Up, Up And Away!

"Up, up and away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon

It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon

We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky

For we can fly, we can fly"

- Jimmy Webb -

(performed by The 5th Dimension)

Hello! Today I am sharing a decor project, and two small gift cards I worked on this week using the Stampin; Up! Hot Air Balloon Bundle (item 162755), which is featured in the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue.  The Bundle includes the Hot Air Balloon photopolymer stamp set (item 162748) and the co-ordinating Hot Air Balloon dies (item 162754).  The stamp set and dies can of course be purchased separate from the Bundle - however, if you would like both the stamp set and the dies be sure to use the Bundle item number when submitting your order to ensure that you receive the 10% Bundled Savings!

Hot Air Balloon dies - 162754

(Bundle - 162755)

Just a quick summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock - can also be used for scoring;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring card fold lines.  For crisp card folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting; 
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp scissors certainly come in handy when "fussy" cutting stamped images (i.e. the little tag image from the Sale-A-Bration Detailed Dogwood stamp set) and trimming die cuts (i.e. snipping off a few leaves etc.); 
• Stampin' Brayer (item 162936) - although this silicone roller is intended for applying even ink coverage to embossing folders, stamps, and paper, it is also very effective for rolling over paper that has been glued to another surface - i.e. a wood panel.  Rolling the Brayer over the paper immediately after gluing the paper to another surface (whether a wood panel or another piece of paper) helps ensure even coverage of the liquid adhesive and helps prevent air bubbles and buckling of the paper - effective adhesion requires a proper adhesive and pressure, and rolling the Brayer over the paper provides good even pressure;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small embellishments and die cuts; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

All stamped images were stamped on watercolour paper using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406).  For the images that were watercoloured I used Classic Stampin' inks - applying the ink using a small paint brush and a little water.  To get a textured effect on several of the balloons and baskets on the decor project I first inked the stamp, stamped onto a textured paper towel, and then "second generation" stamped on the watercolour paper.  Stamping on the paper towel removed some of the ink from the stamp but also transferred the paper towel texture to the stamp which was then transferred to the final stamped image.  This technique is a lot of fun to play with!

On with the projects!

For the decor project I began with a 12" x 12" x 1" thick wood panel from Dollarama, and two MDF house shapes from Dollar Tree.

Why black & white for the balloons?  My overall idea for the project was to have a predominately black & white palette with a few pops of colour - and I thought I could try to rely on the texture and decoration of the balloons rather than risk having too many competing colours and having the project become too busy and cluttered - not sure that I succeeded with this though!😟

To the front of the wood panel I glued a 12" x 12" piece of Basic White cardstock (item 159231) - trimming the edges with my craft knife after the glue had dried since the wood panel ended up not being exactly 12" square.  Using a fine grit sandpaper I sanded all edges of the glued on cardstock.  Using two of the black & white designs from the Rock & Roll 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162695) I cut an 11 5/8" (squarish) panel that I glued over the Basic White cardstock panel; and four 12" (or so) x 1" wide strips to cover all edges of the wood panel.  Again using a fine grit sandpaper I sanded all edges of the DSP panels before gluing them to the wood panel.  From another 12" x 12" sheet of Basic White cardstock I cut a 10 1/4" square panel - scraping all edges with the blade of my craft knife - and this cardstock panel was the matting panel for a 10" square panel trimmed from a Boho Blue/Azure Afternoon sky patterned piece of the Fresh As A Daisy 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 161289).

Onto the front of the panel I added my eight  "ground" panels (four on each side).  Starting with the bottom panels I added glue only to the bottom and side edges of the panels so that I could slip the next panel behind the previous (lower) panel.  Using the Around The Bend dies (item 160649), and, for the third panel from the bottom on the right side, the Delicate Forest dies (item 1`62679) - I cut these panels from Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), shading by applying Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) using one of the Blending Brushes (item 153611).

Around The Bend dies - 160649

Delicate Forest dies - 162679

I used strips cut from several of the black & white patterns from the Rock & Roll DSP to cover the two house shapes - once all strips were glued and trimmed I sanded all edges with a fine grit sandpaper.  Before covering the houses with the DSP I painted all edges with black gesso (black acrylic paint works very well too).  To each house I added a window - these houses are seen from the back side - the front of the houses are looking out towards the balloons!  Using the square dies from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) I cut the window frames from Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) - I actually used two frames for each window.  I cut 1/8" wide strips from Basic Black cardstock for the window cross pieces - glued to the back of one of each size of frame.  After gluing on the cross pieces I glued the second frame over the first frame.  For the window backings I trimmed Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry patterned pieces from the Stargazing 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 161175) - the Crushed Curry piece was actually cut from one of the planets - gluing them to the back of the frames.  I used some additional 1/8" wide Basic Black cardstock strips for trim on each house.  Using two of the triangular shape border dies from Basic Borders dies (item 155558) I cut decorative trim strips for each house from Coastal Cabana cardstock (item 131297).  After all trim was added to each house I stacked and glued the houses together.

