"Dreaming Myself Away to a Sandy Beach" Printer's Tray - by Claudia

Hi, servus and so happy to see you here again on the Calico Craft Parts blog. Thanks so much for stopping by again to check out my latest design team project for your inspiration! I hope you are all well and safe!

By the start of May over here in Austria we should get new information from our government on first steps of slowly loosening Corona related restrictions, but while I was creating this project (about two weeks ago) and scheduling this post we were still in the middle of "stay at home, practice social distancing and wear your masks" and all the other things that have turned everyday life upside down.

Booking holidays is still not an option as no one really knows when travelling to places outside your own country will be possible again...so I decided it was time to dream myself away to a calm, warm and sandy beach by creating a printer's tray with Calico Craft Parts, some beach finds from my personal collection and some designer papers and chipboard pieces from an ocean themed paper crafting set.

The advantage of a "dream holiday" is that you are independent from seasons - so why not go for a walk along the beach to collect shells, watch the sea gulls and sailing boats, listen to the waves crushing gently at the shore and feel the sand between your toes in early April?! ;)

Calico Craft Parts used: 

- Printer's Tray Kit and Frame (can be bought separately and combined just the way you want to)
- Sheet of Mini MDF Nautical Motifs - Style 2
- Ships Wheel Compass - MDF Wood Shape
- Striped Beach Hut with Flag - MDF Wood Shape
- Sheet of Mini MDF Wood Birds - Seagulls
- left over oars from the smallest MDF Boat & Oars Kit

I first glued some designer paper to the tray's back panel and sanded off the excess once the matte Decou-Page had dried.

In the meantime I had already dry brushed the frame and the smaller Craft Parts with DecoArt media white Gesso (using a bristle brush).

Once that Gesso had dried, I scraped on some white DecoArt media Crackle Paint here and there with the very tip of my palette knife and let that air dry.

Next I glued the printer's tray frame in place using the matte Decou-Page again as it dries really fast.
Then I painted the primed Craft Parts and the crackled frame with mostly washes of DecoArt media fluid acrylics Phtalo Turquoise, Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Titan Buff, Titanium White, Cadmium Red Hue and Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide. In some spots I used the paint as it comes in the bottle to have an opaque layer of paint.

On top of the already once crackled and wash-tinted frame I applied more white Crackle paint with the tip of the palette knife to get the impression of clouds on top and whitecaps at the bottom of the frame.

I used matte Decou-Page and in some places sticky foam pads to put the stickers, chipboard pieces and Craft Parts in place. I also glued a piece of driftwood to the frame's top and added letter cubes to the bottom section of my tray.

Finally I added two tiny spools as feet and some small shells and corals to my printer's tray - this way I have even something that reminds me of my real trips to the Caribbean which I enjoyed so much and will always remember. :)

Done!

Some close ups: 

I hope you liked my little dream travel and maybe will dream yourself to a beautiful holiday spot too by creating your own printer's tray!

Stay safe!

Claudia

xxx