Monday 30 January 2012

Up, Up and Away - a tribute to the Graphics Fairy

Karen, the Graphics Fairy, posted a wonderful hot air balloon last week. I printed off a copy straight away and set to it with my scissors and craft knife.

"Up, Up and Away"

The background is made up with distress inks. Bits of cut n dry foam are used to apply the ink, not too even, so that it gives the appearance of clouds. Splodges are good! The sentiment and other balloons are  from Kaisercraft's "Up, Up & Away" stamp set. The sentiment was stamped in black archival ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I still couldn't resist a little Perfect Pearls on the larger of the two stamped balloons!

"Karen's Balloon"

The main difficulty was in cutting all the balloon's struts, but it is really worth the effort for the extra sense of depth when you can see the background through the gaps. After cutting, the balloon was shaped by turning over onto my mouse pad and running the blunt end of a pen over the inside. The basket, people and flags were also shaped. Finally, the balloon is fixed to the background with pinflair glue to keep the dimension.

If you've never visited the Graphics Fairy blog, you must go and have a look. It's full of fabulous vintage pictures free of copyright and just begging to be used! Thanks Karen, I love the image and hope the card did it justice!

Entered for the following challenge:
Joanna Sheen - celebrations
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - it's a Guy Thing

14 comments:

  1. You have the patience of a saint my friend. All that intricate cutting around the struts is amazing! Gorgeous, gorgeous card and that Balloon is amazing. And I love your distress ink work. Amazing card. Lee x

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  2. I agree, gorgeous hot air balloon and the effort really has paid off, well done. Thank you for joining us on the Joanna Sheen Challenge this month & good luck, Jane (DT) x

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  3. Love how you did the background, it coordinates perfectly with the balloon image. I downloaded that one too, but haven't decided how I want to use it yet. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. Lovely card . done well to cut all that out too. xxx

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  5. A really beautiful card Maddy, love that balloon. Teresa xx

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  6. I too love paper piecing and I know what you are talking about when you say you had to cut in and out of the struts. I'm thinking this took a lot of work but it is fun to do so it isn't really work. Thanks for the inspiration. Up, up and away with our crafting.

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  7. Wonderful card,fab image and love how you've done the background! Love Jayne. x x

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  8. A beautiful card, great coloring. Thanks for joining us at FSC this fortnight.

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  9. Sorry Maddy I forgot to say thanks for sharing with us at Joanna Sheen 'Celebrations' challenge. Teresa xx

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  10. WOW what patience you must have cutting out all those struts, but well worth it.
    A fabulous card,
    Thanks for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping
    Challenged
    Avril

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  11. Gorgeous card, love the colours and wow what amazing cutting out! Thanks for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and good luck
    Claire xx

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  12. That is some fancy cutting and yes, worth the effort as this is dramatic! Thank you for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges!

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Thanks for leaving a comment, it's nice to know I'm not just talking to myself :)