My Fab Followers

Saturday 6 August 2011

CES and Basic Grey Challenges

Don't you just love it when life is made a little bit easier for you?  That's how I felt this week when I found that the themes for my DT posts at both Basic Grey and CES Challenges could be combined!  At CES the theme is Water and at Basic Grey it's Sizzling SummerI then decided to make life difficult for myself by deciding to merge two digital images from Mo's Digital Pencil  - Solemn Sailor and the Beach scene from the Beach Elements 1 Set!  I'm not the greatest technical person and if something's not straightforward I just can't be bothered!!  Well, I looked around for a few tutorials but didn't have the programmes on my laptop, so in the end I just opened up both images in Photoshop and basically dragged the Solemn Sailor image onto the Beach scene - not even too sure now, how it worked but it did and I've saved the finished merge!! 
The whole image is coloured with my Promarkers and the Ultra Fine Nibs (which were a godsend for the detail work).  I've also added a bit of glitter for the breaking waves on the shore and wave tips, and also on the beach for a bit of texture. I then paper pieced the little boat he's holding to make it look like it's made from newspaper. The bubble border is a Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set cut from Basic Grey Hello Luscious papers and then layered up onto another paper from this yummy pad.  The papers, Tim Holtz sentiment ticket, card base and promarkers are all available from Crafty Emma's store.  The netting is cotton scrim that I've coloured with Vintage Photo Distress Ink (and round the edges) and the little wooden stars are from my stash. 
I'm not very often satisfied 100% with my finished cards, but this one I am, not least I think because I love this Solemn Sailor image from Mo - I had two little blonde page boys dressed in Sailor Suits at my wedding many, many moons ago, and also have a great photo of my hubbie at about 5 dressed as a sailor boy.
Hope to see you joining in either or why not both the challenges, you could win a yummy  £10 voucher to spend in Crafty Emma's On-Line Store ( and she's just got loads of scrummy new papers in!)
 or for the  Basic Grey Challenge, a lovely $25 voucher to spend with our great sponsor, Simon Says Stamps.

All of my teamies have made some wonderful cards to share with you so hope you get a chance to take a look and hopefully play along!

28 comments:

XxJULESxX said...

wow stunning Julie!!!!!!!!

Sue said...

Hi hun
a gorgeous card, what a beautiful scene, awesome colouring,lovely embelies & design, have lovely weekend, sue,x

Keep It Sweet and Simple said...

Wow! This is really gorgeous. Love those merged images and your colouring is just perfect.
Caroline xxx

Jo Nevill said...

Stunning card Julie, I just love the images and how clever you are managing to merge the two together ! Your colouring is superb.

Hugs,

Jo xxx

cats whiskers said...

Absolutely jaw droppingly awesome hun love it
xxxx

Laura said...

so stunning, this image is gorgeous and i love your colours and layout xxx

Shell Shearer Swinscoe said...

Just gorgeous love the image so sweet!
Hugs Shell xx

heidy said...

Gorgeous Julie,why do it easy if there's a difficult way lol
XXX heidy

Gabbi said...

Such a pretty card. I love this. Beautiful ooloring as well

coops said...

fantastic card julie.love how you have merged the 2 digis and your colouring is wonderful :D

xx coops xx

Liz's creative corner said...

Hi Julie wow hun clever you, takes me all my time to print a digi off never mind combining two lol, love the images though hun and your colouring and hints of glitter are fab, hugs Liz xx

Daniele said...

what a lovely scene, beautifully coloured
hugs

Jackie said...

OMG LOVE IT.. well done you... still trying to get the hang of merging, and dont 'do' photo shop lol... i really love this . big hugs J xx

Grenouille Greetings said...

This my friend is an absolute beauty! Lovely, lovely colour work. The beach looks..erm..so beachy! and the sky and sea perfect. As for the little boy - he is stunning and I love your newspaper sail boat and the scrim nets. You've given me some inspiration for something I'm struggling with so thank you!!! Big hugs, Lesley

Julie M said...

I love this card, Julie - great job on merging the boy and the background, something technical I haven't yet tried!! I love the colours you've used, and the little touches of sparkle.

Julie :o)

Louise said...

Love your card and you are clever merging the pictures it turned out fab
Louise xx

Vicky said...

What a gorgeous creation! The merging of the images worked really well, and the colouring is amazing.

Lee said...

What a talented lady you are.I love this card it's Super Stunning.xx

Donna said...

Absolutely stunning card Julie, the image is gorgeou and so beautifully coloured...fab distressing too :) Donna x

Carole of Brum said...

Hi there. oh this is wonderful, Julie, and beautifully coloured too. I loved your reasons for liking the sailor image too, very precious. he looks great in the scene you made - I'm addicted to image merging now, can hardly make a card without it, lol.

Sheena said...

Gorgeous x 3!!! Love all the detail and image is so vintage! Sheena xx

karen said...

Hi Julie, wow what a beautiful scene, fabulous colouring!! Have a great week, Karenx

kay said...

this is stunning,love your colouring and well done with the digi merging,great tutorial here also
http://debbiepsplace.blogspot.com/2010/06/merging-digital-images-using-paintnet.html

Anonymous said...

WOW!! Julie, this card is amazing hun!! LOVE your amazing coloring job here!! Really gorgeous work!! HUGS

June Nelson said...

Hi Julie, your colourig is beautiful and this card is stunning!!!! I am going to have a good look around your blog when I get the chance, it will be a pleasure, Have a lovely day huggies June xxx

Jennifer said...

As always Julie, this is a darling creation. Love that sweet little image. Beautiful colouring and design. xx Jenny xx

Georgia said...

Wow, gorgeous card Julie! The image is so sweet and I love the stunning colours and papers! :) Love, Georgia xx

♥Gemma♥ said...

Absolutely fantastic hunni..just perfect in everyway!!
hugs and xxx
Gemma