SECRETS OF THE DEEP

I recently bought three mermaid theme stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque - I don't know why, as I don't really 'do' mermaids lol, but there was something about these and I had to have them.   I've always enjoyed masking too and  these stamps work so well together that they seemed perfect for it, so I've been playing.  This isn't a card...it's currently standing on the shelf in my craftroom.  I doubt I'll part with it, lol.

This is one of the large easels from Pinflair, but instead of using the 'canvas' that comes with them, I cut my own sized backing from mountboard and then my fave card that I use when I colour with Promarkers.
I started by stamping and masking my design (obviously, lol).  The group of images on the left is a combination of 3 images from each of the stamp sets.

Cutting the masks was a bit of a nightmare as there's some really fiddly bits, but once I'd finished checking my stamping, I reapplied the masks and started to colour my background using distress ink pads.  The sand is Wild Honey and I used Peacock Blue and Shabby Shutters for the sea.

When the background was finished I set to with my Promarkers to colour the rest in.  I really enjoyed colouring these images, they have such clean lines and stamp beautifully.  When I'd finished my colouring, I added a bit of texture.  To the two pots I applied a one step crackle and some red liquid pearls on the sea urchin.  I added a pile of glossy accents along the base then applied clear micro beads and I have to say, I love how it turned out.

The treasure didn't quite look 'rich' enough, so a bit of glitter was added to the gold coins.

Something else was needed, although I wasn't sure what but then I got out my Twinkling H2O's.  I haven't used these for a couple of years and it was nice to play again.  On some of the plants, I painted over with a green H20, but the main thing was the mermaids tail.  I used ummmm, wonderful white is it? something like that, lol.  This gives her tail a lovely sheen and a different look depending on what angle you're looking at it from.

I added some more micro beads to the tops of her rocks and used opal liquid pearls for the bubbles.  The sentiment is from Sheena Douglass'  stamp set 'A Little Bit Sketchy'. Finally, the whole lot was brushed over with Liquitex Gloss Medium/Varnish which really lifted the colours.

The last step was to colour the easel, apply crackle finish to it and stamp, colour and cut a couple of elements to stick on it.
I totally loved creating this and I will definitely be using these stamps a lot more.

Entering into:
INKY CHICKS #8 - Masking.
LADY ANNE'S STAMP CHALLENGE #10 - Use a stamp.
SPARKLE & SPRINKLE July - Anything but a card.
WORD ART WEDNESDAY #88 - Anything goes with a sentiment.
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Old, new, borrowed or blue. (new stamps).
HOUSE OF GILLI #53 - Bright colours and anything goes.
LEXI'S CREATIONS #94 - For a friend.
LOVE TO SCRAP #9 - Anything goes.
MY CRAFT CREATIONS 8/7 - Anything goes.
CRAFTS AND ME #138 - Anything goes.