Monday 30 January 2017

Flying high in a balloon

Double dose today, it being 'crafty Monday'! Sketch challenges are not my forte, and I've been starting at the FMS sketch all week, determined to get inspired and produce something I was proud of. LIM came to my rescue with their 'balloons' theme, as this conjured up a collection of images that met the layout, in my mind. Construction-wise it is a single layer card, so lots of masking!

Colours - well, I was all out of colour combos from my favourite challenges, until I looked again, and spotted the inspiration photo from JAI. The blue was perfect, and I went one further and used a brayer pre-rolled over a scrunched up piece of paper to create the banner,inspired by the pool. We don't have the Australian sunshine here, but when I was thinking about the final element for the background some sun-rays seemed a perfect compliment.

I'm getting some cards made early, and this will go to a lad who is turning double digits later in the year, hence the sentiment.


Freshly Made Sketches #272
Less is More #313: Balloons
Just Add Ink #344: Photo Inspiration



23 comments:

  1. This is delightful, a breath of summer when it's so dank outside!

    Kathyk

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    1. Thank you Kathyk. I'll take any glimmer of sunshine at the moment, even in my craft room :-)

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  2. I love the cheerful, bright colours of this card! The sentiment goes perfectly with the use of hot air balloons - super design! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Less is More :)

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    1. Thank you Esther. The sentiment just popped into my head. That's when I love having an alphabet set, so that I can write whatever seems perfect.

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  3. What a great way to combine the challenges and I love the effect from your brayering! Fab design and masking too. Thank you for sharing with us at Less is More :)

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    1. Thank you Sarah. I was so pleased with how this all came together, and the brayering effect was a stroke of inspiration at just the right moment!

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  4. Wow! What a fabulous job of masking. This is a very complicated one layer card and it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

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    1. Thank you Cindy. There's something about a one layer card, and I really enjoy the challenge. I often think I'd rather mask than layer!

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  5. All those challenges came together beautifully on this card!! Love the sun in the background - a beautiful accent. Thank you for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

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  6. Claire, this is a great card. I love the blues and yellow together, and the sun rays are a fabulous touch. Thanks for joining in the fun at Just Add Ink this week!

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    1. Thank you Christine. Always fun to play along at JAI.

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  7. Such a fabulous one layer card! I love the sun rays peeking behind the gorgeous balloons and the fun matching sentiment too. Thanks for sharing with us at Just Add Ink this week :-)

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    1. Thank you Jan. I find sentiments for male cards a bit of challenge, and was really pleased with this one.

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  8. I do love those sun rays peeking out from behind your balloons Claire such a lovely bright way to finish off your lovely sky scene. Thanks for joining us at Just Add Ink this week.

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    1. Thank you Kim. I mulled over clouds, or a bit of a blue halo, but decided to leave it 'clean' in the end, figuring the sun's rays were enough on their own.

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  9. Terrific card Claire! Your colouring on the balloons is so beautifully subtle and that brayered panel is brilliant! The whole scene reminds me of balloons setting off at dawn with the first rays of sun creeping over the horizon. I love it! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Less is More xx

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    1. Thank you Sharon. The colouring was done using several shades of Spectrum Noir blendable pencils.

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  10. What a great CAS card Claire. I love how you've used the colours from the JAI photo inspiration. Thanks for joining us! Kelly x

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    1. Thank you Kelly. I'm really proud of this particular CAS card.

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  11. Fabulous card and a superb job of masking! Thanks so much for joining us at FMS and Just Add Ink.

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    1. Thank you Karren, when it comes to masking I just have to keep the mantra "start at the front, and work to the back" in my head!

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  12. Aww, this is lovely! I love the sun peeking out from behind the balloons. Thanks for sharing with us at Just Add Ink.

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