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Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying the last days of summer. August always starts to signal the beginning stages of autumn for me even though I know we have a couple more months to go before the leaves turn, the weather turns, and pumpkins are ready for harvesting! August for me also ushers in counting down the days to our vacation (and our wedding anniversary). This year we will head over the pond to England. While there we usually stop by and spend some time at the sea (usually the North Sea which is a tad bit cold but the fish and chips at the Magpie in Whitby are the bestest and the only ones I will eat). I love sitting by the sea and watching the people and the waves crash along the coast. Since I live where I’m a teensy bit landlocked (okay, a lot landlocked) the sea is an amazing thing to me. There is just something mesmerizing and relaxing about it.
But before we move too quickly away from summer, the Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog chose a theme for the current challenge of By the Sea. The challenge is generously sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique. Since I’ve added some texture (those darn art stones…) I’m also going to submit this project for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge of Add Some Texture, which is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. And, for the first time ever I’m going to dare to submit a project to the Anything But Cute Challenge Blog for their Summertime Fun challenge.
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This post is a bit photo heavy so I apologize but I wanted to try to get all sides of the project.
This project started with one idea in my head but ended up in a completely different direction. I knew that I wanted to use a paper maché box and cover it but the original idea was to make seahorses, seaweed, and other types of sea plants and animals on the sides and top using tones of blue, turquoise, yellow, orange, and light brown. I started by covering the inside of the box and the lid with paper that resembles water. While that was drying, I went digging through my die cuts for the sand dollar and seahorse mini die cut from Tim Holtz. While looking for it I saw the lantern die cut and it made me think of the lighted lantern I had in my embellishment stash – the one I was never quite sure what to do with but I thought it was cool so I bought it ages ago lighted lantern. I started cutting some sand dollars and then….I stopped. My brain was now taking me to a whole different look for the project. Out came the Eileen Hull Adirondack Chair die cut and off I went. That die cut has been sitting in my craft room since last summer unopened waiting for the right project!
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On the path of my new version I decided I would play around with the art stones from Finnabair, try some distressing on the chair and the metal pieces, and try to work more with Crackle Paint. I’m not very good at Crackle Paint so I figured this would be a good project to practice! And, the art stones have intrigued me so I thought it would be a good project to test it out. I did not, however, expect to use them on such a large area! This project required a lot of patience when it same to creating my “sand” with the Finnabair art stones. Initially I had real sand but it just wasn’t working for me so I decided to use art stones. I made a huge mess until I figured out a way to glue them, paint them, and place them. Those little things went everywhere at first!! I almost ditched the idea but I hung in there and kept working with it. Ultimately it was still a bit messy but it was a much more of a controlled chaos and my messy area was sized down considerably! As for the crackle paint, I used it on the chair and the strips around the bottom of the box. I used a Tim Holtz Distress Marker to work in some color on the crackles on the chair which gave me more control over how much and where I wanted the crackles to be inked and made it easier to work on such a small surface. I also used some Dina Wakley Arcylic Paint to add some color and texture to the chair in addition the print on the paper. Nothing like a bit of experimenting right?
_2.jpg "By the sea (4 of 12)")
I almost had a disaster with the lighted lantern! I darn near cut the cord. I think I would have cried but luckily I didn’t. But then I couldn’t get it to light up and so my handy beloved had to add some tin foil to get the connector to touch the plug and voilà it works!! Under the lid I attached the battery pack with Velcro and made a pocket with Velcro on the back for the extra cord.
In the end I went with the beach chair with bits and pieces around it in the sand. It reminds me of a fisherman or sailor coming in after a long day and sitting in the chair to rest. To me, it reminds of things I see when I do get to go to the beach (English one, that is) at the end of summer. I love to see the boats and pieces and marvel at just how everything works whether it be how we have attempted to harness the sea or how calming and relaxing the sea can be in summer. And, with a cute little pillow for the chair, why not sit and rest for a while? I hope you like my chair by the sea.
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And to finish off, let's light the lantern!
_2.jpg "By the sea (12 of 12)")
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8 Responses
#1 Macarena said...
01-Aug-16 9:32 AMAy! This is awesome! I absolutely love all you did on the top! The chair is just perfect! Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!
#2 Anne R said...
01-Aug-16 2:42 PMI absolutely love Eileen's adirondack chair die and you have used is so beautifully on your summery project! The colouring of the chair is wonderful, the fan and the lantern are brilliant and the little cushion on the chair is such a great finishing touch. I really love your project!
Thank so much for joining in our Summertime Fun challenge at Anything But Cute! Anne DT xx
#3 eileen hull said...
01-Aug-16 5:44 PMInkyspatters, this Adirondack Chair vignette is amazing! I am so glad you were able to get the lantern functioning because it finishes it perfectly. It's just like the beach. Your trip to the UK sounds fantastic- have fun and thanks for using my die!
#4 eileen hull said...
01-Aug-16 6:23 PMSorry- meant InkySplatters! :-) <3
#5 stampersuzz said...
03-Aug-16 3:30 AMBrilliant! Love your beach chair and the beautiful scene you created. Thanks for playing along with us in the "By the Sea" challenge at Frilly and Funkie!
#6 Branka said...
03-Aug-16 2:27 PMAbsolutely beautiful summery 3D project! I love that chair die and your dreamy colors! Fantastic embellishing too! Thank you so much for joining in our Summertime Fun challenge at Anything But Cute! Branka DT
#7 Julia Aston said...
08-Aug-16 5:37 PMOh, this is SO fun! love your wonderful adirondack chair ( I have it too!) great colors - love the pillow- and the great lantern to light the night! Super project! Julia xx
#8 kathy/NorthCarolina said...
10-Aug-16 7:56 AMI love this! It's just so different and fresh and fun. I'm very impressed with the way you decorated all the way around, so no matter what angle you see, there's something lovely to enjoy! It makes me think of the Maine coast...which is always a good thing! Thanks so much for joining the fun at Frilly and Funkie By the Sea Challenge!