Sandpaper Castle

Recently my niece reminded me of a sandcastle card I created five years ago! She suggested I re-create it and share it with the Cropstop readers, so here it is! (My style has changed quite a bit in five years - Sometimes I'm rather embarrassed when I look back at the "old stuff" I made! Guess that's part of creativity though - you're ever learning/changing/growing in your field of interest!) 

To create the background for my card, I used the technique Verna shared with us in Friday’s guest designer post. I started with watercolor paper  (scored every 3/4 of an inch) and used Hickory Smoke Distress Ink to create my faux woodgrain. After I swiped my ink, I lightly misted it with water and heat set it before distressing the edges of my panel.
Next, I traced the sandcastle (template below) onto rough sandpaper and cut it out. I used my craft knife to cut out the windows and doors and adhered some teal colored cardstock behind each one. To add a bit of detail, I traced around the insides with a white gel pen before layering the completed castle on dark brown cardstock.
In the top left corner I added two strips of Washi Tape and a die cut sentiment from Sizzix.

 To dress up my card, I added a pretty paper doily behind the sandcastle using the Hello Doily Set (Sizzix). The bottom corner has a collage of cheesecloth, burlap string, a pretty Petaloo bloom, and two die cuts from the Cuttlebug cut/emboss set “Under the Sea.”

 To decorate the inside, I used a small paintbrush and some water-diluted Distress Oxide ink (Broken China) to paint a small swatch on one side. Over the top I stamped a seahorse (By The Sea Sentiments -MSE) in Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Tim Holtz).

I’d love to see your summertime cards so stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up any projects that use products from companies Cropstop carries in the store.

This post linked to:
Curtain Call Challenge  -- Surfs Up
Repeat Impressions - Inspiration Pallete
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow