JAI 356 just choose two - balloon shadow box card

It's time for a just choose two challenge at Just Add Ink & this one's full of fun possibilities.

I decided to go with circles & balloons (hot air ones), to make my card, and yes the brilliant Lift Me Up stamps & Up & Away dies are inky again. Oh my goodness I'm loving these.

When the card is opened, you find this fun shadow box surprise inside.

Unsurprisingly it's called a shadow box card. They're so fun and easy to make, and folds flat for posting in a standard C6 envelope. My stamping bestie, Kellie found this fab shadow box card & video tutorial on Dawn Griffiths's blog.

I like to adjust cards to suit metric measurements and the standard A4 sized card we use in Australia, so we converted Dawn's version to suit. As A4 card is longer than US 8.5 x 11 inch card we were able to make the whole card base from a single sheet of A4 card. More about that later.

Just 4 scorelines make this card work. The shadow box section attaches to the inside left panel near the centre fold, so when the card is opened, it pops up. Close it & the card folds flat.

The rounded shadow box frame inside is cut with the retiring Balloon Pop Up die *sob*. I can't believe these (& the fab coordinating Balloon Adventures stamp set) are not carrying over to the new catalogue. I've loved using them & used them lots, so please don't wait to get them as they're only available while stock last.

 I cut all the 'balloon bits' from the cut out & adhered the intricate hot air balloon (with ombre sponged background) in the window, supported by a few clouds. I used some retired Sale-a-bration Carried Away designer paper to back the scene.You could sponge a background or cut & adhere some more cloud dies instead.

The card front might be feeling a little unloved with all this focus on the inside, so let's get back to it.

I stamped the balloons in night of navy ink, coloured them with markers, then added a good helping of Wink of Stella for sparkle. They're mounted on yet another sponge brayered background. Some Stitched Shapes circle die cuts to help the sentiment t(from Lift Me Up) to pop.

So want to make your own? Good news, I've put together a template & instructions for this one sheet version & will hopefully share this over the weekend with some other shadow box card projects. & it's below.

EDIT: Free Tutorial available to download here in this post

In the meantime, pin this collage as a reminder & later inspiration, then head over to the Just Add Ink blog to see how the team have used the challenge too.

Until then, inky wishes, Di

Supplies
Print Recipe

To see & order any items used in today's project, just click on the items below to see them in my Online Store. You can order from me if you live anywhere in Australia. I would love to be your Demonstrator if you don't already have one.  Please allow "Demonstrator contact" in your preferences so I can thank you properly when you place your order.
Actual items I used are listed first. Alternative purchase options are listed at the bottom of the supply list.

Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits Dies $56.00	Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Bundle $78.25	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies $50.00	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock $14.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock $15.75
Watermelon Wonder A4 Cardstock $14.00	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad $11.50	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad $11.50	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad $11.50	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad $11.50
2015-2017 In Color Stampin' Write Markers $26.00	Sponge Brayers $14.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush $11.50	Big Shot $159.00	Precision Base Plate $41.00
Balloon Adventures Photopolymer Bundle $90.75	Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Stamp Set $37.00	Up & Away Thinlits Dies $50.00

It's retirement time
Click on the pic to see what's not carrying over. Retiring items are up to 50% off, available only while stocks last.