Friday, July 4, 2014

Always and Forever...Inkspirational Challenge #60: Photo Inspiration, 4 Crafty Chicks #201: Nautical

Happy Saturday!

Time is just whooshing past, and already it's time for another challenge inspiration card for Inkspirational Challenge #60: Photo Inspiration.


For some amazing inspiration, head over to see what the other design team have created.  I'll just grab a coffee and wait for you to come back.

See...some fabulous interpretations, indeed.

I must confess this photo of a painting by by 20th c American artist Ralph Cahoon, had me stymied for a while.  Inventory of my stash reveals no balloons, aside from a teensy one, no mermaids, no whales (a sasquatch, yes, but no whales. Given I live in a mountain town, the sasquatch kind of makes sense to have *grin*).  Head scratching, thinking cap on tightly, ponder, muse....repeat.

Then, a "ping"....I went with my anchor and chain (again) and paired it with the heart that comes with the set. Mermaids, for some reason, always remind me of love stories (ummmm...The Little Mermaid set the stage for thinking in that direction), so I went with a love theme.


My background is a 'watercolour' strip stamp, turned this way and that; the heart and anchor are sponged (okay, I'm addicted to sponging), and the sentiment is from a Valentine set.  Easy to make...once the 'ping' set things in motion.

Hope you're inspired by the photo, as well as the DT cards, to join us in this challenge.  The possibilities are as varied as your imagination....

ETA:  I'm also sharing my card at 4 Crafty Chicks #201: Nautical Challenge.

NOTE: So honoured and delighted that my card was selected as a Top 3 over at 4 Crafty Chicks! THANK YOU!!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!

26 comments:

Nonni said...

This is so cool, this would be a perfect wedding card for a couple who loves sailing. I love those tiny hearts. Great job! xxx

sandie said...

don't you just love those ping moments! I love how that background looks and how cute to include hearts. Hope you are well my friend x

Anita in France said...

What a ping, Carol ... such a cool take on the inspiration! The nautical stripes are a perfect background to the anchor ... which in turn is perfect with the heart, anchoring that 'always and forever' feeling! Hugs, Anita :)

Pia Larsen said...

Gorgeous love card. I especially like the background which is so very much suited for the theme. FAB, FAB...... :)

Anonymous said...

I love this! The blue background looks fantastic and I would have never thought of matching that sentiment with a nautical look. Great design!
- Shauna

Marisa said...

Well done thinking outside the box. Love that anchor die and it is a perfect pair with a heart :)

wienerhoneymooners said...

VERY cute, I LOVE anything Nautical!!!

Loll said...

Hi Carol. Love your interpretation ... such a sweet "love" card. The watercolored strip background is perfect to set off your heart and anchor. Loll xx

Kim Heggins said...

Carol..you just amazing, this is an amazing card and I love your anchor and chain, so fun and really makes for an incredible card. And you background...WOW! I love it. Hope you are enjoying your weekend...sending hugs your way.

Yvonne Garner said...

Love your take on the challenge! Really cool background stamp, too. Thanks for the warm welcome back!

Tracey McNeely said...

Carol I love your 'ping' what an absolutely gorgeous card my friend! I could look at the that chain and anchor forever, and your watercoloured background stamp is awesome!

Geri said...

Fabulous..no wait...totally amazing interpretation! If putting on a tight cap can get me creating like this...then I'm off to Walmart first thing tomorrow morning to find the tightest cap ever! What do you think the Walmart greeter might say when I ask her where I might find thinking caps'....

Beautiful, seamless sponging and GORGEOUS background! Yep, dear friend....if this wasn't a DT card, you'd be in in the winner's circle with this pretty!

Kylie said...

I want that watercolour stamp you used for your background - it looks amazing. Your entire card is just wonderful. Pairing the heart with the anchor was inspired. You are very clever, C. :)

Kay Miller said...

Oh you pinged well!! haha! This is a fabulous interpretation of the photo! Love the heart hooked to the anchor with the chain! Very creative and cute!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Marina said...

I love this - just perfect combi of the anchor and heart and the stamped strips are wonderful, The blue and yellow together looks great ( love the hearts).

Unknown said...

Well hello stranger, it feels like forever since I took a tour around blog land and I am just SO behind on commenting. Thank you so so much for the beautiful comments you left on my blog - really brought a tear to my eye but a huge warmth in my heart. Things have just been super manic lately - organised a hen do and then went on it, was at the kids' school for sports day etc and now they are on holiday full time for 6 weeks and so I doubt much crafting time will come my way for the next while. As you will see I have been on a whistle stop tour of your blog posts and I am just delighted to see so many fabulous creations. Looking at all your new work, I am really seeing you grow as a card maker. You seem to be thinking much more outside the box and there is just constant gorgeousness at each post (not that there wasn't before, but I see your style becoming much more tuned)….really hope that makes sense and does not offend!!!!!!!! Hoping to pop by at least once a week and check out more of your tabby creations. Take care xxx

Brenda said...

OMGosh Carol, I am so loving this card!!! I too was looking at the inspiration photo and although it is a really cool photo, I would have nothing to use, I'd have to go with just colors. lol But you pulled this one out in stunning fashion! I love the anchor and the chain hooked to the heart! I didn't get these, and know I'm kicking myself. lol I will be getting them in the future though! Too many goodies to choose from. I'm not sure if those are the watercolor stripes I got or not, will have to look to be sure, but I am sure loving them and you can bet if I don't have them, they will be on my wish list next. lol Yes, Carol this is a stunning card. I agree with the mermaids and love thing, so that is perfect. Now about this sasquatch stamp....my guys would love that! lol Stay addicted to inking, you are so good at it! Glad to know that I'm not the only one who is opinionated. At least people know where we stand, right?! lol Thank you for you sweet kinds words, ditto from me to you!!! Glad you had a nice time away. Big hugs, Brenda

Unknown said...

This is simply adorable! Love the heart and anchor dies. Thanks for joining us at 4 Crafty Chicks this week.
Tina- DT

Taunya Butler said...

Wow, Carol, that background is gorgeous and so artistically stamped - I thought it was some really beautiful patterned paper!! Way to go!! Love that background - and your anchor and heart with the links are so sweet!!

Dana said...

Oh my!!! I LOVE that you paired the anchor with the heart!! Fabulous take on the photo, esp adding the yellow!! Amazing card!!!

Vicki Dutcher said...

This is so clever with your "chain"! What a fun card~

Greta said...

I have to say that photo would have kept me stumped, but your card is perfect! Good thing you're on that DT, Carol!

Monika Reeck said...

Carol cool inspiration picture and you did it soon wellll....I love it...I sometimes have no idea if I look at the inspiration picture and this one is not so easy to interpretation...like Greta said I will be stumped LOL...lovely chain and the things for the ship and a heart too and sweet sentiment you know how to make manly also for woman card...this can be for man and also for woman both...clever Idea..and I want to say congrats your Mac Gyver card as HM and my one too yayy our name is there on AAA cards challenge as HM winner..big congrats my sweet friend..hugs...Monika

Deepti said...

I love the BG u created to give the effect of water. The anchor and heart are perfect :) amazing card !

Kim M said...

Love this, Carol! That watercolour strip stamp is fabulous! Great card! :-)

Shannon J said...

See, this is exactly why you are at the top of the card making world...taking a difficult inspiration, with limited supplies, and KAPOW, coming up with this??!!! Yup, you are amazing!!! The details in this are fabulous! The chain, the way you shaded the heart and the anchor, the stitching in the heart, the pop of red with those sweet little hearts, that jaw dropping background!! All I can say is WOW!!! WOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!