Welcome to InKing Royalty’s February Blog Hop! During this year’s blog hops, we are having fun with our stamping favorites – our favorite themes for seasonal cards and projects. This month’s projects feature balloons, so you are in for a celebratory treat. We are excited to share our creations with you today! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.
Have you ever wondered if a balloon color has meaning? We all know flowers have different meanings but a balloon?
FACTOID
I learned that balloons in general symbolize freedom and release. That was rather obvious. But reading further into the balloon lore I discovered that a red balloon is a symbol of spirituality, friendship, love, triumph of good over evil, and fragility. And yellow balloons mean that there are good things ahead. I was deep in thought while creating these balloon inspired cards. Can you tell? LOL!! I want a lot of yellow balloons for 2021.
I chose to make 2 cards. One with a red balloon and one with a yellow balloon. Here are my cards.
RED BALLOON CARD
Did you ever read or watch The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse? It is a touching story that incorporates all of the meanings given to a red balloon. This card makes me think of that story.
And then there is the yellow balloon gracefully presented by the pink flamingo.
CREATING THE BACKGROUND
- Paper
- Thick White cardstock: scraps plus
- 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″
- 3-1/2″ x 4-3/4″
- Basic Black cardstock: 3-5/8″ x 4-7/8″
- Vellum: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
- Smoky Slate cardstock: scrap
- Thick White cardstock: scraps plus
- Stamp Sets
- Friends are Like Seashells (sentiment)
- Dies & Punches
- Happy dies
- Balloon Bouquet punch
- Ink Pads & Markers
- Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
- Real Red ink pad
- Balmy Blue ink pad
- Other Supplies
- Liquid Multipurpose Glue
- Dimensionals
- Tools (Always a Must-Have in My Book)
- Blending BrushesSnips and Bone Folder
- Paper Trimmer
- Cut & Emboss Machine Mini
Stamp the Good Morning Magnolia image onto the vellum panel using Basic Gray ink. The lines will be blurred by the Stampin’ Blends and the alcohol to create a faux watercolor effect.
Color the image starting with the lightest color. Use Dark Daffodil Delight for the center. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush into the rubbing alcohol and gently move the color. I added Champagne Shimmer Paint to my rubbing alcohol.
Next, color non-adjacent petals with Dark Flirty Flamingo. Gently blur the stamped line. Let dry and repeat on other petals. Do the same for the leaves. TIP: Blow into a straw to gently direct the ink flow in the desired direction.
Add a second layer of color after the image is dry. Repeat the process of alcohol painting and gently blowing the ink.
OPTIONAL: Pick up some clean rubbing alcohol with the paintbrush and flick it over the image. This will create small droplets that will lighten some areas by moving the color outward.
Adhere the vellum panel to the Basic White cardstock panel using Stampin’ Seal or a light amount of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Add to Basic Black card base.
Stamp the sentiment in White Craft ink and heat emboss with with embossing powder. Trim to you liking. Add to card panel with small black Dimensionals.
Customize the message insert and the envelope with some flicks of color from the brush end of the Stampin’ Blends.
Create the clouds in the ‘sky’ by using the curvy die from the Happy die collection. Cut the 5-1/2″ side of the vellum piece. Place the cut vellum piece over the white card panel. Using the Blending Brush, gently wipe across the Balmy Blue ink pad. In light circular motion add ink to the edge of the curved vellum piece. Move the vellum randomly up or down the card panel until you have a cloud formation that pleases you. TIP: I start in the middle.
Cleaning Blending Brush: This is a matter of preference. I wipe mine on my Shammy then on a lint-free t-shirt (hopefully not the one I am wearing! LOL) until there is no color transfer. If I am staying in the same color family, I just rub the ink off on my scrap paper.
Punch a small balloon from a scrap of vellum and white cardstock. Add Real Red ink to the vellum balloon using a Blending Brush. TIP: Blend the ink darker on one side and leave a lighter center. Glue the balloon layers together and a couple of Dimensionals.
Die-cut a balloon string and bow from Smoky Slate cardstock using the Happy dies.
Layer as shown and stamp the sentiment directly on to the cloud panel.
YELLOW BALLOON CARD
CREATING THE BACKGROUND
- Paper
- Thick White cardstock: 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″
- Basic Black cardstock: 1″ x 3″
- Shimmery White cardstock: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
- So Saffron cardstock: scrap
- Smoky Slate cardstock: scrap
- Pool Party cardstock: 3″ x 5-1/2″
- Fine Art Floral DSP: 2-3/4″ x 5-1/2″
- Stamp Sets
- Friends are Like Seashells (sentiment)
- Dies & Punches
- Flamingo dies
- Happy dies
- Balloon Bouquet punch
- Embossing Folder
- Painted Textures
- Inks & Markers
- Basic Black marker
- Flirty Flamingo reinker
- White Craft ink pad
- Other Supplies
- Pearl Basic Jewels
- Liquid Multipurpose Glue
- Dimensionals
- Tools (Always a Must-Have in My Book)
- Blending Brushes
- Snips and Bone Folder
- Paper Trimmer
- Cut & Emboss Machine Mini
Stamp the Good Morning Magnolia image onto the vellum panel using Basic Gray ink. The lines will be blurred by the Stampin’ Blends and the alcohol to create a faux watercolor effect.
Color the image starting with the lightest color. Use Dark Daffodil Delight for the center. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush into the rubbing alcohol and gently move the color. I added Champagne Shimmer Paint to my rubbing alcohol.
