Coral Reef Card by Sara Cook

Hi everyone! I just love the new Ocean Fish stencils and 3D embossing folder with matching dies. I am having so much fun coloring the different fish. I could not resist but to make a coral reef scene card with all the dies and products.

Background:

I watercolored the background using Distress Specialty Stamping Paper and Element inks Mermaid and Blue Lagoon. I used wet on dry technique and a large paint brush and a wavy motion to add the ink. Heavier, or darker, towards the bottom and lighter towards the top. Let Dry.

Ocean Fish:

**Note: make sure the stencil is the right side up by making sure the die matching the correct direction. Stencil the angle fish widest section with bright yellow ink. Blend the ink from the top and bottom to the center. Line up the narrow angle fish section and ink blent with purple ink with the same technique. Ink the fins first with the yellow ink and then the purple with being heavier near the body of the fish and later outwards. Don't forget the little fin in the center of the body. Die cut the fish. Ink around the outside of the fish to cover up any white areas. Secure the die cut in the 3D embossing folder with Washi tape and run through the die cutting machine. Add black to the eye with a fine tip black marker. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. This give the fish a "wet" look. Repeat the same process for the other fish. I used VersaFine Clair for coloring the fish for the bright colors and blend ability. I used sponges but try using small blending brushes for blending in different colors.

Coral Reef:

I die cut all the elements from heavy white card stock and ink blended each one with VersaFine Clair to match the fish, except the pink I used Fresh Ink Pink Lemonade. For the rocks I used Coral Cottage craft die. I did cut out each side of the die and cut off the tops to create the shelf. I kept the top portion of the die to use to full in the bottom. Mask off the coral and ink blended with red and yellow in random round spots and then ink blended with grey and inking darker to the edges. Ink one in pink and the other in coral color. Add Drewdrop glitter glue to the coral and let dry I die cut all elements of the Sea Bottom Treasure craft die. I die cut the starfish several times. I colored the anger with grey then added bronze color Distress Crayon and Distress Age Patina. The shells are inked with Distress ink Antique Linen and Tattered Rose. The starfish are ink blended with different VersaFine Clair and added dots of a darker color using Paoco Paint pens. Die cut the smaller die from the Cheerful Crab die set. Color with a bright red ink pen and add glossy accents to top. Die cut the rounded coral from Coral and Kelp Ribbon craft set and ink blend with pink. Dot a yellow Posco Pen around the end. Cut down the die cut to build up 2 other sets of coral. Die cut the coral from the Bobble Coral Collage die set. Color yellow/orange. Add Drewdrop glitter glue and let dry. Cut wood to create another coral. Die cut the kelp and seagrass Deepwater Collage Die set and trim off the boarder. Color green and then color the stem with a dark green Posco pen. Trim down to different sized. Add Glossy Accents to just the round part.

Assembly:

Glue the smaller rock to the bottom center of the card base. Adhere a couple of strips of paper on the back of the rocks toward the outersides and add to the sides of the card base on. This leaves room to add elements behind the rocks. Now decorate the rocks with all the elements to create the coral reef. Adhere the fish around in the water. I doubled up some of the smaller fish and used foam tape to the back of the angelfish. Adhere to a 43/4"x6" black panel and adhere to a 6"x61/2" navy blue panel and then to a light blue card base measuring the same size. White heat emboss Seas the Day from Deep Blue Ocean stamp set to navy card and trim down and adhere to the card in the upper left hand corner with foam tape.

Inside:

White heat emboss wishing you oceans of Happiness from You Anchor Me stamp and die set along with Happy Birthday from the Deep Blue Ocean stamp and die set. Stamp with Versa Mark the school of fish, seaweed and kelp from the Deep Blue Ocean stamp and die set.