Cloudy With A Chance Of Hippos

This is a simple, yet beautiful card.

This picture was the inspiration for this card. It came out when doing a google search on cloudy sunsets. This can always give you an idea of beautiful transitions for your projects.

I used two different stamp sets from OAK Tree Stamps:

• Animal Parade - Harriet the Hippo, for the character and the sentiment
• Animal Parade Accessories - Let's Have a Party for the birthday hat and balloons.

I stamped them with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink for COPIC coloring and did a very simple 3 shade coloring and a Signo Uniball white gel pen for the highlights. I like using a Sakura Glaze black gel pen to make the eyes pop

I cut 3 pieces of each shape with my Cricut, using the Electronic Dies that OAK Tree Stamps distributes for their stamps. I glued them together to give each of the cutouts a lot of dimension. Harriet was glued flat on the card and the hat and the balloons where glued on top of the character and a little foam tape was used behinf the top of the hat and the balloons themselves to keep them evenly raised.

For the balloons I added a lot of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, a product similar to Ranger's Glossy Accents but way less expensive. I made sure to do one balloon at a time, letting it dry completely between applications to allow for them to be separately raised.

Now for the background, and this is where the SVG makes its entrance, I used paper stencils to ink a piece of Neenah Solar White Cardstock using Distress Inks and a Mini Blending Tool. 

I used a large Stitched Rectangle Die from Lawn Fawn and since I wanted all those faux stitches to stay nice and noticeable, I inked the piece of cardstock first and then I run it through my Cuttlebug. To make sure I stayed true to my design I marked the outside of the die using a pencil and aligned the cutouts to the bottom line.

Using a very light hand Start form the top with Dried Marygold Distress Ink.

Work your way down with Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender and Shaded Lilac.

Just make sure that your inking does not touch the previous layer to avoid color contamination.

Finally, secure the die in place using masking tape and run it through your Embossing Machine.

I finished the card using sequins and enamel dots in colors similar to the background.

On top of the sequins I added a dot of Vivadecor Pearl Pen in cream color. I love the way they look like little flowers.

The SVG comes with the clouds, the stamps outlines and the stitched rectangle, although for these projects, I really like the cleaner cut that a metal die gives to the large background piece, instead of the harsh edge of the machine cut.

Supplies List

Download Click here

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