Next, color non-adjacent petals with Dark Flirty Flamingo. Gently blur the stamped line. Let dry and repeat on other petals. Do the same for the leaves. TIP: Blow into a straw to gently direct the ink flow in the desired direction.
Add a second layer of color after the image is dry. Repeat the process of alcohol painting and gently blowing the ink.
OPTIONAL: Pick up some clean rubbing alcohol with the paintbrush and flick it over the image. This will create small droplets that will lighten some areas by moving the color outward.
Adhere the vellum panel to the Basic White cardstock panel using Stampin’ Seal or a light amount of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Add to Basic Black card base.
Stamp the sentiment in White Craft ink and heat emboss with with embossing powder. Trim to you liking. Add to card panel with small black Dimensionals.
Customize the message insert and the envelope with some flicks of color from the brush end of the Stampin’ Blends.
Time to smoosh ink. Add several drops of Flirty Flamingo ink to a window sheet. Spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol. Run your finger through the mix horizontally and vertically to break up concentrated globs of color. Smoosh the Shimmery White cardstock into the ink. Dry and repeat until you have a couple of layers of ink. OPTIONAL: Use a DSP that has a lot of variations of pink to die-cut the flamingo.
Die-cut a flamingo and wing from the Shimmery White inked panel. Color the beak tip with a black marker.
Punch balloons from So Saffron cardstock and using the Blending brushes to add So Saffron ink to the edges.
Stamp sentiment with White Craft ink on Basic Black cardstock. OPTIONAL: white emboss the sentiment.
Emboss the DSP panel and the front of the folded card with the Painted Textures embossing folder. Layer the embossed DSP onto the Pool Party panel. Layer remaining elements as shown. Use Dimensionals behind the balloon and flamingo. TIP: Cut thin strips of Dimensional for flamingo feet. Add pearls and personalize the envelope with a smaller yellow balloon.
BLOG HOP LINE-UP
hank you for stopping by today. I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Candy Ford at Stamp Candy. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it!
Thank you for hopping along with us. If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:
- Brian King at Stamp with Brian
- Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
- Renae Novak at Blessed by Cards
- Lynn Kolcun at Avery’s Owlery
- Robin Myren at Songbird Designs by Robin
- Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp
- Linda Krueger at The Stamp Coach
- Sheryl Sharp at Sharp Notes by Sheryl
- Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
- Joanne Brown at The Inky Dragon
- Rachel Brumley at Artistic Designs by Rachel
- Genevieve Ko at Stampin4Fun
- Shawn de Oliveira at Shawn Stamps
- Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
- Ann Murray at Murray Stamps Ink
- Candy Ford at Stamp Candy
SUPPLY LIST
I LOVE how you made the cloud background! TFS
Thank you. The die made it super easy.
Both cards are fabulous, but your sky is stunning! It is now imperative that I get that die set. Gorgeous cards!
It is indeed!
Ann – Your cards are amazing! The balloon lore research blew my mind, I never knew!! And the details you gave us to help recreate similar effects are so appreciated!! Great post!!
Thank you so much for your glowing comment. Google is fun as long as you don’t go down the proverbial rabbit hole. LOL…but more importantly, I am glad that you like the instruction and I hope that you try both the clouds and the smooshing ink.
Sweet cards, Ann! I especially love how the balloon string is entwined around the flamingo. In fact, I love everything about your flamingo card!
Thank you. the balloon string fits perfectly around the flamingo eye.
Both cards are perfectly wonderful, Ann, but I SO love the sentiment you pulled from Friends Are Like Seashells on the first card. Perfect!
Thank, Brian. It’s my new favorite sentiment.
Both of your cards are unique and beautiful!
Thank you 😊
That red balloon card is so beautiful. It actually hit my heart with its simplicity. It tells a story. I can’t wait to make this cloud background. I love card 2 as well. You are an amazing artist.
You are too sweet. Thank you.
Ann, these cards are just absolutely lovely (like everything you make!)
You are making me blush. Thanks, Candy. Right up there with the animal balloons.
I absolutely love both cards! Glad you showed how you made the clouds – they are so soft and pretty. Great story on the balloons! I will be casing your 1st card. I don’t have the flamingo from the 2nd card or I would case that one too! And I love your smooshing with the ink. Need to try that.
CASE away. Making cloud skies are addicting. I love it when people tell me they are going to CASE. It feeds my teaching soul.
I like how you researched balloons; I do similar. I recently looked up the symbolism of butterflies while working on a blog post! Both of the cards are gorgeous. I love the clouds and the semi-translucence of the red balloon, and I also like the smooshed color of the pink flamingo. Thank you for including photos and instructions. I always learn from your posts, and I appreciate what you share.
You MADE MY DAY. Thank you
Dear Lord, please send me some Yellow balloons. Your friend, Lynn. Amen
Dear Lord, please send Lynn lots of yellow balloons. Your yellow balloon card maker, Ann. Amen
Pretty cards, Ann. I love the insight on balloons. Enjoy your day!
Thanks, Hilda. Have a GREAT day!
These are both Wow cards! I love the soft look of the clouds with the red balloon
I know, right? It is so simple and so wonderful. Clouds and a single balloon.
Love both cards! Thanks for the info on the balloons as well. I can picture you making these. 🙂
LOL – Thank you for the comment. Miss ya.