I have a crafting friend's birthday this week and I needed to get her card finished by mid-week. October is one busy month for me with all the birthdays I could and should make cards for, but just never have enough time!
I bought a package of one centimeter sized pompom balls to add to what was going to be a gumball Halloween costume for one of my granddaughters, and I thought I'd use some to add as a card embellishment. I remember Stampin' Up sold some a few years ago, and though I looked, I couldn't find any card ideas other than to use them as balloon bouquet. I decided to try adding them as a horizontal trim and then flattening them somewhat, but even though I left the card under a heavy weight for over 24 hours they didn't flatten much. Next, I tried trimming the balls on their tops along the row and then added a little liquid glue to be sure they didn't unravel. I decided to stay with this idea though it wasn't exactly the look I was seeking.
Meanwhile, I followed my regular routine of looking for ideas to add to my card design looking for possible Splitcoaststamper challenges to give me ideas. I found 12 challenges that my end design would fit...see them listed below:
1) SC927 - Sketch Challenge by Lee Murphy - 10/12/22. Sketch Tweaks: I added a separation trim between my top and bottom 1-inch paper panels. I used a ribbon and bit of leaf to drape from middle panel to lower panel instead of extending the flowers so they overlapped both the middle panel and the bottom panels.
2) AOCC22 - All Occasion Card Challenge--October 2022 - 10/1/22. An annual ongoing challenge where you set goals ahead for cards needed each month throughout the year to help you complete and mail them more timely! This is a much needed birthday card for my friends mid-October birthday.
3) USEIT2022 - Use It Challenge--October 2022 - 10/1/22. An ongoing/ annual challenge that requires you to use OLD/ DUSTY and long unused items and/or OLD/NEW items purchased, never used, and seemingly forgotten! OLD: Poppy Moments dies (SU)...haven't used since early 2020. OLD/NEW 1st Use: Painted Labels dies (SU); 2019 6x6 DSP--Script; New Horizons 6x6 dsp.
4) ABC17M13 - Alphabet Challenge/ Round 17--Letter M = Measure - 8/17/22. 1)measured cardbase & black panel to fit a 1/8-inch border of cardbase to show all around. 2)measured for equal top and bottom panels. 3)measured patterned papers & middle panel so all three panels would be appropriate height for the front panel and still leave a 1/8-inch border of black to show all around.
5) CC859 - Color Challenge/ Olives in the Gorgeous Highlands - 8/31/21. Colors: Old Olive, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather. Dessert: designer paper. Tweak: I used Granny Apple Green instead of Old Olive and added neutral Basic Black. My card does include dessert: two different designer papers.
6) MMTPT684 - Teapot Challenge/ In Memoriam - 8/31/21. Challenge: Let's honor Princess Diana's death, August 31, 1997. She loved flowers...add them to your card. Poppies are an August birth flower...the purple Mona Lisa poppies are included on my card.
7) F4A600 - Free 4 All Challenge/ Goodbye Summer - 8/20/21. Challenge: Make a summer card before it ends. We are having a dry and a warm fall...just like our pleasant summer weather. My friend is an avid flower gardener, and I've made her an August blooming summer poppy birthday card.
WT849 - Ways to Use It Challenge/ Newsprint to Fit - 6/17/21. Challenge: use newsprint on your card...no newspaper: a book page, newsprint-like dsp or script at a stretch. I went with the stretch and used script dsp.
9) IC800 - Inspiration Challenge/ Design Stack - 4/3/21. I was inspired by the color and flowers in this beautiful sketch: Lilac & Flowers! (Note: It is the 10th image down).
10) FS718 - Featured Stamper Challenge/ Janemom - 11/1/20. I really enjoyed my browse of Jane's gallery several days ago with my morning cup of coffee! I was inspired by two cards: 1) Happy Hellos!, which gave me ideas for a circle-type addition with my flower design overlay; and 2) Spring Daffodils!, which gave me colors, flowers, and a patterned border idea.
11) CAS526 - Clean & Simple Challenge/ Birth Flower - 3/25/19. Challenge: Use your birth month's flower on a card. Gladiolus and Poppies are the August birth flowers. I chose to use the Mona Lisa Purple Poppy for my card.
12) DINSP0418 - Fan Club Monthly Themes--April 2018 - 4/15/18. My card matches theme because it is the Perfect Blend of purples and patterns. My card is for the Photo Inspiration. Its background blended pink from light to dark, plus other colors in photo remind me of the New Horizons dsp I chose to use for the center panel background behind the die-cut poppies.
Registered: March 12, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 14411
Tue, Oct 11, 2022 @ 6:16 PM
Carlene, I am honored that you looked at my gallery which gave you inspiration for your card design. Great birthday card for your crafting with lots of wonderful elements.
Those pompoms just wanted to have a life of their own and steal the show! They look great and glad you found a way to keep them on this fun card in pretty colors.
------------------------------ Color Challenge Favorite CC897
Registered: April 1, 2012 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 28930
Wed, Oct 12, 2022 @ 6:39 AM
Carlene this is so cute, love the poms poms!
------------------------------ Jan 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. Philippians 1:6
Registered: June 29, 2004 Location: Sugar Land. Texas Posts: 79798
Wed, Oct 12, 2022 @ 7:12 AM
Great colors and I love those little fuzz balls.
------------------------------ LizThe joy of the LORD is my strength.Right Brain Madness --My blogProud member of the redDivasKSS certified multi-step stamperFan Club member since 2004
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105272
Wed, Oct 12, 2022 @ 7:29 AM
Those pompoms sure made me smile!! What a fun way to embellish your card of pretty purple poppies!!
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.
Registered: February 19, 2011 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 15293
Wed, Oct 12, 2022 @ 8:20 AM
This is one of my very favorite cc and it looks fab with that beautiful flower die. Love that you cut the top layer with the designer paper -- great touch and look. I'd never think to use pom-poms, but they give a very fun and upbeat look to this card it surprises me, but I like the look with their tops cut too and smart to use the glue. Wonderfully happy card for a good friend.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Creative Crew SU Design Team Alumni Demo Challenge Leader Splitcoast Challenge Host
Registered: February 8, 2004 Location: South of Oklahoma, North of DFW Airport = North Texas! Posts: 44446
Wed, Oct 12, 2022 @ 9:35 AM
Surely your friend was tickled with this special card! Love the colors and I can imagine the 'touch' factor of those little pompoms! What a cool dsp peeking from beneath!