In a Beautiful Balloon

Hello.  Welcome.  It's a little bit windy here.  Can't-stand-up-in-it-windy.  It's been howling and blowing for two days and they say we will have two days more!!  Oh, goody.  Time to craft. 

At the end of 2013 a few challenges I regularly joined finished.  So I have been looking around and found a few new ones to join in with.  This opens up new opportunities to be inspired by new DT's, by fellow crafters I may not have previously met and to see new ways to use items in my stash.  One blog I came across is running something called the Card Chain Challenge.   It's an interesting idea.    You make a card using a wide range of criteria set by Deborah.  Then you link up.  The card you make you send to the person who linked before you on the list.  The person who links after you sends you a card.  Everyone wins!!  I thought I'd give it a go.  It's always nice to receive snail mail and this will be surprise mail from someone you probably haven't met.  What fun.  So I have linked up and will be sending a card to Greta in Oregan.  Hi Greta.  Still a couple of days to link up.  Check it out and join the fun. 

I have completed one of the many unfinished projects on my desk.  I made a card using an image from Paper Smooches and the colours from their picture inspiration...

 

I downloaded a couple of free digi images from Paper Smooches, one of which was a very cute squirrel.  He was hanging from a Hi but I thought he really needed a balloon.  This then gave me an idea to include The Craft Barn's Q & L Challenge.  

 

I used a piece of ds cardstock from The Little Yellow Bicycle for the card base.  I added a layer of yellow construction paper embossed with Sizzix Rays and added a hint of a tint.  The balloon was cut using a DoCrafts die and embosssed with Sizzix Cirque.  I distressed the edge and used Memento London Fog on the edge and also on the embossed area.  I printed the squirrel onto white card, coloured it very lightly with pencil and cut it out. 

I attached him to the balloon using dark grey embroidery thread and added some computer generated words.   That's the famous song 'Up Up and Away', lyrics by Jimmy Webb, sung by lots of people......... I did think it was called "Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon" but turns out that's the first line but not the title.  You probably knew that.........

My card joining the fun at
Paper Smooches SPARKS - Picture Perfect Challenge  
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Smile/Up 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Emboss It 

Thanks for your visit.  Hope your aren't having too much weather.  Take care, have a great weekend.