So the month of June and July is just crazy with numerous birthdays from my own to my twins and then other family members.  I am always so busy making new and different cards for everyone.

This card was supposed to be for my daughter’s fourth but it's a little late, whoops.  Not that she noticed though.  She was super excited when she laid her eyes on them.  I started off these cards about a month ago in early June, eek took me a while, didn't it

Anywho I started out by stamping the little cuties from the Unicorn Magic set out on to white cardstock using memento tuxedo ink.  I coloured them in using my Prisma pencils.  I forgot how much I disliked those pencils when I went to sharpen them and they kept breaking.  Needless to say, the colouring took me awhile because I kept getting really frustrated and needed to step away.  Does this happen to any of you?

Once I was finally happy with the colouring, I fussy cut the images out.  Although there is a coordinating die set available and I do have it, for some reason thought hey lets fussy cut, lol.  To clean up the edges of the image I used a black Copic marker and went around the unicorns.  

Now it was time to figure out the rest of the card.  I pulled out some of my alcohol ink backgrounds that I had actually made, last year when I went on a big AI binge and made so many backgrounds.  Now I am finally using them.  I chose this beautiful and vibrant rainbow background.  It matched the unicorn's hair perfectly.  I cut the panel in half and ran the alcohol ink panel through my die cutting machine with a birthday sentiment embossing folder (it’s an older one that seems to be discontinued now).  I went over the embossing with some black archival ink just every so lightly to catch the words.  It looked really cool!

I decided to create a little bit of an odd sized card because I really wanted to fit a lot of that rainbow panel on to the card.  I pulled out one of my premade 5x7 cards and trimmed it down to 5 x 6 3/8.  At this point I still was not sure what I was going to do so I rummaged through my design team package and pulled out this beautiful black and white pattern paper.  From there it all came together.  I love how the rainbow and unicorn just popped off the page with this paper.  I trimmed the black cardstock to 6 ¼ x 4 7/8 and trimmed down the pattern paper down to 6 1/8 x 5 5/8 and layered the two together. 

While I was still close to my die cutting machine I decided I would create some clouds, so die cut some 2½ inch white strips using the Paper Rose Cloud border die.  I also die cut multiples of the balloons from that same rainbow alcohol ink background along with red and black cardstock.  I proceeded to cut off the strings from the red balloons and then adhere the ballon to the black die cut keeping black string intact.  For a finishing touch I added some Spectrum Noir glitter pen on top of the balloons. 

I took out the sentiment from the stamp set and stamped it on to the mini cloud border I die cute earlier.  To get a clean crisp impression I used my Misti stamp tool with Versa Clair Nocturn ink. 

Finally, it was assembly time.  As I previously had done with the card base and patterned paper, I took to layering the rainbow strip which measures 2½ x 6 onto some black cardstock that measured 6 1/8 x 2 5/8.  This allows for just a little border to pop the colors out.  Finally it was time to assemble the cards.  I popped up the previously layered pattern paper and cardstock on to the base of the card using fun foam.  I repeated that process and popped the rainbow portion on to the black cardstock (WARNING this card has a lot of dimensions so it wouldn't be a great one to send in the mail).  I then added the clouds.  This time using some foam tape.  I trimmed off part of the balloon so I could fit it underneath the cloud and the string would land close to the unicorn's mouth like he was holding it.  Once everything was in place I finished the outside of the card with some sequins.  Sometimes I have a bit of a difficult time finding just the right placements.  Does anyone else have that issue where you feel maybe you’ve gone just a little too far with the bling?  Or the space feels just a bit too cluttered?  Any tips and tricks?  I’d love to know? 

Finally, for the inside of the card, I repeated the layered look from the outside using black and white cardstock.  From there I added the leftover portions of the patterned paper and trimmed it down to be ¾ of an inch, and layered it onto black yet again.  I took another stamp set from the Paper Rose to add the sentiment into the card and finished it off with that rainbow balloon! 

I am really quite happy with how these cards turned out and my daughter was even more excited about them. 

I hope you enjoyed and found some inspiration here. 

Also, I am thinking about trying my hand at YouTube videos.  Would that be something you would like to see?

Please leave me a comment and let me know. 

Thank you and have a Magical week!

~Nancy~