For All That You Do...

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

Today's post is for my fourth and final card for the "open auditions" for PaperCrafts Magazine's Gallery Idol 2010 card contest. I am absolutely THRILLED to say that this balloon card was chosen as a Top 20 Finalist! There were so many amazing cards and I'm honored to have been selected to move on. So, I'll be working on my Round 2 card next week and if you like what I come up with, I hope you'll vote! In the meantime, a little bit about this card that got me through.
I know that hot air balloons have been all the rage of late, but I've been a fan for a long time -- though, as someone deathly afraid of heights, you'd be hard-pressed to get me to actually ride in one! For this card, I wanted to make a shaped card celebrating the wonderfulness that are hot air balloons. I began with the balloon itself, die-cutting five different pieces of paper with my Big Shot. Next, I carefully cut each piece so that they matched up in an assembled circle. For a little bit of authentic whimsy, I zig-zagged stitched along each seam before setting the balloon aside while I worked on the basket.
To achieve a woven basket, I used some nifty wood sheets and drew and cut out the general shape of my basket three times. I then cut two of the shapes along both horizontal and vertical lines before weaving them together and gluing onto the third shaped element. I sponged on some Distress Ink for come color, and to bring out the weave.
Next, I faced an interesting conundrum: how do I make a standing balloon that could be supported by "rope" created from hemp twine? The solution was to cut out a card base from clear acetate and gluing the balloon and basket to it, along with a similar base in Baja Breeze for the back of the card. I was so pleased that the card stood up without any problems.
The sentiment was created on a computer and printed out on white card stock. I simply cut it out and then adhered it after bending it gently here and there. For a final touch, I die cut some cream colored felt and made little "sand sacks" to hang over the sides of the basket. Up, up and away!
BEAN NOTES: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Making Memories Chloe's Closet Designer Paper; Stampin' Up Bleu Bayou, Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Groovy Guava Card Stock; SU Hemp Twine; Papertrey Ink Clear Acetate; Spellbinders Classic Circles Nestabilities; Quikutz Embossing Folder; Sizzix Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Cream Felt (generic) White Embroidery Thread (generic); Sewing Machine; Needle; Computer and Printer
HAPPY BEANS: SU Texture Cuts Wood Sheets