Keeping Cool with IHP

This month’s i {heart} papers design team challenge is to think cool by using cool colors and minimal layers, just like people do to beat the summer heat. Since one of the best things to do keep cool in the summer is hang out at the beach, I made a sweet underseas themed birthday treat for the challenge.

I started off by filling a clear plastic card box with a bunch of cool blue gummi sharks. I had them sitting on the kitchen counter for a week, waiting to be used for this project, and it’s a miracle that Chloe the cutie puppy didn’t snag them for herself—she’s like that about anything edible (and even some things that aren’t . . .). After filling the box to the brim, I made a light blue belly band to go around the box, using my ScorPal to fit a cardstock strip snugly around the box.

The band has a panel of water drop patterned paper on the front, making a perfect background for the fish from the Paper Smooches Birthday Buddies set. I colored the fish with Copic markers, then sprayed it with a little shimmer spritz. Its eye is covered with Glossy Accents. I used a dimensional dot to attach it to the panel, then added a trio of crystal gem “bubbles” over it. The “birthday fishes” sentiment is stamped in blue ink, cut apart, and added to the panel. Cool and cute, even though it's filled with sharks!

Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has created for the challenge. Here’s where to find them:

• Carolyn
• Deb
• Gretchen
• Kendra
• Loretta
• Lori (you're here!)
• Lynn
• Tracy
• Kate

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: clear card box, Paper Smooches Birthday Buddies stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Bahama Blue inks and Frost Shimmer Spritz, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Copic markers (Y17, Y35, Y38, YR15, YR16, B0000), Echo Park Splash 6x6 paper pad, Ranger Glossy Accents, Zva Creative iridescent crystals, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots, ScorPal

other: Baja Breeze and Pacific Point cardstock, scallop edge punch (Stampin’ Up!)