The World is Your Oyster Card
By: Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide

Finished card size: 5.5" x 4.5"

I love this card for a 'going away', 'bon voyage' or even a 'moving away from home', 'goodluck' type card.  You could change the "enjoy" along the bottom to a "happy birthday" for a 21st or 18th birthday.

Supplies:
Stamps:
SNS-TW:Stick 'N Stamp Set - The World (Rubbadubbadoo)
SNSMS-HO:Stick 'N Stamp Word Set - Hope (Rubbadubbadoo)
Papers:
1 piece Black cardstock  - 4.5" x 5.5" card base
3 pieces White cardstock - 4" x 5.25"
1 piece  Black cardstock 4" x 4"
Ink:
Blue Breeze, Kaleidacolor (Tsukineko)
Onyx Black, Versafine (Tsukineko)
Other:
Fine Black embossing powder (Ranger)
Puff Static bag or talc
Black organza ribbon 10mm
Double sided tape
Foam tape or squares
Cut 'n' dry foam (Ranger)
Craft mat (Ranger) or a plastic report cover
Heat tool (optional)
Tag Die (Spellbinders) (optional)
Die cutting machine of your choice (optional)

Directions:

1. Close the Kaleidacolor inkpad colours together.  Ink  the 'globe' stamp so that the image is lighter at the top than the bottom.
2. Stamp the image three times (reinking each time) around the outside of a 4" x 5.25" card with some of the images over the edge of the page.
3. Repeat with the 'suitcase' and 'ship' stamps.



4. Open the ink pad back out and using the cut'n'dry foam, sponge the two lighter colours around the edge of the card. Once there is a good base of light colour (which has filled in the "tooth" of the card) other colours will glide and blend much more easily.HINT:  Always make the first point of contact with the inked sponge off the edge of the card and gently glide the sponge on to the edge of the card to drag the colour in towards the middle in a swirly type motion.  When using this method I like to hold the front edge of the sponge up ever so slightly.  Doing both of these things can help to avoid sharp lines of colour on the card.







5. Add a layer of colour from the middle of the inkpad.  Leave some places with just the light blue if desired.



6. Repeat with the darkest colour around the very edge of the card.
   HINT: Don't ink up the sponge too much at this stage.  It is better to build the colour in many light layers rather than go too dark by mistake.



7. Take the other piece of white card and wipe with a puff static bag or use Shelly's trick of sprinkling with talc.



8. Ink your stamp with the Versafine ink.  Hold the stamp up to the light and move around so that you can check that the whole image is shimmering and well covered.



9. Sprinkle the fine black embossing powder over the stamped image.  Tap off the excess powder and heat until melted.
   HINT: Don't overheat the embossing powder - it will melt into the card and go flat and dull.  Watch the powder changing as it heats and stop heating as soon as the change has finished.
   HINT:  If you do not have a heat tool yet. Hold the card over the toaster (Use some tweezers or other tool to keep your fingers away from the heat)



10. Trim the image and sponge colour with the same technique as for the background card.  Place the trimmed image on to the background card to see if you have the colour saturation that you like.  I like to keep the front image lighter than the background so that it stands out and 'pops'.





11. Add more colour as desired.
12. Run tape around the outside edges of the background and open out the release paper from two corners.   Lay on to the base card and centre carefully.  When you are satisfied with the placement of the background, push down on the two open corners.  Hold the top card in place and gently pull the tape out at right angles to the card and it will tape down nicely without moving the card from its place.





13. Matt the front image on black paper or card and mount with foam tape or foam squares.



14. With the remaining scrap of white cardstock, stamp the word "enjoy" from the titles set with black Versafine.  When dry sponge blue inks from the Kaleidacolor over the tag.  Thread ribbon through the holes and apply gentle heat with the heat tool to 'crinkle' the ribbon.
    Hint: if you don't have a tag die, stamp the sentiment onto the scrap and trim to a nice rectangle.  Sponge to match main image then mat onto black paper or card.
15. Attach to the front of the card with foam tape or squares.



16. Attach the last piece of white cardstock to the inside of your creation and write your message.