Blog Hoppin' with InStyle Stamps

Welcome to the Hop! This month we are dreaming about the soon-to-be-warm summer weather with a beach theme. So put on you sun hats and start hopping!

For my project, I decided to make a Shadow Box Card (instructions can be found here) with the adorable new mermaid, Ariel (available today in the InStyle Store). Isn't she a cutie? I think I have a new favorite image!


I colored Ariel with copic markers, and then used hot pink, light green and turquoise pearl ex with a aquapainter filled with Future Floor Wax to add some shimmer to her scales. You can kind of see the effect in the photo, but trust me, in real life the result is simply stunning.

Here's a side view so you can see the depth of the card. The layers of "sand" (torn kraft paper) are only attached to the center front of the card, so they stick out to the side when the card is opened to give it a little extra support.


Do you like the underwater background? I recently purchased a Wacom drawing tablet (great for people with wrist pain issues) and have been having fun using it to do some doodling. I knew I wanted an underwater background for Ariel as soon as I saw her, so I couldn't resist making one.

The depth of the shadow box (1 inch deep) presented a challenge when it came to getting Ariel to float over the background. I did a little brain storming, and used a little bit of wire from my jewelry making supplies to create a spring. So now, not only is she at the level I wanted her at, but she wiggles around a bit like she is trying to swim in place. Neat, huh?

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Now on to the details that you have been waiting for - the prizes! LOL!

We will be giving away a Grand Prize to one lucky Blog Hop participant and one lucky design team member.

To enter, hop through the design team’s blogs (you can find them in my sidebar), and then go to the InStyle Stamps blog and vote for the designer who's project inspired you the most. (You're going to vote for me, right? LOL!) Make sure to leave a comment in addition to voting in order to be entered into the drawing for the grand prize.

You have until 11:59pm EST on Saturday, May 30th to enter, and the winners will be announced on the InStyle Stamps blog on Monday, June 1st.

So what are you waiting for? Get hopping!