small town on the coast where our grandparents lived.
Please come and join us at CAS Watercolour. There is lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. You have until June 24th to link up your clean and simple watercolour card on the theme of Summer.
I Love both your beach chair designs, Susan. You did a beautiful job with all your watercolouring. Your friend and cousin are going to be thrilled with their Summer Birthday cards. TFS my friend. Hugs..
ReplyDeleteGreat memories and has brought back memories for me too. Eye catching and pretty x
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are so wonderful, Susan. And it brings back great memories for you too ... awesome! Love those sweet deck chairs all in different colours. Fantastic summer card, my friend! xx
ReplyDeleteThose chairs are the coolest thing! Love all the bright, summer colors you chose for them and your background is fantastic! Love this idea, Susan!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE both versions of these pretty chairs, Susan! I love the added dimension of the die cut chairs! You've done a wonderful job with the backgrounds too! Little works of art, my friend!
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't I use that stamp and die, wow Susan these are amazing cards, I love both scenes :)
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling there is going to be a surge in sales of these stunning deck chair stamps and dies, Susan! This is a frame-worthy gorgeous summer card!! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeletefun card....you reminded me that I have that stamp, not the die but I just love that look!
ReplyDeleteGreat cottage memories...the best.
xx Karen
I love this row of chairs...such a happy childhood memory for sure! I am glad there was a die...I couldn't imagine cutting out all those little bits & pieces! Thanks so much for having me as a GD this month too, it was fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, fun chairs and so colorful on your beach! I was glad to hear there was a die with them - thinking of you fussy cutting around all those tiny edges!! Julia xx
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