Beach Dreams

Hi Everyone, 

Jess here with a fun postcard inspired post for you. 

I've been dreaming of the ocean.  I grew up near the beach and every summer all the girls in our family used to spend a week in York, Maine.  I am now in Arizona and don't get to the beach nearly enough.  I think this postcard is as close as I will get this year.  Here is how you can create your own. 

I started with a piece of paper mounted on a piece of mat board.  I randomly added crazing medium and then added Distress Crayon to show off the cracks.  

Both umbrellas were colored using Distress stains.  I did not prime them with gesso.  I wanted them to look slightly faded and the stain seeps into the chipboard.  Once the stain was dry I covered them with Emerald Creek's clear embossing powder. It's not completely covered.  I left some blank spots so it looks a bit tattered and sun faded.  

The waves are all embossed using various embossing powders and then layered.

The sand dollar was punched with white acrylic paint using a dry brush so some of the chipboard color is still visible.  The starfish and shells are embossed. Don't the starfish look real?

The sand is torn paper that is inked with Disttess Ink and then glued in layers. I love how her foot is buried in the sand. All of the little pieces are tucked into the sand. 

 My sentiment is the finishing touch; 

I added some shadow around it, and the lady.

Anyone want to take me to the beach this summer?

Jess