A New Challenge!

I'm a member of a Yahoo group called "Late Night Stampers"--an appropriate name, if ever there was one! The members post their creations for all of us to ooh and aah over.  This morning, Diana Eichfeld posted a gorgeous card and I knew I wanted to CASE it right away! I went to Diana's blog, Stampin' Fun with Diana, and left her a comment on her card. (You should check it out and leave a comment, too!) Then I saw that she had created her card based on a new (to me) challenge group:  the Paper Craft Crew.

As luck would have it, I had to take the day off while the plumber replaced our water heater AND sump pump, so I had plenty of time to stamp today!! So I played along with the Paper Craft Crew! This week's challenge is a sketch: 



I had an idea, but it took waaaaay longer to actually pull off than I thought it would. I used This & That DSP as my panel and thought it would go great with The Open Sea Stamp set, but I couldn't get the colors and proportions the way I wanted them. Once I got the colors and proportions right, I went looking for a stamp that fit. Backwards, am I. Fortunately, I was going for a "travel" feel and the hot air balloon from You're Amazing fits that theme! I sponged a little Smoky Slate onto the Pool Party piece that the balloon is stamped on to tone it down a bit. And I sponged a little pool party on the sentiment, too. For some reason, I'm compelled to flip up the ends of any banners I use. I had the Gumball Green banner down flat, but couldn't stand it. I had to flip up the ends! I finished off the design with three Jumbo Rhinestones.

(Stamp Sets: You're Amazing, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Pool Party: Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Pool Party, DSP: This & That DSP; Gumball Green Core'Dinaton Specialty Paper; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder, Banners Framelits Dies, Jumbo Rhinestones)