you can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf - jon kabat-zinn

Before I get into describing my tag in this post I am happy to share with you the news that I reached 5000 views!  I am now officially one year and one day into participating and being part of the blogosphere and I am loving it.  I am so grateful for meeting new people who share my passion and so many talented folks who inspire me every day.

Thank you.

Beach is June's Inked Stamper 10-tag swap theme.  I'm not sure if my inspiration was rampant because we just (not really just but I have been mentally returning on occasion ever since) went on a trip to the Caribbean or if when we did return to Edmonton the weather resembled the innards of a refrigerator but I took to June's theme like a seagull to a crab and tackled it with gusto.

I created the background of the tag with my gelli plate, three acrylic paints (beige, grey and pearlescent teal) and die-cut my 10 tags from 3 prints.  I used the Memory Box garden bare branches stencil to get a negative impression resembling ocean coral and layered Impression Obsession's starfish and seashell background stamp on top with black archival ink.  The starfish and the clam got a layer of glossy accents for added interest and dimension.

I learned a neat trick for cleaning my gelli plate at the retreat this spring using glitter and packing tape.  By sprinkling a touch of glitter around dried paint areas on the plate and using the tape to lift up the residue you get a fantastic ribbon of paint and glitter and your plate is lickable clean (not really but it is really darn tidy).

I painted the mermaid's hair using pearlescent watercolours and added a little punch cut shark on the headband for fun.  It was cut out of a Sookwang sheet, covered in latte Glitter Ritz and burnished to get the added shine.  I recently got introduced to Glitter Ritz (where have I been?) and I am seriously hooked.  I want to ritz everything.  Never really a glitter gal (I also own Tim's Distress Glitter which I am simply mad about) in the past I am now part of the converted.  Watch out.

The seashells are from the Recollections embellishment line.  A brilliant idea donated to me by one of my favourite craft enablers.  Merci.

The mermaid tail was cut from patterned paper and dry embossed to achieve a scaly texture.

The chain and beads attached to the burlap strip reminded me of fishing nets and captured treasures. 

I am entering my beach tag into Inkido's May Challenge: the beach is my happy place.

There have been so many projects in the past few months that I find I am falling behind in my posting.  I owe you a whole bunch of posts which I cannot wait to share.  

Thank you for stopping by and, as always, I appreciate your encouragement and kind words.