Card Design: Digi Darla's Challenges #68--At the Beach

Hey guys!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  It is Monday morning over here in my corner of the world and that means it is time to show you my latest creation for this week's challenge over at the distinguished Digi Darla's Challenges Blog. This week for Challenge #68 the theme is "At the Beach".  We want to see water OR sand somewhere on your project.  With the summer approaching quicky, it is the perfect time to be creating cards with these features.

Don't forget one person will be the lucky winner of FIVE Digi Darla (DD) images!  AND any entries using a DD image get entered into a SECOND drawing for THREE images. So, you could technically win eight images!  If you do use one of Kim's wonderful images make sure you let us know by writing DD after your name when you enter.

I've used the following Digi Darla's digis in my project this week:

• Two Fun Fish 1 
• Two Fun Fish 2

Here are the card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

General Information:

• Let me start of by saying this.  This card is a complete abstract fantasy piece.  I know that the majority of the elements are not the right colour and certainly not shaded properly but this week I just needed some time to unwind and do something silly.  
• I had started working on the digital design of this before the corruption of computerville and somehow, when I was in the midst of making some backups, I backed up right over it and lost the file.  Knowing all that work had gone to waste, I decided I didn't care that this wasn't going to be a representation of my better work.  I just needed to play around and try working with some new patterns and brushes.
• That being said, I apologize to Kim, Heather and Faith, if it looks like an eight year old designed this card.
• I was very lucky that this month the image in the Delightful Inspirations progressive challenge fit in with the theme and thus became the focus for the inside of the card.  Yay!  I managed to create a two-for-one post!  That is a good four hours minimum time I've saved being able to combine these two challenges.  Right now I'll take every second I can get!

FRONT

Digital Images:

• The four fish used in this design: You can find the fish in the DD store by clicking either the watermark or image name linked above.  As you can see from the watermark, I took the fish and separated them so that I could have them swimming exactly where I wanted them.  You have the option of also purchasing all four fish in the same image if you want.  To purchase the 'Four Fish in the Sea' image click HERE.
• I've also added a crab and underwater sea bed image from Fresh Brewed Designs.  Clicking on either watermark will take you to their spot in the store.

• Okay, so here we go.  First up, I'm going to show you a copy of the digital creation.  I put so much time into doing the fish scales and shading, and once again it is so much smaller when printed that you can't really see the effects.  Thus, I figured I'd show you the original creation before I resized and printed it.  If you click on the image to bring it up in the lightbox, you'll be able to see the detail so much better.

• Okay, there are a number of credits that I need to include here:
• Sea was created using a water pattern from Webtreats
• First I duplicated each fish.  The bottom layers of the golden fish (top left) and the green fish (middle) were coloured and then I used a pattern from BrixStock to create the scales on the top layer.   I found it interesting that when I added the scale pattern, at a 69% opacity, that the colour underneath changed.  For example, would you believe that the original colour in behind the top and side fins of the golden fish actually are a deep golden colour but for some reason they turned grey.  I'll definitely have to experiment with that.  It seemed that all the darker colours take on a greyish look but the lighter colours retain a semblance of their original hue.  Things that make you say hmmm....
• For the grey and burgandyish fish I used a brush from an artist named Tijo who is with Brusheezy
• The rest of the effects were achieved by using a number of different filters in Photoshop Essentials 5.

Embellishments:

• The blue sparkly ribbon is Celebrate It brand purple label from Michael's.

INSIDE

Digital Image:

• Sea Turtle Beach Digital Stamp Set:  As I mentioned in my general information section, I was lucky enough this month to be able to combine my Delightful Inspirations progressive stamp of the month challenge with this week's Digi Darla's Challenges theme.  In order to enter the DI progressive challenge, you must either have received the latest image by having participated in the previous month or you can buy the stamp for the current month's challenge.  Everyone who enters and follows the rules is a winner because you automatically get the stamp for the next month's challenge and what amazing stamps they are.  Stop by the site and check out the rules for yourself.  While you are there, have a look around.  They have some really great images.  You can find this set in the store by clicking on the watermark below.

• The sea turtle beach image was also coloured digitally.  Once again I've included a copy of the digital creation in case you want to check out any of the details closer.

• There are a couple credits that I need to include for the inside:
  • Water was added using the same pattern from Webtreats
  • For the sky I used different colours and brushes from a set by Leboef.
  • The rest of the effects were achieved by using a number of different filters in Photoshop Essentials 5.

Digital Sentiment:

• This sentiment is the perfect accompaniment and is available from Fresh Brewed Designs and you can find it in the store by clicking on the watermark below.

OVERALL 
Paper Products:

• Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white. 
• Designer Paper:  
• The lined paper (front & inside) is from Ki Memories Inc., Fancy Free paper pad.  This was actually the very first scrapbook paper pad that I bought.
• The royal blue cardstock used as a shadow and for the little triangles on the inside is from Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.  

Challenges I hope to enter include:

• Delightful Inspirations -- June Free Stamp of the Month Challenge
• 613 Avenue Create -- Anything Goes/Optional Twist Twist
• Word Art Wednesday -- Anything Goes 
• Crafter's Digital Art Centre -- Anything Goes

Some more challenges may be added to this list later this week and/or month.

So, why not come and show us what you've got by entering in our current challenge this week over at Digi Darla's Challenges?  While you are there please check out the wonderful creations from the rest of the design team.  We always look forward to seeing the delightful creations you come up with.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  As I've now added to my comment section, whether you are a regular, here for the first time or popping over in your official capacity as a DT member, please know how much I appreciate the words that you leave behind.  Your encouragement helps me to become a better designer.   I try my best to reply to your comments (when an email address is available) but that is getting more and more difficult as my plate fills up with new responsibilities, new roles, and new obligations.  If I don't get the opportunity to thank you personally, know that I don't take a single comment for granted. Thank you for your understanding.

Until next time,

Note: I apologize if there are any formatting issues with the above text.  This is a scheduled post and we all know Blogger has a mind of it's own.  If it turns out that something looks wonky, i.e.--part of the sentence is a different size, font, or colour than the rest, I'll fix it as soon as I'm able to.