A Fin-tastic Card

Today's card was inspired by sketch #328 from Try Stampin' On Tuesday and will also be entered for "Wet -n- Wild" @ Little Red Wagon, for "Primary Colors" @ Pile It On, for "Gone Fishing" @ Fashionable Stamping Challenges, for "Make Your Own Background" @ Come And Get It, and for "Bright Colors" @ Dare 2B Artzy.

This card is made on a white, side folding A2 size card base and the first step was sending the light blue layer through my Amaze machine with a swirly, wave like embossing folder. I then highlighted the embossed images with Blueprint Sketch Distress ink and the distressing tool.

I trimmed a banner from white cardstock according to the sketch and stamped the penguin and some of the small fish (both from a long ago retired Stampin' Up set) in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. The rest of the fish I inked up using a black brush marker so that I could eliminate the little  motion lines behind the fish each time.

I dug out an old Close To My Heart sentiment stamp set for the "You Make Me Happy" phrase  that I stamped in the front right corner of the banner and then colored the whole image with Spectrum Noir alcohol marker pens.

For some added interest, I wrapped and tied a piece of pretty variegated blue ribbon across the top and adhered the banner to the card front using foam pop dots.

I lightly brushed the edges of the white card front with the blue distress ink and added 3 blue sequins to the water. I finished by adding some details with a white gel pen and a Stardust glitter Gelly Roll pen.

For the inside sentiment, I used a black brush marker to selectively ink the "you're fin-tastic" from an old SU! valentine stamp set (see the whole stamp 3 photos above) and then stamped and colored the little fishie too.

This card is now finished and ready to be given to my hubby sometime in the next few weeks!