Balloon Hugs

A couple of days ago I mentioned that I had, unusually for me, started working on a card and then set it aside to make a different one instead. This is that card! I’d done all the colouring and stamping, but wasn’t sure what else I wanted to do with it. Today I got it finished though, and it turns out there wasn’t even that much left to be done!

I started by trimming down a snippet of white card to create my focal panel. Next I stamped a balloon from a Panduro Hobby stamp set using MFT Black Licorice Hybrid ink.

I then took my cloud masks that I previously created using both clouds from Simon Says Stamp’s Sea You Soon. I used the fussy cut masks and ink blended over them with some blue pigment ink to create a soft cloud background all across the white panel.

I used my Yosoo alcohol markers to colour in the balloon. I started with the yellow stripes on the balloon, using three different shades of yellow to add shading and dimension. (I later discovered that the yellow I’d thought was my lightest tone was actually not – whoops! Oh well, it came out well enough despite that.) I then went in with red to colour the other strips and the heart at th top of the balloon. I used the same red and yellow pens to colour the little bags around the basket.

For the basket itself I used a variety of E markers – different shades of browns. The shading was fairly straightforward as the stamp clearly suggests where the darkest areas should be.

With all the colouring done all I needed to do was add a sentiment. It took me a while to decide what to add, but in the end I settled on one of the sentiments from CAS-ual Friday’s Calm and Loving stamp set. I stamped and heat embossed it in black to help it stand out better against the balloon.

Finally I adhered the panel to a navy blue card base.

I really like this card. I think it works well as an encouragement or thinking of you card. I am very happy with how the colouring turned out, despite one or two mishaps. I’ve certainly been having a lot of fun playing with my alcohol markers since I got them!

Love,

Lady Joyful

Challenges included:

Calling All Sistahs – Inspiration Image and/or Colour Palette (I primarily took inspiration from the image, but I did try to use some of the colours too.)

CAS(E) This Sketch – Sketch/Layout 

CAS-ual Fridays – Friendship

Moving Along With The Times – Things That Fly (edit – where it was a top pick!)

STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge – CAS

Stamplorations Theme and Sketch Challenge – Stamps and Anything Goes