Stylish Shapes dies - 159183

Basic Borders dies - 155558

After gluing the stacked houses to the wood panel I added additional die cuts to the houses and to the background panel:

• from Old Olive cardstock I cut four long grass stems (one on smaller house trimmed down to two blades) using the retired Honeybee Blooms dies (item 157951); four double leaves using the Around The Bend dies; a ground border for each house using the Delicate Forest dies; two five-leafed "grass" strips using the Sale-A-Bration Jungle Pals dies (item 162973); and two sunflower stems using the Paper Florist dies (item 161284).  Shading added to each of these die cuts by applying Mossy Meadow ink with one of the Blending Brushes;

Honeybee Blooms dies - 157951 (retired)

Paper Florist dies - 161284

Jungle Pals dies - 162973 (Sale-A-Bration)

• from Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) I cut two evergreen trees using the Reindeer dies (item 159727) - also shaded with Mossy Meadow ink applied with one of the Blending Brushes;

Reindeer dies - 159727

• from Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683) I cut three full and one profile butterfly using the butterfly dies from Meadow dies (item 155852) - shaded with Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094) applied with one of the Blending Brushes;

Meadow dies - 155852

• from Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199) I cut one scalloped circle sunflower and one circle stamen sunflower using the Paper Florist dies - each shaded with Daffodil Delight ink applied using one of the Blending Brushes; 
• from Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) I cut one large perforated circle center and one small perforated circle center using the Paper Florist dies - edges sponged with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665);

• from Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117) I cut five little flowers using the small flower die from Crafting With You dies (item 161225) - edges sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086);

Crafting With You dies - 161225

• using the Paper Florist dies I cut five small flower centers from Basic Black cardstock for the Pumpkin Pie cardstock flowers; and

• from watercolour paper I cut seven clouds - watercoloured using Basic Gray ink (item 149165).

Using the Beach Day stamp set (item 162797) and the co-ordinating Beach Day dies (item 162799) I stamped and die cut six seagulls - watercoloured using Basic Gray ink.  [The Beach Day stamp set and Beach Day dies are also available together as the Beach Day Bundle - item 162800.]

Beach Day dies - 162799

(Bundle - 162800)

And finally . . .

These two top-fold gift cards with watercoloured images from the Sale-A-Bration Detailed Dogwood stamp set (item 162953) both measure 4" tall x 3" wide.

I used the solid heart die from the Hot Air Balloon dies to cut the image heart, and used the following additional supplies to complete the card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 7/8" x 2 7/8" matting panel, and 1 7/8" square cut using the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183);
• Crumb Cake patterned paper from One Horse Open Sleigh 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162118) for the 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" panel;
• Sweet Sorbet ink (item 159216), Old Olive ink (item 147090), and Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to colour flower image;
• Crumb Cake ink to colour mini tag; and
• two of the Basic Black dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) - one in each size - added to bottom right of card front.

The "wish big" sentiment, from the Hot Air Balloon stamp set, was stamped using Stazon Jet Black Ink on the Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983) banner that was cut using the Hot Air Balloon dies.  I used the following additional supplies to complete the card:

• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the card base;
• Pecan Pie patterned paper from Nature's Sweetness 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162616) for the 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" panel;
• 3" diameter circle die from Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut the image circle;
• full butterfly die from Meadow dies (item 155852) to cut butterfly from watercolour paper - coloured using Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) applied using one of the Small Blending Brushes (item 160518);
• Pecan Pie ink sponged around edges of sentiment banner;
• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094) to colour flower image; and
• one Very Vanilla large dot from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) added to center of butterfly.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun playing with the Hot Air Balloon Bundle borrowed from my sister - and am looking forward to working on more projects with this Bundle provided that I am allowed to borrow it again!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital versions of the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue, as well as the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue, and the Sale-A-Bration Brochure are available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/).  Don't forget that the annual Sale-A-Bration Promotion will end on February 29, 2024!  When visiting my online store don't forget to check out the great deals on the Clearance Rack, as well as the great selection of products available as Online Exclusives!  New products will be introduced as Online Exclusives early next month!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Soaking up some sun on Valentine's Day!💝

  

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