Steampunk Balloon Square Easel Card

Had to do another session using my new goodies from #GBCF.  Really liking the Steampunk look at the moment, so this was my inspiration.

Some items I already had, but new items are:

• Bronze Pearlescent card - Craft4Less Ltd
• Cosmic Shimmer Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals - A1 Crafts
• Papermania Chronology Decoupage, Brads & Urban Stamp - Crafty Devils
• Metal Cogs - MDF Man (can't find them on the website though)
• Acetate Butterfly - Inkylicious (not on the website, but they do have butterfly stamps which could be used on acetate)

To start, I cut 15cmx30cm from the bronze card and scored then folded in half to create a 15cm square card.  I then scored and folded the top in half to create the easel stand.  I cut a separate 15cm square to attach to the stand. 

I stamped the cogs to cover the whole square using Colorbox MICAMAGIC Antique Gold then heat embossed the clear crystals to give a raised texture. 

I coloured the balloon decoupage using watercolour pencils then layered with 3D foam pads.  I bent this slightly in the middle to give it further dimension and attached to the left of the square using differing height 3D foam pads. 

Using 1mm foam pads I attached the smaller, uncoloured balloon to the top right.  

I coloured an acetate butterfly using permanent pens, allowed to dry then added glitter glue towards the centre. At the outer edges of the wings I painted Ranger Distress Crackle Paint and allowed to dry. Some of this did come off once dried, but I think it gives a nice cracked glass look. 

Taking two cogs plus some gromlets and brads, I arranged these with the acetate butterfly at the bottom right before attaching. Once everything was in place I glued the square to the easel stand. 

For the bottom of the card, I attached a square of light brown card, then added some ribbon across the bottom and the sentiment on top of that. 

To finish off I attached some black pearls to create stoppers for the easel. 

I would like to enter this card into the following competitions:

1. Cards Galore - Bingo (sentiment, die-cut & embossing)

2. Crafts and Me - #139 Anything Goes

3. Great Impressions - Square Card

4. Allsorts - Use new stash

5. Joanna Sheen - Embossing