A WHALE of a Stamp Set... TCP style

Hi everyone.  I am going to have 2 posts today... I have just been THAT stampy, that I have more cards than days... CRAZY!

I am WAY excited and giddy to be showing you a couple cards today using the soon-to-be-released stamp set from TCP: Whale of a Time.  O M G it's total cuteness... it was love at first sight for me.  And... well... Alma from TCP was so sweet to send me my drug of choice: stamps.  Oh how I SQUEALED when I got my package.  *swoon*  Thanks again, Alma!

Since I know you'll be wanting these stamps (and other stuff)... let me share some details with you about the TCP release:

• There is a release party Monday, July 19th (TODAY) from 8-11 PM EST HERE in the TCP forum on SCS.  Go for the games, giveaways, and surprises. :)
• Check out all the sneaky peeks from the past 7 days HERE on Alma's blog
• You can find the TCP store HERE

OK, on to my creations.  :)

This is the first card I made with Whale of a Time & the new CutUps Wave Die ( I hear you ooohing and aaahhhing over it).  I paper pieced the whale using MME patterned paper.  I die-cut the waves using another pattern from the same line and then used yet MORE patterns for the sky, splashing water, and background.  This was a mish mash of My Mind's Eye (LOVE that paper).  I curled the end of all the waves out with my fingers to make them nice and dimensional.  I did the same thing to the whale's tail to make it look like it was flippin' and flappin'.  The last detail was a simple sentiment flag

Up next is my inspired whale card.  As soon as I saw the steam stamp from Toni's Tea Set, I envisioned using it with the whale stamp set.  I wanted the "blow hole" to be spurting water and blow his sailor cap off his head.  This is where the inspiration lead:

This time, I made the focal area circular and trimmed the waves to fit the circle.  Again, I flipped out the waves with my fingers.  I love how it looks like they are lapping all around him. :)  The "water spray" was stamped in black and clear embossed.  I added the sailor hat to the top of the spray using dimensionals.  I added one strip of gauzy ribbon that I found in my stash.  I thought it looked nautical... don't ask me why.  LOL 

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll see you at the TCP Party.  I'll be there with bells on and my credit card "drawn".  I'll be needing more stamps, wood paper... and some other stuff.  LOL 

Have a great day and I'll see you at noon with another Dare to Get Dirty Creation.  :)