A Big Top Birthday...(Gallery Idol Top 10)...

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The polls are open for voting in Round 3 of Gallery Idol 2010, and I am so proud to be counted among the ten talented card-makers. Thank you again to everyone who helped get me this far! If you would like to VOTE, please click on the link below, or click on the voting widget at the end of this post.

To vote click: Gallery Idol Round 3 VOTING

For this round, we were challenged to make a card incorporating a creative use of ribbon. I don't have a huge ribbon stash, so I was a little nervous, but when I discovered some Christmas ribbon in the closet, I knew just what I wanted to do.


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I was inspired by one of my son's favorite books, If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss. When I picked up two rolls of red and ivory satin ribbon, I just had to try to make a circus tent card. Admittedly, with only three days to create, I was nervous I was being too ambitious, but that what a challenge is for, right?
To begin, I sketched out a template for the card, cut it out, and used it on a piece of very thin chipboard. I knew I would need something very sturdy, as I wanted to make a shaped card. I did this twice, as I planned to pop out the top of the Big Top. I used a LOT of scor-tape to adhere the satin ribbon in alternating stripes, overlapping on the top to simulate the curve of the tent. Scalloped velvet ribbon was the perfect trim, and I added yellow flags fashioned from grosgrain ribbon and toothpicks.
To create the curtained entrance, I ran some card stock through a paper crimper and then die cut circles and cut them to make the "lit" marquee (a few clear gems worked great.)
What circus is complete without a few performers? I made the little lion's mane by unraveling some chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon and then gluing down on a base of card stock. Next, I used circle punches to create the face and ears, penning in the mouth. I free cut the body and tail, adding more frayed ribbon to the end of the the tail. Next, I sketched out and cut the shape of a seal and again used a circle punch to create the little ball. For a fun touch, I ruffled some stitched grosgrain ribbon and made the seal a cute collar. I then made two stands for each, using more pretty ribbon to decorate.
For my sentiment, which reads, "Hope Your Birthday is the Greatest Show on Earth" (thank you to my mom-in-law, Susan, for helping me decide on it!) I printed it out on a long banner in an appropriate font, and stamped a sweet little plane to fly it across my Big Top birthday tent!

Thank you so much for taking a peek at my Gallery Idol card. I hope you enjoyed it and please VOTE for your favorite, as the next round eliminates five more from the competition, taking us (me included, I hope!) to the Finals.

BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Tiny Treats: Valentine (plane); Paper Co. Shimmer Card Stock; Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, and Basic Black Card Stock; Hero Arts Clear Gemstones; Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities; Big Shot; Toothpicks; Fiskars Paper Crimper; Sakura Jelly Roll Pens; Chipboard (Essentials by Ellen); Foam Tape
HAPPY BEANS: Kate's Paperie Ivory and Red No. 53 Satin Ribbon; SU Crushed Curry Grosgrain Ribbon; Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon (generic); SU Groovy Guava Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon; Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly Scalloped Velvet Ribbon; TE Grab Bag Colored Ribbon; Fontspace.com (JJRingmaster) Font