Ciao from St. Barts!  I’m loving my trip through the Caribbean, and thought I’d pull a little inspiration for this month’s featured RemARKable Stamp Set Blog Tour from my actual surroundings today here on St. Bart’s in the French West Indies.  I’m sure you enjoyed your creative inspiration on Linda’s blog Ink Stamp and Scrap and are ready for a little brayer and sponging creativity.

When I thought about what to do for today’s Blog Tour, the first thing that sprang to mind was the word Ciao.  In Europe that could be hello or goodbye, so it was entirely appropriate for my project today.  I’m saying hello from the French West Indies and goodbye to St. Barts as we’re on our way to St. Maarten.  Here is a little of what I did today.

Today, I spent the day on Gouverneur Beach on the south side of St. Barts.  This was the most highly recommended beach by every local we spoke to, and it was quite an experience driving there.  The narrow roads that wound around the island at several steep points was so worth every frightful turn as we ended up here.  This is my inspiration photo for my card today.  I hope you love it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Creative Tips:

• I brayered River Rock and Crumb Cake for my sand and used a sponge for the contouring.
• I brayered Tempting Turqoise and Island Indigo for my Caribbean Sea.  I used a sponge for contouring and spotlighting.
• My sky was done out of Tempting Turqoise and Baja Breeze.
• For the land, I masked two islands in Crumb cake, Soft Suede, Old Olive and Gumball Green.

• I used a Garden Green Marker for the shrubbery.
• I used a White Gel Pen to create my foam, clouds, seagulls and water movement.

A little St. Barts with some luxury inspiration in the backdrop – mega yachts!

• St. Barts is a luxury French island with unbelievable white sand beaches, and luxury properties as a playground for the rich and famous – it’s a literal who’s who and who has the biggest yacht here.  To capture that spirit I used the Ciao Stamp and matching punch (a SAB freebie – get yours while you still can!).  I stamped it in Early Espresso and adhered it to an Island Indigo banner.

• I blinged up my banner which I cut with a 1” Square punch.

Brayering cards like this are little pieces of artwork.  I encourage you to sign them like I did, with the year and location.  My card is sitting in my stateroom and I’m going to leave it for my Stateroom attendant at the end of my cruise with a tip.

I hope you enjoyed my brayering piece today.  I loved my inspiration just as much as I do this little work of art.  Enjoy Melissa’s creative inspiration on her blog http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191.  See you next week for the 25th Anniversary Blog Tour or next month for another featured stamp set!