I don't know what it is, but I'm really drawn to the hot air balloon images in the Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.  In fact, one of the new stamps sets I am eagerly waiting to receive is Up,up and away - a set that features several hot air balloons and sentiments.  I can't wait to get my hands on it!  In the meantime, this balloon image is from the Ain't Love Grand hostess set - equally cute and equally fun to use.

 
I've used a technique on this card called inlaid embossing.  It uses the Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder. If you are familiar with the technique of inlaying in other genres, you know that to inlay you are embedding pieces of contrasting or different colored material into your project. That is, in essence, what we are doing with our card.  The clouds, made from Whisper White card stock, are inlaid into the Bashful Blue card stock which represents my sky. Here's the really fun part of this card.  Can you guess what the clouds are made of?  The frosting on the cupcake punch!  They are perfect clouds! Take a look:

 Isn't that clever? They are even proportionately correct to the hot air balloon! I love when these things fall together so easily.  If you haven't tried the inlaid embossing technique, I encourage you to try it.  It's quick, easy and a great addition to any card or scrapbook page.

Are you ready to give it a try?  Click here to visit my on line store.  Listed at the end of this post are the products and the item #'s that I used for this card.

Are you interested in Stampin' Up! products and don't have a demonstrator? Contact me at: [email protected] .  I would love to help you find the products you have interest in and maybe even a few you didn't know you needed to have :)

Have a great day!

 
Card Recipe:

Stamps: Ain't Love Grand (#122507 clear), Happy Greetings (#123313 clear)

Ink:Real Red (#103133), Black Stazon (#101406), various markers

Paper: Crumb Cake (#120953 ), Real Red (#102482 ), Bashful Blue (#105120 ), Whisper White (#100730 )

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (# 117335), Square Lattice embossing folder (#119976), Big Shot machine: (#113439), Cupcake Builder punch (#121807), Owl Builder punch - the small heart (#118074), gold brad (#104337), Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon (#117286)