2 Sketches 4 You - Top 5- Celebrate!

Happy Saturday Everyone - Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

I am still in happy shock to have made it into the Top 5 (what an honor! thank you! so much Laura, Kazan, wonderful judges!) in the Ultimate Card Showdown that 

Kazan and Laura are hosting at 2 Sketches 4 You. This Showdown was created to celebrate the one year anniversary of their sketch challenge blog. So for this last sketch I thought it would be fun to create a celebratory card. To the left is the awesome sketch that Laura has created for us for the last round.

 And as soon as I saw it my head was buzzing with ideas and possibilities but the one that I went with was the "carousel celebration" idea :) Our family has been visiting us this week - and they have included some trips to the carousel and so the image of the line going up and down and the circle element in the middle looked like a carousel horse ride. So I thought I would have fun making a cotton candy dreamy, whimsical merry happy card :)

The half circles on the top and bottom of the sketch looked like the top inside and bottom of the carousel and I sketched a little fun tent top and alternated patterned paper with sponged edges and some ruffling by cutting up some doily punched edges. 

The horse was created in photoshop and I printed her on some green paper and white cardstock. Coloring in the mane, bows, saddle on the white cardstock - I cut it and then paper pieced it onto the green horse which I then sponged on the edges for some dimension. The blingy swirls and clouds seemed kinda fun and whimsy.

This is the inside of the card following the same theme of the sketch: 

I wanted to create a few more things inside - but thought I would keep it simple-ish - so I finished it off with some swirly bling just like on the outside of the card. 

Card details:

Paper: Mostly from the June 20^th Key Ingredient kit from Taylored Expressions (and some from the Spring Splendor pack)

Ink: Adirondack Expresso

Stamps: Year of Sweet Sentiments: Celebrate sentiment and from the Branching Out Accessories stamp set: the cloud – the horse is created from a free photoshop brush and the tent top is handrawn

Accessories: 1 3/4 inch circle punch and 1 inch circle, Say it with Crystals bling, stickles, threading punch, doily punch from Martha, dimensionals, bling from K & Company, mini clear gels, sponger, liquid pearls, ribbon from stash

I can't believe that this is the last round - I am so honored to be with these wonderful ladies who are in the Top 5 - you are all an inspiration as are all of the players from all the rounds of this showdown and all of you wonderful cheerleaders encouraging us on :) 

I have to say that this has been such an amazing journey to be part of this showdown and to meet so many wonderful crafters from around the world has been so special. Big thanks to our wonderful judges and Laura and Kazan for all your hard work - it is very much appreciated! You have brought together crafters from all around the world into a wonderful community! Thank YOU! and happy blogaversary!!!! woo-hoo!!!

Thank you so much for visiting my corner of blogworld :)

Sending you Sunshine :)

Sankari :)