Happy Birthday

Bugaboo Stamps is celebrating their 5th birthday this week with a series of challenges. Day 2's challenge theme is a sketch:

I initially designed my card as a landscape-oriented card, but ended up rotating the sketch 90 degrees to accommodate my elements.

I began by choosing this image from Bugaboo. Since my first card for this challenge series was a boy-themed card, I decided to go with a more girly card this time. This mouse just looks so cute holding that big balloon. I also decided to pair the image with the "Birthday Cake Tag" from Bugaboo for my greeting.

After printing my image onto 140 lb. watercolor paper, I die cut it with a Spellbinders "Classic Ovals LG" die. I also die cut the greeting, which I'd printed onto white cardstock, with a Lifestyle Crafts "Nesting Scallops" circle die. I colored the mouse & balloon with Inktense pencils & a damp paintbrush. Because the image on the greeting circle was so small, I just used regular colored pencils to color it.

My patterned paper comes from Recollections "Paddywack" 6x6" paper pad. I cut it to just under 4.25x5.5". I also die cut a mat for the focal panel from pink cardstock, using the largest die from Spellbinders' "Lacey Ovals." I glued the image piece to that, and inked around the edges of the greeting circle with Salty Ocean Distress ink, to help it stand out from the background. I also inked the front of a white A2 card base with Salty Ocean to create a mat.

After gluing the focal & greeting panels to the patterned paper, I adhered the completed card front to my card base. I will be sending this card to Send a Smile 4 Kids.

I'm also entering this card in Send a Smile 4 Kids "Anything Goes 4 Kids" challenge.