Whale of a Time

How did you you keep cool this week?  I hid out in my husband's hospital room!  He had a diverticulitis attack Monday night and landed in the hospital for 3 days.  He came home on the hottest day this year - 100 degrees!  He is home and feeling much better, however, he will need surgery in a few weeks.  I was nervous about going to the hospital during the COVID pandemic.  Our hospital in Longmont, Colorado, was pretty empty which was a good sign for our part of Colorado.

I spent sometime this weekend revamping my website to add some additional features for future use.  One big thing added is a subscribe email.  Please take the time to subscribe to my blog site so that you can receive updates when they are posted on Sunday nights.  I've been working on a newsletter subscription form as well.  It's almost ready for prime time!

My favorite way to stay cool is head for water.   No water here near my home to cool off in at this time, so it was time to hit the craft room and pull out something with water.  The Whale of a Time Suite Collection was perfect.  This is one of my favorite collections from the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog.  I am a Pisces - I am drawn to water.  My husband loves to snorkel - me a little nervous about snorkeling.  It is so amazing though to see the many brilliant species of fish in the ocean.  My husband was fortunate to swim with a turtle when we traveled to Hawaii.  And we were fortunate to see a whale swimming along in the ocean while on an Alaskan cruise.  So this set called my name!

This fun, colorful suite comes with Whale Done Bundle (stamp set and whale punch), Whale of Time Sequins, Whale of a Time 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper, Seabed 3d Embossing Folder, and 3/8" Sheer Ribbon.   The DSP pack contains 24 double sided sheets; 4 each of 6 different double sided variations including turtles, whales, fish, coral, jellyfish and more!  The sequins are so sparkly - there are even pretty pink seashell sequins.  And the ribbon - a gorgeous sheer ribbon in Pool Party blue.    All of the products are available to order separately; I purchased a second set of DSP to scrapbook with.  If you purchase the Whale Done Bundle separately or with the suite collection - you save 10% on the stamp set and punch. 

Whale of a Time Suite Collection

Stampin' Up!® did a fabulous job of coordinating luscious cardstock colors with this suite.  My favorite is Pretty Peacock with Coastal Cabana or Pacific Point with Calypso Coral.  Here are the suggested coordinating cardstock.  What are your favorite combinations?    

Balmy Blue

Blackberry Bliss

Bumblebee

Calypso Coral

Granny Apple Green

Just Jade

Pacific Point

Pool Party

Pretty Peacock

Shaded Spruce

Whisper White

Yesterday, I spent some time fussy cutting a sheet of turtles and punching out a sheet of whales with the new Whale punch to prep for making cards today.  Just put some dimensionals on the back of these little guys and they make excellent embellishments for your special designs.  

I found the perfect card design today that I cased from Vicki Parsons of My Paper Connection; a Square Window Fancy Fold.  She used the Peony Garden Suite for her cards she posted.  I thought this would be prefect to showcase the cute turtles and whales I prepared.

Here are the instructions to make the Whale Square Window Fancy Fold card:

1. Cut Night of Navy at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" - score at 4 1/4". 
2. Cut Pacific Point at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" - score at 4 1/4".  On the right hand side of the card, make a pencil tick mark on the top and bottom at 2 3/4" and then another 2 3/4" on the side edge.  Cut between the tick marks on the diagonal on both the top and bottom.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Emboss the right side of this "envelope cut" with the Seabed 3d Embossing folder.
4. Cut out square from "envelope cut" side setting with 2" Layering Square die 3/8" from edge. 
   
5. Cut Calypso Coral using 2 1/2" Layering Square die and 2" Layering Square die taped together.  This will create a frame.  Adhere the frame to the square cut out. 
   
   
   
   
6. Stamp small coral from the Whale Done stamp set onto scrap of Whisper White.  Highlight with Wink of Stella.  Punch out with 1 1/2" Circle Punch.  
7. Cut Whisper White at 5 1/4" x 4".  
8. Stamp with Whale Done stamp set the "My Love For You Is Bigger Than The Ocean" sentiment with Memento Black on the Whisper White 5 1/4" x 4" cardstock.  Stamp Whale and small bubbles in the lower right hand corner with Pacific Point.  Stamp Heart near the bubbles with Calypso Coral.  Adhere to the inside of the Night of Navy card base. 
   
9. Adhere the inside Pacific Point regular cut edge to the back of the Night of Navy card base aligning edges on top and bottom and along the fold of the Pacific Point score line.  
10. Adhere the dark blue Fish DSP to the front of the Night of Navy Card. 
11. Adhere the Whale with Stampin' dimensionals and center on the DSP within the frame of the Pacific Point card.  
12. Cut the kelp from Green/blue portion of the Rainbow Glimmer Paper with Smooth Sailing die set.  Adhere to the right side of the Night of Navy card front using Tombow glue.  
13. Punch out Balmy Blue water spots with Whale Punch.  Brush with Wink of Stella.  Adhere the larger water spot above the Whale.  Adhere the smaller spot so that it's hidden when the Pacific Point card is closed over the Night of Navy card front.  
    
14. Adhere three Whale of a Time sequins onto each; the Pacific Point card front and the Night of Navy Card front.
15. Adhere the coral circle with Stampin' dimensionals to the Night of Navy card front to catch the Pacific Point side to keep card closed.    
16. Stamp the coral with Calypso Coral to the lower left front corner of a white envelope.  

Here is a closer view of the inside of the turtle fancy fold card:

I then found some more cute cards that I cased today from Rose Ward of Stampers Delight.  She made the cutest Whale tails and shaker cards so I had to make a couple of each.  I used Pretty Peacock for the base of each card.   The shaker card uses the Snow Globe Shaker dome.  The outer ring is cut from the new Rainbow Glimmer Paper - the green fade into blue sparkle is dazzling!  

If you are a water lover or have photos from ocean vacations, cruises or even Seaworld - you will fall in love with this set!  Which one is your favorite?  Which one would you like to try making?

Please leave a comment as I would love to hear your thoughts on this fun, colorful suite!