Birthday Fishes

As I said in my previous post using this set, I think these little puffer fish are so charming! I hope you feel the same way I do about them.  Instead of a romantic card, today I've used them to celebrate a birthday. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Oxide Inks in Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean & Broken China
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You stamp set, #CM170
Hero Arts Puffer Frame Cuts, #DI395
Clean Color Markers
Watercolor Paper
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval Stax, #MFT-521
Versamark Ink Pad
Hero Arts Black Embossing Powder, #PW119
Wink of Stella, Clear
MISTI
Scrap of Matching Blue Card
Assorted Sparkle Gel Pens 

Since I had already decided to use this set to make this card, I wanted a

background that looked like water.  I used my trusty Oxide Inks to make the ocean for my fishes to swim, which I feel is a perfect look.  I stamped, colored, and cut my puffers, using some whimsical colors as I discovered that real puffer fish are a boring beige color.  To add a bit more pizzazz, I colored the eyes and the lips using sparkly gel pens - you can see them in both pictures of the card.  I also stamped and die cut some little fishes to keep the puffers company.  I had let my background dry overnight and it had begun to curl a bit; nothing the tile on my desk couldn't handle! I just placed the paper between some waxed paper and slid it under the tile for the night.

The next day I decided that I need some embellishments, some party wear, for the puffers.  I stamped the hat a few times and the noise maker once, colored them in and cut them out.  Then I fussed with which puffer fish got to wear what hat and which one would blow the ever important noise maker.  I attached all the festive embellishments to the proper puffer.  

I stamped the sentiment directly on the blue card using Versamark ink,  embossed it in black embossing powder; then used the oval die to cut it out.  I attached the sentiment directly to the ocean background, then began placing all the fish.  Once I worked out the placement, I attached them directly to the background as well.  When everything was attached, I glued the background to the white card base and I had my birthday card!

Another Look

This card is so cheerful I can't see how anyone could look at it and not smile! Those party hats just make me giggle.  I hope you enjoyed my journey making this card as much as I did.  Thanks for stopping by! ~Christi

I am entering my Birthday Fishes card in the following challenges:
International Art & Soul - #28, Emboss & Use a Die
Cut it Up - M, #142, Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes 
Pause, Dream, Enjoy - M, #9, Stamped Image
Scrapy Land - M, Anything Goes