Authentique Sea Maiden Project Share: Mermaids, Sea Horses, Starfish and Sand Dollars

Hello, Friends!  Remember my post from two weeks ago, where I shared a project from my rainy weekend at the beach?  Well, it really rained!  So I had time to create a couple more projects with Authentique Sea Maiden.  This post is filled with Mermaids, Sea Horses, Starfish and Sand Dollars, so pull out your flip flops and let’s take a little beach adventure together.

Sea Maiden Project #1: Sea Horses, Starfish and Sand Dollars

I know…where are the flowers? Where is the ribbon? When designing this Beach Walk Folio, I wanted to keep things a little more simple and streamlined.

The trifold folio is my go to 5″ x 7″ size.  But this time I designed a cut away cover with a belted belly band closure.

Instead of flowers, I decorated the cover with this removable mixed media tag.

How to Make a Sea Maiden Mixed Media Tag

You’ll need a Graphic 45 Regular Kraft Tag and the matching die to make this tag.  You’ll also need the Tim Holtz Sand and Sea Bigz Die, an embossing folder, Vintage Photo Embossing Powder, Versamark Ink and UTEE powder (Ultra Thick Embossing Powder) medium weight chipboard and a heat tool.

• First, die cut a cover and a back for the G45 Regular tag. Ink the edges and adhere to the front and back of the tag.
• Next, select 2 or 3 patterns of Sea Maiden paper and die cut the sand dollar, seahorse and starfish with the Sand & Sea die.
• Now, die cut again, using medium weight chipboard.
• Place the die cut paper (not the chipboard!) in your chosen embossing folder.  I used Tim’s Croc Texture Fade.) On the flat (debossed side) of the folder, rub the surface with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Mist the die cuts lightly with water and emboss according to your machine’s instructions.
• Next, sprinkle Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder randomly over the surface of the die cut images.   Heat set.
• Now, apply a generous amount of Versamark Ink over the entire surface of the die cuts.
• Next, add a fairly heavy layer of UTEE over the prepared die cuts.  Tip off the excess and heat set.
• Let the embossed images cool completely before handling.  Melted UTEE is HOT!
• Once the die cuts have cooled completely you can kind of shape them with your fingers and adhere to the die cut chipboard.
• Adhere the seahorse, sand dollar and starfish to the prepared tag.  Spatter everything with diluted walnut ink.  Add charms and bow.

Sea Maiden Beach Walk Folio: A Peek Inside

Since I’ve prepared a video tour of this project with you, I’ll just share a couple of photos of the inside to whet your appetite.

Sea Maiden “Be Mermazing”  Shaker Card

Because I was having so much fun…and because the rain simply would not stop, I also put together this darling 4.25″ x 5.5″ “Be Mermazing” Shaker Card.

The card base and all the little banner flags were made while I was at the beach.  Banner flags are a great way to use up a bunch of pretty little paper scraps!  The card was embellished once I got home.  I’ve been dying to use this gorgeous seahorse key, and this was just the project for it.  The other beachy charms are attached with silver metallic string.  Then I added a beautiful bow and Little Birdie Flowers to finish the card.

The shaker element was created when I got home.   Spellbinder’s Circle dies  can be nested together to create the “porthole” frame for this lovely little mermaid.  I love the way the sequins, little pearls, seed beads, glitter and sequins make it look like she’s floating on a wave.

My goal for this project was to use as many of my scraps as possible.  So there are lots of little tags and bits and pieces used in various ways.

Since I was at the beach and didn’t have a printer, I just wrote out this Mermaid Wisdom by hand.

Sea Maiden Project Share on YouTube

To help you get a feel for the flow of these projects, I’ve prepared a little video.  I’ll show you how all the mechanisms work and share some ideas that I think you will enjoy using in your own craft time.

I hope you’ve found some ideas, tips and techniques that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  My only complaint about this collection is that it is so beautiful that you don’t want to stop playing with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Authentique “Sea Maiden” Collection: Sea of Tranquility Card Folio Tutorial

Hello, Friends!  Y’all know how much I love the beach!  My honey and I ran away from home for a beach getaway a couple weekends ago.  Thankfully, I had packed myself a little crafty “emergency kit”  with my new Authentique “Sea Maiden” Collection Kit because the weather decided to turn into a monsoon. So I made my own beach adventure and created this Sea of Tranquility Card Folio Tutorial to share with you all here today.

This is a 5.25″ x 7.25″ trifold folio with a little bit of everything beachy.  You’ll find shells, mermaids, fish, seaweed, starfish tucked in with the myriad pockets and tags.  My embellishments (even the feather) were salvaged from the shore during my walks between the storms.

This glorious red-headed mermaid inspired this entire project.  She’s cut from Sea Maiden One and framed with Graphic 45’s fabulous doily frame from Square Tags and Clock Dies.

And mermaids have to have sea shells, right?  This whelk is also cut from the collage images on the Sea Maiden One page.  I’ve clustered it up with a bunch of fussy cut images , shells, a little sand and some pearls.

Sea of Tranquility Card Folio Tutorial: Moving parts

Look at these gorgeous patterned papers!  Oh, be still my heart!  I had so much fun creating the interactive elements for this card folio.

The pocket on the bottom holds this lovely little 4″ x 5″ folio.

There’s room inside for a little art tag, a sentiment panel from Sea Maiden Eight.  And I think even mermaids love a little chocolate treat now and again!

The top half of the card is an accordion fold folio with a gatefold cover.  This was so much fun to design, and I’ll show you how to engineer this in the video tutorial below.  I’ve added a scrap of designer paper to serve as a pocket.  Then I used up my scraps to make this business card sized mini folio.  Don’t you love this sentiment?

The interior has loads of pockets, mini tags, mermaids and more.

Here’s a peeky at what you’ll find inside the folio.

Sea of Tranquility Card Folio Tutorial on YouTube

Here’s a short video tour of the folio and all its moving parts.  This is followed by a tutorial that shows you how to create the 5″ x 7″ base from 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock, how to create the pocket and most importantly, how to create the fun accordion fold element.  I hope you enjoy!

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and techniques that you can put to good use in your own crafty adventures.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Sea of Tranquility Card Folio Tutorial Supply List

• Authentique Sea Maiden 12×12 Collection Kit
• Graphic 45 Square Tag and Clock Dies
• Concentric Circles on Ocean Blue Satin Ribbon
• Natural Burlap String
• Flowers, vintage buttons and Pearls from my stash
• 2 sheets of cream cardstock and 3 sheets of kraft cardstock, both 8.5″ x 11″
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink