Through The Porthole

When I sat down to start making this card I had something very different in mind. I was going to use a different layout, for starters. But then the idea I had for that layout went in a different direction than I wanted for this card. I looked for an alternative layout in my challenge list and came across this one from Viva la Verve. The idea for this card was born from the sketch, and I just went with it.

Three other challenges came together to make this card. The water theme comes from both TCP Tuesday and City Crafter. And Daring Cardmakers asked for “a room with a view” – looking through a window onto a scene.

I started with my circle, which is one I’d die cut ahead of time before I moved. I took stamps from Lawn Fawn’s Lovable Legends and stamped them with pigment ink – two different greens for the trees, and black for Nessie and the waves – using my MISTI to make sure I had everything lined up correctly. I then used my coloured pencils to fill out the rest of the scene. I made sure that Nessie’s body was darker below the water line, and that the water was more of a green-blue compared to the light blue of the sky. Nessie herself is grey with blue-ish tones.

 

I then added the outer portion of the porthole. The ring was a leftover from something else. I rubbed my silver pigment ink all over to give a metallic look. I later went back in and added Wink of Stella using a pouncing motion. That added some shimmer, and also reactivated the pigment ink causing a very interesting texture which was unintentional, but works nicely!

Setting the portal aside to dry I got started on the background. I wanted to give the impression of wooden panels but wasn’t sure the best way to go about it. In the end I settled on using a chocolate brown paper for the background, and strips of kraft on top of it. It’s not exactly what I’d imagined, but works well enough.

City Crafter inspiration image

I decided I wanted to go back in and make it clearer that the scene is being viewed through glass. I decided I would try to give that effect with a very light wash of white paint across certain parts of the image. Except I forgot that the pigment ink would react with the water, so I promptly smudged my trees… Oops.

I changed tactics and used neat white paint, rather than watered down, and a very thin brush to add the glass effect to the lower left of the porthole. I tried to work out how to fix the smudging of the trees but quickly realised my only option was to hide it. I cut down a piece of white card, made a little banner, and curved the top so I could slide it into the portal. I then stamped the sentiment which is from Avery Elle’s Petal Panel. I’m not happy with how it looks, but it’s better than the smudging!

Finally I stuck everything together, using tape runner for the various strips, and Tombow Multi Mono Liquid glue for the scene, porthole ring, and banner.

Overall I’m pretty pleased with how this turned out. I really like the little scene, and I like the glass effect even if it didn’t work out as well as I would have liked. I wish I hadn’t smudged it though because I’m not happy with the banner.

Love,

Lady Joyful