What a wonderful shell Pinterest site for today's Inspiration challenge! I was inspired by two photos - my background was inspired by this photo and the colors for my shells and star fish were inspired by this photo.
I made my background using encaustic wax and a small iron - you melt the wax onto the base of the low heat iron and then run the iron over special white encaustic paper - there are all kinds of youtube videos out there on how to control the design you come out with - but I haven't played with it enough to control it - so I get what I get! Here is a link to where I purchased my supplies. I just LOVE the depth of the design the wax creates and I thought this piece looked just like the bottom of the ocean might look!
I picked up the small shells on the beautiful shores of Sanibel Island, FL. We vacationed there several years in a row - several years ago - and if you have been there, you know the shelling is super - and you just cannot walk along the beach without picking them up!! The tiniest ones like those here, don't add TOO much thickness - although they might not survive mailing unless padding was added.
I colored my shells with Shell Pink and Butterscotch Alcohol Inks - just adding drops over the shells - then drying lightly with my heat tool. The starfish is from a Tim Holtz die -Sea and Sand - and I embossed it with 3 colors of Wendy Vecchi embossing powder, Pink Peony, Orange Blossom and Tree Branch (one at a time) to achieve a mixed color.
I die cut the sentiment rectangle out of white, stamped it and sponged it all over with Distress Salty Ocean Ink - than spritzed it with water to create water drop marks.
So, just as I'm happy to welcome fall weather - I'm thinking of summer days at the beach again!! OR maybe a nice winter vacation in FL??!!