Variations on a theme

One of the items that arrived in my box of Stampin' Up!^® goodies this week was the stamp set Up, Up & Away. This set has been on my wish list since the latest catalog came out last summer, so I was excited to finally have it in my hands. I made one card with it last night and then today decided to make two more cards using the same images and colors but different layouts. Here are my variations on a theme:

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Up, Up & Away
Card stock: Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, white gel pen
Accessories: Brights Collection buttons, white baker's twine, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Crop-a-dile, Dimensionals

For this card (as well as the other two), I stamped the clouds in Basic Gray and used a white gel pen to fill in the images. It took a little bit of time, but I really like the end result. The hot air balloons are stamped on white card stock (I used the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to line up the main balloon image and the stamp with the lines of "stitching"), cut out and adhered to the card with Dimensionals. I love the little pop of red!

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Up, Up & Away
Card stock: Pool Party, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Ink: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, white gel pen
Accessories: Stripes embossing folder, 1/8" Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

The piece of Basic Gray card stock on the bottom of this card was embossed with the Stripes embossing folder. I  added Daffodil Delight ribbon along the top of the Basic Gray card stock and then used a Glue Dot to adhere a separate bow.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Up, Up & Away
Card stock: Pool Party, Whisper White, Basic Gray 
Ink: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, white gel pen
Accessories: Simply Scored tool and diagonal plate, Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Dimensionals

For this version, which I think is my favorite of the three, I used the diagonal plate with my Simply Scored tool to create the diagonal score lines on the Basic Gray card base. I added Daffodil Delight ribbon around the card front and a Whisper White mat behind the Pool Party card stock.

I didn't use many embellishments on these cards, and I considered adding some brads, rhinestones or pearls. But I think the "minimalist" look works well here because it doesn't detract from the scene and allows the hot air balloons to stand out against the background.

Thanks for stopping by!