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Sunday 14 August 2011

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!

15 comments:

  1. The cards look great and I like the bubbles trapped in the glass too. You must have spent a fortune on stamps! Maybe its my immature mind but I did laugh when I saw what 'stamps' are in a different language!

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  2. Martha, you are a girl after my own heart! I love the seaside and anything that reminds me of it. Your cards are gorgeous and I can imagine you'll have a lot of fun with those stamps.
    My favourite stamp is the beach huts one. I just adore beach huts!! x

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  3. Good grief you have been busy, love the cards and something about those beach huts stamps is calling me to get out the fabric and canvas, have a great week

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  4. Love the cards... I live by the sea and never tire of it, sometimes I just know that I am lucky :)

    I really love the movement that your boat stamp conveys...

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  5. I love the bubbles in the glass too. Seaside themes are lovely and cheerful! I look forward to seeing the shell frames in a future blog!

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  6. The Fabric is great, there is so much you can do with a nautical theme. The shells are a big hit with me too, I love shells.

    Jan x

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  7. What a lovely collection of stamps, fabrics and shells. I love the glasses they do remind me of sea water. I love collecting shells and pebbles too.
    Your cards are gorgeous, you're going to be busy for a while.

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  8. I can see you had a lot of fun making those cards, they're so fresh and fun perfect for those 'difficult to design for' males in our lives! You chose a lovely selection of fabric, can't wait to see what you do with it

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  9. Love those cards, very seaside-y, as are those fab fabrics! Just found you via the Making Mondays thingy, hoping to take part, looks like fun!
    I'm sure I will be visiting again!
    Penny

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  10. I am a great fan of the seaside too, I live right beside the sea and love all things nautical.
    your cards are beautiful, I think those stamps are
    So inspiring.
    I am ashamed to say I haven't been down to the beach for the longest time. Always off to the Allotment garden these days.
    Because its so near we take the beach for granted. xxxx

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  11. Another hands up for anything nautical and especially beach huts! There is something very peaceful and charming about the seaside. Looking forward especially to seeing what happens to that fab fabric and the gorgeous shells.

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  12. I'm another fan for nautical rooms. I think if you live by the sea it's essential! Love your cards, and wow what a lot of stamps.

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  13. Beautiful thematic blog! Love just looking at it (fun to read too, but the colors just made me so happy!) I live in FL so I do love the nautical stuff. I rarely find shells that nice (we are on the Atlantic side, the better shells seem to be on the other coast).
    Anyway, I'm just in love with that first card...so gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.

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  14. The cards are gorgeous - brilliant designs and fabulous colours. Love the glassware as well! I'm lucky enough to live at the seaside but no shells on our beach!
    Jo x

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