Hi there.  Today’s birthday card was created for the Tic Tac Toe challenge 13 from Stamping Smiles Designs.

I initially chose the middle row going across (critters, border stamp, die-cut stencil), and then thought it was just as easy to combine the middle cOlympic going down as well (shimmer, border stamp, balloon). So that’s what I did.

I first stamped the stripe border on a 1/2″ strip of black cardstock with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Then I stamped the adorable elephant in the upper right corner on white cardstock with black Memento ink and colored with Copics. I masked the elephant, then took the balloon die-cut stencil I created from MFT Blueprints 26 and blended distress inks through the stencil.  I wanted the elephant to be “floating” inside the balloon.  I drew in the strings with a black Copic multiliner.  That completes the middle row across and 2/3 of the middle column going down.

I die cut the sentiment from white cardstock and colored it with distress inks as well.  I cut another sentiment, but this time from black cardstock so I can offset the sentiment to create a shadow effect.  All that’s left to complete the middle row going down is shimmer, so I added Glossy Accents to the middle balloon and some clear Wink of Stella to the sentiment.

I felt it still needed something, so I added some clear sequins to finish.