Welcome Baby Card...

So about a week ago, I was in my local Tuesday Morning, browsing the baby aisle, and stumbled upon this adorable blanket... 

I immediately thought to myself, wait, I have a hot air balloon stamp at home. 

So tonight's card which will also be on my display at the Close to my Heart Convention in about a week and a half, was in fact inspired by that blanket. 

Now originally I was planning to use soft pastel blues, but decided against it, and chose to use the soft aqua colors. 

I may go back and create some neutral ones and even a pink or blue one. 

The hot air balloon stamp is from the Cheers To You Cardmaking Workshops Your Way stamp set. 

I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, and filled in just a few spots with some of my 

Cricut Markers. 

The "Welcome Baby" sentiment is from the Short & Sweet Stamp Set. 

One of my favorites, because it has so many different sentiments. 

And at only $6.95 it is an amazing deal.

The cardstock used is Pewter, Lagoon and White Daisy. 

The small strip of White Daisy was also run through the Cuttlebug (Exclusive Hostess Offer) , with our Rose Embossing Folder. 

This embossing folder, is truly my go to for many cards and scrapbooking layouts.

I used a little Lagoon ink to help distress the edges of the hot air balloon panel. 

Then I finished off the card with a few Bitty Sparkles to add some simple shine. 

I did enter this card into the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog- Transport It (Hot air balloon)

Convention Swaps Batch Two

As promised, here are a few photos of batch #2 of my Convention Swaps.
Some of the batches I will post, others I will leave for an element of surprise at the Convention.
I try to make each batch somewhat different, by changing the style, layout, technique etc.

I made 13 cards to swap at convention.
These 13 cards were made into two different sets.
For both sets, I tried to create a semi monochromatic look.

In this first set, the flowers came from the stamp set Beautiful Friendship-Scrapbooking 

by Close to my Heart, I used them to make a One Sheet Wonder piece, for a few of the cards.
For the One Sheet Wonder patterned paper I made, I used Juniper and Lagoon ink.

I used Juniper, Lagoon, Peacock, and White Daisy cardstock for most of the floral cards as well.
The cards are all based with the White Cards and EnvelopesValue Pack.

Most of the cards, have panels that are distressed with Pewter ink.

The "Perspective is Everything" and "the World is Yours to Explore" sentiments both came from the "A New Adventure" stamp set.

This set is so versatile and definitely one of my personal favorites.
For most of the sentiments I mounted them with 3-D Foam Tape.

For the second group of cards, I used Kraft, Pewter, and Sapphire for the A Big Thank You Thin Cuts overlay.  

Underneath is a layer of White Daisy that has been distressed with Glacier, Lagoon, and Sapphire ink. Love this color combo.

The cards are all based with the White Cards and EnvelopesValue Pack.

To attach the overlays I used the Bonding Memories Dual Action Glue Pen.

I used the Bitty Sparkles to embellish all of the cards.

Hope you enjoyed these, as much as I did making them.

As always if you have any questions at all please let me know.

A Card of Encouragement...

Sometimes we all need a word of encouragement. I made this card recently for a dear friend, as he was going through a period of doubt. I hope that it lifts his spirits, as he treks along. 

This particular card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in size, a size I am quite fond of. 

The card has several layers, with a layer of black cardstock under each layer of patterned paper, for the technique I call "Blacked Out". 

I used Canary cardstock, and two of the patterned prints from the Stargazer Patterned Paper Packet by Close to my Heart. I love the colors of this paper, and it really does have such a versatile style. The darker blue paper, has several planets to include Saturn on it. The lighter colored paper has telescopes of various colors on it, along with mini Saturns.

The sentiment "The World Is Yours To Explore" is from the "A New Adventure" stamp set also by Close to my Heart. The sentiment is stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, with Pacifica Ink used to distress the edges. The layered circle also contains two Bitty Sparkles.  

I also entered this card into a few challenges:

Pile It On! Challenge Blog - #140 Circles with optional bonus of Squares

World Wide Open Design Team Monthly Challenge-#3 Anything Goes 

Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog - Road Trip 

Classic Design Team Blog- #23 Anything Goes 

Lemon Shortbread Challenge Blog- #63 Anything Goes 

Through The Craftroom Door- Anything Goes

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges - #11 Anything Goes