For the love of sea

I love sea! I love going to the seaside, sitting on a beach, walking on sand, picking up shells and all that stuff you can do when you go there. I also love all sorts of nautical accessories for home and seaside craft projects. I've always dreamt of a room decorated in a marine style and hopefully this dream will come true one day :) 

Recently I've felt like making some nautical greeting cards so this week the first four have been made (and I still feel like making more!). I used water colours paints, drawing pen, some nautical stamps I managed to collect over time :) and some freebie digi-papers and digi-badges downloaded from White Sheep's blog (2nd, 3rd and 4th card). For the background on the 1st card I used Tim Holtz's alcohol ink - Stream to create this shad-y-stain-y effect. 3 of these cards have been machine-sewn and distressed. Oh and I like to keep my cards simple when it comes to this theme :)

For my craft stash I recently bought some lovely nautical stamps! Most are deals from ebay, like these for example:

The first free sets are Inkadinkado stamps, the last stamp set comes from Personal Impressions.

I've also bought some little ones from local craft shops:

And now the cherry on the cake: this gorgeous stamp set is my fave and it came all the way from Poland! Ordered by one of my Polish friends on my request. I adore this vintage map and compass as much as the lighthouse and other bits :)

Bored? Hope not! Cause this is not the end! :P For my future marine projects (nautical cross stitch pictures framed in some shabby chic frames) I also bought this pack of shells from a local garden centre. When I'm ready with my cross stitch designs, I'm going to decorate the frame with some real seashells :D

Obviously shopping for shells doesn't rule out picking up my own shells from the beach! These are my sea treasures from the last trip to the seaside in Prestatyn. My favourites are those with blue and white stripes! :)

And last but not least my marine glass :D As a glass painter I just couldn't miss a shop shelf stocked with such lovely votives in aquatic colours. Don't the air bubbles trapped in the glass remind you of sea water? :) Initially I thought of decorating them but then I decided to leave them be. Just like the way they are :)

quick edit: LOL I've forgotten to show off my new lovely nautical fabrics!!! :D

I don't know what exactly I am gonna make out of them yet! It may be a cross stitched beach hut doorstop with a nautical backing fabric.... I wonder :)

Sunday eve is time for Hand-made Monday at Wendy's. Tonight I'm linkin up this blog party and submitting my greeting cards. Guys, check the other places for some lovely craft stuff!