Monday 21 June 2010

Father's Day (and my birthday!)

Hey!

Yup, I'm still here!

What a glorious Monday it's been here today! I'm not normally so happy on a Monday but I have a few reasons today *wink*:
  • Firstly, the sun is shining, summer is really here!
  • Wimbledon's started so time to crack open the Pimms and scoff the strawberries! And last but not least.....
  • It's my birthday!! I'm not getting to the age yet where I worry about being a year older, I don't think I ever will seeing as I act closer to my shoe size than my age LOL!
So far today, I've had a lovely day at work with some super sweet students and colleagues treating me to their own handmade cards and I've had the real pleasure of getting some birthday love from some of my fabulous crafty buddies - y'all know how to make a gal smile! Thank you SO much for your sweet messages and goodies!!! I feel spoilt rotten!

So as you know it's been super busy around here. Yesterday Chris and I hosted a little family party to celebrate my birthday (slightly premature I know!) as well as father's day. Today, I thought I'd share the card I made for dad; it was a last minute dash to my crafty corner for this one as is the case with most guy cards but I'm kinda happy with it!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Practicing Creativity - Look Up!/PTI Daily Designs Sentiments
Ink: Memento Black/PTI Fresh Snow/Versarmark (pen)
Card: PTI Enchanted Evening/Spring Rain/Stamper's Select White/New Leaf/Lemon Tart/Pure Poppy
Accessories: PTI Cloud Dies/White Gel Pen/Cuttlebug/PTI New Leaf Twill Ribbon


Dad loves to watch hot air balloons and we treated him to a trip in one for his birthday a few years ago. I tried to personalise the card by turning my polka dot one into a ladybird one as one nearly identical to this can often be found floating across the sky at night!

A few tips/ideas behind the card:
  • I had fun playing with my new PTI Cloud dies too on this; I used the smaller one as a negative to sponge ink through to make the background clouds more subtle. This helps you focus on the larger cloud cut from white card. I could create whole sheets of this cloud DP!
  • The larger cloud was cut and flipped over so my sentiment followed the shape of the cloud
  • The main balloon and the cloud have been mounted on 3D foam pads to add dimension. I dunno about you, but I'm seeing these being used a lot around Blogland lately!
  • To add even more detail to the main balloon, I shaded it with a versamark pen. I love to paper piece but sometimes it can make my image seem a little lifeless/flat.
  • I drew a white border around my main panel to balance the white used as my clouds as well as to frame the image
  • I couldn't resist a strip of New Leaf Twill Ribbon coming of the cloud. I like to think it balances the bold, green balloon a little.
So there's some lil' tips for ya if you want 'em! Just though I'd explain some stuff in case you were wondering why I did X, Y and Z!

Right then, I'm now going to get ready to be treated to a night out on the town with my guy! Not too much partying though, it's a school night after all!

Catch ya later!

Aimes
x

23 comments:

Katie Berberich Handmade said...

Wow, what a great day! Have a fab night out Aimes xx

Vicki said...

Hey, happy birthday to you!!!.....lol I wont bore you with any more of it ;) Hope you've had a fab day with some nice pressies and have a lovely night.

Hugs
Vicki x

PS. Love your card ;)

Emma said...

Yeeeeeehaw birthday gal :D you are probably looking gorgeous and ready for a night on the town by now. Have a fabulous evening - hope he is spoiling you rotten - you so deserve it.

This card I have to say is so jam packed with amazing details, between the very clever versamark shading, sponged clouds and line frame - I am your humble student :D

Hope too you have unwrapped your prezzie by now :D

Dana said...

Happy, happy birth day Aimes! I will celebrate you for the rest of the day!
This card is stupendous. The first thing I noticed was the lady bug balloon...awesome. Then I saw the cool shading you did on the larger green one...it looks so real! I also like the white lined frame...pulls it all together and works perfectly. THanks for explaining how you did the cloud patterns.
Have a good one!

Alex said...

Happy Birthday Aimes! Glad to hear that your day at work was good and hope your evening out with Chris is even better!

Enjoy,

Alex x

~amy~ said...

happy happy birthday!!!!!!

love your card for today...and thanks for the handy tips too!!!

Lynn said...

Happy Birthday Aimes! So glad you're having a great day...and super cute card for your dad...looking forward to watching lots of Wimbledon too!!!

Karen B. said...

Ooh this is fabulous, thank you for your explanation of your process as well. I enjoy how the colors pop and that you brought the green to the other side of the card for balance.

Rhonda said...

Great card Aimes! Hope you enjoyed your b-day. Love the tips.

Carol's Ink Spot said...

Sure hope your birthday was a real treat! Great card for your father.

Ann said...

So glad to hear you had a great birthday and party with your family! Sorry to hear about your dad...I'll say a prayer that everything goes smoothly for him. :)

Nerina said...

I love your card Aimes!!! Happy, HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday to you! It's a day late, I know, but I promise you that I was thinking about you an AWFUL lot yesterday and hoping that your day was as good as it could absolutely possibly be! So glad you got a card made for your Dad that made you happy! {{HUGS!}}

peggysue said...

I hope you had a very nice birthday! :) Sounds like you had some fun plans at the very least!

Sharron said...

Fantastic design Aimes! Thanks for the walk-through---your hints were much appreciated. I love the dimension on the striking green balloon and how cute is the ladybug one! Glad you had a good birthday. HUGS!

Terri said...

Great job on the card. I bet your dad loved it. Hope your birthday was a great one too!

Maureen said...

so happy you had a great birthday and you liked your goodies...I just thought you'd like to try some new things I've been loving lately :) I'm so in love with those cloud dies...used my friend's and have ordered my own :) Your dad will love it :) I hear ya on having a birthday on a school night...no fun!!! LOL Unless you celebrate all week and into the weekend :) enjoy!!

Vanessa said...

I hope you had a fabulous day, Aimes!! And I hope my card arrived in time! Your card is beautiful!!

Hugs,
Vanessa x

Cammie said...

Hey, Aimes, lovin' the card! The shading on the balloons looks great! Now I'm going to have to find a versamark pen.Hope you had a great birthday! Today is Wednesday, so I know your dad is having surgery. I certainly am keeping your family is my thoughts today. HUGS

Nerina said...

Praying for your Dad today Aimes - and thinking about you!

{{HUGS}}

Nerina said...

Hi Aimes - I'm not leaving this comment to be pubb'd on your blog, but just because it's more personal than on the forum. I read your update in the Off Topic section and can see that you've been through a real roller coaster here. I think of you EVERY DAY, really truly. I am praying for your Dad. I really hope that he will be over these initial set-backs soon. This must be a really hard time for you.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} - lots and big ones. Thoughts and prayers!

Daniela F. said...

Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a lot of fun :) Cute card, too! I love the lady bug balloon as well as the structure on the green one.

Nerina said...

Hi Aimes ... so quiet here on your blog-o. I so hope and pray that all is going well with your Dad!!! I was about to turn off my computer and just thought I'd send some thoughts and good wishes ... ! I really do think about you often!

B said...

Oh how lovely! The idea of shading the balloon is a wonderful idea!

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