Belated Big Birthday Wishes for My Little Niece!

Still playing catch-up with my cardmaking, and with this heat we are experiencing in the Northwest, it feels like I'll never get there!  We don't have air conditioning in the northwest corner of our United States because it's not supposed to be in the 90's for weeks on end, and with it not cooling off much at night, it's difficult to get the house cooled down overnight for the next round!

Enough grousing and procrastinating!  I finally got my little niece's birthday card finished. . .her birthday was June 17th!!  ABOUT TIME, I say!!!  Now, don't get me wrong, I have been thinking about it since I got home in mid-June from my little venture to Seaside, Oregon to help my daughter with beach house bedroom redecorating/painting work, but we came home into high 80's heat, and it continues on, so putting thoughts into actions has been difficult.  

I had decided on a little ballerina card for niece Audrey, and of course, knowing me, I had to research just what digital images I had or could find online before making a final decision.  I found lots to choose from, but when I found a free Precious Moments ballerina color book image, I just had to use it.  Then, I couldn't start to color her until I came up with my card ideas because I had to size the image to fit the size of the card I would decide to make.  That done, digital image sized and printed, but my little ballerina still couldn't be colored until I searched for and found just the right patterned papers to combine with her.  

Finally, I had the papers and even decided to make my own piece for one of the layers by using one of my My Favorite Things big background stamps in a diagonal check.  I found Memento's Sweet Plum was the perfect shade to stamp it with.  I tried Stampin' Up Perfect Plum, but it was too dark, but I did decide it was perfect for my card base.  I finished coloring my ballerina and was really excited to begin to decide on the exact layout and put the paper layers together.  I'm pretty pleased with my final outcome. . .such a sweet little card and SO MUCH FUN to make.

I chose papers for the inside design from those used on the outside, and then made up a little verse for the inside, using my favorite BIG BIRTHDAY WISHES digital image grouping it into my words for my verse.  I then colored my wishes words with my Copics to match the little ballerina on front.  I was quite pleased with the outcome, and I'm sure Audrey will enjoy her little card from Auntie Carlene. . . better late than never!

Recipe:  Papers - Stampin' Up Perfect Plum (card base/ layers); Basic Grey: Koshi/ Lily Child (front & back); Authentique: Renew/ Rejuvenate (back).  Precious Moments Ballerina color book digital image.  AGW Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes.  Copic Markers.  MFT stamp: BG Fine Check Background (diagnonal check).  Ink: Memento: Sweet Plum.  Dies: Spellbinders - Big Scalloped Ovals SM; Classic Ovals SM.  Fishtail: handcut.  Stash:  Lilac lace, 1/2" Plaid Taffeta ribbon, Iridescent enamel dots.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing.  Computer sentiment: Baroque Antique Script/ 14.  Inside verse: Andalus/ 13.  Size:  5-1/2" x 5-7/8".