There is a new challenge in town! The Rose Blossom Garden Challenge is designed to help you explore the possibilities with Close to My Heart's Art Philosophy and Artist Cricut Cartridges. On the first and fifteenth of the month, they will challenge you to create something using a particular key on one of these cartridges. The first challenge ever is to create something using the "Happy Birthday" key on the Artiste cartridge. You do not have to use CTMH products (except, obviously, for the assigned Cricut cartridge), but of course, being sponsored by independent CTMH consultants they would be happy if you did. I saw this cute little stamp at A.C. Moore when picking up some new Cricut mats, and since it was a cat and I cannot walk out of a craft store with only one thing...
Rather than color in the stamped balloons, I covered them with balloons cut on the Cricut:
To give the balloons some dimension, I sponged them with ink of the same color as the paper, layering it on to keep the shading soft. To make the highlights more interesting, I cut slivers of white paper which I coated with liquid glass and then placed behind the hole on each balloon so that the liquid glass oozed through the hole. This made a cleaner shaped highlight than if I applied the liquid glass directly on to the balloon. Of course some of the glass oozed out under each balloon, so how did I keep it from sticking to my work surface while it dried? I worked on a Silpat, a silicon baking mat that you find in stores like Sur la Table. I also wrapped a bit of black upholstery thread around the bottom of the balloons. As for the rest, I sponged the words a bit and hand stitched around the edge with more of the upholstery thread. I had to decline Luna's offers of "help" several times! My CTMH ruler made it easy to place the holes evenly around the edge. Now what did I do with the "Birthdays" leftover after using the "Happys" on the front? I put them inside:
I choose Twilight, Pear, and Buttercup because they are this week's colors over at Color My Heart Color Dare. Thank you for stopping by! Until next time, Hansi
Materials used, all Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted:
Paper: Twilight, Pear, Buttercup and White Daisy cardsock, Chantilly
Ink: Twilight, Buttercup, Pear, Black
Stamp: by Inkadinkado
Embellishments: Liquid glass, black upholstery thread by Coats and Clark
Other: Artiste Cricut cartridge
Lovely card, Hansi! I think that cat is adorable and I certainly understand your reasoning for his purchase--if I have to make a trip to a craft store I will not be leaving empty handed! The balloon colors are a perfect way to use the current Color Dare challenge colors. Thanks for playing along with us this week--your artwork is always so beautiful!
ReplyDelete:) Marie
I really like your shading on the balloons and of course being a cat-person, myself, the kitty is adorable. Love how you used the 'Birthday' on the inside. I totally understand not wanting to discard the words but instead using them inside. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
WoW ... I love what you did with the balloons. You make it sound easy but I've never been able to get a look like that. Lovely for both challenges.
ReplyDeleteLove that stamp set with the balloons. I really like this card. Thank you for playing along with us at Rose Blossom Garden.
ReplyDeleteThis card is entirely too cute! You really captured the fun we're looking for at the Rose Garden. Thanks so much for playing along and we look forward to seeing you next time!
ReplyDeleteSomehow the black and white kitty image makes this card so much more fun (cartoon-like in the best way). LOVE how you incorporated the Color My Heart challenge colours both inside and out. And your balloons really look like they're going to float away, cat and all.
ReplyDeleteFantastic card! Thanks for joining us at CMH--its always a treat!
Adorable card! I love the colors!
ReplyDeletedelightful! You did such a fantastic job on this challenge. Love how you added the dimension on the balloons with the ink. Thanks for joining us at the Rose Blossom Garden this time!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Kim xXx
Congrats on making the Top #3 at the Rose Blossom Challenge Blog! Your card is so fun and whimsical!
ReplyDeleteContgrats on making the top 3! Love your little cat and the balloons. You really made them stand out with the shading and liquid glass.
ReplyDeleteThat is a cute stamp! My daughter would love it. She loves all things cats! I like how you used the Artiste cartridge to cover up the stamped balloons. Clever! The inside of your card is wonderful, just as pretty as the front! Thanks for playing at Color My Heart, and congrats for winning at Rose Blossom Garden!
ReplyDeleteSarah