Sponged starry balloons

Winter won't end! I'm sitting at my computer and watching our second April blizzard. It started with rain yesterday, but it's been snow all day today. I know I should go out and do a round of shoveling, but it's so windy that it would all just blow right back. Sigh. And I just opened a Dove chocolate that had the message "Hello spring" inside. Not funny, Dove. Not funny.

On a happier note, last weekend I went to Milwaukee for one of Stampin' Up!'s regional OnStage events. I got to see a great friend, meet new people, and see lots of new Stampin' Up! products and colors. I haven't had a chance to make anything yet with the goodies I brought home, but I'm hoping to do that tomorrow. If I don't have to spend all day shoveling. In the meantime, here is a bright, fun birthday card:

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Birthday Messages (Simon Says Stamp), Party with Cake
Paper: Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White card stock; Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, white gel pen
Accessories: Balloons dies (Simon Says Stamp), Streamers embossing folder (Taylored Expressions), crochet thread (DMC), Tiny Attacher (Tim Holtz), Ink Blending Tool (Ranger), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Dimensionals

When Lemon Lime Twist was introduced last year, I really didn't think I would ever use it. But as it turns out, I really like it, especially with these tropical shades of blue.

I blended all three colors onto a piece of Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP and then used a tissue to rub off the excess ink and reveal the embossed stars, which are perfect for a birthday card. Using a set of balloon-shaped dies, I cut out several balloons in different shapes and sizes. I added a little light reflection on each balloon with a white gel pen.

For the card base I used a piece of Lemon Lime Twist card stock and added a layer of Bermuda Bay embossed with streamers. I rounded the corners of the embossed layer to let a little more of the Lemon Lime Twist peek through. I adhered three balloons to the front of the card -- the largest one has a white bow and is attached with Dimensionals -- and stapled on a narrow banner stamped with a sentiment. I colored the sentiment with markers to make it extra festive.

Inside the card I added a panel of Whisper White card stock stamped with a sentiment. I'm not always a fan of the filled-in letters like this font has, but for some reason I think it works with the balloons. Speaking of balloons, I added two more of the sponged and die-cut balloons on the inside panel.





Thanks for stopping by -- and I hope your day is snowstorm-free!