Masculine Monday - using Sail Away and Acetate

I always start the week with a masculine card and I'm beginning to realise that each time it is based on the Less is More challenge! I am powerless to resist (like so many of the other LiMettes out there!) as the challenges are always so entertaining. This week Chrissie and Mandi are calling for cards made using acetate. Aaaaagh! I NEVER use acetate for cards! But, of course, that's an excellent reason to start now! Here's the card I made:

I 've been wanting to ink up my Sail Away boat for ages and this was the perfect opportunity! I thought if I sponged a simple sea and sky for a background, I could stamp the sailboat onto acetate and layer it over the top.

This photo shows you the sponging. There isn't anything complicated about it at all - it's essentially three bands of colour. I swished the sponge across the card stock using a side to side sweeping motion. The sharp horizon line was made by holding a piece of paper over the sky area. The sea is highlighted with Whisper White craft ink dabbed on lightly with a piece of rough massage-style sponge.

I knew I was going to fix the acetate to the background layer with brads but I really wanted it to be raised a little. Of course, the thing about acetate is that you have to hide your fixings which meant I couldn't use dimensionals so I came up with this cunning plan...

... Setting eyelets in the background before pushing the brads through both layers! Oh I have a devious mind (or so my husband tells me!)

The card could have ended up looking too symmetrical - and I couldn't have that! - so I made a tab-style sentiment for it.

And the verdict? Using acetate was brilliant fun and I can't understand why I don't use it all the time! Thanks Mandi and Chrissie for pushing me out of my comfort zone again!

Here's how to make this card:
(This card is not a standard size - I made it to fit a 15cm square envelope I had.)

• Cut a 9cm square piece of medium window sheet and stamp the boat image onto it using black Stazon ink. Set aside.
• Cut a 12.5cm square piece of Whisper White card stock and lightly sponge So Saffron ink across the middle of it. Add Marina Mist ink above the So Saffron being careful not to overlap too much as you don't want a green sky! Hold a piece of paper over the sky and sponge Baja Breeze ink over the rest of the card stock. Very gently add a little Tangerine Tango ink in the middle of the sky to give the illusion of sunrise. Add highlights to the sea if you like using a rough sponge and Whisper White craft ink. TIP: When sponging backgrounds I always pay particular attention to the edges of the card stock which gives it more depth.
• Hold the acetate over the background and pierce through both layers where you want the brads to be.
• Set silver eyelets into the background piece with a cropadile and then attach the acetate layer to the background by fixing brads through the eyelets.
• Stamp a sentiment and cut it out to make a tab. TIP: I always use my 1 1/4" square punch to help me with this. Stick the tab under the card with tape.
• Cut a 29cm x 14.5cm piece of Whisper White card stock. Score and fold in half to create a card base and attach the sail boat panel to the card front.

Supplies
Stamps: Sail Away, Vintage Labels (retired Sale-a-bration set)
Ink: Black Stazon, So Saffron, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White craft ink
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Medium Window Sheet, Silver eyelets and brads

Hope you've all had wonderful weekends. Spring has really taken hold here now and we're breathing the scent of spring flowers and enjoying the broods of ducklings on the river. The garden seems to have been taken over by Triffids and every time the children come in, half the outdoors seems to come in with them! I think it's time I stopped blogging now and removed some of it!

Thank you so much for your comments - I really do appreciate them. I shall be back tomorrow with Easter projects and I'll hope to see you then.