Sending You Sunshine (Gallery Idol 2010!)...

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With the Open Auditions over (whew!) it was time to get down to making my Gallery Idol 2010 Round 1 card. The challenge is "Creativity Heals" - cards for encouragement, get well, thinking of you, missing you, or sympathy. If you are in need of some major mojo, check out the amazing group of ladies in whose company I have the honor of keeping! I hope that if you like my card, you will take a moment to vote by clicking on the link below.

Vote here: Gallery Idol 2010 Voting

For my Round 1 card, I really wanted to make a happy card that could be sent to anyone who might need a little lift or who could use a smile. I have always enjoyed making 'shadow box' cards for their detail and dimension. Here is how I made this one:
I began with a white card base and free cut some hills in two different shades of green. I used a mask of the furthest hill to help me sponge in my blue sky. Next, I sponged a bit of Wild Wasabi onto the edge of each hill before lining them with some dimensional pearls. I set them aside to dry.
I worked on the little house, paper piecing the cute image. I then die cut some clouds and a bright sun, sponging around the edges as well to add some depth. I added the little heart-shaped balloon over the sky and then got down to making my paper sunflowers.
I first punched out little yellow flowers and sponged around each one. Then for a little "authenticity," I ran some Chocolate Chip card stock through my Big Shot with a dotted folder several times to get tiny dots on the little circles I punched out. For the stems, I cut thin strips of green card stock and then attached itty bitty leaves (it took a while, but I loved the finished effect), sponging some ink on each stem as well. I popped up a few for more dimension.
After punching a white picket fence and cutting out a bit of grass, I was ready to assemble the scene, which I did with lots and lots of foam dimensionals (Bean tip: to cut down on bulk, use 1/16" thick dimensionals.)
To create the frame for my scene, I began with some Dusty Durango card stock, which I ran through with a wood impression plate then cut in strips, sponging matching ink along the edges. These I mitered at the corners and added some silver ink "nails" with a metallic pen. I printed my happy sentiment on the computer and popped it out on some die cut ovals. Finally, I placed the entire scene on some pretty striped designer paper for a finished card that I hope will send a bit of sunshine to someone who needs it.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my Gallery Idol submission for this round. If you'd like to vote, please click here. There are a lot of talented card makers in the Top 20, and you'll be wowed and amazed by each and every one. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I'll make it to the next round!
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Wonderfully Whimsical Stamps; Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass Distress Ink; Stampin' Up So Saffron, Dusty Durango, Wild Wasabi, and Basic Black Classic Dye Ink; SU Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper; SU Wild Wasabi, Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, and Kraft Card Stock; Martha Stewart Picket Fence Border and Christmas Tree Large Punch; SU Punch Pack Punch; Spellbinders Long Ovals Nestabilities; PTI Clouds Die; PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Computer & Printer; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Pewter Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Adirondack Lettuce Dimensional Pearls; Metallic Silver Pen (generic)